Kranvagn (Emil Project)
(Btw this is my favourite tank ever... so there might be a tad bit of persuasion included 😭)
(Also I’m aware there aren’t many full tank photos of this beast, therefore I added some concept ones)
(Opinion — The Kranvagn Should Be Added to War Thunder)
War Thunder has a well-established track record of including prototype and unfinished vehicles that never reached production. The Kranvagn fits this mold comfortably. The AMX-50 Surbaissé, French, oscillating turret, drum autoloader, never produced, is already in the game and is nearly a direct parallel. The Tortoise (A39) never entered British service yet is a staple of the British tree. The Object 279 saw almost no real-world use, and the Ho-Ri Production existed largely on paper. If those vehicles earned a place, the Kranvagn has a strong argument: it has real chassis prototypes built, solid documentation, and fills a genuine gap in the Swedish high-tier lineup where the tree currently lacks compelling heavy options between 7.7 and 8.3. Its oscillating turret and autoloader would make it a mechanically unique addition. The precedent is there, the documentation is there and the vehicle should be too.
The Kranvagn was the cover designation given to the Emil project, a Swedish heavy tank concept developed in the early 1950s. Emil I, II, and III refer to the successive design stages developed under this program. It was designed to counter Soviet heavy tanks such as the IS-3 and featured an oscillating turret with an autoloading gun system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank)).
The project was never completed. While chassis prototypes were built, no fully functional turreted vehicle was finished before cancellation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank)).
Overview
Crew: 3
Role: Heavy tank (prototype)
Development: Early–mid 1950s
Layout: Oscillating turret with autoloader
Mobility
Engine (planned, varied by design):
Emil I: ~500 hp
Emil II: ~540–665 hp
Emil III: up to ~810 hp
Suspension: Torsion bar
Final speed and mobility figures were never finalized due to the project not reaching production (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank)).
Armament
Main gun options:
105 mm (early designs)
120 mm (later designs)
150 mm also proposed
Autoloader: Yes (planned drum system)
Ammunition types included HEAT and APDS
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank))
Armor (Estimates)
Armor varied depending on the Emil variant:
Early design example:
Hull front: ~100–125 mm (sloped)
Turret front: up to ~180 mm (angled)
Later designs proposed heavier protection, but no final standardized values exist (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank)).
Weight (By Variant)
Emil I: ~30 tons
Emil II: intermediate designs
Emil III: up to ~41.8 tons
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank))
Development Notes
Developed under the cover name “Kranvagn”
Emil I, II, and III represent the successive stages of the same program
Influenced by designs such as the AMX-50
Project canceled before completion; chassis used for further testing
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank))
Estimated Battle Rating (War Thunder)
Based on its proposed firepower, autoloader, and armor layout, the Kranvagn would likely sit around:
BR: 7.7 (most likely)
Possible range: 7.7 – 8.3 depending on implementation
A more conservative implementation (limited ammo performance, realistic autoloader behavior) would place it closer to 7.7, while a more optimistic interpretation (faster reload, stronger turret performance) could push it toward 8.0–8.3.
Sources
Emil (tank): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil\_(tank)
Project Emil summary: https://tanks.mod16.org/2013/12/07/project-emil-a-summary/
For any experienced people, feel free to project your opinion