A rarity -- only five were ever built.
Multi-turreted, heavy and slow, they were not considered successful, which led to only five being produced. These were primarily used for propaganda purposes and training, though three took part in the
Battle of Norway in 1940. Pictures of the
Neubaufahrzeuge were displayed with different turret models and orientations to fool allied spies.
Though these tanks were never placed in production, they provided a propaganda tool for
Nazi Germany, for example being shown at the International Automobile Exposition in
Berlin in 1939.
This propaganda role was extended with the German invasion of Norway, when
Panzer Abteilung z.b.V. 40 (40th Special-Purpose Tank Battalion) was formed for supporting the invasion of Norway, and the three
Neubaufahrzeuge were assigned to that unit. One vehicle was assigned to
Kampfgruppe Fischer advancing north through the
Østerdalen Valley, while the other two were assigned to
Kampfgruppe Pellengahr advancing up the
Gudbrand Valley. The one assigned to
Kampfgruppe Fischer was immobilized with mechanical problems on its way to
Lillehammer, while one of the two assigned to
Kampfgruppe Pellengahr also had mechanical problems just north of Lillehammer. Only one tank actually made it to the front; it was immediately put in action with the German force advancing up the Gudbrand Valley with other elements of
Panzer Abteilung z.b.V. 40. (Wikipedia)