• • *

, ...

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I • I I I

,... ...
. '

45p

aus -
by Walter J. Spiel berger and John Milsom

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a IP"
 Edited by DUNCAN CROW

Atmost since the 1 i nvention of hie tank there has been what might be ca lled a super - heavy tank
complex - the urge to design and build enormous tanks that could withstand all punishment and
overcome all opposition (it was hoped I) by sheer brute force. Many of these dre.ams of gargantuan
tanks never materialized. But other.s almost reached completion, .and others again were actual ly built. 1

The British started it with The Flying. Elephant in 1916 - not the E ephant that is one of the subjects of
this P'rof.le incidental y . The Germans built a K-Wagen in 1918. The Frenc bu .It the Char 2C after
World War I and during he war had carried out trials on a 141 ton monster tha wo,u ld carry a crew of
28 - this was comparable with the K- Wagen in weight and crew numbers.
In Wo.r ld War 11 the super- heavy complex was still in evidence. General' Martel even suggested
tanks as big as battleships that cou d swim th e Channel and advance on Berl in like monstrous
1

Juggernauts. The arges ank ever built, however, was the German Maus, which, together with its
rival design, the E100, is scrutinized by John Milsom ·n the second half of this Profile. The irst half,
appropriately (for the Maus was the cu minat1on of Porsche techn ical development in the Tiger
field), deals with. the Elefant (also known as the Ferdinand) which was the conversio oft e original
Porsche 1ank design into a self- propelled tank destroyer. ' The Elefant'' ·s by Walter J . Spie berger
4
1

who was the design engineer on 1he Elefan project and who foug 'h t in this AFV in Russia .
Those who share the Editor's fascination in the super- heavy tank complex will find more evidence of
it in AFV /Weapons Profiles 17, 32, 38, and 41 - especially in 38.

The complete ist of AFV /Weapons Profiles already published is:

1 Churchill British Infantry 25 Cromwell and Comet 46 Light Tanl<s M22 (Locust)
Tank Mk. IV 26 ellcat, Long Tom, and and M24 (Chaffee)
2 PanzerKampfwagen Ill Priest, PLUS Complete 47 T-34
3 Tanks Marks I to V Check List of All U.S . 48 PanzerKampfwagen VI
4 Light Tanks M1 - M5 World War II SPs iger I and Tiger II (''King
(Stuart/ Honey) 27 Saladin Armoured Car Tiger'')
6 Light Tanks Marks I- VI 28 S-Tank 49 Japanese Medium Tanks
6 Valentine Infantry Ta !n k 29 M4 Medium (Sherman) 50 Swiss Battl Tanks
Mark Ill 30 Armoured Car Marmon ~ 51 Abbot FV 433
7 Medium Tanks Mks A to D Herrington, Alvis-Strauss- Self- Propelled Gun
8 Crusader Cruiser Mark ler, Light Reconnaissance 52 M47 Patton
VJ (includes Cruisers 31 Australian Crt11ser- 53 The FV 432 Series
Marks I- VI) Sent·nel: and Australian 54 Jap nese Combat Cars.
9 Early (British) Armoured Matildas Light Tan <s and Tankettes
Cars 32 M6 Heavy· and M26 55 Illustrated Summary of
10
1

P nzerKampfwagen V (Pershing) G erma.n Self-Propelled

1

Panther 33 German Armoured Cars Weapons 1939-1945

11 M3 M ,e dium (Lee/Grant) 34 Scorpion Reconnaissance 56 i s"le Armed Armo ured1

12 Mediums Marks 1- 111 ank Vehicles

13 Ram and Sexton 35 British Armoured Recovery 57 Schutzenpanzarwagan
14 Carriers Vehicles + Wheels, Tracks SdKfz 251
16 PanzerKampfwa,gen I and I and ransport r SdKfz 250
16 Landing Vehicles Tracked 36 Chars Hotchkiss H35. H39 .. 58 French I nfantrv Tanks:
17 Russian KV and IS ' and Somua S35 Part I (Chars 2C1 D and B)
18 Chie tain and leopard 37 Russian BT Series 59 rench Infantry Tanks:
( Deve opment) 38 Conqueror Heavy Gun Part II (including R35 and
19 Chieftain ,a nd Leopard Tank FCM36)
(Descr· ption) 39 Panhard Armo red Cars 60 Russ·an Armoured Cars
20 Churchill and Sherman U.S. Armored Car (to 1945)
40
Specials 61 Elefant a11d Maus ( + E-'1 00)
21 Armoured ,C ars Guy, 41 M1C3 Heavy nk +
Daimler, Humb,e r, A.E.C. M41 Light Tank
22 PanzerKampfwagen 38(t) (Walker Bulldog)
and 35(t) 42 Modern Swedish Light
23 Soviet Mediums T44, T54. Armoured Veh i cles
T55 and T62 43 Panz·e rKampfwagen IV
24 he M48/ M60 Series of 44 Ferrets and Fox
Main Battle Tanks 45 Vickers Batt e Tank

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•
Professor Por.,cl1l'° 'I j1r~t a11e111pt to cr<!(J/e '''1 c1r1>1011re(/ fig/11i11g t•el1il·le res1.1/tetf i11 l•t'O prt1to t.t'p£>s of 1/1e P(>r.\c /1e T_lp£ 100 or. l.15 11 ltilJ i111ern(1/(v
1/1e •• LeoptJrt/''.
• ••
anzera
by Walter J. Spielberger
DURING the battle north of Orel, Russia, in 1943, a
Russian tank column marched far out of reach of con-
ventional German anti-tank fire on a northerly course
towards Karatschew. The tanks were barely visible at a
distance of more than three miles and the Gennans
seemed unable to interfere with this troop movement,
\Vhich was threatening their exposed flank.
Then, at this critical moment, a company of Ger1nan
self-propelled anti-tank equipment, using a vehicle called
4
~Ferdinand'' was called up to intervene. Fire was opened
against the Russian vehicles in spite of the distance and
soon eight of them were destroyed. Another victory
for the incredible Gerrnan 88 mm. gun was ready for the
history book. This long-barrelled 88 mm. anti-tank gun,
or '8,8 cm. Pak 43/2 L/7 l '',as the Gerrnans called it, was
4
one of the most outstanding weapons of World War II.
Intended originally for anti-aircraft purposes, it was soon
recognised as a potent anti-tank weapon and was
eventually mounted, slightly modified'\ in the turret of
Tiger JI.
An earlier version of the gun, the Flak 36, with a barrel
length of L/ 56, had already been modified and mounted
in the turret of the original Tiger I model as early as l 941.
In the meantime, Heeresftak units, unprotected and
towed by soft-skinned, half-track tractors, had attempted
to protect infantry and other units against the numerous
Russian tank attacks. They had suffered unbearable
losses. Only if able to engage their enemies at the proper
distance could their success be assured. But the towed
gun with its awkward and time-consuming positioning
problems was no solution and soon attempts were made
to provide the weapon with a self-propelled mount. The
G
,
c:a/led.
•
only chassis readily available at this time were Panzer
III and IV. Si nee neither of them was originally inte11dcd
and suitable for SP use, a composite chassis was designed,
utilising chassis and hull components of both vehicles.
An anti-tank version, called 4.Nashorn'', mounted the 4
8,8 cm. Pak 43/ l L/71. Despite their open and only
thinly-a1·111oured superstructure, these vehicles were
quite successful. They were replaced by an excellent
vehicle, the fully-enclosed and adequately-armour·ed
~·Jagdpanther . , in 1944. This unit was beyond a doubt
one of the most versatile and effective tank destroyer
vehicles of its time. It remained in production until the
war came to a close.
The vehicle described in this Profile also mounted the
same weapon. It was a direct outgrowth of the ~~Tiger''
development. Never intended originally as a self-
propelled mount for the long-barrelled 88 mm. gun, it
turned out to be a technically most complicated and
unreliable vehicle. It came into existence almost by a
freak of nature and it should only serve as an example so
far as its unique chassis design is concerned. As a
complete unit, the 4.~Elefant'' must be considered a
failure. This is said despite the fact that your author was
engaged as design engineer on this project and that he
participated actively in the action in Russia, de cribed
at the beginning of this Profile.
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Professor Porsche's first attempt to create a military
vehicle dates back as far as the days of World War I.
Then working for the Austrian Daimler factory, he
motorised the heavy Austrian artillery with four-wheel
141
 thi roject in f our ·Of a he · i r ve ice 1l of
mountin he · mm. gun., hi wa d n in nti i ti n
of , en hea ier ehi I p
pp ar fr m th t d to
ar enal · b th th u i n · nd the · e t rn lli .
The outda.ted ta k aponry d ; the e1·man at the
be innin of th Ru ian campaign all for dra tic
r pprai<al.. i had an· for an armour p n tr tion of
at l a t 100 m. fr m a i ta no of I 00 m tr . h
election of gun al"br _ a I ft to th manuf cturer. ut
m an · hile, th · m.
un ha e tab!. h d it elf~ to,
uch an e t nt th . t it app ar d mo t likely to b con-
i1d re a th ta d' r an ap f r n n
tan de i n .
h ffenam t ·n ·· ted ho e er t . t 1 · r Ii r ·
of 6 cm. or 7 5 cm. hould b 1fforded th am - op -or-
tuni y pr i , d th y a -h · .. d th · , ame ·- rfi rmanc .
Th thin ·ng b hind thi o d _r a b _ ed upon th a t
1

th ,t uch • · apon uld b in tailed ith ·n mal] r

1'11i u11i1 1i•a ittt 11clc·,J tc rc'pl 1 <~the Pa11=er 11 · ''''''' 'tL' (lq1 1ppecf 1, 1i1lr fll turret ring . thu allowing for a reduced o erall . ight.
t1i1 - c'l><Jf tf f, ·-10 etlf! inc.•\ '' 11 ;cJ1 dro t'V c•/ c·t r1ctil/.l 1/1 t 11 '0 fr<Jlll • prot:k 1 .
1

i en fron al armour or
0 m · . an ide armour f
60 mm., a reduction in turr t rin diam _t _r from I 5
mm . (7 in.) I 50 m. (6 ·n.) uld h lo r d
th weightofthe urretbyalmo t2·2 on. qtialarmour
1

p n tration ith m J r we pon ho ver c" lled · r

uti1i ·tion of tap r d bore de ·gn u ing tun ten t · J
ammunit.on. Th r in t · h,o t up ly and ould
not b c n idered. on entio al . ap ·TI h d t · b u d.
hu Krup f en r · . i d ~ n ord fi om th
rdnance epartment in uly 194 to d lop , tank
gun d riv d from th m . anti- ir raft gun . ith a
barrel l ngth of 4 · · 0 mm. ( / ~6 ). hi w or· ginally
int _n d d nl y for th or h \' h ic I -K 4 50 I · hi h
w order d · a par-- llel d ign o t _ ·en ch 1 . K
6·01 n 26th _a 1941. It · pp ar - for a tim hat t
disti ct vehi oul em rge from the
J order:!il-
D11ri11R i11/(1 11 iv~ 1eltl tri 11 1/11: t>I . llJ T '/ , /,00 u•cLJ <llS<J 11. eel tc> lJppJ.1
1
a d d \J n fr m i 1 r him l 1
th ith pr · n
1
1

tilt' Por ·lilt' ..1p . . 101 1 ·i1J1 ele ·1rit

1 £11rre111 duri11g tlll j i11itial fi It/ le. t111g b ginning Ma -Jun 1942, nam ly a Por h typ
,,f tilt" PrJr,,-/1e T1gf•1.
(VK 4501 P) ith a n1. un n the n h ]
hi I ( 3601 \i ith th ta . r d b r p 0725. 1

t in un· t n t I . a n I ng I a ' il· I , th -

Krupp turr t orig"nal1y int nde for th. or ch
•
· 11i 1 n ly ha t b u d o th n h i l pr 1n
time abl alJo\ 'ng no other olution. Thu th . n ch -1
tract r · abl . o ullin . normou loa . h y 1nco - hi - a · 1 o d -10 d a a 45 t n unit ( 4, 01 - )
p - ra · ed p trot- I ctri drive y tern elution and ntually b c· me . h · anzerkam f \ ag n I i er I 1

- hich la -r ·. cam th trade m rk of or ·ch arm· ur""~ ( lat ( ).

fighting ehi le . i independent company, creat d in Por he reli . d to a large xtenl upon hi xp ri n
1930 jn t ttga t, a t d a d,e ign o " ce for ariou gain d durin th d e]opm . nt f tl1e VK 3 0 t · Ty ,L. . L.

in mational auto oti e one rn. Among th .r h - 100. dditional n idea ere inco . orate but trol-
r c · d in 1939 an rd r rom th Ordnanc o, par - l ctric dri - - a r t in d. h d i n of the ir-c . led
n1ent to participate in an attempt to find a ucce or po er plant created Imo tin urmountable diffi ulti .
v hi I or th tand r Panz r V. A vehi I . a r - I itl r ho . er had in i t d th l both hi I - e to
uired hich, a in otal eight f 2 to 30 m tric b de . I p d ·de by id common pr· tic of th
ton h to b c· p bl o · C' rrying ith r he 75 mm. n.an1t. onounc c ntro · ie de I ·peel. b -
· nk gun . · · 1 5 mm. hi h 1 i · pon. P r h t een r. Por ch and the Ordn . nee epartment o ' 0
r

olution produ d a hi I with t o par 11 .I in tall,... .... the · year nd er ne . r nlir ly r al d. Int r tin
air.. ol d p trol n ine coup] d to n ele t · ynamo a or che L ch ·cal lution fi r ucb hea · ehicl ·
u ply·n - electric mo or dri in, th front prock t . 1na ha\ pp 1· d th a tual · hi I t rn d ou t b
1 •

t · ·n . a g -ar- hi ting · re ffi t · el t ic lly. h mo t compli -at d. d b · u it 11 d l put in pr -

u p -n ion incorpo · t d tor ion b r in ne and duction ithout th b n fit f ten .,i tri _I it · uld
uni q u a . p · t ty · r b uiJ t at ·t h i b un - only b put int · r · i ith c mb' t u i ft r co tly
nw rk. o t. l ntin -n r u ri . h C' rri . . _ r -d .J ·m nt nd ba i c · · n . In t onl · \
·h i _1 rn I d ign tion opard , 01~ che y · of th 90 veh ·cl originally auth ri d a11 d
1
pu. in pro
100 ( r na n d i gn · ti n . · I ( ) ). du tio r tu lly co · pl t d b ttl tan . h y
he pp aran e f tl1 . u i n - 4 rend r d mo t . re i · n ted Panz rkainpf g n I ~ K 4 0 (
ft l1 - attempt u .el - nd f orc ·d or h to b ndon ig r (P).
142
Bect111,·e nf 1/1e tliffic11/t ie.fl it'it/1 tl1t' t1ir -c1,1>lt'1/ c 111 ~ 111e t111,/ 111 nrtler 111 1>1eet set tle£1llli11e'i f t>,. 1>re\l'llft111011 c>/1/1e Po1\·c/1<' Ti_~er 10 llitl<1r fi e/ti 1ril1ls u ere
Cl>l1t/11cretl <~( 1/1c' c•/t•c·1r ic· c·un1/J<Jnt·111\ ' ' irl 1cJt'I 1/1c· 111t1111 r:11g lftes 111 ' tc1//ed. Po•' c•r '' '' \ \llpp/ieclJro111 '' T_rpc• JOO t111 it.

THE PROTOTYPE TRIALS PRODUCTION

On 19th March 1942, Armament Mini ter Speer reported Only a grand total of 90 vehicle were produced. Pro-
to Hitler that, commencing in October 1942, 60 Por che fessor Porsche~ a ociation \Vi th the Steyr-Daimler-
and 25 Henschel Tiger tanks would be completed. Puch AG ., which owned and operated 1belungen-
Prototype of both vehicles were demonstrated before werke, put the production of all of his designs and proto-
I titler on 20th April 1942. Only twelve 1nonths had gone types in tl1i location . Originally intended for mas , pro-
by fron1 the moment the order \Vas received to tl1e date of duction of the Por che Type l 00~ this factory erved until
completion of the prototypes. It wa5> cln extremely ~hort the end of the \va1· a the main ~ource of PanLer IV. It
time in the development of uch a sophisticated weapon, carried out eAtensi\e research work and built, among
and it i~ perhaps not surprising tl1at the impler ~ more other fighting vehicles~ the Jagdtiger. Component parts
conventional Henschel vehicle ~a cho en a the basi and hull a emblie were supplied by Eisenwerke Ober-
of the ne\\ battle tank. donau of Linz and as embly of the cha i continued at
Dr. Por che never believed in the reliability of a Ni-Werke until a final order relocated the production line
mecl1anical transmission for such a heavy vehicle. Two to Alkett, in Berlin-Spandau. Serial umbers re:tnged
alternative tran missions were therefore envisaged, one from 150001 through 150090. Only five recovery
electric and tl1e other hydr<:tulic. The hydraulic unit was vehicles were completed at i-Werke.
rather large and had a poor efficiency compared with a
mechanical transmis ion although it wa~ expected to ELEFANT DESCRIBED
equal tl1e electric alternative. It was to be buill by Yoith Elefant was nothing but a conversion of the original
of Heidenheim. However, eriou!> troubles with the air- Porsche Tige1· tank design. The hull. consi ting of
cooled engine delayed installation and cau ed a com- various- ized arrnour plates. \Vas welded on all joints.
plete lack of interest in thi unit by the time it was Only high quality chromium-molybdenum teel \Vas
actually completed. used. The origina] layout of the battle tank was changed
The production of the Hen chel Tiger wa already in at Alkett by eparating the driver,s compartment
full wing at thi<, time. The unit designed by Porsche had a con1pletely from the fighting area. The engine compart-
fighting weight of 57 metric tons, after it belly armour ment was inserted in between. The tank version had the
had been increased to 100 n1111. lt5 m<ti11 arman1ent, usual layout, with the fighting co~artment in the front
originally tl1e 8. 8 cm . K wK 36, was changed to a 15 cm.
KwK L/ 37 or a 10 cm. KwK L/70. But botl1 dcvelop-
n1ents never tnaterialised and the Por~che Type J01
never saw action as a battle tank . A niotlel <J( 1J1e P£>r~cl1e 1·;ger 1t•irl1 1/1e Kr11pp 1i1r r er 1r/1ic/1 11·,,~ fc11er p111
111 to procl11c t1011 f or 1/1e IIe11.,cl1el T iger E.
Eighty-five of the 90 chassis a~ ~c111bled at the i belu ng-
en\verke were hipped in 1942 to tl1e Altmaerki che
Kettenfabrik GmbH (Alkett) of Berlin-Spandau. There
they recei\ ed ne\v uper tructure and additional armour
and were equipped with the long-barrelled 88 mm. anti-
tank gun mounted in limited traver e. A ne\.\' tank
destroyer vehicle was thu created. It wa de111on trated
for tl1e fir t time on 19th March 1943 at Ruegenwalde.
lnste,td of the two air-cooled Por che engines, two
landard Maybach HL 120 TRM tank engines were
installed. The ne\v unit received the official designation
Panzerjager Tiger (P) Elefant (SdKfz 184). 01·iginaJly
called ·"Ferdinand'' after it~ designer, Dr. Ferdinand
Por che. it official designation was ""Clefant''. The e
vel1icles proved to be more of a liability rather than an '
a set to the unit finally receiving them.
143
 lri n mi . ion~ an ul ut of pp imately 60'
net h. . hi particular d i n · a cho en to Ilow or
h· -h ·er output from 11 r I ti· ly mall ace
il bl ·n th , · er n 'n ompartm nt. Th crank-
, , _
1

h ft , f a ·h unit c upl dir . tJy to the gene ..tor

cone rn d a d blo- -r D r , oolin · th cy ind -r of t •.•_
1

ngin ere m ·Unt ·d on th .· gen r or. ·m f the

n in , hich ti · ct ry r ult uring triaJ ·
r a tu 1ly mount . in m f t l c i Iy-
o r . t , d ig r t nk but production of tl1 · n ·in
n r .t rt d, in .· cial .pinio in erli fa our d
16- yli d r I ngin .
h P r he y 10 I n ·ne n · ir- oo,(, d
four- tro- t ol ith rbur ttor and m g-
n . -igniti . T y 1·nder
•
ere ar ged in orm
· nd the engine / fitt d ith o erh d al , e actu t d 1

11 11111c·k-i1f' tJj 1/1

t1oclt'tl Po, /1 7 i er !1i, /I 1·i1Ji ci . pu ioti drit•e1
cvn111t11•1111e111 !i/1011 i11~ 1/1c' c1i1 l£111k for t /1" lt) 1£iro-p11e111,,1t1ti( le ri11~ th . u h pu h r It m , imum utpu \V
1

20 · .b.p.
•
I · f 111 . t 2 · r .. .m. ith bar of 11 · mm. nd a roke of
145 m. t tal di pla m nt m unted to 1 ..060 c .
tot· I of ten cylind _r pro id d. h fi e-thro
er n ·ft · a u por d i .· i · - ·n . - ar · ng .
he fork d onn ct"ng rod r n on a com1non int r-
ehang bl rin h·el . di id ii .um wa in or-
po ated. ngin . ooling . a effi ct d t rough a double
rot ry blower dri · n fro a P ion n th · g · er tor 1

• •

ha t t rough joint . d haft . . n oil coo er w .. in tall d.

le d n-draught carbur tlor f th ty .0 J I
r mount d. ue wa tor d ·n one tank of 115
g 11on (52 lit ) a · ... ity moun ed ab . th . gen r -
l or. t ,
1
uppli d through t o fi d pump directl to
th . arburettor .
11 hul1 oft tank- troyer vehicle con · ted af er
r .. · rr ng · nt of a ·. ri r m rtm n pr · idin ·
for both th . dri er nd r dio operator a engine
TJ1e 1<.'c1r-1.f'l'i1·e11 1elriclt• t1llt>1LetJ /c1t ll 111tJte pvc·ic 11 tlrfl' I' c't)t1111ar1111 111. o . rtment h u ing l o par II I aybach e in?c.-
111 . ll '(J(1tl 11 111,>c k ·tip c1/ '' i11tlic·aft'.\" r/1 /111// ,,,,, l1i11t' 1111 ,,,,,J t/1e. of 3 0 11.p. e ch and a htin comp' rtm nt wher t
i •t1 ·io f1i11 c/c l ic·e }l>r rfrc' lr{1Ck'I.
1

co m n r gunn r and t o loader er itu t .

· p· r· t tran mi i n comp rtrn nt c . n ain I c ...
tric m tor one for a h dri ~ng ro k t. B th ide
1

of the en gin . · comp rtment held the t o f U e1 tank · ith 1

t t I a it . f 240 g lion .
1

.· iemen .. huckert o ·erlin upplied th. · 1 ric I

.... '""m · l n m Jy h g n at r n · ··h o le · t i ·
dri- e mot · r . ch tr ck dri en in p -nd ntly .
a h ,f th I · tri m to . a Jin d th r ar ri , ing
p.ro · et thr u h a ar d dri e. teeri g, hll - ydro-
pn tic a i t d a e ct d el tri ally by mean of
con tr I· in t lied in the ri .r compartment . .· reduc-
ti n r i fir th nal dri e of 16-75 :1 a o tined
11' 'l1 ti[ lilt!e uir-coo/e(/ 11g111t' u·ere <·r;z,p{etf it i1!1 t111 el" c1ri .~ 11 rat<Jr
llo · ing for a top peed of 12·5 m .p.h. he earbo a
a1ld 111 ttJfll tl i11 1J11J linliit'lf· pat·ed t 11g111e t 01r1par1met1t <if th Tigl:.r
1 1 ta1 1/... .
le£1r(1· l'i ible llr the t o air fan~ /t)r the enxirzt'. l tric lly . r .t ·. d , ad thr e ed ratio er a . ilable
in e'the direction.

an th 1 · at d in tl1e rea
r plan tion. h PO RSCHE SUS 'P ENISION
·p ce or the drj r and ra io o ral r rel ti .· 1y h m tint, re tin feature of th hicl a , without·
un lt tt red i c tl1 r r dri a ll d fr . dom of doubt th u n ion . t con i ted of a rear driv
n. ' in hi ction. nl t ir-tan r th . ·r k t i gi . h · l nd front idl r h I o .
11 d1· - · neun1 ti t erin lo ated for rd to.. ea h id . he or che bogi unit mbo i d om unique
g her ith r; i he ri ·nal fi l1ting fi . ture in h pplic tion 0 f tor ion ba a a fte ib,]e
1

c n1 artn1 nt \ a LI on r i n t a an . m dium. he conception o the e i w· b . d n th 1

•

tr y r · Iii l th n in mp rt nt o - practic _ of . in j 1c nt h l tr d d1ing the tr .ck 1

n1 da ting t o Mayba h n ·n nd th oolin · y t m .

1 ui : and on th. u o · t ]. . rimmed wheel . A hort
~'·a t 11 in r, t 1 am a t . . Ir dy can ti I · r pin le upported a h • ,gi unit in uch _
1

d _ ri b d i t · in th anz r I P'1·ofile the n in man r th t 11 I · d r ov rhan 'ng in .rel tion b"p

d rib d h r i th ri in 1 · r h t . n k .n in . w ti it. Th 'b rin lo d t tl1 b gi o , ill tion po.nt wa
1li r u pl g th r to · ,r d c · tl1rou gh n th r ·. r of eno mou proportion. A _condary aim
I

144
which carried the torsion bar, was placed under the Elevation v.'a f ron1 + 14° to -8°. \vhile traverCje ex-
spindle of the leading \vheel, which, in fact, limited the tended to 14 on either side. Fifty round of an1mun1t1on
height of the track guide . Difficulties in finding a \Vere carried in the fighting comparttnent.
workable means for mounting a conventional type of The 88 mn1. P~1k 43/2 mounted on tl11s vehicle \Va • at
track support roller forced the designers to adopt a tl1at time, the lc.tlest in the erie of anti-tank gt1n5
makeshift track support in the form of a curved spring developed fron1 tt1e 88 mm. anti-aircraft gun . As
steel friction plate. One of the main arguments claimed mentioned earlier. the 88 mm. K\VK 36 mounted in the
in favour of the Porsche design was the fact that fewer Tiger Model E was adapted frotn tl1e Flak 36. In order lo
road wheels (six per side against eight per ide on the i1nprove the perforlnance of the anti-aircraft gt1n5 of the
Henschel vehicle) were required. Sma11er diameter Flak 36 class, a higher velocity weapon \Vas developed
wheels gave room for larger wheel movement. Al1 these and introduced a Flak 41. Thi weapon had the 111uzzle
advantages were based on the fact that the road wheels velocity increa5>ed to 3,280 feet per econd. giving the
had steel wearing surface and could, therefore, carry shorter projectile flight time desirable in an anti-aircraft
higher Joads than larger wheel with rubber tyres. gun. Hovlever .. by the time it \vas introduced. a heavier
Each bogie unit consisted ba icaJly of a carrying projectile with a larger explosi\e content wa desirable
bracket and a primary and secondary arrn, each of which for anti-aircraft u e and intere t in tl11 \veapon centred
carried one road whee,I. The bracket, which was fixed to on its po sible employment a an anti-tank weapon. The
the tank hull, was integral with a spindle on which the original Flak 41 was successfully used in the anti-t(lnk
primary a11n oscillated. The primary a11n carried a fixed role. However . it was de igned \Vith a long, narrow cart-
shaft, the outer end of which formed the spindle for the ridge case. which \Vas some~hat a\\kward to handle
leading wheel and the inner end of which \Va a l1inged and would have been impo iblc to tl e inside a vehicle.
pin for the secondary arm. This secondary arrn was Development of the anti-tank weapon continued with
made of a hollow steel casting in which the tor ion bar the appearance of the Pak 43/41 ~ and the Pak 43. The e
was carried. This torsion bar was splined on both ends. weapons had the same ballistic performance a the Flak
It was anchored to the trailing end of the secondary pin. 41 . but were rede igned with a horter, fatter cartridge
The forward end of the torsion bar was connected with a.
torsion cam unit which consisted of a relatively long
tubular member of which the load carrying cam was an
integral part. This cam unit was free to oscillate in plain
bearings, Jocated in the forward end of the secondary
arm. The cam reacted again t the arm which \Vas
splined to a shaft. A tension helical spring wa used for
holding the bearing surfaces to a reaction ar111 and the
cam. A substantial rubber bumper was mounted on the
trailing end of the primary arm.
The steeJ tracks of a skeleton type (track type Kgs
62/640/ 130) were in their final form 25 in. wide. The
track pitch was 5 in. and l 09 Jinks per track were used .
Originally, narro\ver track of 20 in. and 23·5 in. width
were tested but the ever-increasing total weight de-
manded a lower ground pressure. It was still too high,
since the Elefant had to be content with 3·44 lb. /sq. in. >a
very high figure.
Instead of a rotating turret, the vehicle had a box-like
superstructure. with slightly inclined plate . The com- 11 P<1r:. clt<• Ttf!.<'' ,,,,,.i,1gji<•lcf trial\ i11 1f11\trit1 i11 1942. Tl1i' 1:\ tltt• fr<J111 o..f
1!1e rel1icle. ll ir/1 1J1e tt1rre1 P'>in1i11g ''''' orti 6 n° l'i<>Ck.
mon practice of interlocking armour plates was utilised.
Six escape hatches were provided, t'NO of which were
situated on top of the driving compartment. Three
appeared on the superstructure 1~oof, serving as entrance
and exit for the rest of the crew. One circular hatch
cover of approximately 32 in. diameter was located in the
rear inclined plate of the body, facilitating the removal
and installation of the main armament, while a much
smaller opening within the large hatch allo\ved for
ejection of spent cartridges. The basic armour of the
Porsche Tiger was increased, and an additional 100 mm .
plate was added by means of conical bolt to the front
portion of the hull. The superstructure received a
frontal armour of 200 mm. thickness. The rest of the
vehicle carried 80 mm. plates throughout.
Visibility from the fighting compartment was poor,
only forward vision being provided.

THE 8,8 cm . GUN

The 8,8 cm. Pak 43/2 L/7 l wa the only armament the Tlrt! sa111e reJ1icle fro11-r rl1e reczr, sl101i•i11g 1J1e lorc;u/ 0{1J1e e11gine c'1111part-
vehicle carried. It was mounted in limited traverse. 111e11t t111cl orl1er st<>'' t1ge. •

145
T11•0 o_( 1/1e Por. c/1(· l er i111i1. d11ri11 1l1e '" t p ric1tl in 1942. TJ1e; 1urr t tl'r r l'ersed~

.._,£Jo, t im ,h mun.ti n h· - '. 1in ri ti . lo -r ng rot tion. · h ba i rmour of th t n

h a 4 /41 mou t d n lit trail rrju"""" ·th l 00 m . f n I · I t r tai . r ·n r -
htl th Pa 3 fi t , I · ilhou tt ru if rm 1
1 n , d. · r ry hi r i u to tt1
m t!nt. · h h rt r un ' ti th p n -- d. nt a t' Ii n n ti t in u i' · nd
h a rt· u1 rl ·t ' 1 r hi l tint n i .1 Ital
•
e · ral r d lop d. t , tl1 4 /1 fitt 21 m. h ' -t rm unt n n th ' h ' I f
•
to t.h h -n.
I P· 4 /2 m unt in th 11 r h Ti r wa
'
' l . ont m lated. But m -

• •
I f: nt and th k 4 / ·n t · J . d r. imi1 ii r tt t f; i I i h th n h I h' l h
• •
p n d d i r d ign t t11e · K 43. . fOJ a d b fi r lt re h d t. h pr to p
h . hi , 1 a o Ii htl 1 n r than th t •
gr n unt d nti-t n k 4 n . 43/41. r ult o t i ri n in d urin th
lthough th e ign t d /71 th y · er in f. t
1

1 tr t ht·n in ali ra ill r rd ra..,., th

71· Ii r in 1 n th . hi p ·n
r un o ub _d1 d . · t · n of .. lied ~ Ramm hie le . h
th ne t nti . . t n · u p du d by ith r id du in upp to \ r · b ii i 11[ I r ii -
rId . it . i · p I · i I ad · Aorlid d. In or to in r th ir r diu o t1 n
mmuniti it co 1 . netra · I 7 m of 0° lo · rm · r fu ·1 tr . i l r t u .J t . th unit .
•
h m n r1~11 r 2 y r . · r h in .t· t tJ1i r ui . nt~ pr ann Ju
Ith u h m unition i n d for thi prin n mo 1 of a hi I hi 11 a1

b
•
n t t h rt.. nt i u . r ~u.ll d ~· mm- i ng t p 1 I h I h1

.
it mu t ut h ·uc mmuniti _n n ith· r r tt d v ith a turtl -Jik u· rt1n , '

n n · I ti u rly d -I in i f th hi. h in h 1- ik fr 11tal cti n. or th

a c~ · nd r l r i p r th ri r a pro i by 1e n of a I r __ i I
1 i\ - I "l 1

• • /71 u·n I gl i ·l t . i n .r u , t ...... . . · t d

1
ut th
d. tr ~ ny r ur i 1· i Ii _I t n unt _r ra ti bility f u h ' n a . th r
t I t , ny rm I , 1
in thi · t n . r r b n th rin t .
, mmuni Li n. L n t nly ould n t t it t r t but •

h pr ~ tit . I d d in i . , h , h· I · 1 1 y
. n u rin tl1e d· tru tion of b th ehicl nd er - .
r .. r t ti n - th h n ly r n l ar 1Ji pi ,,,,.E
/rot' rl1 1n l <1l/(1fi 11c1f1!1e '' · po 1 r plt111t pt1rt1ll I to,_,,, 11
- on ·ma hin n 4 nd t o · --m c1 n u 1

•
oc:cup_ in 1/1 • c n i11 compartn1ef1f alt110 t c:c1n111/et /.l'.
t J1 r. 1

in · t i rr nge nt nd th rly hi I
·1 t h lpl g i · t l -· rang tt C' r · ·
uni ub u n l ip 'th 11 .. m un ..'""-
machin un 34 in th b er ~ by th radio op ~to .
..._.. ._. i - ui pm nt n i d ·f i r an r n -
mitt r ( u 5 . nd u 2 ·. Intern I communic tion
p . id d.

PORSCHE VAR A IN · S
r , i tt1n u ·. prod u ti o , h ule
-i an i d · 1. th n iy
0 rmo·11r d t· r u h · h y
. r m th rt p u . i n · , h fi · h' i
r t id - f, r hi pur . h 'le th r t of th
pr du tio aft r th cha i l1 n . m -l d · a
m . d o I _ tt Ci m .J ti n th unit r a ·n - - in
. 1 ntin and r t i · · ith _II b _t ul y-
n d rrno r . u r t - u . 1

1· I n
( b 11-m· un t m hi ) , i t l] d in th
fr nt la f th ,u - r tru tur r · i · in nc ry
146
 - '
•

•• ••
•
•
•
• •

A \/{/e 1•1eu i>} tl1e Elef(1nt sl1t>us tl1e t.irr11oi1rt1<l .•;z1pe1 \trt1,·111r<' 11-/11cl1
replt1cecl tl1R rott1t111g t11rret of 1/1e Por clze Tiger Tl1e c1rci1fl1r 1r1d< 111<1t1on
011 1J1e ~1cle o_f tire /1z1/J 1' U\ vr1g111c1lll ci11 (.' 'ICc1pe J1c11cl1 for 1/1e clrtler. Lcitt•r
it 1rt1s ,~/i1n111t1te<I cor11pletel} .

Tl1i\ t111it ll'll \ i11te11c/e,/ tc> beccJ1t1e tltc.' ,,,,,;,, Ger111c1n ta11k e11gi11e .,t<1rti11g
111 19.f 5. It 11el•er rec1c/1e<l 1/1e stc1ge of 111ass p1o<l11c.·ti(1J1110\t'el't'r .

•
•

Tl1c' t1<lclit1<111c1/ <1r111or1r hc1/te<I tc1 tl1e Elc·(c11

•
1t'j 1111// 1, c/cc1r/,·
•
risihlc• it1 1/1i.,
pict11re.

Type 102 in the Por che de ign programme was the

a]ready-mentioned Tiger with hydraulic instead of
electric drive. One prototype of thi erie was equip-
ped with a Voith ~, ITA._, tran mis ion and had, unlike
previous models, two radial engine blo\ver to provide
neces ary cooling air for the tran mission. Thi~ test
vehicle had the designation Type l 03. Tests were al o
conducted to investigate the feasibility of using half a
Volkswagen engine with two cylinder only a a starting l'
Co11ti11i1011s f<1i/i,res e'<perie11ce<I i1J1 tit<' lO·cJ·fit1<Jer air-cooled t<ink
motor for the air-cooled tank engines. e11g 111<i\ pro1npted Por 'icl1e t11 creute tl / 6-c.rl111dt!r tlie'ie/ e11J(ine desigr1ed to
Tl1e redesign of the Tiger tank, ordered by the Ord- replace tl1e f cJ)'bac/1 '' arer-(·ooled Tiger pol' er 11lu111 011/l' a f ei' et1gir1e \
uj 1/1if} kit1d ''ere h11i/1 h_l Grc1:-S1111t11er111g-P,111/..er.
nance Department in the autumn of 1942, initiated at
Par cl1e both Type 180 and 181. The Ordnance de!:>igna-
tion was VK 4502 (P). The designs now had inclined
armour plates . follo\ving the trend of' the tin1e. Both
model again appeared as drawings only. Ho\vever, The di advantage of the dual engine arrangement
the turret, as in the ca e of the Tiger I development, were obviot1s and eventually led to the de ign of a brand
wa put in production. It was used for the first 50 units new power plant which incorporated the combined
of the Hen chel version of Tiger II, the so-called '•King experience of all previous attempt~. Oe5igned by both
Tiger''. Type 180 had a proposed petrol-electric drive, Porsche and Graz-Simmering-Pauker of Vienna, a
while its counterpart, Type 181, wa intended to receive a 16-cylinder air-cooled die cl engine was conceived,
hydraulic drive train. T\vo basic Jayout version appeared \Vhich \Vas suppo ed to deliver approximately 700 b.h.p.
on the dra\ving board : one had tl1e conventional With a total displacement of 37 litre . it wa intended to
arrangement with the fighting compartment in the front become the tandard tank engine of the German
section of the vel1icle, while the econd placed the turret armoured forces. Only a fc\v trial engines were com-
towards the rear. No changes were contemplated in the pleted when the \var came to an end. Under the de igna-
engine of these t\vo types. Two parallel power plant tion ··sLa 16'' (Porsche Type 212), one was installed in a
were envisaged, however._ and a diesel version \Va Jagdtiger, where it perfor111ed rather promisingly. Un-
investigated . Fuel inject1on for tl1e Otto engine \Va5 al o fortunately , the new engine demanded a modification of
examined. the Tiger hull, thus delaying even further thi~ mt1cl1-
147
 h,. 11e \' El
> fa11/ ,\ of tll /tr t r>rodtl 11011 ri111 di1ri1z ft> t trtctl at tile IA ~11fc1CT r . i11 rr/in. Tl1e g1t11 f11tlflll ii . 'tVilll lll tlr lllft.litio11af prote fir111 lJ/1/J/it•{/
!a1er 011 .

- • •
•
n inn att • 'n .. . . yti d r n1
' ith 'n
•
ulpul of 7 0 b.h.p'. the en 1n a I I t n to
u fi r th a r m f u ,( r h p I

•
). ith that t to or ch l rd lop-
m n n '

P OYM T
•
11 r n nd nti-t n
.
1
.
t .
· 1po 1
ortly · 0 ' thinn1n, n
... . urnpaign in I 41 fore d th rn1an i 1 m
int m n · ma k hi t , Jut· n m, r d r th
rm t 'ndu try nd the u f , tu ... 0

.n m ili t rt i t nt ,.,,
n th i b ·. · h d · b , n . . . ."""'
• •
~or1
.... &.& ..... w n t1 t n m, r
th i · it u . t ~ n. th , y rm u1· If-
p o ·l un u t d n · n ~ Im t I t tan 1

r ~ar 1•ic11 { 1/1 le/atzl pr erv cl at tl1e b rc/i 1i Pro ''ing ror1nd . h ·i . t f h hi · 1 h d th i1· h ting . om-
11' 11 · t/J r1 i11rt:rfv ·kin.'! ur11 z1r />lule of t/1 . 11p 1 ·1 '' tur i d ,on 1no 1
r1ncm 'llil·le jrom l 43. 11 ~ c·o,zc 111ri lrar /1 i11 1/1 r ar p/ar ' of 1/1e p tm -n op n on h t p. h t r oluti n pro id d
1-

up r 1r11ctt1r, r1· d r tlr ' j ti 11 of t' tt1ptJ· cart rid e clurin c 111 at.
1
fi r 11- u h u ·J r1n r n · uIJy- I d
aJ1tl al o ( 1/1 far er or1e) or 1/1e r 11'101 al tif the · z,n.
ul1-tr hi 1 Ii in ti th r t in turr t an

~l e ·I af1r 1n11011red r coi· r ,. Irie I lac A- cl rh z1ppletn ~111ur)· tirtr1c1i1r o.f rl1e 1c111k ,f, 1r .\' r ver ion .
,
•
•
•
•

•
•

148
 •

•
• •
• •
•

T •
•

7·,r<J Efc~/llll /\ A11c>cA e<I 11111 c/11ri11J? till' \t1111111l'I' <~//c•11s1re 111 R11 ~~il1 i11 J11lr 1943. 11' \ig11c)ci l<J A r111,r Grc>Llf' \f<>tl c•I, r/1c1 1111r1/1c r11 <1r111 <~I tl1e pi11c·er f1ltJl'e1nc'111
c1,~t1111511/1c~ K1t1 'k "ic1/1e11r 1/1e.r H<"'fE' 1111c1/J/c ft> pr<Jliclt• <'Tl<>llgl1rr1t1111<•11tt1111f<Jr111<' 6<•r111<111 c1tlc1ck. D c'f<' r111111ccl R11 <1\tc111 rt '''tc111cc• 'if<>/Jpc·c/ t!1c c1fle11\i1·c· t111cl
f<Jrc·ecl tf1c• Ger111t1111, '''' ' '' 1J1c• c/c>/c•11i;it'C'.

witf1 their gun mot1nted in li111ited traver5e. Both ----~~-·

•
--- • •

ce:1tegories existed side by ide for almost t\VO years before

the latter became predominant. Eventu<tlly tl1e e vehicle&
replaced to a large extent the conventional battle tank as
German tactics responded to the defensive nature of
warr~1 rc tO\\ ard the end of the European conflict. Tl1e
Ferdi11and 01·, a& it was l'tter called, tl1e Elefa11t. was 5ome-
tl1ir1g in bet\veen. The nece sity of having to use all con-
ceivable means to balance tl1e situation forced tl1e
Gern1£1ns to utilise all available equipment. Ninety
cl1assi were around~ they had to be used. They becarne • •

equipment for two battalions of an armoured regiment Bc11rlc~ <'.\'fJ<'fi<·11cc i11 51c1/i11grc1<I 11rt>111JJl<'CI H ill<•r tc1 cle111c1t1d c1 Vf!lli( le
(Pctnzer Abte1lung 654). Eacl1 battalion had three com- ec11.ttfJ{Jl"(/ 11·11!1 ' ' .Sll/1<'r.\ truc1111 ,. ,.,,,,,,;,;,. t>/ rc1t11111111g £1ttcl t/e\ tf<>} 111g
hl11/di11f!' A11 orcler to Pt)r\ cl1l! r1..1 \ttlte<I 111 tltr\ H l)Otle11 1110£'1..·Uf> t>J rl1t!
pe:tnie plus a headqt1arter · and supply section. Eacl1 • R c1t11111· TiJ!.£'t ...
con1pany consisted of three platoons witl1 fotir Elefant
each . The headquarters company had tv.·o Elefants, one
Panzer III and a number of soft-skinned vehicle&. With used for this purpose proved unable to move these heavy
re5erve,,unit allocc1ted to thee ot1tfits, the total number vehicle . Howe\er the bulk of them were 01nel1ow
of ta11k destroyer vehicles per battalion amoL1nted to 44. recovered. reconditioned and re-used on other parts of
Tl1ey were intended to be used for break-through of the front. They disappeared rather rapidly fro1n the
defensive lines and for engagement against enemy tanks, scene becat1se of spare-part shortages . and the fact that
anti-tank gLtns and artillery. Normally, two companies copper for the electrical components \va in too short
attacked in t\.VO front ecl1elons, wl1ile the third company supply. Retno\ed from the Eastern Front. some of them
acted as a back-up unit. saw action in Italy in 1944. where road condition oon
n1ade it impossible for tl1ese vehicles to oper<:lte. They
JULY OFFENSIVE, 1943 were either abandoned . captt1red or de troyed by their
On 5tl1 July l 943 the gr·eat German offensive, Operation own cre\VS.
Citadel. started in the area of Bjelgorod in Ru ia. A To su1n up. it ~11ould be en1phasi ed that the proto-
total of 17 arn1oured, three armoured infantry and 16 type Porsche vehicles served a definite technical purpose,
infantry divisions attacked in a pincer 1novement nortl1 nan1ely to explore a]) po ibiliLie of a petrol-electric
and south of K u1·sk, against heavily fortified Russian drive train. Tl1is development fot1nd its clim<1x in the
position in an attempt to change the cot1r e or the war. adaptation of its feature during the con5trt1ction of the
All the Elefants a signed to Army Group Model in the large<;t armoured fighting vehicle ever built, the 187 ton
north participated. But they could not fulfill their PzKpt\v Maus. It was proven beyond any doubt, ho\v-
oblig£1tio11. Mechanically unreJiable becat1se of the com- ever, that a strictly technical solution~ without considera-
plicated technical layot1t. J1ort of arnrnunition beca u e tion for military nece itie , cot1ld only be a compromi e
of lirni ted storage, and unable to defend themselveS> at the best, and these findings were ratl1er drastically
agctinst determined clo c-range attack , they were never demon~trated during the brief battlefield appearance of
able to t1tilise the potential of tl1eir powerful gun. Tl1e the E1efc1n t.
attack bogged do\vn after ix mile and mo t of the Thus. \Ve can conclt1de that we h'tve been introduced
vehicle which could not be retrieved fell into Russian to an interesting arn1oured fighting vel1icle, reflecting in
f1,1nds during tl1e enst1ing cot1nter-c.1ttc.1cks. Remov<.11 of its O\\'n way the geniu of it de igner. Profe~sor Dr. F .
incapacitated equip1nent from the b<:1ttlefield "''as a Porsche. who held proved yet again that he cou Id master
trying task . since the 18 l . half-track tractors normally any conceivable area of mechanical design.
149
GG
- =

-
(1)
-
C'O
<l>
a> -
·-
.__ a>
- ....
Q) -
O> ~
: ~cr
- I
(1) <l>
N <l>
cro .c.
-
CL~
 •

er an u e eav
· aus an
by Jo n F. Milsom
D- l the c ur o _ the~ ar th erman direct d a gun in the . ig . r ( , ) wa d · u ed nd th n · or ch
larg am unt fr ur · l th 1
I pn1 nt f . up r- · • ::t k t t· rt \ rk . n ·1 . h' ·i Im L!nt ;;1 12 11.
a y annour d fighting chicles ranging in ight rl 1. u n in · r l in g tu rr t r a · n · t . r n· ti '. .
fron1 I t , I 5 0 t n . pa t from a u p r h a 1
-un .n l n1 .. gun ' f i r p q i men . c a, ial
c· rri· g c ll d rill nd h If- ·rap 11 n1or r 1
7 5, m. gun ' as · 1 · i rp r't d.
Karl whic ctu II . u d i · o · r tio ) onl , t\\ o
1

t thi tim r ch till r id nt of th Pan r

v hicle , both tank · , r tually bLJ ilt. w th mn1 i i n n ry in ti nt i· I d ll t hi Io
1a u ( th. -I 00.
u ,)a r Iation hip .. ith itl r. pu h th d ign of u r-
Jt · unc rt· in ju t ho m h th men in tl1 . r1n· n h · nk . - d . mpf Kni , kamp f .n
1

u rian
1

nk indu try g n _rally i· in th utur of h a uu~. r . on h olh r hand of tl1 o ·ni n that tc1n · f thi
tank . 1 he nd of th a -, ,ill th , ngi r int rr - jz di not h much futur . l1 n th p1 j t
gat d I· i1ned that th y 'I o po to ti h fir t ugg t d th hi I a r ~ r r m n1 u l
v hicl a irn ractical in comba · nd un c n mical . ( · mrn t 11). 11 ey . r in n t - r t in p i r
r uc i n r ourc . It i uit po i I that th ir I i th t 11 LJ : ort o a 11 r . ai rm ur
tori , . r c lo red b I re
1
ri nee.. any t . i r ui r 1n nt 'f t b :
1942 . niany ni n mu l ha ~ lt dift - ently b att . two ron : 200 mm.
M · u e hicle ere ta ed at that tim tog th r ith id : 180 m .
.n - l 00. 0th ty 1

r to u ' turr t mount1n · Track . uard : l · -m ..

128 mm. gun (on ayout 110\ d 1 0 min. un) a 1. rrtfr nt:22 mm.
main ·_r1nam nt witt1 a . a i . I 7 mm. un. h rmour Turr t i nd r a : 2 0 m i.
about 0 :%' hea ier than on th i er II . · h
(d,\;J i ht 11 r chi or ani t1 n I . 1-in1 ril r p n i bl -
of th · Mau .a b ut 200 t n and that of th -JOO for d i~ning th 1n~ - hin thi . ~1i I 'A' ii l1 -- a.
ab ul J 50 ton . r tl1 u ,, P r cl1e w I ping gi n h 1

r , h ty num r 20'". Th al f · ur
all hi own con1pon - t 'nd th -1 'a to u i . . . r 11 h d rt in r pon ib'lit. in onn tion itl1 th ht1 Jl. 1

p n nt until I rg r
1 1
r - ant
\ r. d v I p . Po · h ·l th(t h · h uld d ign ct • i r- 1

o h d · Iopm nt r p o r . in quit , I ly nd o1 . di 1 n in for th · hi I but · ' o r-ru d

th r i n · d u ·. t th t ' t th nd . f th . · r i.-t r t 11ad by P - r n he rot1n fin uffi i n tim . Dc-t. .ml r-
ce d com - 1e·t ly. , ir r· ft ngin \ · to u in ead. o tipul· -
ti n r m,a d t , t}1 i . j ht r p rfor1n --1n f
THE MAUS DEVELOPMENT H STORY th ta k and th - ·tr n1 I· titud ~i n to · r che i
On J n · · th 1 42 r 11 \'a · t r\ i in rli1 b
1
1 nm r tri in h r than in th a f th j r. h
i t I 1· ~ nd p r. h LI ti on f _tti n th · . m. L171 t· k · . rom 11 n to -. kn \\ n · u ( · · · u ).
J52
 •

.. • ..

•••

• •

Fi i'<' rit>u ~ ,,j 1/1< ~1t111\ (/11ri11g ti\ tr1c1/s.

1
u 1itl1 ti 55-ttJlt H'<'1g/11 \et on 1/1e \t1per\trL1Ctt1re t 1>u·11rtl\ 1!1t• rt1t1r £1/ t l1e i·ehicle t o ';tn111/t1te tl1e 111r r et ,t•l1icl1 u·as 110 1
i·<·t fc>111p/c>t e<I. It l l , , ., r> ' er ~?Ofl . /011g .

The Maus was an effort to give a relatively large it by far the mo t practical method of obtaining light
armament protection and 360 degree traver e, together steering of an ultra-heavy vehicle. It was decided,
with the most adequate mobility. It \Vas Porsche's however, to redesign the system.
opinion that the vehic1e should not be classed as a tank Towards the end of 1942 the Heereswaffenamt
in the strict sense of the word , but as a heavily-armoured appointed a Col. Haenel to act in the capacity as chaser
mobile pil1-box. to all fir1ns who \vere involved in the construction of the
As with his Tiger design, Porsche decided to use Mou e. His directive was to pay continual visit to all
electric tran mi sion aga in but thi wa ~ of course, such firrns, threatening them with seriou penaltie if
before the use of copper was given as one of the official they fell bel1ind schedule in their work. Haenel's fir t
rea on for the rejection of Tiger (P). He tate . however ~ visit to Stuttgart was on December 18th 1942 when he
that he would l1ave used it in any case as he con~idered i sued orders that the Mouse was to be completed and
151
•

('J11h~\ ' c'f tl1e · -JOO pr£Jtl>ll/1l) 11 ·a 1z11l c·1111111/C! l 11•/1 11111, Lrc1r en<l<1cl ftt \ifa. 1945. TJ1c parric1/(1· 111i 11 )d ,.,~J11 l, 11 < cclplztrt•cl h)· th Ilic . It ll'O 69 c·1n
/011g ( u i1/1,1t1t bt1rrt>/ <~l ' rl1t111 J

re d y fi r ri a I n ay t 11 I 4 3. hi - ·a n t r lly Janu 21 t t - hi hall ut tand"ng ma ·or p int v r

011 1 · r b ing m 1~ hum r u than · n thin el i u d n i a d cidcd to pu hon ith th proje t
and no noti a tak n. a f; · t · po ibl . Th nly di ordant - ic ap ar . t
Ii h ly fi r th· t th nd f · o mb r a hitch 11 · n th· l o ni pk mpf (repre nting •
o urr d aim] r- ~nz intimat d th t thy c uld n t riif.6) v h p iti · e that th hicl . would pro
u ply th · i I . n in hi h r h had proposea l be quit · un t rabl.
ti . on1 other p i 1, n. in a th 1

9, an 1
or he '\ ag in ummon d to rlin n bru ry
I. . ngin hich th r ~ re had to u ··n pit of 2nd l 94 - and · a in rm y n l h t 11 1n u t
or ch d ir fa .I. e gine. It a found th t thi inc r orat fla . -thr r rrying I 0 0 ~itr o fu I.
n~ine coul only in · ta11 in n in ted po ition H ai - th t ·t could not . d ne ut a o r-ruled . nd
n· c it ting th · pro i ·on of a vertical gear train to .. t Id l _ t th fl m -th . r a on id r d to b
brin th dri dow t the l -el f th 1 n rator ha t. n ti .
..>..>·

hen vent o ny int re t on J nua 4th 1943 t thi tim it p ar that th arli t po ibl com-
h n h a r re t rlin for th p u rpo e o pletion of th ou a on id r d · n1 t r reat
, h wing iti r riod I f tl1 u . itl r ho urg n y and tl1 a · f u th r \•• r u e me in -
on id r bl int r .t ·ul no on t omm n or b t n th eere n . mt nd r n t ti
u g t. on . \ re m d . the co _, tra tin rm l tutt rt n e ru' ry 0th.
.r affi n mt 11 th m nufacturer prole ag in t h in I . i n ·f
the fl m -th O\ r on . round th t it w uJd cau· con-
'
• , id r<J bl d l y in delivery date but it a· gain
i i d upo . t th nd of the m eting it a re d
th· t 11 fi rr r1 uId d th i _t m t bu l no a t ta I d t ·
- r t.
J1e n ity for -tting tl1 fl m ·thr w the
dtr ct au f m jor hang in d i n i .. a hang
r m t. r i n-bar to I t .- · rin _ u p n · n. hi
n it t d by th ct h t a n w _ p n ·on y t m
not b n , ign d, ·t h int n ti n i ng to u ig r
I 11 r ( ·) u en i n unit . h t d t il d e1gl t · · · imat
154
111<• pc1rtic1l/_11 <"<Jt11pletc><l tJro1c11J·pe of 111< E-100 ''''' IJ<'<~11 l1c1i\tt•ti 011 to c1 l<)ll' f"(' <c)ler_l' trt1i/er f<JI' ,,~111c>rc1/ b; ''' cc1ptor\

had come out at 179· 3 metric tons but th1~ h(td increased the amount of copper being used, o Rabe (Por cl1e"s
lightly and \Vith the addition of the fla1ne-thrower chief engineer) \va~ sent to Zahnradfa brik of Friedreicl1 -
(4900Kg) the total increase amounted to slightly more hafen to discuss plans for using the well-known ZF
than 5~ 0{ . T11is could only be catered for by tl1e inclu5ion electro-1nagnetic gearbox. developed by thi fi1-n1 before
of two additional suspension units (one on each side) the war ttnd by no\\' further developed to pro'.-ide seven
but as there was not enough room to acco1n1nodate them ratios. Wiedtnan. a director of ZF, reft1 ed to do any-
thi solt1tion was not practicable. In colle:1boration with thing withot1t an OKH contract and as this was not
Skoda it was therefore decided to adopt a in1ple volute forthco111ing the matter \vas dropped and tl1e manu-
spring suspension as time \Vas all-important <tnd Porsche facture of the electric drive was continued without
did not wi h to de ign a new torsion-bar layout in a al tera ti on.
hurry and without time for proper n1echanical testing. On July 16th, the MB 509 engine arrived at Stuttgart
This appear to be the complete explanation for Porsche's and \Vas sent to the Technical ln5titute for further trials
departure from 11is favourite fo1 rn of suspension. both of itself and of the cooling system . under Profe~~or
At the end of February 1943 exten ive test of the Kamm. The only n1odification nece ary to convert the
somewhat complex engine cooling arrangen1ents were engine from aircraft to tank use had been minor detail
carried out at the Technical Institute of Stuttgart under to perinit operation in an inverted po ition and a lower-
the supervision of Professor Kamm. These were found ing of compression-ratio and boost pressure in order to
to be quite satisfactory. allow for lo\ver grade f ue1. o t1-ouble~ were experienced
Speer paid an unexpected visit to the Stuttgart offices on these tests.
on April 6th 1943 and remained for half-an-hour At the beginning of Augu tit wa decided to construct
inspecting a full-size wooden model of the Mouse. a second prototype tank as Dain1ler-Benz could now
On April 10th order were received to take the mode] upply a die el engine n1odified from the MB 517 motor
to Berchtesgaden, doubtless as a result of Speer's boat engine.
in pection. It was accordingly di n1antled and packed up Alkett had begun a sembly of the fir t tank on August
but on April 16th the order was cancelled so it was re- lst when Krupp intin1ated that they could not keep their
assembled again. On May 6th the order came through delivery date on account of interruption by air-raids.
for the second time and the model was finally inspected A very significant date is October 27th 1943 when
by Hitler at the Fiihrerhauptquartier at Rastenburg on Po1· che and Rabe 1net Speer in Berlin and were told that
May l4th 1943. Complaints were n1ade that the size of no arrangements were going to be made for the eventual
the tank made the 12 . 8 cm. gun like a child' Loy and production of the Mou ·e. Ho\vever, the con truction of
accordingly Krupp wa ordered to prepare (l new turret Mouse I (with MB 509 petrol engine) and Mouse II
mounting a 15 cm. gun . the coaxictl 7 . 5 cn1. to be relained. (\vith MB 517 die el engine) wa to be cor1t1nued. (Speer
It seems hardly probable that Hitler would have ordered and Saur stated that this project helped to clarify their
a larger gun on purely ae thetic ground~ but in point of ideas on the optimum ize of heavy tank . In Saur'
fact it does appear that this is \vhat actually occurred. opinion 80 tons was the economic limit in weight).
The Heere waffenamt now began to complain about Krupp upplied the hull in the middle of Septen1 her
155
 ·· lin n. urin t t · e , t · r J th·
•
·h n i J t up ri . t · th . 9 an m
dd1ti on, · p cial · nifold cooling rrangement
1
d
_. . . in ord r t ·r m the tr ubl p ri
ith th trol -ngin .
h - n ·n ·n II ·n nt
tr,aig t umm r do it hou.t trial hi a at the
..,J-.inn · ng f m. r nd · a on in tru ti n . from
_h 0 th r a on o th in truction not b in
n n. n a r· .I um r d · rf th n ·in , a
t rt d and im di t I br "t rank ha· t thi b in
tr , d to f; uIt - li m n t f , n · n · n rat r.
1

n th middl of arc anorh r n in a·

d 11 r to u - m rf r h · ·-n t a tear
Ret1r 1 i u of tl1t. p(1r1ic1lll' 1 lJ '>11rl l tf .. -100 prc>tvt}pe.
1 l1e 1c111k 11'.Cl"i
44 Cl11 ll'Jlfe.
tt r to ·n talJ it. he e re urn d to · tutt: art on pril
r ha in · m I t th ir jo nd 1
f u11y run th
n i ut th y tat that t tank h d not 1

nd i n
.

u t th m m n f h ir d tur .
•
hu t 1
ou ituation t h · nd f th
1
r ITI
n,d u m 't 1 tri~ 1run · t 1 ett n m r _J l '94 · a :
23rd I 4 i I 5-ton igl1t 'n pl· . o th turr t. '' ' "OU I ' it n ·n ' nd I 2 cm.
-hi ri 1 ti o a , it nt nd n ry /5 · n 7 - m. 1
• n I t a_ ll
Ot J944 th t n nt o · b lin n n r tutt rt
1

•
t t. d.
fi r . ·- t n .i t ri · I th ta t tin o u ~ d t -'°'.. 1
...
b ' OU I ' it ut n tu r t
rr d i h riv· n e e tri 1 . unt t d.
t i I .r
r'll.... ry tr u l .. f re - t _ r l 1
furth r nin rot ty - r i riou f
a o pri f ilur and j · Lated that t ould on tru tion., nd oduction lan h d n m d fo
h ti li htl ·a h n int 150. h eh· 1 at , Im d rf blo n up by th
produ ·on. her a_o a b ring ·1ure in th erman, .
au ili ry. e r hi h c ld a . t d for
a no tr u bl h - ·. n e ri · c it h th i m I
n tl1 t t-rig. tr, n tr ubl n r i in t d - 1 pment of th -1 ta , - I
· pie Ii r ducti b ut both of hi h p t ul r than that of th · au and . ince it a .
p " d · ·r · n m rli r. n- mplet d t th n ·ng · ta · ot a gr a de l
r ~"_ dn · r rt d th t th ·. in - xc ]Jent · ' ilab]e on thi ·I . or thi rea on a full
•
it 1 i b1 tu r t , t' n k . it n i it h · f t h i 1 d ri , ti n ft au · g' n but on a
c r - nt a-r t , ion of th tr· c . ano u ra bil',t parti' 1 one 1

h -1 0.
d r, - ount rfi · . man r l · n Th r, · namt kn th t . h uld it1 r
i c r mud and hard urf: ce nd in nd nt d i, . b ild ry m n up r .. h vy tank th y1

.b h h · tn d ' rIier l t of ·i · n t ul h o u · c tru tion and

hi l re ut 1t a t ld Z d n i _ th t th re ult th -y n hich could mo t ·
u di hin that h a tl1 r did. h. ·ndi- ui It. u h hi I . n - d to o t Dr. Po r h ,
t ry io I r i tan co b llyi g and i ou . 0 · inall n h 1 gi en n or r · build
. . ""'pl' in .. y th h n rl n lly hi h ati f tr . k r- f th Royal i r ca11 d th
idth 1ly · idth. h m imum on a ha d 7 ·l i r- u . hi h · er a c ll d in
u f: 'th ull tor · .ed l .. h. nd n f: r o·f th - I 00. th r ult h e- i er1n t ff
a ning the eld to mini . um a
.. A/ ... d of 22 k.p.h. of die u der th di e tion 0 ' r. ch wer.::o.
""'""r r d. J n to th , . tfi na mt t n •-. t n
t ut thi tim i tru tion r giv n to or che th ignofv hi .hwa omm n - at rie r nJun
it 1· hat t pl t t nk, ith u. r t nd un 0th 194 . h • l 00 , on o a hol r n - of ne
· to r ad by ,u n . ar1110 ure,d g tin ehi l
1 ignated th · ( - t i k-
u I t, be tilt ith th 5 l 7 n in 1

•
lun = . lo m nt) ri .* , th · nd o h r
arri · d at obiing n n a h 20th 1944 nd · put on i ·rt . e unde ly n _r P ,d rb .
on id 1ntil h tim h n in li r . . m n r n to g i or room in the
nM r th r t t rr t · rriv d from ru p in a fighting comp rtme11t f th 'rt · n n c · "tate by h
bar ·ft d y lat r th un arri d to' ·a e r uir m n of larg r- libre · mmunition
(l2 . n 7 m. /36 · l g h r with th ithout incr ing h · t ri r dim n i n appr ci bly.
p " red t a J" nd 11 - h r turr t fi tin . Jun - Thi un illingn - to incr - th terior dimen: · n
9 h th t urr t h. m 1 nd 1 ·· t · th t n ~~ prompt b 1): Ii tion f th t t th t r ou
( • ru e i r · n urth r trial r ·t t d. i t - I r r r e . ge o to I hi I ei ht· th r f r
!

h _ry i factory nd p rforman"""" h · -th o p hould be a minimum and

Ii htl do -btl · dt1 to t f: t th t th turr t (2 . h f: th t th r, ere limit ti n in i for
r th r J th n 5 n (th
• ...,'-l i ht r iou ly
th ginnin of 0 tob r ord re . ived • h th r : - ( ton ) · -10 ( 1 t 11 ) · -2 25- 3
o nd th t · . to · umm r dorf. t n )· -50 ( 0 t n ·nth r r pl · m nt)· -75 (7 · tons-
Imm diat ly aft r thi . th B 517 n in _rri .d a ig r I an II r p] m nt).

15
 • •

"JI •
•

;~- ..
.l

.. -
,
.)

•
'

CIV.\C ''fJ of left <;(tit• of E-100 l1t1!/ sl1tJlt'i11g tl1e /t,g.\ 11\et( for Sl'C1,r111g 111<1s '''e <1r111or1rc•<I ~1clt• '>kirt."i.

strategic mobility. To achieve maximum u e of pace in ba ed on the Maybach HL-230 P30. This 12-cylinder V
the fighting compartment and to increa e the fighting engine developed 700 h.p. at 3000 r.p.m., \Vhich would
ability of the tank, it was decided to do a\vay with have resulted in the low power1 weight ratio of about
torsion-bar suspension and to eliminate the power-train 5 h.p./ton. A modified HL 234 engine with Bosch fuel
from the crew compartment. The r·esult was a new injection developing 900 h.p. was completed. With
exterior-fitted suspension and a combined transmission, super-charging this engine was to have developed
steering and final drive system packed into as small a between 1000 and 1200 h.p., which \vould have raised the
space as possible for mounting in the rear of the engine. power/weight ratio to 8·5 h.p./ton.
The posjtioning of the power-train in the engine com- Tl1e gearbox was a Maybach 8-speed OG 40 12168.
parttnent was expected to improve accessibility to a The steering systcn1 (the same as used on the Tiger) was
considerable degree, in addition to saving weight and built by Henschel Werke at Kassel. Tt1e tracks were
space. In the design of this new vehicle the maintenance built by Adler. The M.A.N. suspension consisted of two-
factor was to play a much more important part than had wheeled single prings in overlapping arrangement with
been the case in previous models. Another reason given two guide lugs\ suspended by doubJe spiral springs
for the elimination of the tor ion-bar suspension was outside the hull. There were hock-ab or·bers on the
the desire to install a floor escape hatch in tanks, hereto- inside. In co1nbat a 1-metre steel track we:1 to be used .
fore impo sible with the interleaved wheel and tors1on- which would have given a ground-pre sure of 19·9 p.s.i.
bar suspension. Belleville washer springing was used For rail transport a special new track wa5 to be mounted.
instead and fitted externally, in an interleaved arrange- Frontal armour was 200 mm. at 30 and ~ide armour
ment. The suspension system was developed by Dr. 120 mm. All armour v. as interlocked. A crane was fitted
Lel1r of M.A.N. at Augsburg. A regards tl1e de ign of the for lifting protection skirts and ammunition.
new suspension units, a low spring rate was desirable to The turret was made by Fried. Krupp, Essen, and was
aid in reducing the pitch rate of the vehicle a low as very similar to that of the Mouse. As its completion was
possible. delayed, an equally heavy trial turret wa to have been
Dr. Jenschke stated that the vehicle as a tank was mounted for driving tests. The final turret wa to have
obsolete as soon as the drawings \Vere finished, due to had a gun of calibre 17.4 or 15 cm. When the hull wa
inability to load the weapons in a turret mount. completed, however, it was determined that the \eh1cle
E-100 used the same engine as the E 50/75 models, did not have ufficient space to carry a 50 ton turret a
157
Ti111 tt' t · t>} plt r fi(1/( · <I ,\t'f~zbl<:cl t.~-100 ht•{,1g t.:. c1T11111ecl bJ Jtt11t)ric !111 trc1cJ{J"> . Tlz<> tc111k ~"'' · 111 b£· .. l 'T11 l1iglJ .

lc11r ltilll c111<I 111rret . 1:1,-ucl11l·1it11111la11 l1£1tl hee11111l1dt..• {1Jr 150 11{ tl1e c I 11111 tt111k .\ . 11lt' \tart.\ 1rt1~ JOO. lt11 lt111g. cif ,1·/1icl1 /(t c111 l 'O~ h(lfft'I rJ 1'L1rl1111 .
It u £1 36 '111 11•i,it• c111cl 366 <111 /1j 11.

158
 originally planned. After son1e time, therefore. it was in this transverse section all the near ide sponson was
decided to alter t11e vehicle to an SP mot1nting. oc~upied by am111unition stowage, and the offside partly
Altl1ough the vehicle was produced at Adler Werke, so. and partly by batteries and the auxiliary po\ver plant.
assembly of the one prototype was half-con1plete at The rear pa1~1 hot1sed the propul~ive motor~ in tl1e spon-
Henschel proving ground~ (Haustenbeck near P£1der- sons., the ot1tput from the e being inwards into the \\ell
born) when the war ended. The project had been officially throtlgh tran':>fer ca es to the final drive and '>procket
discontinued in ~Tune 1944. wrnch \vere. of c ourse. in the suspension tunnels. Tl1e
cre\v in t11e fighting compartment \.Ve1·e situated above the
MAUS DESCRIPTION i11ain genera tor and thus . bei11g c ut off fro1n the f 01wa1·d
Tl1e general impression given by the interior of the compartment by the engine and its cooling apparatus,
Maus, in spite of its size . is that it is filled almost com- had no access to it. The air intake was situated centrally
pletely with a 1nass of complicated macl1inery. Tl1e above the engine and ju~t behind the driver and wireless
production difficulties facing tl1e designer were main1y as operator. The wireless and inter-communication equip-
follows: menl w<\s ituated on the operator's rigl1t-l1and side in
a) Overall size and weight 185 ton~ the fonvard compar·tment. The centre of gravity of the
b) A 12,8 c111. gun with 38 in. recoil and 60 in. t1m111uni - \'ehicle was furtl1er to tl1e rear than ust1a1 . This was due to
lion. This necessitated an O\'erall turret-ring the location of the turret . The armour was all rolled with
diameter of 9 ft . 7 in. the exception of the turret front and mantlet. A 100 mm.
c) Armour plate thickness up to 350 mm. (horizontal thick front belly plate was incorporated as an anti-mine
across the driver~s front) and strong frontal floor precaution. One access door Vt'as pr0\ ided for the driver
1

armour against mines and operator and two for the ere\\' in the turret. Some of
d) Performanc(}-top speed of~ 12t m.p.h. the periscopes were of conventional de~ign~ bL1t others
e) Power unit to provide 1200 h.p. were specially prepared for subn1e1·sion. The driver'ls
f) Transmission seat had two pos itions~ one for driving in action (closed
g) Suspension · incorporating small vertical move- do\vn) and the other for d1·iv1ng with the escape hatch
ments open and the driver"'s head exposed. Hi controls were
h) TransporLation . fixed relative to tl1e seat po ition ~ ~o that 11e was given
The hull of the vehicle was designed as an armoured the maximum of comfort in bott1 positions.
box~ spanning the entire width of the chassis. The track Two types of engine were considered compression-
and suspension arrangements caused two sponsons ignition (MB 517) or air-cooled petrol (DB 603).
which ran the length of the vehicle and were large since Porsche \Va5 in fa\tour of the compression-ignition type.
the tracks were more tl1an 43 inches wide. There wa5 The two engines used in the Maus I and II were develop-
thus a central well also running the length of the tank ments of the Daimler-Benz 603 inverted 12-cy1inder V
filled with the complicated power and drive train. The petrol aircraft engine. That in the Maus I was called tl1e
front portion of the tank had the fuel tanks in each Mercedes-Benz 509 and retained the petrol-injection
· sponson, and in the con1partment which contained the characteristics, while that in tJ1e Maus 11 was called
drjver and the wireless ope1·ator in the central well the Mercedes-Be1iz 517 being installed in the upright
bet ween them. Behind this was the compartment con- position and converted to C.I. There was a 2-cylinder
taining the engine, cooling fans, radiators etc. Again, 8 h.p. auxiliary petrol engine \Vhich wa5 used to give
behind this, the main generator was placed ce11trally~ and pres~urization to the cre\v compartment for air-con-

1'11 tit' s t 11r1·1.>1 l 1 ,,·,;.1ig lr1. ti 50 rc111\ t111tl

1
lt ti.\ t1 l111t).~/ ii le111i<:al t c> rl1e 111rre t i11te11<l ecl fo r 1J1e 1:,·.100

159
-
ditionin purpo ' nd nor llin . t · al o u for . h t ·r t ith
tt h - b rpt i n d i·r-=- t ·
h t·ng i n- a It ti n nd b .tt ry hargin . di t rt n b th h ri ntal en r c mponnint of
he . l ctric tran mi ion pro id he tank ith · n io] n blo . ' · n t it. ,t \ of ]1 on tr ti n
infin·t l ari' , I ran f rat . t ~ rovi d a ma i rl k i o u d. t I ight th · u ·. t
m an of elf- tar ·n nd u d for pr ul ·on durin ith rm m nt , r d - o-u mmuni ion a 0
u b r i n th r in - r id 11 l"'v t · . t - . , t io 11y f ba1 n . i e ~ u 1
y ond tank. h · J tri m t r d I d l"':: .... ing wa u for th 1 in ar111 m nl h un
.f20 · .p.h. t 3,10 r.p.m. ' h - im l rd ti n UL/r'".r 1r. d . I ri lly. h un origina ll u · d fi d
l"Y.a_.ar hat cou1d ' hift d or ith r road or cro - ammunition Ith gl1 ro i i n . r ma , 1 rt u~~
untry r ti n. · h fin' I a r k, ar ammuniti n or th m in r1n m nt.
th u n ion tunn l . h u. ubm r i I to 26 fi l. r- t
...... h m ti ig "Ii in . · n-b r i air ·o r ing uppl · d to hi I t
u p n ·ion th typ LI' on t]1 rin1 nt o h ubn1, r d · y th oth r ti e on th ri r b ink.
J~ t· ) i r d b t nd n du p L ri th turr t ·ntoth · 1·,n ing chi d
con id ati n. ater a nc n ,e ni n I Jut- n
.. ..... l.L
' t i all l r~ o th i .
prin ty u d. hi n i t 24 ·a ntic I u l ri g r .11 r · o t un ' r t u d init1· II
oubt roll a mbl , in 12 ie · 6 on 11 id . t · fo · e a n ir-in a , nd th r r · n i .
Th r h t ro -b m hi h in turn n h. m h ank to prop I it If b it o n
war-ur d l th hull nd pron. h p "r f b . p tr l- 1 tri in . hi h an onea
t a 11 d to d ubl ra - 11n. and prung by on count of th c th t uJJ po engin
dou bl , ii - rin . r ad - 11 1 r i111i lar o h uld t d lo d tha di · . u lti i d ith1

th i r JI a d t I r·1 · i 11 ru r inn r . ooling air n h· u t di o · 1 and th ' t pp d

1

lin r . h tr k - r1 pr u y lt r i h unli ly h t t t u r t - in I . h
K .t n fa br i · nd \ r 44 i h i . ,uc e or ch me in or orat d on trunk o 1 . he
, he· turret practi ally id nti al that int, nde 1 r· t n mi i n f . h n u. ut · r .a
fi r t , - 00. Th fr nt roun and n i t d of upp · d to it by abl from n t , r icle t t 'on d on
·n I l ,t '· hr r hull and tur1 r r ,u , ·. n th ri r a . ratjn . in ir th t c u t u
th u , r in round t M p n. o urr t pu h nd ull ch other a ro . hi J. t r o,, r" ti n
ith ut arm· m nt but a n1 u tin ~ r · 2 , m. (incl din lin ) oul a t n ab ut hr -
2 . t· (originaJly r fi rr to· 2 m. K -. 44 quart _r o,f n l1our. n r chin the r.~ r · nk the er
a.u )) and a ·al 7 - c1 * ~ \ 44 / · \ a u r uld di mount t , r th trun e c.
n tru tion. h adl in . hich th . un
1 r unt . . .'-"" irl r t a deigndt cary h' hi
a r f! rred to u i g ( u ra ·1 ). h gun n . . . Jl n m" d an u .
wa nt to n ·n o m b r 1943 for in tri J .
t \ a ] t n d _ n tu I1· t n1 u nt I cm. p ·n f
1 r , l ,·t ca 1i r 1 n . n ' · 1""· ~ AFV/Weapon Series di or:
·n tall in th rr t r f a 1 · · 11 h art· r. DUNCA C 0

SPEC FICATIO - PA l -
RJAG R TIGER (P) ELEFA
Ge1
n r Communication
Designation 8,8 cm . Panzerjager 43 / 2 (L/ 71 ) Tiger P (SdKfz 184) WI et (transmitter / rece1ver / in1.ercom) : u 5 ,and Fu 2 .
Cr w : Six- commander, g nner. two loaders. radio operator. driver
Battle weight· 65 metric tons Armour
Power / weight ratio 8, 1 6 h p ./ ton,
1

· ach nable ch1rom1um - molybdenum armour

Ground pressure· 3·44 lb ,/ s . in. Plate. All we ded construction , superstructure partially i nterlock. di
Austentic weldjng .
o·m n ·on · H 11· 1N o e 100 +
100 mm 31 ·, fronl plate 1 GO - 100 mm. 11111 • lower
Len th overall. 26 fl 8 in. sides 80 mm. vertical, upper sides 80 mm vert1ca,1, rear 80 mm ., 45°.
Hetght · 9 ft 10 1n. top 30 mm . hor~zoni t I, botto m 20
1

+ 30 mm. horizon1al.
Wi th. 11 ft 1 1n Superstructure Front 200 mm 22 °. sides 80 mm. 31 •, rear 80 mm. 19 •.
Track centres: 8 ft 9 1n . roof 30 mm 87 e.
Track width· 25 1n Engine · Two Maybach '' HL 120 TAM", gasoli1n e 60 ° V - 12 cylinder.
water -cooled 11 .867 cm . tog,e ther 530 b hp t 3.000 r p m
Arm m nt Fuel 240 ganonis 1n two tanks on ach side of the engine compartment
Main armament·: One 8.8 cm StuK 43 / 2 IL / 71 1n limited 1raverse, centre Transmission · Porsche / Siemens-Schuckert petrol· electr ic dr ive with on1e
fighting compartment ge rator and two electr,cal drive motors. Final drive ratio 16,75 ·1.
Auxahary armaiment. One m chine gt.Jn 34 {loosely stowed 1ns1de veh1cre) . three peeds Electrica steering, hydro -pneoma 1c assisted .
two sub -machine guns 38. (Lat,er veh icles wrth lb 11 -mounte machine Suspension . Three bog1es each with two bog1e wheels each per srde.
,g un 34 1n the bow .) mounted on pr1ma y and econdary arm . 1ncorporat1ng long1tud1nal
t.orsion bars
Fir Co rol Steel -rimmed road wheels 31 1n d iameter .
Maximum elevation + 14 • to 8• Track . Type Kgs 62/ 16 40 / 130. cast manga1nese steel. 109 links per track .
Maximum 1r ver e to 14 ° 24 1n. wide. track pitch 5 1n
reverse and elevation by hand wheels through gunner.
F1r1ng system: Electric primer operat d by trigger Electric I Sy te
12 V. dynamo Two 12 V. batteries 120 Ah . Bosch B G 4 / 24. 4 h.p.
Am · unitio starter motof
50 rounds for BS mm . gun
600 rounds for 7.9 mm machine gun P rfor c
384 rounds for 9 mm sub machine gu1
n. ax1mum road peed 1 2 5 m.p.h
Cross-country speed 6 m.p .h.
S19htin nd Va ion a~1mum gradient. 22 °.
Ma i n armament. One S 1. Zf 1 a binocular tel scope Trench crossing: 10 ft 6 i'n.
Commander· Telescope.
1

Wad ng depth. 4 ft
Clr1ver. Telescope Road range street 95 m iles Cross - cou ,n try 55 miles
 •

Edited by DUNCAN CROW

FUTURE TITLES WILL INCLUDE:
Commando and Twister and High Mobility be possible to achie\'C any measure of standardisation
'''ilh other tracked vehicles used by the same army?
Vehicles Major-General DL1ncan \vr1tcs from close pcrson,11
by Christopher F. Foss experience of comn1anding tankc; and A PCs as they \VOrkcd
A1thot1gl1 mair1ly dc\'Oted to tl1e n1t1lti-111ission Commando together on tt1c battlefield.
vehicle (\\ l1icl1 saw cxtensi\ e C)Cl'\ icc \Vitt1 tl1e United
1 1 1

States Arn1y in Vietnan1), and the Lockheed T\\ ister (\\ l1ich
1

consists of t\\'O bodies joined by a pi, ot.:1l }Oke), this

1 French Armoured Cars
Pt·ofile by a Jeadi11g expert 011 n1oder11 A FVs also dc5>cribes by Major James Bingham
the Cl1r)'slcr SWAT and the n1ore interesting 11.igh mobility/ Major Bingt1an1. \\'t1osc Profiles or1 French tanks ha\'C been
off road \'el1icles dc,·eloped b)' tt1c US 1\rr11y in the past fc\v \\'idely acclaimed. continues the story of French AFVs
)'ears: Gan1a Goat, Terra Stc.1r, PATA, XM-759 M'lrginal \vitl1 this Profile on Frerich armoured cars from before
Terr<iin Vel1icle, Air Roll, and the GOER series. World War l t1ntil the end of World War I I.

AMX-30
by R. M. Ogorkiewicz
''At first sigl1t the AMX-30 looks like most otl1er battle
tar1ks of tl1e 1960s and 1970s. Or1 closer i11spection, how-
ever, it proves to differ from its contemporaries in several
important respects. In fact, its de5ign embodies a 11umber
of no\:el ideas "'hich make it one of tl1c most interesting
of modern battle tanks ...
''The most unusual feature of the AMX-30 from the start
has been its main armament. This consists of a 105mm gun
wl1ich fites a unique type of armour-piercing shaped
charge projectile ... ,.
Armoured Personnel Carriers - A Survey
by Major-General N. W. Duncan
This P1·ofi/e is concerned \v·ith battlefield n1ob1lity. It
SLtrveys the development of the armoured per-:,or111el
carrier concept in tl1e leading military r1ations from tl1e
first carriers of World War l to the sopl1i°'.)ticatcd \Cl1icles
of today. It looks at the ··battle taxi., design~ of the U11ited
Statc5, Great Britain, F1·ancc, Germany, J,1pan, S\\Cdcn,
Sv. itzcrland and the U .S.S.R., and ~ccs how they rcc;,pond
to the k~t1cstions that \\ere r'1ised after World War II
experience: What v.as to be the ft1tL1re role of tl1c .,.\PC?
Wt1at v. as to be the size of the A PC ir1 ter11l":> of carrying
1 Japanese armour from its beginnings after World War I
capacity? What \\ capons should the Al>C cat ry? Could
1
tank " be ttscd as APCs on the lines of tl1e \\'{lr-tir11e Kar1-
garoo? What tl1ick11ess of armour \\'US rcqt1ircd? Wottld it
PT- 76
by Christopher F. Foss
The Ru5sian ampt1ibious light tank and it~ variants,
inclt1ding the BTR- 50 series. the ASU 85, and the
BMP 76PB.
Russian Armoured Wheeled Vehicles
by John F. Milsom
Although little attention v.as paid by the Russians to the
development of armoured v. heeled \'ehicles in the USSR
during World War II, since the end of that \\'ar an ex-
tensive range of such vehicles has appeared, inspired
predominantly b)' tl1e appearance of the armoured personnel
•
carrier.
S.P. Guns, Amphibious Tanks, Specialized
Armour, and APCs of the Imperial
Japanese Army
by Lieutenant-General Tomio Hara,
I. J . A. Retd.
This Profile completes General Hara ~s brilliant account of
until 1945. As \\'ith his t\VO previous Profiles it contains a
remarkable pictorial CO\'erage. The General \\'as in\'Olved in
Japanese tar1k de\·elopment from its outset.

AFV /Weapons Profiles are available in the United Kingdom from your local book or model shop.
If you have difficulty in obtaining these please write direct to the publishers
Profile Publications Limited Coburg House Sheet Street Windsor Berks SL4 1 EB
Recommended UK selling price as from 1 August 1973:
45p each (AFV 55 is 50p)

AFV /Weapons Profiles are also available in The United States of America at the following
recommended retail selling price:
1-42 inclusive $1.50 43 onwards $2.00
For prompt mail order or information on Profiles in the USA write to:
Ralph M. Neil
Profile Publications Limited P.O. Box 2368 Culver City California 90230
Please add to orders 25c for postage etc. Check or Money order only.
 Just published

Armoure
• . - . •

e , 1c es 1n

oume .,
erman s •

o or ar

Contents The s ory of German armour is a remarkable one. Years

Part 1 of study by dedicated professionals, superb· leadership
Panzerkampfwagen I and II on the ba lefield, sound traini1ng and high tactical skill,
Panzerkampfwagen Ill combined with a forceful and imaginative equipment
Panzerkampfwagen 38{t) and 35(t) policy, produced some nota.ble achievements. Good
Panzerkampfw,agen l V though the German equipment was, however, rt was
Pan.z erkampfw.agen V Panther above all, the Germans' abiility to achieve surprise, their
,P anzerkampfwagen VI Tiger (P) tefant great flex 'bility and the fighting spirit and de ermina ion
Maus (+E - 100) of their s,oldiers, which were the telling factors in many .
SdKfz 250 and 25·1 of their successes.
Self-Propelled Weapon·s
Armoured Cars

Both these aspects of German armoured excellenc ·in

Part 2
Only Movement Brings Victory, a survey of
the achievements of German armour.
Fo lowed by thumbnail histories of 40 Panzer
divisions ( ·ncluding the SS Panzer Divisions) _
ISBN 0 85383 004 5
World War II - the equipment and its use on the attle -
field - are covered in detail int.h is volume.
312 pa,g es with 28 in full -colour, contains over100,0·0 0
words, 600 photographs and- 2 indices. Case bound,
colou1
r jacket. Size 10' a x7 'ltJ in Price £6.00.

Available from your local book or model shop or in ca·se of difficulty write direct to the
publishers.:

Profile Publications Limi ed

Coburg House Sheet Street
Windsor Berks SL41EB

AFV Wea1>or1 Profile and · s contents a e copyright Pr nled 1n Engl nd by E:dw1n nell printer Yeov1
1I. Prof 111 Publ1cationsl1m1ted, Co bur Hou .
She~t St reet, Windsor, Berkshire, England Septemb , 1 g 73

• -