Tiger Porsche(Tiger (P)) was in reality a projected alternative to Henschel's Tiger. Eventually, it was the latter that was adopted and massively participated in real battles. And the Porsche Tiger remained at the project stage. But in the game, the developers have corrected this shortcoming, so that everyone can upgrade this heavy German tank of the seventh level and participate in virtual battles on it.
Overall, the Porsche Tiger is balanced machine, so it is unlikely to be subject to serious balance changes. Serious pluses in the form of an accurate penetrating gun and strong armor are balanced by no less serious minuses in the form of a front transmission and weak dynamics, which makes this tank a desirable target for artillery. But first things first.
Let's start with the pros, which the Tiger Porsche still has more. Firstly, this is a top gun KwK 43 L/71 caliber 88 mm, which pierces with an ordinary projectile 203 mm and sub-caliber - 237 mm. Average damage is 240 units at rate of fire at 6.98 rounds in a minute. Eventually, damage per minute is 1675 units. Good accuracy (0.34) is balanced by long reduction (2.9).
Damage per minute can hardly be called good, it is frankly low. For example, in the Soviet IP it is about 1900 units. But excellent accuracy and penetration allows the Porsche Tiger to hit targets at any distance, which the same IS is no longer capable of. Only the 2.9 seconds convergence spoils the impression, in medium-range firefights, when you are noticed and you need to shoot as quickly as possible, this can be a serious problem. But, in the end, excellent penetration and accuracy must be balanced with something.
Secondly, booking leaves a pleasant impression: in the forehead of the hull there are several plates with a thickness of 200 mm. The declared armor of the forehead of the turret is noticeably thinner: only 100 mm, but this is compensated by the strong mantlet of the gun. The armor of the sides and stern (the same applies to the tower) is 80 mm. But the problem is that the Porsche Tiger in the frontal projection has several large vulnerable areas: the lower frontal part (80 mm), small beveled plates on the sides of the bar above the upper frontal part (60 mm in total) and large observation devices (there is no armor there in general, they break through absolutely everyone). And the mantlet of the gun has differentiated armor, so its penetration is not such a rarity.
An experienced opponent in close combat will easily pierce you, even if you hide the lower frontal part in the “headlights”, that is, those very beveled plates. In the clinch, the Tiger Porsche easily breaks into surveillance devices. But, firstly, the percentage of experienced players in random battles, to put it mildly, is low. Secondly, at medium and long distances, hitting vulnerable zones will already be pure chance. Like many well-armored tanks, the Tiger Porsche can effectively play "from the armor" at medium and long distances.
Third, review top tower is 380 meters, when you increase it with the help of coated optics - already 418 meters. On open maps, this is a significant advantage. Add here also an accurate penetrating tool. Fourthly, this is a margin of safety of 1450 units, which is only 50 units less than the maximum indicator for this level.
Main disadvantage Tiger Porsche is a weak mobility. Declared top speed 35 km / h can only be reached from the hill, since the specific power is just under 11 hp. per ton. The chassis turning speed is 22 degrees per second, while the cross-country ability is so small that on soft soils the speed drops to almost 10 km / h. Even the turret turns slowly (23 degrees per second), so if you get hit by a caterpillar, spinning the Porsche Tiger will not be a problem.
Another disadvantage is the front location of the transmission. What can I say, the Porsche Tiger is a German tank, so it often burns when it hits the lower frontal part. The ammunition rack, which is located in the front of the hull, as well as in the turret, is also often critical. It is highly not recommended to expose the sides for shots, but it can be difficult to do this: the Porsche Tiger, although it does not have a large width, is very long, it is easy to hit it even from long distances.
Another disadvantage is the mediocre elevation angles: the gun goes up to 17 degrees and down only 6. On hilly terrain, this can be a serious problem. Where American tanks can only show a strong front of the tower for a shot, you will have to move out with your whole hull and substitute, for example, a vulnerable lower part.
So, we have considered the main characteristics, now let's move on to tactics. In general, the Porsche Tiger is of course more suitable for medium and especially long-range firefights, in which you can realize an advantage in accuracy and visibility. But this does not mean that in close combat this German tank is completely defenseless. Of course, he has a large number of vulnerable zones in his forehead, but you don’t need to let the enemy target them: don’t stand still and constantly wag your body from side to side a little.
Heavy Soviet tanks will of course have an advantage in close combat due to their high burst damage, but their accuracy often makes it difficult to target vulnerable spots. Even with full mixing, they can miss. When encountering tanks of a higher level, do not forget to place the tank in a rhombus: the thickness of the frontal armor sheets is 200 mm, but they are located without any inclination, so most opponents of a higher level will pierce you directly in the forehead without any problems.
In general, if possible, you need to impose firefights on the enemy at long distances and play from cover. Don't forget the Porsche Tiger has low mobility, so both artillery and tank destroyers often shoot at it. But if you are at the top of the list (that is, you got into battle to mainly the fifth and sixth levels), then you should not sit back. Play from armor and a large margin of safety, push the direction and cover less armored allies.
Equipment selection not a big problem: rammer, drives and optics. The latter can be replaced with improved ventilation, but a significant increase in visibility is still preferable to a small increase in all the characteristics of the tank. It makes no sense to put a stereo tube: the Porsche Tiger is a heavy tank, so you will rarely have to stand still behind the bushes.
Skill selection and skills are also standard: repairs and the sixth sense of the commander are of paramount importance. Then you can take the fighting brotherhood or individual perks. For example, a loader has a good skill in non-contact ammunition, a driver has cleanliness and order. The radio operator should take radio interception to increase the already rather big view.
You should not change the fire extinguisher in the standard set of equipment for chocolate. As we said above, according to the German tradition, the transmission is in front, so fires when breaking through the lower frontal part are not uncommon. Of course, the skill of cleanliness and order reduces the likelihood of fires, but not by much.
As a conclusion, it is worth noting that the Porsche Tiger is a classic German car, focused primarily on long-range combat. It differs from many cars of this nation only in good forehead armor, which is a significant advantage.
On January 30, 1951, the "engineer of the century" Dr. Ferdinand Porsche died in Stuttgart. According to the results of the world rating, two of his creations at once - the Porsche 911 and the Volkswagen Beetle - entered the star five of the "cars of the century". Everyone knows him as a designer, but few people remember his work on German tanks during the Second World War, because as far as he was lucky in civil engineering, he was so unlucky in the construction of "death machines". Today, on the anniversary of the death of the designer, we will blow the dust off the archives and remember Porsche's military developments.
Grosstraktor
The first "breakthrough" of the Porsche engineer in the creation of tanks was the "Grosstraktor". In 1925, three whales of the machine industry "Rheinmetall-Borsig", "Daimler Benz" and "Krupp" participated in the competition for the development of a medium tank. His specifications were as follows: length 6 meters, width 2.4 meters, weight up to 15 tons and a 75 mm gun mounted in a rotating turret. The Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany to have tanks, and for conspiracy, each company had to use mild steel (6-14 millimeters) for the body of prototypes, the same as in the automotive industry.
Ferdinand Porsche was appointed engineer and designer of "Daimler Benz", supervising the project. He saw the Grosstraktor armed with a 75 mm KwK L/24 cannon - for 1925 it was a wonder how good it was. Also, the tank had to move both on land and on water. As a result, two prototypes were designed, both received an unsatisfactory rating and did not go into production.
By the way, all because of the same peace treaty, prototypes were tested in the USSR at the Kama training ground, both sides benefited - the Germans could, without violating agreements, test weapons, and Soviet designers adopted their most valuable experience.
PzKpfw VI Tiger (P)
Beneath this complicated letter designation lies a tank that robbed the "engineer of the century" of a lot of strength, a tank that was born as a result of endless disputes. Finally, the first tank of the German designer, who directly participated in the hostilities, was the Porsche Tiger. The history of the creation of "Tiger (P)" is closely connected with the creation of another "Tiger" - "Tiger Henschel" - the same legendary tank, which debuted in the battle on the Kursk Bulge.
A month before the attack on the USSR, the designers were given the task of creating a tank that could carry the latest 88-mm KwK 36 L / 56 cannon and weigh 50-60 tons. In April 1942, the first display and comparative tests of the "Tigers" took place, but the tests were unsuccessful. Compared to the development of Henschel, the Porsche car had better driving dynamics with better frontal armor, but had a drawback in the form of an expensive electric transmission and its frequent breakdowns. The product of the Henschel plant, with a relatively low cost of production, had a low speed and extreme "gluttony" of fuel. By chance, the "Tiger Henschel" went into mass production, and the production of "Tiger (P)" was limited to 5 machines.
Only one "Tiger" of the Porsche company is documented: in 1944, he participated in the battles on the Eastern Front in the region of Galicia.
"Ferdinand" or "Elephant"
On the morning of July 5, 1943, the soldiers of the Red Army defending near Kursk encountered amazing phenomenon- shells from the most powerful anti-tank guns bounced off the new German "monster", without causing him practically no harm. The first heavy self-propelled artillery mounts "Elephant" went into battle. Despite the small number of the series - only 90 pieces - this machine is one of the most famous representatives of the class of self-propelled guns, and a large number of legends are associated with it.
The development of this anti-tank vehicle is intertwined with Porsche's previous creation, the Tiger P. Trying not to attach importance to the lost struggle for the production of the "Tiger", the doctor did not stop working on improving the tank, and this time luck smiled at him. The German leadership insisted on the creation of a well-protected anti-tank artillery installation. At the end of September 1942, the Porsche Design Bureau was assigned to develop it, moreover, the project was to be based on the chassis from the Tiger P.
The tight design deadlines made themselves felt - the self-propelled guns built did not have a machine gun and slanted armor peeped from Soviet tanks. On the other hand, two 100-mm plates practically did not succumb to the guns of the allies, and the Ferdinand cannon easily pierced the Soviet T-34s from 2000 meters.
The new creation of the designer in the autumn of 1943 was renamed "Ferdinand".
Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus
The largest in the world of all the Panzerkampfwagen VIII tanks made in metal had the modest name "Mouse", although the weight of this "Mouse" was equal to the mass of three "Tigers" - 191 tons. For example, 20 elephants or two and a half thousand people weigh the same amount on average.
At the end of July 1942, the Porsche design bureau was instructed to begin work on a tank armed with a 128 mm or 150 mm gun. Development continued from 1942 to 1945 - the speed of construction was influenced by Soviet aircraft, which bombed German factories almost every week. That is why in all official papers the name of the tank was so inconspicuous - to protect against spies.
On December 24, 1943, the first trial run of the tank took place. By that time, the tower had not yet been built, and instead, a load corresponding to the mass of the tower was installed on the tank. The prototype showed very good maneuverability when it was able to leave the assembly shop that was cramped for it. According to the recollections of people who happened to drive the tank, the Maus was easier to drive than the average German tank Pz IV.
Until the middle of 1944, two more prototypes were built and many tests were carried out, in which the tank again and again showed very good results: after preparation, the Maus could overcome water obstacles along the bottom. The frontal armor was impenetrable for guns - 200 millimeters at an oblique angle, the stern and sides armor was only slightly inferior to the frontal armor. The gun of the 12.8 cm PaK 44 tank at the time of creation had no analogues in terms of firing range and armor penetration.
In the spring of 1945, three prototypes were at the training ground in Kumersdorf. In case the Red Army entered the range, all prototypes were prepared for destruction, which some German soldiers managed to do on April 21, 1945. Only one copy of the Maus has survived in the world - assembled from partially destroyed vehicles, it stands in the Armored Museum in Kubinka.
In the middle of 1941, Porsche presented an experimental heavy tank VK 3001 (P) or Typ 100 for testing. This vehicle had a number of characteristic features that distinguished it from other similar German-designed vehicles. Some of these differences were Negative influence on the project as a whole and led to the fact that the customer did not want to start mass production of new equipment. In addition, the development of a new version of the heavy tank under the designation VK 4501 (P) was already underway.
At the end of May 1941, the German command once again revised the requirements for a promising heavy tank. The experience of several previous projects showed that the new machine should have even thicker armor and an appropriate combat weight. When using armor up to 100 mm thick, the tank had to weigh about 45 tons. It was also necessary to use a powerful gun capable of penetrating up to 100-150 mm of armor at a distance of about 1 km. In accordance with these requirements, the development of two projects, known as VK 4501, was started.
Two organizations were involved in the development of a new armored vehicle. The project was designated VK 4501(H) by Henschel and VK 4501(P) by Porsche. Subsequently, the first project, which had the letter "H" in the title, received the approval of the customer, after which the new tank went into mass production. This machine was widely known under the name Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger. The second project ended less successfully, with fewer vehicles built.
Experienced tank VK 4501 (P) on trials. Photo Rascarcapaco.blogspot.ru
At Porsche new project received its own designation Typ 101. In addition, other names were used at different stages of development. Designations were used that reflected the combat weight of the vehicle (VK 4501), the serial number in the troops (Pz.Kpfw.VI), etc. Most of the renaming was carried out in accordance with the orders of the customer represented by the army.
In the new project, it was proposed to use the available developments as widely as possible, taking into account the updated requirements for technology. It was planned to keep the main provisions of the project, as well as make some changes to the armor and weapon system. This made it possible to speed up the development of the project, but at the same time fulfill the existing requirements. This approach made it possible to reduce the number of newly developed components and assemblies.
The existing building, created as part of the previous project, received enhanced armor. Its frontal part had to be assembled from sheets up to 100 mm thick, the protection of the sides and stern was assigned to 80 mm parts. Due to the change in the thickness of the armor, it was necessary to change the contours of the frontal part of the hull. In addition, the design of the upper part of the hull, which formed developed fender niches, was adjusted. Between the upper frontal and side parts there were beveled cheekbones. The 25-mm horizontal hull roof at the rear of the vehicle was connected to an inclined sheet.
Scheme of the Tiger(P) tank. Figure Rascarcapaco.blogspot.ru
Also, as part of the project, an updated version of the turret was developed, which was used on the heavy tank of the previous version. The tower had a vertical frontal sheet, and was also equipped with a curved part that served as the sides and stern. In terms of protection, the turret of the new tank did not differ from the hull and consisted of sheets up to 100 mm thick.
The layout of the VK 4501 (P) tank was to be completely borrowed from the previous project. In front of the hull were placed electric transmission units and some mechanical devices, behind which was placed the control compartment. The center of the hull accommodated the fighting compartment, and the power plant was located in the stern.
The VK 3001 (P) type armored vehicle was equipped with two 210 hp gasoline engines. To compensate for the increase in combat weight, the tank needed more powerful engines. As part of the VK 4501 (P) project, a new Typ 101 carburetor engine was developed. This product differed from its predecessor by one and a half times the volume and power of 310 hp. Two new engines were to be placed in the rear of the hull. Next to them were two Siemens sGV 275/24 electric generators with a capacity of 275 kW each. Using a set of cables, electricity was supplied to Siemens D1495a electric motors placed in front of the case. Through final drives, electric motors rotated the front drive wheels.
A promising heavy tank retained the basic principles of control proposed in the previous project. The driver could change the operation parameters of two gasoline engines, but the main control tool was a set of systems that allowed changing the parameters of the current supplied to the traction motors. Gasoline engines at the same time could work in the same mode.
An experimental chassis with a weight turret simulator on trials. Photo Chamberlain P., Doyle H. "The Complete Guide to German Tanks and Self-Propelled Guns of World War II"
Chassis with modifications borrowed from the previous tank. It was proposed to use six large-diameter twin road wheels on each side. The authors of the project abandoned the use of rubber tires, but retained the overall architecture of the chassis. The rollers were blocked in pairs, and their carts were mounted on torsion bars. To save space inside the car, the torsion bars were placed outside, and also placed along the hull. The drive wheels were placed in front of the chassis with a noticeable excess over the road wheels. In the stern there were guide wheels. The upper branch of the caterpillar lay on the track rollers, without the need for supporting rollers. For the VK 4501(Z) tank, two versions of tracks were developed. A product with a width of 500 mm was intended for transporting equipment by road and rail, and for operation in the field, a 600-mm caterpillar should be used.
The main armament of the tank was to be placed in a rotating turret. Initially, it was supposed to use a promising 88-mm gun as the "main caliber". Calculations showed that for such a tank gun it was necessary to increase the size of the fighting compartment, as well as bring the shoulder strap diameter to 2 m. cannon. In the future, problems with the fighting compartment were resolved, and the customer and developer chose the required type.
The main armament of the Type 101 heavy tank was decided to be an 8.8 cm KwK 36 tank gun with a 56-caliber barrel. This gun met the requirements of the customer regarding combat qualities, and also had acceptable dimensions and could be installed on a promising tank. It was proposed to complete the gun with a binocular telescopic sight and install it on a swinging system. With the help of turret rotation drives, circular horizontal guidance was provided. Elevation angles varied from -9° to +18°.
Checking the chassis on rough terrain. Photo aviarmor.net
On the same installation with the gun, it was proposed to mount a coaxial machine gun MG 34 of 7.92 mm caliber. It was initially decided to abandon the second machine gun in the installation of the frontal hull plate. Subsequently, the installation of the hull was nevertheless introduced into the project. The gunner had to control the coaxial machine gun, the gunner-radio operator had to control the course machine gun. Also, the crew could have several submachine guns used as self-defense weapons.
Due to the increase in the size of the hull and the fighting compartment, it was possible to place rather large and voluminous racks for ammunition in the tank. Ammunition 88-mm guns could consist of 64 shells. For use with a machine gun, it was proposed to transport over 4300 rounds of ammunition. There was also space for transporting six magazines to submachine guns with 192 rounds.
The crew of the VK 4501 (P) / Typ 101 tank was supposed to consist of five people. In front of the hull were the driver and radio operator. They could observe the situation with the help of hatches in the frontal and cheekbone sheets of the hull. Their workplaces had a set of all necessary controls. So, the driver had the means of controlling the machine, and the radio operator had two types of radio stations.
The study of technology. Photo Chamberlain P., Doyle H. "The Complete Guide to German Tanks and Self-Propelled Guns of World War II"
The tower had places for the gunner, commander and loader. The commander could observe through a set of viewing devices on his own turret. The loader had similar systems, but with smaller viewing angles. The gunner had to use the sight in his place. In the roof of the tower and on the turret, two hatches were provided for access to the inside of the car.
An interesting feature of the new project was the ergonomics of the fighting compartment and unusual way landing of the crew in their places. For a number of technical reasons, the tank turret was moved forward as much as possible, due to which its frontal part overlapped the roof of the control compartment, preventing it from being equipped with hatches. As a result, the entire crew of the tank had to get inside the vehicle only through two hatches in the turret roof. First, the driver and radio operator had to get into the tank, then the gunner, commander and loader had to climb into it. The landing was proposed to be carried out in the reverse order.
The growth of protection and firepower led to an increase in size and combat weight. The length of the Type 101 tank along the hull was 6.6 m, including the gun - 9.34 m. The width reached 3.4 m, height - 2.8 m. The combat weight significantly exceeded the required 45 tons and reached 57 tons. With such an increase in weight, the tank, according to calculations, had to reach speeds of up to 35 km / h. The power reserve did not exceed 105-110 km.
Tank with a turret on the track. Photo aviarmor.net
The preliminary version of the VK 4501(P) project was ready by the end of June 1941. Soon a document appeared that stipulated a schedule for the implementation of subsequent work. Also during this period, the project was given the additional name Tiger. Subsequently, in order to avoid confusion with a competing Henschel project, the Porsche tank was called the Tiger (P). The existing designations were also preserved. The signed documents, among other things, stipulated the participation in the project of various subcontractor firms, which were required to supply certain components.
According to reports, by the end of July 41, several agreements were signed on the supply of a significant number of components for new tanks. So, during a given period, Krupp had to assemble and send for assembly 100 hulls and the same number of turrets for the Tiger (P) tank. In accordance with these contracts and the approved plan, a hundred new armored vehicles were to go to the customer from spring to autumn 1942. There is also a widespread belief that the assembly of the first large batch of tanks was launched by the unauthorized decision of Ferdinand Porsche, but it contradicts other information.
The assembly of armored hulls for VK 4501(P) tanks started at the very end of 1941. The production of such products continued until the middle of the 42nd. The first towers, for various reasons, were released only in the middle of spring 1942, after which it was possible to start assembling prototypes. According to available data, within the framework of the first order, a total of no more than 65 chassis and only 15 towers were built, of which only 10 prototypes were assembled.
Transport VK 4501(P) railway. Photo Wiki.warthunder.ru
The first prototype of a promising heavy tank was tested at the end of the winter of 1942. Due to the lack of the required fighting compartment, it was decided not to equip the existing chassis with a turret, instead of which a weight simulator should have been used. The chassis showed not too high mobility characteristics. There were also problems with the operation of individual units. The first prototype performed poorly during factory tests, which is why it was sent for revision. Instead, the customer was presented for testing with the next machine of an experimental batch in a similar configuration.
By this time, the shortcomings of individual elements of the armored vehicle were identified. Thus, the engines of a new type had insufficient reliability and could not withstand prolonged operation at maximum power, which could lead to the destruction of their parts. Also, the developers and the customer were not satisfied with the design of the tower, which should have been improved. During May 1942, a voluminous list of necessary changes was formed that should have been made to certain components and assemblies of the machine.
Initially, the customer considered a heavy tank from Porsche as the favorite of the existing program. However, as the tests were carried out, the opinion of army specialists changed. Over time, the VK 4501 (H) tank began to be considered a more promising development. At the beginning of July 1942, a report was drawn up on joint tests of two armored vehicles, which noted the advantages of the Tiger (H) tank. To finalize the competing machine, according to experts, it took at least a year. Because of this, she was considered unsuitable for adoption and mass production.
Tank with a turret in the field. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
By the time the tests were over, the leadership of Nazi Germany had come to the conclusion that it was impossible to build two heavy tanks in parallel. different types. The industry was loaded with a mass of other orders, because of which a choice had to be made. After the appearance of the test report, the decision became obvious, but the further fate of the two heavy tanks was to be determined with the help of additional tests. In mid-November, comparative tests of two tanks took place, during which both vehicles showed not only advantages, but also disadvantages. However, the Henschel tank performed better than its competitor.
It was decided to put the Henschel development into a series, while the further development of the Typ 101 project was considered unpromising. Soon the tank VK 4501 (H) was adopted under the name Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger. The Tiger(P) project was closed due to lack of prospects on November 22, 42nd. An official document on such completion of the project was signed a little later, in December. By this time, eight experimental machines had been built, differing from each other in their configuration, equipment, purpose, etc. In addition, two buildings were built for testing, not equipped with internal units.
On December 10, the army demanded the development of two options for upgrading the existing tank using new engines and transmission units. The Typ 130 tank was supposed to get one Maybach HL 120TRM engine instead of two separate motors, and the Typ 131 project meant replacing the electric transmission with hydraulic systems. After the development of the updated projects was completed, it was planned to rebuild a certain number of the available VK 4501 (P) chassis according to them. In the future, almost all built armored vehicles received new engines.
ACS Elefant / Ferdinand. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
The constructed equipment was used for various purposes. So, prototypes of the "Type 101" were used in various new projects as a platform for testing new ideas and solutions. One of the fully equipped tanks, which received a turret and weapons, according to some sources, was sent to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1944 for testing in real combat conditions. This machine was used until mid-summer, when it was destroyed during one of the battles.
After the project was closed, it was decided to complete the laid down chassis of the VK 4501 (P) type, and also use them as the basis for new equipment. A total of 90 chassis were assembled, which, during completion and modernization, were equipped with new types of engines. Subsequently, these chassis were used in the construction of the Sturmgeschütz mit 8.8 cm StuK 43 or 8.8 cm StuK 43 Sfl L / 71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) self-propelled artillery mount with an 88-mm PaK 43 anti-tank gun. Later, these vehicles received a wide fame under the name Elefant/Ferdinand.
The Porsche VK 4501(P) / Typ 101 heavy tank project did not produce any real results. Several experimental vehicles were built, as well as a significant number of pre-production chassis. At the same time, only one fully equipped tank got into the army, which managed to participate in the war on the Eastern Front for some time. Other pre-production samples were idle until a certain time, after which it was decided to use them in the construction of new self-propelled guns. After such an alteration of the existing chassis, the production of VK 4501 (P) did not continue as unnecessary. The Henschel company managed to create a more successful version of the heavy tank, which, after fine-tuning, was put into service and sent into mass production. In the future, Porsche made an attempt to improve the existing project, but it was too late to correct the existing situation.
According to materials:
http://achtungpanzer.com/
http://aviarmor.net/
http://panther-panzer.de/
http://vn-parabellum.narod.ru/
Chamberlain P., Doyle H. A complete guide to German tanks and self-propelled guns of the Second World War. – M.: AST: Astrel, 2008.
Baryatinsky M.B. Heavy tank "Tiger" // Armor collection. 1998. No. 6.
F. Porsche began designing the tank in May 1941. The prototype under the index VK45.01 (P) began to be tested on April 20, 1942 (Hitler's birthday). The prototype outperformed its competitor VK36.01(H). But due to the expensive electronic transmission, it was not adopted. As a result, about 5 cars were built.
Introduction
In the game, Tiger (P) poses a big threat at the seventh levels. Why? Let's figure it out.Booking
The main trump card of the tank is his frontal armor hull, which is equal to 200 mm, which allows you to tank shells not only from classmates, but even from tanks of 8-9 levels. Compared to its competitor with 100mm frontal armor, this is an excellent indicator.
If you look at the armor towers, then she is strong there. 100mm mask itself and there is more behind it. Odnoklassniki do not penetrate even with golden shells. The sides and rear of the tower are only 80mm. The turret has a commander's cupola, which is very vulnerable compared to the one on the Tiger I.
with armor boards And stern the same situation. There is also 80mm, which is not very good, because. the tiger's ammo rack is located under the turret (there are situations when a level 5 std coming to your side or stern can greatly “harm”).
Driving performance
Tiger (P) in the top configuration has a 2x Porsche Typ 100/3 engine with 670 hp. which allows it to accelerate to 35 km / h, which is certainly lower than the Tiger I, but at the seventh level this is a good indicator. The stock Tiger (P) is equipped with two more engines: 2x Porsche Typ 100/1 Ausf. A (550 hp) - stock, 2x Porsche Typ 100/1 (600 hp) - pre-top. With stock engines, the comfort of playing a tiger may not yet appear, but in the top configuration the tiger is no longer like that (you want to play it more and more).Armament (penetration and damage are indicated on the bb)
You are offered four guns: 1 stock 75 mm Kw.K. 42 L/70 (with 150mm penetration and 135HP damage), 2-high explosive 105 mm Kw.K. L/28 (penetration 64mm and damage 350HP, very large spread), 3-pre-top 8.8 cm Kw.K. 36 L/56 (less penetration than stock 135mm, but decent damage 220HP), 4-top 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71 (with excellent penetration of 203mm, which easily penetrates tier 8 tanks, and an average damage of 240HP). Separately, we can also say that the top gun allows you to aim hatches and commander's turrets without much difficulty, and the aiming time is only 2.3 s. Of the shortcomings, only the low rate of fire (average only 1582 HP) is a very low indicator for a heavy tank of the seventh level, its competitor Tiger I has. With the same gun, it is 2150 HP.Combat tactics
All the capabilities of the tiger are manifested in urban conditions. Strong frontal armor and good mobility allow you to get to the desired point on the map without losing HP. An accurate cannon allows you to shoot on the go. But it's pointless on board. the armor of the sides is weak and there is an ammo rack under the turret, then you can very quickly end the battle for yourself.
Correct, when you only substitute the front part, so even level 9 tanks can ricochet on you when they hit your hull.
What modules are better to install?
The tank is very good without modules, but some can be put at your discretion:1-reinforced aiming drives (can be replaced with a rammer)
2-ventilation,
3-camouflage net (useful when fighting against level 9s)
Crew perks
The following perks are suitable for the crew:1-commander(light bulb, brotherhood in arms, repair and expert).
2-gunner(camouflage, brotherhood in arms, smooth turret rotation, sniper).
3-driver mechanic(off-road king, brotherhood in arms, smooth ride, ram master).
4-radio operator(radio interception, military brotherhood, repeater, from the last forces).
5-charging(intuition, combat brotherhood, non-contact ammo rack, desperate).
Conclusion
Perhaps some will ask the question: “Is it worth putting a top tower?” I answer: “I don’t see the point.” it does not speed up reloading, and of the pluses, only a view of +10 meters. And the top gun is also installed on the tower.In the end, I want to say that Tiger (P) is very powerful at its level, surpassing its classmates in many ways.
This concludes my guide, good luck on the battlefield!
Prepared by: Denzel Vasington1
The program for the creation of German heavy tanks started in 1937, but the work dragged on for a long time. Changes were constantly made to the design of tanks that had not yet been built. In this regard, in December 1939, work beganPorsche K. G. to create a new heavy tankType100, also known asVK 30.01 (P) . The development of this project led to the creation of another tank, the VK 45.01(P), or Pz.Kpfw.Tiger (P), to which today's article is dedicated. This vehicle, also often referred to as the "Tiger" Porsche, was adopted by the Wehrmacht and could even become the main heavy tank of the German army - if the circumstances were a little different.
Weight growth in previous dimensions
The VK 30.01 (P) was the first German heavy tank to combine thick armor with powerful armament, which made it possible to fight combat vehicles of the same class without any problems. But already in March 1941, when the weapons for the first-born Porsche K.G. it was still being approved, the question of more powerful weapons for this tank was raised. Germany was in full swing preparing for war with the Soviet Union, and German intelligence did not have reliable information about the tanks that were in service with the Red Army. Information came fragmentary and contradictory, they even featured combat vehicles weighing more than 100 tons.
Not surprisingly, the creators of the German heavy tank also considered more powerful guns than the tank version of the 8.8 cm Flak 18. Among them were the 10.5 cm Kw.K. L/47 and 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 with enlarged initial speed projectile. In May, a third candidate appeared - 8.8 cm Kw.K. L / 71, which was based on the ballistics of the 88 mm Flak 41 anti-aircraft gun.
Typ 101 diagram from an English reference book on German tanks prepared in 1947
The directions for the further development of German heavy tanks were approved at a meeting with Hitler on May 26, 1941. Then, once again, the question was raised that the Wehrmacht needed a tank gun capable of penetrating 100 mm thick armor at a distance of 1.5 kilometers. In addition, the requirements for the protection of heavy tanks were tightened. The thickness of the sides remained at the level of 60 mm, but the forehead of the hull and turret was increased to 100 mm. These changes affected both the VK 30.01 (P) and the machines developed by Henschel.
Since neither the VK 30.01 (H) nor the original VK 36.01 fit the new requirements, the Henschel designers began to design a new tank. This vehicle, designated VK 45.01(H), was based on developments from VK 36.01, and the turret was taken from VK 30.01(P). At the same time, the development of the VK 30.01(H) and VK 36.01 did not stop, that is, Henschel was now working on three heavy tanks at once.
As for Porsche, here at first it was about refining the Typ 100 to meet the new requirements. At the same time, the reinforcement of weapons was quickly abandoned here. It is sometimes claimed that, allegedly for the Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.E, the designers were considering the possibility of installing a 71-caliber 8.8 cm Kwk 43 gun as one of the upgrade options. In fact, it was supposed to be used from the very beginning. But the gun requested by Hitler turned out to be a "hostage" of the tower. Fitting such a gun into a turret designed by Krupp was unrealistic. By the way, Porsche himself wrote about this. So the idea of using 8.8 cm Kw.K. The L/71 in the VK 45.01 turret was nothing more than a wish that turned out to be impossible to fulfill.
Specification for VK 45.01(P) as of March 1942. As the further course of events showed, the estimate of the combat weight in the range of 52.5 tons turned out to be too optimistic
The design of the Typ 100 with reinforced armor led to disappointing conclusion. It turned out that the combat weight of the vehicle overcame the mark of 50 tons. With such an increase in mass, the previous power plant was not suitable. Other, more powerful motors were needed, and this entailed the need to remake the engine compartment. The increased mass also dictated the need to strengthen the chassis. Instead of modernization, the designers got a new tank, the development of which began in July 1941.
The car was designated Typ 101, the design bureau of Porsche assigned the designation Sonderfahrzeug II to the project. Also, in relation to this project, they began to use the VK 45.01 (P) index, which at the end of development was also applied to VK 30.01 (P). True, from the very beginning it was obvious that the 45-ton weight category indicated in the index is nothing more than a convention.
Scheme of the motor-transmission group Typ 101. Electric motors and drive wheels moved to the stern
Unlike Henschel, Porsche K.G. they did not radically alter the original Typ 101 project. The overall dimensions of the machine, as well as its turret, remained the same. However, the layout of the machine has changed a lot. The idea of a front-wheel drive was considered not the most successful. The disadvantages of such a scheme included the fact that it greatly complicated the maintenance of electric motors. To extract them, a hatch was required in the frontal part of the hull, which did not at all increase the resistance of the armor. Therefore, electric motors and drive wheels migrated to the rear of the tank.
Siemens-Schuckertwerke D1495a electric motors in the transmission compartment
The increased weight forced the Porsche K.G. design a new gasoline engine. It was made according to the V-10 scheme and had air cooling. The motor received the same index as the tank - Typ 101. Its volume increased to 15 liters, and its power - up to 310 horsepower at 2500 rpm. In total, two motors installed on the tank were supposed to produce 620 horsepower. Each engine was interlocked with a Siemens-Schuckertwerke aGV 275/24 generator. The generators were attached to the front of the engine. The modified fenders housed the cooling system fans, which drove air into the engine and transmission compartments. From the generators, current was supplied to two Siemens-Schuckertwerke D1495a electric motors.
The design of the aft hull VK 45.01 (P), the second of the built
Due to the reconfiguration, the hull had to be redone. Its length and general form almost did not change, but the stern part underwent a series of metamorphoses. The shape of the frontal part has also changed slightly. The thickness of the front sheet increased to 100 mm, and the sides and stern up to 80 mm. The engine compartment, which became the engine compartment, was redesigned accordingly. In addition, the fenders have increased quite a bit in height. To improve visibility, viewing devices appeared in the bevels of the front sheet.
The same body from the front
According to the original design, evacuation hatches were provided in the sides of the hull. They appeared here clearly thanks to the 6th Division of the Ordnance Department. Suffice it to recall that similar hatches were available on the Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.F, Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.J and VK 36.01, the creation of which the 6th department was directly involved in. The fact that the presence of the hatch weakens the board, as well as the fact that it was inconvenient to use these hatches, was not taken into account. The VK 45.01(P) hulls were made with cutouts for evacuation hatches, but this idea was quickly abandoned, not a single tank with such hatches was built. The holes had to be welded right at the factory.
But it was not possible to get rid of another rudiment. The fact is that from the Typ 101, the new heavy tank inherited the frontal part of the hull with a characteristic stepped design. Taking into account the bevels, it consisted of 6 parts. The weakened zones of the driver's viewing device and the machine gun mount were supplemented by an upper frontal sheet located at an angle of only 9 degrees to the normal.
Redesigned suspension and road wheels Typ 101
Unlike the hull, the chassis design has changed quite a lot. The designers abandoned the support rollers, and the support rollers received internal shock absorption. The design of the drive wheels and sloths has completely changed. Only the tracks remained unchanged, and, as it turned out later, only for a while.
Metamorphoses
Hitler ordered to produce 6 samples of VK 45.01(H) and VK 45.01(P) with the same towers. However, it was quickly decided to build 100 VK 45.01(P) of the first series at once without any prototypes. At that time, the brainchild of Porsche K.G. had higher priority. And the point here is by no means the friendship of Ferdinand Porsche with Hitler, Todt and other industrialists. Unlike Henschel, which had been designing a heavy tank for the fifth year by that time, Porsche K.G. completed tasks faster. And most importantly, the Porsche car looked more successful. As for potential contractors, such as Krupp, they didn't care whose car won. One way or another, contracts for the manufacture of hulls went to them.
The results of shelling the frontal part of the hull with armor-piercing shells 7.5 cm FK 16 n.A. As you can see, the sloped surfaces were not pierced, unlike the upper front plate.
On July 22, 1941, contract SS-2105803/41 was awarded to Krupp for 100 sets of armor. The next day, contract SS-210-5905/41 was signed for the manufacture of 100 turrets along with weapons. The guns were supplied by Wolf Buchau. The motors were supplied by Simmering-Graz-Pauker AG from Vienna, and the electrical equipment, including generators and electric motors, was supplied by Siemens-Schuckertwerke. The chassis was made by Škoda. Final assembly was done by the Nibelungenwerk in Sankt Valentin, Austria.
The Krupp concern coped with its work faster than anyone else. The first 4 VK 45.01(P) hulls were ready in December 1941, 3 more in January 1942, 12 in February and 9 in March. In total, up to July 1942, 64 corps were built.
Type 102 transmission diagram
An extremely unpleasant embarrassment happened to the corps in the spring of 1942. At the training ground in Kummersdorf, shelling was carried out from a distance of 100 meters with armor-piercing shells from a 7.5 cm FK 16 n.A. field gun. The lower front plate could not be penetrated, but the upper one was covered with holes. At the meeting on May 7, it was decided to surface hardening front sheets. Partially, such parts began to be introduced into hulls starting with number 150050, and completely - from 150060. In July, shelling tests were carried out, which showed that the situation had improved. However, all the tanks built by Nibelungenwerk had old hulls.
Complete Voith hydromechanical transmission
Changes were not limited to hardening only. Back in March 1942, it was decided to build half of the Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.P (this designation was used) in the Typ 102 variant, factory designation Sonderfahrzeug II HA. Typ 101, in turn, became known as Sonderfahrzeug II EA. The letter E meant electric transmission, and H - hydromechanical, from Voith. The total mass of all elements of the electric transmission reached 4.6 tons. At the same time, the hydromechanical transmission, although it was more than 2 times lighter than the electric one, also turned out to be very cumbersome, and in addition it had only a 2-speed gearbox.
On 23 March, Krupp was instructed to prepare 50 hulls to be fitted with the Voith transmission. By May, 10 hulls were completed, and Voith received an order for transmissions. According to CIOS, 20 sets of hydromechanical transmissions were manufactured. True, they never hit the tanks. A command was received to leave only one body for equipping with a hydromechanical transmission, and remake the rest back. The transmission was later tested on the Ferdinand tank destroyer. The car covered 2000 kilometers, while the results showed that the Voith development works worse than the Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.E transmission.
Installation project for the 10.5 cm Kw.K. 16/775
Another alternative development, which also did not go into the series, was other weapons. On October 30, 1941, the Škoda factory design bureau prepared a project for a 105-mm gun 10.5 cm Kw.K. 16/775. A gun with a barrel length of 40.6 calibers fit into the Krupp turret, subject to some alteration of the gun mantlet and the appearance of another commander's cupola. This development did not go further than the preliminary design. The performance of this gun looked unimpressive compared to the 8.8 cm Kw.K. 36L/56.
First prototype VK 45.01(P), April 1942. It was no longer an experimental, but the first production car.
The main problem with the VK 45.01(P) was the haste with which this tank was put into production. At the same time, the reason why the German leadership decided to start mass production of this tank, bypassing the production of prototypes, can be easily understood. Very soon after the attack on the USSR, the Germans realized that the potential of the Red Army was underestimated by them. This was also due to the T-34 and KV-1 tanks. The Wehrmacht needed a heavy tank like air.
The number 1 is visible on the turret, which means that the first turret is on the tank
The bottleneck of the tank hastily sent to the assembly line was the engine, produced by Simmering-Graz-Pauker. The first test vehicle was built in December 1941 and broke down minutes after launch. For several months, Porsche and Simmering have been working on fixing the deficiencies. On March 9, 1942, the second engine was delivered to the assembly plant, which worked like clockwork. After 2 days, the third motor arrived, also without any problems. On 10 April both engines left for the Nibelungenwerk. On the same day, the Krupp concern shipped the first tower.
The same car in the back. It turned out to be the only one on which tracks with a width of 500 mm were placed.
On April 18, the tank was ready and went to Hitler's headquarters. This machine received developed wings that protruded beyond the dimensions of the hull. The demonstration, which took place on April 20, the Fuhrer's birthday, was generally successful, but not everything went smoothly. It turned out that the problems with the engine had not gone away, and this was especially true of the cooling system. In addition, for such a heavy machine, 500 mm wide tracks turned out to be rather weak. The design of the machine required urgent changes. And all this against the background of the fact that in May 1942 Nibelungenwerk was supposed to release the first 10 tanks.
And by this time, Henschel, which had been marking time for years, was able to catch up with a competitor. On April 20, along with the first sample VK 45.01 (P), the first prototype VK 45.01 (H) flaunted in front of Hitler. The brainchild of Henschel was lighter and equipped with almost the same turret as the Porsche tank.
Fighting defects and administrative resources
The discovery during testing of defects thwarted the plan to produce 10 tanks in May 1942. Meanwhile, Krupp delivered 2 ordered turrets in April 1942, and 8 more in May. No towers were delivered in June. Changes were made to the original design of the towers, this is especially noticeable in the shape of the roof. If earlier there was a ledge under the cannon in the roof, now this ledge has occupied the entire width of the tower. This allowed a slight increase in the volume of the fighting compartment. These changes were implemented in the design of the towers, starting with #11 (for Porsche tanks, this was the ninth tower). At the same time, the gun mantlet was altered. The first two modified towers were completed in July 1942.
Ferdinand Porsche inspecting the second production Pz.Kpfw.VI(P1), early June 1942
The second tank, at that time called Pz.Kpfw.VI(P1), was completed in early June 1942. It was somewhat different from the first production car. The fenders protruding along the entire length of the hull were replaced with separate front and rear mudguards. The width of the tracks has increased to 600 mm. This change was necessary, since the actual combat weight of the tank significantly exceeded the design one and amounted to almost 60 tons. The tank now has a turret box from the Pz.Kpfw.IV. Finally, the car received a set of tools, mainly located on the sides of the hull, as well as the rear mudguards.
The second car was quite different from the first.
The tank went to the Kummersdorf training ground, where it was tested. Here again, problems with the engine and cooling system made themselves felt. These problems, however, were known before. In June 1942, one of the serial engines was tested. The motor produced 311 horsepower, but then problems began. Carl Rabe, the right hand of Ferdinand Porsche, identified the root cause of the problems that arose. Due to insufficient cooling area and bubbling oil, which acted as a coolant, the camshaft overheated. As a result, after 50 hours of operation, the engine began to lose power sharply and broke down.
Upgraded Typ 101/2 engine. Some domestic historians took the drives to the cooling system fans for the engine belt drive
The problem with the engine was supposed to be solved by upgrading it. The motor with two additional fans mounted above the generator was designated Typ 101/2. In terms of dimensions, it was similar to the Typ 101, but in order to install an improved engine, it still took a little to redo the engine compartment. On July 23, the contract was changed again. Now 30 vehicles were to be built in the Typ 101 version, 10 in the Typ 102 version, and the remaining 60 tanks that received the Typ 101/2 engine were designated as Typ 103. Since all these modifications did not differ much from the Typ 101, their factory designation remained the same - Sonderfahrzeug II EA.
Due to the need to rework the cases, Krupp stopped shipping them. It was assumed that the delivery of hulls for the Typ 103 would begin on October 5, 1942, and 45 chassis would be ready between February and March 1943.
There was also a fallback option, first mentioned on March 23, 1942. It's about about the tanks Typ 130 and Typ 131, bearing the factory designation Sonderfahrzeug 101 WE and Sonderfahrzeug 101 WH, respectively. Their feature was to be liquid-cooled engines. At the same time, Typ 131 (Sonderfahrzeug 101 WH) was more like a safety net. In practice, only a car with an electric transmission, the Sonderfahrzeug 101 WE, was going to be made.
Assembly of the Pz.Kpfw.VI P at the Nibelungenwerk factory. In the upper corner is a full-size layout of VK 30.01(P)
Some historians argue that after the April 20 demonstration, the Nazi leadership made a choice in favor of the Pz.Kpfw.VI (H1), abandoning the problematic vehicle. Actually it is not. Yes, the brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche had enough sores. But this is normal for fundamentally new tanks, especially those launched into series without a prototype. Moreover, it was the electric transmission, which is often ridiculed, that worked reliably - unlike the transmission of the Henchel tank.
It is not necessary to think that everything was fine with the production of Henschel machines. The first tanks were handed over in August 1942, in total 8 units were made this month. During the same period Nibelungenwerk completed 4 tanks. In September, 3 and 4 tanks were manufactured, respectively.
On August 15, 1942, the Porsche tank received the designation Pz.Kpfw.VI P and the through index Sd.Kfz.181. The competitor Pz.Kpfw.VI H also received the same through index. In other words, both tanks were adopted by the Wehrmacht.
A clear demonstration that the Pz.Kpfw.VI P was put into service. Pay attention to the publication date
The fact that the "Tiger" developed by Henschel already had a higher priority by this time is not a secret. This machine was created under the direct control of the 6th Department of the Department of Armaments and personally Heinrich Knipkamp. In April 1942, even before the demonstration to Hitler, a contract for the production of another 200 tanks "fell" on Henschel, 124 vehicles were "sacked" by the company in August 1942. On February 8, 1942, Fritz Todt, who was one of the patrons of Porsche and the Tank Commission, died in a plane crash. However, the Ordnance Department was still waiting. 5 of the released Pz.Kpfw.VI P went to Döllersheim, where they were placed at the disposal of the 503rd heavy tank battalion. This unambiguously alludes to the fact that in the autumn of 1942 the tanks developed by Porsche K.G. still considered as an alternative.
One of the tanks used as test labs. Machine produced in August-September 1942 with "wide" wings
Starting from the sixth car produced appearance Pz.Kpfw.VI P has changed a bit. After the tests, it became clear that the idea of cropped "wings" was not the most successful, the wings were returned to the tanks, which stretched across the entire hull. Changes were made to the design, improved reliability power plant. All engine problems could not be solved, but it should be remembered that in the future it was supposed to produce improved Typ 103, in which the sores with the cooling system were cured. In addition, there was an alternative in the form of the Typ 130 with a liquid-cooled engine.
Of the 9 tanks produced from April to September, 4 were used as prototypes, on which various units were tested. In October 1942, the last, tenth tank was produced. The car was made in the commander's version, it received serial number 150013.
During tests in the 503rd heavy tank battalion
Then, in October 1942, the Department of Armaments found itself in a delicate situation. In mass production there were 2 tanks with the same armament, almost equivalent in armor, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. It was decided to conduct joint tests of different tanks, while on October 14 the production of Pz.Kpfw.VI P was suspended. On November 8, tanks, among which were 2 Pz.Kpfw.VI P and 2 Pz.Kpfw.VI H, arrived in Berka. During the climb tests, both Porsche tanks overcame an obstacle, which neither the Pz.Kpfw.VI H nor the VK 36.01 could do.
Already in the process of comparative tests, it was clear that they were conceived precisely as a pretext for stopping the production of Pz.Kpfw.VI P. By that time, it was decided what to do with 91 manufactured chassis. On their basis, it was decided to build tank destroyers 8.8 cm StuK 43 Sfl L / 71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P), better known as Ferdinand. 90 turrets were modified by Wegmann for installation on Pz.Kpfw.VI H (designated as Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.E since December 1942). Just since November, Henschel has increased the pace of production of its tanks, having handed over 17 vehicles, and in December 38 of them were already built.
Yes, there was unscrupulous competition. But, in the end, there was a war, and the German leadership had to decide which of the two similar tanks would remain in the series.
One Pz.Kpfw.VI(P) still managed to get to the front. We are talking about Pz.Bef.Wg.VI (P), the last vehicle built. She participated in the tests in November 1942, then the tank ended up at the Kummersdorf training ground. In 1943, the car was also used in various tests. In early 1944, the tank returned to the Nibelungenwerk, where it was rebuilt. Instead of Typ 101 engines, two Maybach HL 120TRM engines were installed, and the thickness of the front hull plate was also increased to 200 mm. Similar metamorphoses were carried out with Ferdinand self-propelled guns, which were then renamed Elefant. As the combat weight of the Pz.Bef.Wg.VI (P) increased, the tank received 640 mm wide tracks, the same as on the Ferdinand/Elefant. The car was covered with zimmerite.
Pz.Bef.Wg.VI (P), the only Ferdinand Porsche tank that really fought
A command tank converted in this way was sent to the front in April 1944. There he ended up in the 653rd tank destroyer battalion. The car ended up in the company of "close relatives" - the battalion was armed with Elefant tank destroyers. Three more vehicles based on the Pz.Kpfw.VI (P) - Bergepanzer VI BREM - were in the same unit. The fate of all these machines was about the same. On July 13, the Lvov-Sandomierz operation began. No details of the first and at the same time the last case of combat use of Pz.Bef.Wg.VI (P) have been preserved. It can only be argued that the tank was crushed by the roller of the Soviet offensive: as early as July 18, it was listed as part of the battalion, and on July 22 it, like two Bergepanzer VIs, was no longer there.
The new tracks and reinforced armor of the forehead of the hull are clearly visible.
The real story of the "Tiger" developed by Ferdinand Porsche is slightly different from what some historians tell. There was neither a complicated constantly breaking electric transmission, nor the production of 100 chassis before the decision was made to stop the production of the tank, nor a clear victory over the Henschel competitor "Tiger". But there was a rush and dirty competition.
After the war, there was neither the 6th Division, nor the Department of Armaments, nor Hitler, nor the Third Reich. But a significant part of the German firms remained. When work began on a 30-ton class tank known as the Standardpanzer in the second half of the 1950s, the Group A vehicle won the competition. Porsche was the main developer of its chassis, and Wegmann created the turret. In 1965, the tank was adopted as the Leopard. The same name was borne by the first-born Porsche K.G tank more than two decades earlier.
Sources and literature:
- Materials BAMA (Bundesarchiv)
- NARA materials
- Materials of VHU Prahan (Vojenský historický archive)
- Archive of Yuri Tintera (Jiri Tintera)
- Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd.Kfz.181): The history of the Porsche Typ 100 and 101 also known as the Leopard and Tiger (P), Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle, 1997, Darlington Productions, Inc, 1– 892848-03-1
- Panzer Tracts No. 6 - Schwere-Panzerkampfwagen D.W to E-100, Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle, Panzer Tracts, 2001, ISBN 0–9708407–1–3
- Germany's Tiger tanks, D.W. to Tiger I: design, production & modifications, Thomas L. Jentz, Hilary L. Doyle, Schiffer Publishing, 2000, ISBN 0–7643–1038–0
- Der Panzer-Kampfwagen Tiger und seine Abarten, Walter J. Spielberger Motorbuch verlag, 1987, ISBN 3–87943–456–5
- Professor Porsche's Wars: The Secret Life of Legendary Engineer Ferdinand Porsche Who Armed Two Belligerents Through Four Decades, Karl Ludvigsen, Pen and Sword, 2015, ISBN 978–1783030194
Loading...