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aus -by Walter J. Spiel berger and John Milsom

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Edited by DUNCAN CROW

Atmost since the 1invention of hie tank there has been what might be called 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 1ly built. 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,uld carry a crew of 28 - this was comparable with the K- Wagen in weight and crew numbers.

In Wo.rld War 11 the super-heavy complex was still in evidence. General' Martel even suggested tanks as big as battleships that cou d swim th1e Channel and advance on Berl in like monstrous 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. ' 4The E1lefant' ' ·s by Walter J . Spie berger who was the design engineer on 1he Elefan project and who foug 'ht in this AFV in Russia .

Those who share the Editor's fascination in the super- heavy tank complex will f ind 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)

and M24 (Chaffee) Tank Mk. IV 26 ellcat, Long Tom, and 2 PanzerKampfwagen Ill Priest, PLUS Complete 3 Tanks Marks I to V Check List of All U.S. 4 Light Tanks M1 - M5 World War II SPs

(Stuart/ Honey) 27 Saladin Armoured Car 6 Light Tanks Marks I- VI 28 S-Tank 6 Valentine Infantry Ta !nk 29 M4 Medium (Sherman)

Mark Ill 30 Armoured Car Marmon ~ 7 Medium Tanks Mks A to D Herrington, Alvis-Strauss-8 Crusader Cruiser Mark ler, Light Reconnaissance

VJ (includes Cruisers 31 Australian Crt11ser-Marks I- VI) Sent·nel: and Australian

9 Early (British) Armoured Matildas Cars 32 M6 Heavy· and M26

1 10 P nzerKampfwagen V (Pershing) Panther 33 German Armoured Cars

11 M3 M ,edium (Lee/Grant) 34 Scorpion Reconnaissance 12 Mediums Marks 1- 111 ank 13 Ram and Sexton 35 British Armoured Recovery 14 Carriers Vehicles + Wheels, Tracks 16 PanzerKampfwa,gen I and I and ransport r 16 Landing Vehicles Tracked 36 Chars Hotchkiss H35. H39 .. 17 Russian KV and IS ' and Somua S35 18 Chie tain and leopard 37 Russian BT Series

( Deve opment) 38 Conqueror Heavy Gun 19 Chieftain ,and Leopard Tank

(Descr·ption) 39 Panhard Armo red Cars 20 Churchill and Sherman 40 U.S. Armored Car

Specials 21 Armoured ,Cars Guy, 41 M1C3 Heavy nk +

Daimler, Humb,er, 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 icles

T55 and T62 43 Panz·erKampfwagen IV 24 he M48/ M60 Series of 44 Ferrets and Fox

Main Battle Tanks 45 Vickers Batt e Tank

47 T-34 48 PanzerKampfwagen VI

iger I and Tiger II (''King Tiger'')

49 Japanese Medium Tanks 50 Swiss Battl Tanks 51 Abbot FV 433

Self- Propelled Gun 52 M47 Patton 53 The FV 432 Series 54 Jap nese Combat Cars.

Light Tan <s and Tankettes 55 Illustrated Summary of

56

G 1erma.n Self-Propelled Weapons 1939-1945

i s"le Armed Armo 1ured Vehicles

57 Schutzenpanzarwagan SdKfz 251 SdKfz 250

58 French I nfantrv Tanks:

59 Part I (Chars 2C1 D and B)

rench Infantry Tanks: Part II (including R35 and FCM36)

60 Russ·an Armoured Cars (to 1945)

61 Elefant a11d Maus ( + E-'100)

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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 c:a/led. 1/1e •• LeoptJrt/''.

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anzera by Walter J. Spielberger

DURING the battle north of Orel, Russia, in 1943, a Russian tank column marched far out of reach of con­ventional 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 4'8,8 cm. Pak 43/2 L/7 l '',as the Gerrnans called it, was 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

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 44.Nashorn'', mounted the 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 self­propelled 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

1'11i u11i1 1i•a ittt 11clc·,J tc rc'pl 1 <~the Pa11=er 11 · ''''''' 'tL' (lq1 1ppecf 1,1i1lr fll t1i1 -c 'l><Jf tf f, ·-101 etlf! inc.•\ '' 11 ;cJ1 dro t'V c•/ c·t r1ctil/.l1 1/1 t 11 '0 fr<Jlll • prot:k 1 .

D11ri11R i11/(1 11 iv~ 1eltl tri 11 1/11: t>I . llJ T '/ , /,001 u•cLJ <llS<J 11. eel tc> lJppJ.1 tilt' Por ·lilt' .. 11p ... 101 1 ·i1J1 ele ·1rit £11rre111 duri11g tlll j i11itial fi It/ le. t111g

,,f tilt" PrJr,,-/1e T1gf•1.

tract r · abl . o ullin . normou loa . h y 1nco -p -ra · ed p trot- I ctri drive y tern elution - hich la -r ·. cam th trade m rk of or · ch arm· ur""~

fighting ehi le . i independent company, creat d in 1930 jn t ttga t, a t d a d,e ign o " ce for ariou in mational auto oti e one rn. Among th .r h ­r c · d in 1939 an rd r rom th Ordnanc o, par -n1ent to participate in an attempt to find a ucce or v hi I or th tand r Panz r V. A vehi I . a r -

uired hich, a in otal eight f 2 to 30 m tric ton h to b c· p bl o · C' rrying ith r he 75 mm. · nk gun . · · 1 5 mm. hi h 1 i · pon. P r h olution produ d a hi I with t o par 11 .I in tall,... ....

air.. ol d p trol n ine coup] d to n ele t · ynamo u ply·n - electric mo or dri in, th front prock t . t · · n . a g -ar- hi ting · re ffi t · el t ic lly. h u p -n ion incorpo · t d tor ion b r in ne and

uni q u a . p · t t y · r b uiJ t at ·th i b u n -nw rk. o t. l ntin -n r u ri . h C' rri .... _

·h i _1 rn I d ign tion opard , 01~ che y · 1 00 ( r n a n d i gn · ti n . · I ( ) ) .

he pp aran e f tl1 . u i n - 4 rend r d mo t ft l1 - attempt u . el - nd f orc ·d or h to b ndon

142

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 t d to pp ar fr m th 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 con­i1d re a th ta d' r an ap f r n n

tan de i n . h ff enam 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 -or­tuni y pr i , d th y a -h · .. d th · , ame · -rfi rmanc . Th thin ·ng b hind thi o 1d _r a b _ ed upon th a t th , t uch • · apon uld b in tailed ith · n mal] r turret ring . thu allowing for a reduced o erall . ight.

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 w1eightofthe urretbyalmo t2·2 on. qtialarmour 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 5 0 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 J oul em rge from the order:!il-a d d \J n fr m 1 i 1 r him l 1

1 th ith pr · n typ

n h ] 0725.

b ginning Ma -Jun 1942, nam ly a Por h (VK 4501 P) ith a n1. un n the

hi I ( 3601 \i ith th ta . r d b r 1 p t in un· t n t I . a n I ng I a ' il·

Krupp turr t orig"nal1y int nde for th. · 11i 1 n ly ha t b u d o th n h i l

time abl alJo\ 'ng no other olution. Thu th hi - a · 1 o d -10 d a a 45 t n unit (

and ntually b c· me . h · anzerkam f \ ag n ( lat ( ).

I , th -or ch

• pr 1n . n ch -1

4, 01 - ) I 1 i er I

Por he reli . d to a large xtenl upon hi xp ri n gain d durin th d e]opm . nt f tl1e VK 3 0 t · Ty,L ... L.

100. dditional n idea ere inco . orate but trol-l ctric dri - - a r t in d. h d i n of the ir-c . led

po er plant created Imo tin urmountable diffi ulti . I itl r ho . er had in i t d th l both hi I -e to b de . I p d ·de by id common pr· tic of th

n.an1t. onounc c ntro · ie de I ·peel. b -t een r. Por ch and the Ordn . nee epartment o '0 r

the · year nd er ne . r nlir ly r al d. Int r tin a or che L ch ··cal lution fi r ucb hea · ehicl · 1na ha\1 • pp 1· d th a tual · hi I t rn d ou t b mo t compli -at d. d b · u it 11 d l put in pr -duction ithout th b n fit f ten .,i tri _ I it · uld only b put int · r · i ith c mb' t u i ft r co tly r -d . J · m n t nd ba i c · · n . In t onl · \ of th 90 veh ·cl originally auth ri d a111d pu. in pro du tio r tu lly co · pl t d b ttl tan . h y

. re i · n ted Panz rkainpf g n I ~ K 4 0 ( ig r (P).

Bect111,·e nf 1/1e tl iffic11/t ie.fl it'it/1 tl1t' t1ir -c1,1>lt'1/ c111 ~ 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 uere Cl>l1t/11cretl <~( 1/1c' c•/t•c·1 r ic· c·un1/J<Jnt·111 \ ' ' irl 1cJt'I 1/1c· 111t1111 r:11g lftes 111 ' tc1//ed. Po•' c•r '' '' \ \llpp/iecl J ro111 ' ' T_rpc• JOO t111 it.

THE PROTOTYPE TRIALS On 19th March 1942, Armament Mini ter Speer reported to Hitler that, commencing in October 1942, 60 Por che and 25 Henschel Tiger tanks would be completed. Prototype of both vehicles were demonstrated before I titler on 20th April 1942. Only twelve 1nonths had gone by fron1 the moment the order \Vas received to tl1e date of completion of the prototypes. It wa5> cln extremely ~hort time in the development of uch a sophisticated weapon, and it i~ perhaps not surprising tl1at the impler ~ more conventional Henschel vehicle ~a cho en a the basi of the ne\\ battle tank.

Dr. Por che never believed in the reliability of a mecl1anical transmission for such a heavy vehicle. Two alternative tran missions were therefore envisaged, one electric and tl1e other hydr<:tulic. The hydraulic unit was rather large and had a poor efficiency compared with a mechanical transmis ion although it wa~ expected to equal tl1e electric alternative. It was to be buill by Yoith of Heidenheim. However, eriou!> troubles with the air­cooled engine delayed installation and cau ed a com­plete lack of interest in thi unit by the time it was actually completed.

The production of the Hen chel Tiger wa already in full wing at thi<, time. The unit designed by Porsche had a fighting weight of 57 metric tons, after it belly armour had been increased to 100 n1111. lt5 m<ti11 arman1ent, 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 dcvelop­n1ents never tnaterialised and the Por~che Type J 01 never saw action as a battle tank .

Eighty-five of the 90 chassis a~~c111bled at the i belu ng­en\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. anti­tank 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 ""Clef ant'' . The e vel1icles proved to be more of a liability rather than an a set to the unit finally receiving them.

PRODUCTION Only a grand total of 90 vehicle were produced. Pro­fessor Porsche~ a ociation \Vi th the Steyr-Daimler­Puch AG ., which owned and operated 1belungen­werke, put the production of all of his designs and proto­types in tl1i location. Originally intended for mas , pro­duction of the Por che Type l 00~ this factory erved until the end of the \va1· a the main ~ource of PanLer IV. It carried out eAtensi\e research work and built, among other fighting vehicles~ the Jagdtiger. Component parts and hull a emblie were supplied by Eisenwerke Ober­donau of Linz and as embly of the cha i continued at Ni-Werke until a final order relocated the production line to Alkett, in Berlin-Spandau. Serial umbers re:tnged from 150001 through 150090. Only five recovery vehicles were completed at i-Werke.

ELEFANT DESCRIBED Elefant was nothing but a conversion of the original Porsche Tige1· tank design. The hull. consi ting of various- ized arrnour plates. \Vas welded on all joints. Only high quality chromium-molybdenum teel \Vas used. The origina] layout of the battle tank was changed at Alkett by eparating the driver,s compartment con1pletely from the fighting area. The engine compart­ment was inserted in between. The tank version had the usual layout, with the fighting co~artment in the front

A niotlel <J( 1J1e P£>r~cl1e 1·;ger 1t•irl1 1/1e Kr11pp 1i1r rer 1r/1ic/1 11·,, ~ fc11er p111 111 to procl11c t 1011 f or 1/1e II e11.,cl1el Tiger E.

'

143

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i •t1 ·iof1i11 c/c1 l ic·e }l>r rfrc' lr{1Ck'I.

11' 'l1 ti[ lilt! e uir-coo/e(/ 11g111t' u·ere <·r;z,p{etf it i1!1 t111 el" c1ri .~ 11 rat<Jr a1ld 111 ttJfll1tl i11 1J11J linliit'lf· pat·ed t111g111e t 01r1par1met1t <if th Tigl:.r ta11/... .

le£1r(1· l'i ible llr the t o air fan~ /t)r the enxirzt'.

an th r plan 1 · at d in tl1e rea tion. h ·p ce or the drj r and ra io o ral r rel ti .· 1y un lt tt red i c tl1 r r dri a ll d fr . dom of n . ' in hi ction. nl t ir-tan r th . 11 d1· - · neun1 ti t erin lo ated for rd to .. g her ith r; i he ri · nal fi l1ting c n1 artn1 nt \ a LI on r i n t a an .

tr y r · Iii l th n in mp rt nt o -n1 dating t o Mayba h 1 n ·n nd th oolin · y t m .

~'·a t 11 in r, t 1 am a t . . Ir d y d _ rib d i t · in th anz r I P'1·ofile the n in d rib d h r i th ri in 1 · r h t .. n k . n in . w

1 li r u pl g th r to · ,r d c · tl1rough n

144

l ri n mi . ion~ an ul ut of pp imately 60' net h. . hi particular d i n · a cho en to I low or h · -h ·er output from 11 r I ti · ly mall ace

, , _

1il bl ·n th , · er n 'n ompartm nt. Th crank-h ft , f a · h unit c upl dir . tJy to the gene .. tor

cone rn d a 1d blo- -r D r , oolin · th cy ind -r of t •.• _ ngin ere m ·Unt ·don 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 1d al , e actu t d th . u h pu h r1 It m , imum utpu \V 20 · .b.p. 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 r­ehang bl rin h·el . di id ii . um wa in or­po ated. ngin . ooling .. a effi ct d t rough a double rot ry blower dri · n fro a P 1

• • ion n th · g · er tor 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 1or. t , 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 o . rtment h u ing l o par II I aybach e in?c.-

of 3 0 11.p. e ch and a htin comp' rtm nt wher t 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 1one for a h dri ~ng ro k t. B th ide of the en gin . · comp rtment held the t o f U 1e1 tank · ith

t t I 1 a it . f 240 g lion . . · 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

llo · ing for a top peed of 12·5 m .p.h. he earbo a l tric lly . r . t ·. d , ad thr e ed ratio er a . ilable

in e'the direction.

PO RSCHE SUS'PENISION h m tint, re tin feature of th hicl a , without·

doubt th u n ion . t con i ted of a rear driv · r k t i gi . h · l nd front idl r h I o .

ea h id . he or che bogi unit mbo i d om unique fi . ture in h pplic tion 0 1f tor ion ba a a fte ib,]e m dium. he conception o the e i w· 1

• b . d n th practic _ of . in j 1c nt h l tr d 1d1ing the tr . ck ui : and on th. u o · t ] ... rimmed wheel . A hort

can ti I · r pin le upported a1 h • , gi unit in uch _ man r th t 11 I · d r ov rhan 'ng in .rel tion b"p ti it. Th 'b rin lo d t tl1 b gi o , ill tion po.nt wa th r ·. r I of eno mou proportion. A _condary aim

which carried the torsion bar, was placed under the spindle of the leading \vheel, which, in fact, limited the height of the track guide . Difficulties in finding a workable means for mounting a conventional type of track support roller forced the designers to adopt a makeshift track support in the form of a curved spring steel friction plate. One of the main arguments claimed in favour of the Porsche design was the fact that fewer road wheels (six per side against eight per ide on the Henschel vehicle) were required. Sma11er diameter wheels gave room for larger wheel movement. Al1 these advantages were based on the fact that the road wheels had steel wearing surface and could, therefore, carry higher Joads than larger wheel with rubber tyres.

Each bogie unit consisted ba icaJly of a carrying bracket and a primary and secondary arrn, each of which carried one road whee,I. The bracket, which was fixed to the tank hull, was integral with a spindle on which the primary a11n oscillated. The primary a11n carried a fixed shaft, the outer end of which formed the spindle for the leading wheel and the inner end of which \Va a l1inged pin for the secondary arm. This secondary arrn was made of a hollow steel casting in which the tor ion bar was carried. This torsion bar was splined on both ends. It was anchored to the trailing end of the secondary pin. 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 de­manded 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 com­mon 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 vehicle carried. It was mounted in limited traverse.

Elevation v.'a f ron1 + 14° to -8°. \vhile traverCje ex­tended to 14 on either side. Fifty round of an1mun1t1on \Vere carried in the fighting comparttnent.

The 88 mn1. P~1k 43/2 mounted on tl11s vehicle \Va • at tl1at time, the lc.tlest in the erie of anti-tank gt1n5 developed fron1 tt1e 88 mm. anti-aircraft gun . As mentioned earlier. the 88 mm. K \VK 36 mounted in the Tiger Model E was adapted f rotn tl1e Flak 36. In order lo i1nprove the perf orlnance of the anti-aircraft gt1n5 of the Flak 36 class, a higher velocity weapon \Vas developed and introduced a Flak 41. Thi weapon had the 111uzzle velocity increa5>ed to 3,280 feet per econd. giving the shorter projectile flight time desirable in an anti-aircraft gun. Hovlever .. by the time it \vas introduced. a heavier projectile with a larger explosi\e content wa desirable for anti-aircraft u e and intere t in tl11 \veapon centred on its po sible employment a an anti-tank weapon. The original Flak 41 was successfully used in the anti-t(lnk role. However .. it was de igned \Vith a long, narrow cart­ridge case .. which \Vas some~hat a\\kward to handle and would have been impo iblc to tl e inside a vehicle. Development of the anti-tank weapon continued with the appearance of the Pak 43/41 ~ and the Pak 43. The e weapons had the same ballistic performance a the Flak 41 .. but were rede igned with a horter, fatter cartridge

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.

Tlrt! sa111e reJ1icle fro11-r rl1e reczr, sl101i•i11g 1J1e lorc;u/ 0{1J1e e11gine c'1111part-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 . h a 4 /41 mou t d n lit trail rrju"""" htl th Pa 3 fi t , I · ilhou tt ru if rm

m t!nt. · h h rt r un ' ti th p n -- d. h a rt· u 1 r l · t ' 1 r hi l tint n e · ral r d lop d. t , tl1 4 / 1 fitt

to t.h I h -n. P· 4 /2 m unt in th I f: nt and th k 4 / ·n t · J . d r. imi1

p n d d i r d ign t t11e · K 43. h . hi , 1 a o Ii htl 1 n r than th

gr n unt d nti-t n k 4 n . 43/41. lthough th 1e ign t d 1 /71 th y · er in f. t

71 · Ii r in 1 n th . hi r p · n un o u b _ d 1 th ne t nti ... t n · u p du d by ith r id du in

r Id . it . i · p I · i I ad · mmuniti it co 1 . netra · I 7 m of 0° lo

h m n r1~11 r 2 y r . Ith u h m unition i n d for thi

n t t h rt.. nt i u . r it mu t ut h ·uc mmuniti _ n n ith· r n n · I ti u rly d -I in i f th hi . h

a c~ · nd r l r i p r th 1 i\ - I "l 1

• • /71 u·n I d. tr ~ ny r ur i 1 · i Ii _I t n unt _ r

t I t , ny rm 1 I , in thi · t n . r , mmuniLi 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 a r

- on ·ma hin n 4 nd t o · --m c11

• n u •

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 - u i pm n t n i d · f i r an r n -mitt r ( u 5 . nd u 2 ·. Intern I communic tion p . id d.

0

PORSCHE VAR AIN · S r , i tt1n u ·. prod u ti o , h ule

- i an i d · 1. th n i y rmo·11r d t· r u h · h y

. r m th r t 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 . 1 u r t - u . 1· I n

( b 11-m· u n t m h i ) , i t l] d in th fr nt la f th ,u - r tru tur r · i · in nc ry

146

lo -r ng rot tion. · h ba i rmour of th t n ·th l 00 m . f n I · I t r tai . r · n r -

1 1 n , d. · r ry hi r i u to tt1

nt a t' Ii n n ti t in u i' · nd i .1 Ital

21 m. h ' -t rm unt n n th ' h ' • I

11 h Ti l lated. But ' r r wa . ont m '

• ii r f; i I i h th h I h' tt t n •

d b fi r • h d t. h . fOJ a lt re pr

t •

r ult o t i ri n in d urin tr t ht·n in ali ra ill r rd ra..,.,

th th

h d . · t · n of .. lied ~ Ramm hie le . upp to \ r · b ii i 11[ I r

• m • l

to

ii

f -

h p

-Aorlid d. In or to in r th ir r diu o

· rm · r fu · 1 tr . i l r t u . J t . th t1 n

unit . · r h in .t· t tJ1i r ui . nt~ pr •

ann prin n 1 mo 1 of a hi I hi 11 a ~u.ll d ~· mm- i ng t p 1 1 I h

r tt d v ith a turtl -Jik u· in h 1- ik fr 11tal cti n.

ri r a pro i by 1e n of a I r __ g l i · l t . i n . r 1 u , t .......... · t d ra ti bility f u h ' n a . th

r b n th rin t . •

• I

.

Ju b

h rt1n ,

'

or th i I

ut th r

1Ji pi ,,,,.E /rot' rl1 1n l <1l/(1fi 11c1f1!1e '' · po 1 r plt111t pt1rt1ll I to,_,,, 11 t J1 r. 1oc:cup_ in 1/1 • c n i11 compartn1ef1f alt110 t c:c1n111/et /.l '.

- ' •

• • • • •

• • • •

•

•

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} .

•

• •

Tl1c' t1<lclit1<111c1/ <1r111or1r hc1/te<I tc1 tl1e Elc·(c111t'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 equip­ped with a Voith ~, IT A._, 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 motor for the air-cooled tank engines.

Tl1e redesign of the Tiger tank, ordered by the Ord­nance Department in the autumn of 1942, initiated at Par cl1e both Type 180 and 181. The Ordnance de!:>igna­tion 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 turret, as in the ca e of the Tiger I development, wa put in production. It was used for the first 50 units of the Hen chel version of Tiger II, the so-called '•King Tiger''. Type 180 had a proposed petrol-electric drive, while its counterpart, Type 181, wa intended to receive a hydraulic drive train. T\vo basic Jayout version appeared on the dra\ving board : one had tl1e conventional arrangement with the fighting compartment in the front section of the vel1icle, while the econd placed the turret towards the rear. No changes were contemplated in the engine of these t\vo types. Two parallel power plant were envisaged, however._ and a diesel version \Va investigated. Fuel inject1on for tl1e Otto engine \Va5 al o examined.

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 .

Co11ti11i1011s f<1i/i,res e'<perie11ce<I l' i1J1 tit<' lO·cJ·fit1<Jer air-cooled t<ink e11g 111<i\ pro1npted Por 'icl1e t11 c reute tl / 6-c.rl111dt!r tlie'ie/ e11J(ine desigr1ed to 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.

The di advantage of the dual engine arrangement were obviot1s and eventually led to the de ign of a brand new power plant which incorporated the combined experience of all previous attempt~. Oe5igned by both Porsche and Graz-Simmering-Pauker of Vienna, a 16-cylinder air-cooled die cl engine was conceived, \Vhich \Vas suppo ed to deliver approximately 700 b.h.p. With a total displacement of 37 litre .. it wa intended to become the tandard tank engine of the German armoured forces. Only a fc\v trial engines were com­pleted when the \var came to an end. Under the de igna­tion ··sLa 16'' (Porsche Type 212), one was installed in a Jagdtiger, where it perfor111ed rather promisingly. Un­fortunately , the new engine demanded a modification of 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 .

• - ... yti d •

ith • n inn att 'n r n1 'n ' •

ulpul of 7 0 b.h.p'. the en ..

I • 1n a I t n to u fi r th a r m f I u , ( r h p

). ith that t or ch • rd lop-to l

m n n '

P OYM T • 11 r n 1 t . nd nti-t n

. . · 1po1

· ortly inn1n, 0 ' th 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 . 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

up r 1r11ctt1r, r1· d r tlr ' 1j ti 11 of t' tt1ptJ· cart rid e clurin c 111 at. aJ1tl al o ( 1/1 far er or1e) or 1/1e r 11'101 al tif the · z,n.

h · i . t f h hi · 1 h d th i1· h ting . om-p 1- tm -n op n on h t p. h t r oluti n pro id d fi r 11- u h u · J r1n r n · u IJy- I d ul1-tr hi 1 Ii in ti th r t in turr t an

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

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• •

•

• •

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<>tlc•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 Elef a11t. was 5ome­tl1ir1g in bet\veen. The nece sity of having to use all con­ceivable 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 (Pctnzer Abte1lung 654). Eacl1 battalion had three com­pe:tnie plus a headqt1arter · and supply section. Eacl1 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 re5erve,,unit allocc1ted to thee ot1tfits, the total number of ta11k destroyer vehicles per battalion amoL1nted to 44. Tl1ey were intended to be used for break-through of defensive lines and for engagement against enemy tanks, anti-tank gLtns and artillery. Normally, two companies attacked in t\.VO front ecl1elons, wl1ile the third company acted as a back-up unit.

JULY OFFENSIVE, 1943 On 5tl1 July l 943 the gr·eat German offensive, Operation Citadel. started in the area of Bjelgorod in Ru ia. A total of 17 arn1oured, three armoured infantry and 16 infantry divisions attacked in a pincer 1novement nortl1 and south of K u1·sk, against heavily fortified Russian position in an attempt to change the cot1r e or the war. All the Elefants a signed to Army Group Model in the north participated. But they could not fulfill their oblig£1tio11. Mechanically unreJiable becat1se of the com­plicated technical layot1t. J1ort of arnrnunition beca u e of lirni ted storage, and unable to def end themselveS> agctinst determined clo c-range attack , they were never able to t1tilise the potential of tl1eir powerful gun. Tl1e attack bogged do\vn after ix mile and mo t of the vehicle which could not be retrieved fell into Russian f1,1nds during tl1e enst1ing cot1nter-c.1ttc.1cks. Remov<.11 of incapacitated equip1nent from the b<:1ttlefield "''as a trying task .. since the 18 l . half-track tractors normally

GG

----~~-· ---• • •

• •

Bc11rlc~ <'.\'fJ<'fi<·11cc i 11 51c1/i11grc1<I 11rt>111JJl<'CI H ill<•r tc1 cle111c1t1d c1 Vf!lli( le ec11.ttfJ{Jl"(/ 11 ·11!1 ' ' .S ll/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! • R c1t11111· TiJ!.£'t ...

used for this purpose proved unable to move these heavy vehicle . Howe\er the bulk of them were 01nel1ow recovered. reconditioned and re-used on other parts of the front. They disappeared rather rapidly fro1n the scene becat1se of spare-part shortages .. and the fact that copper for the electrical components \va in too short supply. Retno\ed from the Eastern Front. some of them saw action in Italy in 1944. where road condition oon n1ade it impossible for tl1ese vehicles to oper<:lte. They were either abandoned .. captt1red or de troyed by their own cre\VS.

To su1n up. it ~11ould be en1phasi ed that the proto­type Porsche vehicles served a definite technical purpose, nan1ely to explore a]) po ibiliLie of a petrol-electric drive train. Tl1is development f ot1nd its clim<1x in the adaptation of its feature during the con5trt1ction of the large<;t armoured fighting vehicle ever built, the 187 ton PzKpt\v Maus. It was proven beyond any doubt, ho\v­ever, that a strictly technical solution~ without considera­tion for military nece itie , cot1ld only be a compromi e at the best, and these findings were ratl1er drastically demon~trated during the brief battlefield appearance of the E1efc1n t.

Thus. \Ve can conclt1de that we h'tve been introduced to an interesting arn1oured fighting vel1icle, reflecting in its O\\'n way the geniu of it de igner. Profe~sor Dr. F . Porsche. who held proved yet again that he cou Id master any conceivable area of mechanical design.

149

- =

-- C'O (1) <l> a> -·-.__ a> - .... Q) -O> ~

:~cr - I (1) <l> N <l> c -ro .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 larg am unt fr ur · l 1 th I pn1 nt f . up r-

a y annour d fighting chicles ranging in ight fron1 I t , I 5 0 t n . pa t from a u1p r h a -un c· rri· g c ll d rill nd h If- ·rap 11 n1or 1 r Karl whic 1 ctu II . u d i · o · r tio ) onl , t\\ o v hicle , both tank · , r tually bLJ ilt. w th

1a u ( u , ) a th. -I 00. J t · unc rt· in ju t ho m h th men in tl1 . r1n· n nk indu try g n _rally i· in th utur of h a

tank . 1 he nd of th a -, ,ill th , ngi r int rr -gat d I· i1ned that th y 'I o po to ti h v hicl a irn ractical in comba · nd un c n mical .

r uc i n r ourc . It i uit po i I I that th ir tori , . r1 c lo red b I re ri nee.. any t .. i

1942 .. niany ni n mu l ha ~ lt dift - ently b att . two M · u e hicle ere ta ed at that tim tog th r ith . n - l 00. 10th ty r to u ' turr t mount1n · 128 mm. gun (on ayout 110\ d 1 0 min. un) a main ·_r1nam nt witt1 a . a i .. I 7 mm. un. h rmour

(d,\;J about 0 :%' hea ier than on th i er II . · h i ht of th · Mau .a b ut 200 t n and that of th -JOO ab ul J 50 ton . r tl1 u ,, P r cl1e w I ping all hi own con1pon - t 'nd th -1 'a to u i ..... r 11

p n1 nt until I rg r 1 \ r - ant r . d v I p .

o h d · Iopm nt r p o r .. in quit , I ly nd th r i n · d u ·. t th t ' t th nd . f th . · r i. -t r t 11ad ce d com- 1e·t ly.

THE MAUS DEVELOPMENT H STORY On J n · · th 1 42

i t I 1· ~ n d p r. h

J52

r 11 \'a · t 1 r\1i in LI ti on f _ tti n th · .

rli1 b m. L171

gun in the . ig . r ( , ) wa d · u ed nd th n · or ch · • ::t k t t· rt \ rk . n ·1 . h' ·i Im L!nt ;;1 12 11.

r l 1. u n in · r l in g tu rr t r a · n · t . r n · ti '. .. . n l n1 .. gun ' f i r p q i men . c a, ial 7 5, m. gun ' as · 1 · i rp r' t d.

t thi tim r ch till r id nt of th Pan r m n1 i i n n ry in ti n t i · I d ll t hi Io

r Iation hip .. ith itl r. pu h th d ign of u r­h · nk . - d . 1 mpf Kni , kamp1f . n u rian uu~. r . on h olh r hand of tl1 o ·ni n that tc1n · f thi jz di not h much futur . l1 n th p1 j t

fir t ugg t d th hi I a r ~ r r m n1 u l ( · m rn t 11). 11 ey . r in n t - r t in p i r

i th t 11 LJ : ort o a 11 r . a i rm u r r ui r 1n nt 'f t b :

ron : 200 mm. id : 180 m .

Track . uard : l · -m .. 1. rrtfr nt:22 mm.

Turr t i nd r a : 2 0 m i.

11 r chi or ani I t1 n . 1-in1 ril r p n i bl -for d i~ning th 1n~ -hin thi . ~1i I 'A' ii l1 -- a. gi n h 1 r , h ty num r 20'". Th al f · ur h d rt in r pon ib'lit. in onn tion itl1 th ht11 Jl.

Po · h · l th(t h · h u ld d i gn ct • 1 i r-o 1 . di 1 n in for th · hi I but · ' o r-ru d

by P - r n he rot1n fin uffi i n tim . Dc-t. .ml r-, ir r· ft ngin \ · to u in ead. o tipul· -

ti n r m,ad t , t}1 i . j ht r p rf or1n --1n f th ta k and th - ·tr n1 I· titud ~i n to · r che i

nm r tri in h r than in th a f th j r. h t· k · . rom 11 n to -. kn \\ n · u ( · · · u ).

•

.. • ..

•••

• •

Fi i'<' rit>u ~ ,,j 1/1<1 ~1t111\ (/11ri11g ti\ tr1c1/s. u1itl1 ti 55-ttJlt H'<'1g/11 \et on 1/1e \t1per\trL1Ctt1re t 1>u·11rtl\ 1!1t• rt1t1r £1/ t l1e i·ehicle to ';tn111/t1te tl1e 111r r et ,t•l1icl1 u·as 1101 i·<·t fc>111p/c>te<I. I t l l , , ., r> ' er ~?Of l . /011g .

The Maus was an effort to give a relatively large armament protection and 360 degree traver e, together with the most adequate mobility. It \Vas Porsche's opinion that the vehic1e should not be classed as a tank in the strict sense of the word , but as a heavily-armoured mobile pil1-box.

As with his Tiger design, Porsche decided to use electric tran mi sion again but thi wa ~ of course, before the use of copper was given as one of the official rea on for the rejection of Tiger (P). He tate . however~ that he would l1ave used it in any case as he con~idered

it by far the mo t practical method of obtaining light steering of an ultra-heavy vehicle. It was decided, however, to redesign the system.

Towards the end of 1942 the Heereswaffenamt appointed a Col. Haenel to act in the capacity as chaser to all fir1ns who \vere involved in the construction of the Mou e. His directive was to pay continual visit to all such firrns, threatening them with seriou penaltie if they fell bel1ind schedule in their work. Haenel's fir t visit to Stuttgart was on December 18th 1942 when he 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 a y t 11 I 4 3. hi - ·a n t r l ly 011 1 · r b ing m 1~ hum r u than · n thin el

and no noti a tak n. Ii h ly fi r th· t th nd f · o mb r a hitch

o urr d aim] r- ~nz intimat d th t thy c uld n t u ply th · i I . n in hi h r h had proposea

ti . on1 other p i 1 1, n. in a th 1 9, an I. . ngin hich th r ~ re had to u ··n pit of

or ch d ir fa .I. e gine. It a found th t thi n~ine coul only in · ta11 in n in ted po ition

n· c it ting th · pro i ·on of a vertical gear train to brin th dri dow 1 t the l -el f th n rator ha t.

hen vent o ny int re t on J nua 4th 1943 h n h a r re t rlin for th p u rpo e o

, h wing iti r riod I f tl1 u . itl r ho on id r bl int r .t ·ul no on t omm n or u g t. on . \ re m d .

I 11 r

154

' •

. r affi n mt

Janu 21 t t - hi hall ut tand"ng ma ·or p int v r i u d n i a d cidcd to pu hon ith th proje t

a f; · t · po ibl . Th nly di ordant - ic ap ar . t 11 · n th· l o ni pk mpf (repre nting •

riif.6) v h p iti · e that th hicl . would pro l be quit · un t rabl.

or he '\ ag in ummon d to rlin n bru ry 2nd l 94 - and · a in rm y n l h t 11 1n u t inc r orat fla . -thr r rrying I 0 0 ~itr o fu I. H ai - th t ·t could not . d ne ut a o r-ruled . nd

.. t Id l _ t th fl m -th . r a on id r d to b ..>..>· n ti .

t thi tim it p ar that th arli t po ibl com-pletion of th ou a on id r d · n1 t r reat urg n y and tl1 a · f u th r \•• r u e me in -b t n th eere n . mt nd r n t ti the co _, tra tin rm l tutt rt n e ru' ry 0th.

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 r 1 u Id 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, ·th int n ti n i ng to u ig r

( ·) u en i n unit . h t d t il d e1gl t · · · imat

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 lightly and \Vith the addition of the fla1ne-thrower

(4900Kg) the total increase amounted to slightly more than 5~ 0

{ . T11is could only be catered for by tl1e inclu5ion of two additional suspension units (one on each side) but as there was not enough room to acco1n1nodate them thi solt1tion was not practicable. In colle:1boration with Skoda it was therefore decided to adopt a in1ple volute spring suspension as time \Vas all-important <tnd Porsche did not wi h to de ign a new torsion-bar layout in a hurry and without time for proper n1echanical testing. This appear to be the complete explanation for Porsche's departure from 11is favourite fo1 rn of suspension.

At the end of February 1943 exten ive test of the somewhat complex engine cooling arrangen1ents were carried out at the Technical Institute of Stuttgart under the supervision of Professor Kamm. These were found to be quite satisfactory.

Speer paid an unexpected visit to the Stuttgart offices on April 6th 1943 and remained for half-an-hour inspecting a full-size wooden model of the Mouse.

On April 10th order were received to take the mode] to Berchtesgaden, doubtless as a result of Speer's in pection. It was accordingly di n1antled and packed up but on April 16th the order was cancelled so it was re­assembled again. On May 6th the order came through for the second time and the model was finally inspected by Hitler at the Fiihrerhauptquartier at Rastenburg on May l4th 1943. Complaints were n1ade that the size of the tank made the 12 .. 8 cm. gun like a child' Loy and accordingly Krupp wa ordered to prepare (l new turret mounting a 15 cm. gun .. the coaxictl 7 .. 5 cn1. to be relained. It seems hardly probable that Hitler would have ordered a larger gun on purely ae thetic ground~ but in point of fact it does appear that this is \vhat actually occurred.

The Heere waffenamt now began to complain about

the amount of copper being used, o Rabe (Por cl1e"s chief engineer) \va~ sent to Zahnradfa brik of Friedreicl1 -hafen to discuss plans for using the well-known ZF electro-1nagnetic gearbox. developed by thi fi1-n1 before the war ttnd by no\\' further developed to pro'.-ide seven ratios. Wiedtnan. a director of ZF, reft1 ed to do any­thing withot1t an OKH contract and as this was not f orthco111ing the matter \vas dropped and tl1e manu­facture of the electric drive was continued without al tera ti on.

On July 16th, the MB 509 engine arrived at Stuttgart and \Vas sent to the Technical ln5titute for further trials both of itself and of the cooling system .. under Profe~~or Kamm. The only n1odification nece ary to convert the engine from aircraft to tank use had been minor detail to perinit operation in an inverted po ition and a lower­ing of compression-ratio and boost pressure in order to allow for lo\ver grade f ue1. o t1-ouble~ were experienced on these tests.

At the beginning of Augu tit wa decided to construct a second prototype tank as Dain1ler-Benz could now upply a die el engine n1odified from the MB 517 motor boat engine.

Alkett had begun a sembly of the fir t tank on August lst when Krupp intin1ated that they could not keep their delivery date on account of interruption by air-raids.

A very significant date is October 27th 1943 when Po1· che and Rabe 1net Speer in Berlin and were told that no arrangements were going to be made for the eventual production of the Mou ·e. Ho\vever, the con truction of Mouse I (with MB 509 petrol engine) and Mouse II (\vith MB 517 die el engine) wa to be cor1t1nued. (Speer and Saur stated that this project helped to clarify their ideas on the optimum ize of heavy tank . In Saur' opinion 80 tons was the economic limit in weight).

Krupp upplied the hull in the middle of Septen1 her

155

Ret1r 1 i u of tl1t.1 p(1r1ic1lll' lJ '>11rl l 1tf .. -100 prc>tvt}pe. l1e 1c111k 11'.Cl"i

44 Cl11 ll'Jlfe.

n,d u m 't 1 tri~ 1 run · t 1 ett n m r 23rd I 4 i I 5-ton igl1t 'n pl· . o th turr t. -hi ri 1 ti o a , it nt nd n ry Ot J 944 th t n1

• nt o · b lin n n r tutt rt fi r . · - t n . i t ri · I th ta 1

... t tin o u ~ d t -'°' .. rr d i h riv· n e e tri 1 .

r'll.... t i I . r ry tr u l .. f re - 1t _ r l a o pri f ilur and j · Lated that t ould

h ti li htl · a h n int produ ·on. her a_ o a b ring ·1ure in th 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 · pie Ii r ducti b ut both of hi h

p " d · ·r · n m rli r. r ~" _dn · r rt d th t th ·. in - xc ]Jent

i b 1 tu r t , t' n k . it n i it h · f it •

1

c r - nt a-r t , ion of th tr· c . ano u ra bil',t d r, - ount rfi ··. man r l · n

i c r mud and hard urf: ce nd in nd nt . b h h · t n d ' r I ier l t of · i · n t

hi l re 1 u t t a t ld Z d n i _ th t th u di hin that h a tl1 r did. h. ·ndi-

t ry io I r i tan co b llyi g and i .... ""'pl ' in .. y th h n rl n lly hi h ati f tr . k

idth 1ly · idth. h m imum on a ha d u f: 'th ull tor · .ed l .. h. nd n

.. A/ ... a ning the eld to mini . um a d of 22 k.p.h. ""'""r r d.

t ut thi tim i tru tion r giv n to or che it 1· hat t pl t t nk, ith u. r t nd un

· to r ad by , u n . u I t, be tilt ith th 5 l 7 1

• n in arri · d at obiing n n a h 20th 1944 nd · put on on id 1ntil h tim h n in li r . .

n M r th r t t rr t · rriv d from ru p in a bar ·ft d y lat r th un arri d ( l 2 . n 7 m. /36 · l g h r with th p " red t a J" nd 11 - h r turr t fi tin . Jun -9 h th t urr t h. m 1 nd 1 · · t · th t n ( • ru e i r · n urth r trial r · t t d.

h _ ry i factory nd p rf orman"""" Ii htl do -btl · dt1 to t f: t th t th turr t

• ...,'-l r th r J th n 5 n (th i ht r iou ly th ginnin of 0 tob r ord re . ived

o nd th t · . to · umm r dorf. Imm diat ly aft r thi . th B 517 n in _rri .d a

15

·· lin n. urin t t · e , t · r J th· · h n i J t up ri . t · th . 9 an • m

dd1ti 1on, · p cial · nifold cooling rrangement d _ ..... in ord r t ·r m the tr u bl 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; u It - l i m n t f , n · 1 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 tt r to ·n talJ it. he e re urn d to · tutt: art on pril r ha in · m 1 I t th ir jo nd f u11y run th n i ut th y tat that t tank h d not 1

. n d i n u t th m m n f h ir d tur .

• hu t 1 ou ituation t 1 h · nd f th r ITI

_J l '94 · a : '' ' "OU I ' it n · n ' nd I 2 cm.

/5 · n 1 7 - m. • n I t a_ ll t t. d.

b ' OU I ' it unt t d. furth r nin

on tru tion., nd 150. h eh· 1 at

erman, .

ut n tu r t

rot ty - r i riou f oduction lan h d n m d fo

, Im d rf blo n up by th

in t d - 1 pment of th -1 ta , - I p t ul r than that of th · au and . ince it a .

n - mplet d t th n · ng · ta · ot a gr a de l · ' ilab]e on thi ·I . or thi rea on a full t h i 1 d ri , ti n ft au · g' n but on a parti' 1 1one h -1 0.

Th r, · namt kn th t . h uld it1 r d i, . b ild ry m n up r .. h 1 vy tank th y

ul h o u · c tru tion and re ult th -y n hich could mo t ·

u i It. u h hi I . n - d to o t Dr. Po r h , ou . 0 · inall n h 1 gi en n or r · build

r- f th Royal i r ca11 d th 7 · l i r- u . hi h · er a c ll d in

f: r o·f th - I 00. th r ult h e- i er1n t ff of die u der th di e tion 0 ' r. ch wer.::o. J n to th , . tfi na mt t n • -. t n th ignofv hi .hwa omm n - at rie r nJun 0th 194 . h • l 00 , on o a hol r n - of ne

ar11101ure,d g tin ehi l ignated th · ( - t i k­lun = . lo m nt) ri .* , th · nd o h r i ·rt . e u nde ly n _r P ,d rb .

m n r n to g i or room in the fighting comp rtme11t f th 'rt · n n c · "tate by h to' ·a e r uir m n of larg r- libre · mmunition ithout incr ing h · t ri r dim n i n appr ci bly.

Thi un illingn - to incr - th terior dimen: · n ~~ prompt b 1): Ii tion f th t t th t r ou

i t - I r r ! r e . ge o to I hi I ei ht· th r f r h · -th o p hould be a minimum and

(2 . h f: th t th r, ere limit ti n in i for

• h th r : - ( ton ) · -10 ( 1 t 11 ) · -2 25- 3 t n )· -50 ( 0 t n ·nth r r pl · m nt)· -75 (7 · tons-

ig r I an II r p] m nt).

• •

"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 the fighting compartment and to increa e the fighting ability of the tank, it was decided to do a\vay with torsion-bar suspension and to eliminate the power-train from the crew compartment. The r·esult was a new exterior-fitted suspension and a combined transmission, steering and final drive system packed into as small a space as possible for mounting in the rear of the engine. The posjtioning of the power-train in the engine com­parttnent was expected to improve accessibility to a considerable degree, in addition to saving weight and space. In the design of this new vehicle the maintenance factor was to play a much more important part than had been the case in previous models. Another reason given for the elimination of the tor ion-bar suspension was the desire to install a floor escape hatch in tanks, hereto­fore impo sible with the interleaved wheel and tors1on­bar suspension. Belleville washer springing was used instead and fitted externally, in an interleaved arrange­ment. The suspension system was developed by Dr. Lel1r of M.A.N. at Augsburg. A regards tl1e de ign of the new suspension units, a low spring rate was desirable to aid in reducing the pitch rate of the vehicle a low as possible.

Dr. Jenschke stated that the vehicle as a tank was obsolete as soon as the drawings \Vere finished, due to inability to load the weapons in a turret mount.

E-100 used the same engine as the E 50/75 models,

ba ed on the Maybach HL-230 P30. This 12-cylinder V engine developed 700 h.p. at 3000 r.p.m., \Vhich would have resulted in the low power1weight ratio of about 5 h.p./ton. A modified HL 234 engine with Bosch fuel injection developing 900 h.p. was completed. With super-charging this engine was to have developed between 1000 and 1200 h.p., which \vould have raised the power/weight ratio to 8·5 h.p./ton.

Tl1e gearbox was a Maybach 8-speed OG 40 12168. The steering systcn1 (the same as used on the Tiger) was built by Henschel Werke at Kassel. Tt1e tracks were built by Adler. The M.A.N. suspension consisted of two­wheeled single prings in overlapping arrangement with two guide lugs\ suspended by doubJe spiral springs outside the hull. There were hock-ab or·bers on the inside. In co1nbat a 1-metre steel track we:1 to be used .. which would have given a ground-pre sure of 19·9 p.s.i. For rail transport a special new track wa5 to be mounted.

Frontal armour was 200 mm. at 30 and ~ide armour 120 mm. All armour v. as interlocked. A crane was fitted for lifting protection skirts and ammunition.

The turret was made by Fried. Krupp, Essen, and was very similar to that of the Mouse. As its completion was delayed, an equally heavy trial turret wa to have been mounted for driving tests. The final turret wa to have had a gun of calibre 17.4 or 15 cm. When the hull wa completed, however, it was determined that the \eh1cle 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 decided to alter t11e vehicle to an SP mot1nting.

Altl1ough the vehicle was produced at Adler Werke, assembly of the one prototype was half-con1plete at Henschel proving ground~ (Haustenbeck near P£1der­born) when the war ended. The project had been officially discontinued in ~Tune 1944.

MAUS DESCRIPTION Tl1e general impression given by the interior of the Maus, in spite of its size .. is that it is filled almost com­pletely with a 1nass of complicated macl1inery. Tl1e production difficulties facing tl1e designer were main1y as follows:

a) Overall size and weight 185 ton~ b) A 12,8 c111. gun with 38 in. recoil and 60 in. t1m111uni ­

lion. This necessitated an O\'erall turret-ring diameter of 9 ft . 7 in.

c) Armour plate thickness up to 350 mm. (horizontal across the driver~s front) and strong frontal floor armour against mines

d) Performanc(}-top speed of~ 12t m.p.h. e) Power unit to provide 1200 h.p. f) Transmission g) Suspension · incorporating small vertical move­

ments h) TransporLation. The hull of the vehicle was designed as an armoured

box~ spanning the entire width of the chassis. The track and suspension arrangements caused two sponsons which ran the length of the vehicle and were large since the tracks were more tl1an 43 inches wide. There wa5 thus a central well also running the length of the tank filled with the complicated power and drive train. The front portion of the tank had the fuel tanks in each

· sponson, and in the con1partment which contained the drjver and the wireless ope1·ator in the central well bet ween them. Behind this was the compartment con­taining the engine, cooling fans, radiators etc. Again, behind this, the main generator was placed ce11trally~ and

in this transverse section all the near ide sponson was oc~upied by am111unition stowage, and the offside partly so. and partly by batteries and the auxiliary po\ver plant. The rear pa1~1 hot1sed the propul~ive motor~ in tl1e spon­sons., the ot1tput from the e being inwards into the \\ell throtlgh tran':>fer ca es to the final drive and '>procket wrnch \vere. of course. in the suspension tunnels. Tl1e cre\v in t11e fighting compartment \.Ve1·e situated above the i11ain genera tor and thus .. bei11g cut off fro1n the f 01wa1·d compartment by the engine and its cooling apparatus, had no access to it. The air intake was situated centrally above the engine and ju~t behind the driver and wireless operator. The wireless and inter-communication equip­menl w<\s ituated on the operator's rigl1t-l1and side in the fonvard compar·tment. The centre of gravity of the \'ehicle was furtl1er to tl1e rear than ust1a1 . This was due to the location of the turret . The armour was all rolled with the exception of the turret front and mantlet. A 100 mm. thick front belly plate was incorporated as an anti-mine precaution. One access door Vt'as pr0\1ided for the driver and operator and two for the ere\\' in the turret. Some of the periscopes were of conventional de~ign~ bL1t others were specially prepared for subn1e1·sion. The driver'ls seat had two positions~ one for driving in action (closed do\vn) and the other for d1·iv1ng with the escape hatch open and the driver"'s head exposed. Hi controls were fixed relative to tl1e seat po ition~ ~o that 11e was given the maximum of comfort in bott1 positions.

Two types of engine were considered compression­ignition (MB 517) or air-cooled petrol (DB 603). Porsche \Va5 in fa\tour of the compression-ignition type. The two engines used in the Maus I and II were develop­ments of the Daimler-Benz 603 inverted 12-cy1inder V petrol aircraft engine. That in the Maus I was called tl1e Mercedes-Benz 509 and retained the petrol-injection characteristics, while that in tJ1e Maus 11 was called the Mercedes-Be1iz 517 being installed in the upright position and converted to C.I. There was a 2-cylinder 8 h.p. auxiliary petrol engine \Vhich wa5 used to give pres~urization to the cre\v compartment for air-con-

1'11 tit' s t 11r1·1.>1 l 1 ,,·,;.1ig lr1.1ti 50 r c111 \ t111tl lt ti.\ t1 l111t).~/ i i le111 i<:al t c> rl1e 111rre t i11te11<lecl fo r 1 J1e 1:,·.100

159

ditionin purpo ' nd nor llin . t · al o u for h t·ng i n- a It ti n nd b .tt ry hargin .

he . l ctric tran mi ion pro id he tank ith · n infin·t l ari' , I ran f rat . t ~ rovi d a m an of elf- tar ·n nd u d for pr ul ·on durin u b r i n th r in - r id 11 l"'v y ond tank. h · J tri m t r d I d .f20 · .p.h. t 3,10 r.p.m. ' h - im l rd ti n

l"Y.a._ar hat cou1d ' hift d or ith r road or cro -untry r ti n. · h fin ' I a r k,

th u n ion tunn l . ...... h m ti ig "Ii in . · n-b r

u p n ·ion th typ LI ' on t]1 rin1 nt o h J ~ t · ) i r d b t nd n du p con id ati n. ater a nc n ,eni n I Jut-prin ty u d. hi n i t 24 ·a ntic I oubt roll a mbl , in 12 ie · 6 on 11 id .

Th r h t ro -b m hi h in turn war-ur d l th hull nd pron. h p "r f b . t a 11 d to d ubl ra - 11n. and prung by

dou bl , ii - rin . r ad - 11 1 r i111i lar o h th i r JI a d t I r·1 · i 11 ru r inn r

lin r . h tr k - r1 pr u y l t r i h K . t n fa br i · nd \ r 44 i h i .

, he· turret practi ally id nti al that int, nde fi r t , - 00. Th fr nt roun and n i t d of ·n I l ,t '· hr r hull and tur1r r ,u,, ·. n

th u , r in round t M p n. o urr t ith ut arm· m nt but a n1 u tin ~ r · 2 , m. 2 . t· (originaJly r fi rr to· 2 m. K - . 44

a. u ) ) and a ·al 7 -c1 * ~ \ 44 / · \ a u r n tru tion. 1 h adl in . hich th . un r unt ..... '-""

a r f! rred to u i g ( u ra · 1 ). h gun wa nt to n · n o m b r 1 943 for in tri J . t \ a ] t n d _ n tu I 1· t n1 u nt I cm. p · n f

1 r , l , · t ca 1 i r 1 n . n ' · 1 ""· ~ · n tall in th rr t r f a 1 · · 11 h art· r.

-SPEC FICATIO - PA l RJAG R TIGER (P) ELEFA

Ge1n r Designation 8,8 cm. Panzerjager 43/ 2 (L/ 71 ) Tiger P (SdKfz 184) Cr w : Six- commander, g nner. two loaders. radio operator. driver Battle weight· 65 metric tons Power / weight ratio 8, 116 h p ./ ton, Ground pressure· 3·44 lb ,/ s . in.

o·m n ·on · Len th overall. 26 fl 8 in. Hetght · 9 ft 10 1n . Wi th. 11 ft 1 1n Track centres: 8 ft 9 1n . Track width· 25 1n

Arm m nt Main armament·: One 8.8 cm StuK 43 / 2 IL/ 71 1n limited 1raverse, centre

fighting compartment Auxahary armaiment. One m chine gt.Jn 34 {loosely stowed 1ns1de veh1cre) .

two sub-machine guns 38. (Lat,er vehicles wrth lb 11 -mounte machine ,gun 34 1n the bow.)

Fir Co rol Maximum elevation + 14 • to 8 • Maximum 1r ver e to 14 °

reverse and elevation by hand wheels through gunner. F1r1ng system: Electric primer operat d by trigger

Am · unitio 50 rounds for BS mm. gun 600 rounds for 7.9 mm machine gun 384 rounds for 9 mm sub machine gu1n.

S19htin nd Va ion Main armament. One S 1. Zf 1 a binocular tel scope

1Commander· Telescope. Clr1ver. Telescope

. h t · r t t t i th h - b rpt i n d i·r-=- t · di t rt n b th h ri ntal en r c mponnint of

io] n blo . ' · n t it. ,t \ of ]1 on tr ti n ma i rl k i o u d. t I ight th · u ·. t

ith rm m nt , r d - o-u mmuni ion a 0 t · . t - . , t io 11y f ba1 n . i e ~ u 1 l"':: .... ing wa u for th 1 in ar111 m nl h un UL/r'".r 1r. d . I ri lly. h un origina ll u · d fi d ammunition Ith gl1 ro i i n . r ma , 1 rt u~~

ar ammuniti n or th m in r1n m nt. h u . u bm r i I to 26 fi l. r - t

i air · o r ing uppl · d to hi I t ubn1, r d · y th oth r ti e on th ri r b ink.

L ri th turr t ·ntoth · 1·,n ing chi d .. ..... l.L' n t i all l r~ o th i .

u l ri g r . 11 r · o t un ' r t u d init1· II t · fo · e a n ir-in a , nd th r r · n i . n h. m h ank to prop I it If b it o n

p tr l- 1 tri in . hi h an onea on count of th c th t uJJ po engin

uld t d lo d tha di · . u lti 1 i d ith . ooling air n h· u t di o · 1 and th '1t pp d unli ly h t t t u r t - in I . h ,uc e or ch me in or orat d on trunk o 1 . he 1 r· t n mi i n f . h n u . ut · r . a upp · d to it by abl from n t , r icle t t 'on d on

th ri r a . ratjn . in ir th t c u t u pu h nd ull ch other a ro . hi J. t r o ,, r" ti n (incl din lin ) oul a t n ab ut hr -quart _ r o,f n l1our. n r chin the r.~ r · nk the er

uld di mount t , r th trun e c. irl r t a deigndt cary h' hi

n ..... Jl n m" d an u .

AFV/Weapon Series di or: DUNCA C 0

Communication WI et (transmitter / rece1ver / in1.ercom) : u 5 ,and Fu 2 .

Armour · ach nable ch1rom1um- molybdenum armour

Plate. All we ded construction , superstructure partially interlock. di Austentic weldjng .

H 11· 1No e 100 + 100 mm 31 ·, fronl plate 1 GO - 100 mm. 111 11• lower

sides 80 mm. vertical, upper sides 80 mm vert1ca,1, rear 80 mm., 45°. top 30 mm. hor~zoni t I, botto 1m 20 + 30 mm. horizon1al.

Superstructure Front 200 mm 22°. sides 80 mm. 31 •, rear 80 mm. 19 •. roof 30 mm 87 e.

Engine · Two Maybach '' HL 120 TAM", gasoli1ne 60 ° V - 12 cylinder. water -cooled 11 .867 cm . tog,ether 530 b hp t 3.000 r p m

Fuel 240 ganonis 1n two tanks on ach side of the engine compartment Transmission· Porsche/ Siemens-Schuckert petrol· electr ic dr ive with on1e

ge rator and two electr,cal drive motors. Final drive ratio 16, 75 ·1. three peeds Electrica steering, hydro-pneoma 1c assisted .

Suspension . Three bog1es each with two bog1e wheels each per srde. mounted on pr1ma y and econdary arm . 1ncorporat1ng long1tud1nal t.orsion bars

Steel -rimmed road wheels 31 1n diameter . Track . Type Kgs 62/ 1640 / 130. cast manga1nese steel. 109 links per track .

24 1n. wide. track pitch 5 1n

Electric I Sy te 12 V. dynamo Two 12 V. batteries 120 Ah. Bosch B G 4/ 24. 4 h.p.

starter motof

P rfor c ax1mum road peed 1 2 5 m.p.h

Cross-country speed 6 m.p.h. a~1mum gradient. 22 °.

Trench crossing: 10 ft 6 i'n. Wad ng depth. 4 ft Road range street 95 m iles Cross -cou ,ntry 55 miles

Edited by DUNCAN CROW FUTURE TITLES WILL INCLUDE:

Commando and Twister and High Mobility Vehicles

by Christopher F. Foss A1thot1gl1 mair1ly dc\'Oted to tl1e n1t1lti-111ission Commando vehicle (\\1l1icl1 saw cxtensi\1e C)Cl'\1 icc \Vitt1 tl1e United States Arn1y in Vietnan1), and the Lockheed T\\ ister (\\1l1ich consists of t\\'O bodies joined by a pi,1ot.:1l }Oke), this Pt·ofile by a Jeadi11g expert 011 n1oder11 A FVs also dc5>cribes the Cl1r)'slcr SWAT and the n1ore interesting 11.igh mobility/ off road \'el1icles dc,·eloped b)' tt1c US 1\rr11y in the past fc\v )'ears: Gan1a Goat, Terra Stc.1r, PATA, XM-759 M'lrginal Terr<iin Vel1icle, Air Roll, and the GOER series.

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, how­ever, 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.1as to be the size of the A PC ir1 ter11l":> of carrying capacity? What \\1capons should the Al>C cat ry? Could tank " be ttscd as APCs on the lines of tl1e \\'{lr-tir11e Kar1-garoo? What tl1ick11ess of armour \\'US rcqt1ircd? Wottld it

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be possible to achie\'C any measure of standardisation '''ilh other tracked vehicles used by the same army? Major-General DL1ncan \vr1tcs from close pcrson,11 experience of comn1anding tankc; and A PCs as they \VOrkcd together on tt1c battlefield.

French Armoured Cars by Major James Bingham

Major Bingt1an1. \\' t1osc Profiles or1 French tanks ha\'C been \\'idely acclaimed. continues the story of French AFVs \vitl1 this Profile on Frerich armoured cars from before World War l t1ntil the end of World War I I.

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 ex­tensive 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 Japanese armour from its beginnings after World War I 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.

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Contents Part 1 Panzerkampfwagen I and II Panzerkampfwagen Ill Panzerkampfwagen 38{t) and 35(t) Panzerkampfw,agen llV Pan.zerkampfw.agen V Panther ,Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger (P) tefant Maus (+E- 100) SdKfz 250 and 25·1 Self-Propelled Weapon·s Armoured Cars

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

Just published

Armoure - . .

e , 1c es 1n

oume erman

o or

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., s •

ar

The s ory of German armour is a remarkable one. Years of study by dedicated professionals, superb· leadership on the ba lefield, sound traini1ng and high tactical skill, combined with a forceful and imaginative equipment policy, produced some nota.ble achievements. Good though the German equipment was, however, rt was above all, the Germans' abiility to achieve surprise, their great flex 'bility and the fighting spirit and de ermina ion of their s,oldiers, which were the telling factors in many . of their successes.

Both these aspects of German armoured excellenc · in World War II - the equipment and its use on the attle­field - are covered in detail int.his volume.

312 pa,ges with 28 in full -colour, contains over100,0·00 words, 600 photographs and- 2 indices. Case bound, colou1r 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 Yeov11I. Prof 111 Publ1cationsl1m1ted, Co bur Hou . She~t Street, Windsor, Berkshire, England Septemb , 1 g73

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