.

'
45p

J
,,.
I
,
...

I
,... ...
I I

*
aus
-
by Walter J. Spiel berger and John Milsom

-
a IP"
r
r:-



Edited by DUNCAN CROW
Atmost since the 1invention of hie tank there has been what might be cal led 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
1
ly 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 th
1
e Channel and advance on Berl in l ike 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 i cal 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. '
4
The E
1
lefant' ' 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 a r m o n ~
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) Sentnel: and Australian
9 Early (British) Armoured Matildas
Cars 32 M6 Heavy and M26
1
1
0 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 Vehi cles
T55 and T62 43 PanzerKampfwagen 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
1
erma.n Self-Propelled
Weapons 1939-1945
i s"le Armed Armo
1
ured
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 Russan Armoured Cars
(to 1945)
61 Elefant a11d Maus ( + E-'100)
,
,

..
-- .
Professor Por., cl1l' 'I a11e111pt to cr<!(J/e ' ''1 c1r1>1011re(/ fig/11i11g tel1ille res1.1/tetf i11 lt'O prt1t ot.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/''.

anzera
by Walter J. Spielberger
DURING the battle north of Orel, Russia, in 1943, a
Russian tank column marched far out of reach of con-
ventional German anti-tank fire on a northerly course
towards Karatschew. The tanks were barely visible at a
distance of more than three miles and the Gennans
seemed unable to interfere with this troop movement,
\Vhich was threatening their exposed flank.
Then, at this critical moment, a company of Ger1nan
self-propelled anti-tank equipment, using a vehicle called

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
4
4.Nashorn'', mounted the
8,8 cm. Pak 43/ l L/71. Despite their open and only
thinly-a1111oured superstructure, these vehicles were
quite successful. They were replaced by an excellent
vehicle, the fully-enclosed and adequately-armoured
.. , 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
development. Never intended originally as a self-
propelled mount for the long-barrelled 88 mm. gun, it
turned out to be a technically most complicated and
unreliable vehicle. It came into existence almost by a
freak of nature and it should only serve as an example so
far as its unique chassis design is concerned. As a
complete unit, the 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 Pa11=er 11 ''''''' 'tL' (lq1 1ppecf 1,
1
i1lr fll
t1i1 -c 'l><Jf tf f, -10
1
etlf! inc.\ '' 11 ;cJ1 dro t'V c/ ct r1ctil/.l
1
1/1 t 11 '0 fr<Jlll prot:k 1 .
D11ri11R i11/(
1
11 1eltl tri 11 1/11: t>I . llJ T '/ , /,00
1
ucLJ <llS<J 11. eel tc> lJppJ.1
tilt' Por lilt' .. 1
1
p ... 101 1 i1J1 ele 1rit 11rre111 duri11g tlll j i11itial fi It/ le. t111g
,,f tilt" PrJr,,-/1e T1gf1.
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
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 plyn - 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 , 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 e1man 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 to,
uch an e t nt th . t it app ar d mo t likely to b con-
i1d re a th ta d' r an ap f r n n
tan de i n .
h 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 -or-
tuni 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 w
1
eightofthe urretbyalmo t22 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. ( / ). 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
601 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 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/

t111,/ 111 nrtler 111 1>1eet set tle1llli11e'i f t>,. 1>re\l'llft111011 c>/1/1e Po1\c/1<' 10 llitl<
1
r fi e/ti 1ril1ls uere
Cl>l1t/11cretl 1/1c' c/tc1 r ic cun1/J<Jnt111 \ ' ' irl 1cJt'I 1/1c 111t1111 r:11g lftes 111 ' tc1//ed. Po' cr '' '' \ \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
time in the development of uch a sophisticated weapon,
and it perhaps not surprising tl1at the impler more
conventional Henschel vehicle 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 expected to
equal tl1e electric alternative. It was to be buill by Yoith
of Heidenheim. However, eriou!> troubles with the air-
cooled engine delayed installation and cau ed a com-
plete 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 dcvelop-
n1ents never tnaterialised and the Type J 01
never saw action as a battle tank.
Eighty-five of the 90 chassis at the i belu ng-
en\verke were hipped in 1942 to tl1e Altmaerki che
Kettenfabrik GmbH (Alkett) of Berlin-Spandau. There
they recei\ ed ne\v uper tructure and additional armour
and were equipped with the long-barrelled 88 mm. anti-
tank gun mounted in limited traver e. A ne\.\' tank
destroyer vehicle was thu created. It wa de111on trated
for tl1e fir t time on 19th March 1943 at Ruegenwalde.
lnste,td of the two air-cooled Por che engines, two
landard Maybach HL 120 TRM tank engines were
installed. The ne\v unit received the official designation
Panzerjager Tiger (P) Elefant (SdKfz 184). 01iginaJly
called "Ferdinand'' after 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. Pro-
fessor a ociation \Vi th the Steyr-Daimler-
Puch AG., which owned and operated 1belungen-
werke, put the production of all of his designs and proto-
types in tl1i location. Originally intended for mas , pro-
duction of the Por che Type l this factory erved until
the end of the \va1 a the main of PanLer IV. It
carried out eAtensi\e research work and built, among
other fighting the Jagdtiger. Component parts
and hull a emblie were supplied by Eisenwerke Ober-
donau 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 compart-
ment was inserted in between. The tank version had the
usual layout, with the fighting in the front
A niotlel <J( 1J1e 1;ger 1tirl1 1/1e Kr11pp 1i1r r er 1r/1ic/1 fc11er p111
111 to procl11c t 1011 f or 1/1e II e11.,cl1el Tiger E.
'
143
11 t1oclt'tl 11111ck-i1f' tJj 1/1 Po, /1 7 i er !1i, /I 1i1Ji ci . pu ioti drite1
cvn111t111111e111 !i/1011 1/1c' c1i1 l111k for t /1" lt)
1
iro-p11e111,,1t1ti( le
I f 111.

TJ1e 1<.'c1r-1.f'l'i1e11 1elriclt t1llt>1LetJ /c1t ll 111tJte pvcic 11 tlrfl' I' c't)t1111ar1111 11 1.
111 . ll '(J(1tl 11 111,>c k tip c1/ '' i11tlicaft'.\" r/1 /111// ,,,,, l1i11t' 1111 ,,,,,J t/1e.
i t1 iof1i11 c/c
1
l ice }l>r rfrc' lr{1Ck'I.
11' 'l1 ti[ lilt! e uir-coo/e(/ 11g111t' uere <r;z,p{etf it i1!1 t111 el" c1ri 11 rat<Jr
a1ld 111 ttJfll
1
tl i11 1J11J linliit'lf pated t
1
11g111e t 01r1par1met1t <if th Tigl:.r ta11/... .
le1r(1 l'i ible llr the t o air /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 all 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 l1t ing
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.
t 11 in r, t 1 am a t . . Ir d y
d _ ri b d i t in th anz r I P'1ofile the n in
d rib d h r i th ri in 1 r h t .. n k . n in . w
1 li r upl g th r to ,r d c tl1rough n
144
l ri n mi . 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
, , _
1
il 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
1
d 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
1
d al , e actu t d
th . u h pu h r
1
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 r-
ehang bl rin hel . di id ii . um wa in or-
po ated. ngin . ooling .. a effi ct d t rough a double
rot ry blower dri n fro a P
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 ro k t. B th ide
of the en gin . comp rtment held the t o f U
1
e1 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 125 m.p.h. he earbo a
l tric lly . r . t . d , ad thr e ed ratio er a . ilable
in e'the direction.
PORSCHE 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
1
f 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
1
d1ing the tr . ck
ui : and on th. u o t ] ... rimmed wheel . A hort
can ti I r pin le upported a
1
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 235 in. width
were tested but the ever-increasing total weight de-
manded a lower ground pressure. It was still too high,
since the Elefant had to be content with 344 lb. /sq. in. > a
very high figure.
Instead of a rotating turret, the vehicle had a box-like
superstructure. with slightly inclined plate . The com-
mon practice of interlocking armour plates was utilised.
Six escape hatches were provided, t'NO of which were
situated on top of the driving compartment. Three
appeared on the superstructure 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 ex-
tended to 14 on either side. Fifty round of an1mun1t1on
\Vere carried in the fighting comparttnent.
The 88 mn1. 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 cart-
ridge case .. which \Vas 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 nl'i<>Ck.
Tlrt! sa111e reJ1icle fro11-r rl1e reczr, sl101ii11g 1J1e lorc;u/ 0{1J1e e11gine c'1111part-
111e11t t111cl orl1er st<>'' t1ge.
145
T110 o_( 1/1e Por. c/1( l er i111i1. d11ri11 1l1e '" t p ric1tl in 1942. TJ1e; 1urr t tl'r r
.._,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
1
e 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 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 nd r l r i p r th
1 i\ - I "l
1
/71 un 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
, mmuni Li n. L n t nly ould n t t it t r t but
h pr tit . I d d in i . , h , h I 1 1 y
. n u rin tl1e d tru tion of b th ehicl nd er - .
r .. r t ti n - th h n ly r n l a r
- on ma hin n 4 nd t o --m c1
1
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 .
.. ._. ..._. 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
rmo11r 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 htn 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 . pr

ann
prin n
1
mo 1 of a hi I hi 11 a
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 11eu i>} tl1e Elef(1nt sl1t>us tl1e t.irr11oi1rt
1
<l .;z1pe1 \trt1,111r<' 11-/11cl1
replt1cecl tl1R rott1t111g t11rret of 1/1e Por clze Tiger Tl1e c1rci1fl1r 1r1d< 111<1t1on
011 1J1e o_f tire /1z1/J 1' U\ vr1g111c1lll ci11 (.' 'ICc1pe J1c11cl1 for 1/1e clrtler. Lcittr
it 1rt1s 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 equip-
ped 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. 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 Ord-
nance Department in the autumn of 1942, initiated at
Par cl1e both Type 180 and 181. The Ordnance de!:>igna-
tion was VK 4502 (P). The designs now had inclined
armour plates .. follo\ving the trend of' the tin1e. Both
model again appeared as drawings only. Ho\vever,
the 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 11eler 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<' lOcJfit1<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 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 com-
pleted when the \var came to an end. Under the de igna-
tion sLa 16'' (Porsche Type 212), one was installed in a
Jagdtiger, where it perfor111ed rather promisingly. Un-
fortunately, the new engine demanded a modification of
the Tiger hull , thus delaying even further mt1cl1-
147
h,. > 11e \' El fa11/ ,\ of tll /tr t r>rodtl 11011 ri111 di1ri1z ft> t trtctl at tile IA 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
. .
1po
1
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 ......."""'

.... &.& ..... 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 1ic11 { 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 'llille jrom l 43. 11 co,zc 111ri lrar /1 i11 1/1 r ar p/ar ' of 1/1e
up r 1r11ctt1r, r1 d r tlr '
1
j 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
I af1r 1n11011red r coi r ,. Irie I lac A- cl rh z1ppletn tirtr1c1i1r o.f rl1e 1c111k ,f, 1r .\' r ver ion.
,

148

T



7,r<J A11c>cA e<I 11111 c/11ri11J? till' \t1111111l'I' 111 i11 J11lr 1943. 11' \ig11c)ci l<J A r111,r Grc>Llf' \f<>tlcI, r/1c
1
1111r1/1c r11 <1r111 tl1e pi11cer f1ltJl'e1nc'111
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<>/Jpcc/ t!1c c1fle11\i1c t111cl
f<Jrcecl tf1c Ger111t1111, '''' ' '' 1J1c c/c>/c11i;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
tO\\ ard the end of the European conflict . Tl1e
Ferdi11and 01, a& it was l'tter called, tl1e Elef a11t. was 5ome-
tl1ir1g in bet\veen. The nece sity of having to use all con-
ceivable means to balance tl1e situation forced tl1e
Gern11ns to utilise all available equipment. Ninety
cl1assi were they had to be used. They becarne
equipment for two battalions of an armoured regiment
(Pctnzer Abte1lung 654). Eacl1 battalion had three com-
pe: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 great 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 u1sk, 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
oblig1tio11. Mechanically unreJiable becat1se of the com-
plicated 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
---



<'.\'fJ<'fi<11cc i 11 51c1/i11grc1<I 11rt>111JJl<'CI Hill<r tc1 cle111c1t1d c1 Vf!lli( le
ec11.ttfJ{Jl"(/ 11 11!1 ' ' .Sll/1<'r.\ truc1111 ,. ,.,,,,,,;,;,. t>/ rc1t11111111g 1ttcl t/e\ tf<>} 111g
hl11/di11f!' A11 orcler to Pt)r\ cl1l! r1..
1
\ttlt e<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 be en1phasi ed that the proto-
type 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\v-
ever, that a strictly technical without considera-
tion for military nece itie , cot1ld only be a compromi e
at the best, and these findings were ratl1er drastically
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. 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> ~
~ c r
- I
(1) <l>
N <l>
c -
ro .c.
C L ~

er an u e eav
aus an
by Jo n F. Milsom
D- l the c ur o_ 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 u
1
p 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.
1
0th 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 n
1
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- 1et 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\
1
i 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 I m 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 r-
h nk . - d .
1
mpf Kni , kamp
1
f . n u rian
. 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 th -hin thi . 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 ht1
1
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 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
(/ 11ri11g ti\ tr1c1/s. u
1
itl1 ti 55-ttJlt H' <'1g/11 \et on 1/1e \t1per\trL1Ctt1re t 1>u11rtl\ 1!1t rt
1
t1r 1/ t l1e iehicle t o ';tn111/t1te tl1e 111r r et ,tl1icl1 uas 1101
i<t fc>111p/c>t e<I. It l l , , ., r>' er 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 .
that he would l1ave used it in any case as he
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

c'f tl1e -JOO prJtl>ll/1l) 11a 1z11l c1111111/C! l 11 /1 11111, Lrc1r en<l<
1
cl ftt \ifa. 1945. TJ1c parric1/(1 111i 11 )d l, 11 < cclplztrtcl h) th Ilic . It ll'O 69 c1n
/011g ( u i1/1,1t1t bt1rrt>/ 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 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- 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
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 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 tJro1c11Jpe of 111< E-100 ''''' l1c1i\ttti 011 to c1 l<)ll' f"(' <c)ler_l ' trt1i/er f<JI' b; ''' cc1ptor\
had come out at 179 3 metric tons but h(td increased
lightly and \Vith the addition of the fla1ne-thrower
(4900Kg) the total increase amounted to slightly more
than
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 re-
assembled 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 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) 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 any-
thing withot1t an OKH contract and as this was not
f orthco111ing the matter \vas dropped and tl1e manu-
facture 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
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 lower-
ing of compression-ratio and boost pressure in order to
allow for lo\ver grade f ue1. o 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
1
tf .. -100 prc>tvt}pe. l1e 1c111k 11'.Cl"i
44 Cl11 ll'Jlfe.
n,d u m 't 1 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 n
1
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 -
1
t _ 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 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
dd1ti1on, 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
1
one 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 of 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
ar11101 ure,d g tin ehi l ignated th ( - t i k-
lun = . 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 '>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 result 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 com-
parttnent 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, hereto-
fore impo sible with the interleaved wheel and tors1on-
bar suspension. Belleville washer springing was used
instead and fitted externally, in an interleaved arrange-
ment. 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 power
1
weight 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 85 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 two-
wheeled single prings in overlapping arrangement with
two guide lugs\ suspended by doubJe spiral springs
outside the hull. There were hock-ab orbers on the
inside. In co1nbat a 1-metre steel track we:1 to be used ..
which would have given a ground-pre sure of 199 p.s.i.
For rail transport a special new track wa5 to be mounted.
Frontal armour was 200 mm. at 30 and 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 ht{,1g t.:. c1T11111ecl bJ Jtt11t)ric !111 trc1cJ{J"> . Tlz<> tc111k 111 b .. l 'T11 l1iglJ.
lc11r ltilll c111<I 111rret . 1:1,-ucl11l1it11111la11 l11tl hee11111l1dt.. {1Jr 150 11{ tl1e c I 11111 tt111k.\ . 11lt' \tart.\ JOO. lt11 lt111g. cif ,1/1icl1 /(t c111 h(lfft'I rJ 1'L
1
rl1111 .
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 (Haustenbeck near P1der-
born) when the war ended. The project had been officially
discontinued in 1944.
MAUS DESCRIPTION
Tl1e general impression given by the interior of the
Maus, in spite of its size .. is that it is filled almost com-
pletely with a 1nass of complicated macl1inery. Tl1e
production difficulties facing tl1e designer were main1y as
follows:
a) Overall size and weight 185
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 front) and strong frontal floor
armour against mines
d) Performanc(}-top speed 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
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 ope1ator in the central well
bet ween them. Behind this was the compartment con-
taining the engine, cooling fans, radiators etc. Again,
behind this, the main generator was placed and
in this transverse section all the near ide sponson was
by am111unition stowage, and the offside partly
so. and partly by batteries and the auxiliary po\ver plant.
The rear hot1sed the in tl1e spon-
sons., 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 i n t11e fighting compartment \.Ve1e situated above the
i11ain genera tor and thus .. bei11g cut off fro1n the f 01wa1d
compartment by the engine and its cooling apparatus,
had no access to it. The air intake was situated centrally
above the engine and behind the driver and wireless
operator. The wireless and inter-communication equip-
menl w<\s ituated on the operator's rigl1t-l1and side in
the fonvard compartment. 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\
1
ided for the driver
and operator and two for the ere\\' in the turret. Some of
the periscopes were of conventional bL1t others
were specially prepared for subn1e1sion. The driver'ls
seat had two one for driving in action (closed
do\vn) and the other for d1iv1ng with the escape hatch
open and the driver"'s head exposed. Hi controls were
fixed relative to tl1e seat po that 11e was given
the maximum of comfort in bott1 positions.
Two types of engine were considered compression-
ignition (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 develop-
ments 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
to the cre\v compartment for air-con-
1'11 tit' s t 11r11.>1 l 1 ,,,;.1ig lr1.
1
ti 50 r c111 \ t111tl lt ti.\ i i le111 i<:al t c> rl1e 111rre t i11t e11<l ecl for 1 J1e 1:,.100
159
ditionin purpo ' nd nor llin . t al o u for
h tng i n- a It ti n nd b .tt ry hargin .
he . l ctric tran mi ion pro id he tank ith n
infint 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
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 r1 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
Desi gnation 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, 1
1
6 h p./ ton,
Ground pressure 344 lb,/ s . in.
om n on
Len th overall. 26 fl 8 i n.
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
Mai n armament . One S 1. Zf 1 a binocular tel scope
1
Commander Telescope.
Clr1ver. Telescope
. h t r t t t i th h - b rpt i n d ir-=- 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
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 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 '
1
t 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 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 i nterlock. 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. I, botto
1
m 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, 751.
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.
gradient . 22 .
Trench crossing: 10 ft 6 i'n.
Wad ng depth. 4 ft
Road range street 95 mi les 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 (\\
1
l1icl1 saw cxtensi\
1
e C)Cl'\
1
icc \Vitt1 tl1e United
States Arn1y in Vietnan1), and the Lockheed T\\ ister (\\
1
l1ich
consists of t\\'O bodies joined by a pi,
1
ot.:1l }Oke), this
Ptofile 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, how-
ever, it proves to differ from its contemporaries in several
important respects. In fact, its de5ign embodies a 11umber
of no\:el ideas "'hich make it one of tl1c most interesting
of modern battle tanks ...
''The most unusual feature of the AMX-30 from the start
has been its main armament. This consists of a 105mm gun
wl1ich fites a unique type of armour-piercing shaped
charge projectile ... ,.
Armoured Personnel Carriers - A Survey
by Major-General N. W. Duncan
This P1ofi/e is concerned \vith 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., of the U11ited
Statc5, Great Britain, F1ancc, Germany, J,1pan, S\\Cdcn,
Sv. itzcrland and the U .S.S.R., and how they rcc;,pond
to the that \\ere r'1ised after World War II
experience: What v.as to be the ft1tL1re role of tl1c .,.\PC?
Wt1at v.
1
as to be the size of the A PC ir1 ter11l":> of carrying
capacity? What \\
1
capons should the Al>C cat ry? Could
tank" be tt scd as APCs on the lines of tl1e \\'{lr-tir11e Kar1-
garoo? What tl1ick11ess of armour \\' US rcqt1ircd? Wottld it

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 variants,
inclt1ding the BTR- 50 series. the ASU 85, and the
BMP 76PB.
Russian Armoured Wheeled Vehicles
by John F. Milsom
Although little attention v.as paid by the Russians to the
development of armoured v. heeled \'ehicles in the USSR
during World War II, since the end of that \\'ar an ex-
tensive range of such vehicles has appeared, inspired
predominantly b)' tl1e appearance of the armoured personnel

carrier.
S.P. Guns, Amphibious Tanks, Specialized
Armour, and APCs of the Imperial
Japanese Army
by Lieutenant-General Tomio Hara,
I. J . A. Retd.
This Profile completes General Hara 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.

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 251
Self-Propelled Weapons
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

.,
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 attle-
field - are covered in detail int.his volume.
312 pa,ges with 28 in full -colour, contains over100,000
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 case 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 .
h e ~ t St reet, Windsor, Berkshire, England Sept emb , 1 g73
-