VK 4501 (P)

The VK 45.01 (P) (more commonly known as the Tiger (P)) was the official designation for an unsuccessful heavy tank prototype produced by Porsche in Germany in 1942. It was not selected for production and the Henschel design to the same specification was produced as the Tiger I. Most of the already produced chassis were instead rebuilt as Elefant tank destroyers.

Development

On 21 May 1942, Henschel and Porsche at a meeting in Germany were asked to submit designs for a 45-ton heavy tank capable of mounting the high velocity 88 mm KwK L/56 gun which was derived from the German 88 mm flak gun. Both the Henschel and Porsche tanks were to be fitted with the same turret supplied by Krupp. The Porsche company worked on updating the VK 30.01 (P) medium tank, Porsche's medium tank prototype, and adapted parts used on it for the new tank.

The new Porsche tank, designated the VK 45.01 (P) was to be powered by twin air cooled gasoline Porsche Type 101/1 engines which were mounted to the rear of the tank. Each of the twin engines would then drive a separate generator, one for either side of the tank, which would then power each of two electric motors, one powering each track. But the engines along with its drive system were very prone to break down from their design and the deficient quality of copper for electrical use available to the Third Reich, and needed almost constant maintenance to keep the tank running. This, and the tank being less maneuverable than its competitor, was the reason why Henschel's 88mm-armed VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype, which became the Tiger I, was adopted for production instead. ^[1]

The VK 45.01 (P) chassis was later chosen to be the basis of a new heavy tank destroyer which would eventually be called the Ferdinand and mount the new 88 mm Pak 43/2. ^[2]

Only one tank went into service as a command tank in the Ferdinand (Elefant) unit, and served in Panzerjäger Abteilung 653.^[3] It was deployed in April 1944 and lost that subsequent July. ^[3]

The VK 45.01 (P)'s chassis and many of the Elefant's components were later used in developing the VK 45.02 (P) prototype heavy tank. ^[4]

Design

A drawing of the VK45.01(P)

The preserved American-captured Elefant, showing the suspension it shared with the VK45.01(P) chassis.

Ferdinand Porsche developed the spring rod roller carriage, the six twinned-up (one inner, one outer per axle) road wheel units comprising the suspension on each side of the vehicle's hull were joined in pairs, adding up to three twin-road-wheeled unit suspension bogies per side. The 57 to 59 tons combat weight in combination with 640 mm wide "slack-tracks" (KGS 62/640/130) using no return rollers, produced a ground pressure of about 1.06 kg / cm.

The petrol-electric drive specially developed by Ferdinand Porsche entered "uncharted territory". It was this reason that defects were produced in the drive system. The two air-cooled 10-cylinder engines designated Porsche 101/1, which were merged respectively with a Siemens-Schuckert 500 VA generator, generated the necessary electric energy to operate each of the two Siemens 230 kW (312.7 PS) output-apiece electric motors. In this drive system, a transmission system could be omitted, since now a 3-step speed switch took over the work. The electric motors transferred their power with a drive ratio of 15: 1 directly to the drive wheels located at the rear. The tank carried 520 litres of petrol and allowed a driving range of 80 kilometers. Two compressed air tanks in the front crew compartment area supported the tank driver during braking maneuvers.

Unlike the Henschel design's mid-hull mounting for the turret, the VK 45.01 (P) had its Krupp-designed turret mounted at the front. The turret, which mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36 and a 7.92 mm MG 34 on the same axis, was essentially the same Krupp design also used for Henschel's contract-winning VK45.01(H) prototype design. The first eight turrets produced had lower sides and a flat roof with raised centre section to allow the gun to be depressed through larger arc.

Variants

• VK 45.01 (P) Test prototype

VK45.01 chassis fitted with a concrete turret mockup to simulate the weight of the Krupp turret for testing purposes. Only 100 chassis were built.

• VK 45.01 (P) (Porsche Tiger)

5 VK45.01 tanks with the Krupp turrets and 8.8 cm KwK 36 guns were produced. Only one completed Tiger (P) with chassis number 150013 saw combat service as a command tank.

• Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand"

91 existing VK 4501 chassis were converted into Ferdinand tank destroyers. The work was completed in just a few months from March to May 1943.

• Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Elefant"

In September 1943 all surviving Ferdinands were recalled to be modified. 48 of the 50 surviving vehicles were modified with additional armour, a new commanders cupola (from StuG III) and a new ball mounted machine gun.

• Bergepanzer Tiger(P)

A conversion of the VK 45.01 (P) chassis into recovery vehicles designated Bergepanzer Tiger (P). Only 3 were built.

• VK 45.01 "RammTiger"

A proposed conversion of the VK 45.01 (P) chassis in a heavily armoured ramming vehicle armed with machine guns. 3 superstructures were completed but their fate is unknown as the project was cancelled in 1943.

References

Bibliography

• Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1999). Panzerkampfwagen VI (P) (Sd. Kfz. 181) The History of the Porsche Type 100 and 101 also known as the Leopard and Tiger (P). Darlington: Darlington Productions. ISBN 978-1-8928-4803-1.