Armored vehicles of Germany in the Second World War. Super heavy tank Pz Kpfw "Maus"
The wave of megalomania, swept before the Second World War, in tank building touched many countries. For example, in the USSR in 1934, at a fairly high level, they considered a proposal to build an armored vehicle weighing 300 tons, and a T-39 tank weighing 95 tons was developed. The projects of steel monsters are also fascinated by the Americans, the Japanese, the British. However, only the Germans were able to bring this idea to life.
F. Porsche 8 June 1942 was invited to meet with A. Speer and A. Hitler. Someone from the three proposed to design a huge tank, armed with 128-or even 150-millimeter cannon. Anyway, however, now this fact is considered as a personal initiative of the Fuhrer.
The leaders of Germany’s Panzerväff and Tank Building G. Guderian, Chairman of the Commission for the Improvement of Tanks S. von Gaidekampf and G. Knipkamp categorically objected to the diversion of forces for the implementation of such projects. There was no official order for the design work. This was soon forgotten. Only not Porsche.
As chairman of the Panzerkommission (tank commission) and taking advantage of Hitler’s location, Porsche nevertheless managed to agree with those concerned on the production of his car. Krupp company had to make a case, the engine was provided by Daimler-Benz, and Alkett was going to carry out a general assembly. By the way, F. Porsche was going to install an air-cooled diesel engine of his own design, which he did not have time to manufacture by that time. The situation was discharged by Speer, who persuaded the designer to use the diesel MV517.
In August of the 43rd year, they began assembling a prototype ("Porsche 205") equipped with a MV509 engine. The supply of weapons and towers was postponed due to the increased number of Allied bombings aviation Krupp enterprises. Despite this test, a chassis with a ballast of equal mass instead of a turret was carried out in December. The tank was fully assembled in May 1944, and a month later it was tested.
The second prototype used diesel. The attempt was not entirely successful, since the fire caused a serious damage to the motor group as a result of the fire, and further work was suspended indefinitely. In April, when the Red Army approached the Kummersdorf test site, both tanks were blown up.
Separate assemblies, such as undercarriage workpieces and turrets, were made for nine tanks. Using the remaining parts and units, the Soviet specialists managed to assemble one “Maus” with weapons, but without the corresponding “stuffing”. This tank is now on display in Kubinka in the museum of armored vehicles.
In Maus, the thickness of armor, unprecedented for those years, is amazing: from 200 to 240 millimeters in the frontal details of the tower and the hull. Armament included two guns: 128-millimeter and 75-millimeter located to her right.
F. Porsche and in this car used a favorite electromechanical transmission. The dynamo worked for a pair of traction motors - one electric motor per track. The issue of overcoming under the water obstacles by the super heavy Pz Kpfw "Maus" tank was also worked out. In this case, the electricity had to be transmitted by cable from the car standing on the shore.
The designer really wanted to apply his original suspension, which has longitudinal torsions of high dynamic efficiency. However, it could not even make the leading companies, so the "Maus" had to install a spring suspension factory Skoda. On one side of the chassis there were 12 double rollers interlocked in pairs and a drive wheel located behind.
However, when the real features of the supergiant began to appear clearly, an official task for designing a competitive option appeared. The task was given to the company "Henschel" under the designation Е100. To move the 140-ton car with a speed of about 40 km / h was supposed to serve 800-strong engine. Armament - 150- and 75-millimeter guns while maintaining a reservation, similar to the Pz Kpfw "Maus". The end of the development of this machine put Hitler himself. Of course, neither E100 nor the “Maus” were seriously considered as the standard armament of the Panzervaffe. At best, they were assigned the role of mobile pillboxes used in the intervals between infantry strongholds. In this regard, their speed values are not attached.
In Germany, it was believed that giant tanks were test benches for testing various constructive solutions for future armored vehicles.
Technical characteristics of the Pz Kpfw "Maus" super heavy tank:
Year of manufacture - 1944;
Combat weight - 188 t;
Crew - 6 man;
Main dimensions:
Housing length - 9230 mm;
Length with a gun forward - 10090 mm;
Width - 3670 mm;
Height - mm 3660;
Security:
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the body (angle of inclination to the vertical) - 200 mm (35 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the hull sides (tilt to the vertical) - 180 mm (35 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the tower - 240 mm;
The thickness of the armor plates of the roof and the bottom of the hull - 100 mm and 50 mm;
Armament:
Brand gun - KwK44;
Caliber (barrel length) - 128 mm (55 klb.) and 75 mm (36,5 klb);
Ammunition - 32 and 200 shots;
The number of machine guns, their caliber - 2 pcs. 7,92 mm;
Ammunition - 10 thousand rounds;
Mobility:
Engine type and brand - MB509;
Engine power - 1080 l. with.;
Maximum speed on the highway - 20 km / h;
Fuel stock - 4800 l;
Cruising on the highway - 186 km;
The average ground pressure is 1,45 kg / cm2.
Prototype German Superheavy tank "Mouse" 205/1 (Pz.Kpfw.VIII Maus) with a model of the tower, pulled out of the mud at sea trials in Boblingen, Germany
F. Porsche 8 June 1942 was invited to meet with A. Speer and A. Hitler. Someone from the three proposed to design a huge tank, armed with 128-or even 150-millimeter cannon. Anyway, however, now this fact is considered as a personal initiative of the Fuhrer.
The leaders of Germany’s Panzerväff and Tank Building G. Guderian, Chairman of the Commission for the Improvement of Tanks S. von Gaidekampf and G. Knipkamp categorically objected to the diversion of forces for the implementation of such projects. There was no official order for the design work. This was soon forgotten. Only not Porsche.
As chairman of the Panzerkommission (tank commission) and taking advantage of Hitler’s location, Porsche nevertheless managed to agree with those concerned on the production of his car. Krupp company had to make a case, the engine was provided by Daimler-Benz, and Alkett was going to carry out a general assembly. By the way, F. Porsche was going to install an air-cooled diesel engine of his own design, which he did not have time to manufacture by that time. The situation was discharged by Speer, who persuaded the designer to use the diesel MV517.
In August of the 43rd year, they began assembling a prototype ("Porsche 205") equipped with a MV509 engine. The supply of weapons and towers was postponed due to the increased number of Allied bombings aviation Krupp enterprises. Despite this test, a chassis with a ballast of equal mass instead of a turret was carried out in December. The tank was fully assembled in May 1944, and a month later it was tested.
The second prototype used diesel. The attempt was not entirely successful, since the fire caused a serious damage to the motor group as a result of the fire, and further work was suspended indefinitely. In April, when the Red Army approached the Kummersdorf test site, both tanks were blown up.
Separate assemblies, such as undercarriage workpieces and turrets, were made for nine tanks. Using the remaining parts and units, the Soviet specialists managed to assemble one “Maus” with weapons, but without the corresponding “stuffing”. This tank is now on display in Kubinka in the museum of armored vehicles.
In Maus, the thickness of armor, unprecedented for those years, is amazing: from 200 to 240 millimeters in the frontal details of the tower and the hull. Armament included two guns: 128-millimeter and 75-millimeter located to her right.
Maus with imitation tower
F. Porsche and in this car used a favorite electromechanical transmission. The dynamo worked for a pair of traction motors - one electric motor per track. The issue of overcoming under the water obstacles by the super heavy Pz Kpfw "Maus" tank was also worked out. In this case, the electricity had to be transmitted by cable from the car standing on the shore.
The designer really wanted to apply his original suspension, which has longitudinal torsions of high dynamic efficiency. However, it could not even make the leading companies, so the "Maus" had to install a spring suspension factory Skoda. On one side of the chassis there were 12 double rollers interlocked in pairs and a drive wheel located behind.
However, when the real features of the supergiant began to appear clearly, an official task for designing a competitive option appeared. The task was given to the company "Henschel" under the designation Е100. To move the 140-ton car with a speed of about 40 km / h was supposed to serve 800-strong engine. Armament - 150- and 75-millimeter guns while maintaining a reservation, similar to the Pz Kpfw "Maus". The end of the development of this machine put Hitler himself. Of course, neither E100 nor the “Maus” were seriously considered as the standard armament of the Panzervaffe. At best, they were assigned the role of mobile pillboxes used in the intervals between infantry strongholds. In this regard, their speed values are not attached.
In Germany, it was believed that giant tanks were test benches for testing various constructive solutions for future armored vehicles.
Technical characteristics of the Pz Kpfw "Maus" super heavy tank:
Year of manufacture - 1944;
Combat weight - 188 t;
Crew - 6 man;
Main dimensions:
Housing length - 9230 mm;
Length with a gun forward - 10090 mm;
Width - 3670 mm;
Height - mm 3660;
Security:
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the body (angle of inclination to the vertical) - 200 mm (35 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the hull sides (tilt to the vertical) - 180 mm (35 degrees);
The thickness of the armor plates of the frontal part of the tower - 240 mm;
The thickness of the armor plates of the roof and the bottom of the hull - 100 mm and 50 mm;
Armament:
Brand gun - KwK44;
Caliber (barrel length) - 128 mm (55 klb.) and 75 mm (36,5 klb);
Ammunition - 32 and 200 shots;
The number of machine guns, their caliber - 2 pcs. 7,92 mm;
Ammunition - 10 thousand rounds;
Mobility:
Engine type and brand - MB509;
Engine power - 1080 l. with.;
Maximum speed on the highway - 20 km / h;
Fuel stock - 4800 l;
Cruising on the highway - 186 km;
The average ground pressure is 1,45 kg / cm2.
Information