Heavy tank Porsche VK 4501 (P), Germany

23
In mid-1941, Porsche presented an experimental heavy tank VK 3001 (P) or Typ 100 for testing. This machine had a number of characteristic features that distinguished it from other similar German-made vehicles. Some of these differences had a negative impact on the project as a whole and led to the fact that the customer did not want to start mass production of new equipment. In addition, the development of a new version of the heavy tank under the designation VK 4501 (P).

At the end of May 1941, the German command once again revised the requirements for a promising heavy tank. The experience of several previous projects showed that the new machine should have even thicker reservations and an appropriate combat mass. When using armor with a thickness of up to 100 mm, the tank had to weigh on the order of 45 t. Also, it was necessary to use a powerful weapon capable of punching up to 100-150 mm of armor at a distance of about 1 km. In accordance with these requirements, the development of two projects, known as VK 4501, was started.

Two organizations were involved in the development of the new armored vehicle. The project from the company Henschel received the designation VK 4501 (H), from the company Porsche - VK 4501 (P). Subsequently, the first project, which had the letter “H” in the title, was approved by the customer, after which the new tank went into mass production. This machine is widely known under the name Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger. The second project was completed less successfully, with a smaller amount of built equipment.

Heavy tank Porsche VK 4501 (P), Germany
Experienced tank VK 4501 (P) on the tests. Photo Rascarcapaco.blogspot.ru


At Porsche, the new project received its own designation Typ 101. In addition, different names were used at different stages of development. Notation used to reflect the combat weight of the vehicle (VK 4501), the sequence number in the troops (Pz.Kpfw.VI), etc. Most of the renaming was carried out in accordance with the orders of the customer in the face of the army.

In the new project it was proposed to maximize the use of existing developments in the light of updated requirements for equipment. It was planned to preserve the main provisions of the project, as well as make some changes to the reservation and weapons complex. This allowed us to speed up the development of the project, but at the same time to fulfill the existing requirements. This approach made it possible to reduce the number of newly developed components and assemblies.

The existing building, created in the framework of the previous project, received an enhanced reservation. Its frontal part was to be assembled from sheets with a thickness up to 100 mm, the protection of the sides and the stern was assigned to the 80-mm parts. In connection with the change in armor thickness, it was necessary to change the contours of the frontal part of the hull. In addition, the design of the upper part of the hull, which formed developed fencing niches, was adjusted. Between the upper frontal and side parts there were sloping cheekbones. The 25-mm horizontal hull roof aft of the machine was connected to a sloping sheet.


Scheme of the tank Tiger (P). Figure Rascarcapaco.blogspot.ru


The project also developed an updated version of the tower, used on a heavy tank of the previous version. The tower had a vertical frontal sheet, and was also equipped with a curved part that served as the sides and stern. In terms of protection, the turret of the new tank did not differ from the hull and consisted of sheets up to 100 mm thick.

The layout of the VK 4501 (P) tank was to be fully borrowed from the previous project. In front of the housing were placed electrical transmission units and some mechanical devices, behind which the control compartment was placed. The center of the corps contained the fighting compartment, and the power plant was located in the stern.

The VK armored vehicle 3001 (P) was equipped with two petrol engines with an 210 horsepower. To compensate for the growth of combat mass, the tank needed more powerful engines. In the framework of the VK 4501 (P) project, a new type 101 carburetor engine was developed. This product differed from its predecessor by one and a half times in the large volume and power of the HP 310. Two new engines were to be placed in the aft hull. Next to them were two Siemens sGV 275 / 24 electric generators with a capacity of 275 kW each. With the help of a set of cables, electric power was supplied to Siemens D1495a electric motors placed in front of the case. Through onboard transmissions, electric motors rotated the front drive wheels.

Perspective heavy tank retained the basic principles of control proposed in the previous project. The driver was able to change the operating parameters of two gasoline engines, but the main control tool was a set of systems that allowed changing the parameters of the current supplied to the traction motors. At the same time, gasoline engines could operate in the same mode.


An experienced chassis with a weight imitator of the tower on the tests. Photo of Chamberlain P., Doyle H. "Complete reference book of German tanks and self-propelled guns of the Second World War"


Chassis with modifications borrowed from the previous tank. It was proposed to use six double support rollers of large diameter on each side. The authors of the project abandoned the use of rubber tires, but retained the overall architecture of the chassis. The rollers were blocked in pairs, and their carts were mounted on torsion bars. To save space inside the car, torsions were placed outside, and also placed along the body. The drive wheels were placed in the front of the chassis with a noticeable excess over the support rollers. There were guide wheels in the stern. The upper branch of the caterpillar lay on the track rollers, without the need for supporting rollers. Two variants of tracks were developed for the VK 4501 (K) tank. The product with a width of 500 mm was intended for the transportation of equipment on roads and railways, and for operation in the field it was necessary to use the 600-mm track.

The main armament of the tank was to be placed in a rotating turret. Initially, it was supposed to use a promising 88-mm gun as the “main caliber”. Calculations showed that for such a tank gun it is necessary to increase the size of the combat compartment, and also bring the diagonal of the shoulder strap to 2 m. Due to the specific coordination of the work of different enterprises and the customer, an order was created to develop a tower for a smaller diameter that could carry only 75-mm the gun. In the future, problems with the fighting compartment were solved, and the customer and the developer chose the required type weapons.

The main armament of the heavy tank "Type 101" decided to make a tank gun 8,8 cm KwK 36 with a barrel length 56 caliber. This gun met the requirements of the customer regarding combat qualities, and also had acceptable dimensions and could be installed on a promising tank. It was proposed to complete the gun with a binocular telescopic sight and mount it on a swinging system. With the help of rotational turret drives, circular horizontal guidance was provided. Elevation angles varied from -9 ° to + 18 °.


Checking the chassis on rough terrain. Photo Aviarmor.net


It was proposed to mount a MG 34 MG 7,92 mm caliber machine gun on one machine unit. From the second machine gun in the installation of the front hull sheet was originally decided to refuse. Subsequently, the installation of the case is still introduced into the project. The gunner of the gun was supposed to control the paired machine gun, while the gunman-gunner had to control the course gun. Also at the disposal of the crew could have several submachine guns used as weapons of self-defense.

By increasing the size of the hull and the combat compartment in the tank, it was possible to place sufficiently large and bulky racks for ammunition. Ammunition 88-mm guns could consist of 64 shells. For use with a machine gun was proposed to transport over 4300 cartridges. There was also a place to transport six stores to machine guns with 192 cartridges.

The crew of the tank VK 4501 (P) / Typ 101 was to consist of five people. In front of the hull there was a driver and radio operator. They could observe the situation with the help of hatches in the front and cheekbones of the hull. At their workplaces there was a set of all the necessary controls. So, the driver had the controls of the machine, and the radio operator had two types of radio stations.


The study of technology. Photo of Chamberlain P., Doyle H. "Complete reference book of German tanks and self-propelled guns of the Second World War"


In the tower there were places for the gunner, the commander and loader. The commander could observe through a set of viewing devices on his own turret. Similar systems, but with smaller viewing angles, had a loader. The gunner was supposed to use the sight in his place. In the roof of the tower and on the turret, two hatches were provided for access inside the car.

An interesting feature of the new project was the ergonomics of the crew compartment and an unusual way for the crew to land in their places. For a number of reasons of a technical nature, the tank tower was shifted as far forward as possible, due to which its frontal part blocked the roof of the control compartment, not allowing it to be equipped with hatches. As a result, the entire crew of the tank had to get inside the car only through two hatches in the roof of the tower. First, the driver and the radio operator should have entered the tank, then the gunner, the commander and the loader had to climb into it. The landing was proposed to be made in the reverse order.

The growth of protection and firepower led to an increase in size and combat weight. The length of the tank "Type 101" on the hull was 6,6 m, taking into account the gun - 9,34 m. Width reached 3,4 m, height - 2,8 m. Combat weight significantly exceeded the required 45 t and reached 57 t. With this weight increase, the tank, according to calculations , had to reach speeds up to 35 km / h. Power reserve did not exceed 105-110 km.


Tank with a tower on the track. Photo Aviarmor.net


A preliminary version of the VK 4501 (P) project was ready by the end of June 1941. Soon there was a document stipulating the schedule for the subsequent work. Also during this period, the project was given the additional name Tiger. Subsequently, in order to avoid confusion with the competing project of the company Henschel, the tank from the Porsche was called Tiger (P). Also remained the existing designations. The signed documents, among other things, stipulated the participation of various subcontractors in the project, who were required to supply certain components.

According to reports, by the end of July, 41 had signed several agreements on the supply of a significant number of components for new tanks. So, for a given period, Krupp was supposed to assemble and send the same number of towers for the Tiger (P) tank to the 100 hull assembly. In accordance with these contracts and the approved plan, hundreds of new armored vehicles were to go to the customer from spring to autumn 1942. There is also a widespread opinion that the assembly of the first large batch of tanks was launched by the arbitrary decision of Ferdinand Porsche, but it contradicts other information.

The assembly of armor hulls for VK 4501 (P) tanks started at the very end of 1941 of the year. Production of such products continued until the middle of 42. The first towers, for various reasons, were released only in the middle of the spring 1942 of the year, after which they managed to start assembling the experimental machines. According to available data, in the first order, in total, no more than 65 chassis were built and only 15 towers, of which only 10 prototypes were assembled.


Transportation VK 4501 (P) by rail. Photo Wiki.warthunder.ru


The first prototype of the promising heavy tank was put to the test at the end of the winter 1942. In view of the absence of the required combat compartment, it was decided not to equip the existing chassis with a tower, instead of which a weighing simulator should be used. The chassis showed not very high mobility characteristics. There were also problems with the work of individual units. The first prototype did not perform well during the factory tests, which was why it was sent back for revision. Instead, the customer for testing presented the following machine pilot batch in a similar configuration.

By this time, the shortcomings of individual elements of the armored vehicle were identified. Thus, the new type of engines had insufficient reliability and could not withstand long-term operation at maximum power, which could lead to the destruction of their parts. Also, the developers and the customer were not satisfied with the design of the tower, which should be improved. During May 1942, a voluminous list of the necessary changes that should be made to certain units and assemblies of the machine was formed.

Initially, the customer considered a heavy tank from the company Porsche as a favorite of the existing program. Nevertheless, as the tests were conducted, the opinion of army specialists changed. Over time, the VK 4501 (H) tank was considered a more promising development. At the beginning of July, 1942 of the year, a joint test report of the two armored vehicles was compiled, highlighting the advantages of the Tiger (H) tank. According to specialists, it took at least a year to refine the competing car. Because of this, it was considered unsuitable for adoption and mass production.


Tank with a tower in the field. Photo of Wikimedia Commons


By the end of the test, the leadership of Nazi Germany had concluded that it was impossible to simultaneously build two heavy tanks of different types. The industry was loaded with a mass of other orders, because of which a choice had to be made. After the appearance of the test report, the decision became obvious, but the fate of the two heavy tanks was to be determined with the help of additional tests. In the middle of November, comparative tests of two tanks took place, during which both presented machines showed not only advantages, but also disadvantages. However, the Henschel tank proved to be better than its rival.

The development of the company Henschel decided to put in the series, while the further development of the Typ 101 project was considered unpromising. Soon the VK 4501 (H) tank was put into service under the name Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger. The Tiger (P) project was closed due to the lack of prospects for 22 on November 42. An official document on the completion of the project was signed a little later, in December. By this time, eight experimental machines had been built, differing from each other in terms of equipment, equipment, purpose, etc. In addition, two buildings were built for testing, not equipped with internal units.

December 10 Army demanded to develop two options for upgrading the existing tank using new engines and transmission units. The Tank Typ 130 was supposed to get one Maybach HL 120TRM engine instead of two separate engines, and the Typ 131 project involved replacing the electric transmission with hydraulic systems. After the completion of the development of the updated projects, it was planned to rebuild a number of VK 4501 (P) chassis available on them. In the future, new engines received almost all built armored vehicles.


SAU Elefant / Ferdinand. Photo of Wikimedia Commons


Built technique was used for various purposes. So, prototypes of the “Type 101” were used in various new projects as a platform for developing new ideas and solutions. One of the fully equipped tanks that received a turret and weapons, according to some data, was sent to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1944 for testing under real combat conditions. This machine was used until mid-summer, when it was destroyed during one of the battles.

After the project was closed, it was decided to finish the construction of VK 4501 (P) type chassis, as well as use them as the basis for a new technology. In total, 90 chassis were assembled, which were equipped with new type of engines during the completion and modernization. Later, these chassis were used in the construction of Sturmgeschütz mit 8,8 self-propelled artillery mount cm StuK 43 or 8,8 cm StuK 43 Sfl L / 71 Panzerjäger Tiger (P) with a 88-mm anti-tank PaK 43 gun. In the future, these machines are widely known under the name Elefant / Ferdinand.

Draft heavy tank Porsche VK 4501 (P) / Typ 101 did not give real results. Several prototypes were built, as well as a significant number of pre-production lot chassis. At the same time, only one fully equipped tank entered the army, which for some time was able to participate in the war on the Eastern Front. Other pre-production samples remained idle for a certain period of time, after which it was decided to use them in the construction of new SAUs. After this alteration of the existing chassis, the production of VK 4501 (P) did not continue as unnecessary. Henschel was able to create a more successful version of a heavy tank, which, after refining, was put into service and sent to mass production. In the future, Porsche attempted to improve the existing project, but it was too late to correct the existing situation.


Based on:
http://achtungpanzer.com/
http://aviarmor.net/
http://panther-panzer.de/
http://vn-parabellum.narod.ru/
Chamberlain P., Doyle H. Complete reference book of German tanks and self-propelled guns of the Second World War. - M .: AST: Astrel, 2008.
Baryatinsky M.B. Heavy tank "Tigr" // Armored collection. 1998. No.6.
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23 comments
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  1. +7
    8 July 2016 07: 30
    Thank you.
    As if all the facts have long been known, but repeat is not a sin.
    1. +8
      8 July 2016 12: 35
      It is strange that there is no photo from the front
      1. +3
        8 July 2016 12: 36
        In Lviv
        as signed in the photo.
        1. +4
          8 July 2016 12: 47
          As a command vehicle
  2. +3
    8 July 2016 08: 09
    Statistics may lie, but in the end, Elephant was more reliable than the Tigers, at least for some authors.
  3. +1
    8 July 2016 08: 35
    What is more expensive, brought to the end of VK 4501 (P) or Elefant / Ferdinand?
    Just a question, why the unfinished chassis (90pcs.) Turned into self-propelled guns, and not into full-fledged tanks?
    1. +3
      8 July 2016 08: 42
      It was a pity to cut the finished armored hulls, and looking at the zoo of German self-propelled guns, they apparently decided to "dispose of". By the way, a couple of tanks, as I understand it, also got into these formations as commanders, as well as an ARV on the same base in the 653rd battalion of heavy tank destroyers.
    2. +4
      8 July 2016 09: 24
      Just a question, why the unfinished chassis (90pcs.) Turned into self-propelled guns, and not into full-fledged tanks?


      Because Hitler


      23 June 1942 year at a meeting with Hitler, it was decided to have in serial production only one type of heavy tank, which was the machine company "Henschel". The reason for this is considered to be problems with the electromechanical transmission of the Porsche tank, the small range of the tank, the need to deploy serial production of engines for the tank. A certain role was played by the conflict between Ferdinand Porsche and the German Arms Directorate.
      Despite the decision, Porsche did not stop working on improving his tank. 21 June 1942 year, the Reichsministery of weapons and ammunition, on the basis of Hitler’s personal order, instructed to install a powerful 88-mm gun with a barrel length of 71 caliber on the tank. However, the installation of this gun in the existing tower was not possible, as the management of the Nibelungenwerke factory reported on September 10 of 1942 of the year. At the same time, on Hitler’s initiative, the issue of installing a captured French 210-mm mortar in a fixed wheelhouse was studied on the tank chassis.
      Back in March of 1942, Hitler ordered the creation of a heavy anti-tank self-propelled guns armed with a powerful 88-mm PaK 43 gun.
      On 22 of September 1942 of the year, the Führer spoke about the need to remake the Porsche Tiger chassis in such an installation, while also increasing frontal armor to 200 mm. Officially, Porsche was notified of the conversion of the tank into a self-propelled gun on September 29, but ignored this instruction, hoping to adopt its tank with a new turret to accommodate the long-barreled 88-mm gun. However, on 14 on October 1942, Hitler demanded immediately begin work on the conversion of the chassis of Porsche tanks into anti-tank self-propelled guns
      1. +4
        8 July 2016 10: 26
        that's a fascist !!!
      2. The comment was deleted.
    3. +1
      23 September 2016 08: 32
      because there was no place or supply in the current organizational chain for the alternative tank. And ferdinands / elephants occupied their niche and were used not without success.
    4. 0
      26 October 2019 19: 06
      Tanks are always more expensive than self-propelled guns. Because they have a tower.
  4. +2
    8 July 2016 10: 08
    Quote: Ryabov Kirill
    for such a tank gun it is necessary to increase the size of the fighting compartment, as well as bring the diameter of the shoulder strap to 2 m.

    On the Tiger, the shoulder strap was 1850 mm. The T-34/85 with the S-53 and ZIS-S-53 cost a shoulder strap of 1600 mm with three crew members in the tower. But the tower was cramped. At the heart of the guns for the Tiger and T-34/85 lay the German anti-aircraft Flak18.
    1. +7
      8 July 2016 13: 03
      Quote: oking
      At the heart of the guns for the Tiger and T-34/85 lay the German anti-aircraft Flak18.

      Ahem ... At the heart of the 8,8 cm KwK 36 L / 56, of course, was Kruppovskaya Flak 18, made in turn based on a 7,5 cm anti-aircraft gun. For the Flak 18 base, Kruppovskaya took 7,5 cm Flak L / 60.

      And at the heart of the ZIS-S-53 was a parallel development - the Rheinmetal 7,5 cm Flak L / 59.
      7,5 cm Flak L / 59 gave rise to a 76-mm 3-K anti-aircraft gun. ZK anti-aircraft gun spawned a 76-mm ZP arr. 1938 year. A 76 mm ZP arr. 1938 gave birth to an 85-mm 52-K, the ammunition and ballistics of which were inherited by the ZIS-S-53 and D-5.

      It is noteworthy that in terms of ammunition, the line of inheritance was much shorter: when creating an 85-mm shot, a sleeve from the "big" 76-mm round was used, developed by the Germans for the "reinforced" version of the 3-K, which did not go into series in the early 30s.
      1. +1
        8 July 2016 14: 27
        Quote: Alexey RA
        Hmm ...

        A lot of bukaff.
        The chain looked like this - Flak18, Flak36, KwK36. All guns are 88 mm, the last one is the Tiger gun.
        The Soviet chain looked like this - Flak18 (88 mm), 3-K (76 mm), 51-K (76 mm), 52-K (85 mm), S-53 (85 mm), ZIS- S-53 (85 mm). The last 2 guns were placed on the T-34/85 and these are slightly different guns. They also put the 85-mm D-5T, but this gun was unsuccessful.
        Quote: Alexey RA
        And at the heart of the ZIS-S-53 was a parallel development - the Rheinmetal 7,5 cm Flak L / 59.

        Figwam, such an Indian home. There was nothing 76 mm at the base of the 3-K. And there was an 88-mm Flak18, but with a hole of a smaller caliber. It is for this reason that the Germans successfully dragged the Soviet 76 and 85-mm anti-aircraft guns to their 88-mm caliber throughout the war. And that is precisely why, when in 1938, during the modernization of the 76-mm anti-aircraft guns, the excess wall thickness of their trunks became clear in 1939. in the USSR there was a caliber of 85 mm. Nothing 76-mm and 85-mm could be machined from the barrel of a German 88-mm anti-aircraft gun.
        Quote: Alexey RA
        in terms of ammunition the line of inheritance was much shorter

        It looks like an elongated sleeve from 75 mm German tank and self-propelled guns. The flange diameter is the same. But the length is 184 mm longer.
        And the cartridges of 76 mm Soviet anti-aircraft cartridges are similar to the shortened cartridges of 75 mm German Pak40 cartridges. At the same time, the shells and cartridges of the German 75 mm Pak40 anti-tank and tank KwK40 (and StuK40) were different.
        1. +4
          8 July 2016 16: 33
          Quote: oking
          The Soviet chain looked like this - Flak18 (88 mm), 3-K (76 mm), 51-K (76 mm), 52-K (85 mm), S-53 (85 mm), ZIS- S-53 (85 mm).

          What is Flak18 (88-mm) in the Soviet line of development FOR? Where did you get it from? belay

          We worked not with Krupp, but with Rheinmetall. The Soviet chain looked like this - 7,5 cm Flak L / 59, 3-K (76-mm), 51-K (76-mm), 52-K (85-mm), S-53 (85-mm), ZIS-S-53 (85 mm).
          Quote: oking
          Figwam, such an Indian home. There was nothing 76 mm at the base of the 3-K. And there was an 88-mm Flak18, but with a hole of a smaller caliber.

          The 3-K was based on the 7,5 cm Flak L / 59 "Rheinmetall".
          The 88 mm Flak18 was designed by Krupp and Bofors.
          This is both Grabin and Petrov. smile
          Quote: oking
          And that is precisely why, when in 1938, during the modernization of the 76-mm anti-aircraft guns, the excess wall thickness of their trunks became clear in 1939. in the USSR there was a caliber of 85 mm. Nothing 76-mm and 85-mm could be machined from the barrel of a German 88-mm anti-aircraft gun.

          In fact, the excessive strength of the 3-K structure was due to the fact that initially we were offered 3 options for shots. The USSR chose the lightest. And the Germans initially calculated the system for "big", so as not to alter the structure in case of anything.
          However, at the end of the 30s, the documentation for the "big" shot was taken from the shelf, and its case for the 85-mm cartridge was taken.
          Quote: oking
          At the same time, the shells and cartridges of the German 75 mm Pak40 anti-tank and tank KwK40 (and StuK40) were different.

          Hehehehe ... You still recall that, with the cartridges being completely identical, shots from 8,8 cm KwK 36 L / 56 could not be used in Flak 18 - and vice versa.
          Shady Teutonic Genius, However...
          1. The comment was deleted.
          2. +1
            8 July 2016 18: 29
            Quote: Alexey RA
            We worked not with Krupp, but with Rheinmetall. Soviet chain looked like this - 7,5 cm Flak L / 59

            We worked with the Germans, not with specific firms. And the 76-mm Germans did not supply us anything. We just took our 88-mm anti-aircraft gun, drilled a smaller hole in its barrel and delivered it to the USSR. This anti-aircraft gun was made until 1938. And in 1938. decided to upgrade, put it on another machine. It was then that the excessive thickness of the barrel was opened. Tagunov (the receiver from the Soviet side) was shot for sabotage, and the barrel was lengthened and began to be drilled under the caliber of 85 mm. And so that the carriage did not fall apart, they put a muzzle. That's the whole "scary story".
            During the Second World War, the Germans deployed Soviet anti-aircraft guns under their 88-mm caliber. At the same time, NO normal 76-mm gun can be drilled into the 88-mm caliber.
            Quote: Alexey RA
            And the Germans initially calculated the system for "big", so as not to alter the structure in case of anything.

            This is actually nonsense. 5,9 mm on each wall cannot be inflated with any charge. This is a lot, there are no such trunks of trunks.
            Quote: Alexey RA
            However, at the end of the 30s, the documentation for the "big" shot was taken from the shelf, and its case for the 85-mm cartridge was taken.

            Well, actually, and this is nonsense. See above.
  5. +2
    8 July 2016 14: 52
    Many thanks to Kirill for the excellent article! About the general existence of the described tank, few people know, and such concentrated information about it in one place came to me generally for the first time.

    The preliminary version of the VK 4501 (P) project was ready by the end of June 1941. Soon a document appeared, stipulating a schedule for the implementation of subsequent work. Also during this period, the project was given the additional name Tiger. Subsequently, in order to avoid confusion with the competing project of Henschel, the Porsche tank was called Tiger (P).
    The Germans are fools with the letter M. Having such a development (and knowing that the main enemy - the USSR has heavy tanks) and for a whole year and a half fumbled with the introduction of the series! (and this is characteristic of many of their techniques)

    And so it is the "Porsche Tiger" that is considered the most protected and better version of the Tiger than the "classic" Pzkw-VI. But apparently it turned out to be too complicated and too expensive.
    1. +2
      8 July 2016 16: 37
      Quote: Mikhail Matyugin
      The Germans are fools with the letter M. Having such a development (and knowing that the main enemy - the USSR has heavy tanks) and for a whole year and a half fumbled with the introduction of the series! (and this is characteristic of many of their techniques)

      And where were they in a hurry? Indeed, according to their plans, the USSR should have been finished by the winter of 1941-1942. And heavy tanks were intended for war with completely different opponents.
      So they set the target dates for prototypes and pre-production batches of new TTs and new STs (to replace the "three" and "four") for 1942-1943.
    2. +1
      23 September 2016 08: 37
      there were many reasons, including in the internal layout and additional equipment
      until you get inside PzKW VI, you’ll understand the nuances.
  6. +1
    8 July 2016 15: 39
    Interestingly, the Typ 101 engines mounted on a Porsche tank had air cooling. Apparently, it is precisely with this that problems associated with peak conditions are associated. It is worth mentioning that since Aders did not have time to finish the development of the tower for his version of the tank, it was decided to use the design of the finished Porsche tower.
  7. +2
    8 July 2016 17: 11
    Who is in the know?

    Question.

    What is known about heat removal from an electric transmission? From engines to the front loaded rollers it was necessary to lay tires, electric motors. All this should have warmed like that, mom do not grieve.

    And further. Note. The front track pulling rollers strangely leave a chain slack. How can this sagging be explained? The floor with the load chain must be tight. Are these tracks so heavy that they sag even under load, from their own weight?
    1. +2
      9 July 2016 11: 56
      Quote: gladcu2
      Are these tracks so heavy that they sag even under load, from their own weight?

      On the Tiger, the total weight of the track was about three tons.
  8. +1
    9 July 2016 16: 06
    Well, at least as a base for Ferdinand.
  9. +1
    10 July 2016 14: 13
    But is it strange why the Germans were not able to put diesel engines on the tanks? It seems that the diesel engine was originally German, it was used on submarines, but not on tanks ...
    1. +3
      23 September 2016 13: 15
      For reasons of economy. Diesel was needed for submarines.
  10. 0
    23 September 2016 08: 34
    I have a question - why in "tanks" the frontal booking differs from the one indicated in the article?
  11. 0
    3 October 2016 00: 39
    Yes, everything is cool, and yet we defeated them, despite the German fine baht and mass shootings of civilians.
  12. 0
    26 October 2019 19: 28
    Inaccuracy in the article. The only Porsche tank (incidentally with a hydraulic transmission) that fought on the Eastern Front - fought just as a staff vehicle in the 653rd Ferdinand battalion. He had a tower number 003. There is a photograph of him in the net in the Ternopol region in June 1944. In addition to him, another 3 Porsche tigers were converted into evacuation vehicles - one each in the same 653 battalion.
    The inaccuracy is that Ferdinands fought since 1943, and the tiger since 1944.

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“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"