Panzerkampfwagen E-100
E-100 | |
---|---|
1:72 model based on the design | |
Type | Super-heavy tank |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Henschel |
Number built | 1 partial prototype |
Specifications | |
Weight | 140 tonnes (154 short tons; 138 long tons) |
Length | 10.27 m (33 ft 8 in) |
Width | 4.48 m (14 ft 8 in) |
Height | 3.29 m (10 ft 10 in) |
Crew | 6 |
| |
Armor | 60–240 millimetres (2.4–9.4 in) |
Main armament |
|
Secondary armament |
co-axial 75 mm KwK 44 L/36.5 7.92 mm MG34 |
Engine |
23.1 L Maybach HL230 V-12 - prototype Maybach HL234 V-12 - proposed 700 hp (522 kW) 850 hp (634 kW)[1] |
Power/weight |
4.52 hp/ton (prototype) 5.48 hp/ton (proposed)[1] |
Suspension | Belleville washer coil spring |
Operational range | 190 km (120 mi) (road) |
Speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
The Panzerkampfwagen E-100 (Gerät 383) (TG-01) was a German super-heavy tank design developed near the end of World War II.
Development
The basic design was ordered by the Waffenamt as a parallel development to the Porsche Maus in June 1943. It was the heaviest of the Entwicklung (E) series of vehicles, meant to standardize as many components as possible. There was going to be an E-5, E-10, E-25, E-50, E-75 and finally the E-100.[2]
In November 1942, Krupp suggested a design weighing 155 tons, compared to the 188 tons of the Maus - but still using the Maus turret. In December 1942, Krupp suggested a design weighing 130 tons which used many of the same components as the Tiger tank with Maus turret — referred to as the "Tiger-Maus". Weight savings were to be from thinner armour, and narrowing and shortening the vehicle.[3]
In 1944 Hitler ordered the development of super heavy tanks to stop, work on the E-100 however continued at a very low priority with only three Adler employees available to assemble the prototype.[4]
The prototype had a HL 230P30 engine and Olvar transmission fitted. The HL 230 was the same V-12 engine and that was used on the Tiger II and Panther tanks. It was suitable for the 45-tonne Panther, underpowered for the 70-tonne Tiger II, and grossly under-powered for a 140-tonne design. The chassis of the prototype was virtually completed however it lacked a turret that would have been fitted with the 15 cm KwK 44 gun. The final version was to be powered by an HL234 producing 850 hp[1] mated to a Mekydro transmission. A 17 cm KwK 44 was proposed as the final armament. Suspension was to be the externally mounted Belleville Washer type.[4] The hull had sloped armor, typical of post-1943 design. Wheels were overlapped, similar to the Tiger II and Panther tank, and no longer interleaved as with the Schachtellaufwerk suspension of the original Tiger I.
The first prototype was never completed and was found by the 751st Field Artillery Battalion of the American forces on the factory floor on April 22, 1945 in Bad Lippspringe, Germany.[5] The partially completed vehicle was removed by the British Army for evaluation and then scrapped.
See also
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Spielberger, Walter J. (1993). Panther & Its Variants. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. p. 153. ISBN 0887403972.
- ↑ White, B. T. (1983). Tanks and other Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World War II. New York: Exeter Books. pp. 298–299. ISBN 0-671-06009-0.
- ↑ Ankerstjerne, Christian. "E-100 "Tiger-Maus"". Panzerworld. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chamberlain, Peter; Doyle, Hilary (1999). Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of World War Two. Cassell. p. 149. ISBN 1854095188.
- ↑ Template:History of the 751st Field Artillery Battalion and Unit Journal. Housed at National Archives in College Park, Maryland
- Bibliography
- Chamberlain, Peter & Doyle, Hilary (1999) "Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of World War Two"
External links
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