VK 4501 (P)
| VK 45.01 (P) | |
|---|---|
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The VK45.01
|
|
| Type | Prototype heavy tank |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Porsche |
| No. built | 91(Porsche's prototype not counted), 90 converted to Ferdinand tank destroyers, 1 served as command vehicle |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 59 tonnes (65 short tons; 58 long tons) |
| Length | 9.34 m (30 ft 8 in) |
| Width | 3.38 m (11 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
|
|
|
| Armor | 80–200 millimetres (3.1–7.9 in) |
|
Main
armament |
8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 |
|
Secondary
armament |
2 x 7.92 mm MG 34 |
| Engine | 2 x 10 cylinder Porsche 101/1 320 hp each |
| Suspension | Longitudinal torsion-bar |
|
Operational
range |
80 km (50 mi) (road) |
| Speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
The VK 45.01 (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.
On 21 May 1942, Henschel and Porsche 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.
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.
Only one tank went into service as a command tank in the Ferdinand (Elefant) unit, and served in Panzerjäger Abteilung 653. It was deployed in April 1944 and lost that subsequent July.
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.
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Wikipedia