Panzerkampfwagen E-100
Encyclopedia
The Panzerkampfwagen E-100 (Gerät 383) (TG-01) was a German super-heavy tank
design developed near the end of World War II
.
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.
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 with Maus turret — referred to as the Tiger-Maus. Weight savings were to be from thinner armour, and narrowing and shortening the vehicle.
Despite the vehicle's alleged advantages to the Maus, which can be seen by comparing the Maus technical data table to that of the E-100, Hitler decided to go ahead with the Maus on January, 1943. There is no apparent explanation to this, but possibly, Hitler did not like that Krupp
designed a vehicle by themselves when another company already had the contract. Although Hitler favoured the Maus, Oberbaurat Kniepkamp obtained permission from Waffenprüfung 6 to go aheadu with the Tiger-Maus, renamed to E-100, as a part of the Entwicklung series. There were some modifications to the original design, such as mounting a double external coil spring suspension. The Maus turret was still to be used.
After 1944, work continued at a very slow pace until canceled in favour of the Maus. The first prototype was never completed and was found by allied forces on the factory floor in 1945. The partially completed vehicle was removed by the British Army for evaluation and then scrapped.
engine due to the lack of HL234 units from Maybach. The HL230 was the same engine mounted on the King Tiger and Panther tank
s. It was suitable for the 45 tonne Panther, underpowered for the 70 tonne King Tiger, and grossly under-powered for a 140 tonne design. The prototype would have had the 15 cm Kwk44 gun, though the final selection between the 15 cm Kwk44 and the 17 cm Kwk44 had not been made. The hull has sloped armor, typical of post 1943 design. Wheels were overlapped, similar to the King Tiger and Panther.
Super-heavy tank
Super-heavy tanks are armored vehicles of very large size, generally over 75 tonnes. Programs have been initiated on several occasions with the aim of creating an invincible vehicle for penetrating enemy formations without fear of being destroyed in combat; however, only a few examples have ever...
design developed near the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
The basic design was ordered by the WaffenamtWaffenamt
Waffenamt was the German Army Weapons Agency. It was the centre for research and development of Germany and also during the Third Reich for weapons, ammunition and army equipment to the German Reichswehr and later Wehrmacht...
as a parallel development to the Porsche Maus
Panzer VIII Maus
Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was a German World War II super-heavy tank completed in late 1944. It is the heaviest fully enclosed armoured fighting vehicle ever built. Only two hulls and one turret were completed before the testing grounds were captured by the advancing Soviet forces.These two...
in June 1943. It was the heaviest of the Entwicklung (E) series of vehicles
Entwicklung series
The Entwicklung series, more commonly known as the E- series, was a late-World War II attempt by Germany to produce a standardised series of tank designs. There were to be standard designs in six different weight classes, from which several specialised variants were to be developed...
, meant to standardize as many components as possible.
In November 1942, Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
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 with Maus turret — referred to as the Tiger-Maus. Weight savings were to be from thinner armour, and narrowing and shortening the vehicle.
Despite the vehicle's alleged advantages to the Maus, which can be seen by comparing the Maus technical data table to that of the E-100, Hitler decided to go ahead with the Maus on January, 1943. There is no apparent explanation to this, but possibly, Hitler did not like that Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
designed a vehicle by themselves when another company already had the contract. Although Hitler favoured the Maus, Oberbaurat Kniepkamp obtained permission from Waffenprüfung 6 to go aheadu with the Tiger-Maus, renamed to E-100, as a part of the Entwicklung series. There were some modifications to the original design, such as mounting a double external coil spring suspension. The Maus turret was still to be used.
Mechanical design
The prototype had a HL230P30Maybach HL230
The Maybach HL230 is a water-cooled 60° 23 liter V12 gasoline engine designed by Maybach. It was used during World War II in heavy German tanks, namely the Panther, Jagdpanther, Tiger II, Jagdtiger , and later versions of the Tiger I and Sturmtiger...
engine due to the lack of HL234 units from Maybach. The HL230 was the same engine mounted on the King Tiger and Panther tank
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
s. It was suitable for the 45 tonne Panther, underpowered for the 70 tonne King Tiger, and grossly under-powered for a 140 tonne design. The prototype would have had the 15 cm Kwk44 gun, though the final selection between the 15 cm Kwk44 and the 17 cm Kwk44 had not been made. The hull has sloped armor, typical of post 1943 design. Wheels were overlapped, similar to the King Tiger and Panther.
See also
- List of prototype WWII combat vehicles
- T28 Super Heavy Tank - the possible American challenger to the E-100.