Panzerkampfwagen E-100
| E-100 | |
|---|---|
 1:72 model based on the design |
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| Type | Superheavy 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 |
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| Armor | 60–240 millimetres (2.4–9.4 in) |
| Main armament |
12.8 cm PaK 44 L/55, 149 mm KwK44 L/38, or 173mm Kwk44 |
| Secondary armament |
co-axial 75 mm KwK 44 L/36.5 7.92 mm MG34 |
| Engine | 23.1L Maybach HL230 V-12 - prototype 700 hp (522 kW) V-12 Maybach HL234 - proposed 1200 hp (895 kW) |
| Power/weight | 4.52 hp/ton (prototype) 7.74 hp/ton (proposed) |
| 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.
Contents |
[edit] History
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.[1]
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 ahead 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(The Chasis, as seen below) vehicle was removed by the British Army for evaluation and then scrapped.
[edit] Mechanical design
The prototype had a HL230P30 engine due to the lack of HL234 units from Maybach. The HL230 was the same engine mounted on the King Tiger and Panther tanks. 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.
[edit] See also
- List of prototype WWII combat vehicles
- T28 Super Heavy Tank - the possible American challenger to the E-100.
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Panzerkampfwagen E-100 |
- ^ 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.
- Chamberlain, Peter & Doyle, Hilary (1999) "Encyclopedia Of German Tanks Of World War Two"
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