VK 30.01 (P)

VK 30.01 (P)
Type	Prototype/Medium tank
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Production history
Manufacturer	Porsche
No. built	2 turretless prototypes
Specifications
Mass	30 tonnes
Length	6.58 m
Width	3.05 m
Height	2.8 m
Crew	5 (Gunner, Loader, Commander, Driver, Radio Operator)
Armor	40–80 millimetres (1.6–3.1 in)
Main armament	7.5cm KwK L/24 or 10.5cm KwK L/28 or 8.8cm KwK L/56 (Krupp Turm only)
Secondary armament	7.92mm MG-34
Engine	2 x Porsche Type 100 V10 engines 210 PS per engine, 420 PS total
Power/weight	14 PS/tonne
Suspension	Longitudinal torsion bars
Maximum speed	60 km/h (37 mph)

The VK 30.01 (P) was the official designation for a medium tank prototype proposed in Germany. Two prototype hulls were made. The tank never entered serial production, but was further developed into the VK 45.01 Tiger (P). The VK 30.01 (P) was referred to as the Porsche Typ (Type ) 100 outside of Wa Pruef 6.

Beginnings of the VK 30.01 (P)

In 1939, the German Army expressed the need for a 30 tonne heavy breakthrough tank. Although this weight is less than many production tanks of WWII, at the time this was considered as a heavier tank. Projects to meet the demand were designated VK 30.xx (X) and were developed to varying degrees by four different companies: Porsche, Henschel & Son, MAN, and Daimler Benz. The Porsche version was thus named the VK 30.01 (P).

Development

The requirements for the new development of a 30-tonne schwerer Panzerkampfwagen included the ability to mount at least the 7.5 cm KwK L/24 main gun with a desire to fit the 10.5 cm KwK L/28 if possible. Later, in 1941, the German Army encountered —unexpectedly— heavily armored enemy vehicles such as the Soviet T-34 and KV-1. Plans were then made to instead mount the more effective 8,8 cm KwK L/56.

Krupp were directly contracted by Porsche to produce the turret to house the 8,8 cm KwK L/56 and the two teams worked together to develop it for the VK 30.01 (P) chassis. A fully developed drawing with the Krupp turret was completed, dated 5 March 1941. The Krupp turret would be used on both the Porsche and the Henschel Tiger.

Uncommon for tanks at the time, Porsche selected a gasoline-electric drive. The front drive sprockets for the tracks were driven by two electric motors mounted forward in the hull. Two air cooled V-10 gasoline engines, mounted toward the rear of the vehicle, were each connected to a generator to produce electricity. The generated electricity was then used to power the motors. Each engine produced 210 PS at 2500 RPM; a total of 420 PS was therefore available to drive the generators.