Introduction
In September 1942, while the Maus super-heavy tanks was being designed by Porsche, Krupp decided to submit a competitive design. It was suggested to use components from the Tiger II chassis, including the Maybach HL 230 engine, for a 150 ton tank. The turret was planned to be the same as that of the Maus.
Development
While the use of already existing components made Krupp's Tiger-Maus more feasible, the Maybach HL 230 meant that it was significantly underpowered. As a result, Krupp's design developed as a somewhat lighter vehicle, at 130 tons, compared to the Maus' then-projected weight of 170 tons. The reduced weight gave additional advantages of superior speed, ground pressure, and fuel consumption, as well as decrease raw material usage. In addition, a supercharged version of the HL 230 was considered, which would have an output of 1000 horse powers. Nevertheless, Hitler favored the more technically complex Maus. As a result, on 15 December 1942, Krupp was informed that the Tiger-Maus should cease, and on 5 January 1943, the Maus was chosen for production.
After the Maus had been chosen for production, Waffenamt Prüfwesen 6 (Weapons Testing Office 6, the office responsible for armor design) copied Krupp's Tiger-Maus for their E-100 design. Adler, who had no prior experience in armor design, was awarded the contract for a single E-100 prototype during 1943. Krupp designed a new turret in 1944, closely resembling the Maus turret, the only difference being somewhat thinner armor. As the war situation deteriorated, work on the E-100 stopped. By the time the war ended, an only partially assembled E-100 chassis was found by Allied forces.
Technical Information
| E-100 (Tiger-Maus) | |
|---|---|
| Crew | |
| Crew |
|
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 123.5 t |
| Length | 11.073 m |
| Width | 8.733 m |
| Height | 3.375 m |
| Firing height | 2.45 m |
| Ground clearance | 50 cm |
| Ground contact length | 4.9 m |
| Ground pressure | 1.26 kg/cm² |
| Armor | |
| Hull, front | 150-200 mm |
| Hull, sides and rear | 120-150 mm |
| Hull, top | 40 mm |
| Hull, bottom | 40-80 mm |
| Turret, front | 200 mm |
| Turret, sides and rear | 80-150 mm |
| Turret, top | 40 mm |
| Performance | |
| Maximum speed | 23 km/h |
| Maximum grade | 30° |
| Trench crossing | 2.9 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 85 cm |
| Fording depth | 165 cm |
| Fuel capacity | 2050 l |
| Mileage (road) | 12.81 l/km |
| Mileage (cross-country) | 20.5 l/km |
| Cruising range | 160 km |
| Cross-country range | 100 km |
| Engine | |
| Make and model | Maybach HL 230 P 30 |
| Type | Water cooled |
| Cylinders | 12 |
| Displacement | 23 000 cc |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Max. governed speed | 2500 rpm |
| Net h.p. | 600 |
| Armament | |
| Main weapon |
|
Additional Reading
- Pz Kpfw Maus
- Information about the Panzerkampfwagen Maus.
Sources
- JENTS, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 6-3 - Schwere Panzerkampfwagen Maus and E 100 : Development and production from 1942 to 1945. Boyds, MD : Panzer Tracts, 2008. 72 p. ISBN: 0-9815382-3-1.