Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd. Kfz.181) The History of the Porsche Typ 100 and 101 also known as the LEOPARD and TIGER (P) by Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary L. DoylePanzerkampfwagen VI (Porsche) Introduction Shortly after 1100 hours on 3 September 1939, Dr.Ing.h.c. Ferdinand Porsche was named chairman of the Panzerkommission. As an advisory body made up of leading engineers and industrial- ists, the Panzerkommission was tasked with origi- nating ideas on future tank designs as well as offer- ing expert opinions on Panzers being developed by Wa Pruef 6. Hitler's "decisions" on future tank projects were largely influenced by advice from the Panzerkommission through both Dr. Todt and Dr. Porsche. In his position as head of the Panzerkommis- sion, Dr. Porsche should have been aware that Wa Pruef 6 was developing a 30 ton Panzer with Henschel. Through contact with Oberst Schell in charge of the Generalbevollmaechtigen (a commis- sion under Dr. Todt to oversee automotive standard- ization), Dr. Porsche should also have been aware that in October 1939 Daimler-Benz had received permission from Oberst Schell to design a 20 ton Panzer independent of any control from Wa Pruef 6. The earliest surviving report found relating Dr. Porsche's start in designing Panzers was written by Oberst Fichtner, head of Wa Pruef 6, on 27 September 1941: At the end of 1939 Professor Dr. Porsche was tasked with development of a schwere Pan- zerkampfwagen in the 25 to 30 ton weight class for which at least an 7.5 cm Kw.K. L/24, if possible an 10.5 cm Kw.K., was desired. In line with increas- ing the capability of Panzerkampfwagen armament, plans were made in early 1941 to mount the 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/S6 in the Pz.Kpfw.Porsche. A contract for the turret was given directly to Krupp by Dr. Porsche K.G. Working together, both of these firms developed the turret. Following their start in December 1939, the firm of Dr.Ing.h.c.F.Porsche K.G. located in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, tackled the design of six major plus five derivative Panzer projects during World War II. Working independently of Wa Pruef 6 and unimpeded by technical specifications based on Porsche Waa | Code Modet Designation Project | Name Typ 100 | Sonderfahrzeugt | VK 3001 P | Leopard vk 4501 P Typ 101 | Sonderfahrzeug MEA | VK 4501 P | Tiger P Typ 102 | Sonderfahrzeug 11 HA | VK 4501 P | Tiger P Typ 103 | Sonderfahrzeug MEA | VK 4501 P | Tiger P Typ 130 |Sonderfahrzeug 101 WE| VK 4501 P | Tiger P Typ 131 |Sonderfahrzeug 101 WH| N/A N/A Typ 180 | Sonderfahrzeug IEA | VK 4502 P | Tiger P2 ‘Typ 181 | Sonderfahrzeug III HA | VK 4502 P | Tiger P2 ‘Typ 205 | SonderfahrzeugIVEA | N/A ‘Maus ‘Typ 245 | Sonderfahrzeug V NA N/A ‘Typ 250 | Sonderfahrzeug VI NA N/A troop requirements, Professor Dr. Porsche was at liberty to freely apply his talents toward creating unique solutions to the problem of a suitable power train for heavy Panzers. Professor Dr. Porsche favored air-cooled gasoline and diesel engines. Convinced that standard mechanical transmissions wouldn't work in a heavy Panzer, Dr. Porsche experimented with electrical generator/motor sets and hydraulic drives. His Typ 100 and Typ 101 series of designs are the subject of this history. 1. PORSCHE TYP 100 On 5 December 1939, the Porsche Typ 100 design project was initiated by Oberingenieur Karl Rabe recording basic design calculations on a paper. The conceptual ideas were converted into a sketch, completed by Herr Reimspiess on 9 December 1939, showing a Panzer with an overall length of 8 meters, overall width of 3 meters, and overall height of 2.25 meters. Ground contact length of the track was 4.5 meters. Meetings with Wa Pruef 6 occurred in 1940 during which Dr. Porsche was advised of fundamen- tal design limitations including armor thickness, weight, crew size, ground clearance, and rail trans-port width restrictions. While Dr.Ing.h.c.F. Porsche K.G., Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen was given the freedom to independently design a Panzer, Wa Pruef 6 financially supported the design and production of trial vehicles. The firm of Porsche not only was responsi- ble for the conceptual design but completed detailed design drawings for use in manufacturing the auto- motive components. By the end of March 1941, contracts had been awarded to the following firms for production of major components: Fried.Krupp, Essen for the hull armor Steyr, Austria for the air-cooled engines ‘Siemens-Schueckert for the electrical components A.G. (previously Skoda) for a suspension and tracks Nibelungenwerk for final assembly of the chassis Krupp was made aware of Porsche's project by February 1941 through the Waffenamt asking Krupp, Essen to fabricate three armor hulls for the VK 30.01 (P). In February 1941, Dr. Mueller (Krupp's representative in a Berlin office) contacted Dr. Porsche offering to design a turret mounting an 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 gun. Discounting the small machinegun turrets on the Pz.Kpfw.I and Pz.Kpfw.II series, Krupp had a virtual monopoly on detailed design of gun turrets (Pz.Kpfw.III, The fully developed hull drawing of the Porsche Typ 100 dated 5 March 1941 with a Krupp 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 gun mounted in a conceptual design for a round turret with 1900 mm free-diameter turret race. Due to the fact that this original drawing does not show the end of the gun and lack of information from Krupp files, other publications have mistakenly identified the gun as being a 7.5 cm Kw.K. L/48 (which wasn’t invented until 1942). Krupp’s representative had already met with Porsche in February 1941 and offered to design a turret mounting an 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 gun . 2Pz.Kpfw.IV, VK 30.01, VK 36.01, and VK 65.01) and wanted to maintain it. Based on conceptual design input from Krupp, Porsche K.G. completed a drawing dated 5 March 1941 of the Typ 100 armor hull with an 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 gun mounted in a turret with 1900 mm free-diameter turret race. Krupp was awarded contracts for the detailed design and production of turrets with 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 guns for the Typ 100 as related in the following Section 1.2. The following list reveals the changes in official names (found in original documents) as the ‘Typ 100 project evolved: Typ 100 [sMar41 - Porsche K.G.] VK 30.01 (P) (6Mar41 - Krupp] Pz.Kpfw.VI von Porsche [13Mar41 - Krupp} Pz.Kpfw.VI (Porsche) [24Apr41 - Krupp] Pz.Kpfw.Typ 100 [19May4! - Porsche K.G.] Geraet 4501 P [1Jul41 - Krupp} Pz.Kpfw."Leopard" [1942-Ruestungsinspektion XVII] 1.1 Porsche Typ 100 Fahrgestell Porsche selected a gasoline-electric drive train for the Typ 100. Two air-cooled 10-cylinder engines were mounted beside each other in the rear of the chassis, each connected to an electric genera- tor. The electricity was used to power two electrical motors mounted forward in the hull which in turn drove the front drive sprockets for the tracks through planetary gears in the final drives. Slip clutches built into the electric motors protected the drive train components from breaking. Steering was controlled electrically. Each air-cooled, V-10, Porsche Typ 100 gasoline engine with a swept volume of 10 liters (105 mm diameter x 115 mm stroke) was rated at 210 metric horsepower at 2500 rpm. With the twin engine configuration, a total of 420 metric horse- power was available to drive the electric generators. In order to save space inside the hull, a new suspension was designed using longitudinally mounted torsion bars mounted outside the hull. Each set of paired roadwheels shared a torsion bar with Kniehebel (toggle) action. Six twin 700 mm diameter rubber-tired roadwheels were mounted on each side, flanking the single guide horn on the Kgs 63/500/160 track. Track return from the idler wheel in the rear to the drive sprocket in the front ran across two return rollers. Based on the drawing dated 5 March 1941 and photographs, dimensions for a Typ 100 were calculated to be approximately: 6.300 meter bare hull length 1.960 meter bare hull width 1.320 meter bare hull height 9.360 meter overall length including gun overhang 3.150 meter width with 0.500 meter wide tracks 2.870 meter overall height with turret 2.200 meter gun centerline above level ground 0.480 meter ground clearance Sufficient details had been settled to declare that the basic design was complete on 22 April 1941. Details of the Porsche’s suspension in which each set of paired 700 mm diameter rubber-tired roadwheels shared a longitudinally mounted torsion bar connected to a Kniehebel (toggle) action. The pairs of roadwheels ran on 500 mm wide track with a center guide horn.Details of the dry pin Kgs 63/500/160 track for the Porsche Typ 100. Long before Hitler's meeting on 26 May 1941 or any encounters with Russian T 34 or KV 1 tanks, Krupp advised Porsche on 13 March 1941 of the penetration capability of guns which could be used as armament in the Porsche Pz.Kpfw. VI: Gun Range Armor Angle 10cmL/S2 500m 160mm 30 degrees 1OcmL/s2 100m 140mm 30 degrees 8.8cmLIS6 500m 96mm 30 degrees 88cmL/S6 —1000m 87mm —_—_30 degrees During an internal meeting on 2 April 1941, Krupp discussed the characteristics of optional guns that they could offer as armament for the Porsche- Wagen: Caliber 88cm —:105em 88cm Caliber length Us6 a7 L156 AP shell weight okg 15.14kg | Okg Muzzle velocity 840/860 840/820 940/920 Length ofround = 931mm = 1100mm 931 mm Casing base width 103mm = 135mm = 125mm The first 8.8 em Kw.K. L/S6 (based on their 8.8 cm Flak gun tube) had already been proposed to Porsche, and Krupp was to make a wooden model. A proposal for the 10.5 em Kw.K. L/47 was to be completed by 10 April, and a proposal for the larger chamber/higher velocity 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 was to a be completed by 18 April. The 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/S6 had been selected as the main armament by 24 April 1941 when Krupp sent the following proposal for armor components for the Pz.Kpfw.VI (Porsche) to Steyr-Nibelungen- werk in St. Valentin, as had been requested during a meeting on 4 April 1941: ‘As we stated in the previous meeting, Krupp is ready to complete six turrets and three hulls for the Pz.Kpfw.VI (Porsche), and hereby give you our following cost estimates for delivery of the armor components and a wooden model of the turret: 1. Six turrets with 80 mm thick frontal armor, 60 mm side armor, free turret ring diameter of about 1900 mm, complete with 8.8 cm L/56 armament (excluding parts provided by the Waffenamt such as the gun sight, machinegun, gas masks and other military equipment) including design costs for 110,000 RM per turret. 2. ‘Three Hochgezogene Wanne (hull with increased height) as designed by Porsche for 75,000 RM each. a The wooden model of the turret is roughly estimated to be 5,000 RM. Delivery of the first armor hull is planned for November 1941. We will still inform you of the exact schedule. Information copy sent to Dr. Hacker, Reichsministerium fuer Bewaffnung und Munition in Berlin. Details of the turret designed for thePz.Kpfw.VI were discussed at a meeting held in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on 2 May 1941 attended by Porsche jun., Rabe, Reimspiess, Zadnik of Porche K.G. and Heerlein from Krupp Abt.AK. As recorded by Heerlein: Conceptual drawing 1 AKF 31111 of the turret was shown and the following points discussed: 1. The turret ring will be changed in accor- dance with drawing 31139 already sent to Dr. Porsche. The final outline drawing of the turret with weight, center of balance, traverse arc, etc. will be sent to Porsche. 2. Porsche received a conceptual drawing of the spent cartridge chute with electrical conductor rings. 3. Ventilation of the turret is to be achieved by either blowing air in or drawing air out with the air- cooled engines. Control of the ventilation will be with flaps in the engine compartment firewall. Ventilation of the turret will be through the open hatches in the turret roof. 4. The driver and radio operator climb through the turret hatches. Therefore the turret interior is to be kept as free as possible to provide a passage forward by raising the electrical traverse motor and folding gunner's seat. It is planned that in an emer- gency, the driver and radio operator will exit through the hatches in the sides of the vehicle. 5. Krupp gave 20 May 1941 as the deadline for completion of the wooden model. 6. Porsche requested our position on the deliv- ery schedule for the six trial turrets. The overall electrical equipment in the turret is planned to be the same as in the Panzer IV. Inter- com and signal devices as well as 12 volt lighting will be added to the turret. Dr.Ing.h.c.F. Porsche K.G. also noted in the 2 May 1941 meeting: Based on the proposed drawing, the gap between the deck and the rear deck over the engine compartment must be moved back about 50 mm. Investigation showed that this change was allow- able. As conceived in our design, the spent cartridge ejector system on the floor won't allow the turret to be supported from the floor. Because of this, the deck must be so strongly supported or strengthened that it can support the turret by itself. The wooden model will be completed by Krupp on 20 May 1941, and Steyr must pick it up with a truck. The truck must be capable of carrying a load 2500 mm wide. Referring to the meeting on 2 May, Dr.Ing.h.c.F.Porsche K.G. wrote on 19 May 1941, to request that Krupp deliver the urgently needed installation drawings for the parts designed by Krupp, because the lack of information had halted further design work at Porsche on the Pz.Kpfw.Typ 100. 1.3 Production of the Porsche Typ 100_ Krupp had been awarded a contract for the delivery of three armor hulls for the VK 30.01 (P) by 6 March 1941 and informed the Waffenamt that delivery would begin 7 months after receipt of the drawings. Additional armor components were ordered from Krupp by Nibelungenwerk GmbH, St.Valentin under order number 40455 dated 13 May 1941 for the six turrets, three hulls, and full scale wooden model as described by Krupp in their proposal dated 24 April 1941. ‘These were urgently needed for use in Nibelungenwerk's Versuchsauf- trag Wa Pruef 6 IIf 016-4040/40 dated 12 Novem- ber 1940. The first turret was to be delivered in November 1941, with further deliveries starting in January 1942. The first of the three hulls was to be delivered in November, the second in December, and the last in January 1942. The wooden model of the turret for the Pz.Kpfw.VI was shipped as military freight by rail from Krupp, Essen to Nibelungenwerk GmbH, St. Valentin on 24 May 1941. The rest of the order for armor components was canceled and Krupp was awarded a contract from Wa J Rue for VK 45.01 (P) armor components in July 1941. Krupp, Essen did not report completion of a single armor component, for the VK 30.01 (P) in FY 42 (10ct41-30Sep42) ‘A new steel plant starting up in 1941, Eisen- werke Oberdonau in Linz, was given orders to complete hulls out of normal soft steel. Eisenwerke Oberdonau reported that they had started welding the Probewannen (test hulls) in May, that welding was completed on a Probewanne except for interior fittings in June, and that one Probewanne made out of normal steel was accepted by the Waffenamt in July 1941. The first V-10 air-cooled Typ 100 engine 5manufactured by Steyr, delivered to Porsche in Stuttgart on 7 July, was test-run on 14 July 1941. A second engine arrived from Steyr on 30 July. After testing, two Typ 100 engines were sent to Nibelun- genwerk for installation in the soft steel hull Details on when the first chassis was completed in running order and testing was started have not been found. However, based on the lead times specified in other Waffenamt contracts for series production, a minimum of 2.5 months was needed between the time a hull was delivered and the finished chassis was assembled and operational. Therefore, the earliest that a Typ 100 chassis may have been assembled was sometime in October, long, after the decision had been made to start designing the Typ 101 in July 1941. ‘As recorded in the history of the Photos on this and facing page: Only a single Porsche Typ 100 chassis was completed with a soft steel hull. A wooden model of its turret was completed by Krupp and sent to Nibelungenwerk but no steel turret was completed. A cylindrical weight was used in place of a turret when the Typ 100 underwent driving trials to gain experience with a gasoline engine/electric motor drive. (WJS) Ruestungsinspektion XVII (the district in which Nibelungenwerk was located) for the period 1 January to 31 May 1942: Production of the Pz.Kpfw."Leopard", considered as the Versuchs- fahrzeug with soft steel hull for the "Tiger", was stopped as the Tigerprogramm was taken on. In a post-war report, Porsche stated that the trials of the Typ 100 provided valuable information on electrical steering as well as conditions of air- cooled engines in Panzers. The photographic evidence found to date reveals that only one Typ 100 chassis was completed in running order. The wooden model for the Typ 100 hull without a super- structure roof plate can be seen in a photo with several Typ 101 chassis on the assembly line at Nibelungenwerk.Details of the track guards and suspension on the only Porsc Typ 100 rubber-tired wheels w mm in diameter and ran on tracks 500 mm wide with 160 mm pitch. (WJS){1 @corrnIGHT MARY LOU DONE 1978 Porsche Typ 100 chassis with Krupp's wooden model of a turret designed for this chassis, with an 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/S6 in a conical shield.Cover Photo: A Pz.Kpfw.VI(P1), Porsche Typ 101, being inspected by Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche and representatives from WaPruef 6, Krupp, and Nibelungenwerk on 3/4 June 1942. It was outfitted with tools and equipment in accordance with the Ausruestungsliste (equipment list) dated February 1942. (Porsche) The scale prints, drawn by Hilary Louis Doyle in 1/24 scale, have been reduced 68.6 percent to approximately 1/35 scale. Due to the extra chassis length needed for the Porsche gasoline/electric drive train and the turret mounted forward, 1/35th scale drawings of the entire side and top do not fit within the margin constraints of 11-inch-long pages. Therefore, the guns were shortened in these drawings to fit within the page. The full length of the 8.8 cm Kw.K.36 L/S6 from the gun mantlet forward is presented below. t) Thanks are especially due to Walter J. Spielberger (45) and Karl-Heinz Muench (4) for providing copies of rare and unique photos. Photos were also obtained from Porsche (10), The Tank Museum (1), Bundesarchiy (2), and the Robert J. Icks Collection at the Patton Museum (1). © Copyright Thomas L.Jentz 1997 Darlington Productions, Ine P.O. Box 5884 Darlington, Maryland 21034 Copyright © 1999 ISBN 1-892848-03-1 Allrights reserved. No portion ofthis publication may be reprinted or reproduced in any fashion or by any means without the ‘expressed written permission of the publisher. ‘Contact Darlington Productions for other military publications and journals.2. PORSCHE TYP 101 . Several key decisions by Hitler on 26 May 1941 initiated the evolution of the Porsche Typ 100 into the Typ 101 design. Hitler decided to: ° increase frontal armor to 100 mm thick; side armor remained 60 mm, ° retain the 8.8 cm Kw.K. on the Porsche model but increase its penetration ability to 100 mm at 1500 meters range, and © pursue: the development of both Panzers from Dr. Porsche and Henschel so that six of each would be available in the summer of 1942. On 3 June 1941, In 6 reported that in accor- dance with Hitler's directive from 26 May 1941, the Versuchsstuecken (test pieces) under development by Porsche K.G. were to be armed with an 8.8 cm Kw.K. and two machineguns, as before. On 21 June 1941, Wa Pruef 6 tasked Dr. Porsche K.G. with investigating if it was possible to install the 8.8 cm Flak 41 instead of the 8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56 as had been planned. Dr. Porsche K.G. responded by telegram on 10 September 1941 that "for the present only the L/56 comes into ques- tion for the VK 45.01." Therefore, the Porsche ‘Typ 101 was outfitted with the same Krupp turret that had been designed for the Typ 100. The exact date is not known when Porsche started the Typ 101 design as a project separate from the Typ 100. The defining difference between a Porsche Typ 100 and Typ 101 was the engine (10 liter Typ 100 and 15 liter Typ 101), not the Wa Pruef 6 weight class designations of VK 30.01 and VK 45.01. As revealed by the drawing dated 5 March 1941, the Typ 100 was already well over 45 metric tons. Very few meeting notes and drawings have been found for the critical decision-making period between 4 June and 30 September 1941. The earl- iest document in which the project designation Typ 101 was found was dated 4 October 1941. The Typ 101 project wasn't started until July 1941, 4s related by Dr. Porsche during postwar interrogation: "The decision was now taken to redesign the Leopard as a larger tank to be called Tiger and the engine capacity was accordingly increased to 15 liters. The design was scarcely altered, all the main features of the 10-liter engine being retained. As a result of this the general arrangement drawings were in the hands of Simmering at the beginning of September 1941, in spite of the fact that re-designing had only been started in July." A sketch of the Porsche Typ 101 created to show the center of gravity. Most of the dimensions on this undated sketch are slightly off from the Typ 101 as produced. 10The following list shows the changes in offi- cial names (found in original documents) as the Typ 101 project evolved: "4501P" (Tiger) {7Aug41 - Krupp Abt.AK] VK 45.01 (P) "Tiger" {26Jan42 - Wa Chef Ing 4] VK 45.01 (P1) [3Feb42 - Wa Pruef 6} Pz.Kpfw.VI (VK 45.01 P) (Ausf.P) {SMar42 - Wa Pruef 6] yorgezogenen VK 45.01 (P), Typ 101 [2Apr42 - Porsche K.G.] Pz.Kpfw.VI(P1) Typ 101 (VK 45.01 P) [1Jun42 - Wa Pruef 6] Pz.Kpfw.VI (Tiger) [2Jun42 - Wa Pruef 6] Pz.Kpfw.VI, VK 45.01 (P), Tiger (P) [1Jul42 - Wa Pruef 6] Pz.Kpfw.VI P (8.8/56) (VK 45.01 - Aufbau fuer 8.8 cm Kw.K. Krupp-Turm) [7Jul42 - Wa Pruef 6} Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd.Kfz.181) [15Aug42 - KStN 1150d] 2.1 Porsche Typ 101 Fahrgestell Utilizing the Typ 100 as its basis, Porsche did not redesign the Typ 101 hull but merely made detail changes. In comparison with the Typ 100 (drawing dated 5 March 1941), changes introduced with the first Typ 101 included: © two air-cooled, V-10, Porsche Typ 101 gasoline engines with a swept volume of 15 liters (115 mm diameter x 145 mm stroke) rated at 310 metric horsepower at 2500 rpm. © two Siemens-Schuckert model aGV 275/24 generators rated at 275 kilowatts coupled to the Typ 101 engines. © two Siemens-Schueckert model D1495a electric motors. © the entire drive train including the electric motors and final drives was moved to the rear of the hull and the turret moved forward to distribute the weight evenly over the length of the tracks. © two fans, located in each panier side, drew in cooling air for the engines, generators, and electric motors. © frontal armor was increased to 100 mm thick, side and rear-armor to 80 mm thick. The glacis plate was shortened, the super- structure lengthened, pannier sides increased in height, and the motor compartment and rear deck layout redesigned. © circular hatches originally intended for emergency exits for the driver and radio operator were plugged and welded shut. A schematic diagram of the drive train showing the twin Porsche Typ 101 engines connected to generators supplying electricity to the electric motors in the rear. Air to cool these air-cooled engines was supplied by sets of fans mounted in both side sponsons. uw2 steel-tired rubber-saving roadwheels (still at 700 mm diameter) were introduced. Two internal rubber rings (31 mm thick by 100 mm wide), compressed between discs, provided a larger cushioning surface than rubber tires. Six paired roadwheels, mounted on each side, straddled the track center-guide. the track return rollers were dropped. To prevent the track from catching on the welded joint, skids were welded fore and aft to the underside of the pannier floors. track pitch was decreased to 130 mm. A 500 mm track width was retained for loading on atl rail cars. The 600 mm wide Kgs 62/600/130 track was introduced to lower the ground pressure for cross-country travel. 2.2 Krupp Turm ‘The turret with an 8.8 em Kw.K. L/56 gun was originally designed by Krupp for the Typ 100 and assigned Gruppen Nummer 021St860 by Wa Pruef 6. It was mounted farther forward on the Typ 101 on the Typ 100 chassis. Designed in a horse- shoe shape (with the right side bending inward farther than the left), the opening between the 100 mm thick upper and lower turret front plates was Armor hulls were supplied by the Krupp steel works in Essen. This Wanne Nr. 150002 was shipped to Nibelungenwerk on 27 December 1941, four months before completion of the finished chassis was scheduled. (WJS)protected by a cast gun mantle, The first eight turrets had lower sides and a flat roof with a raised center section to allow the gun to be depressed through a larger arc. Armor thicknesses were 80 mm for the turret walls and 25 mm for the turret, roof. Vision devices were installed to provide all- round observation by the crew in the turret. The gunner had a binocular Turmzielfernrohr 9b sight- ing telescope with 2.5x magnification and a vision block to his left. The loader had a vision block to the right front and a pistol port to the right rear. The commander had all-round vision blocks in the cupola and a pistol port to the left rear. Access for the entire crew was provided by two hatches: one in the commander's cupola and a second in the turret roof directly over the loader's position. Secondary armament was provided by an M.G.34 mounted coaxially to the right of the main, gun. 2.3 Porsche Typ 102 Fahrgestell ‘As recorded in a postwar report: "When the Tiger tank project was started, grave doubts were expressed by the Porsche organization as to the practicability of using a mechanical transmission for so heavy a tank. Two alternative transmissions were therefore envisaged, one electric and the other hydraulic." During a meeting in Stuttgart on 23 March 1942, Krupp was informed by Porsche that half of the 100 VK 45.01 (P) hulls were to be configured for fitting hydraulic transmissions. Known as the Porsche Typ 102, with the exception of the hydraulic transmission with associated steer- ing gearbox and rear deck ventilation louvers, the chassis was identical to the Porsche Type 101. The Voith hydraulic transmission was coupled to the Porsche Typ 101 engine. Each engine drove through its own hydraulic drive to a collector shaft and thence to a combined forward/reverse and steering gearbox, which also accommodated an emergency low gear. Control was hydropneumatic, the actual valves operated by the driver's control levers being pneumatic, with air/oil interchange cylinders. Forward and reverse, emergency low gear, emergency control of the hydraulic transmission, and parking brakes were mechanically controlled by rods and levers. The hydraulic transmission was normally fully auto- matic. As with the electric motors, the drive train in the Typ 102 was designed to propel the VK 45.01 (P) at a maximum speed of 35 knV/hr. 3. PRODUCTION On 1 July 1941, Krupp's Abteilung AK distributed an internal memo on the Geraet 4501 P, advising all offices: This equipment is a special order from Hitler for which hard deadlines will be issued. Accomplishment of these deadlines must be ensured under all conditions. Stamp: "Fuehrerauftrag” "4501P" Termine muessen unbedingt eingehalten werden! (Hitler's Order - All deadlines must be met uncondi- tionally!) By 7 August 1941 the stamp had been changed to "4501P"(Tiger) reflecting the decision by Todt's Ministerium fuer Bewaffnung und Muni- tion (ministry for armament and ammunition) to set up a special "Tigerprogramm" to ensure that design, materials procurement, and production of the "Tiger" were given absolute top priority. Contract $S-210-5803/41 for 100 VK 45.01 (®) armor components was awarded to Krupp, Essen by Wa J Rue (WuG6) on 22 July 1941. The next day, contract SS-210-5905/41 for assembly of 100 VK 45.01 (P) turrets with armament in operational order for delivery to Nibelungenwerk was awarded to Krupp, Essen by Wa J Rue (WuG6) on 23 July 1941. About this same time Wa J Rue awarded other contracts to Nibelungenwerk for VK 45.01 (P) Fahrgestell assembly, Wolf-Buchau for 100 8.8 cm Kw.K.36 guns under contract 5211/41, Simmering- Graz-Pauker for Typ 101 engines, and Siemens- Schueckert for electric generators, motors and controllers. 3.1 VK 4501 (P) Typ 101 Production. ‘The original production schedule from Wa J Rue (WuG6) and actual production achieved are shown in the Table 1. Production at Krupp got off to a good start, as revealed in the status report on VK 45.01 (H) 13und (P) turret assembly dated 17 March 1942: a. Five Kugellager (ball-bearing turret races) are available in the shop. Another four were sent by express rail from Schweinfurt on 13 March and another four are to be shipped on 18 March for a total of 13. b. Six guns are available in the shop. A further three will be shipped from Wolf-Buchau on 17 March and three from D.H.H.V. next week for an additional six by 25 March. c. As reported by the Munitionsministerium ten gun sights were sent by express rail on 12 March, so these should arrive at the latest on 17 March. d. _As reported by the Munitionsministerium ten ventilation fans have been on the way since 13 March, so these should also arrive by 17 March. . According to the Waffenamt at a meeting on 5 February, machineguns are to be installed at the ordnance depot. Three machineguns needed for assembly are available in the shop. f Radio and intercom sets have yet to be provided by the Waffenamt. g. The electric traverse regulators, needed to begin turret assembly, are available. All of the prerequisites for final turret assem- bly have been achieved and we are pleased to confirm that turret delivery will occur as scheduled in April, i.e. ten VK 45.01 (P) and one VK 45.01 This Page and Right: ‘These propaganda shots were posed to show the all-out effort that went into completing the first Porsche Typ 101 chassis in time for a demonstration on Hitler’s birthday. Some of the other nine Typ 101 chassis that were scheduled to be completed in May 1942 can be seen on the production line in the background. (RJD) Right: The full-scale wooden model for the Typ 100 can be seen in the upper left corner of this photo. (WJS) “4(H) turret. The Waffenamt as well as the Munitions- ministerium have pointed out that there can be no question of missing a deadline because Henschel and Nibelungenwerk are depending on punctual delivery of the turrets. Delays caused by late deliv- ery of parts must be made up through appropriate measures during assembly. Even Simmering had managed to deliver the first Typ 101 engine in record time and had conquered initial problems, as related postwar by Dr. Porsche: "Simmering made a single-cylinder test engine which underwent its trials successfully so a complete engine was constructed and delivered to Stuttgart on 21 December 1941. This engine was not a success, as within a few minutes after it was started for the first time, both main and big end bearings failed. This was traced to very excessive formation of foam in the oil, so modifications were made in the lubrication system, chief amongst these being the introduction of baffles in the crankcase. Drawings were immediately sent to Simmering and the modifications were incorporated in the second engine, which arrived at Stuttgart on 9 March 1942. This was tested satisfactorily and was found to deliver 320 brake horsepower at 2400 rpm. The second engine was delivered two days later and this, also gave no trouble during its tests. On 10 April both engines were sent to Nibelungenwerk just in time for the prototype Tiger to be ready for Hitler's birthday. By the end of May five more engines had gone to Nibelungenwerk after tests at Stuttgart." But production soon came to a halt, as reported in the history for the Ruestungsinspektion XVII for the period of 1 January to 31 May 1942: The start-up of VK 45.01 (Tiger), whose production was t0 be accomplished in accordance with a Fuehrerbefehl, was delayed due to difficul- ties of a design nature. Indeed the first Wagen could be demonstrated to Hitler on his birthday, but after this came continuous design modifications on the engine and chassis. Engine development is still not satisfactory, just as little success has been achieved in satisfactorily dealing with problems in cooling the drive train. On 2 July 1942, Porsche K.G. reported on the endurance test of an air-cooled Typ 101 engine Nr.4708 that had been taken from series production at Simmering Werk. Engine speed was governed not to exceed 2500 rpm. Power output of the engine under full load was measured as: 288 metric horse- power at 2000 rpm, 306 at 2200 rpm, 310 at 2300 rpm, 313 at 2400 rpm, and 311 at 2500 rpm There was considerable oil leakage from the crankcase where the crank shaft protrudes to the generator. The piston rings showed considerable wear. After 50 3/4 hours running time, perfor- mance and engine revolutions decreased rapidly. Tappet guides for the number 4 outlet valve broke and a roller destroyed the cam. Perhaps unaware of the extensive problems with Typ 101 engines , Nibelungenwerk director Dr. Judtmann optimistically reported on 2 July: The full-scale wooden model for the Typ 101 with the wooden turret model provided by Krupp can be seen in the far right side of this photo. The fuel tanks can be seen as installed above the electrical generators toward the front of the engine compartment in the Typ 101. (WJS)Nibelungenwerk wants to deliver two Probe- fahrzeuge (test vehicles) and 10 Serienfahrzeuge (Production series vehicles) in July, 12 in August, and 15 per month starting in September. It is still not clear if the shortfall of 18 from May and June should be made good. A second Tiger P completed by Nibelungen- werk was sent to Kummersdorf for trials in June 1942. On 3 July 1942, Oberbaurat Kniepkamp of Wa Pruef 6 reported: The Porsche engines in the Tiger were totally shot after only 100 kilometers. In covering this distance one engine had used 85 liters of oil, the other 55 liters. Endurance tests at Kummersdorf were conducted by drivers charging around an obstacle course, purposefully abusing vehicles to determine which parts would fail. After reading the report on the Tiger trials conducted at Kummersdorf, on 23 July 1942 Hitler endorsed Speer's proposal that: a. The Tiger must be combat ready this year, at the latest in September. b. It should be assumed that the Tiger will be responsibly driven. It is self-evident that every vehicle (even the most costly automobile) can be overtaxed and quickly rendered unusable. c. Because the immediate plans are to use the Tiger in France (eliminating the unfavorable Russian conditions), less stringent specifications should be considered when testing the vehicle. d. The heavy 52 ton Russian tank is to undergo the same conditions in an endurance test. Then one will be able to see that material-wise, even the Russian tank will not meet the highest stress level. e. As the Panzer's weight increases (the latest design being 100 tons), it will always be impossible to dominate the weight so that unrestrained driving is possible. These heavy weights must be driven "with feeling.” f. These standards are to be applied when judging both Tigers. Below and Right: The first Pz.Kpfw.VI (VK 45.01 P) (Ausf.P), completed at Nibelungenwerk by 18 April 1942, loaded on a railcar with the narrow Kgs 62/500/130 tracks. This first chassis to be completed (not Fgst.Nr.150001) is unique in being the only one fitted with 100 mm wide track guards on the sides connecting to the 600 mm wide ends. It was only partially outfitted with tools (5-piece gun cleaning rod set, fire extinguisher, wire cutters, antenna case, and shovel). Turm Nr.1 (completed in operational condition and shipped by Krupp to Nibelungenwerk on 10 April 1942) is also unique with the cupola lid lying flat on a short support when opened. The front view clearly shows that this turret was extremely asymmetrical with the right side of the turret 110 mm shorter than the left. (WJS) weer Te Lal ponerse "or {©cormncut any ious BOVE 198 Pz.Kpfw.VI (VK 45.01 P) (Ausf.P) with Turm Nr.1 completed in April 1942. Features: 600 mm wide track guards front and rear (100 mm wide slong the sides), “tear-drop" track skids, 500 mm wide tracks, 5 longer gun cleaning rods, mi tools, and cupola hatch lid, which lies flat on a short support when opened.0 C5 co @cormmcn mat ous CORE 198 | Pz.Kpfw.VI (VK 45.01 P) (Ausf.P) with Turm Nr.1 completed in April 1942. Features: 600 mm wide track guards front and rear (100 mm wide along the sides), “tear-drop" track skids, 500 mm wide tracks, 5 longer gun cleaning rods, minimal tools, and cupola hatch lid, which lies flat on a short support when opened.TABLE 1: TIGER P PRODUCTION Hulls. | Turrets | TigerP Shipped | Completed | Completed ‘Month | by Krupp | at Krupp | at Ni-Werk Decst | 4 Jana2 | 3 Feba2 | 12 Maraz | 9 ° 0 Apra2 | 6 2 1 ° Maya) 11 8 ° 10 June | 13 0 1 10 uz | 6 2 0 2 Augt2 1 4 14 Sepa 0 3 15 oct 2 1 15 | Novae ° 0 15 Even when driven gently, however, there were fundamental design flaws (engine, cooling capacity, and suspension) causing the ®) to break down. On 27 August 1942, Reichsminister Speer visited Nibelungenwerk: The Minister took part in driving three Panzerkampfwagen "Tiger", one of which he steered himself. Then various driving and obstacle trials were made in a gravel pit on the factory grounds with a Pz.Kpfw.IV as well as a Tiger. The Pz.Kpfw.IV showed itself to be signifi- cantly superior in climbing the gravel pit walls. Ruestungsinspektion XVII reported the following status of production at Nibelungenwerk for the months of: August 1942 - At this time assembly of Tigers has stopped because of changes to the engine and suspension. September 1942 - Tiger assembly lies still because engine and suspension parts have still not arrived. Five Tigers are located at the Doellersheim training grounds for troop trials. In a meeting on 30 September attended by representatives from Wa Pruef 6, Nibelungenwerk, Porsche, and Pz.Abt.503 it was decided that: Official inspection and acceptance by the military inspectors won't occur until series produc- tion starts. Those Tiger P in Doellersheim count as Versuchsfahrzeuge (trial vehicles). A general inspection will be conducted by Nibelungenwerk. Krupp learned on 14 October 1942: Produc- tion of the 100 Porsche-Tiger has been shut down until further notice. At the end of October compari- son driving trials between both Tigers are to be conducted in Berka near Eisenach, a demonstration on 2 November for the Panzerkommision to decide on further production, and a demonstration for Minister Speer on 3 November 1942. The driving trials and demonstrations at Berka didn't occur until 8 to 14 November 1942. An original document revealing the recommenda- tions and decisions made following the trials and demonstrations has not been found. Postwar contemporary accounts all contain strongly biased opinions, and those statements that can be checked against surviving documents from the period have invariably proven to be false. At this time, mechan- ical unreliability plagued both the Henschel and the Porsche designs. A copper shortage is also not a plausible excuse for cancelling the series of 100 since 94 pairs of electrical motors and generators were installed later in 1943 into the Panzerjaeger Tiger (P) and Bergepanzer VI. The official end to Panzerkampfwagen VI P series production was decided at a conference with Hitler on 22 November 1942 when the proposal to produce 90 Porsche Tiger I with 8.8 L71 guns as ‘Sturmgeschuetz was approved. Production reported for the period from April to October 1942 had amounted to only 10 Tiger (P) (compared to total production goals of 76 for this same period). The 40 Porsche Tigers, which had been promised to Rommel with schwere Heeres Panzer-Abteilungen 501 und 503, never materialized to counter the British offensive from El Alamein. 3.2 VK 4501 (P) Typ 102 Production As originally planned, half of the 100 VK 45.01 (P) were to be produced as Typ 102 with hydraulic drives. On 23 March 1942, Herr Kroemer (Ministerium fuer Bewaffnung und Muni- tion) told Krupp that in the future less than half of the VK 45.01 (P) were to be completed with hydraulic and over half with electric drives. An 2increased number of hulls were to be completed each month with electric drives, with an equal decrease in hydraulic drives. Krupp had shipped 14 Typ 102 hulls prepared for hydraulic drive and 14 Typ 101 hulls for electric drive and planned to ship two more of each type by the end of March 1942. On 4 April 1942, Nibelungenwerk acknowl- edged receipt of 14 hulls of each type and proposed a schedule whereby all 50 Typ 101 hulls would be completed by the end of June, with only a few Typ 102 hulls delivered each month through the end of June and the rest of the 50 completed in July and August 1942. On 8 May 1942, Dr.ing.h.c.F.Porsche K.- G. informed Krupp that 90 Typ 101 hulls and 10 Typ 102 hulls were to be produced. On 13 May 1942 Nibelungenwerk reported that they had eigh- teen original Typ 101 hulls, seven Typ 102 hulls had been converted at Nibelungenwerk for electric drive, and one unmodified Typ 102 hull remained. Another seven Typ 102 hulls had been returned, were converted at Krupp to Typ 101, and sent back to Nibelungenwerk. The actual reasons for the delay in delivering workable hydraulic drives on schedule was not revealed during postwar interrogations of Porsche and Voith. On 17 February 1943, Dr. Porsche reported that a Tiger P1 with hydraulic drive was being completed at Nibelungenwerk. All evidence points to only a single VK 45.01 (P) Typ 102 being completed and tested. 4. MODIFICATIONS ‘As with all production series German Panzers, modifications were frequently introduced during the production runs. In the case of the Pz.Kpfw.VI P these modifications were prompted mainly by a need to eliminate design faults so that a combat-serviceable Panzer could be fielded. The modifications are listed in the chrono- logical order in which the changes first appeared on completed turrets or chassis. A newer high sided turret wasn't mounted on a chassis at Nibelungen- werk until August 1942, even though two had been sent from Krupp in May 1942. Due to production delays caused by automotive design problems, several modifications (such as side fenders and tool stowage) didn’t appear in the chronological order in 2 which chassis were completed at Nibelungenwerk. According to the original schedule, 10 Tiger (P) with turrets were to have been completed by the end of May 1942. Chassis for all ten were already on the assembly line in May even though the last of these wasn’t finished until September. The first Tiger (P) actually completed did not have the first chassis (Fgst.Nr.150001) although it had the first turret completed by Krupp (Turm Nr.150001). 4.1 22 Modifications by the 3rd Turret On 27 April 1942, Krupp noted that the following changes were to be implemented before the third VK 45.01 (P) turret was delivered: 1. Shorten the Abfeuerbuegel 0210860 (firing trigger) 2. Lower the Richtschuetzensitz (gunners seat) by 40 mm 3. Move a Lampe (commander's light) back 4. Lengthen the slit in the arm for the Geschuetzzurung (gun travel lock) 5. Heighten the ribs in the console for the Richtmaschine (elevation gear) 6. Fasten retaining bolts on the inner Dichtring (seal ring) 7. Install a folding Ladesitz (loader's seat) 02151886 8 Modify the Ausgleicher (counterbalance for the gun mount) 9. Drop the movable seal frame for the gun ‘mantlet. Screws on the sides with a slit are planned. 10. Drop the armor covers (for installation inside the vision slits) and retainers inside the Kommandantenkuppel (commander's cupola) 02181862 Il. Modify the glass block frames in the Kommandantenkuppel 021D862 12. Screw the head pads to the frames 021D862 13. Secure the opened hatch cover for the Kommandantenkuppel at 1100 14. Modify the lifting arm for the Lukendeckel (hatch cover) 15. Lengthen the shaft for the hand wheel on the ‘Steuerapparat (traverse control) 021F866 16. Add a sheet metal guard for the Lamel- lenkupplung (clutch) 17, Alter the hand hold on the Seitenrichtrad (traversing wheel)18. Modify the retaining pin on the gunsight mount 19. It is planned to add a stop for the Turmzur- rung (turret traverse lock) 021C872 20. Add a step for the commander onto the Huelsenschleuse (spent casing chute) 21. Modify the lifting arm for the loader's hatch cover 021E865 22. Remove the sheet metal for equipment stowage on the Ladeschuetzenseite (right turret side). 4.2 26 Modifications to the Tiger "P" At a meeting on 5 May 1942, Nibelungen- werk directors and representatives from Dr. Porsche KG and In 6 decided that the following 26 modifica- tions needed to be implemented. [Krupp's response to this list on 20 May is delineated in brackets.) 1. Add deflector rails for protecting gap at the base of the turret starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 2. Install the spring rings holding the track pins ‘on the outer end of the track, starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. Add a track pin return guide. - The interior layout of the turret is impracti- cal. Hang the gas masks, cooking utensils and earphone boxes in groups. 4. Add a ventilation fan like on the turret for the Tiger "H". [Plan to add the ventilation fan starting with Turm Nr.11.] Ss Stamp clearer numbers on the azimuth indi- cator ring in the commander's cupola starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. [The numbers are struck deeper starting with Turm Nr.3.] 6. Seal the brakes. Porsche stated that this was unworkable mainly because a complete seal can't be achieved, and in addition water condensation or oil buildup couldn't be removed from the brake drums. 7. Produce special tools, track adjusting wrench, jack, and towing bars. Porsche will produce one track adjusting wrench and two lifting blocks for the 1. Fahrzeug as fast as possible. 8 Reposition the oil lines for the brakes that are near the driver and radio operator starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 9. Drop the supports from the inner sheet metal divider under the radio operator's seat starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 10. Mount a Gepaeckkasten (baggage box) Starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. A Pz.Kpfw.IV type of Gepaeckkasten has already been mounted on the turret rear of the 1. Fahrzeug. Spare track links (15 are planned) are to be mounted between the turret rear wall and the Gepaeckkasten and across the hull rear. 11. Move the base and control light for the firing circuit and the azimuth indicator forward. [The base and the control light on the gun carriage can be relocated. The azimuth indication can be relo- cated only with much more effort by installing a flex- ible drive shaft.] 12. Drop the hatch in the turret for throwing out hand grenades because it is unnecessary after adding S-Mine dischargers. 13. A deflector for the radio antenna is no longer necessary after the antenna is isolated with insula- tors. 13a, The machinegun port must be large enough that a reasonable field of fire can be covered from the inside. [The machinegun mount was taken over from the Pz.Kpfw.III design by Daimler-Benz and ‘must be modified there.] 14. Mount the transformer for the radio set higher. Mount the radio rack on the side so that the track adjuster is accessible. 15. Wire screen over all gratings starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 16. — Traverse for Turm Nr.1 and Nr.2 is too hard. [Turm Nr.2 comes back to Essen for inspec- tion.] The elevation mechanism for both turrets previously delivered turns too hard. The cause is to be quickly determined and corrected so that with the present counterbalance the gun can be easily elevated in the middle region between -2 and +10 degrees. It is planned to install the completed coun- terbalance modification starting with Turm Nr.3. 17. Install an emergency escape hatch. The follow- ing two solutions appear possible: (1) on the right rear side of the turret (by enlarging the pistol port opening to 50 cm diameter and hinged to swing to the side) and (2) a 50 cm diameter under the radio operator's seat in the bottom of the hull. [A turret escape hatch is being investigated at this time. Proposal will follow. Installation starting about Turm Nr.15.] The modification was considered to be espe- cially urgent because the entire crew of the Tiger "P" have to get out of two hatches in the turret roof, 23This and Opposite Page: The second Pz.Kpfw.VI (P1) with Turm Nr.3 was inspected on 3/4 June 1942 before being sent to Kummersdorf. It was outfitted with a full set of tools and equipment in accordance with Ausruestungsliste (equipment list) dated February 1942. As one of the first five chassis, it has “tear-drop” track skids, 600 mm wide track guards (none on the sides), and wider Kgs 62/600/130 tracks. The cupola hatch is held open by a rest-lock at 110 degrees. (Porsche)@cormnont any ious OnE 198 Pz.Kpfw.VI (P1) with Turm Nr3 completed in June 1942. Features: 600 mm wide track guards front and rear (none along the sides), "tear-drop" track skids, wider (600 mm) tracks, full set of tools, Pz.Kpfw.IV stowage bin and 6 spare track links on turret rear, and a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degrees. 48z Pz.Kpfw.VI (P1) with Turm Nr3 completed in June 1942. Features: 600 mm wide track guards front and rear (none along the sides), "tear-drop" track skids, wider (600 mm) tracks, full set of tools, Pz.Kpfw.IV stowage bin and 6 spare track links on turret rear, and a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degrees.and the danger exists that under enemy fire the second man won't get out. 17a. Drop the spent casing chute in accordance with the earlier requirement from In 6. [Proposals ‘for dropping the spent casing chute will follow.] In the interim, the spent casing chute will be closed and will serve as a spent casing catcher starting with Turm Nr.3. 18. Add an inertia starter for the engines. The requirement is satisfied if a second, additional starter not dependent on the vehicle's battery is installed inside the vehicle. 19. Armor protection for the brakes from the front and below can first be installed starting with the 21. Fahrzeug. Exchange can be prepared for the first 20 vehicles and completed during repair. Side protection is ensured starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 20. Scratching out mud in the drive and idler wheels is planned starting with the 1. Fahrzeug. 21. Add a crane fastened to the turret for chang- ing roadwheels. 22. Reinforce the hull bottom at the front. The ‘front third of the belly is to be increased to 40 mm thick. The weight increase can be countered by decreasing the thickness of the side walls behind the roadwheels. 23. Fire danger in engine compartment caused by a fuel mist being created while starting the engines. 24. Installation and shape of the commander's cupola. In 6 is of the position that the current shape of the commander's cupola lends itself to damage from hits. It is therefore proposed that a curved armor ring be added to the turret roof up to the height of the vision slits. Firing trials should be held before implementing the change. [Considering the required wall thickness, it didn't appear advan- tageous to install a cupola with sliding armor shut- ters. The cupola is centered against pressure from the side. A rounded deflector ring will lead to increased danger to the vision slits.] 25. The current shape of the muzzle brake brings with it the danger of early detonation from dirt, sticks, etc. being thrown in. Could the deficiency be corrected by adding a wire screen or by turning the muzzle brake by 90 degrees? 26. Mounttwo balls on rods at each forward outer corner to aid the driver in determining vehicle clearance. 4.3. Huelsenschle nt Casing Chute) On 8 May 1942, Porsche informed Krupp that the spent casing chute was not to be used in the Typ 101. Because penetrations and welded connecting flanges were already present, these openings were to be closed with blind flanges. Krupp was requested to produce these blind flanges. 4.4 Neuer _Turm mit hoeher Decke (New Turret with Higher Roof) Only the first eight turrets for the VK 45.01 (P1) were fabricated with niedrieger Decke (lower roofs). Krupp shipped these eight short-sided turrets (Turm Nr.150001 to 150008) to Nibelung- enwerk between 10 April and 23 May 1942. On 27 and 28 May 1942, Krupp sent two new turrets (Turm Nr.150009 and 150010) with higher roofs to Nibelungenwerk. On 1 September 1942, Nibelungenwerk informed Krupp that the four Truppenuebungs- fahrzeuge (troop training vehicles), which had been and still were to be sent to Doellersheim, were outfitted with the alten Tuermen mit niedrieger Decke (older turrets with lower roofs). Krupp requested that Turm Nr.13 be mounted on the first Truppenfertigen (combat serviceable) VK 45.01 (P1) (Fgst.Nr.150011), because all the earlier turrets still needed to be modified. The new turrets were exactly the same shape as mounted on the VK 45.01 (H1); in fact 90 of the turrets originally ordered for the VK 45.01 (PI) were modified and mounted on the VK 45.01 (H1), commonly known as the Tiger I. 4.5 205 Hull Modifications On 30 May 1942, Krupp wrote to Wa J Rue (WuG 6) VIII (with copies sent to Speer, Porsche, Nibelungenwerk, and Panzerausschuss) explaining the difficulty in meeting the schedule for delivering VK 45.01 (P) armor hulls under contract $$ 210- 5803/41 because of the numerous changes requested by Porsche: The following modifications have occurred or been demanded since April: 1. Instead of the original plan to deliver the same number of hulls for electric and hydraulic drive, out 29of the 100 hulls, 90 are to be delivered for electric and 10 for hydraulic drive. The schedule demanded by Nibelungenwerk is that 44 hulls for electric and two hulls for hydraulic drives be delivered by the end of May and one hull for hydraulic drive be deliv- ered each month in July and August. Except for 10 hulls, the rest of the 50% prepared for hydraulic drive must be converted for electric drive by remov- ing internal fittings and changes to the outside. 2. Ina meeting on 24 April, Nibelungenwerk requested and Krupp promised to immediately implement all changes that Krupp had received up 10 20 May 1942. Since these modifications caused significant additional work, Nibelungenwerk agreed to Krupp delivering in May the hulls originally scheduled for April. About 205 changes have been made in the drawings of the first 100 hulls since production began. Porsche and Nibelungenwerk await rapid implementation of these changes by Krupp. 3. On 12 May 1942, Nibelungenwerk agreed that the rest of the hulls for the first 100 VK 45.01 could be delivered three months in advance of Nibelungen- werk's deadline for delivery of finished chassis. 4. Starting with Wanne Nr.50, part of the armor plates, and with Wanne Nr.60, the rest of the armor plates were to be face-hardened as required by Wa Pruef 6/llb. These requirements and the drafting of personnel from our Panzerwerkstatt, have resulted in the very unpleasant following situa- tion: At the present time, the 44 hulls for electric drive aren't available for delivery as scheduled by the end of May. Our hall is outfitted for the produc- tion of half hydraulic and half electric drive hulls. The individual parts for this are available and it is not possible to suddenly convert to the new schedule. Therefore, by extreme stretching we can only deliver 33 hulls with electric drive. The following maximum delivery is possible: 16 electric drive hulls in June, 16 in July, 16 in August, 9 in September, and the last 3 hulls for hydraulic drive in September. The other seven hulls for hydraulic drive have already been delivered to Nibelungenwerk. The prerequisites to meeting these deadlines are that no changes be introduced in the June deliv- ery other than those received by 20 April. All changes received by the end of May will be incorpo- rated into the August delivery, and those by the end of June into the September delivery. Seven hulls originally outfitted for hydraulic drive were returned to Krupp. After converting the hulls from hydraulic to electric drive, Krupp sent Wanne Nr. 150012, 150014, 150017, and 150019 back to Nibelungenwerk on 4 June, Wanne Nr. 150010 on 7 June, Wanne Nr. 150004 on 15 June, and Wanne Nr. 150009 on 7 July. Left: During test firing this driver’s front plate failed to a higher degree than expected, resulting in the requirement to face-harden the plates. However, the change to face- hardened plates was made too late for any hulls used to produce the ten Tiger (P) actually completed. (TTM)Right: One of the two test Tiger (P) sent to Doellersheim for trials in August 1942. Although it was the 3rd or 4th completed, it has Fgst.Nr. 150001 and Turm Nr.4 or 8. As a test vehicle, it was not outfitted with a full set of tools. It has the standard features for one of the first five chassis: 600 mm wide track guards (none on the sides), “tear- drop” track skids, and 600 mm wide tracks. The Fgst.Nr. stencil may be visible because it still hasn’t been painted. (Ws) 4.6 Gepaeckkasten (Baggage Bin) Starting in June: 1942, a temporary solution to the need for stowing crew baggage had been met, by mounting a modified Pz.Kpfw.IV stowage bin on the turret rear of the Pz.Kpfw.VI 8.8/56 (P). On 5 October 1942, Krupp reported that for the new turrets with higher roofs, the baggage bin support was to be mounted at a height of 185 mm (instead of 140 mm for the low sided turrets) above the lower edge of the turret. 4.7 Ausruestung (Tool and Equipment Stowage)_ On 3/4 June 1942, Wa Pruef 6 representa- tives visited Nibelungenwerk to review an outfitted Pz.Kpfw.VI P (8.8/56): A Px.Kpfw.VI P with turret without electri- cal connections for the turret and without ammuni- tion racks was inspected. Equipment stowage was compared to the Ausruestungsliste (equipment list). The seals on Fa.Dr. Porsche, KG list of parts needed for submerged fording are not to be carried on the vehicle until the submersibility of the vehicle is accomplished. In general, the placement of tools and equip- ment was correct. The following still needs to be changed: ‘Stow the machinegun by the radio operator 0 that the muzzle is pointed down to the left. Both cartridge boxes to the left of the radio operator's feet are to be mioved back somewhat so that the box can be easily taken out. The loader's seat mounted on the partition should be foldable for better access to the ammuni- tion racks. The pipe for electric cable from the switch box to the traverse motor should be mounted at the same height as the support pipe for the gunner's seat So that the driver can exit more easily under the gunner's seat. The Leuchtpistole (flare pistol) holder should be mounted beside the Feldflasche (canteen) next to the commander's seat. Mount two baggage nets, one each above the driver's and radio operator's feet, to best utilize the space for stowing Mannschaftsgepaeck (crew packs). Stowage for only 64 rounds of 8.8 cm ammu- nition (four boxes of 16 rounds each) is totally insuf- ficient. It must be examined by which method ‘ammunition stowage can be increased. Collapsible ammunition racks (as in the BW Umbau) or other solutions are to be proposed. Without exception, all free corners and angles are to be used for this purpose. No two Pz.Kpfw.VI P were outfitted the same way for external stowage arrangement for tools and equipment. Each Pz.Kpfw.VI P was to carry two jacks and two jack blocks, as well as a fire 31August 1942. It has the standard features of one of the first five chassis and the limited tool stowag a trial vehicle. Details of how the six spare track links and the Pz.Kpfw.IV style stowag supported on the rear of the turret ly sextinguisher, two shovels, two towing cables, two prying bars, wire cutters, etc. The Ausruestungsliste fuer Pz.Kpfw.VI P (8,8/56) (VK 45.01 - Aufbau fuer 8.8 cm Kw.K. Krupp-Turm), dated June 1942 for the turret and superstructure, called for: 1 8.8 cm Kw.K.36 L/56 (5 Gr 38) 1 Wischer mit 6 teiliger Stange (gun-cleaning brush with six rods) stowed on the track guards. 5 Stange 980 mm long, 1 Stange 918 mm long 29 Gurtsaecke (belted MG ammo bags) 2 hung on MGs, 27 stowed (19 in the turret, 8 in the hull) * — Behaelter £. 8,8 cm Mun. (racks for 8.8 cm ammo) 1/2 Pzgr. and 1/2 Sprgr. 1‘ T.Z.F.9b (binocular gun sight) 1 Fahrerfernrohr K.F.F.2. (driver's twin periscopes) 1 Kugelzielfernrohr K.Z.F.2 (gun sight for ball-mounted MG) 3 Schutzglas 70x240x94 (glass block for driver's visor) 1 installed, 2 replacement 13. Schutzglas 70x150x94 (glass block for vision ports - including cupola) 9 installed, 4 replacement 1 M.P.Magazintasche (machine pistol maga- zine pouch) 3 Prismeneinsatz (periscope) 2 installed, 1 replacement 1 Aufbauluefter 12-13 m3/min (turret venti- lation fan) 1 Nebelwurfgeraet links (smoke candle discharger, left) 1 Nebelwurfgeraet rechts (smoke candle discharger, right) 2 Schalterkasten f. Nebelwurfgeraet (firing control box) 2 Feuerloescher m. Halterungen (fire extin- guisher with holders) 1 Aufhaengevorrichtung (P 10 UES) (frame for radio set) 1 Aufhaengevorrichtung (P 10 UE) (frame for radio set) 2 Grundplatte EUa (base plate for receiver radio set) 1 Grundplatte U 10a (base plate for transmit- ter radio set) 1 Stabantenne (2 m) (rod antenna) 1 Antennenfuss, beweglich (antenna base, flexible) 4 Behaelter f. Fernhoerer (boxes to stow head sets) none for loader 2 Kasten f. 12 Leuchtmunition (box for 12 signal flares) 2 M.G.34 mit Pz.-Mantel (machineguns with armor sleeve surrounding the barrel 1 M.P. (machine pistol) 1 Leuchtpistole (flare pistol) 1 Kurskreisel (gyroscopic compass) * Four ammunition racks each holding 16 rounds were installed in the side panniers (two on each side). The total 8.8 cm ammunition load was stated to be 80 rounds in a document dated 6 July 1942. The additional 16 rounds were to be stowed in collapsible racks in corners and on the floor. Left and Right: Fgst.Nr.150005, the last chassis with 600 mm wide track guards (none on the sides) and “tear-drop” track skids, being test- driven at Nibelungenwerk during the visit of Reichsminister Albert Speer on 27 August 1942. (wJs)4.8 Aufbauluefter (Ventilation Fan) On 3 February 1942, Wa Pruef 6 wrote Krupp: The 12-13 cubic meter/minute ventilation fan can't be provided by WuG 6 because a ventila- tion fan of this type isn’t needed for the assembly of VK 45.01 (PL) turrets (only VK 45.01 (HI) turrets). As reported by Krupp on 17 March: The Munitions- ministerium reported that ten Aufbauluefter (ventilation fans) have been on the way since 13 March, so that these should arrive by 17 March. Following the determination on 5 May 1942 that a turret ventilation fan needed to be installed, Krupp stated on 20 May that starting with Turm Nr.11 they planned to add a ventilation fan like that, on the turret for the Tiger "H”. 4.9 Turmblende (Gun Mantlet) On 8/9 May 1942, Porsche informed Krupp that when the gun was elevated, the gun mantlet rubbed against the side intake ventilation grating on the Typ 101. Porsche provided a copy of the drawing of the casting with the request that if neces- sary the gun mantlet design be altered. The armor grating over the side ventilation air intake couldn't be mounted flush with the hull roof because the ventilation fans were housed in the panniers directly below the gratings Starting with Turm Nr.11, a 100 mm wide strip on the lower left corner of the gun mantlet was machined off so that it would clear the ventilator casting when the gun was depressed. 4.10 Turmzurrung (Travel Lock) On 1 July 1942, Wa Pruef 6/IId wrote Krupp that the internal travel locks in the Tiger turrets needed to be improved: The Seitenzurrung (traverse travel lock) doesn't meet requirements. Mounted under the superstructure roof, the travel lock is engaged by pushing a pin upward. During travel, the pin drops down so that the travel lock releases itself. In addi- tion, at various turret positions the operating mech- anism is difficult to reach or totally inaccessible by the gunner. The locking pin has too much play in the hole so that the back-and-forth movement of the turret during cross-country travel causes the turret traverse mechanism to be unfavorably strained. The locking pin and the hole must both be conical in shape. On 20 August 1942, Nibelungenwerk informed Krupp that when driving two VK 45.01 (P) at the Truppenuebungsplatz Doellersheim it was, again determined that it is impossible to retain the current Turmzurrung model. During normal vibration while driving on the road, the travel lock releases and the turret immediately begins to traverse. There is also a problem in inserting the pin at the 12 or 6 o'clock position because distances between the holes and the turret center are not the same. Nibelungenwerk suggested that the problem could be solved by using a conical pin. By 5 October 1942, it was determined that the locking pin fell out during normal driving because its weight was higher than could be supported by the arresting spring. A new arrestor was already designed and installed in the fourth Tiger "P" sent to Doellersheim. In new turrets the pin was to be retained by a spring catch. A copy was given to the troops in Doellersheim. Nibelung- enwerk was to install the current pin retainer in turrets that were still there. 35Left: Reichsminister Speer and his entourage drove three Tiger (P) at Nibelungenwerk on 27 August 1942. Details of the Tiger (P) with Turm Nr.7 on his left are shown on pages 40 - 46. Below: A very rare photo of a trial Tiger (P) with a higher roof on the turret (Turm Nr.11 or "> 12). There is an exhaust fan on the turret roof and a notch cut out of the lower left corner of the gun mantlet. From the second batch of five chassis, it has 700 mm wide track guards (200 mm on the sides), “banana” track skids, and 600 mm wide tracks. (Porsche)Le Tiger (P) with a Neuer Turm mit hoeher Decke (new turret with higher roof) (Turm Nr.11 or 12) completed in July 1942. Features: 700 mm wide track guards front and rear (200 mm wide along the sides), 600 mm wide tracks, "banana-shaped" track skids (hidden by the 40 mm wide edge of the track guards), no tools, a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degrees, ventilation fan on turret roof, mounts on the turret sides for smoke candle dischargers, and a notch cut out of lower left corner of gun mantlet to clear the air louvres on the rear deck.6 eon t © 9 ‘©cormmci MART Lous DOME 998 Tiger (P) with a Neuer Turm mit hoeher Decke (new turret with higher roof) (Turm Nr.11 or 12) completed in July 1942. Features: 700 mm wide track guards front and rear (200 mm wide along the sides), 600 mm wide tracks, “banana-shaped" track skids (hidden by the 40 mm wide edge of the track guards), no tools, a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degrees, ventilation fan on turret roof, mounts on the turret sides for smoke candle dischargers, and a notch cut out of lower left corner of gun mantlet to clear the air louvres on the rear deck.at Doellersheim, mm wide on the sides) and 600 mm wide track. ‘This sequence of photos shows an_unsuce attempt to cross marshy ground by a stream. (WJS)training vehicle), this Tiger (P) with ‘Turm Nr.7 was outfitted with a full complement of tools, including 2 towing cables (one per side), 2 shovels (left side), 1 axe (left side), 1 fire extinguisher (left rear fender), 2 jacks (left rear top and right rear fender), 1 sledge hammer (right rear top), wire cutters (right rear fender), 2 wrecking bars (right side), 2 jack blocks (rear deck), and 6 gun cleaning rods (rear deck). Six spare track links were cross the turret rear and across the hull rear. The two large diameter covers for the fuel filler openings can be seen on the rear deck. ‘The shape of the center section of the turret roof can be seen on these photos, including the side cutout to match the curve of the cupola base. No ventilation fan was present on the roof of the first ten turrets supplied by Krupp. The mud was dug out around this stuck Tiger (P) so that it could be pulled out. (W.Two other Trueppenuebungsfahrzeuge (troop training vehicles) - Turm Nr.5 & 6 - issued to s.Pz.Abt.503 at Doellersheim were called in to tow out the stuck Tiger P. Although their tool stowage locations vary, all three of these Tiger (P) are from the second batch of five chassis with 700 mm wide track guards (200 mm wide on the sides) and 600 mm wide track. (WJS)‘Two Trueppenuebungsfahrzeuge (troop training vehicles) - Turm Nr. 5 above and Turm Nr. 7 below - issued to s.Pz.Abt.503 at Doellersheim. They varied in tool stor we - the one above has a long-handled shovel on the side and a jack on the rear track guard. ‘The 40 mm wide edge onsr ©commnr matt ious DOME 178 Tiger (P) "Truppenuebungsfahrzeug" (troop training vehicle) with Turm Nr.7 completed in July 1942. Features: 700 mm wide track guards front and rear (200 mm wide along the sides), 600 mm wide tracks, "banana-shaped" skid rails hidden by 40 mm wide rim of side track guards mounted even with the lower edge of the side panier, full set of tools, Pz.Kpfw.V stowage bin and 6 spare track links on turret rear, and a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degreesor Tiger (P) ""Truppenuebungsfahrzeug" (troop training vehicle) with Turm Nr.7 completed in July 1942. Features: 700 mm wide track guards front and rear (200 mm wide along the sides), 600 mm wide tracks, "banana-shaped" skid rails hidden by 40 mm wide rim of side track guards mounted even with the lower edge of the side panier, full set of tools, Pz.Kpfw.IV stowage bin and 6 spare track links on turret rear, and a support to hold the cupola hatch lid open at 110 degrees4.11 Panzer! ss Xi In reply to the question from Nibelungen- werk on when the first Befehlsturm would be completed, Krupp responded on 9 July 1942 that Wa Pruef 6 had agreed that the first Befehisturm would be outfitted by Nibelungenwerk. On 20 July, Nibelungenwerk reported that the equipment to outfit the Befehlswagen had been somewhat delayed and that Turm Nr.13 und 14 would be equipped as Befehiswagen turrets. On 11 August, Wa Pruef 7 reported that every fifth VK 45.01 (P) was to be completed as a Befehlswagen with an additional radio set installed in the turret. The following problems in installing radio equipment in the Panzerbefehlswagen VI turret were discussed during a meeting on 30 September attended by representatives from Wa Pruef 6, Nibelungenwerk, Porsche, Pz.Abt.503: After installing the spring counterbalance for the loader's hatch cover, the Fu 5 radio set can't be installed in its current location. The only solution appears to be mounting the Fu 5 on the right side of the turret directly under the roof above the counterbalance ‘cylinder and above the loader's vision port. This location would be possible if Krupp could guarantee that the vision slit is installed about 420 to 425 mm above the turret outer base. A check measurement on Turm Nr.12 in Nibelungenwerk revealed that the middle of the vision slit was 475 mm above the turret outer base. It isn't possible to install the radio set on the side of this turret. On 5 October 1942, Krupp reported that they planned to outfit Turm Nr.25 und 26 as their first Befehlswagen turrets. In preparation, the loader's vision slit on the right turret side must be closed and the parts of the vision block holder protruding into the turret must be cut off. 4.12 jignalkorb (Smoke Si; At a meeting on 5 October, Nibelungenwerk revealed that the mount for the Rauchsignalkorb (smoke signal basket) was to be located in a dead space behind the commander's cupola on Befehlswagen turrets. The Rauchsignalkorb was installed on Turm Nr.14 by Nibelungenwerk. 4.13 Kommandantensitz (Commander's Seat) On 3 August 1942, WaJRue (WuG6) VIIId requested that Krupp immediately install the commander's seat developed by Wegmann in Pz. Kpfw.Tiger P turrets that were already completed or in the process of completion as long as it didn't delay production. On 5 October 1942, Krupp planned to install a commander's seat, which could be folded up, in Turm Nr.14. 4.14 Federausgleicher (Spring Counterbalance for Hatches) On 20 August, Nibelungenwerk asked Krupp when the spring counterbalance for the comman- der's and loader's hatch covers would be ready. Krupp reported on 5 October that starting with Turm Nr.14 the counterbalance would be installed for the commander's hatch cover. 4.15 Elektrische_Turmschwenkwerk (electric motor traverse) After tests were conducted in Kummersdorf, Wa Pruef 6 reported to Krupp on 25 August 1942: At its maximum setting the electric motor traversed the turret from the 3 to 9 o'clock (through 12) in 27 seconds. It took 60 seconds to traverse from 12 to 3 o'clock by hand. The turret could only be traversed through a full circle because the makeshift air filters on the rear deck are in the way. Measurements were made on an even area and on different slopes both uphill and downhill. Measurements using the electric drive with the vehicle facing downhill: Slope in Forward Arc Current Degrees From To in Amps 4 5 7 40 5 a 7 50 7 a 7 110 rS 10 2 80* 8 10.5 13 80* il il il 80* * Clutch slips. The werret can't be held at interim positions and runs back to the 12 o'clock position. When tested uphill at 12 degrees the turret could be traversed from 5 o'clock up to 12 o'clock using 130 amps. The electric lines started to over- 47heat. The turret couldn't be held at half past 2. It could be held at half past 3 and at quarter past 4. Measurements at 12 degrees uphill were made after the clutch in the traverse motor had been adjusted. Further measurements couldn't be made because of damage to the electric lines. Measurements made while traversing the turret by hand with the vehicle facing downhill: Slope in Forward Arc Degrees From _To Remarks 4 5 7 a = a 7: 5 7 turns too hard 75 not possible 12.5 not possible It wasn't possible to traverse the turret by hand with the vehicle facing uphill on a 12 degree slope. During these trials at Kummersdorf, Turm Nr.3 couldn't be traversed on an 8 degree slope, and when it did traverse it was very difficult and noisy. On 5 October 1942, Krupp reported that starting with Turm Nr.14 a modified slip clutch was. installed in both the elevation and traverse mecha- nisms. 4.16 Nebelwurfgeraet__(Smoke __Candle Dischargers) At a2 June 1942 meeting between Krupp and Wa Pruef 6/IId on mounting the Nebelwurf- geraet on the Pz.Kpfw.VI (Tiger) it was decided: The Wurfgeraet is to be mounted right and left on a sheet metal bracket bolted to the turret roof. The firing angle of the Wurfgeraet is to be parallel to the direction of travel. The hole in the turret roof for the electrical firing cable must be sealed watertight. The firing switch box is to be mounted right and left on the protective guard over the geared turret ring. The mounting holes for the Wurfgeraet will be bored during assembly. So long as the Wurfgeraet are still not available, Krupp will prepare for their mounting and installation so that the final installation connections can be accom- plished by the troops. On 5 October 1942, Krupp informed Nibelungenwerk that they still weren't in possession of Nebelkerzenwurfgeraet with firing switches for installation in Turm Nr.14. Brackets would be 48 mounted and wiring run so that the Wurfgeraet could be mounted by the troops. 4.17 Wider Kgs 62/640/130 Tracks Nine of the first ten Pz.Kpfw.VI P chassis were outfitted with 600 mm wide Kgs 62/600/130 tracks, Because a combat loaded Pz.Kpfw.VI P weighed 59 metric tons instead of the plarined 45, wider Kgs 62/640/130 tracks were ordered. A wider center guide (but only on every second link) and holes for attaching ice cleats were introduced with these wider tracks. These 640 mm wide tracks were listed on the Porsche specification sheet for the Typ 101 dated 5 October 1942 and were mounted on chassis starting with Fgst.Nr.150011. Four spoke idler and drive sprocket wheels were introduced at the same time as these wider tracks. Shortly before the end of October 1942, Schoeller-Bleckmann Stahlwerk in Ternitz were awarded a contract to still produce 30 sets (4500 links) of the older-style, narrower Kgs 62/600/130 tracks. 4.18 Abweiserleiste (Deflector Stripes) _ On 8/9 May 1942, Krupp proposed that deflector stripes to protect the gap beneath the turret on the Typ 101 be made in a half-circle or polygon shape and welded to the deck of the hull. By Fgst.Nr.250013, deflector stripes, simi- lar to those found on the Pz.Kpfw.III and IV, were positioned on the superstructure roof to the front and both sides of the turret. Right: This test chassis was outfitted with air filters mounted on the rear deck and sheet metal cowlings above the air intake louvres. The air filters are mounted in housings on a specially designed engine hatch. On its underside are air intake ports along with flanges to fit the carburetor air intakes on top of the Porsche Typ 101 engines. It has 700 mm wide track guards (with 200 mm wide center sections), “banana- shaped” track skids, 600 mm wide tracks, and four-spoked idler and drive wheels. (WJs)S152” V31743 After participating in comparison trials at Berka, this Tiger (P) (Fgst.Nr.150013) was sent to Kummersdorf where it was later modified for towing trials with a 65 metric ton “Elefant”. It has 750 mm wide front track guards (700 mm wide at the rear - 200 mm wide on the sides), wider Kgs 62/640/130 tracks, and four spoke idler and sprocket wheels. (BA)5. UNFINISHED MODIFICATIONS The following modifications (listed in the chronological order of the initiating discussions) had not yet been introduced when VK 45.01 (P) series production was canceled permanently. Some modifications to turret components were introduced later in the VK 45.01 (H) production run. Ah 28 cat er Ee eet aca Moen fever _un hentwick! Muzzle Fi smoke On 5 March 1942, Oberst Sturm of Wa Pruef 4 met with Krupp to discuss the 8.8 em Kw.K. L/56 as follows: Oberst Sturm criticized the frequently occur- ring backflash from this gun. He stated that this was caused by using a muzzle brake and the type of propellant. In addition, the very short time needed for the semi-automatic breach to extract empty casing creates conditions favoring the occurrence of backflashes, because by pulling out the cartridge a vacuum occurs. It was further determined that the number of backflashes diminishes as the gun warms up from firing. Oberst Sturm requested that everything be done to eliminate these backflashes. This could be achieved by two methods. 1. Use of a propellant that is matched with the muzzle brake. 2. With a bore ventilation device that blows the unburned remainder of the gases out of the front of the gun. A bore ventilator device from Dr. Bankwitz designed for a turret-mounted gun was shown. On 23 March 1942, a 8.8 em Kw.K.36 Nr.115 firing Sprgr.L/4.5 was used in trials to eliminate muzzle flash and backflash as follows: Addition of 35 grams of potassium sulfate t0 the Dipl.R.P.-KO- propellant was sufficient to dampen the muzzle flash. Backflashes didn't occur while firing 15 rounds at a normal rate of fire and cat an increased rate of fire and during interrupted firing. To completely dampen the muzzle flashes, 50 ‘grams had to be added to Dipl.R.P.-8- propellant. A series of 11 rounds as well as six rounds inter- rupted firing also were fired without backflashes. However, the salt caused a somewhat thicker smoke cloud, without hindering vision. During troop trials it must be determined if interference from the heav- ier smoke cloud is bearable with the gun installed in a Panzer. On 15 September 1942, Wa Pruef 4 informed Krupp: As known by your company, in all large caliber Kampfwagenkanone (tank guns) there is a need to quickly dispel the smoke cloud after firing. It is requested that as soon as possible submit proposals to Wa Pruef 4 for an Ausblasevor- richtungen (tube ventilation device) for the 8.8 cm Kw.K.36. Thorough practical trials should be initi- ated to help the troops in this matter. 5.2 Porsche Typ 130 Fahrgestell During a meeting on 23 March 1942, Porsche requested that Krupp complete 50 Typ 101 hulls for electric drive with air-cooled engines and 50 Typ 102 hulls for hydraulic drive with air-cooled engines. In addition, Motorraumabdeckung (rear decks) were to be prepared for 25 Typ 130 hulls for electric drive with water-cooled engines. For the time being, Porsche did not plan to produce Typ 131 chassis with hydraulic drive and water-cooled engines. After cancellation of the production series, on 10 December 1942, Wa Pruef 6 reported that they needed three Versuchsfahrzeuge Tiger P1 chassis with electric drive and Maybach engines. These were water-cooled Maybach HL120TRM engines coupled to Siemens electric generators. The design of a Typ 130 chassis with a water-cooled engine came long before mid- September 1942 when the idea occurred to convert part of the Tiger P production to a Sturmgeschuetz with an 8.8 cm L/71 gun. There is no mention of a Typ 130 on the projected production schedule dated 5 October 1942 for all types of Porsche designs from the Typ 101 to the Typ 205. The Sturmgeschuetz ohne Turm (assault gun without turret) is listed as chassis Typ 101D without further details on the type or make of engine that Porsche planned to install. 5.3 Notaussteig im Turm (Turret Escape Hatch) _ In response to Item 17 from 5 May, on 8/9 May Krupp stated: The escape hatch in the turret stwas possible only in the 80 mm thick curve on the loader's side. It appears to be of little use and is difficult to produce. Krupp awaits further decision. By early July, Krupp had prepared a proposed design for a Notausstiegoeffnung (escape hatch) mounted on the turret side and hinged on the bottom. On 14 July 1942, Nibelungenwerk stated their opinions on the design for the Pz.Kpfw.VI 8.8/56 (P): Based on a meeting with Wa Pruef 6, the Notausstiegoeffnung, especially for the Befehls- wagen, is to be designed so that it is suitable for general use as a hatch, Because of the curvature of the turret, the hinges are to be bent instead of straight as shown in drawing AKF 31461. The cover weighs about 100 kg, and therefore when the vehicle is on a slope, the danger exists that crew members entering or leaving can be squashed when the cover swings shut. A spring counterbalance is needed. If the hinges were moved from beneath the hatch to the side, in addition to the already mentioned problems, space for equipment stowage inside the turret would be reduced. These requirements have been directed through Wa Pruef 6, since Krupp had basically rejected the idea of creating a normal access hatch ‘out of the escape hatch because difficulties arise in meeting both design requirements and schedule. The maximal clearance (a free radius of 1215 mm) needed to mount the hinges is still allowable because the air intake gratings are about 1400 mm from the turret center. On 17 July 1942, Porsche requested that, starting with Turm Nr.31, Krupp install access hatches on the VK 45.01 (P1) with similar features as on the VK 45.02 (P) turret. On 20 July 1942, Nibelungenwerk stated that, starting with Turm Nr.13 (to be delivered by 10 August), Krupp was to deliver assembled turrets with an access hatch with side hinges on the turret side. On 4 August 1942, Krupp explained that they had planned to start cutting the hatch opening in Turm Nr.46, not in Turm Nr.13. 5.4 Gepaeckkasten (Baggage Bin) _ On 25 June 1942, Wa Pruef 6 informed Krupp that a development contract had already been awarded to the firm of Vorrichtungs- und Geraete- 32 bau A.G., Berlin to design a Gepaeckkasten for VK 45.01 turrets. Ina letter to Krupp dated 14 July 1942, Nibelungenwerk questioned the need for some of the requirements for an improved design: The baggage bin must be watertight at external pressures up to 0.4 atmosphere during submerged fording. The BW-Gepaeckkasten with 2 mm thick sheet metal that we planned to use can't withstand the pressure and isn't watertight. It must be made with sides 6 mm thick. We don't think that it is necessary to convert to a bin made out of 6 mm sheet metal with the accompanying locks etc., because in case of submerged fording, the baggage bin can be removed in a few minutes and carried along in the company trains. On 16 July 1942, Wa Pruef 6 dropped the requirement that the baggage bin had to be water- tight at 0.4 atmosphere external pressure. On 29 August 1942, Wa Pruef 6 advised Krupp: The baggage bins for the VK 4501 Ausf.P1 und HI are to be standardized in accordance with the following guidelines: a. Space for baggage for one man, about 50 10 60 liters. Strive for the higher limit. b. Rain water and dust tight model, the same as Gepaeckkasten 021 B 39178 for the Pz.Kpfw.1V. c. If possible, use the same lid of the same thickness as the 021 B 39178 to utilize the available production equipment. d. Shape to meet the outer edge of the turret. e. The view from the commander's cupola (Ausf.PI und HI) and function of the antenna (Ausf.H1) may not be hindered. f Pay attention to storing the different types of spare track links for the Ausf.PI and HI on the turret rear if possible with the same space between the turret and the baggage bin (standard mounting for both). 5.5 Schnellzurrung (Quickly Disconnected Gun_ Travel Lock) On 1 July 1942, Wa Pruef 6/Ild wrote Krupp that the internal travel locks in the Tiger turrets needed to be improved: All involved parties have voiced major discontent with the Hoehenzurrung (elevation travel lock) for the gun in the Tiger turret. It takes too much time to connect and disconnect the travel lock; the device itself is too complicated.Quickly send a proposal for a simplified travel lock. On 5 October 1942, Krupp was informed that the troops would like a Schnellzurrung (quickly disconnected travel lock) holding the gun at a steep angle, to reduce the strain on the elevation mechanism which occurs when traveling through hilly terrain. 5.6 UK (Submerged Fording) In July 1942, a decision was made that the last 40 VK 45.01 (P) (30 Typ 101 and 10 Typ 102) had to.meet UK specifications for submerged ford- ing. Krupp was informed that the Eintrittsgraet- ings (cooling air intake gratings) and Schuetzgitter (protective wire screens) had to be modified in order to make the hull watertight. 5.7 Por: 103 Fahrgestell On 23 July 1942, Dr-Ing.h.c.F.Porsche K.G. sent a letter to inform Fried.Krupp AG, Abt.AK that the rear deck had been redesigned for the new Typ 103 chassis powered by Typ 101/2 engines with twin blowers: We hereby inform you that starting with vehi- cle number 31 we have chosen the model designation Typ 103 for the VK 45.01 (P). The 100 VK 45.01 (P) are split up as follows: 30 Typ 101, 60 Typ 103, and 10 Typ 102. The basic form of the hull as previously constructed for the Typ 101 is to be retained for all three models. Parts solely intended for each model will be identified by the model number. New drawings effective starting with vehicle number 31, created solely for Typ 103, are Right: Due to the problems with overheating engine failures, Porsche redesigned their Typ 101 air-cooled engines to mount cooling fans above the electrical generators and added a sheet metal cowling to direct air flow past the heads and out the top. This new design, designated as a Porsche Typ 101/2 engine, was to be installed in Porsche Typ 103 chassis. (WJS) the complete Motorraumabdeckung (rear deck) on the left and right rear, Deckel (hatch cover) on the Motorraumabdeckung (2 per vehicle), and Luftauslass (ventilation louver) with Schutzgitter (protective screen). Having shipped 64 hulls to Nibelungenwerk by 19 July 1942, 34 of which would need new rear decks to convert them to Typ 103, Krupp stopped further delivery. Porsche's projected production schedule, dated 5 October 1942, showed that 45 Typ 101C chassis with Typ 101/2 engines were to be produced in the period from February through April 1943. Porsche attempted to eliminate problems associated with overheating due to inadequate venti- lation by mounting Doppelt Neu II (new twin) blowers directly onto the front end of the engines. These modified engines, known as Typ 101/2, were also changed by relocating the magneto from outside behind the engine to within the V between the cylin- ders and relocating both oil coolers from beside to behind the engine. 5.8 Scherenfernrohr (Scissors Periscope) At a meeting on 5 October 1942, Krupp revealed their plans for mounting the Scherenfern- rohr on the commander's cupola: Every second Panzer is to be outfitted with a Scherenfernrohr which is to be fastened facing 12 o'clock up on the commander's hatch. Krupp has planned to mount it using fastener straps or rings. The base is to be adjustable so that the commander can stand upright and look through the Scherenfernrohr as well as past it over the lip of the cupola.Herr Escher (Krupp) remarked that the Scherenfernrohr is to be fastened to the cupola ring by a screw clamp which will make it possible to move it to any position around the cupola with the exception of the space for the hatch cover. 5.9 Prismeneinsatz (Loader's Periscope) The equipment list dated June 1942 included two periscopes in the turret. On 5 October 1942, Krupp stated that starting with Turm Nr.25, a forward-facing periscope would be mounted in the turret roof in front of the loader's hatch. Only one periscope was to be installed; the second was to be carried as a spare. The part number in the equip- ment list wasn't correct for the new periscope model. 6. DISPOSITION OF THE VK 45.01 (P) The first Tiger (P) was completed in time for a demonstration on Hitler’s birthday on 20 April 1942. A second, completed in June 1942 was shipped to Kummersdorf for testing. Two Tiger (P) were sent to the Dollersheim training area in August with a total of five being reported as present in Dollersheim at the end of September. Two Tiger (P) were also sent to Berka for comparison trials with the VK 45.01 (H) in early November 1942. After series production was cancelled, Wa Pruef 6 reported their plans for the remaining Versuchsfahrzeuge Tiger P1 to Wa J Rue (WuG 6) on 10 December 1942: Wa Pruef 6 needs the following vehicles from the first Tiger (P) series, those available in addition to the 90 Sturmgeschuetz to be built: 1 complete vehicle with elektric drive and Porsche engine (Berka vehicle, already in Kummersdorf), 2 vehicles with electric drive and Porsche engines (being sent as targets from Pz.Abt.503), 3 chassis with electric drive and Maybach engines, 1 chassis with hydraulic drive plus a reserve hydraulic system, I complete vehicle, either electric or hydraulic, for test firing, 2 armor hulls with additional armor bolted on as test targets. Final disposition of the components origi- nally ordered for the 100 VK 45.01 (P) was as 54 follows: © 90 turrets (along with guns and gunsights) were converted to hydraulic traverse drive and mounted on VK 45.01 (H) chassis (including the Tiger I now on display at The ‘Tank Museum in Bovington , England). As of 10 May 1943, four turrets (Turm Nr.150004, 150005, 150013, and 150014) had been retained for further tests and trials. © 91 hulls were converted to mount Maybach HL 120 engines and completed as Panzer- jaeger "Tiger P" with Fgst.Nr.150010 to 150100 (2 by Alkett, 89 by Nibelungen- werk). © 3 additional hulls were converted to mount Maybach HL 120 engines by Eisenwerke Oberdonau and completed as Berge-Panzer VI (recovery vehicles) by Nibelungenwerk in August 1943. o 3 Fahrgestelle were used as the chassis for mounting ram hoods to create three Ramm- Tiger in August 1943. o 1 Fabrgestell was completed as a Typ 102 with hydraulic drive. o 2 complete Tiger (P) with turrets were retained by Wa Pruef 6. ‘The last complete Tiger (P) assembled at Nibelungenwerk (Fgst.Nr.250013), was outfitted as a Panzerbefehlswagen with Turm Nr.150014. After participating in the comparison trials at Berka in early November 1942, it was sent to Kummers- dorf for testing and trials. There it was modified and used for towing trials with a Panzerjaeger “Tiger P”. On 11 September 1943, M.A.N. reported conducting tests on the suspensions of two Henschel Tiger and one Porsche Tiger (Fgst.Nr.150013 weighing 59305 kg). Sent back to Nibelungenwerk, it was modi- fied in early 1944 by changing to Maybach water- cooled engines, bolting on additional frontal armor, coating it with Zimmerit. This Befehls-Tiger was taken to the Eastern Front with schwere Heeres Panzer-Jaeger-Abteilung 653 in April 1944 and lost in action in July 1944. This was the only Tiger (P) known to have been used in combat. NOTE: Fest.Nr. 150013 was used simultaneously for two different chassis - both a Panzerbefehlswagen VI P chassis and a Panzerjaeger "Tiger P" (reported as Fgst.Nr.150013 with tactical number 322 by schwere Heeres Panzer-Jaeger- Abteilung 653 on 1 September 1943).Modified with additional frontal armor, Zimmerit, Maybach HL 120 TRM engines, and new Kgs 62/640/130 tracks with ice grippers, this Panzerbefehlswagen VI (P) (Fgst.Nr.150013) was taken to the East by s.Pz.Jg-Abt.653 in April 1944. Only Turm Nr.14 was noted as having been outfitted with a “Rauchsignalkorb” (smoke signal basket) behind the cupola. (KHM) 58‘Two driver’s periscopes were added to this Panzerbefehlswagen VI (P) (Fgst.Nr.150013). The cupola hatch lid hinged at the rear and the circular port for extending a Scherenfernrohr (scissors periscopes) may have been original equipment for this command vehicle. A notch was cut out of the lower left corner of the gun mantlet to clear the air intake louvres. The left rear antenna base was intended to support a Sternantenna for a long-range radio set. (KHM)-ejodno ayy puryaq payimom: (jayseq [eudys ayous) qroyjeudisyoney & pue Suyeos syouseu-yue qroumnz ‘seq upejoo40d Bupaajoxd yod rowLe YK vHUUE oBuEI-JuO] J9.11M} uo $403.1YDsIp o[puLd oYoUNS 10F syuNOUT Joox yoximy Uo UasTd ¢ “ead Je padury (od xyorMaFULOYDG yA) pH YOIeY ejodns ‘mq ademoys Apasdyzd Joos TINY uy sadoastiad s,s9AL1p Omg ‘pxend Buta Jaxany “JuOIy [AY ay UO Payoq sOULE vAxa WUE YT ‘S]003 Jo 398 [Iny “D9p IeaL uo ayEyUy ste TIM SaMTIMO WALOZT TY Wade way ‘SpHys Ye. ,,padeys-eueueg,, ‘Tear pue yuory ssades9s nur ‘sjaaqs aatap pue x9[p} payods-p ‘speapo aay WpLA SyDe.y api UU OPO “(safMUEd ypLM WaAa aBpa 19MO] WyiM paytnour sapis ayy Suoye aprad mut 9z) doy uo syroddns yA spaEns you. Woy apIA WUT QSL :s9INIey “(ero UH Pay!POW) ZpET 4940790 UF paroidut0D PLAN WAY, YHA (ETOOSTAN ISD (d) LA Wedeas|yeyeqsezued 376s ‘2cormncet manrious Done tere Panzerbefehlswagen VI (P) (Fgst.Nr.150013) with Turm Nr.14 completed in October 1942 (modified in 1944). Features: 750 mm wide front track guards with supports on top (200 mm wide along the sides mounted with lower edge even with panier), 640 mm wide tracks with ice cleats, 4-spoked idler and drive wheels, mud scrapers front and rear, "banana-shaped" track skids, twin Maybach HL120TRM engines with air intake on rear deck, full set of tools, 100 mm extra armor bolted on the hull front, turret ring guard, two driver's periscopes in hull roof, Pz.Kpfw.IV stowage bin, cupola hatch lid (with Scherenfernrohr port) hinged at rear, 3 Pilsen on turret roof, mounts for smoke candle dischargers on turret, long-range antenna with armor pot protecting porcelain base, Zimmerit anti-magnetic coating, and a Rauchsignalkorb (smoke signal basket) mounted behind the cupola,Tiger (P) Panzerkampfwagen VI P (8.8 cm Kw.K.36 (L/56)) (Sd.Kfz.181) Weapons Data: Fgst.Nr. 150001-150100 Automotive Capabilities: In Turret: 1 - 8.8 cm Kw.K.36 1/56 | Maximum Speed: 35 kon/hr 1 - 7.92 mm M.G.34 Avg. Road Speed: 20 km/hr Elevation: =a, +15° Cross Country: 8-10 km/hr 360° electric and hand Range on Road: 105 km T.2.F.9b (2.5x 25°) Cross Country: 48 km Graduated to: 4000 meters for Sprgr. Gra 30° 3000 meters for Pzgr.39 | Trench Crossing: 2.6 m 1200 meters for MG Step: 80 cm Fording Depth: 130 cm In Ball Mount: 1. - 7.92 mm M.G.34 Ground Clearance: 48 cm Elevation: -10° to +20° Ground Pressure: 1.21 (1.14) kg/cm Traverse: 15° L, 15° R Power Ratio: 10.3 HP/ton Gun Sight: K.Z.F.2 (1.8% 18°) Pressure on Wheel: 556 kg/cm Steering Ratio: 1.55 Ammunition: 64 (80) - 8.8 cm Turning Circle: 6.60 m 4350 - 7.92 mm 192 - 9 mm Automotive Component: Crew: Commander Moto: 2 Porsche Typ 101 Gunner V-10 air cooled Loader 15 liter gasoline Driver 310 HP @ 2500 rpm Radio Operator Transmission: 2 Siemens Generators Typ aGVv 275/24 rated Communication: Fu 5 and Fu 2 at 275 kilowatts Intercom 2 Siemens Electric Motors Type D1495a Measurements: rated at 230 Kw Tent operas, S7sia steering: Electric control ee cet cleo Drive: Rear sprocket Width, overall: 3.20 m (3.40 m) Roadwheela: 6 per side Height, overall: 2.90 m mere 700 macs geeel viring Height: 2.20 m Saspenaieat Sesion Bats Wheel Base 2.66 m rack: Dry pin Track contact: 4:12 m Kgs 62/600/130 or 60 metric tons Kgs 62/640/130 Combat Loaded: . 520 hiters Links per Side: 109 Fuel Capacity: Armor Specifications for the Pz.Kpfw.VI (P1) Armor thickness in mm/angle from vertical Copyright 1999 Thomas L Jentz (Nott Seal) Tolerances on plate thickness -0 to +5 % 60GLOSSARY OF GERMAN MILITARY TERMS Abteilung Aufbau Auftrag Ausfuehrung Befehl Befehlspanzer Bergepanzer Fgst. Funk Heer Kgs Kw.K. leichte Panzerbefehlswagen Panzergranate Panzerjaeger Panzerkampfwagen Rauchsignalkorb. Schwere Sd.Kfz. Sturmgeschuetz Truppenuebungs Turm T.Z.F. VK Versuchsfahrzeug Waffenamt Wanne Wa Pruef 6 Zimmerit Abt. - battalion with less than five companies superstructure contract, order Ausf. - model designation order command tank armored recovery vehicle Fahrgestell - chassis Fu - radio German army cast track links with unlubricated pins Kampfwagenkanone - tank gun light command tank Pzgr. - armor-piercing shell Pz.Jg. - tank destroyer Pz.Kpfw. - generic name for tank smoke signal basket s. - heavy Sonderfahrzeug - special vehicle assault gun troop training turret Turmzielfernrohr - main gun telescopic sight Vollketten - fully tracked experimental vehicle ordnance department hull automotive design office under the Waffenamt anti-magnetic coatingNod No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5 No.6 No.7 No.8 No.9 No.10 No.11 No.12 No.13 No.14 No.15 No.16 No.17 No.18 No.19 No.20 Includes data on over 350 German armored vehicles from 1925 to 1945 Also available from Darlington Productions PA Panzerkampfwagen I Panzerkampfwagen II Panzerkampfwagen IIT Panzerkampfwagen IV Panzerkampfwagen Panther .. Schwere Panzerkampfwagen Panzerjaeger .. ‘Sturmgeschuetz Panzerbeobachtungswagen Flak Sfl. and Flakpanzer Panzerspaehwagen Gepanzerte Pionier Fahrzeuge .. Schuetzenpanzerwagen Bergepanzerwagen ... Gepanzerte Nachschub Fahrzeuge. Panzerkampfwagen 35(t)/38(t) Beute-Panzerkampfwagen .. Paper Panzers ZER TRACT; Available KL Tr. to VK18.01 La.S.100 to VK16.01 Le.Tr. to Pz.Bef.Wg-Ausf.K Gr. Tr. to Pz.Bef.We.IV Ausf.J 'VK20.01 to Panther Ausf.F D.W. to E100 3.7 cm Tak to 8.8 cm Waffentraeger s.Pak to Sturmmoerser Jagdpanzer 38 to Jagdtiger 15 cm sIG to 60 cm Karl Sd.Kfz.253 to Pz.Beob.Wg.Panther Sd.Kfz.10/4 to 8.8 cm VFW ‘Sd.Kfz.3 to Sd.Kfz.234/4 Goliath to Raeumer S ‘Sd.Kfz.250 to Kaetzchen Bergepanzer 38 to Bergepanther ‘VK3.01 to schwere Wehrmacht-Schlepper L.T.Sk. to Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Ausf.G Polish TK to Russian KW II Concepts remaining on drawing boards Illustrated with scale prints drawn by Hilary Louis Doyle and photographs selected for clarity of detail and rarity of model. Development history, unique characteristics, major modifications, data sheets, and armor specifications all based solely on original documents and existing vehicles. Apr97 Jul97 Apr98 Jus Nov97