VK 45.02 (P) typ 180 A

The origins of the later Tiger II go back to the time when the first prototype Tiger I(P) had not even been produced yet. [The history of the VK 45.01(P) (Porsche's design for the new Tiger heavy tank) is well known. Porsche Tiger counted on winning the competition for the new heavy tank and therefore started production of the first 100 platforms. After losing, most of the platforms would be used for conversion into Ferdinand/Elefant tank fighters. Porsche's plans, however, went even further. After discussion between the parties involved, the decision was made that after the first batch of 100 Porsche Tiger was to be built from 101. Tiger Tiger with 8.8cm KwK L/71 and with the frontal armour inclined at an angle of 60°. The company planned to deliver the first six units in 11/1942. The project received its first official military designation VK 45.01(P2) from WaPrüf 6 on 4/2/1942. The correspondence of Daimler Benz AG, Berlin-Marienfeld with Krupp also provides information about the reality of these plans. Daimler Benzwas given the task of designing a new Kugelblendefiring range for the secondary armament of the new tank, which was to be mounted in armoured plates inclined at an angle of 55°. The company also worked on the design of the Kugelblende for other projects VK 30.01(D) and VK 30.02(M) in the competition for the new medium tank Panther.
On March 23, 1942, representatives of Porsche and Krupp met to discuss the details of production plans. The first 15 platforms were to be produced. The internal company designation was changed from type 101 verstärkt to type 180 and the official designation WaPrüf 6 was changed to VK 45.02 (P). The The first design (Type 180A) of the new tank used several components of the VK 45.01 (P). These included the drivetrain (a pair of Porsche type 101 petrol engines), chassis components, etc. The belts used were to be Kgs 62/640/130 - the last type of belts used on the VK 45.01 (P) and Ferdinand. Also, identical 700 mm diameter all-steel running wheels used by the aforementioned tank type and tank fighter were to be used. Porsche did not stick with just one design for a new form of heavy tank, but five conceptual designs appear in the document En.7949 of 5 October 1942.


The Type 180 A/B used petrol-electric propulsion. Petrol engines were used to drive electric generators producing electricity which powered the electric motors that drove the drive wheels.


VK 45.02 (P) type 180 A - 2 x gasoline-powered Porsche type 101/3 10-cylinder gasoline engine of 15 litres capacity, 223.7 kW/2000 rpm.
VK 45.02 (P) type 180 B - 2 x petrol (petrol) 10-cylinder Porsche type 101/4 petrol engine of 15 litres displacement, power 223.7 kW/2000 rpm.


The Type 181 A/B/C used a petrol/diesel/hydraulic drive. The power of the petrol/diesel engines was transmitted to the drive wheels by hydraulic steering Voith II (hydrodynamic converter ???).


VK 45.02 (P) type 181 A - 2 x Porsche type 101/4 10 cylinder petrol engine of 15 litres capacity, 223.7 kW/2000 rpm.
VK 45.02 (P) type 181 B - 2 x diesel (diesel) 16-cylinder Porsche Deutz 19.6 litres, power 275.9 kW/2000 rpm.
VK 45.02 (P) type 181 C - 1 x diesel Porsche Deutz 16-cylinder of 37 litres, 522 kW/2000 rpm.


As for the gun armament, an 8.8 cm gun was required, which would be able to penetrate 100 mm armour at 1500 meters. Due to the overlapping heavy tank development programs VK 45.01 and VK 45.02, the VK 45.01 (P) was used in the initial VK 45.01 (P) project, [iaa]8.8 cm Kw.K. L/56. The evolutionary developmental version VK 45.01 (P2) was to use the [url=/topic/view/38873/88-cm-Flak-41]8.8 cm Flak 41 modification. The turret for the tank was designed by Krupp. The turret was designed with the smallest possible frontal area that could be strafed in mind, the gun was protected by a ballistically advantageously shaped shield. The front of the turret had a rounded shape 100 mm thick, the sides were 80 mm thick and inclined at an angle of 30° from the vertical axis. The protrusion at the command tower was up to 90 mm thick. The rear part of the turret consisted of an 80 mm thick armoured plate inclined at an angle of 30°. The ceiling was formed in the front part by a 25 mm armoured plate inclined at an angle of 77°, in the middle part by a 40 mm thick plate inclined at an angle of 90° (horizontal plane) and in the rear part of the tower ceiling by another 25 mm plate inclined at an angle of 80°. The commander had a turret with seven observation periscopes. On the sides of the turret and in the rear hatch were pistol ports from which the crew could fire personal weapons. The commander had a large hinged communications port (Schaulock) on the left side. The turret rotation control was electric. The turret design for the VK 45.01 (P2) was to be used for a competing version of the new Tiger from Henschel, the VK 45.02 (H). This was a turret that was produced in 50 units, which were used in the first 50 units produced of the competing VK 45.03 (H) platform after winning the competition for the new Tiger II. The gun was to be the excellent 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71. The MG 42 machine gun was to be coaxially coupled to the gun.
The tank was to carry a total of 68 rounds, of which 42 were placed in the sides of the hull, 10 in the floor and 16 in the rear of the turret.
As part of the design work, a project was also created where the turret was placed at the rear of the hull, the engines in the centre of the hull and the driver's and radio operator's position at the front of the hull.

On 4 February 1942 an order for 100 hulls and 100 turrets was signed with Krupp Krupp Krupp. The hulls were to be delivered to Nibelungenwerk GmbH for completion. St. Valentin. The hulls were to be delivered after the order of 100 hulls for the project VK 45.01 (P). The production of the Tigers was to continue with project VK 45.01 (P2). The first 8 hulls were to be delivered for completion in 8/1942, the first 6 turrets were to be delivered in 11/1942. In total, an order was later signed for up to 200 pieces of machinery, which were to carry serial numbers Nr. 150101 - 150300.


Due to Porsches problems with engine and chassis development, the order was cancelled on 3/11/1942. Subsequently, however, WaPrüf 6 signed a new order for three hulls and three turrets in 1/1943. According to a report by Prof.Dr. Porsche on 2/1942, the three prototypes were to be completed at the Niebelungenwerke St. Valentin factory at this time.


Internal design markings of the Porsche platform project (in chronological order) :


- Panzerwagen-Projekt "Tiger" (8.10.1941)
- type 101 verstärkt changed to type 180 (23.3.1942)
- type 191 with hydraulic steering


Official designation WaPrüf 6 :


- VK 45.01 (P2) (4.2.1942)
- Pz.Kpfw. VI (VK 45.01 (P)) (Ausfuhrung P) (5.3.1942))
- VK 45.02 (P) (23.3.1942)
- VK 45.02 (P) formerly also known as VK 45.01 verstärkt (24.4.1942)
- Pz.Kpfw. VI, VK 45.01 (P), Tiger (P) (1.7.1942)
- Pz.Kpfw. "Tiger" P2 (25.1.1943)




*resources:


Thomas L. Jentz & Hilary Louis Doyle - Germany's Tiger tanks - VK 45.02 to Tiger II: Design, production & modifications, Schiffer Military History, year of publication 1997, ISBN: 0764302248
Thomas L. Jentz & Hilary Louis Doyle - PANZER TRACTS No.20-1 Paper Panzers Panzerkampfwagen, Sturmgeschuetz, and Jagdpanzer, ISBN-10:097084073X ISBN-13:978-0970840738, Panzer Tracts 2001