VK 45.02 (P) typ 180 B

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 project for the new ťbig tank Tiger) is well known. Porsche counted on winning the competition for the new ťlarge tank and therefore started production of the first 100 platforms. After the loss, most of the platforms would be used to convert to the Ferdinand/Elefant tank fighter. 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 made from 101. machine producedť 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 sixť units in 11/1942. The project received its first official military designation VK 45.01(P2) on 4/2/1942. Information about the reality of these plans is also provided by the correspondence of Daimler Benz AG, Berlin-Marienfeld with Krupp. 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 ďother projects VK 30.01(D) and VK 30.02(M) in connection with the new medium tank Panther.
On March 23, 1942, representatives of Porsche and Krupp met to discuss the details of the 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 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 atď. The tracks used were to beť Kgs 62/640/130 - the last type of tracks used on the VK 45.01 (P) and Ferdinand. Also to beť used were the identical 700 mm diameter all-over wheels used by the aforementioned type of tank and tank fighter. Porsche did not stay with only one design for a new form of ťup tank, but in the document Sk.7949 of 5.10.1942 there are fiveť conceptual designs.


The Type 180 A/B used petrol-electric propulsion. Gasoline 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 Porsche type 101/3 10 cylinder petrol 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 penetrateť 100 mm armour at a rangeť of 1500 meters. Due to the overlapping development programs of the VK 45.01 and VK 45.02 tanks, the VK 45.01 (P)8.8 cm Kw.K. was used in the initial design. L/56. The evolutionary developmental version VK 45.01 (P2) was to use the [url=/topic/view/38873/88-cm-Flak-417; modification [url=/topic/view/38873/88-cm-Flak-41]8.8 cm Flak 41. The turret for the tank was designed by Krupp. The turret was designed with an eye to the smallest possible frontal area that could be sharply deflected, the gun was protected by a ballistically suitable 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 in the place of the turret 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 by a 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 gun ports from which the crew could fire personal weapons. The commander had a hinged communication port (Schaulock) on the ľaft side. The turret rotation control was electric. The turret design for the VK 45.01 (P2) was to beť used also for a competing version of the new Tiger from Henschel, the VK 45.02 (H). This was a turret that was made in 50 units, which were modified and used on 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 form an excellent 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71. With the cannon was to beť coaxially coupled guľplaster MG 42.
The tank carriedť a total of 68 rounds, of which 42 were placed in the sides of the hull, 10 in the floor and 16 were placed in the rear of the turret.
As part of the design work, there was also a project where the turret was placed in the rear of the hull, the engines in the centre of the hull and the driver's and radio operator's positions in 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. In St. Valentin. The hulls were to be delivered only after the order of 100 hulls for the project VK 45.01 (P). Production of the Tigers was to ďbut continueť with the VK 45.01 (P2) project. The first 8 hulls were to beť delivered for completion in 8/1942, the first 6 turrets were to beť delivered in 11/1942. In total, an order for up to 200 pieces of machinery was later signed, which were to carryť serial numbers 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 by this time.



Internal design markings of the Porsche platform project (listed chronologically) :


- 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)