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Porsche MAUS 1

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Multi view drawing of Porsche type 205 Maus PzKpfw VIII

In March of 1942, Porsche received the contract for a new 100-ton Panzer - VK10001 / Porsche Typ 205. On April 1942 it was specified that the new 100-ton tank must carry at least 100 rounds of ammunition. VK10001 was to be developed by Professor Ferdinand Porsche and
Dr. Muller of Krupp.

During a meeting held in May of 1942 Adolf Hitler demanded a 120-ton "indestructible" superheavy tank armed with a high performance 10.5cm or 15cm gun.

The petrol-electric drive used in every Tiger prototype designed by Porsche was carried over into the Maus design. There does seem to be one important difference between previous petrol-electric designs and the one in the Maus, the Maus design actually seems to have performed well in tests. Dr. Porsche was also very demanding of his engineers. He had promised that the vehicle would "turn in place" just like any other tracked vehicle. Given the size and weight of Maus, the army was understandably skeptical. Just prior to a demonstration, some of the engineers became a bit overzealous and took the vehicle out to test it. They excitedly called Dr. Porsche indicating that Maus had indeed almost turned in place. Dr. Porsche was furious, and rousted the engineer in charge of the sysem out of his sick-bed and demanded an answer to this "problem." After a bit of looking, one spur gear was corrected and, true to Dr. Porsche's word, Maus could turn in place.

Maus was far too heavy to use most bridges, so provision was made for river and stream crossing underwater. As the drive was electric, one Maus could sit on the bank with power cut to the electric drive and power the fording Maus via electrical cable using it's petrol engine. Armored protection on the Maus was amazing. Every surface which would be targeted by other tanks was protected by no less than 180mm or armor, which maximum protection reaching 240mm. The top was, however, relatively vulnerable as protection was typically 40mm. As with most tanks, anti-aircraft protection would have been an absolute must.

The ever-increasing weight of Maus prohibited the use of the trademark external torsion-bar suspension developed by Porsche. The bogie system used instead was developed by Skoda. As with the Panzerkampfwagen E100, Maus was to be ultimately fitted with a 15cm KwK44 or a 17cm KwK44.

Towards the end of the war, Soviet forces discovered blueprints for a turret mounting twin 8.8cm flak guns which was to be mounted on either the Panzerkampfwagen Maus. Later in 1945 a mild steel mockup of the turret was reportedly discovered.

With the fall of the Iron Curtain it was revealed that the Soviet tank museum at Kubinka had a Maus on display. Further examination of the vehicle suggested that it combined the hull of one prototype with the turret of the second. According to a new reference about the Kummersdorf proving ground, in the latter half of 1944 both Maus prototypes arrived at Kummersdorf for testing after final assembly of the turret and chassis at F. Krupp. As the front approached nearer and nearer to the testing facility, both Maus tanks were sent out to engage the approaching Soviets. The vehicles were approaching Wünsdorf (crossing what is now highway 96) when the first Maus was disabled because of damage to the drive mechanism. This vehicle was later captured by the Red Army. The second Maus managed to precede a few kilometers further before the crew destroyed it.
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