page_title: VK 4501 (P)
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: VK 4501 (P) / Design
caption_attribution_description: English: Model reconstruction of Porsche VK45.01(P)
context_page_description: The VK 45.01 (P) was the official designation for an unsuccessful heavy tank prototype produced by Porsche in Germany in 1942. It was not selected for production and the Henschel design to the same specification was produced as the Tiger I. Most of the already produced chassis were instead rebuilt as Elefant tank destroyers.
context_section_description: Ferdinand Porsche developed the spring rod roller carriage; there were 6 road wheels, each road wheel formed of an inner and outer paired wheel per axle. The six paired road wheels were divided into three 2-axle bogies per side, for a total of 12 individual wheels, 6 road wheels/axles, in 3 bogies. The wheels were not 'interleaved' like those of the Tiger I. The 57 to 59 tons combat weight in combination with 640 mm wide "slack-tracks" (KGS 62/640/130) using no return rollers, produced a ground pressure of about 1.06 kg / cm².
  The petrol-electric drive specially developed by Ferdinand Porsche entered "uncharted territory" for road vehicles; this led to numerous development issues with the drive system. The two air-cooled V-10 engines designated Porsche Type 101, which were merged respectively with a Siemens-Schuckert 500 kVA generator, generated the necessary electric power to operate each of the two Siemens 230 kW (312.7 PS) individual-output electric motors. In this drive system, a mechanical power transmission system and gearbox could be omitted, since now a 3-step speed switch took over the work. The electric motors transferred their power to a final drive with a ratio of 15: 1 directly to the drive wheels located at the rear. The fuel tanks carried 520 litres of petrol and allowed a driving range of 105 kilometers. Two compressed air tanks in the front crew compartment area assisted the driver during braking maneuvers.
  Unlike the Henschel design's mid-hull mounting for the turret, the VK 45.01 (P) had its Krupp-designed turret mounted at the front. The turret, which mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36 and a 7.92 mm MG 34 coaxial machine gun, was essentially the same Krupp design also used for Henschel's contract-winning VK45.01(H) prototype design. The first eight turrets produced had lower sides and a flat roof with raised centre section to allow the gun to be depressed through a larger arc.
caption: Model reconstruction of Porsche VK45.01(P)
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