E-100 Tiger-Maus

In September 1942, while the Maus super-heavy tanks was being designed by Porsche, Krupp decided to submit a competitive design. It was suggested to use components from the Tiger II chassis, including the Maybach HL 230 engine. The turret was planned to be the same as that of the Maus.

Development

While the use of already existing components made Krupp's Tiger-Maus more feasible the Maybach HL 230 meant that it would have been significantly underpowered. As a result, Krupp's design developed as a somewhat lighter vehicle, at 130 tons, compared to the Maus' then-projected weight of 170 tons. The reduced weight gave additional advantages of superior speed, ground pressure, and fuel consumption, as well as decreased raw material usage. In addition, a supercharged version of the HL 230 was considered, which would have an output of 1000 horse powers. Nevertheless, Hitler favored the more technically complex Maus. As a result, on 15 December 1942, Krupp was informed that work on the Tiger-Maus should cease and on 5 January 1943 the Maus was chosen for production.

After the Maus had been chosen for production, Waffenamt Prüfwesen 6 (Weapons Testing Office 6, the office responsible for armor design) copied Krupp's Tiger-Maus for their E-100 design. Adler, who had no prior experience in armor design, was awarded the contract for a single E-100 prototype during 1943. Krupp designed a new turret in 1944, closely resembling the Maus turret, the only difference being somewhat thinner armor. As the war situation deteriorated, work on the E-100 stopped. In April 1945 the partially assembled E-100 chassis was found by Allied forces.

Technical Information

Additional Reading

Pz Kpfw Maus

Information about the Panzerkampfwagen Maus.

Sources

1. JENTZ, Thomas L. & DOYLE, Hilary Louis. Panzer Tracts No. 6-3 - Schwere Panzerkampfwagen Maus and E 100 : Development and production from 1942 to 1945. Boyds, MD : Panzer Tracts, 2008. 72 p. ISBN 0-9815382-3-1.