Germany's Maus heavy tank

Photos

Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:
Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:
Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:	Maus heavy tank:
Die Cast 1/72 Models of the Maus
Dragon Armor
60137: 60154:	60156: 60157:	60167: 60168:	60170: 60324:

Design

On June 8, 1942, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was asked, by Hitler, to work on a new heavy tank design.^4,5 It was to carry a 128 mm or 150 mm gun in the turret with a 75 mm coaxial gun. Porsche was the head of the German Tank Commission and advocated superheavy tanks. The tank was first referred to as the Mammut (Mammoth) and given project Porsche Type 205.⁵ Since the request was made verbally it never received a V.K. number.⁵

Alkett began assembly of the tank on August 1, 1943. Krupp supplied the hull in the middle of September 1943. The name was changed to Maus and was first run at Alkett on December 23, 1943. The tank was then sent to Böblingen (near Stuttgart) on January 10, 1944, for extensive tests. There were some problems with the suspension but the trials went rather successfully.

Hitler then ordered that the tank had to be completed by June 1944. On June 9, 1944, the turret was fitted to the tank. At the beginning of October the Maus was then sent to the proving grounds at Kummersdorf. A 2nd prototype was sent to Kummersdorf before trials were completed. This one had a different engine and considerable trouble. There were approximately 9 prototypes in various phases of completion when the war ended.

Electrical equipment came from Siemens-Schuckert and the engine was from Daimler-Benz. Tracks were supplied by Altmärkische Kettenfabrik. Armor came from Krupp, and the assembly was done by Alkett.

The Maus would have needed special rail cars designed for it's transport. Although it couldn't cross any bridges it would have been made to submerge for river crossings.

The ammunition for the 150 mm gun weighed 70 kg/ 154 lb and had to be carried in a trailer.⁴

The chassis was filled with the engine except for a compartment in the front for the driver and co-driver. Fuel was located in front of the superstructure. The ammunition was carried in the middle on the left, and on the right was an auxiliary engine with additional ammunition. The electric drive motors were at the rear with the engine located in the front part of the hull.

The turret alone weighed 50 tons. It was made from a cast front, with rolled armor on the sides and rear. A grenade projector was to be installed in the roof. The turret was electric powered and was to make a full rotation in 16 seconds.

The 8 hp auxiliary engine provided starting power, maintained the high pressure in the fighting compartment, and charged the batteries.

Fording

Air supply was provided to the crew and the engine by a chimney.⁵ It allowed for the Maus to ford rivers 24' deep.⁵ A second Maus was to provide electrical power to a fording Maus.⁵ Then once the first Maus reached the other side it would do the same for the second Maus.⁵

Prototype

On January 4, 1943, a scale model was shown to Hitler.⁵

Production

Plans for production was to be initially five per month and this was raised to ten per month.⁵

• Maus: 2 prototypes²
  • Manufacturer: Alkett²

Variants

Usage

Both prototypes are reported to have been blown up at Kummersdorf before the Russians overran the facility. However, one actually ended up in a Museum in Moscow.

Specifications

	Maus
Crew	51,2, 63,4,5
Radio	FuG52
Physical Characteristics
Weight	180-188 tons3, 188 tons1,2,4 191,000 kg1
Length w/gun	29' 8"5, 33' 1"4 33' 1.2"1 10.08 m4, 10.09 m1,2
Length w/o gun	29' 7"4 9.03 m4
Height	12'1,4,5 3.66 m1,2,4
Width	12'4, 12' 0.5"1, 12' 1"5 3.67 m1,2,4
Ground clearance	54 cm
Ground contact length	5.88 m
Ground pressure	20.6 psi 1.45 kg/cm2
Turret ring diameter	6' 1" 3 m
Armament
Main	128 mm1 128 mm KwK44 L/552 15 cm KwK 44 L/384,5 150 mm3
OR	12.8 cm K5
Secondary - coaxial	75 mm1,3 75 mm KwK44 L/36.52,4,5
MG	7.92 mm MG1 7.92 mm MG342 1: MG5 2: MG3
MG - antiaircraft	7.92 mm MG344
MG - coaxial	7.92 mm MG344
Side arms
Quantity
Main	15 cm: 504 128 mm: 68, 322
Secondary	2002
MG	1,0004
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	50 - 2403
Hull Front, Upper	2005, 200@55°2, 200@35°4
Hull Front, Lower	200@35°2, 200@60°4
Hull Sides, Upper	180+100@0°2, 180@90°4
Hull Sides, Lower	180@0°2
Hull Rear	160-165@90°4, 180@38°2 & 180@30°2
Hull Top	40-80@90°2
Hull Bottom	40-100@90°2
Turret Front	2405, 240 round2,4 Mantlet: 240 Soukopfblende2
Turret Sides	200@30°2, 200@60°4
Turret Rear	200@7°2, 200@60°4
Turret Top	40@90°2, 60@0°4
Engine (Make / Model)	Daimler-Benz5 Daimler-Benz MB 5091,4 Daimler-Benz MB5174 MB5092 or MB5172
Cylinders	MB509, MB517: V-124
Net HP	1,2003,4,5 MB509: 1,0802
Transmission	2 forward, 2 reverse.2
Fuel type	Early: Gasoline5 Late: Diesel5 MB509: Gasoline4 MB517: Diesel2
Octane
Capacity	1,056 gallons4 4,800 liters4
Performance
Traverse	360°, electric
Speed - Road	12 mph5, 12.4 mph1, 12.5 mph3,4 20 kph1,2,4
Speed - Cross Country	7 mph4 11 kph4
Range - Road	115.5 miles1, 118 miles5, 119 miles4 186 km1,2, 190 km4 Cross country: 60 miles4, 97 km4
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits	-7° to +23°
Fording depth	24'5
Trench crossing	13' 9"
Vertical Obstacle	2' 2"
Suspension (Type)	Sprung on coil springs5
Wheels each side	245
Return rollers each side
Track length
Tires
Track width	1.1 m
Track centers/tread	2.33 m