Super Heavy Tank E-100

Super Heavy Tank E-100
Production Information
Manufacturer	Krupp
Type	Prototype super heavy tank
Technical Specifications
Length	10.27 m
Width	4.48 m
Height	3.29 m
Weight	139 tons
Engine	1 x Maybach HL230 engine
Speed	40 km/h (25 mph)
Range	190 km (118 miles)
Armor	Turret: 240 mm
Armament	1 x 150 mm KwK 44 1 x 75 mm KwK 42 1 x 7.92 mm MG 34
Crew	6
Usage
Year introduced	1943
Affiliation	Germany

The Panzer E-100 was a German super heavy tank, designed from 1943 to the end of the war, which never saw action.

Description

The E-100 was the effort to complete a Heereswaffenamt requirement for a super heavy tank in competition with the Panzer VIII Maus and was the largest of a projected E-series (Entwicklungtypen=Standard Type). It was the only major effort to see the light of day in this series of developments. The E-100 was to have the same Krupp turret as the Maus, but it was planned that it should be up-gunned to a 150 mm KwK 44 gun once the armament was available. The turret would also be additionally armed with a coaxial 75 mm gun to deal with lighter vehicles and an MG 34 to be mounted on the roof to deal with infantry. The armor on the turret would be 460 mm in the area of the mantlet (210 mm turret front behind mantlet/250 mm mantlet), 240 mm on the rest of the turret front, 220 mm on the sides and back side of the turret.

Variants

There were already plans to build an E-100 Ausf. B which would be a great improvement on the E-100, namely a highly redesigned turret resembling a modernized and enlarged Panzer VI Tiger II turret.

Also planned was a StuG called the Krokodil (Crocodile) based off the E-100, armed with a 174 mm gun. Plans to build a flakpanzer based on the E-100 were also made, it would have been armed with dual 88 mm anti-aircraft guns and would possibly have been a highly dangerous foe in tank-to-tank combat, though it would have been unlikely that it would have ever been purposely used in this role.

History

In 1944 Adolf Hitler ordered an end to all super heavy tank development and work on the E-100 reached extreme low priority, though three of the Adler Company's employees continued production on the vehicle until sometime in early 1945 when the factory was abandoned due to advancing American forces, who found the tank on the factory floor on April 22nd. Later the tank was taken and evaluated by the British, who then scrapped it.

References

• Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis. Tanks of the world 1915-1945 Arms and Armour Press 1972 Pg. 60
• George Forty The world encyclopedia of tanks Hermes House Pg.73