Ferdinand Porsche[a] was an Austrian-born automobile engineer and the company’s original creator. He died on January 30, 1951. He is most known for developing the Volkswagen Beetle, the Auto Union racing car, the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, a number of other significant advancements, and Porsche vehicles. The first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle (Lohner-Porsche).
Porsche played a significant role in the development of cutting-edge tanks including the Panzer VIII Maus super-heavy tank, the Elefant (formerly known as the “Ferdinand”) self-propelled gun, and the VK 4501 (P), as well as other weapon systems like the V-1 flying bomb. Porsche was a Schutzstaffel officer and a member of the Nazi Party (SS). He was awarded the SS-Ehrenring, the War Merit Cross, and the German National Prize for Art and Science.
In This Article...
Background: Tiger is leaving Porsche
Porsche didn’t wait long to submit a very unique and personal design for the Tiger project after it was initially revealed in May 1941. The design was first ordered as the prototype VK 45.01(P) and constructed at the Nibelungenwerk factory in Sankt Valentin, Austria. After May 21st, 1941, Porsche was pitted against Henschel and required to submit drawings for a 45-ton heavy tank that would become known as the Tiger. Before being sent to the Kummersdorf testing facility for the official trials overseen by Hitler in April 1942, the VK 45.01(P) had its initial trials. The Porsche vehicle, which experienced malfunctions, fared much worse than the Henschel prototype, the VK 45.01(H). The Porsche, though, was predicted to win at first. However, due to the technological decisions taken, particularly with regard to the two engines that drove the petrol-electric drive, which had too many teething problems, the Porsche project was shelved in favor of the more traditional Henschel proposal. However, 100 chassis had already been created as a result of a July 1941 order. They couldn’t possibly have Krupp’s Tiger turrets because those were just for the Henschel tanks. Porsche advocated converting them to SPGs, initially as heavy howitzer/tar carrier, when he was left with these chassis.
Tank Destroyer “Elefant” by Ferdinand Porsche Could Have Been Excellent
Ferdinand Porsche’s Tank Destroyer, also known as the Elefant, first emerged on the battlefield in the spring of 1943.
Tanks from World War II typically had names that sounded fearsome or aggressive, like Hellcat, Panther, or Tiger. However, like with British Cruisers or the American M-3 Honey, the tendency was not widespread. The German assault rifle Sd Kfz 184, however, was possibly never a creature with a more awful name. It was originally called the Ferdinand after its designer, Ferdinand Porsche. Later, this name was changed to the “Elefant” tank destroyer, seemingly as an upgrade.
The bizarre and unmartial designations given to this 68-ton battle machine seemed weirdly appropriate. Although the Ferdinand technically belongs to the powerful Tiger family, its past is fairly mysterious. To understand the Ferdinand, one must first understand the history of its more well-known relative, the Tiger, Germany’s first effective heavy tank during World War II.
Germany didn’t have a real heavy tank when it entered World War II; instead, it relied on a mix of light and medium vehicles and the brilliant and ground-breaking blitzkrieg military strategy. However, German interest in a heavy “breakthrough tank” predated the invasion of Poland; the Reich gave the Henschel Company permission to start working on a prototype as early as 1937. The success of the panzer divisions eliminated the necessity for more than just purchasing additional Mark III and Mark IV medium tanks, therefore it appears that this project was not given great priority. But by May 1941, Henschel and Porsche had each received a design order for the heavy tank with the designation VK4501 (H) (P). Hitler’s top panzer divisions faced off against the Soviet Union’s superior T-34 medium tanks and KV-1 heavy tanks during Operation Barbarrosa, the invasion of Russia in June 1941, and any German complacency was quickly destroyed.
How come Porsche stopped producing tanks?
The Armament Authority of the German Army asked Porsche’s Engineering Office to create a medium-weight battle tank before the end of 1939, but development on this design was halted in the middle of the project due to a larger need for heavier tanks.
Porsche still produces tanks, right?
It utilized the main battery from a flak-gun to excellent effect and was swift and maneuverable for its size. Porsche ultimately lost the design competition to Henschel, and the Ferdinand Heavy Tank Destroyer, subsequently known as the Elefant, was constructed using all of the Porsche Tiger tank hulls that were still available.
How big is the gas tank on a Porsche?
The fuel tank capacity of the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera Cabriolet is 16.9 gallons, while the fuel tank capacity of the other trim levels is 17.6 gallons. For a sports car of this size, the fuel tank capacity is outstanding.
Volkswagen produced tanks?
Ferdinand Porsche created the Volkswagen Kubelwagen Type 823, a VW Beetle version that was disguised as a tank during World War II.
It was a fake German tank. Today’s example is a very rare German fake tank, which just so happens to be for sale at the moment.
The Kubelwagen 823, which had a Beetle chassis and a tank’s armor, was Germany’s counterpart of the Jeep and was utilized for a variety of missions on the battlefield.
Germany occasionally used the 823s to deflect fire away from its actual tanks and also used them into tank training drills because they appeared to be real tanks from a distance.
The hardtop dummy tanks were capable of being real assets during combat due to their lightweight frames and multi-functional qualities, despite having phony tracks and fake turrets.
With that in mind, a California-based seller has a ’39 Kubelwagen Type 823 up for auction on eBay if you feel like playing the classic phony tank joke on your neighbors.
Who produced German tanks?
In 1932, Rheinmetall, Krupp, Henschel, MAN, and Daimler Benz were given specifications for a light (5-ton) tank. Adolf Hitler gave his approval for the formation of Germany’s first panzer divisions shortly after coming to power.
Tiger – a Porsche creation?
The VK 45.01 (P), often known colloquially as the Tiger (P) or Porsche Tiger, was a heavy tank prototype with an electric drive and a gasoline engine that Porsche developed in Germany. It was not chosen for commercial production after losing in trials to its Henschel rival, and the Henschel design was created as the Tiger I. Most of the chassis that had previously been manufactured were rebuilt as Elefant tank destroyers.
Do Porsche tractors exist?
Do Porsche tractors exist? Technically, the answer is no. Porsche designed the tractor’s exterior and mechanical components, while external manufacturers handled the tractor’s physical production. The tractors produced between 1956 and 1963 nonetheless proudly display the Porsche script.
Who produced German tanks during World War II?
Despite ongoing efforts to create lighter tanks throughout the war, German engineers also created the PzKpfw V Panther as a direct response to the heavier Allied tanks. The Panzer IV’s replacement’s design work had started in 1937, and prototypes were being tested in 1941. This slow time-table was accelerated by the development of the Soviet T-34. A crew was sent to the eastern front in November 1941 to evaluate the T-34 and report at Guderian’s request. The sloping armor all around, which greatly enhanced shot deflection and increased the armor’s effective relative thickness against penetration, and the long overhanging gun, which German designers had previously avoided, were regarded as the two most important elements of the Soviet tank. By spring 1942, a new 30-35 tonne tank had to be designed and built by Daimler-Benz and MAN.
In April 1942, the two T-34-related concepts were submitted. The Daimler-Benz design was a “honor” to the T-34; it did away with the tendency for engineering brilliance, and consequently complexity, to create a crisp, straightforward design with lots of potential. The Waffenprufamt 6 committee chose the MAN design because it was more in line with traditional German thought. May requested a prototype, and Kniekamp was given responsibility for the design’s finer points.
The Panther was a typical German design, if the overhanging cannon and sloping armor are ignored; its interior layout for the five crew members was standard, and the mechanicals were intricate. It had eight double-leaf bogie wheels on each side and weighed 43 tonnes. A 700 PS (522 kW) gasoline engine propelled it, and it was controlled by a seven-speed transmission and hydraulic disc brakes. Steel plate that had been uniformly welded and connected for strength made up the armor. Frontal hull armor on production Ausf. D and later versions was shortly extended to 80 mm from 60 mm on preproduction models. The 75 mm L/70 main gun had 79 rounds, and two MG 34 machine guns served as backup.
The MAN design was formally approved in September 1942, and it was placed into immediate production with top priority. Completed tanks were manufactured barely two months later, however this haste resulted in dependability issues. The effort had to be expanded outside of MAN to include Daimler-Benz and, in 1943, the companies of Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover and Henschel in order to meet the production goal of 600 vehicles per month. Due to delays, monthly production was never able to reach the desired level, reaching a peak in July 1944 with 380 delivered tanks and ending in or around April 1945 with at least 5,964 constructed. In addition to these mainstream initiatives, the German army also tested a wide range of strange prototypes and produced a number of quirks. As an anti-ambush measure, certain Tiger tanks were equipped with anti-personnel grenade launchers that could be loaded and launched from inside the vehicle.
Beginning on July 5, 1943, the Panther participated in the Battle of Kursk alongside the Panzer IV and the bulkier Tiger I. Although its initial tech reliability was less than outstanding, the Panther proved to be adept on wide terrain and long-range combat and is regarded as one of the best tanks of World War II for its superior firepower and armor.
Does the Porsche 911 use little fuel?
Porsche 911 gas mileage in 2021 Up to 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway for the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera. The 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet can achieve up to 18 city mpg and 24 highway mpg. Up to 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the motorway for the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4
A Porsche Tiger ever seen in battle?
Due to this, just one Porsche Tiger ever saw action in battle. It had extra front armor that was up to 200mm thick and was used as a command tank on the Eastern Front in 1944. This would have practically rendered it invincible to the majority of Soviet tank and anti-tank weaponry, just as the tank in the movie.
The German Tiger tank was so effective, why?
Because of how powerful the Tiger’s 88mm-wide mobile main gun was, opposing tank shells frequently passed right through them and came out the other side. A crew (often of 5) may largely park in front of an enemy anti-tank gun without concern thanks to the vehicle’s strong armour.
With a weight of 57 tons, the Tiger (II) was the heaviest tank in use during World War Two. At 40 kph, its engine was powerful enough to keep up with tanks that weighed less than half as much. However, this weight made it difficult to cross bridges. Although this was ultimately abandoned, lowering the depth to 4 feet, early Tigers were equipped with a snorkel that allowed them to cross rivers as deep as 13 feet.
What World War II tank had the most power?
The newest Panzer entered service in 1943 as a direct response, making full use of the lessons acquired from combating Soviet tanks like the T-34. The Panzer V, often known as the “Panther,” was the strongest of them all, featuring exceptionally thick and sloping armor to deflect the majority of opposing fire and a 75mm cannon that was nearly as potent as the 88mm cannon on the illustrious Tiger tank. However, because of how complex they were, they were extremely expensive to create and maintain, which had a significant negative impact on Germany’s economy.