VK 4502 (P)
The VK 45.02 (P) was the official designation for an unsuccessful heavy tank project produced by Porsche in Nazi Germany during World War II.
| VK 45.02 (P) | |
|---|---|
 The VK 4502 (P) Ausf. B (version with rear-mounted turret) | |
| Type | Blueprint heavy tank |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Porsche |
| No. built | 3 versions of the Hinten |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 57 tonnes (63 short tons; 56 long tons) |
| Length | 10.71 m (35 ft 2 in) |
| Width | 3.32 m (10 ft 11 in) |
| Height | 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 70–120 millimetres (2.8–4.7 in) |
Main armament | 8,8 cm KwK 43 L/71 |
Secondary armament | 2 x 7.92 mm MG 34 |
| Engine | 2 Porsche Typ 101/3 670 hp |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | Unknown |
| Maximum speed | 38 km/h (24 mph) |
Development of this vehicle started in April 1942. The Krupp company received an order for construction of turrets. However, the prototype hull was never manufactured. The turrets were mounted on the first Tiger IIs.
After the VK 4501 (P) failed to win the contract, Ferdinand Porsche began looking at ways to improve the design for a future version. Based on the latest Allied tank designs, however, it was clear that simply increasing the armor on the VK 4501 (P) would not be enough for the tank to remain competitive. It needed to have both more weight and more maneuverability. What initially began as a single vehicle, entitled "Typ 180" grew into a series of five different vehicles, requiring the development of two hull configurations: the Hinten with its turret at the back (as shown in the picture on top) and the Vorne with its turret on the front. Both an electric and a hydraulic drive system, and four different engines. The overall project came to be known as VK 45.02 (P).