Originally nicknamed Ferdinand, after its designer, the tank destroyer was first deployed during the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front in 1943. This was possible due to the fixed nature of the gun on the casemate design. Designated the Panzerjäger Tiger (P), the new vehicle was armed with a long 88mm gun, heavier and deadlier than the older version fitted to the Tiger. Rather than being fitted with the Krupp turret used on the Tiger, the VK 45.01 (P) hulls were repurposed as turretless tank destroyers in 1943. Combined with inferior maneuverability compared to the Henschel design, the Porsche Tiger was not awarded the production contract.Īlthough the Porsche Tiger was not selected for full-scale production, Germany had a use for the 91 chassis that were built. However, the hybrid drivetrain was unreliable and copper for the electric drive was in short supply. Although only two prototype chassis were built, the design evolved into the VK 45.01 (P), Porsche's submission for the Tiger tank in 1941. Using his preferred gasoline-electric drivetrain, Porsche designed the VK 30.01 (P) heavy tank. Through this, Porsche learned that Daimler-Benz was designing a new tank and began work on a competing design in 1939. As chairman of the Panzerkommission, Porsche headed a group of engineers and industrialists who advised Hitler on German tank design. He even reportedly gave the tank its nickname. Although the Tiger that the Germans fielded during WWII was designed and built by Henschel, Porsche designed his own version during the development competition. One of the most famous armored fighting vehicles of all time, the Tiger tank was as loved by its German crews as it was feared by the Allies.
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