{{Short description|German heavy tank prototype}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox weapon | is_vehicle = yes | name = VK 30.01 (P) | image = VK 3001 (P).svg | caption = | type = Heavy tank | origin = Nazi Germany | crew = 5 (Gunner, Loader, Commander, Driver, Radio Operator) | length = {{convert|6.58|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|3.05|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|2.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{cvt|30|t|lk=on}} | armour = {{cvt|40|-|80|mm}} | manufacturer = Porsche | number = 2 turretless prototypes | primary_armament =1 × {{cvt|7.5|cm}} or {{cvt|10.5|cm}} or {{cvt|8.8|cm}} gun | secondary_armament =1 × {{cvt|7.92|mm}} MG 34 machine gun | engine = 2 × V10 petrol engines | engine_power = {{convert|210|PS|hp|abbr=on}} per engine, 420 PS total | suspension = Longitudinal torsion bars | speed = {{convert|60|km/h|abbr=on}} | pw_ratio = 14 PS/tonne | vehicle_range = }}

The '''VK 30.01 (P)''' was the official designation for a heavy tank prototype proposed in Germany. Only two prototype chassis were built. The tank never entered serial production, but was further developed into the VK 45.01 Tiger (P). Porsche called it the Typ (Type) 100.<ref name="typ100"/>

==Beginnings of the VK 30.01 (P)== At the beginning of 1937, the Weapon Testing Office ({{lang|de|Wa Prüf 6}}) of the German Army's Ordnance Office ({{lang|de|Heereswaffenamt}}) contracted with Henschel & Son (chassis) and Krupp (turret) for a {{convert|30|t|adj=on|1|lk=on}} heavy breakthrough ({{lang|de|Durchbruchswagen}}) tank with {{convert|50|mm|adj=on|0}} armor on the front and sides of the hull and the turret. The turret was to be based on that of the Panzer IV and was to use the same 24-caliber {{convert|7.5|cm|adj=on|0}} KwK 37 gun. Development proceeded slowly and only two chassis and one turret had been delivered by mid-1939.<ref>Jentz & Doyle 2000, pp. 10–13</ref> The program was later renamed as VK 30{{efn|''VK'' from the German ''Vollketten'' "fully tracked"; ''30'' for the approximate weight of 30 tonnes; and the final 2 digits ''xx'' denoting 1st/2nd/3rd design from the respective manufacturer. The letter in brackets denotes manufacturer.}} and were developed to varying degrees by four different companies: Porsche, Henschel, MAN, and Daimler Benz. The Porsche version was thus named the VK 30.01 (P). and the Henschel design was the VK 30.01 (H).<ref name="Pgudgin">Gudgin</ref>

==Development== Shortly after the beginning of the war on 1 September 1939, Ferdinand Porsche was appointed chairman of the {{lang|de|Panzerkommission}}.(an advisory group of engineers and industrialists created by Adolf Hitler to advise him on future tank designs).Through his membership in the group, Porsche likely became aware that Daimler-Benz had received permission to design a tank outside the normal process where the design office issued specifications that designers had to meet in October. He decided to do the same for the VK 30 program in December using his preferred air-cooled engines. While independent of the testing office, Porsche did receive advice and funding from it for the prototypes. By the end of March 1941 the company was placing orders for major components of the prototypes.<ref>Jentz & Doyle 1997, pp. 1–2</ref>

Porsche chose to use a gasoline-electric drivetrain in his Type 100 tank to eliminate the need for a mechanical transmission, which he felt weren't strong enough for such heavy vehicles. Two air-cooled V-10 Porsche Type 100 gasoline engines, mounted in the rear of the tank, were each connected to an electric generator. These drove electric motors that were connected to the front drive sprockets for the tracks. The {{convert|10|litre|adj=on|lk=on}} engines produced a total of {{convert|420|PS|kW hp|lk=on}}.<ref>Jentz & Doyle 1997, pp. 1, 3</ref>

Krupp were directly contracted by Porsche to produce the turret to house the 57-caliber {{convert|8.8|cm|adj=on}} KwK 36 gun and the two teams worked together to develop it for the VK 30.01 (P) chassis. A fully developed drawing with the Krupp turret was completed, dated 5 March 1941.<ref name="typ100"/> The Krupp turret would be used on both the Porsche and the Henschel Tiger.

The requirements for the new development of a 30-tonne schwererPanzerkampfwagen included the ability to mount at least the 7.5&nbsp;cm KwK L/24 main gun with a desire to fit the 10.5&nbsp;cm KwK L/28 if possible.<ref name="typ100"/><ref name="Pgudgin"/> Later, in 1941, the German Army encountered —unexpectedly— heavily armored enemy vehicles such as the Soviet T-34 and KV-1. Plans were then made to instead mount the more effective 8,8&nbsp;cm KwK L/56.<ref name="typ100">Jentz & Doyle 1997</ref>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last=Gudgin |first=Peter |date=1991 |title=The Tiger Tanks |publisher=Arms and Armour Press |location=London|isbn=0-85368-929-6 }} *{{cite book |last1=Jentz |first1=Thomas L. |last2=Doyle |first2=Hilary L. |title=Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd. Kfz. 181): The History of the Porsche Typ 100 and 101 Also Known as the Leopard and Tiger (P) |date=1997 |publisher=Darlington Productions |location=Darlington, Maryland |isbn=1-892848-03-1|name-list-style=amp}} *{{cite book |last1=Jentz |first1=Thomas L. |last2=Doyle |first2=Hilary L. |title=Germany's Tiger Tanks: D.W. to Tiger I |date=2000 |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |location=Atglen, Pennsylvania |isbn=978-0-7643-1038-6 |name-list-style=amp}} *{{cite book |last1=Spielberger |first1=Walter J. |title=Tigers I and II and Their Variants |date=2007 |publisher=Schiffer Military History |location=Atglen, Pennsylvania |isbn=978-0-7643-2780-3}}

{{WWIIGermanAFVs}}

Category:Heavy tanks of World War II Category:World War II tanks of Germany Category:Heavy tanks of Germany