VK 3001 (P)

In 1939, the German Army expressed the need for a 30 tonne heavy breakthrough tank.[1] Although this weight is less than many production tanks of WWII, at the time this was considered as a heavier tank. Projects to meet the demand were designated VK 30.xx (X)[lower-alpha 1] and were developed to varying degrees by four different companies: Porsche, Henschel & Son, MAN, and Daimler Benz. The Porsche version was thus named the VK 30.01 (P).[1][3]

The requirements for the new development of a 30-tonne schwerer Panzerkampfwagen included the ability to mount at least the 7.5 cm KwK L/24 main gun with a desire to fit the 10.5 cm KwK L/28 if possible.[1][2][3] 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 cm KwK L/56.[2]

Krupp were directly contracted by Porsche to produce the turret to house the 8,8 cm KwK L/56 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.[2] The Krupp turret would be used on both the Porsche and the Henschel Tiger.

Uncommon for tanks at the time, Porsche selected a gasoline-electric drive.[1][2] The front drive sprockets for the tracks were driven by two electric motors mounted forward in the hull. Two air cooled V-10 gasoline engines, mounted toward the rear of the vehicle, were each connected to a generator to produce electricity. The generated electricity was then used to power the motors.[2] Each engine produced 210 PS at 2500 RPM; a total of 420 PS was therefore available to drive the generators.[2]