V1 MAUS NIEMIECKI CZOŁG SUPERCIĘŻKI Z II WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ (PROTOTYP)

The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (German: mouse) was a prototype German super-heavy tank from the Second World War. Only two prototypes of the vehicle were built probably in 1943. The Maus, however, never entered mass production. The vehicle was powered by a single engine Daimler-Benz MB509 1,200 hp. It was armed with a single 128mm KwK 44 L / 55 cannon, a single 75mm KwK 44 L / 36.5 cannon and one 7.92mm MG34 machine gun. Design work on the new German super heavy tank began in 1942. The responsible for the project was prof. Ferdinand Porsche, who in the new tank put emphasis primarily on powerful weapons capable of fighting enemy tanks at distances of up to 3,500 meters, and equally strong armor. The first wooden models were ready in 1943, and shortly thereafter, two prototypes of the vehicle were built. However, at the end of this year, the entire program was canceled and the Maus did not go into series production. During the field tests and test drives carried out in 1943-1945, the great firepower of the tank was confirmed, but at the same time its great disadvantage was its terrible maneuverability in the field, very low top speed in the field (only 13 km / h!) And high failure rate of the transmission and chassis, resulting from the huge weight of the vehicle.