Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Mouse)

The Maus (Mouse) was a project endorsed by Hitler and entrusted to Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in June 1942. By this time Hitler might probably have found that the Herr Doktor was much better with cars than military vehicles. The Maus would have been an enormous juggernaut weighing more than 188 tons, carrying a 128mm KwK L/55 and a co-axial 75mm L/36 in the turret and a 20mm bow gun. Armor would have been up to 240mm thick. The suspension system for such a monstrosity brought numerous and enormous problems from the beginning. Initial plans for torsion bars had to be abandoned in favor of volute (spiral) springs. Power was an equally challenging problem and an air-cooled Mercedes-Benz petrol aircraft engine generating 1,080 bhp at 2,400 rpm was tested in the first prototype. A diesel engine in the second blew up under the pressure. The Maus never entered production.

Click on one of the thumbnails below to view the full picture.

Technical data and/or diagram of Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus.

The prototype of PzKpfw VIII Maus, the enormity of this monster is very conspicuous.

A PzKpfw VIII Maus complete with its main armament.

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Click on one of the thumbnails below to view the full picture.
	Technical data and/or diagram of Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus.
	The prototype of PzKpfw VIII Maus, the enormity of this monster is very conspicuous.
	A PzKpfw VIII Maus complete with its main armament.