This lack of close combat armament was later addressed with the addition of a (short-range defensive ordnance) mounted in the turret roof, a MG 34 machine gun with 1,000 rounds mounted coaxially with the main weapons in the turret, and three pistol ports for submachine guns in the sides and rear of the turret. Future planned modifications included provisions for a MG 151/20 cannon for anti-aircraft defense mounted in the turret roof.

V1

The first, turretless prototype (V1) was assembled by Alkett in December 1943. Tests started the same month, with a mockup turret fitted of the same weight as the real turret. In June 1944 the production turret, with armament, was used for tests.

Completion and testing

The test program for the Maus was established by Wa Prüf 6 and engineer Zadnik from Porsche on November 1, 1943. It consisted of a factory test by Porsche, a road test at the Kummersdorf motor vehicle testing site, submersion and towing tests at Porsche, and firing tests at the Army Testing Center in Hillersleben. While at Alkett, the first chassis received a replacement weight of 55 tons in place of the turret, which was not yet available.

Contrary to the instructions from Reichs-Minister of Armaments and War Production Albert Speer, who insisted on personal approval for every test drive, the Maus was driven for the first time on December 24, 1942, by Porsche driver Karl Gensberg, who drove it out of the hall and back at the Alkett company site in Berlin. After the first successful test drive at Alkett, the Maus underwent its first tests at the Army Testing Center Kummersdorf near Berlin. Due to repeated necessary repairs and adjustments, issues with spare parts supply, and heavy bomb attacks in northern Germany, it was decided to conduct further tests near the Porsche factory on the grounds of the tank barracks in Böblingen. The tank replacement unit 7 was stationed in the Hindenburg Barracks. The vehicle 205/1 was transported by rail to Böblingen starting January 11, 1944, and arrived on January 14, as the specialized railway transport wagon for heavy loads with 14 axles was not allowed to pass through tunnels or over railway bridges.

Comprehensive driving tests were then carried out in the tank barracks area, with reports being written regularly. The vehicle 205/1, with the replacement weight, was given a three-color camouflage paint scheme in March.

Without the engine and turret, the second chassis, 205/2, arrived in Böblingen in tow on March 10, 1944, coming from Alkett in a towable condition. The turret, still without the two guns, arrived on May 3, 1944. After the guns were installed, it was first assembled on June 9, 1944, by mechanics from Krupp. Around October 1944, the new diesel engine MB 517 arrived in Böblingen and was immediately installed into vehicle 205/2. Photos show that the only available turret was then mounted on the second chassis, and the entire vehicle was given a three-color camouflage paint scheme. The vehicle was made ready for operation and armed, and it was immediately relocated to "VersKraft neu" in Kummersdorf. Vehicle 205/1, with the replacement weight, was also relocated there. Further tests took place at the Krupp shooting range in Meppen. After the war, three Maus hulls and turrets were found there. They were likely used for firing trials.

Disposition after the end of the war

By the end of April 1945, both prototypes were located at the Army testing grounds in Kummersdorf. The Maus 205/2 was ultimately blown up by the German side at the site of the main camp in Zossen, specifically at Hindenburgplatz in Wünsdorf. It is possible that the vehicle was intended for the defense of the OKH headquarters. The explosion threw the turret off, and practically destroyed the lower hull.

The Maus 205/1, which was left behind at the Kummersdorf firing range and still equipped with the replacement turret, was also damaged by an explosion inside, but remained externally intact. Both vehicles were captured by the Red Army, and the turret from Maus 205/2 was mounted onto the hull of Maus 205/1.

On May 4, 1946, the vehicle was sent to Kubinka for testing purposes. After the completion of the tests in 1951, all components were removed for examination, leaving behind a vehicle without any internal equipment. After being left outdoors for many years, the vehicle has been on display at the Kubinka Tank Museum since 1978. In 2000, the vehicle was given the original camouflage paint of prototype 205/2.

Military significance

The top speed of 13 km/h off-road, along with a total weight of almost 190 tons, which made crossing bridges practically impossible, posed significant disadvantages. The vehicle was more of a rolling bunker than a tank suitable for use in mobile warfare. In the event of a retreat, there would have been no possibility of quick evacuation; the Maus would have had to be abandoned, left behind, or destroyed. In the case of an attack, it would not have been able to keep up with fast advances. While the Maus' firepower and armor would have posed a massive problem for the enemy, it could have been bypassed or outmaneuvered, which led to the consideration of using accompanying tanks.

The enormous fuel consumption posed another problem, especially as the Germans were facing a severe fuel shortage towards the end of the war. Moreover, this rolling fortress could only fit on a specialized 14-axle railway transport wagon and was unable to pass through tunnels or railway bridges, making it almost impossible to transport large numbers to the front.

See also

  • List of prototype World War II combat vehicles
  • Panzerkampfwagen E-100 – German 150 tonne super-heavy tank design, largest of the Entwicklung series "replacement" German AFVs
  • Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte – German 1,000 tonne armoured landcruiser design

Tanks of comparable role, performance and era

  • American T28 super-heavy tank – prototype casemate-hull tank destroyer, two prototypes completed
  • British Tortoise heavy assault tank – super-heavy tank destroyer
  • Soviet IS-4 – known as Object 701, prototype heavy tank with 122 mm gun

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Achtung Panzer
  • Allied Intelligence Report
  • Panzer-Archiv
  • Greyfalcon's "Strange Vehicles" Panzerkampfwagen Maus & E-100 Page
  • "World of Tanks: Outside the Chieftain's Hatch's" Look At The Maus
  • Video of Kubinka Maus from the inside