I must beg to differ. According to my references, Professor Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was appointed chairman of the Panzerkommission (tank commission) in September 1939. In 1940 Porsche (backed by Hitler) began the design of the Porsche Typ 100 (VK 30.01 (P)) heavy tank. Porsche was then ordered to use the the 8.8cm Kamfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 developed from the 8.8 cm Flugzeugabwehrkanone.
On 18 April 1942 the Nibelungenwerke completed one VK 45.01 (P) which was presented to Hitler at the Wolfsschance in east Prussia. Apparently Hitler preferred the Porsche to the rival Henschel tank.
The biggest weakness of these monsters imho is that they were rushed into service with insufficient debugging + they were too heavy for mud and no recovery system was in place. But 200mm of frontal armour (about 8" really p*ssed off the opposition and the 88mm gun outranged all but field artillery.
Interestingly enough (There's hope Neil) this series of heavy (30Ton+) vehicles were electrically driven, the twin Porsche engines powered the generators.
In wartime many things happen. Some good, some bad.
Anyway, we are a long way from the Ferrari symbol but then that's why the Tea Room it is a good place to chat as it's not compulsory reading. * Danny M *
Edited By Danny M2Z on 30/11/2016 11:14:03
Edited By Danny M2Z on 30/11/2016 11:18:34