VK 45.01 (H)

The VK 45.01 (H) was a German heavy tank design developed by Henschel during World War II. It was one of two competing designs submitted in response to a requirement for a 45-ton heavy tank, the other being the Porsche VK 45.01 (P). The "VK" designation stands for Vollkettenkraftfahrzeug ("fully tracked vehicle"), while "45.01" indicates the 45-ton weight class and first design in that class. The "(H)" suffix denotes Henschel as the manufacturer.

The Henschel design proved superior to the Porsche design in testing, demonstrating better reliability and combat performance. It utilized a more conventional design approach, eschewing the Porsche's complex gasoline-electric drive. The VK 45.01 (H) featured a powerful 88mm KwK 36 L/56 gun, providing excellent anti-tank capabilities for its time. It also had thick, sloped armor, particularly on the front, offering significant protection against enemy fire.

The VK 45.01 (H) was ultimately selected for production and entered service as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E, commonly known as the Tiger I. The Tiger I went on to become one of the most iconic and feared tanks of World War II, known for its firepower and armor protection. While the designation VK 45.01 (H) is rarely used to refer to the operational tank, it remains historically significant as the pre-production designation for the Tiger I. Key features included a torsion bar suspension system, enabling a relatively smooth ride for a heavy tank, and a Maybach HL230 P45 engine, providing ample power. The initial production run and subsequent variants saw improvements to the design and manufacturing process of this formidable war machine.