VK 45.01 (P)

The VK 45.01 (P), also known as the Porsche Typ 101, was a German heavy tank prototype designed by Ferdinand Porsche's company (Porsche KG) during World War II. It was one of the contenders for the contract to produce a new heavy tank for the German Army, competing against the Henschel-designed VK 45.01 (H), which ultimately won the contract and became the Tiger I.

The VK 45.01 (P) distinguished itself through its gasoline-electric drive system. Two air-cooled V-10 gasoline engines drove electrical generators, which in turn powered two electric motors, one for each track. This system, while innovative for its time, proved to be unreliable and prone to breakdowns under combat conditions, mainly due to the copper shortages that lead to lower-quality copper windings.

Despite not being selected for mass production as the Tiger I, the chassis of the VK 45.01 (P) was utilized for the development of the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand" (later renamed "Elefant") tank destroyer. Approximately 100 chassis were produced, and most were converted to this purpose.

The VK 45.01 (P) was armed with a 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 gun, the same gun used on the Tiger I. Its armor protection was comparable to that of the Tiger I. However, its complex and unreliable drive system was a major factor in its failure to secure the production contract. The tank's designation, VK 45.01, indicates it was a Vollkettenkraftfahrzeug (fully tracked vehicle) weighing approximately 45 tons and being the first design. The "(P)" designates it as a Porsche design.