Talk:Panzer IX/Panzer X

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[edit] Move this info

This info about the P. 1000 and 1500 should be moved to their respective pages, it doesn't need to be on the page about the Panzer IX and X. - Grandpafootsoldier 01:28, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] P 1000 / P 1500

Another prototype project was the P 1000 / P 1500 armour series. On June 23rd of 1942, Dir. Dip. Ing. Grote (along with Dr.Hacker) from the Ministry of Armament, who was responsible for the production of U-Boats, suggested the development of a tank with a weight of 1000 tons. Adolf Hitler himself expressed interest in this project and allowed Krupp to go ahead with it. The project was designated “Krupp P 1000” (Ratte - Rat).This "land cruiser" would be 35 meters long, 14 meters wide and 11 meters high. The P 1000 would be equipped with tracks 3.6 meters wide, each side using three 1.2 meters wide tracks, similar to those used in excavators working in coalmines.

It was planned to power the P 1000 with two MAN V12Z32/44 24 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 17000hp (2 x 8500hp) or with eight Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 16000hp (8 x 2000hp). According to the calculations it would allow the P 1000 to travel at a maximum speed of 40km/h. The P 1000 would be armed with a variety of weapons such as: two 280mm gun (naval gun used in Scharnhorst and Gneisenau warships), single 128mm gun, eight 20mm Flak 38 anti-aircraft guns and two 15mm Mauser MG 151/15 gun.

In December of 1942, Krupp created new design for a 1500 ton tank - P 1500. Its frontal armour would be 250mm thick and it would be armed with a single 800mm "Dora" type super heavy mortar and possibly two 150mm artillery pieces. The P 1500 would be powered by two or four submarine diesel engines.

In early 1943, Albert Speer cancelled both projects. The only P 1000 turret made ended up as a coastal defence battery (Batterie Oerlander) near Trondheim, Norway.