Hobbyboss is bringing out another oddball piece of German armour ( kit number 82444 ), this time the VK4502(P), Porsche’s reworking of the failed VK401(P) which lost the Germany’s Next Great Tiger Tank competition. There’s conflicting views on whether or not this wee beasty ever saw service. HB look to be releasing this as both the “production” Vorne version with the forward mounted turret and rear engine, and the Hinten, a variant that used the same components with a different layout to put the engine in the middle and the turret at the rear.
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From Hobbyboss : The Porsche Type-180 design [Designated VK 45.02(P)] was based on the earlier VK 45.02(P) design but mounting the 8.8cm L/71 gun on a much modified hull. Two versions were proposed, with turrets to the front(Vorne), or to the rear(Hinten), however only the former was proceeded with, and the construction of three prototypes was underway by February 1943.
The turret and guns were designed by Krupp, the distinctively shaped ‘P2-Turm’ turrets which were designed for these vehicles have since been called ‘Porsche’ turrets. As production of these had already started the first 50 KingTiger were fitted with these.
Unfortunately the large armoured ‘lip’ surrounding the turret ring on the Type-180 was not a feature of the Henschel design and resulted in a major shot trap below the mantlet. All later production King Tiger vehicles used the H3-Turm turret, commonly know as the ‘Henschet’ turret.It seems that one of the Porsche Type-180 vehicles may have been in operation since a Porsche Tiger with an 8.8cm L/71 gun is listed as part of the Panzer Kompanie Kummersdorf on March 1945. Virtually all operational Tiger II tanks, and prototypes were used at the end of the war.
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