With 250 mm thick armor and 2 massive submarine diesel engines, the intent was for the Land-Kreuzer to act as a mobile command HQ, with everything from an infirmary, to toilets, and even a storage bay for a motorcycle fleet inside. Proposed to Hitler in 1942 by Krupp's chief of Submarine engineering, the Land-Kreuzer design fit in perfectly with the wonder weapon obsession, and was immediately approved for further design and engineering work.ĭevised to be a 1,000-ton monster, the Land-Kreuzer would have been armed with a turret carrying twin 280 mm naval cannons, a 128 mm cannon from the Maus itself, eight 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons, and a set of anti-infantry machine guns. As the heaviest tank ever built, here are 10 downright crazy facts about the infamous Panzer VIII Maus.ĭesignated the Projekt P.1000 Ratte, and known as the Land-Kreuzer, this behemoth design was essentially a land based battleship. That tank was the Maus, and while it didn't quite make it to production, its existence remains an incredible feat to this day. One German tank, though, would take this concept so far that it still remains unparalleled to this day. Evolving from there, by WWII tanks were at the very forefront of combat, leading infantry columns, scouting out enemies, and fighting other tanks among many other tasks.ĭuring WWII though, German tanks like the Tiger I reigned supreme. While the concept of a heavy tank had existed prior, it was that German beast that made them one of the most feared types, nearly impenetrable with their thick steel armor, while packing a punch that could rip through any enemy tanks that got in its sight.
The pinnacle of armored vehicles, tanks came about during WWI as not much more than a steel box on tracks, armed with guns. When it comes to land-based militaryvehicles, it doesn't get much bigger or badder than a tank.
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