Jagdpanzer Porsche II Wollnashorn by Medjoe on DeviantArt (original) (raw)
Incorporating many elements of the VK45.02 project, the Porsche-designed tank destroyer was a direct competitor to Henschel's Jagdtiger. Armed with the same devastating 12.8cm cannon fitted in a rear casemate, reminiscent of the Elefant, the tank provided overwhelming firepower, combined with thick armour and the trademark diesel-electric drive. Dubbed the "Wollnashorn" - woolly rhino - it tied with the Jagdtiger for the largest tank fielded by the Wehrmacht, capable of engaging any tank fielded by the Allies on either front.
The mechanical complexity of the drivetrain, which has also plagued the earlier Tiger project, the enormous cost of resources, along with the more advanced progress of the Tiger II, led to the cancellation of the type, with only a handful of prototypes completed towards late 1944, serving as part of the last lines of defense until the end of the war. Porsche concentrated its efforts on building a part of the Henschel Jagdtiger instead.
---
In between more school work as the semester draws to a close and getting a new computer, I haven't had much time to draw, which I find a bit disconcerting. It's hard to believe that it took over a year to realize this idea! Hopefully it will be better in a few weeks and I'll have more time to draw, my tools await with anticipation!