REAL WORLD LAND VEHICLES
PANZERKAMPFWAGEN VIII MAUS
(Sonderkraftfahrzeug 205)
Val CHA Cost Notes 7 Size 35 Length 10.08m, Width 5.04m, Height 5.04m, Volume 256m^3, Mass 12.8 ton, OCV +4, KB -7m 64 STR 19 HTH Damage 12 ½d6 10 DEX 0 26 PD 36 26 PD (26 rPD) 26 ED 36 26 ED (26 rED) 2 SPD 0 Phases: 6, 12 3 OCV 0 3 DCV 0 26 BODY 9 Total Characteristics Cost: 135 Movement: Ground: 16m/32m Leaping: 0m Swimming: 0m Cost Abilities and Equipment Propulsion Systems 3 1) Motorized Tracked Military Vehicle: Ground Movement +4m (16m total); Only On Appropriate Terrain (-¼), 1 Continuing Fuel Charge lasting 8 Hours (-0) -2 2) Ground Vehicle: Leaping -4m -2 3) Ground Vehicle: Swimming -4m Tactical Systems 137 1) 150mm KwK 44 L/38 Cannon: RKA 8d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+¼), Indirect (Source Point is the same for every use, path is from Source Point to target; can be arced over some obstacles; +¼), Armor Piercing (+¼), Increased Maximum Range (20,000m; roughly 22,000m or just under 14 miles; +1); OIF Bulky (-1), Extra Time (Extra Phase, -¾), Real Weapon (-¼), 55 Charges (+½) plus +1 OCV; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼) plus +2 vs. Range Modifier; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼), [55] 125 2) 75mm KwK 44 L/36.5 Cannon: RKA 7d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+¼), Indirect (can be arced over some obstacles; +¼); OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼), 200 Charges (+1) plus +2 OCV; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼) plus +2 vs. Range Modifier; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼), [200] 46 3) 7.92 mm MG 34 Machine Gun: RKA 2d6+1, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+¼), Autofire (5 shots; +½); OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼), 1000 Charges (+1) plus +2 OCV; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼) plus +3 vs. Range Modifier; OIF Bulky (-1), Real Weapon (-¼), [1000] 5 4) 7.92mm MG 34 Machine Gun: Another 7.92mm MG 34 Machine Gun (mounted for antiaircraft use) 4 5) Armored Body: +2 PD; Limited Coverage (front and sides; -¼) plus +2 ED; Limited Coverage ( front and sides; -¼) 2 6) Armored Nose And Turret Front: +2 PD; Limited Coverage (front 60 degrees; -1) plus +2 ED; Limited Coverage (front 60 degrees; -1) 20 7) 60 Degree Sloped Front And Side Armor: +15 PD; Limited Coverage (front 60 degrees; -1), Requires A Roll (14- roll; -¼) plus +15 ED; Limited Coverage (front 60 degrees; -1), Requires A Roll (14- roll; -¼) 8 8) Heavy: Knockback Resistance -8m (15m total) 3 9) Snorkel: LS (Self-Contained Breathing); OIF Bulky (-1), Only For Fording Shallow Water (depths up to 7m; -1) Operation Systems 4 1) Radio: Radio Perception/Transmission (Radio Group); OIF Bulky (-1), Affected As Hearing Group As Well As Radio Group (-¼) Total Abilities & Equipment Cost: 353 Total Vehicle Cost: 488 Value Complications 25 Distinctive Features: Nazi Germany Wehrmacht Tank (Not Concealable; Extreme Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Physical Complication: All Weapons Except The Antiaircraft Machine Gun Must Point In The Same Direction (Infrequently; Slightly Impairing) Total Complication Points: 35 Total Cost: 453/5 = 91
History: The Maus (“mouse”) super-heavy tank was created as part of a program to develop a series of 100 ton tanks capable of fighting (and destroying) the largest and heaviest Soviet tanks. In June of 1942, Adolph Hitler asked Professor Ferdinand Porsche to develop a super-heavy tank, which was deliberately given the designation of “Maus.” Two prototypes were delivered two years later, in 1944, and sent to the Kummersdorf armored vehicle proving grounds. While there Maus proved to be a temperamental beast, with engine failures common and parts in short supply due to Allied bombing raids. Finally, in April of 1945, the Germans destroyed their two test models to prevent the incoming Soviet forces from utilizing them (although there are rumors the two vehicles were lost in combat due to engine failure).
Description: Maus is an immense tank, 9 meters in length (a touch over 10 if you include the main gun barrel), 3.67 meters wide, and 3.66 meters tall. The nose of the tank boasts armor 240mm thick, while the sides are a “mere” 200mm thick. For main armament, Maus has a 150mm cannon, with a coaxial 75mm cannon, a coaxial 7.62 machine gun, and a second machine gun mounted on top of the turret. All of this weighs in at a staggering 188 tons—equal in weight to 35 Panzer I tanks! The turret itself weighs 50 tons, or more than the Panzer V Panther. Worse yet, the ammunition for the 150mm cannon weighs 70kg per shell, forcing it to be carried in a trailer behind Maus.
Powering this monster vehicle is a 1200bhp V-12 diesel engine. With it, the Maus can reach road speeds of just over 12 miles per hour, ford up to 24 feet (7m) of water, and has a range of around 90 miles. It has a crew of six (commander, gunner, two loaders, driver, and radio operator).
Campaign Use: More a mobile pill box than a tank, Maus has little practical use in real-world combat situations. It’s too heavy for bridges, moves at about 7 miles per hour cross country, and can go about 60 miles before needing to be refueled. Of course, in a gaming situation all of this becomes a moot point. I mean, nothing says “Nazi Weird Science” like a tank the size of a small house crashing through a screen of trees while virtually ignoring incoming fire from Allied tanks and antitank guns. Granted, if you do decide to introduce your Golden Age supers to Maus, you better figure out a way for them to defeat it—as it's highly unlikely any Golden Age-era character is going to be strong enough to lift it, and it is almost certain not a one will be able to punch through its armor.
One of the best uses for Maus might be as a model for certain Star Hero “super-tanks.” Simply replace the diesel power plant with a fusion one, up the top speed, and there you go—a heavyweight land dreadnought suitable for far-future military campaigns (such as campaigns set during the Alien Wars). Going one step further, and making it a hover or grav tank allows one to make a pastiche of the hover tanks seen in David Drake’s Hammer’s Slammers novels.
Panzerkampfwagen VIII Hero Designer File
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