Maybach HL230

File:Maybach HL 230 Technikmuseum Sinsheim.jpg

The Maybach HL230 in Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum

The Maybach HL230 was a water-cooled 60° 23 liter V12 gasoline engine designed by Maybach. It was used during World War II in heavy German tanks, namely the Panther, Jagdpanther, Tiger II, Jagdtiger (HL230 P30), and later versions of the Tiger I and Sturmtiger (HL230 P45).

Description

The engine was a follow-up version of the slightly smaller HL210 that had a displacement of 21 liters and, unlike the HL230, an aluminium crankcase and block. The HL210 was used to equip the first 250 Tiger I tanks built.

The engine had a volume of 23,095 cm³ (approx. 1,925 cm³ per cylinder) and a maximum output of 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW) at 3,000 rpm. Maximum torque is 1850 Nm at 2,100 rpm. Typical output was 600 PS (592 hp, 441 kW) at 2,500 rpm.

The crankcase and block were made of cast grey iron. The cylinder heads were made from cast-iron. The engine weighs 1200 kg and its dimensions were 1000 x 1190 x 1310 mm. Aspiration was provided by four twin-choke Solex type 52JFF carburettors. As was typical practice for Maybach, the engine used a tunnel crankshaft.

Approximately 9,000 HL230s were produced in total by Maybach, Auto Union and Daimler-Benz.

External links

• Copy of British report on the HL230 and HL210 engines - Tiger I Information Center