By the end of the war, only the two vehicles had been completed, with nine more under construction. For many years, it was thought that both
vehicles had been destroyed to prevent their capture. But with the fall of the Soviet Union, not only has it emerged that one survives at the Kubinka
museum outside Moscow, but it is also thought they actually saw combat.
It is believed that as the Russian Army closed on Berlin, both vehicles were destroyed to the area of Wünsdorf. It is thought that one vehicle
suffered damage to it?s drive, the other was abandoned a few km?s down the road. It is not clear if they fired any shots. The vehicle now on show
comprises of the V1?s hull, and the V2?s turret. There was also a claim that an RAF Typhoon destroyed one, but no proof exists.
These were called as land cruisers and remained as insane paper projects only.
On June 23rd of 1942, Dir. Dip. Ing. Grote (along with Dr.Hacker) from the Ministry of Armament, who was responsible for the production of U-Boots
suggested the development of a tank with a weight of 1000 tons. Adolf Hitler himself expressed interest in this project and allowed Krupp to go
ahead with it. Project was designated as Krupp P 1000 (Ratte - Rat). This "land cruiser" would be 35 meters long, 14 meters wide and 11 meters
high. P 1000 would be equipped with 3.6 meters wide tracks per side made of three 1.2 meters tracks, similar to those used in excavators
working in coalmines. It was planned to power P 1000 with two MAN V12Z32/44 24 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 17000hp (2 x
8500hp) or with eight Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 16000hp (8 x 2000hp). According to the
calculations it would allow P 1000 to travel at maximum speed of 40km/h. P 1000 would be armed with a variety of weapons such as: two 280mm
gun (naval gun used in Scharnhorst and Gneisenau warships), single 128mm gun, eight 20mm Flak 38 anti-aircraft guns and two 15mm Mauser MG 151/15
gun.
P 1000 turret ended up at coastal defence battery (Batterie Oerlander) near Trondheim, Norway.