Maybach HL230

The Maybach HL230 is 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). 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 has 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 are made of cast grey iron. The cylinder heads are made from cast-iron. The engine weighs 1200 kg and its dimensions are 1000 x 1190 x 1310 mm. Aspiration is provided by four twin-choke Solex type 52JFF carburettors.

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

External links

• Detailed information on the HL230 and HL210 engines at the Tiger I Information Center
• French Army studies of captured equipment, 1945. "General Arrangement drawings, HL230 P30" (TIFF). Les plans du bureau d'études de l'Atelier d'Issy-les-MoulineauX (AMX). http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/02fonds-collections/banquedocuments/materiel_armement/fiche.php?id=183.