After the Bundesbahn had carried out presentation tours with the V 200 in several countries in cooperation with Krauss-Maffei, the Yugoslav State Railways ordered a six-axle variant with a lower axle load in 1956. Following this, three locomotives were delivered with the manufacturer's designation ML 2200 C'C', with the number indicating the total output in hp.
Like the V 200, the Yugoslav model was powered by two Maybach engines with twelve cylinders and 1,100 hp each. Due to the longer bogies and the greater distance between the pivots, the locomotive was almost two meters longer than the V 200. The space gained was used to increase the dimensions of the cooling system according to the climate in the customer's country. There the locomotives were first designated as the D 66 and became the class 761 in 1968.
After the three locomotives ordered, Krauss-Maffei built a fourth unit on their own account and did test drives first in Austria and then in the Black Forest. It was then converted to the ML 3000 C'C' in order to increase its power, increasing the top speed from 120 to 140 km/h and installing two engines with 1,500 hp each.
After lengthy tests on various routes with many inclines, the Bundesbahn leased the locomotive from January 1, 1963, which was followed by the purchase on April 17, 1964. Similar to the V 200, it was given the designation V 300 001 based on its power. In the 1960s, it was stationed in Hamm and used in front of various freight and express trains. In 1970, when it had already been renumbered 230 001, it hauled express trains on the marsh line from the mainland to Sylt. It was retired in 1975 and scrapped in 1980 after a stay in Italy.