Pzkpfw VI Tiger I (Ausf. E, Sdkfz 181)
Typ: German heavy tank
History: The order to design the VK4501 (H), later knwon as Tiger tank, was issued on 26 May 1941. Henschel und Sohn, of Kassel, were to develop the chassis. Krupp was to develop the turret for both the VK4501 (H) and the VK4501 (P). Rheinmetall also developed a turret for the VK4501 (H) to mount the 7.5cm KwK L/70, but it never advanced beyond the prototype stage. Lessons learned in the development of the VK3001 and VK3601 were beneficiently applied to the design of the VK4501 (H). Production was planned to start in July 1942, with 285 to be completed by 12 May 1943, in time for the summer offensive. When the VK4501 (P) production was halted, the VK4501 (H) production order was increased by 50 to make up for the loss.
PzKpfw VI Tiger I with the narrow tracks that were put on travel or transportation; in this model the outer wheels were removed from each suspension unit.
Specific features: The Pzkpfw VI Tiger had eight sets of interleaved road wheels with torsion bar suspension to support its 57 tons. The hull and superstructure were welded together, with the superstructure extending over the tracks to allow the installation of a wide turret. The 8.8cm KwK36 was mounted coaxially with a MG34 in the external gun mantlet. The turret was formed from a plate bent to the shape of a
horseshoe.
In the forests of the middle eastern front meet two German Tiger tanks. One goes back for ammunition supplement while the other rolls forward to a new combat mission to support the front troops in their heavy defense fighting.
Originally, the turret had two machine-pistol ports in the rear, and a cylindrical cupola with vision slits. In December 1942, the right-hand pistol port was replaced by an escape hatch, and in July 1943, the cupola was replaced by a newer design with periscopes. In May 1943, the automotive performance was improved by the installation of the HL230P30, and in January 1944, new steel-tyred, rubbercushioned road wheels replaced the dished type. Eighty-four Tiger tanks were equipped as 'Pz Bef Wg' (command vehicles) mit 8.8cm KwK L/56'. These had additional radio sets, which reduced ammunition stowage to 66 rounds for the 8.8cm and 4,050 Patr for the machine-guns.
Tiger tank of the 7th Tank Division were prepaired at Bjelgorod for Operation Citadel, the Battle of Kursk (July 1943).
Combat service: The first unit to be equipped with Tiger tanks was the 1st Platoon of the 502nd schwere Panzerabteilung which was hurriedly assembled and rushed to the Leningrad area in August 1942.
The Pzkpfw VI Tiger I was issued to the heavy tank detachments and heavy tank companies of three SS divisions, and to the Grossdeutschland Division. Still in service at the end of the war, the Tiger tanks had taken a heavy toll of enemy armour on all fronts.
Users: Germany.
Front view of a new Tiger tank.
Side view from above of a PzKpfw VI Tiger
PzKpfw VI Ausf.E in the deployment. The shelter served as weather protection for the crew working on the vehicles, but above all as an air cover.
Replenishing ammunition of a PzKpfw VI Ausf.E . 'S' mine dischargers which fired small anti-personnel mine, are mounted on each corner of this Ausf E's hull
A PzKpfw VI Ausf. E in Rome, 1944.
But the Tiger was not invincible: a burning Tiger, hit by Soviet defense south of Orel during Operation Citadel.
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PzKpfw VI Ausf. E of tank detachment 502 in combat in the northern sector of the Eastern Front (early summer 1944).
PzKpfw VI Ausf E Tiger I |
| Type |
heavy tank |
| Engine |
Maybach HL210P45 (later HL230P45) V-12, water-cooled gasoline engine with 700 hp |
| Gearbox |
8 forward, 4 reverse |
| Crew |
5 |
| Length |
27 ft 8.68 in |
| Width |
12 ft 1.67 in |
| Height |
9 ft 7.35 in |
| Weight |
57 tons |
| Maximum Speed |
23.6 mph |
| Cross-country speed |
12.4 mph |
| Fuel consumption per 100 miles |
912 litres on road,
1,360 litres cross-country |
| Fuel |
534 litres |
| Road radius |
87 miles |
| Cross-country radius |
62 miles |
| Vertical obstacle |
2 ft 7.5 in |
Trench crossing |
5 ft 10.9 in |
| Fording depth |
3 ft 11.2 in |
| Turning circle |
2 ft 20.5 in |
Climbing power |
35° |
| Armour: |
mm / angle |
| Turret front |
100 / 8° |
| Turret side |
80 / 0° |
| Turret rear |
80 / 0° |
| Turret top |
25 / 81-90° |
| Superstructure front |
100 / 10° |
| Superstructure side |
80 / 0° |
| Superstructure top |
25 / 90° |
| Hull front |
100 / 24° |
| Hull side |
60 / 0° |
| Hull rear |
80 / 8° |
| Hull bottom |
25 / 90° |
| Gun mantlet |
100-110 / 0° |
| Main armament |
8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 with 92 rounds |
| Traverse |
360° (hydraulic), Elevation -9° to +10° |
| Muzzle velocity |
Pzgr39: 254 fts
Pzgr40: 305 fts |
| Shell weight |
Pzgr39: 22.49 lbs
Pzgr40: 16.09 lbs |
| Penetration 100 yds at 30° |
Pzgr39: 120 mm
Pzgr40: 171 mm |
| Penetration 500 yds at 30° |
Pzgr39: 110 mm
Pzgr40: 156 mm |
| Penetration 1000 yds at 30° |
Pzgr39: 100 mm
Pzgr40: 138 mm |
| Penetration 1500 yds at 30° |
Pzgr39: 91 mm
Pzgr40: 123 mm |
| Penetration 2000 yds at 30° |
Pzgr39: 84 mm
Pzgr40: 110 mm |
| Secondary armament |
7.92mm MG 34 in hull front (traverse 15° left to 15° right, elevation -7° to +20°),
7.92mm MG 34 coaxially to gun (together 4,800 rounds), later additional anti-aircraft machine-gun on the cupola |
| Radio |
FuG5 (upt to 2.5 miles range) |
| Telescopic sight |
TZF9b, later TZF9c (up to 2.5 miles aiming) |
| Production |
from July 1942 to August 1944
|
| Price per unit |
260,000 RM (300,000 RM fully equipped)
= 117,000 $ (135,000 $)
= 29,250 £
( 33,750 £) |
| Total production figure |
1,354
|
| Production (losses) 1942 - available 1.1.43 |
84 (3) - 65 |
| Production (losses) 1943 - available 1.1.44 |
647 (307) - 395 |
| Production (losses) 1944 - available 1.1.45 |
623 (783) - 245 |
| Losses January 45 |
62 |
| Total losses 1942-1945 |
1,155 |
3d model of PzKpfw VI Ausf. E
This PzKpfw VI Ausf.E was captured just before by British troops in Tunesia.
Today this PzKpfw VI Ausf. E can be visited at the RAC Tank Museum, Bovington Camp, Dorset (UK)
remote-controlled model Tiger tank
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