As far back as 1938 it has been realized that the PzKpfw IV tank would have to
be replaced by a more modem design some time in the future. Various prototypes
were built by a number of German companies, but none was placed in production.
In 1941 an order was placed with Henschel for a 36-ton tank called the VK3,601
which was required to have a maximum speed of 40 km/h (25 mph), good armour protection
and a powerful gun. A prototype of this tank was built but further work was stopped as
an order was placed in May 1941 for a 45-ton tank called the VK4501. This was to be
armed with a tank version of the dreaded 88-mm (3.46-in) AA anti-tank gun, which had
then become the scourge of European armies. It was required that the prototype be ready for
testing on Hitler's next birthday, 20th April 1942. As time was short Henschel incorporated
ideas from the VK3601 and another tank called the VK 3001 (H).
The end product was the VK4501 (H), the letter suffix standing for Heschel Porsche also
went ahead with its own design and built the VKVK4501 (Porsche) to meet the same
requirement. Both prototypes were completed in time to be demonstrated on on Hitler's
birthday, and the Henschel design was selected for production in August 1942 under
the designation PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf E (SdkFZ 181).
The Tiger was in production from August 1942 to August 1944, a total of 1,350 vechicles
being built. It was then succeeded in production by the Tiger II or King Tiger for which there
is a separate entry. In case trials proved the VIK4501 (H) a failure, a batch of 90 VK 4501 (P)
tanks was ordered, and these were subsequently completed as 88-mm (3.46-in) tank destroyers
under the designation Panzerjager Tiger (P) Ferdinand (SdKfz 184). The vehicle was named after
its designer, Dr. Ferninand Porsche.
There were three variants of the Tiger, these being the Tiger command tank (Befehlspanzer Tiger)
which was the basic gun tank with its main armament removed, but fitted with a winch but no crane,
and the Sturmtiger which had a new superstructure fitted with a 38-cm [14.96-in] 1"), Type 61 rocket-
launcher with limited traverse; only 10 of the last were built.
For its time the_ Tiger was an out-standing design with a powerful gun and good armour,
but it was also too compicated arid therefore difficult to produce. One of its major drawbacks
was its overlapping wheel suspension which became clogged with mud and stones. On the Eastern Front this could he disastrous as during winter nights the mud froze and by the morning the tank had been immobilized, often at the exact time the Soviets would attack, When the vehicle traveled on roads
a 51.5-cm [20.3-in] wide track was fitted, while a 71,5-cm [28,1-in) wide track was used for travel
across country or in comhat as this gave a lower ground pressure and so improved traction.
Main armament comprised an 88-mm (3.46-in) KwK 36 gun, with a 7.92- mm (0.31-in) MG34 machine-gun co-axial with e main armament and a similar weapon hall-mounted in the hull front on the right, Totals of 84rounds of 88-mm (3.-16-in) and 5:850 rounds of_machine-gun ammunition were carried.
The Tiger was first encountered in Tunisia by the British army and from
then on appeared on all of the German fronts.
Specification
PzKpfw V1 Tiger AusfE Y1 Tiger AusfE
Crew:5
Weight: 55000 kg (121,250 lb)
Dimensions: length (including armament: 8,24m (270ft )in): length
(Hull): 6.20m (20ft 4 in)
(Width 3.73m (12ft 3in)
(Height): 2.86m (9ft.25in)
[h1.1l26;2[JmL2(J ft-1 in); widLh3.T;3[m
[12 31n];he1ght2.S6m[9ft3.2>1n]
Powerplant: one Maybach HL 230P45
12 Cylinder petrol engine developing 700hp (522kW)
Performance: maximum road speed38 KM (24 mph)
maximum range road 100Km (62 miles)
fording 1.2m (3ft 11in)
Gradient 60 per cent
Vertical obstacle 0.79m (2ft 7in) Trench 1.8m (5ft ll-in).
No comments:
Post a Comment