Tiger I
The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H/E Tiger I (Mark VI-H/E, Panzer VI-H/E, Pzkw VI-H/E, SdKfz 181-H/E, Sonderkraftfahrzeug 181-H/E, Tiger, Tiger I) was a German tank of World War II. This combat vehicle was first used in late-1942, weighed 55.1-57 tons, had a crew of 5, and was armed with an 88mm cannon (the KwK 36). The Tiger I was in use until the German surrender and was given its nickname by Ferdinand Porsche. This design eventually resulted in the Pzkw VI Königstiger.
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2 The Captured Tiger of 1943 3 The Russian Response 4 Design 5 Production History 6 Quotes 7 Notes |
Combat History
It is perhaps uncontroversial that Mark VIs were capable of destroying a T-34 or Churchill IV at ranges up to 1300m. Conversely, these opposing tank types were unable to penetrate the armor of the Mark VI if firing from a range greater than 500m. Of perhaps some controversy is the argument that a Mark VI was capable of destroying a M4 Sherman at ranges in excess of 3500m, however, Shermans were not capable of penetrating the Mark VIs fore and side armor, even at pointblank range.
The Captured Tiger of 1943
In May 1943, a Tiger of the Afrika Korps was captured and sent to England for inspection. However, the western Allies did little to prepare for combat against the German tank despite their assessment that the Tiger was superior to their own tanks.. It is believed this decision was based on the doctrine of the United States Army, which did not place emphasis on tank vs. tank combat.
The Russian Response
In response to the Mark VI, Russia modified the T-34 by upgrading to an 85mm gun. They also mounted 122mm and 152mm howitzers on the KV-1, which resulted in the SU-122 and SU-152 self-propelled guns. Eventually the Russians would produce fully new tank designs, the JS-I (100mm) and the JS-II (122mm).
Design
The tank had armor up to 110mm thick and was the first tank to have interleaving road wheels with torsion bar suspension, which improved load distribution. This tank also featured a hydraulically-controlled pre-selector gearbox and a semiautomatic transmission. The original design could submerge to 4.0m and remain there for 2.5 hours, however, this being an expensive feature, it was abandoned after the first 495 tanks had been produced.
The internal layout was typical of German tanks, except: full-length sponsons provided storage for the ammunition. At the rear, they formed isolated compartments containing petrol tanks, radiators and fanss. These compartments were flooded during submersion. With no fuel stored in the crew compartment, there was considerable stowage space under the floor.
Production History
Production of the Mark VI began in August 1942 and 1,355 (1) such tanks were built by August 1944, at which point producted ceased. Production started at a rate of 25 per month and never exceed 104 per month. Generally speaking, it took about twice as long to build a Pzkw VI, in comparison to the other German tanks of the period.
In the spring of 1937, the German Armaments Ministry requested development of a "heavy tank" and Henschel & Son began developing a 30-33 ton tank to replace the Pzkw IV. This project was not given high priority until July 1941, during the invasion of Russia (see: Operation Barbarossa), when German troops reported that the Russian T-34 and KV-1 tanks had suffient armor to withstand fire from the Panzer IV's 75mm L/24 cannon, as well as the Pak 37mm. Wrote Hensche's chief designer Erwin Adlers, "There was great consternation when it was discovered that the Soviet tanks were superior to anything available to the Wehrmacht."
In May 1941, a 45 ton tank design was requested of Henschel and Porsche and prototypes, of said design, were to be ready by April 20, 1942, Adolf Hitler's birthday. Henschel developed a tank based on the earlier 30-33 ton design, which they enlarged. The Henschel design was selected over the Porsche design, and this became the Mark VI.
Quotes
Notes
See also: List of tanks
