Tiger I listen Ã, is a German heavy tank from World War II deployed from 1942 in Africa and Europe, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. The final appointment is PanzerkampfwagenÃ, VIÃ, TigerÃ, Ausf. E is often shortened to Tiger . The Tiger I gave the Wehrmacht the first armored combat vehicle to swing a 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun (not to be confused with the 36.8 cm Flak). 1.347 was built between August 1942 and August 1944. After August 1944, Tiger I production was removed for Tiger II.
While Tiger I has been referred to as an exceptional design in its time, it is over-engineered, using expensive materials and labor-intensive production methods. Tiger is susceptible to certain types of failure and damage to tracks, and is limited in range by its high fuel consumption. It is expensive to maintain, but is generally mechanically reliable. Difficult to transport, and susceptible to immobilization when mud, ice and snow freeze between perforated and overlapping wheels of Schachtellaufwerk, often make them solid. This is a problem on the Eastern Front in the muddy season of rasputitsa and during extreme cold periods.
The tank was given the nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche, and Roman numerals were added after Tiger II entered production. The initial designation is PanzerkampfwagenÃ, VIÃ, AusfÃÆ'¼hrungÃ, H ('' PanzerÃ,® H Version ', abbreviated PzKpfwÃ, VIÃ, Ausf.Ã, H ) where 'H' denotes Henschel as the designer/producer. It is classified under the allotment of armaments inventory SdKfzÃ, 182 . The tank is then redefined as PzKpfw VI Ausf. E in March 1943, with the appointment of armament inventory SdKfzÃ, 181 .
Currently, only about seven Tigers survive in museums and private collections around the world. The Tiger 131 at the British Tank Museum, which was captured during the North African Campaign, is currently the only one restored to run the order.
Video Tiger I
Design history
Initial design
Henschel & amp; Sohn began the development of a large tank design in January 1937 when Waffenamt asked Henschel to develop Durchbruchwagen ("breakthrough vehicles") in the 30-33 ton range. Only one prototype hull ever made and never turret. The Durchbruchwagen My general shape and suspension resembles Panzer III, while the turret resembles an initial Panzer IV C turret with a 7.5/8 L/24 barrel short barrel.
Before Durchbruchwagen I finished, the request was issued for heavier 30-ton class vehicles with thick armor; this is Durchbruchwagen II, which will have 50 mm (2 inches) of the frontal armor and install a Panzer IV turret with a 7.5.5, cm L/24 short barrel gun. The overall weight will be 36 tons. Only one hull was built and no turret was installed. Further developments of Durchbruchwagen were dropped in 1938 in support of a larger and better-armored VK 30.01 (H) and VK 36.01 (H) design. The two prototype hulls of Durchbruchwagen I and II were used as test vehicles until 1941.
Other attempts
The medium tank VK 30.01 (H) and VK 36.01 (H) heavy tank design pioneered the use of a complicated, overlapping, overlapping torsion torque suspension system for tank usage. This concept is already common on half German tracks such as Sd.Kfz. 7. The VK 30.01 (H) is intended to mount a low speed 7.5 cm L/24 infantry gun support, a versatile 25% L/40 anti-tank gun, or a 10.5 cm L/28 field pistol in the Krupp tower. The overall weight is 33 tons. The armor is designed to be 50 mm on the frontal surface and 30 mm on the side surface. Four hull prototypes completed for testing. Two of these were later modified to build "Sturer Emil" (12.8 cm <1> Selbstfahrlafette L/61) self-propelled anti-tank gun.
The VK 36.01 (H) is intended to weigh 40 tons, with 100 mm (4 in) of armor on the front surface, 80 mm on the turret side and 60 mm on the side of the stomach. The VK 36.01 (H) is intended to carry 7.5 cm L/24, or 7.5 cm L/43, or 7.5 cm L/70, or a 12.8 cm L/28 cannon in the Krupp tower looks similar to the enlarged Panzer IV Ausf. C turret. The hull for one prototype was built, followed later by five more. The six towers built were never installed and used as part of the Atlantic Wall. Project VK 36.01 (H) was discontinued in early 1942 for VK 45.01 project.
Further enhancement
The combat experience against France's Somua S35 cavalry tanks and heavy Char B1 tanks and British Matilda II infantry tanks during the French Battle of June 1940 showed that the German Army needed better armored and armored tanks.
On May 26, 1941, Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were required to submit a design for a 45 ton heavy tank, which would be ready in June 1942. Porsche is working on the latest version of their 30.01 VK prototype Leopard tank while Henschel is working on a VK tank fix 36.01 (H). Henschel built two prototypes: VK 45.01 (H) H1 with 8.8 cm L/56 cannon, and VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm L/70 cannon.
Final design
On June 22, 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The Germans were shocked to find a medium T-34 tank and a KV-1 heavy tank, and, according to Henschel's designer Erwin Aders: "There is great concern when it is known that Soviet tanks are superior to anything available to Heer.".
Weight gain soon became 45 tonnes and an increase in caliber of rifles up to 8.8 cm was ordered. The due date for the new prototype was set for April 20, 1942, Adolf Hitler's 53rd birthday. Unlike Panther tanks, the design does not use armor tilt, an innovation taken from the T-34.
Porsche and Henschel proposed prototype designs, each using a tower designed by Krupp. They were shown in Rastenburg in front of Hitler. The Henschel design is acceptable, mainly because the prototype design of the Porsche VK 4501 (P) uses a troubled hybrid electric-hybrid electric unit requiring large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electric drivetrain components, strategic warfare materials in which Germany has limited inventory with acceptable electrical properties such use. Production Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H began in August 1942. Expecting orders for his tank, Porsche built 100 chassis. After the contract was awarded to Henschel, they were used to destroy the new turretless-style tank; 91 hulls were converted to Tiger (P) PanzerjÃÆ'¤ger in early 1943.
Tiger is still at the prototype stage when it first rushes to service, and therefore large and minor changes are made during the production run. A redesigned Turret with lower cupola is the most significant change. To cut costs, immersion capabilities and external air filtration systems are dropped.
Maps Tiger I
Design
The Tiger is different from previous German tanks especially in its design philosophy. Its predecessors balance mobility, armor and weapons, and are sometimes defeated by their opponents.
While heavy, the tank is no slower than the best of its opponents. However, at over 50 tonnes of deadweight, the suspension, gearbox, and other items have clearly reached the design limit and damage often occurs if routine maintenance is not performed.
Although the general design and layout is generally similar to the previous medium tank, Panzer IV, Tiger has more than doubled the weight. This is due to the thicker armor, larger main weapons, fuel volume and larger ammunition storage, larger engines, and stronger transmissions and suspensions.
Armor
The Tiger I has a frontal hull armor of 100 mm (3.9 inches) thick, a 100 mm frontal turret armor (3.9 inches) and a thick pistol thickness of 120 mm (4.7 inches). Tiger has a 60mm (2.4 inch) side hull plate and an armor of 80 mm on the superstructure/sponsor side, while the turret and rear side are 80 mm. Upper and lower armor 25 mm thick (1 inch); starting in March 1944, the roof of the turret thickened to 40 mm (1.6 inches). Steel plates are mostly flat, with interlocking construction. The armor joints are of high quality, trampled and welded, instead of nailed and made of destructive steel.
Gun
The length of 56-caliber 8.8 cm KwK 36 was chosen for Tiger. The combination of the flat trajectory of high-precision muzzle velocity and precision from Leitz Turmzielfernrohr TZF 9b sight (later replaced by monocular TZF 9c) makes it very accurate. In wartime shooting trials in Britain, five consecutive hits were printed on target 410 by 460 mm (16 by 18 in) at 1,100 meters (3,600 ft). Compared with other contemporary German tank rifles, the 8.8 cm KwK 36 has superior penetration to 7.5 cm KwK 40 on SturmgeschÃÆ'¼tz III and Panzer IV but is lost by 7.5 cm KwK 42 on the Panther tank below the 2,500 meter range. In the larger range, 8.8 cm KwK 36 is superior in penetration and accuracy.
Ammunition for Tiger has fired the primer electrically. Four types of ammunition are available but not all of them are fully available; The PzGr 40 shell uses tungsten, which is short supply during the war.
- PzGr. 39 (armor-piercing, capped, ballistic cap)
- PzGr. 40 (armor-piercing, composite rigid)
- Hl. Gr. 39 (high explosive anti-tank)
- sch. Sprgr. Patr. L/4.5 (burning bullet shard)
Engine and drive
The back of the tank holding the engine compartment is flanked by two separate rear compartments each containing a fuel tank and radiator. Germany does not develop adequate diesel engines, so gasoline engines (gasoline) should be used instead. The original engine used was 21.35-liters (1303 cu.in.) 12-cylinder Maybach HL 210 P45 developed 485 kW (650 hp) at 3,000 rpm. Despite the good engine, it's less powerful for vehicles. From the 25th Tiger onwards, it was replaced by an HL 230 P45 upgrade, a 23,095 liter engine (1409 cu.in.) that developed 521 kW (700 hp) at 3,000 rpm. The main difference between these machines is that the original Maybach HL 210 uses an aluminum engine block while the Maybach HL 230 uses a cast-iron engine block. The cast-iron block allows for larger cylinders (and thus, larger displacements) that increase the power output to 521 kW (700 hp). The machine is in V shape, with two cylinder banks set at 60 degrees. The inertia starter is mounted on its right side, pushed through the chain of gear through the port on the back wall. The engine can be lifted out through the hold on the roof of the back hull. Compared to other V12 and various vee-type gasoline engines used for tanks, the HL 230 engine was eventually nearly four liters smaller in displacement than the Allied British Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 AFV powerplant, itself adapted from the Merlin RR but not rated until power output 448 kW (600 hp); and its Ford V12 designed predecessor for its 18-liter Ford GAA V-8 AFV engine, which in its original V12 form will have the same 27-liter displacement as the Meteor.
The engine pushes the front sprocket through a drivetrain that connects to the transmission at the front of the lower hull; the front sprocket should be installed relatively low as a result. The Krupp 11-ton turret has a hydraulic motor whose pump is powered by a mechanical drive of the engine. Full rotation takes about a minute.
Another new feature is the Maybach-Olvar hydraulically controlled pre-selector semi-automatic pre-selector gearbox. The extreme weight of the tank also requires a new steering system. German Argus Motoren, where Hermann Klaue had created the ring brakes in 1940, supplied them to Arado Ar 96 and also supplied 55cm discs. Klaue admits in a patent application that he only refines existing technology, which can be traced back to the British design dating from 1904. It is unclear whether Klaue's patent ring brakes are used in Tiger brake designs.
The clutch-and-brake system, typical for light vehicles, is maintained only for emergencies. Typically, steering is dependent on dual differentials, Henschel's development on the British Merritt-Brown system was first found in Churchill tanks. The vehicle has an eight-speed gearbox, and steering offers two fixed radii on each tooth, so Tiger has sixteen different fingers. In the first gear, at a speed of several km/h, the minimum turning radius is 3.44 m (11 ft 3 inches). In neutral teeth, the tracks can reverse the opposite direction, so Tiger I spins in place. There is a steering wheel, not a tiller - or, like most tanks at the time, twin braking lever - makes the Tiger I steering system easy to use, and faster than its time.
Suspension
The suspension uses sixteen torque rods, with eight suspension arms per side. To save space, the swing arm leads to one side and follows the other. There are three road wheels (one doubled, closest to the center of the track) in each arm, in so-called Schachtellaufwerk overlapping and interleaved arrangements, similar to those pioneered in military vehicles half- half German. the pre-World War II era, with Tiger I being the first German AFV to be traced entirely, built in quantity to use such road wheel arrangements. The wheels have a diameter of 800 mm (31 inches) in the Schachtellaufwerk setting for the Tiger I suspension, giving a uniformly distributed load to the load on the track, with increased maintenance costs. Removing the inner wheels that have lost the solid rubber tires (common events) requires moving up to nine other wheels first. During periods of rain that bring the summer of rasputitsa the mud season and so on into winter conditions in the East, the Schachtellaufwerk wheel - equipped vehicles can also become full of mud or snow that then it can freeze. Presumably, German engineers, based on half-track experience, feel that improving off-road performance, track and wheel life, mobility with missing or defective wheels, plus additional protection from enemy fire are worth the trouble of maintaining complex systems vulnerable to mud and ice. This approach is done in various forms, to Panther and non-interleaved wheel designs for Tiger II. Finally, the diameter 80 cm diameter steel wheel design is very similar to that of the Tiger II, with the internal popping steel rim tires being replaced, and those like the Tiger II, just overlapping and not inserted.
To support the weight of a large enough Tiger, this trajectory has a width of 725 mm (2 ft 4 inches). To meet the size limit of the rail, the outer ramp on each axle (16 in total) can be removed from the narrow and narrow pass ( Verladeketten ) measuring 520 mm (20 inches). Track replacement and wheel removal takes 30 minutes for each side of the tank. However, in service, Tigers are often transported by train with their combat tracks installed, as long as the train crew knows there are no narrow tunnels or other obstacles on the route that will prevent a large load from passing, although this practice is strictly prohibited..
Recording system
The Tiger Tank is too heavy for a small bridge, so it's designed to wade four feet deep in the water. This requires an unusual mechanism for ventilation and cooling under water. At least 30 minutes of set-up time is required, with turrets and pistols locked in forward positions, and large snorkel tubes raised at the rear. An inflatable donut-shaped ring sealing the turret ring. The two rear compartments (each containing a fuel tank, radiator, and fan) may flood. Only the first 495 units are equipped with this deepening softening system; all models are then able to reach only two meters.
Crew compartment
Internal layout typical of German tanks. The forward is an open crew compartment, with the driver and the radio operator sitting in front on either side of the gearbox. Behind them, the turret floor is surrounded by panels that form a continuous level surface. This helps the loader to retrieve ammunition, which is mostly stored on the tracks. Three people sitting on the turret; loader to the right of the gun facing back, the gunner to the left of the gun, and the commander behind him. There is also a folding chair on the right for the loader. Turret has a full circular floor and headroom of 157Ã, cm.
Cost
The main problem with Tiger is that its production requires considerable resources in terms of labor and materials, which makes it expensive: Tiger I costs twice as much as the Panzer IV and four times more than the StuG III assault rifle.. Partly because of their high cost, only 1,347 Tiger I and 492 Tiger II tanks were manufactured. The closest partner to the Tigers of the United States is Pershing M26 (about 200 deployed to the European Operations Theater (ETO) during the war) and IS-2 from the Soviet Union (about 3,800 built during the conflict).
Though from a technical standpoint, it is better than its contemporaries, the low number produced, the deficiencies in qualified crew and the considerable fuel needs in the context of a steadily shrinking resource preventing Tiger I from having a real impact on the war.
Production history
Tiger I production began in August 1942, initially at 25 per month and peaked in April 1944 at 104 per month. 1.355 was built in August 1944, when production ceased. Deployed Tiger I peaked at 671 on July 1, 1944. It took about twice as long to build Tiger I as another German tank in that period. When the enhanced Tiger II began production in January 1944, Tiger I was immediately removed.
In 1943, Japan purchased several specimens of German tank designs to study. One Tiger I apparently bought, along with Panther and two Panzer IIIs, but only Panzer III actually delivered. Unposted Tigers were loaned to the German Wehrmacht by the Japanese government.
Many modifications were introduced during the production process to improve automotive performance, firepower and protection. Design simplification is implemented, along with cuts due to lack of raw materials. In 1942 alone, at least six revisions were made, beginning with the removal of the Vorpanzer (frontal armored armor) from the pre-production model in April. In May, the mudguards darted to the pre-production side added, while the detached mudguard saw a full merger in September. The smoke exhaust tube, three on each side of the turret, was added in August 1942. In subsequent years similar changes and reforms were added, such as the addition of Zimmerite (non-magnetic anti-mining layer), at the end of 1943. Due to the slow production rate in factories, the incorporation of new modifications could take several months.
The humorous and rather vibrant crew manual, Tigerfibel , was the first of its kind for the German Army and its success resulted in a more unusual manual that tried to imitate his style.
Variant
Among other variants of Tiger, a fort, a heavy armored self-propelled rocket projector, today commonly known as Sturmtiger , was built. A tank recovery version of Porsche Tiger I, and one Porsche Tiger I, was issued for the 654 Heavy Destroyer Tank Battalion, which is equipped with Ferdinand/Elefant. In Italy, a demolition version of Tiger I without a major weapon was built by the maintenance crew in an attempt to find a way to clear minefields. This is often misidentified as a BergeTiger recovering vehicle. A total of three may have been built. It carries a load of disassembly on a small crane on a turret in place of the main weapon. It's to move to the minefield and drop the cost, back off, and then set the cost to clear the minefield. No verification of anything used in combat.
Another variant is the Tiger Fahrschulpanzer VI tank (driving Tiger school tank). These tanks are Tigers with machines modified to run on compressed Towngas gas (Stadtgas System) or wood gas (Holzgas System). This is because of a shortage of fuel supply. They use a mixture of turreted and turretless hulls. They are used to train the Tiger tank crew. They are not used in combat.
Setting
Hitler's order, dated 27 February 1944, abolished the allotment of Panzerkampfagen VI and ratified Tiger Ausf's Panzerkampfwagen . E, which is the official appointment to the end. war. For general use it is often shortened to Tiger .
Combat history
Weapon and armor performance
A report prepared by Waffenamt-PrÃÆ'¼fwenen 1 gives a calculated probability of perforations in the range, where various enemies will be defeated reliably at a 30-degree side angle to the incoming round.
The Wa Pruef report estimates that the 88 mm Tiger gun will be able to penetrate the differential case of American M4 Sherman from 2,100 m (1.3 mi) and front turret from 1,800 m (1.1 mi), but the 88 mm Tiger Pistol will not penetrate the top glacial plate at any distance. The 75 mm M4 Sherman rifle will not penetrate the Tiger frontally at any range, and should be within 100 m to achieve side penetration against the gastric superstructure over 80 mm. The upgraded Sherman 76 mm gun will have the possibility to pierce the Tiger driver's front plate of 600 m, the nose of 400 m and the front turret of 700 m. The 90 mm M3 cannon used as a retractable anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapon, and then mounted on the M36 tank destroyer and finally M26 Pershing at the end of the war, can penetrate the Tiger front plate at 1,000m using standard ammunition. , and from outside 2,000 m when using HVAP.
The Soviet ground ground test conducted in May 1943 determined that the 8.8 cm KwK 36 rifle could penetrate T-34-76 frontal beam nose with a thickness of 140 mm from 1500 m, and a front hull of 1500 m. A blow to the driver's holder will force him to fall into and break. According to WaPrÃÆ'¼f, the glacis and turret front arm Soviet T-34-85 will be defeated between 100 and 1,400 m (0.062 and 0.870 mi), while the 85 mm T-34 pistol will penetrate the Tiger front between 200 and 500 m (0.12 and 0.31 mi). The 120 mm hull armor of the 1943 IS-2 Soviet model will be defeated between 100 and 300 m (0.062 and 0.186 mi) on the front plate and driver's nose. The 122 mm IS-2 pistol can penetrate the Tiger's front armor from between 500 and 1,500 m (0.31 and 0.93 mi). However, according to Steven Zaloga, IS-2 and Tiger I each can knock down the other in a normal combat range below 1,000 m. In longer ranges, the performance of each tank against each other depends on the crew and the battle situation.
Churchill IV England will be vulnerable to Tiger between 1,100 and 1,700 m (0.68 and 1.06 mi), the strongest point is the nose and the weakest of the turrets. According to an STT document dated April 1944, it is estimated that the 17-pounder British, as used on Sherman Firefly, firing normal APCBC ammunition, will penetrate the front of the Turret and Tiger driver's protective plates up to 1,900 yards (1,700 yards). I).
When pulling the target, the Tiger crew is encouraged to position the hull 45 degrees to Mahlzeit Stellung from 10 Ã,½ or 1 Ã,½ hours. This will maximize the effective hull capacity of the vessel to 180mm and the side of the hull up to 140mm, making Tiger resistant to any Allied rifle up to 152 mm. Unlike the lighter Panzer IV and Panther tanks, thick Tiger side guards provide a level of immune trust from wing attacks. The tank was also immune to Soviet anti-tank gun fire to the sides and back. The 8.8 cm large caliber provides superior fragmentation and explosive content high above the 7.5 cm KwK 42 rifle. Therefore, comparing Tiger with Panther, to supporting infantry and destroying the defensive fortress, Tiger offers superior weapons. It's also key to dealing with retractable anti-tank guns; according to German tank commander Otto Carius:
The destruction of antitank weapons is often accepted as something unfamiliar by lay people and soldiers from other branches. Only the destruction of other tanks counted as successful. On the other hand, antitank weapons are counted twice as many as experienced tankers. They are much more dangerous for us. Antitank cannon waiting in ambush, well disguised, and majestically erected in the field. Therefore, it is very difficult to identify. It's also very hard to hit because of its low altitude. Usually, we do not see antitank weapons until they fire the first shot. We are often attacked immediately, if the antitank crew is above everything, as we run to the wall of antitank guns. Then it is advisable to stay as cool as possible and keep the enemy, before the second shot aimed fired.
First action
Wanting to use a powerful new weapon, Hitler ordered that the vehicle be piloted within a few months earlier than planned. A platoon of four Tigers began action on September 23, 1942 near Leningrad. Operating on swampy and swampy plains, their movement is largely confined to roads and lanes, making defense of them much easier. Many of these early models were troubled by problems with transmission, which had difficulty handling heavy vehicle loads if pushed too hard. It takes time for the driver to learn how to avoid overtaxing machines and transmissions, and many are on strike. The most important event of this engagement is that one of the Tigers is trapped in a marshy ground and must be abandoned. Arrested mostly intact, it allowed the Soviets to study design and prepare for countermeasures.
The 503 Heavy Panzer Battalion was deployed to the Don Front in the fall of 1942, but arrived too late to participate in Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to defuse Stalingrad. It was later involved in heavy defensive battles in Rostov-on-Don and adjacent sectors in January and February 1943.
In the North African Campaign, Tiger I first saw action during the Tunisia Campaign on December 1, 1942 east of Tebourba when three Tigers attacked an olive garden 5 km west of Djedeida. The thick olive garden makes visibility very limited and enemy tanks fight at close range. The Tamil Tigers were hit by a number of M3 Lee tanks that shot in the range of 80 to 100 meters. Two of Lees were eliminated in this action. Tiger's tanks prove they have excellent protection from enemy fire; this greatly increases the crew's confidence in the quality of the armor. The first loss to Allied weapons occurred on January 20, 1943 near Robaa, when the British Anti-Tank Regiment's 72st battery hit a tiger with their 6-pound anti-tank gun (57 mm). Seven Tigers were crippled by landmines during a failed attack on BÃÆ'Â § during Operation Ochsenkopf in late February.
Mobility and reliability
The weight of the tank significantly limits the use of the bridge. For this reason, Tiger is built with a tight water hold and a snorkel device that allows to wade through a water barrier as high as four meters. The weight of the tank also makes driving through the building at risk, since the presence of the basement can result in a sudden drop. Another weakness is the slow trajectory of the hydraulically operated tower. Due to reliability issues with the Maybach HL 210 TRM P45, delivered in the first production batch of 250 Tigers, performance for maximum power output at high gear ratios can not be met. Although the Maybach engine has a maximum of 3,000 rpm, the crew is notified at Tigerfibel not exceeding 2,600 rpm. The engine limitations were reduced only by the adoption of the Maybach HL 230. The British Army's test report showed that the turret on the Tiger E tank rotated 360 degrees, at 19º/sec, with its power across the system set at a high ratio and with engine speed at 2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). Turret can also be traversed manually, but this option is rarely used, except for very small adjustments.
The early tiger has a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph) above the optimal field. This is not recommended for normal operation, and is not recommended in training. A governor engine is then installed, limiting the engine at 2,600 rpm and Tiger's maximum speed up to about 38 kilometers per hour (24 mph). The Tiger crew reports that the off-road march speed is 10 kilometers per hour (6 mph). However, the medium tank at the time, such as Sherman or T-34, had the highest average speed of about 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph). Thus, although Tiger is almost twice as heavy, its speed is relatively respectable. With a very wide tank track, the design features borrowed from the Soviet T-34, Tiger has lower ground pressure than smaller tanks, such as the M4 Sherman.
Tiger I tank needs high level support. Two or sometimes three of the standard German Sd.Kfz are required. 9 Famo tractor half track heavy recovery to tow it. The tiger crew often uses other Tiger to pull the damaged vehicle, but this is not recommended as it often causes excessive heat and engine damage. Low mounted sprocket limits the height of the obstacle permissions. Tracks also have a tendency to override the rear sprockets, resulting in immobilization. If the tracks are flooded and jammed, two tigers are usually required to pull the tank. The jammed track is also a big problem itself, because due to the high voltage, it is often impossible to divide the track by unpinning the track pin. The track sometimes must be blown up with a small explosive charge.
The average reliability of the Tiger tanks during the second half of 1943 was similar to Panther, 36%, compared with 48% of Panzer IV and 65% of StuG III. From May 1944 to March 1945, the reliability of the Tiger tank was as good as the Panzer IV. With an average of 70%, Tiger's operational availability on the Western Front is better than compared to 62% of Panthers. On the Eastern Front, 65% of tigers are available operationally, compared with 71% of Panzer IV and 65% Panthers.
Tactical organization
Tigers are usually employed in separate heavy tank battalions ( schwere Panzer-Abteilung ) under the command of the army. These battalions will be deployed to key sectors, either for breakthrough operations or, more precisely, counter-attacks. Some preferred divisions, such as Grossdeutschland and SS 1 Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Das Reich , and 3rd SS Totenkopf Panzergrenadier Division at Kursk, owns a Tiger company in their tank regiment. Grossdeutschland Division has a Tiger company increased to battalion as Battalion III Panzer from Panzer Regiment Grossdeutschland . The 3rd SS Totenkopf retained its Tiger I company through the whole war. The 1st SS and the 2nd SS have been picked up by their Tiger company and put into the 101st SS Tiger Battalion, which is part of the 1st SS Panzer Corps.
Tiger was originally designed to be an offensive breakthrough weapon, but by the time it was in action, the military situation had changed dramatically, and its main use was on defense, as an anti-tank support weapon and mobile infantry weapon. Tactically, this also means moving Tiger units constantly to fend off breakthroughs, causing excessive mechanical wear. Consequently, there is hardly an instance where a battalion of Tigers does battle on something near full strength.
Against the amount of Soviet and Western allied production, even a 10: 1 kill ratio is not enough. These figures should be set against the opportunity cost of the Expensive Tiger. Each Tiger costs as much as builds as the four SturmgeschÃÆ'¼tz III assault rifles.
Allied Response
English response
The UK has been observing a gradual increase in German AFV armor and weapons since 1940 and has anticipated the need for stronger anti-tank weapons. Working on a 76.2 mm Ordnance QF measuring meter started in late 1940 and in 1942, 100 initial production weapons were rushed to North Africa to help counter the threat of the new Tiger. The gun carriage has not been developed, and guns are mounted on the 25-pound rifle/howitzer wagon and are known under the codename "Pheasant".
A quick attempt to get a tank cruiser armed with 17-pounder weapons into operation. The A30 Challenger was already at the prototype stage in 1942, but the tank was relatively unprotected, had a front gastric thickness of 64 mm, and in the end only decreased in limited quantities (about 200 ordered in 1943), although the crew liked it for high speed. The Sherly Firefly, armed with 17-pounder, is a well-known success although it is only meant to be a temporary design. Fireflies were successfully used against the Tamil Tigers; in one engagement, one Firefly destroyed three Tigers in 12 minutes with five rounds. More than 2,000 fireflies were built during the war. Five different 17-pounder-armed British designs saw combat during the war: A30 Challenger, A34 Comet (using OQF 77mm HV variant), Sherman Firefly, 17pdr SP Achilles, and 17pdr SP Archer self-propelled gun, while another, A41 Centurion , about to enter service when the European war is over. In 1944, the UK introduced an APDS round for the 17-pounder, which improved the performance of deep penetration.
Soviet response
Initially, the Soviets responded to the Tiger I by restarting the production of the 57mm anti-tank gun ZiS-2 (production discontinued in 1941 favoring cheaper and more versatile alternatives - eg ZiS-3 - due to excessive gun performance for early German armor). The ZiS-2 has better armor penetration than the 76-mm F-34 tank gun used by most Red Army tanks, or the 76-mm ZiS-3 division cannon, but still inadequate against the Tiger. A small number of T-34s are again equipped with a ZiS-2, ZiS-4 tank version, but can not fire high explosive spins, making it an unsuitable tank gun.
The new 85 mm D-5T shooting trial has also proved disappointing. Several German Tiger I delivered tanks were sent to Chelyabinsk, where they were exposed to 85 mm of fire from various angles. The 85 mm rifle can not penetrate properly the Tiger I protector except at a distance inside the deadly envelope of its own 88 mm Tiger I gun. It was initially still used on the SU-85 self-propelled gun (based on the T-34 chassis) from August 1943. Production of KV heavy tanks armed with 85 mm D-5T in the IS-85 tower also began.. There was a brief production of 148 KV-85 tanks, which was delivered to the early front in September 1943 with production ending in December 1943. In early 1944, T-34/85 appeared; The lit T-34 fits with the SU-85 weapon, but with the advantage of mounting a gun in the tower. It also fits with weapons from the heavier IS-85 tanks in a more cost-effective package that repeats events that mark the decline in KV-1 production. IS is then re-armed with 122 mm D-25T, which by turning BR-471 AP is capable of passing the Tiger armor from 1,200 m, and with an enhanced BR-471B APHEBC at more than 2,000m. The redundant SU-85 is replaced by the SU-100, installing a 100 mm D-10 tank gun, which can penetrate 149 mm vertical steel plates at 1,000m.
In May 1943, the Red Army deployed the SU-152, replaced in 1944 by ISU-152. This self-propelled rifle put a large howitzer rifle, 152 mm. The SU-152 is intended to be a close-range support weapon to be used against a German fortress rather than an armor; However, it was divided between ISU-152 which was later revealed, the nickname of Zveroboy ("animal killer"), due to its rare ability to paralyze heavy German tanks. The 152 mm steel protective frame weighs more than 45 kilograms (99 pounds) and can penetrate Tiger's frontal armor from about 1,000 meters (1,100 y). The explosive explosion is strong enough to cause significant damage to the tank, occasionally tearing the turret directly. However, the size and weight of ammunition means the two vehicles have a low fire rate, and each can only carry 20 rounds.
US. responses
The US Army hesitated to put a 76 mm M1 rifle in action even when they were available, as the battle through early 1944 showed that a 75 mm M3 was more than enough to handle the threat of German tanks. This conclusion is partly based on a correct estimate that tigers will be found in relatively small numbers, and when encountered can be destroyed by anti-tank gunfire as they are in Tunisia and Sicily, not by tanks.
Operator
- Ã, Nazi Germany - Prime operator.
- Ã, The Kingdom of Hungary - 13 examples given by Germany.
Survivors
Tiger 131
On April 21, 1943, a Tiger I from the 504 German heavy tank battalion, with turret number 131, was captured on a hill called Djebel Djaffa in Tunisia. A 6-pounder 6-pounder tank from the Churchill tank from the 48th British Imperial Tank Regiment hit the barrel of a Tiger rifle and bounced off its turret ring, sped across and wounded the commander. The crew manhandled and the tanks were captured. After the repair, the tanks are sent to the UK for a thorough inspection.
The captured tank was officially handed over to the Bovington Tank Museum by the UK Supply Ministry on September 25, 1951. In June 1990, the tank was removed from view in the museum and work began in the restoration. This is done both by museums and Army Base Repair Organizations and involves the complete dismantling of tanks. The Maybach HL230 machine from the Tiger II museum was installed (the original Mayner HL210 Tiger has been cut to show), along with a modern fire suppression system in the engine compartment. In December 2003, Tiger 131 returned to the museum, restored and in walking condition. The tiger is used in the film Fury, the first time the original, mechanically operable Tiger has appeared in a film since World War II.
More
Given the low number of more than 1,300 Tiger I produced during World War II, very few survived the war and the post-war expulsion. Many of the major components have been rescued for years, but the invention of a complete vehicle (more or less) has so far avoided fans and collectors. In addition to Tiger 131, six other Tiger tanks survive until April 2018, at the following locations:
- MusÃÆ' Â © e des BlindÃÆ' Â © s in Saumur, France. The indoor exhibits are in good condition. The mid-1944 version with overlapping roadwheels adopted from Tiger II, fitted with a narrow transportation path. This tiger is part of the 2nd company of the SS 102 Weight SS3 Battalion, fought in the Cauville sector, and abandoned by his crew after mechanical damage. He was recruited as Colmar with the 2nd Squadron of the 6th Cuirassier Regiment, fighting all the way back to Germany.
- Vimoutiers, Normandy, France. "Tank Vimoutiers Tiger". Abandoned by his crew in August 1944. The monument is open. Under adverse conditions due to the effects of time and elements.
- The Kubinka Tank Museum, Moscow, Russia, is in good condition. Displayed as an indoor exhibit.
- Museum of Military History of Lenino-Snegiri, Russia. In very bad condition. Because the target shoot had previously been shot and badly cut. Displayed as an outdoor exhibit.
- Tiger 712 [250031] from the 501 Heavy Panzer Battalion is part of the United States Army Armor & amp; Cavalry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia. In good condition. The left side of the hull and turret were cut into pieces in the late 1940s for training purposes and interior look.
- The German Panzer Museum, Munster, has Tiger I now on display. This tank was reconstructed by Mr. Hoebig in Germany, using parts found in Trun's trash in Normandy and some parts found in Kurland (Latvia).
Comparable role, performance, and era tanks
- Soviet Iosif Stalin 2
- United States M26 Pershing
Note
References
Quote
Bibliography
External links
- Tiger and Restoration Bovington Tank Museum
- Tiger I Information Center - Comprehensive website on Tiger I
- Articles, "New German Heavy Tank" from US Intelligence Bulletin, June 1943
- "Under the Tiger Skin" - June 1945 Popular Science
- Tiger victim - PDF, Tiger Tiger Enthusiast
- Part of Tiger and Tiger II from Handbook on German Military Forces
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments