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During the mid- and late 1930s a number of heavy tank prototypes were developed but none reached production. These included the Neubaufahrzeug (New Construction Vehicle) of 1934, the Durchbruchwagen DW1 and 2 (Breakthrough Vehicles) of 1937 and 1940 and the Vollkettenkraftfahrzeug VK6501 (Fully Tracked Experimental Vehicle) of 1938.
In 1939 an order was given to Henschel, Porsche, MAN and Daimler-Benz for a new vehicle in the same class as the DW2, about 30 tons, to be known as VK3001. The Henschel version, VK3001(H), was a development of the DW2 (and eventually formed the basis of the 12.8cm PzSfl V). The Porsche version, VK3001(P), was known as the Leopard or Type 100 and included several new design features. These included petrol-electric drive and longitudinal torsion bar suspension. In parallel with the VK3001, an order was placed in 1941 for a 36 ton tank, the VK3601. A prototype was built by Henschel in March 1942 but work on both the VK3001 and VK3601 was stopped. Both projects had already been overtaken by an order received in May 1941 for a 45 ton tank, the VK4501.
There was limited design time available for the VK4501 so Henschel produced a design incorporating the best features of the VK3001(H) and VK3601(H). Similarly, Porsche incorporated the best features from its VK3001(P) in its proposed design. At Rostenburg on 20 April 1942, Hitler’s birthday, the two competing prototypes, VK4501(H) and VK4501(P) Type 101 were demonstrated before Hitler.
The Henschel design proved superior and an order was given to start production of it in August 1942. It had the designation Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf E although later, on 27 February 1944, the vehicle designation was changed by an order of Hitler to Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf E. It would appear that only one official model of the Tiger I was produced, the Ausf E, though some sources refer to the early vehicles as ‘Ausf H’. Some sources do, however, refer to the designations Ausf F, H1 and H2. Nothing is known of the Ausf F. The Ausf H1 was a proposed variant replacing the 8.8cm KwK L/56 with the longer L/71 as used on the Tiger II. A suitable barrel was despatched from the experimental establishment at Kummersdorf for fitting in a test vehicle but it is not known if the trial was ever completed. The Ausf H2 was a similar proposal mounting the 7.5cm KwK 42 L/70 in a new turret, resembling the Panther turret in shape. A wooden mock-up vehicle was built but the trial went no further.
As a safeguard against the Henschel design failing, one hundred examples of the Porsche VK4501 design had been produced. When the results of the trials were announced ninety of these chassis were used as the basis of the Elefant tank destroyer instead of being completed as tanks.
The suspension of the Henschel Tiger consisted of eight roadwheel stations each side, each comprising three rubber-tyred roadwheels. The roadwheels were overlapped and interleaved, alternately one on the outside and two on the inside, then two on the outside and one on the inside. This arrangement gave very good weight distribution and a smooth ride. Transport track 51.5cm wide could be fitted in place of the normal 71.5cm combat track in order to reduce the vehicle’s width for transit by rail. To do this it was necessary to remove the outer roadwheel from each station.
The only Tiger variant to be produced in any numbers was the Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger command tank. Some eighty-four vehicles were converted into two models, the SdKfz 267 with an additional Fu7 radio for company commanders and the SdKfz 268 with an additional Fu8 radio for battalion commanders.
Early Production Model
Although design changes were made throughout the production of Tiger Is it is useful to classify them by external characteristics into early, mid-production and late production vehicles. The very first production Tigers were distinctive as they had a prominent pistol port on each side of the turret. They were also not equipped with a turret stowage box, a feature seen on all later vehicles. They were fitted with a cylindrical ‘dustbin’ cupola with five vision slots. All early production vehicles were powered by a 21 litre Maybach V12 petrol engine, the HL 210 P45.
The standard early production Ausf E had a loading and escape hatch in place of the pistol port in the right wall of the turret (from turret 46). A large stowage box was fixed on the centre rear of the turret from turret 56. Three NbK 39 90mm smoke grenade dischargers were mounted on the top front of each turret side. Curved armour plates were fitted around each exhaust outlet on the hull back plate.
These vehicles were equipped with an air cleaner system, known as Feifel, since many of them were destined for North Africa. It consisted of air filters on the top corners of the hull back plate linked by rubber tubing to the engine inlet at the front edge of the engine deck. Vehicles so fitted were designated Tiger (Tp) or Tiger Tropen (Tropical). The system was discontinued in August 1943 after the end of the Tunisian Campaign.
All early and some mid-production Tigers (to 250495) were equipped for wading and total submersion to a depth of 3.9m. All possible water entry points were sealed with rubber tubing and plugs and the air supply for the crew and engine was provided by a Snorkel pipe mounted on the engine compartment.
Most early production Tigers had five anti-personnel ‘S’-mine dischargers on top of the superstructure. These were fitted at the four corners and at the front left of the engine deck and gave close defence against infantry attack. During production it became clear that the Tiger was under-powered and so, from May 1943 (vehicle 250251), the original engine was replaced by a more powerful 24 litre engine, the HL 230 P45.
Some early production vehicles carried spare track links on the turret sides. They had fittings on the left side for five links. On the right side there was less room because of the escape hatch so only two or three clips were fitted. All later production vehicles appear to have had these clips. At some point during manufacture of early production vehicles, a change was made to the gun mantlet. An extra band of armour about 35mm thick was cast into the left side across the area through which the binocular sighting holes passed, possibly to remedy a weakness induced by the holes.
Production changes included improvements to the track adjustment (from 250026), gearbox (from 250037), commander’s seat (from turret 50), brake systems (from 250151), upper fuel tanks (from 250201), forward shock absorber mountings (from 250301) and fuel tank mountings (from 250351). The smoke grenade dischargers on the turret sides were omitted from turret 286.
Particular vehicles of note were 250017 (Versuchsfahrzeuge/Experimental Vehicle V1) used for trials against the Tiger (P), 250018 (V2) fitted with an experimental electric gearbox and 250019 (V3) used for submersion trials. Also 250003, 250006, 250363, 250366 and 250367 were used in firing trials.
1) The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Britain
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72
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250112: chassis number.
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“131” painted in red on turret sides. Unit markings painted on forward hull sides. German crosses painted on hull sides. Painted overall in a sand and brown camouflage scheme.
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Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication:
This early production Tiger, carrying the turret number “131”, was the Troop Leader’s tank of 3rd Troop of Number 1 Company, sPzAbt 504, sent to Tunisia in early 1943. In April 1943 it was part of a force that successfully attacked units of the British First Army in the area of Medjez-el-Bab. On the afternoon of 21 April a counter-attack was made by A Squadron of 48 RTR, 21st Army Tank Brigade, equipped with Churchill Mark IV tanks. During the ensuing battle a number of Churchills were lost but this Tiger was hit by two 6pdr shells from another Churchill, one wounding the tank commander and the other jamming the turret. The tank was then abandoned by its crew.
The next day, 22 April, it was recovered by the British, having been found to be otherwise undamaged, near Djebel Djaffa. It became the first Tiger in good condition recovered by Allied forces. It was refurbished by 104 Army Tank Workshop REME with captured spare parts and by June 1943 was on display in Tunis. There it was a major attraction and was visited by the King, the Prime Minister and many other VIPs. In September 1943 it was sent to the School of Tank Technology at Chertsey for detailed examination. At Chertsey it was stripped down and a report was prepared by the STT staff, including Peter Gudgin who had been a troop leader in one of the tanks destroyed by the Tiger on the day it was disabled. After spending some time at Chertsey, and briefly being exhibited on Horse Guards’ Parade in London, it was moved to Bovington after the war. It has the chassis number 250112 (source: L. Archer) although some sources give it as 250122.
This Tiger is currently not on display to the public. It is planned to restore it to running order and so in 1989 it was removed from the museum and disassembled. The gearbox was restored near Stuttgart in 1990 with the help of Maybach engineers (source: Military in Scale magazine). The original engine was sectioned for display and so the one from the museum’s Tiger II will be used in its place. The hull restoration continues but is being delayed by lack of funds. Contributions for the Tiger Project can be sent to the museum. The turret can still be seen on display in the museum while it awaits restoration.
Text in Preserved German Tanks Update:
On 26 June 1943 it was driven to the port of La Goulette for shipment on LCT 568, arriving in Bizerte on 3 August; it was then transferred to the ‘SS Empire Candida’ for the journey to Bône, where it was discharged on 11 August. It finally left North Africa for UK in the ‘SS Ocean Strength’ on 20 September 1943. (Source: The Tiger Tanks, P. Gudgin).
It took part in TankFest 2008 and 2009, and was moved from the World War 2 Hall to the Tank Story Hall in 2009. It was then removed from display for part of the 2010/11 winter for maintenance evaluation, and was just a static exhibit at TankFest 2011.
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2) Wheatcroft Collection, Leicester, Britain
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73
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Text in original Preserved German Tanks publication:
This is a very early production vehicle (chassis number 250012), with a pistol port on the right side of the turret, and it is not fitted with a turret stowage box. It was the platoon sergeant’s tank of 1st Troop of Number 1 Company, sPzAbt 501. This Battalion received its first Tigers on 30 August 1942 and was promised to Rommel as reinforcements for his North Africa campaign. On 10 November it was ordered to Tunisia by Hitler. The Battalion’s tanks, including this one carrying the turret number “112”, were moved by rail from Fallingbostel were they had been used for training. They were transported to Reggio, Calabria, in Italy and then shipped on Siebel ferries to Bizerta in Tunisia. This one was captured in running order during 1943. It carried the turret number “712” when captured because the Company had come under command of 7 Panzer Regiment and was its 7th company. It was taken to the USA for testing and evaluation in 1943. The left side of its turret was cut open and then patched up.
It was on display in the Ordnance Museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, for many years. In 1989 it was returned to Germany on long term loan in exchange for it being restored during that time. It went originally to the Auto und Technik Museum at Sinsheim, but has since been moved to Koblenz. The left sides of its turret and hull are now open to view. Two other vehicles were returned at the same time, these were the Munster Panzermuseum PzKpfw II tank and the Auto und Technik Marder II tank destroyer (see Preserved German Tanks Volume 1). It will remain in Germany indefinitely.
Text in Preserved German Tanks Update:
After Koblenz this Tiger went to the Munster Panzermuseum, and was there for some time in the late 1990s. It then went on loan to the Wheatcroft Collection in England in about 2001.
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Mid-Production Model
Most mid-production vehicles had the Feifel system and deep wading equipment omitted and were coated with Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste on the vertical surfaces of the hull and turret; the majority were not fitted with ‘S’-mine dischargers. A new cupola was fitted from turret 391. This had six episcopes and an anti-aircraft MG mount, and was identical to that fitted to the Panther tank. The Panther was in full production by late 1943 and it had been decided to standardise on the Panther cupola once the stocks of the original Tiger cupola were finished up.
Armour protection was added to cover the shell trap between the bottom of the turret and the hull. A single headlight was now mounted on the top left corner of the superstructure where previously there had been one at each front corner; this headlight was later moved to the centre. Other changes included modifications to the side escape hatch, firing gear, turret ball race, turret machine-gun, turret position indicators, turret seating and main armament mounting. Production changes included modifications to the steering gear (from 250425), engine bulkhead (from 250501) and fume extraction fan (from 250625); an external gun clamp was added to vehicles 250635-875. Vehicle 250455 was bought by the Japanese Army in 1943 to help it with its own tank designs but was never delivered.
3) Unknown Location, , USA
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74
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A Tiger I acquired in Russia was on its way to America as this book was going to press, no further details were available. (Source: R. Fleming).
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4) Kubinka NIIBT Research Collection - Foreign Vehicles, Kubinka, Russia
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75
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This example has the remains of a coating of Zimmerit and is internally very complete (source: R. Fleming). It has the new low cupola, and rubber-tyred roadwheels with standard combat track. However it appears to be without the outer set of roadwheels, perhaps indicating that when it was originally captured it was running on transport track. It is also unusual in not having the band of armour on the left side of the mantlet. It appears to have battle damage on the left side of the mantlet above the sighting holes. It is now fitted with Russian headlamps on the top front corners of the superstructure.
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5) Military Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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76
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This Tiger I was found near Leningrad, without its engine but otherwise in good condition (source: H. Duske). It had tactical number “221” and was part of sPzAbt 502. It was destroyed by its crew near the River Moika on 2 August 1943 and is missing its turret roof.
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6) Private Collection, Unknown Location, Russia
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77
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There have been a number of recent reports of at least two Tigers being kept in Russia, either by the authorities or private dealers. A number of museums, such as the Panzermuseum at Munster, as well as private dealers have made attempts to buy or trade them. One has recently been sold to the USA (see other entry) and another may be destined for Great Britain. (Sources: R. Fleming, W. Schneider).
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Late Production Model
Late production Tigers, those after chassis number 250822, were distinguished from earlier vehicles by being fitted with all-steel resilient roadwheels. These were identical to those on the Panther II and Tiger II tanks. The outer roadwheel of each station was omitted without producing significant problems. This made it possible to fit transport track without removing any further roadwheels, and made maintenance on the suspension easier. It should be noted that, according to a captured German document, it was possible for resilient roadwheels to be retrospectively fitted in place of the rubber tyred ones so long as all the wheels were changed at the same time.
Production changes included the addition of an engine coolant heater (from 250823) and wooden protection decking over the fuel tanks (from 251075). A new, smaller muzzle-brake was fitted to the main armament from the start of 1944. From March 1944 the turret roof plate was increased in thickness from 25mm to 40mm, and fitted with a new loader’s roof hatch as used on the Tiger II. A monocular sighting telescope, the Turmzielfernrohr 9c, replaced the previous binocular Tzf 9b from April 1944 and could be identified by a single sighting hole in the left side of the mantlet. The last major modification was the addition of three mounting points on the turret roof, from June 1944, for the fitting of a Befehlskran. These mounting points were retrofitted to some vehicles.
7) Museé Des Blindés, Saumur, France
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78
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This is a late-production Tiger with a low cupola and steel road-wheels. It has many of the characteristics of the last Tigers built such as the new turret roof and hatch, crane mounting points, central headlamp and monocular gunner’s sight. It appears, however, to have an older style, large muzzle-brake. This is not fitted correctly which may indicate that it is not original.
It is fitted with transport track and coated with Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste. It is missing its idler wheel on the right hand side and the right hand track has instead been “half-tracked” around the roadwheels. There are signs of battle damage on the nose. [Preserved Tanks in France: Number 74].
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8) Memorial, Vimoutiers, France
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79
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Reported as “250155”, but “251055” more likely. Turret number “251113”.
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“231” originally painted on turret sides.
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For the history, details and photographs of this Tiger see Preserved Tanks in France: Number 1.
It belonged to sSS PzAbt 102 (source: W. Schneider). It has many of the characteristics of the last Tigers built such as the new turret roof and hatch, crane mounting points, central headlamp mount, small muzzle-brake and monocular gunner’s sight.
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9) Snegiri Museum of Military History, Lenino, Russia
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80
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This Tiger is in a poor condition and is on display at Snegiri (also known as Snijni). It originally belonged to sPzAbt 510. It has some of the characteristics of the last Tigers built such as the crane mounting points and central headlamp mount; however other features are obscured by damage. It has shell holes in the right side and front of the superstructure and turret that indicate that it was probably used as a hard target on a firing range. It is missing its turret stowage box, parts of its tracks, suspension and exhausts, and many other fittings. It was originally displayed without a gun barrel, the current one is a fake. It does not appear to have been coated with Zimmerit.
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