Tiger II

The Tiger II is a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The
PanzerkampfwagenTiger Ausf. B
final official German designation wasPanzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf.
B,[notes 1] often shortened to Tiger B.[6] The ordnance inventory
designation was Sd.Kfz. 182.[6] It is also known under the informal
name Königstiger[6] (the German name for the Bengal tiger), often
translated literally as Royal Tiger, or somewhat incorrectly as King
[7][8]
Tiger by Allied soldiers, especially by American forces.

The Tiger II was the successor to the Tiger I, combining the latter's
thick armour with the armour sloping used on the Panther medium
tank. The tank weighed almost 70 tonnes, and was protected by 100 to
185 mm (3.9 to 7.3 in) of armour to the front.[9] It was armed with the
long barrelled 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 anti-tank cannon.[notes 2] The
chassis was also the basis for the Jagdtiger turretless tank Tiger II preserved at The Tank Museum, UK
destroyer.[10] Type Heavy tank
Place of origin Nazi Germany
The Tiger II was issued to heavy tank battalions of the Army and the
Waffen-SS. It was first used in combat with 503rd Heavy Panzer Service history
Battalion during the Allied Invasion of Normandy on 11 July 1944;[11] In service 1944–1945
on the Eastern Front, the first unit to be outfitted with Tiger IIs was the
Wars World War II
501st Heavy Panzer Battalion, which by 1 September 1944 listed 25
Production history
Tiger IIs operational.[12]
Designer Henschel & Son / Krupp
(turret)
Designed 1943
Contents Manufacturer Henschel & Son / Krupp
1 Development (turret)
2 Design Produced 1943–1945
2.1 Command variant
No. built 492[1]
3 Production
Specifications
4 Proposed upgrades
Weight 68.5 tonnes (67.4 long
5 Specifications
tons; 75.5 short tons)
6 Operational history
(early turret)
6.1 Organisation
69.8 tonnes (68.7 long
6.2 Reliability and mobility
6.3 Combat history tons; 76.9 short tons)
6.4 Gun and armour performance (production turret)[2]
6.5 Soviet wartime testing Length 7.38 metres (24 ft 3 in)
7 Surviving vehicles (hull)
8 See also 10.286 metres (33 ft 9 in)
8.1 (with gun forward)[2]
Tanks of comparable role, performance and era
Width 3.755 metres (12 ft 4 in)[2]
9 References
Height 3.09 metres (10 ft 2 in)[2]
10 Sources
11 External links
Crew 5 (commander, gunner,
 loader, radio operator,
driver)
Development
Development of a heavy tank design had been initiated in 1937; the Armor 25–185 mm (1–7 in)[2]
initial design contract was awarded to Henschel. Another design Main 1× 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71
contract followed in 1939, and was given to Porsche.[13] Both armament "Porsche" turret: 80
prototype series used the same turret design from Krupp; the main rounds[3]
differences were in the hull, transmission, suspension and automotive Production turret: 86
features.[13] rounds[3]
Secondary 2× 7.92 mm
armament Maschinengewehr 34
5,850 rounds[2]
Engine V-12 Maybach HL 230
P30 gasoline
700 PS (690 hp, 515
kW)[4]
Power/weight 10 PS (7.5 kW) /tonne
SHAEF commander Gen. (8.97 hp/tonne)
Eisenhower walks by an overturned
Transmission Maybach OLVAR EG 40
Tiger II; note the overlapping, non-
12 16 B (8 forward and 4
interleaved steel-rim roadwheel
arrangement reverse)[4]
Suspension torsion-bar
The Henschel version used a conventional hull design with sloped Ground clearance 495 to 510 mm (1 ft 7.5 in
armour resembling the layout of the Panther tank. It had a rear- to 1 ft 8.1 in)[2]
mounted engine and used nine steel-tired, eighty-centimeter-diameter Fuel capacity 860 litres (190 imp gal)[2]
overlapping road wheels per side with internal springing, mounted on
Operational Road: 170 km (110 mi)[5]
transverse torsion bars, in a similar manner to the original Henschel- range Cross country: 120 km
designed Tiger I. To simplify maintenance, however, as when the same
(75 mi)[5]
steel-tired road wheels were used on later Tiger I hulls, the wheels
were only overlapping without being interleaved — the full
Speed Maximum, road:
Schachtellaufwerk rubber-rimmed roadwheel system that had been in
41.5 km/h (25.8 mph)[5]
use on nearly all German half-tracks used the interleaved design, later
Sustained, road: 38 km/h
inherited by the early production versions of the Tiger I[14] and
(24 mph)[5]
Panther.
Cross country: 15 to
20 km/h (9.3 to
The Porsche hull designs included a rear-mounted turret and a mid- 12.4 mph)[5]
mounted engine. The suspension was the same as on the Elefant tank
destroyer. This had six road wheels per side mounted in paired bogies sprung with short longitudinal torsion bars that were integral to
the wheel pair; this saved internal space and facilitated repairs. One Porsche version had a gasoline-electric drive (fundamentally
identical to a Diesel-electric transmission, only using a gasoline-fueled engine as the prime mover), similar to a gasoline-electric
hybrid but without a storage battery; two separate drive trains in parallel, one per side of the tank, each consisting of a hybrid drive
train; gasoline engine – electric generator – electric motor – drive sprocket. This method of propulsion had been attempted before on
the Tiger (P) (later Elefant prototypes) and in some US designs and was put into production in the WW1 Saint-Chamond tank and the
post-WW1 FCM Char 2C. The Porsche suspension components were later used on a few of the later Jagdtiger tank destroyers.
Another proposal was to use hydraulic drives. Dr .[15]
. Porsche's unorthodox designs gathered little favour

Design
 Henschel won the design contract, and all Tiger IIs were produced by the firm.[16]
Two turret designs were used in production vehicles. The initial design is often
misleadingly called the "Porsche" turret due to the belief that it was designed by
Porsche for their prototype; in fact it was the initial Krupp design for both
prototypes. This turret had a rounded front and steeply sloped sides, with a difficult-
to-manufacture curved bulge on the turret's left side to accommodate the
commander's cupola. Fifty early turrets were mounted to Henschel's hull and used in
action. The more common "production" turret, sometimes called the "Henschel"
A model depicting the curved front of
turret, was simplified with a significantly thicker flat face, no shot trap (created by
the "Porsche" early production turret
the curved face of the earlier turret), and less-steeply sloped sides, which prevented
the need for a bulge for the commander's cupola, and added additional room for
ammunition storage.[17]

A clear view of the angular front of
the "Henschel" production turret,
taken during Operation Panzerfaust
in Budapest, 15 October 1944. The
rough Zimmerit coating, used to
prevent magnetic mines from
adhering to the tank's armour, is
evident.
warhead) round, which had 90 mm (3.5 in) penetration at any range, could be used as a dual-purpose munition against soft or
armoured targets.[18]
The turrets were designed to mount the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun. Combined with
the Turmzielfernrohr 9d (German "turret telescopic sight") monocular sight by Leitz,
which all but a few early Tiger IIs used, it was a very accurate and deadly weapon.
During practice, the estimated probability of a first round hit on a 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
high, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide target only dropped below 100 percent at ranges beyond
1,000 m (0.62 mi), to 95–97 percent at 1,500 m (0.93 mi) and 85–87 percent at
2,000 m (1.2 mi), depending on ammunition type. Recorded combat performance
was lower, but still over 80 percent at 1,000 m, in the 60s at 1,500 m and the 40s at
2,000 m. Penetration of armoured plate inclined at 30 degrees was 202 and 132 mm
(8.0 and 5.2 in) at 100 m (110 yd) and 2,000 m (1.2 mi) respectively for the
Panzergranate 39/43 projectile (PzGr—armour-piercing shell), and 238 and 153 mm
(9.4 and 6.0 in) for the PzGr. 40/43 projectile between the same ranges. The
Sprenggranate 43 (SpGr) high-explosive round was available for soft targets, or the
Hohlgranate or Hohlgeschoss 39 (HlGr—HEAT or High-explosive anti-tank

Powered turret traverse was provided by the variable speed Boehringer-Sturm L4S hydraulic motor, which was driven from the main
engine by a secondary drive shaft. A high and a low speed setting was available to the gunner via a lever on his right. The turret could
be rotated 360 degrees at 6º/second in low gear independent of engine rpm, at 19º/second — the same as with the Tiger I — with the
high speed setting and engine at 2000 rpm, and over 36º/second at the maximum allowable engine speed of 3000 rpm. The direction
and speed of traverse were controlled by the gunner through foot pedals, or a control lever near his left arm. If power was lost, such
as when the tank ran out of fuel, the turret could be slowly traversed by hand, assisted by the loader who had an additional wheel,
which could manually turn the turret at one-half a degree per 360º turn.

Like all German tanks, the Tiger II had a petrol engine; in this case the same 700 PS
(690 hp, 515 kW) V-12 Maybach HL 230 P30 which powered the much lighter
Panther and Tiger I tanks. The Tiger II was under-powered, like many other heavy
tanks of World War II, and consumed a lot of fuel, which was in short supply for the
Germans. The transmission was the Maybach OLVAR EG 40 12 16 Model B, giving
eight forward gears and four reverse, which drove the steering gear. This was the
Henschel L 801, a double radius design which proved susceptible to failure.
Transverse torsion bar suspension supported the hull on nine axles per side.
Rear view showing dual exhausts
Overlapped 800 mm (31 in) diameter road wheels with rubber cushions and steel
tyres rode inside the tracks.[19]
Like the Tiger I, each tank was issued with two sets of tracks: a normal "battle track" and a narrower "transport" version used during
rail movement. The transport tracks reduced the overall width of the load and could be used to drive the tank short distances on firm
ground. The crew were expected to change to normal battle tracks as soon as the tank was unloaded. Ground pressure was
0.76 kg/cm2 (10.8 psi).[20]

Command variant
The command variant of the Tiger II was designated Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger Ausf. B. It had two versions, Sd.Kfz. 267 and Sd.Kfz.
268. These carried only 63 rounds of 8.8 cm ammunition to provide room to accommodate the extra radios and equipment,[6] and had
additional armour on the engine compartment. The Sd.Kfz. 267 was to have used FuG 8 and FuG 5 radio sets, with the most notable
external changes being a two metre long rod antenna mounted on the turret roof and a Sternantenne D ("Star antenna D"), mounted
on an insulated base (the 105 mmAntennenfuß Nr. 1), which was protected by a large armoured cylinder. This equipment was located
on the rear decking in a position originally used for deep-wading equipment.[6] The Sd.Kfz. 268 used FuG 7 and FuG 5 radios with a
[21]
two-metre rod antenna mounted on the turret roof and a 1.4 metre rod antenna mounted on the rear deck.

Production
The Tiger II was developed late in the war and built in relatively small numbers. Orders were placed for 1,500 Tiger IIs — slightly
more than the 1,347 Tiger I tanks produced — but production was severely disrupted by Allied bombing raids.[22] Among others,
five raids between 22 September and 7 October 1944 destroyed 95 percent of the floor area of the Henschel plant. It is estimated that
this caused the loss in production of some 657 Tiger IIs.[23] Only 492 units were produced: one in 1943, 379 in 1944, and 112 in
.[1]
1945. Full production ran from mid-1944 to the end of the war

The Tiger II served as the basis for one production variant, the Jagdtiger casemated tank destroyer,[10] and a proposed Grille
[24]
17/21/30/42 self-propelled mount for heavy guns which never reached production.

Proposed upgrades
The HL234, an engine born from the developments initiated by attempting to convert the Maybach HL230 to fuel injection, would
have increased the power to about 800 to 900 PS (hp). The Entwicklungskommission Panzer unanimously decided that HL234 be
immediately included in the engine design and procurement program. The AK-7-200 was also explored as an alternative to the
Maybach Olvar-B drive train, but Waffenamt research and development department Wa Prüf 6 found that it offered inferior driving
characteristics and so the Maybach Olvar-B was retained.[25] There are also a program using the Simmering- Graz-Pauker Sla.16
engine, but the war's constraint on supplies and capitulation resulted in the cancellation of this program. Krupp proposed mounting a
new main weapon, the 10.5 cm KwK L/68.Wa Prüf 6 was not supportive of this as the Heer had not accepted the cannon itself. Other
suggested improvements included stabilised sights, a stabilised main gun, an automatic ammunition feed, a Zeiss stereoscopic range
finder, heated crew compartment, stowage for an additional 12 rounds, and an overpressure & air filtration system to protect against
fore the war ended.[25]
poison gas. However, these also never got beyond the proposal stage or did not enter production be

Specifications
[19]
Gearbox: Maybach OLVAR EG 40 12 16 B (eight forward and four reverse)
Radio: FuG 5, Befehlswagen (command tank) version:FuG 8 (Sd.Kfz. 267), FuG 7 (Sd.Kfz. 268)[6]
Ammunition:

8.8 cm – 80 rounds (Porsche turret),[3] 86 rounds (Henschel turret), usually 50%PzGr 39/43 and 50% SprGr 43,
sometimes with a limited number ofPzGr 40/43, or with the SprGr replaced by HlGr[3]
[4][18]
PzGr 39/43 (Armour-piercing, hardened steel) (longer range, lower penetration, explosive filler)
[4][18]
PzGr 40/43 (Armour-piercing, tungsten carbide core) (shorter range, higher penetration, inert)
SprGr 43 (High Explosive)[4]
HlGr 39 (Hollow charge)[4]
 7.92mm – up to 5,850 rounds[2]
.[26]
Gun Sight: Turmzielfernrohr 9b/1 (TZF 9b/1) binocular to May 1944, then the 9d (TZF 9d) monocular
Armour layout: (all angles from horizontal) [9]

Hull 100 mm (3.9 in)

(lower) (upper) 150 mm (5.9 in) at 40°
front at 40°
80 mm (3.1 in) at
Hull side (lower) (upper) 80 mm (3.1 in) at 65°
90°
80 mm (3.1 in) at
Hull rear
60°
40 mm (1.6 in) at
Hull top
0°
Hull 40 mm (1.6 in) at
(front) (rear) 25 mm (0.98 in) at 90°
bottom 90°
Turret 180 mm (7.1 in) 60 to 100 mm (2.4 to
(production) ("Porsche")
front at 80° 3.9 in), rounded
Turret 80 mm (3.1 in) at
(production) ("Porsche") 80 mm (3.1 in) at 60°
side 69°
Turret 80 mm (3.1 in) at
(production) ("Porsche") 80 mm (3.1 in) at 60°
rear 70°
Turret 44 mm (1.7 in) at
(production) ("Porsche") 40 mm (1.6 in) at 0–12°
top 0–10°

Operational history

Organisation
Apart from research, training, and a five-tank attachment to the Panzer Lehr, the Tiger II was only issued to heavy tank battalions
(schwere Panzer-Abteilungen) of the German Army (Heer), or Waffen-SS.[27]

A standard battalion (Abteilung) comprised 45 tanks:[27]

Tiger IIs with the narrower "transport

tracks", of Schwere Heeres Panzer
Abteilung 503 (s.H.Pz.Abt. 503)
'Feldherrnhalle' posing in formation
for the German newsreel

Battalion command
3 x Tiger II
1st company command 2nd company command 3rd company command
2 x Tiger II 2 x Tiger II 2 x Tiger II
1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd
platoon platoon platoon platoon platoon platoon platoon platoon platoon
4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger 4 x Tiger
II II II II II II II II II
Units that used the Tiger II were as follows:[28]

Heer: (s.H.Pz.Abt) 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511
SS: (s.SS.Pz.Abt) 501, 502, 503

Reliability and mobility

Early Tiger IIs proved unreliable, owing principally to leaking seals and gaskets, and
an overburdened drive train originally intended for a lighter vehicle.[29] The double
radius steering gear was initially particularly prone to failure.[30] Lack of crew
training could amplify this problem; drivers originally given only limited training on
other tanks were often sent directly to operational units already on their way to the
front.[29]

The Schwere Heeres Panzer Abteilung 501 (s.H.Pz.Abt. 501) arrived on the Eastern
Tiger IIs on the move in France, June
Front with only eight out of 45 tanks operational; these faults were mostly due to
1944
drive-train failures. The first five Tiger IIs delivered to the Panzer Lehr Division
broke down before they could be used in combat, and were destroyed to prevent
capture.[31]

The introduction of modified seals, gaskets and drive train components, as well as improved driver training and sufficient
maintenance improved the tank's mechanical reliability.[32] Statistics from 15 March 1945 show reliability rates of 59 percent for the
Tiger, almost equal to the 62 percent of the Panzer IV and better than the 48 percent of the Panther that were operational by this
period.[27]

Not withstanding its initial reliability problems, the Tiger II was remarkably agile for such a heavy vehicle. Contemporary German
[33]
records and testing results indicate that its tactical mobility was as good as or better than most German or Allied tanks.

Combat history
The first combat use of the Tiger II was by the 1st Company of the 503rd Heavy
Panzer Battalion (s.H.Pz.Abt. 503) during the Battle of Normandy, opposing
Operation Atlantic between Troarn and Demouville on 18 July 1944. Two were lost
in combat, while the company commander's tank became irrecoverably trapped after
falling into a bomb crater created during OperationGoodwood.[34]

On the Eastern Front, it was first used on 12 August 1944 by the501st Heavy Panzer
Battalion (s.H.Pz.Abt. 501) resisting theLvov–Sandomierz Offensive. It attacked the
France, June 1944. Spraying paint Soviet bridgehead over the Vistula River near Baranów Sandomierski. On the road
for camouflage on a Tiger II
to Oględów, three Tiger IIs were destroyed in an ambush by a few T-34-85s.[35]
Because these German tanks suffered ammunition explosions, which caused many
crew fatalities, main gun rounds were no longer allowed to be stowed within the turret, reducing capacity to 68.[36] Up to fourteen
Tiger IIs of the 501st were destroyed or captured in the area between 11 and 14 August to ambushes and flank attacks by Soviet T-34-
85 and IS-2 tanks, and ISU-122 assault guns in inconvenient sandy terrain. The capture of three operational King Tigers allowed the
[37]
Soviets to conduct tests at Kubinka and to valuate its strengths and weaknesses

On 15 October 1944, Tiger IIs of 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion played a crucial role during Operation Panzerfaust, supporting Otto
Skorzeny's troops in taking the Hungarian capital ofBudapest, which ensured that the country remained with the Axis until the end of
the war. The 503rd then took part in the Battle of Debrecen. The 503rd remained in the Hungarian theater of operations for 166 days,
during which it accounted for at least 121 Soviet tanks, 244 anti-tank guns and artillery pieces, five aircraft and a train. This was set
against the loss of 25 Tiger IIs; ten were knocked out by Soviet troops and burned out, two were sent back to Vienna for a factory
overhaul, while thirteen were blown up by their crews for various reasons, usually to
prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Kurt Knispel, the highest scoring tank
ace of all time (162 enemy AFVs destroyed), also served with the 503rd, and was
killed in action on 29 April 1945 in his Tiger II.[38]

The Tiger II was also used in significant numbers, distributed into four heavy panzer
battalions, during the Ardennes Offensive (also known as the Battle of the Bulge) of
December 1944.[39] At least 150 Tiger IIs were present, nearly a third of total
production, and most were lost during the course of the offensive.[40] During the A Tiger II of s.H.Pz.Abt. 503 and
Hungarian troops in a battle-scarred
Battle of St. Vith a M8 Greyhound armoured car destroyed a Tiger II after getting in
street in Buda's Castle district,
behind it on the Schonberg Road, though the commander tried to traverse his turret October 1944
to engage the M8. The M8 fired three 37 mm rounds into the relatively thin rear
armor of the Tiger from only 25 yd (23 m), setting it on fire: There was a muffled
et and engine port.[41]
explosion, followed by flames which billowed out of the turr

Some Tiger IIs were also present during the Soviet Vistula–Oder[42] and East Prussian Offensives in January 1945,[43] as well as the
German Lake Balaton Offensive in Hungary in March 1945,[44] the Battle of the Seelow Heights in April 1945, and the Battle of
Berlin at the end of the war.[45] On 12 January 1945, a column of Tiger IIs from 524th Heavy Panzer Battalion were involved in a
short-range engagement with IS-2 tanks near the village of Lisow, with both the German and Soviet formations suffering heavy
losses.[46]

The 103rd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion (s.SS Pz.Abt. 503) claimed approximately 500 kills in the period from January to April 1945
on the Eastern Front for the loss of 45 Tiger IIs (most of which were abandoned and destroyed by their own crews after mechanical
breakdowns or for lack of fuel).[47]

Gun and armour performance

This Tiger II was hit at least eight
times by an M36 Jackson's 90 mm
gun; none of the hits caused crew
injury or fatal damage. However, one
shot disabled the gun (note the
damage to the muzzle brake), so the
crew had to abandon their tank.[48]
The heavy armour and powerful long-range gun gave the Tiger II an advantage
against all opposing Western Allied and Soviet tanks attempting to engage it from
head on. This was especially true on the Western Front where, until the arrival of the
few M26 Pershings in 1945 and the few M4A3E2 Sherman "Jumbo"s that were
scattered around Europe after D-Day, neither the British nor US forces brought
heavy tanks into service. A Wa Prüf 1 report estimated that the Tiger II's frontal
aspect was impervious to the 122 mm D-25T, the heaviest although not the best
penetrating tank gun on the Allied side. On the other hand, an R.A.C 3.d. document
of February 1945 estimated that the British QF 17-pounder (76.2 mm) gun, using
armour-piercing discarding sabot shot was theoretically capable of penetrating the
front of the Tiger II's turret and nose (lower front hull) at 1,100 and 1,200 yd (1,000
and 1,100 m) respectively although, given the lack of a stated angle, this is
presumably at the ideal 90 degrees angle.[49] Some sources claimed that there is no
proof that the front armour of the King Tiger was ever penetrated in combat.[50]

As a result of its thick frontal armour, flanking manoeuvres were most often used
against the Tiger II to attempt a shot at the thinner side and rear armour, giving a
tactical advantage to the Tiger II in most engagements.[51] Moreover, the main armament of the Tiger II was capable of knocking out
any Allied tank frontally at ranges exceeding 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi), well beyond the fective
ef range of Allied tank guns.[52]

Soviet wartime testing

During August 1944, two Tiger Ausf B tanks were captured by the Soviets near Sandomierz, and were soon moved to the testing
grounds at Kubinka. During the transfer, the two tanks suffered from various mechanical breakdowns; the cooling system was
insufficient for the excessively hot weather, where the engine tended to overheat and cause a consequential failure of the gearbox.
The right suspension of one of the tanks had to be completely replaced, and its full functionality could not be re-established. The tank
broke down again every 10–15 km. The 8.8 cm KwK 43 gave positive results in penetration and accuracy, which were on par with
the 122 mm D-25T. It proved capable of passing completely through its "colleague", a Tiger Ausf B's turret at a range of 400 m. The
armour of one vehicle was tested by firing at it with shells between 100 and 152 mm calibre. The welding was, despite careful
workmanship, significantly worse than on similar designs. As a result, even when shells did not penetrate the armour, there was often
a large amount of spalling from the inside of the plates, which damaged the transmission and rendered the tank inoperable. Further
testing showed that the armour plate itself exhibited deficiencies in quality compared to earlier German tanks such as the Tiger I and
Panther. Analysis of the Tiger Ausf B armour plate showed an absence of molybdenum (ascribed to a loss of supply, being replaced
.[53]
by vanadium), Some have said it gives the armour low malleability

The expanded firing test states that the АР projectiles from the 100 mm BS-3 and 122 mm A-19 gun penetrated a Tiger Ausf B's
turret at ranges of 1000–1500 metres, which suggests a quality factor of 0.86 for the Tiger Ausf B's turret. The firing test against the
Tiger B turret front, however, was conducted after removal of the gun and mantlet, and resulted in penetrations close to armour
openings, such as vision slits and gun location. The penetrations to the right gun opening were influenced by previous 100 mm
projectile penetration hits or armour damage.[54] Some have said the tank's hull and turret side plates were penetrated by АР shot
from domestic 85 mm and American 76 mm guns at ranges of 800–2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft).[53] The 100 mm BS-3 and 122 mm A-
[55]
19 could also penetrate the weld joints of the front hull at ranges of 500–600 metres after 3–4 shots.

Some have said the large 122 mm OF-471 (ОФ-471) HE projectiles, equipped with a 3.8 kg TNT charge, would easily crack and
could even completely tear off the front armor plate at the seam weld, blow off the turret and driver sprocket[56][57] , mechanical
[56]
shock and explosion was often enough to knock out enemy heavy tanks without any armor penetration

Surviving vehicles
The only working example is displayed at the Musée des Blindés, Saumur, France. It has the production turret and is accessible to the
public. Other survivors include:

Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset, UK. Tiger II with early production

turret is on display. This vehicle was the second soft steel prototype
made and did not see active service. This T iger II's engine was removed
for use in the restoration ofTiger 131, the only working example of a
Tiger I. A production turret Tiger II is on loan from the Defence
Academy, Shrivenham, UK. See below.
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, UK. Tiger II
(production turret). This vehicle was froms.SS Pz.Abt. 501, with hull
number 280093, turret number 104, and has a comprehensive coating
of Zimmerit.[58] It was claimed by Sergeant Roberts of A Squadron,23rd
Hussars, 11th Armoured Divisionin a Sherman tank nearBeauvais,
although it had already been disabled and abandoned by its crew
Tiger II at The Bovington Tank
following damage to its tracks and final drive.[59] There is a photograph
showing this vehicle after its final action in a beet field with its turret Museum, UK
turned 90°. [60] This vehicle is currently on display atBovington Tank
Museum, in Dorset, UK.
The Wheatcroft Collection, Leicestershire, UK. A private collector, Kevin
Wheatcroft, is about to start a restoration/rebuild of a complete T iger II.
The project will include parts from many individual T iger IIs, but many
parts will be of new manufacture. Wheatcroft has stated that he has 70–
80% of the original parts needed for a reconstruction and more parts are
sourced continuously. Known and shown parts are a complete front
glacis plate, 8.8 cm KwK 43 main armament, engine deck plates, Working Tiger II demonstration at the
approx. 1/3 hull (rear) in one part, a set of tracks, and approx. 2/3 of the Musée des Blindés, (France) arena
left-side hull plate in two parts.[61] The aim of the project is a complete
Tiger II in running order.
Mantes-la-Jolie, France. A more or less complete, but wrecked, T iger II (production turret) is buried under regional
road 913. Parts of the turret were recovered in a limited exploratory excavation in 2001. Further excavation is
currently halted for financial reasons. There are plans to fully excavate
 currently halted for financial reasons. There are plans to fully excavate
and restore this Tiger II for a Vexin battle memorial.[62]
Kubinka Tank Museum, Russia. Tiger II (production turret) with turret
number 002 (502) captured at Oględów by the Red Army . The museum
is open to the public.
December 44 Museum, La Gleize, Belgium. A cosmetically restored
Tiger II (production turret) Hull number 280273, built in October 1944.
Turret number 213 froms.SS Pz.Abt 501. Displayed at the entrance to
King Tiger at La Gleize, Belgium
DECEMBER 44 MUSEUM Collections, a museum devoted entirely to
the Battle of the Bulge. This tank was abandoned in La Gleize on 24
December 1944, where the advance ofKampfgruppe Peiper was halted.
The front part, about 1/3, of the gun barrel is restored with a Panther
gun barrel and muzzle brake. It also has restored mudguards. It is
stripped of exterior and internal fittings and most of the torsion bars are
broken, but it still has its gearbox and engine in place.
Deutsches Panzermuseum, Munster, Germany. Tiger II (production
turret) displayed in interior location accessible to public on payment of
entrance fee. Hull number 280101. Turret number 121 from s.SS.Pz.Abt
501.
National Armor & Cavalry Heritage Museum, Restoration Shop,Fort
Benning, GA, United States. Tiger II (production turret). Hull number
280243, built in September 1944. Turret number 332 from s.SS Pz.Abt. King Tiger located at the Patton
501. Abandoned near Trois-Ponts, it was captured by the US Army on Museum of Cavalry and Armor, US
24 December 1944. The left side was cut open for educational purposes
at the Aberdeen Proving Groundin the late 1940s. Was on display at
the former "Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor , Fort Knox KY, then
under BRAC transferred to Fort Benning.
Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full, Switzerland. This Tiger II
(production turret) was previously displayed in the Thun ank T Museum,
and is now on loan to the Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full
(September 2006). It will be completely restored to running condition in
a long-term project. This tank was given to Switzerland by France after
the war. Hull number 280215 froms.H.Pz.Abt 506.[63]

See also Tiger II with the production turret, at

the Deutsches Panzermuseum,
List of military vehicles of World War II
Germany
List of World War II military vehicles of Germany
List of SdKfz designations

Tanks of comparable role, performance and era

British Centurion main battle tank - developed mid-World War II, entered service 1946
British Black Prince heavy tank - six prototypes built in May 1945; did not enter service
Soviet IS-2 model 1944 heavy assault tank - entered service in 1944
Soviet IS-3 heavy tank - entered service in 1945
United States T32 heavy tank - prototype; did not enter service
United States T26E4 "Super Pershing"heavy tank - single prototype M26 Pershing with extra armour and improved
T13E1 L/73 90mm gun; fought in Western Europe during 1945
United States T29 heavy tank - prototype; did not enter service
French ARL 44 - produced and served in limited numbers in the late 1940s and early 1950s
French AMX 50 - several prototypes produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s

References
1. Jentz 1996, p. 288. 3. Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1993).Kingtiger Heavy
2. Jentz and Doyle 1997, pp. 162–165. Tank 1942–45. Osprey Publishing. p. 23.
ISBN 185532282X.
4. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 28 (figure D)
 5. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 33.
6. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 16.
7. Buckley 2004, p. 119. (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=OaKMl8QFSA8C&pg=PA119)
8. Tank Spotter's Guide, Bovington 2011 p. 63
9. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 12, 15.
10. Schneider 1990, p. 18.
11. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 37.
12. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 40.
13. Jentz & Doyle 1993, p. 3.
14. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 10–12.
15. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 8–10.
16. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 17
17. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 13–16.
18. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 23–24
19. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 11–12.
20. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 13.
21. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 16–17.
22. Manchester 1968, p. 498.
23. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 17.
24. Parada, George. "Grille series" (http://www.achtungpa
nzer.com/pz13.htm#grille). Achtung Panzer!.
Retrieved 2009-10-20.
25. Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1997).Germany's Tiger
Tanks: VK45.02 to TIGER II Design, Production &
Modifications. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. pp. 144–154.
ISBN 0764302248.
26. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 19.
27. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 36.
28. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 37–42.
29. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 34
30. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 11
31. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 35.
32. Jentz and Doyle 1993, p. 18.
33. Jentz and Doyle 1993, pp. 33–34.
34. Schneider 2000, p. 133.
35. Zaloga 1994, p. 14.
36. Schneider 2000, p. 46.
37. Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of T iger Tank
Battalions in World War II. Christopher W. Wilbeck.
Aberjona, 2004. p.135
38. Számvéber, 2000. p. 147.
39. Schneider 2005, pp. 214–216.
40. Green, Michael. "German Tanks of World War II". May
14, 2000. Page 73.
41. Beevor, Antony (2015). Ardennes 1944: Hitler’s last
gamble. New York: Viking. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-670-
02531-2.
Notes
42. Schneider 2000, p. 47.
43. Schneider 2000, pp. 89–91.
44. Schneider 2005, p. 217.
45. Schneider 2005, pp. 300–303.
46. IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944–73. Steven J. Zaloga.
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011. P.31
47. Schneider 2005, pp. 304, 324.
48. Pallud 2006, p. 152
49. Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1993).Kingtiger Heavy
Tank 1942–45 (https://books.google.com/books?id=A T
awrvkJBAUC&pg=PA35). Osprey Publishing Ltd.
pp. 34–36. ISBN 185532282X.
50. "PzKpfw VI Tiger II" (http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/t
iger2.htm). The Armor Site!. Fabio Prado. Retrieved
23 November 2015.
51. Jarymowycz 2001, p. 274.
52. Jarymowycz 2001, p. 258.
53. "Was the Tiger really King?: Testing the King Tiger at
Kubinka" (http://english.battlefield.ru/analytics/126-was
-the-tiger-really-king.html). The Russian Battlefield. 19
September 2011. Retrieved 2009-10-20. "source:
Tankomaster #6 1999."
54. Bird, Lorrin Rexford; Livingston, Robert D. (2001).
WWII Ballistics - Armour and Gunnery. Overmatch
Press. p. 90.
55. Zheltov, Igor. TankoMaster Special Issues 02, 2002:
Isoif Stalin. Tekhnika molodezhi. p. 33.
56. Soviet Heavy Tanks: World War 2 In Review Special
(https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=RLjQDQAAQB
AJ&pg=PA5&dq=122mm+shell+effect&hl=vi&sa=X&re
dir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=122mm%20shell%20ef fect&
f=false)
57. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris
Bishop, P. 41 (https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=
MuGsf0psjvcC&pg=PA41&dq=is-2+powerful&hl=vi&sa
=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVsremgMvSAhUIU7wKHaX5Dsw
Q6AEIIDAB#v=onepage&q=is-2%20powerful&f=false)
58. Jentz and Doyle 1997, p.108.
59. Schneider 2005, p. 212.
60. Parada, George. "Tiger II Gallery 2" (http://www.achtu
ngpanzer.com/gallery/ktgal2.htm). Achtung Panzer!.
Retrieved 2009-10-20.
61. "Gallery of parts" (http://www.wheatcroftcollection.com/
tiger.html). Wheatcroft Collection. Retrieved
2009-10-20.
62. "Memorial Vexin 44" (http://www.vexinhistoirevivante.c
om/memorial_tigre.html). vexinhistoirevivante.com(in
French). Retrieved 2009-10-20.
63. "Tiger II" (http://www.koenigstiger.ch).
Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full. Retrieved
2009-10-20.
 1. Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. (English: armoured fighting vehicle)
Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. (English: variant).
The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B and Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger Ausf. B (for the command
version) were used in training and maintenance manuals and in organisation and equipment tables. (Jentz and
Doyle 1997)
Also sometimes referred to asPz. VI Ausf B, not to be confused withPz. VI Ausf H, which was the Tiger I.
2. Kampfwagenkanone – abbr: KwK (English: fighting vehicle cannon)

Sources
Buckley, John (2004). British Armour in the Normandy
Campaign, 1944. London: F. Cass. ISBN 978-0-7146-
5323-5.
Jarymowycz, Roman (2001).Tank Tactics: from
Normandy to Lorraine. Boulder: L. Rienner Publishers.
ISBN 978-1-55587-950-1.
Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1997).Germany's Tiger
Tanks – Vk45 to Tiger II: Design, Production&
Modifications. West Chester: Schiffer Publishing.
ISBN 978-0-7643-0224-4.
Jentz, Thomas; Doyle, Hilary (1993).Kingtiger Heavy
Tank, 1942–45. London: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-85532-
282-0.
Jentz, Thomas (1996).Panzertruppen 2: The
Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat
Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943–1945.
Schiffer. ISBN 978-0-7643-0080-6.
Manchester, William (2003). The Arms of Krupp,
1587–1968: The Rise and Fall of the Industrial
Dynasty That Armed Germany at War. Boston: Back
Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-52940-2.
Pallud, Jean-Paul (2006).Rückmarsch! : the German
retreat from Normandy : then and now. Old Harlow:
Battle of Britain International Ltd.ISBN 978-1-870067-
57-7.
Perrett, Bryan (2000). Sturmartillerie and Panzerjager
1939–45. London: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-004-9.
Schneider, Wolfgang (1990). Elefant Jagdtiger
Sturmtiger: Rarities of the Tiger Family. West Chester:
Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-239-5.
Schneider, Wolfgang (2000). Tigers in Combat I.
Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books.ISBN 978-0-8117-
3171-3.
Schneider, Wolfgang (2005). Tigers in Combat II.
Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books.ISBN 978-0-8117-
3203-1.
Spielberger, Walter & Doyle, Hilary (2007).Tigers I
and II and their variants”. Pennsylvania: Schiffer
Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-0-7643-2780-3.
Számvéber, Norbert (2000). Nehézpáncélosok. A
német 503. nehézpáncélos-osztály magyarországi
harcai (in Hungarian). Hadtörténeti Levéltár.
ISBN 978-963-00-2526-3.
Wilbeck, Christopher (2004).Sledgehammers:
Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World
War II. The Aberjona Press. ISBN 978-0-9717650-2-3.
Zaloga, Steven (1994).IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944–1973.
London: Osprey Publishing (UK).ISBN 978-1-85532-
396-4.
Zaloga, Steven J. (2015).Armored Champion: The
Top Tanks of World War II. Mechanicsburg, PA:
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Ford, Roger (2012). The World's Great Tanks: From
1916 to the Present Day. London: Amber Books Ltd.
ISBN 9781908696014.

External links
Information about the Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.B "Tiger II" at Panzerworld
Tiger II at the Armorsite
Pantiger, A Redesigned Tiger (U.S. intelligence report, 1944)

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