German Panzer tank design by the end of the war.
Designation: SdKfz 182 Panzerkampfwagen VIB Tiger II (PzKpfw VIB)
Classification Type: Heavy Tank
Contractor: Henschel / Porsche - Germany
Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1944
Number Built: 485
Even with the formidable Tiger I heavy tank series already hitting the
production lines, it was envisioned that the system could be made into a
more powerful class of tank. This decision leaned heavily on counteracting
any new heavy tanks as developed by the Soviet Union and would be the
ultimate in the Panzer evolution. The resulting system - christened the
"Tiger II" (or known in some circles as the "King Tiger", "Royal Tiger" and
or the German "Konigstiger") - would be feature the awesome tank-killing
88mm main gun and armor as much as 4 inches at its thickest. Fortunately for
the Allies, production of the complicated system was slow and petrol for the
retreating Germans was at a premium. Additionally, the heavy tank proved
somewhat unwieldy, slow and unreliable despite the sheer power inherent in
the design.
The Tiger II design centered around the powerful 88mm main gun of which some
84 projectiles were carried aboard. The system was crewed by five personnel
and an additional 2 x 7.92mm machine guns were added for self-defense. Power
was derived from a single Maybach HL 230 P 30 12-cylinder petrol engine
developing in the area of 700 horsepower. The sheer weight of the vehicle
did not lend itself favorably to the design at some 153,660 pounds, most
attributed to the added armor and heavy main gun. Road speed was limited to
24 miles per hour and much less than that off road. Range amounted to a mere
68 miles.
Production of the mammoth tank began in December of 1943 with the system
seeing first action in May of 1944. Tiger II's would also be present at
Normandy to which the invading Allies would see first hand the power of the
"King Tiger". In essence, the Tiger II was more similar to the Panther tank
than the Tiger I as the Tiger Ii utilized similar engines, cupola and
wheels. If anything, the Tiger II could be considered more of an up-gunned
Panther tank than an improved Tiger I model.
The Tiger II appeared with a variety of turrets by various manufacturers
throughout its production run. The initial 50 production models were fitted
with a Wegmann turret while later models were seen with Krupps, Porsche and
Henschel designed turrets. The similarity between the Panther and Tiger II
lines helped keep these two tanks in production up into 1945, though two
Panthers could be constructed for every one Tiger II.
In the end, fuel shortages did most of the Tiger II systems in as their
armor was able to withstand most any direct shot from Allied tanks. Many a
Tiger II crew simply abandoned their systems on the battlefield when out of
gas. The Tiger II chassis went on to become the basis for the equally
formidable Jagdtiger B tank destroyers while Tiger II production totaled
some 485 examples. Top production equaled 84 in the month of August (1944)
alone, never meeting the ambitious expectation of 145 per month.
Variants:
Panzerkampfwagen VIB Tiger II Ausf B (SdKfz 182) - Main Production Series
Designation.
"Royal Tiger" / "King Tiger"- - Unofficial Allies Designation of the Tiger
II system.
Konigstiger "King Tiger" - Unofficial German Designation of the Tiger II
system.
Jagdtiger B - Chassis of the Tiger II used in design.
Specifications: SdKfz 182 Panzerkampfwagen VIB Tiger II (PzKpfw VIB)
Dimensions:
Length: 33.66ft (10.26m)
Width: 12.30ft (3.75m)
Height: 10.14ft (3.09m)
Performance:
Speed: 24mph (38km/h)
Range: 68miles (110km)
Structure:
Accommodation: 5
Weight: 76.8 US Short Tons (69,700kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x Maybach HL 230 P 30 12-cylinder engine developing 700hp.
Armament:
1 x 88mm (8.8-cm) KwK L/71 main gun
2 x 7.92mm MG34 machine guns
Ammunition:
84 x 88mm (8.8-cm) projectiles
5,850 x 7.92mm ammunition
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