German King Tiger Tank

King Tiger Tank Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

Porsche King Tigers enroute to Normandy. Although only fifty were produced, it was the Porsche KingTigers that created a reputation when it wreaked the most havoc during the Ardennes offensive. Another snapshot of an early version fitted with Porsche turret. An excellent snapshot of a Porsche turret. Notice the curved gun mantlet which acted as a shot trap by deflecting incoming shots downwards towards the roof. Also in view is the gunner's sight, a TZF 9b, binocular which was later changed to TZF 9d, monocular. The hole on the right side of the main gun is a co-axially mounted MG34. A Tiger 2 tank of the schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 (Heavy Tank Battallion) in Budapest, Hungary October 1944. From the 2.Kompanie/schwere Panzer Abteilung 506 captured by American troops. 15 December 1944. Henschel or production turret from schwere Panzer Abteilung 503, Feldherrnhalle in Budapest, 1945. The gunner's sight is a single monocular above the driver. Zimmerit coating is clearly visible. Tank 502 captured by Russian troops on the eastern front. "Glory to Korobov" is inscribed on the barrel. Tank number 104. The powerful 88mm made the King Tiger particularly suited to open terrain. However, this also made them very vulnerable to allied aircraft. King Tigers of the Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503. This photo shows the battalion at full strength. Panzers tanks from the KampfGruppe Peiper during the Ardennes offensive. In the background are American POWs. A Porsche turreted version taking cover from allied planes in Normandy. Allied fighter planes were a major threat to the German Panzers since the Luftwaffe were practically wiped out. Porsche Tiger 2 tanks enroute to Normandy. Many Tigers 1 and 2 were lost during the battle at Normandy, particularly by Allied aircraft. Zimmerit coating was applied at the Henschel factory from August to November 1944. However, this was discontinued in late November due to reports that it caused fires when hit by an armor piercing projectile. This was later found to be false but news never reached the frontlines and many late models were without zimmerit coating. Porsche version tank number 114. Many German panzers were lost during the Ardennes offensive due to mechanical breakdowns or abandoned as they had run out of gas rather than destroyed by allied forces. A Tiger 2 tank leaving its ambush position. Many were used as static defense roles as Germany was constantly on the retreat. This helped conserve fuel and minimized breakdowns on the overtaxed drive trains. A frontal photo of the 150mm thick glacis plate of the Tiger 2. There is no evidence that the front armor has ever been penetrated during the war. A photograph with its crew of five. The early tank crew uniform were black in color. The crew uniform was later changed to a green camouflage pattern towards the end of the war. Crews applying field camouflage. A pattern of red brown and dark green over a yellow base was common. Beginning in February 1944, camouflage was done at the factory, and by November 1944, it was altered to a base dark green with red brown and dark yellow pattern. Porsche King Tiger tanks during firing trials. Henschel King Tiger. The armored track guard appears to be removed. Russian soldiers examining the captured King Tiger 502, August 1944. King Tiger of s.PzAbt. 507, taken in March 1945. Considered by many to be the world's first modern general purpose machine gun, the Machinengewehr 34 or MG34 was the primary tank and aircraft defensive weapon. Fitted on the King Tiger tanks, it had a rate of fire between 800 to 900 rpm. The Panzerfaust was the world's first expendable anti-tank weapon. There were three variants, 30, 60, and 100 indicating the maximum effective range in meters. The oversized warhead fitted to the front could penetrate up to 170 mm of armor. Panzerschreck or "tank terror" was copied from the American bazooka, but made considerably more effective to deal with future Russian tanks. It used a rocket tank rifle round and could penetrate over 200mm of armor, capable of dealing with any tank during the war.

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