Lord of Death: Tiger 1

Tiger tanks were the most iconic and feared German heavy tanks of World War II. With its powerful 8.8 cm KwK gun and thick 100 mm frontal armor, it provided a great advantage against enemy tanks. However, these tanks also had many technical problems and disadvantages. This article will provide information about the design, production, performance and combat history of Tiger tanks.
The emergence of Tiger tanks dates back to the Germans' pursuit of making heavy tanks since 1937. Henschel and Porsche companies were working on different prototypes. However, the Germans' need for heavy tanks increased when they attacked the Soviet Union in 1941. Soviet T-34 and KV-1/2 tanks surpassed German tanks in terms of armor and firepower. This caused Hitler to pay more attention to the heavy tank project and requested features such as the 8.8 cm KwK gun and 100 mm frontal armor.

Henschel and Porsche developed new prototypes according to Hitler's wishes. Henschel's prototype, VK 45.01 (H), used a classic internal combustion engine and transmission. Porsche's prototype, VK 45.01 (P), had a more innovative design. This tank was driven by two electric motors powered by electricity produced by two gasoline engines. This system gave the tank a smoother ride. But it was also more complex, expensive and malfunctioning. In April 1942, the Henschel and Porsche prototypes were presented to Hitler. Hitler liked Porsche's design better and ordered 90 units. However, during the tests of Porsche tanks, many problems arose. Engines overheated, fuel consumption was high, and the electrical system broke down frequently. Meanwhile, Henschel tanks were performing more reliably and successfully. Therefore, in August 1942, Hitler decided to put Henschel tanks into mass production. Porsche tanks were cancelled. However, the bodies produced by Porsche were later used in heavy anti-tank vehicles called Ferdinand. Henschel tanks were designated Tiger I. Tiger I, 1347 units were produced from 1942 to 1944. These tanks often served in independent heavy tank battalions. Tiger I fought on the African, Eastern and Western fronts. These tanks created great fear against enemy tanks. Allied tanks, especially on the Western front, were not lucky against the Tiger I. Tiger I could penetrate 100 mm armor from 1500 meters. At this distance, Allied tank artillery shells could not penetrate the Tiger I's armor.
Therefore, the only way to destroy the Tiger I was to hit it from the rear or side, or bomb it from the air. Tiger I achieved great success on the battlefield. For example, in the Battle of Kursk, a single Tiger I destroyed 22 T-34 tanks. However, Tiger I also had many disadvantages. This tank was a very heavy, slow and cumbersome vehicle. Its weight of 54 tons made it difficult to cross bridges. The tank, which could reach a speed of 38 km per hour, consumed a lot of fuel. It could only travel 80 km on one tank of fuel. This limited the tank's range and mobility. In addition, the tank's pallets frequently jammed or broke off on surfaces such as mud, ice and snow. This left the tank immobile. Maintenance of the tank was also very difficult. It took 8 hours to replace the tank's engine. It took 10 hours to replace the tank's cannon.
The Tiger I was superseded in 1944 when the Tiger II entered production. Tiger II had a more powerful gun and more sloped armor than Tiger I. However, Tiger II, like Tiger I, was a heavy, slow and fuel-consuming tank. These tanks could not prevent Germany from losing the war. By the end of the war, most Tiger tanks were destroyed or abandoned. Today, there are only seven Tiger I tanks left in the world. One of these is on display in the UK Tank Museum. This tank is the only Tiger I tank in operational condition. Tiger tanks were one of the most impressive and lethal armored vehicles of World War II. A product of German engineering, these tanks inspired great respect for their enemies. However, these tanks were not suitable for Germany's war strategy and resources. These tanks were very expensive, complex and malfunctioning. These tanks reduced Germany's combat power rather than increasing it. These tanks can also be seen as a symbol of Germany's defeat in the war.