Ground Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>King Tiger>HG0110

General Background

Hitler was impressed with Allied heavy tanks and in 1941 ordered his own. In late 1942 Tiger I's appeared, bigger and better and had a massive 88mm main gun with greatly improved armor. In 1944 the Tiger II, a larger tank arrived with an upgraded 88mm and armor that was almost impenetrable making it the most powerful tank of WWII. Just the sight of a Tiger II caused fear but they were too few and too late. The Tiger's biggest enemy was lack of fuel and mechanical breakdown.

The Tank

The sPzAbt. 506 was formed in 1943 with 45 King Tigers. Their first action was in the Ukraine in late 1943 and then returned to Germany for the expected fighting in the West. September 1944 the 506 transferred to west of Arnhem and played a key role in the failed Allied Operation Market Garden attempt to capture a bridge across the Rhine. A month later they took part in the defense of Aachen and then the Ardennes offensive in December 1944 finally surrendering to the Allies in the Ruhr Pocket in April 1945.

Specifications :

Weight:	75 tons
Crew:	5
Weapons:	88mm L71, 2 KwK 43 gun with 86 rounds, 2  7.92mm machine guns MG34 with 5850 rounds
Armor:	Hull - 150mm (nose 100mm, sloped plate 150mm@50 degrees, sides and rear 80mm, top 40mm, bottom 25mm)
Turret:	185mm (front 185mm, sides and rear 80mm, top 44mm)
Engine:	700hp gasoline Maybach HL230 P, 12-cylinders on V, liquid cooled
Speed:	38km/h