Tiger I Information Center - Tiger history (2024)

German industry first began working on heavy tank designs in 1937, even though it was believed at the time that the PzKpfw III and IV would be more than adequate for the coming battles. But when the German Panzers in Russia encountered the Soviet T-34's and KV-1's in 1941 it was all too apparent that a new heavy tank was needed. Ultimately, this resulted in a specification for a 45-ton tank with an 88mm gun, heavy armor, speed and manuverability. The Porsche firm began working on this new tank design but encountered serious complications. The Henschel firm then began working on its own model under the direction of Dr. Erwin Aders, drawing from its previous work on heavy tank designs. The two firms were to have prototypes ready for inspection by Hitler at Rastenburg on his birthday, April 20th, 1942. The Porsche and Henschel tanks were put through trials and, in spite of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's friendship with Hitler, the Henschel tank won, in large part due to its superior maneuverability.

Dr. Erwin Aders The "father" of the Tiger I.

The Porsche prototype Tiger.	The familiar shape as designed by Henschel.

Production was ordered to start in August 1942. It began at a rate of 25 tanks per month and peaked in April 1944 at a rate of 104 per month. It took 300,000 man hours to build one Tiger, almost twice as much time as a Panther required.

The average cost of a Tiger was 250,000 Reichsmarks. In comparison, a PzKpfw III cost RM 96,200, a PzKpfw IV RM 103,500, and a PzKpfw V Panther RM 117,000; all these figures are exclusive of weapons and radios. The Tiger cost $100,000 in 1941 U.S. dollars. Adjusted for inflation, a Tiger I today would cost approximately $1,282,051. By comparison, the United States current M1A1 Abrams tank costs $4,300,000.

Tiger hulls in early stages of production.

When it was introduced, the Tiger was the most powerful tank in the world. The 88mm gun wasextremely powerful and the heavy armor made it almost impervious to attack. Even though itsfearsomeness was to grow to almost mythical proportions, its combat debut was less thanimpressive.

The Das Reich Tiger of SS-Oberscharfuhrer Paul Egger passing panzer grenadiers near Bykowka, Russia in July 1943 during Operation Citadel.

The hull after British firing tests.	Side armor damage from firing tests.

The influence of the Tiger on Allied morale, known as Tigerphobia, was so powerful thatBritish General Montgomery banned all reports mentioning it's prowess in battle. Perhaps theTiger's greatest fame was gained in a single action in Normandy where the famous commander SSObersturmführer Michael Wittman destroyed an entire column of 25 tanks, 14 half-tracks and 14bren-gun carriers in a few short minutes with one Tiger. Due to Allied air superiority, theTigers in Normandy and France were employed mainly in a static defensive role. This conservedfuel as the Tiger normally consumed huge amounts of petrol. It also kept the mechanicalbreakdowns to a minimum.
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Michael Wittman and crew in front of their Tiger.

Throughout the war, the Tiger's greatest weakness was poor mechanical reliablility. If preventivemaintenance was not performed regularly, the transmission would soon fail due to the great weightof the machine. The result was a great number of Tiger's abandoned and destroyed by their crewsdue to mechanical breakdown. Recovery was a constant problem because of the Tiger's weight, withonly the absolute largest recovery vehicles being able to tow a stricken vehicle. It often tookseveral of these to do the job and, even though it was forbidden by regulations, the Tigersthemselves were often forced to tow their comrades out of trouble. The overlapping roadwheelsalso caused problems, sometimes becoming clogged with frozen mud and debris. This could cause thetank to throw a track or simply be frozen in place. The sheer size of the tank was anotherweakness. Many bridges could not support it's weight and any routes it took had to be scouted outto ensure the roads were wide enough. Special rail cars had to be used to transport it. Specialtransport tracks which were narrower had to be fitted for rail travel, a job which was notrelished by the crews.

A Tiger awaiting its outer roadwheels and combat tracks.

Mechanics use a crane to change a drive sprocket.

Crewmen struggling to repair a track on Das Reich Tiger S33, commanded by SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Reinhardt.	Crewmen layout a track to be installed.

The Tiger's two greatest strengths were its main gun and its heavy armor. The 88mm KwK 36 L/56main gun was the most powerful anti-tank gun then in use by any army, capable of penetrating 112mm of armor at 1400 meters. The Tiger I had the best quality armor of any German tank. The rolledhom*ogeneous nickel-steel plate had the best hom*ogeneous armor hardness level of any WW II tank,meaning it was stronger and less brittle. It was used in great thicknesses on the Tiger,resulting in great weight but extreme protection. The combination of this massive armor andpowerful gun made for an almost unbeatable tank. Enemy crews often watched helplessly as theirshots bounced off the Tiger and their own vehicles were quickly destroyed...often from greatdistances. The Tiger I was very maneuverable for its weight and size, and it was only 2km/hslower than the Panzer III and Panzer IV.

Tiger S33 of sKp/SS-PzRgt.2, SS-Panzer Grenadier Division Das Reich in the Russian woods, late 1943, near the city of Berditchev in the Zihtomir sector. Tiger S13 follows.