History of Creation of “tiger”

History

Tiger, Tiger “,” Tigris “- the word, spoken in English, Russian, Polish, French soldiers of the armies of the coalition, made the heart flutter, if not from fear, from a sense of mortal danger. In these moments arose in the minds of the soldiers did not look ferocious striped cat, and the image of impregnable steel HUGE hulks, belching fire and death.

Created by “gloomy Germanic genius”, this, without a doubt, the most formidable German tank of World War II was a perfect example of military equipment. And if the other two most famous tank of those years – the T-34 and Sherman, largely due to its well-known huge volumes of production, the “Tiger” – only an outstanding fighting qualities. I can only bitterly regret that the quality of those used in the fight for unjust cause …

Experienced obraztsyRealnaya work on creating a new heavy tank program Panzerkampfwagen VI began in late January 1937, when the company Henschel received an order for the design of combat vehicles under the symbol index DW1 (Durchbruchwagen – car break). The body of 30-ton tank consisted of two parts, connected to each other with bolts – steel mills are not able at that time to make a rolled armor plates large 50 mm thick. Chassis consisted of five rubber bearing and three supporting rollers on board, leading the front-wheel arrangement with the ridge gears and track width 300 mm. Suspension – individual, torsion. The tested tank chassis with ballast instead of the tower was equipped with 280-horsepower Maybach HL 120, gearbox Maybach Variorex and the mechanism of rotation-type Cletrac. Maximum speed 35 km / h.

Development since September 1938 version of the DW2 had differences from its predecessor in the construction of the gearbox, parking brake, caterpillars, airborne transmission, wheels and suspension. At the tank to be installed on the tower Pz.Kpfw.lV with 75-mm cannon and coaxial machine gun, MG 34. The second machine was installed in the front hull plates on the right. As in the first case, the case was limited to the construction and testing of the chassis.

We experienced tank VK 3001 (H), followed by the first two prototypes, and created as they were led by a Head of development company Henschel Irwin Aders, the thickness of the frontal hull armor brought to 60 mm, used caterpillar track width 520 mm and positioned road wheels in staggered rows, 6-cylinder Maybach HL 116 engine rated at 300 hp at 3000 rpm allow 30-ton combat vehicle moving at 35 km / h. Were produced three experimental chassis that were used to test various components and units. When in May 1941, Hitler ordered the start of the development of self-propelled anti-tank systems with a powerful gun, 105 and 128 mm, to build VK 3001 (H), found a different application. On the basis of two chassis of this type of firm Rheinmetall-Borsig in Düsseldorf produced severe ACS 12,8 cm Panzer-Selbstfahrlafette V. 128mm gun Gerat 40 with a barrel 61 caliber and muzzle velocity of 910 m / s, created on the basis of anti-aircraft gun was installed in the open top of the wheelhouse at the stern of the hull. To place a mass of 7 tons of weapons had to lengthen the chassis by entering the eighth support roller. In the cockpit with a wall thickness of 30 mm were placed 5 crew members and 18 cannon shots. Machine weight reached 36 tons Both self-propelled guns were sent to the Eastern front, where one of them fall of 1943 captured by Soviet troops. At present, this unique machine is a tank museum exhibit in Kubinka.

Parallel with the company Henschel drafting a new heavy tank company and worked as a Porsche. Machine VK 3001 (P) – first established in the shops of the new plant Nibelungenwerke – has the trade name “Leopard” (Leopard) and designation of Tour 100. There were built two prototype chassis, left without the towers, has not received from the company Krupp. The main feature of the chassis was porshevskih electromechanical transmission. Two engines are made by the Vienna Simmering-Graz-Pauker AG, a power of 210 hp rotated every two generators, which, in turn, setting in motion the two electric motors. From these torque on the driving wheels. The tank was supposed to get a modified turret from Pz.lV with 75mm short-barreled gun. Later on the “Leopard” was planned to install 105-mm gun L/28. In 1941 – 1942, the two machines being tested, often interrupted because of the numerous problems in the transmission.

In May 1941, during a meeting of the Berghof, Hitler offered a new concept of a heavy tank, have high firepower and armor protection, and called a strike force of the armored units, each of which is supposed to have 20 such machines. In the light of proposals by the Fuhrer and the results of testing of experimental heavy tanks have been developed tactical and technical requirements, and then issued an order the company Porsche for the development of the tank VK 4501 (P) with 88-mm cannon, and the company Henschel – on the VK 3601 (H) with a gun conical barrel. The manufacturer prototypes are expected by May – June 1942.

Work on assembling cars Sonderfah-rzeug II, or the 101 Tour, officially designated in the arms control instruments as Panzerkampfwagen VI, VK 4501 (P) Tiger (P), was carried out on the shop floors Nibelungenwerke. The layout of both the tank and the engine-transmission compartment remained the same as the VK 3001 (P). Two are located parallel to each other 10-cylinder V-shaped air-cooled gasoline engine Tours 101 / 1 capacity of 320 hp each with a V-belt transmission drives the rotors of the two generators. From the latter was supplied by two electric motors, which rotate the driving wheels of the tank. Whole electrical part of transmission set firm Siemens-Schuckert. As for the tower, it was designed as a private venture by Krupp in close cooperation with Porsche.

Meanwhile, the company quickly Henschel designs, manufactures and prints on the testing of your VK 3601 (H), which took place on the documents as well as Panzerkam-pfwagen VI Ausf.B. From chassis no problems: engine-transmission group and chassis have been well established in previous models. Fighting vehicle weighing 36 t, a secure 100-mm front armor, reached a speed of 40 km / h. As for the towers and armaments, for this tank, they have not been established. The fact that the firm Krupp offered its Gerat 725 – 75-mm gun with a conical barrel. But when it became clear that the armor-piercing shell of the gun includes a tungsten core mass of 1 kg, from her hastily-abandoned ammunition this gun “ate” all the tungsten would limit the Wehrmacht. Successfully tested, which, incidentally, was attended by Minister of Armaments A. Speer, the machine was out of work. But not for long …

Note that the VK 3601 (H) from the beginning seen as an intermediate model, as a step to the next, more powerful military machine. No wonder the planned release of the tank was limited to 172 copies. Since the original version of the weapon was unsuccessful, and time was pressing, it was necessary to seek some new solution. I found it – the tank was installed Krupp tower, designed for the VK 4501 (P). However, it needed to increase the diameter of the ring in the light tower from 1650 to 1850 mm, which caused a change in the upper part of the body. In VK 3601 (H) appeared nadgusenichnye niches, and the mass increased to 45 tons Structural changes also led to a shift index: the tank was called VK 4501 (H). Same main thing was that the car E. Aders, as well as on a tank FA Porsche, “subscribed” 88-mm tank gun.

This gun was developed by Friedrich Krupp AG, using a swinging part of anti-aircraft guns 8,8-cm Flak 18/36 – the famous “acht-acht” ( “eight-eight”), without a doubt the most famous artillery guns of the Second World War. In tank form, having muzzle brake and electrically, the gun became known as 8,8 cm KwK 36.

However, for a tank company Henschel envisaged and a second version of the arms – 75-mm gun KwK 42 L/70 in the tower of the company Rheinmetall-Borsig. The peculiarity of this tower, made only a wooden model of a life-size, was rear MG 34 machine gun in a ball setup. Machine with reynmetallovskoy tower had an index of H2, with Krupp – H1.

In March 1942, Hitler offered to send prototypes of heavy tanks to the front in order to conduct tests in real combat conditions. Soon after this very dubious proposals he announced how many tanks should be ready by October 1942 and by March 1943. It was entirely divorced from the reality of demand towards the end of September 1942 received 60 cars from Porsche and the 25 – by Henschel, but the end of February 1943, another 135 tanks from both firms. Here it should be noted that both the tank before the start of any serious tests in fact already been put into production. The factory floor Nibelungenwerke began assembling a pilot batch of 10 machines at once VK 4501 (P), and the Krupp firm ordered 90 towers. Subsequently F. Porsche planned to release 35 tanks by January 1943 and 45 by April. Went even further its rival: the first 60 production machines VK 4501 (H) began in mid-1941, and although the spring of 1942 was ready, only one instance, units and other units have not disappeared – they were used later during assembly serial tigers .

April 20, 1942, Hitler’s birthday, both tanks were shown to the Fuhrer at his headquarters “Wolf’s Lair” (Wolfsschanze) in East Prussia. And when delivering VK 4501 (H) encountered some difficulties, since the tank tracks favored gauge of the railway platform at 50 mm on each side. At the time of transportation of the tank had to block the traffic in all areas of the railway line Kassel-Rustenburg. Not without problems and with the tank F. Porsche – when unloading from the platform under its own power a heavy vehicle is stuck in the ground. Henshelevtsy prudently used for this purpose, 70-ton railway crane, and porshevtsy decided to shine. In the end, they still had to resort to using a crane.

The next day, both vehicles came to bid. At 10.30, as follows from the memories of Erwin Aders, began to gather the leaders of the Reich and Wehrmacht. Goebbels and Goering were absent. When Hitler came to 11.00, employees of manufacturers lined up for submission to the Fuhrer. Then, as he met with Ferdinand Porsche Cross for Military Merit I class. After the official part of Hitler about half an hour inspecting the car Porsche, carefully listening to the explanation of designers. Henschel tank, he paid only 2-3 minutes, Aders asked one question and walked away. Followed by a demonstration of tanks on the move.

After dinner came Goering. In the presence of his minister of armaments and Speer took the test speed. The area of 1000 m VK 4501 (P) developed a maximum speed of 50 km / h, while its competitor in the area 850 m – 45 km / h. This engine VK 4501 (H) is overheating so that there was a threat of fire. After the engine cooling tank was again ready for action. Chief Engineer Company Henschel Kurt Arnold Speer proposed comparative test of agility, apparently, not without a conspiracy: he knew the weaknesses of the Porsche cars. Crude, Incomplete electric transmission seriously impede maneuvering VK 4501 (P), for example, with great difficulty, the tank performed for 90. “Against this background, VK 4501 (H) proved to be at its best – multi-ton vehicle was turning literally on the patch, resulting in ecstasy spectators.

However, the demonstration of tanks, in fact, did not decide – the front was a real test at the site of Burke, where in May 1942, arrived two VK 4501 (P) and one VK 4501 (H). As a result, the tank company’s Porsche, as in the case of the VK 3001 (P), showed low reliability of electric transmission. In addition, the machine had unsatisfactory patency and a small range – only 50 km. Because Hitler wanted to use the new tanks in North Africa, this figure was equal to a minimum of 150 km. Share the same additional amount of fuel in the tank was not possible due to lack of space. It was easy to predict and many difficulties that might arise from the operation of military vehicles at the front. Unusual transmission require retraining of mechanics, drivers and professional repair services.

Having weighed all the pros and cons, in spite of the particular location of Hitler to Dr. Porsche, who conducted the test, the Commission decided in favor of a tank company Henschel. Hitler was forced to agree. Machine received the designation Pz.Kpfw.VI (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger Ausf.H1, and after adopting in 1944 the Tiger II tank’s name was changed to Tiger Ausf.E or Tiger I. Already manufactured in the factory Nibelungenwerke 90 chassis VK 4501 (P), it was decided to use as a base for heavy assault guns, armed with 88-mm antitank gun, established on the basis of anti-aircraft Flak 41 with a barrel length of 71 gauge – the future Ferdinand.

In early August 1942 the serial production of new heavy tank, which, however, does not mean the end of testing. They continued, but in the main tank range Wehrmacht in Kummersdorf. The first tank was by then 960 km. By sredneperesechennoy terrain vehicle developed a speed of 18 km / h, fuel consumption is thus 430 liters per 100 kilometers.
Pz6_2.gif (7467 bytes)
Mortirki to fire smoke grenades:
1 – front view;
2 – rear view.

By August 18, 1942 were issued the first 4 “tiger.” The fifth and sixth car on Aug. 27 sent to Fallingbostel, which formed 501 th and 502 th heavy tank battalions. Build tanks was carried out at a factory the company Henschel in Kassel. To manufacture the towers had been hired by the firm Wegmann. In the process of production in the construction of the tank, was produced in one modification, almost continuously make changes and improvements. In the first production cars was changed for a box of equipment and ZIPa, mounted on the stern of the tower. In the prototype used a box, borrowed from Pz.Kpfw.lll. Hatch with loopholes for firing of individual weapons on the right side of the tower was replaced in the manhole. For self-defense against enemy infantry on the perimeter of the shell were mounted mortirki for anti-personnel mines such as “S”. This mine, the warhead of which included 360 steel balls fired at a low altitude and torn. In addition, the towers of the earlier generation NbK mounted smoke grenade launchers, 39 caliber 90 mm (three on each side). The latter could also be used for firing mine-type “S”. On machines later releases for this purpose served as “weapons of the near-Defense” – Nahverteidigungswaffe – mortirka installed inside the tank and fired through an embrasure, located on the roof of the tower for the loaders hatch.

Since the second half of 1943 the Tigers began to install the new commander’s cupola (with 391-first car), unified with a turret “Panther” and have had the device for mounting an anti-aircraft machine gun MG 34, and the periscope surveillance device in front loaders hatch. Changes have been made to the trigger gun, the gun stopper in its stowed position, coaxial machine gun mount, the seat of the crew and others on board placed stow spare truck, which had previously settled only on the lower front hull plates. Five trucks were attached to the left, but three – the right side.

Undergone changes and propulsion tank. In the first 250 machines installed engine Maybach HL 210RZO, on the other – Maybach HL 230R45. For operation in the African desert, and in southern Russia on the aft hull plates mounted air filters like Feifel.

The first 495 tanks were equipped with equipment for underwater driving their own power to overcome the water barrier at the bottom of the depth of 4 meters over a special hatches in the roof, engine compartment mounted three-meter telescope tube to supply air to the engine. The exhaust is made directly into the water. All the hatches of the tank had a rubber seal. With carefully sealed motor baffle to the exhaust gases do not penetrate into the crew compartment of the tank. During the tests at the factory test site, where for this purpose was built a special pool, a tank with the engine was under water up to 2,5 hours. While “Tiger” was the only serial tank in the world, equipped with en masse fording equipment, which is widely used in tank building only in the 50 years. However, in the army equipment is practically not used and from him eventually abandoned.

Weakness chassis “Tiger”, which could not manage to get rid of, was the rapid deterioration and subsequent destruction of the rubber tires of road wheels. Starting with 800-first car on the tank began to establish road wheels with internal shock absorbers and steel tires. Thus a number of outdoor ice rinks single was withdrawn.

On the Tigers used two types of tracks – the transport, width 520 mm and the fighting, width 725 mm. First used for transport by rail, in order to fit in the draft platform, and for the movement under its own power for paved roads outside of battle. (When transporting tanks are often filmed and outer road wheels.) When using the transport caterpillars ground pressure increased up to 1,53 kg/cm2.