Tiger II, Power on the Prowl

[lufttiger]

I hadn't heard that in years, i don't think they air those commercials anymore?

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by cyberia

How does one clean a dirty Tiger II?

Mit eine Panzer Bad!

A drive-thru, concrete Tiger size trough.

For those that may not know (probably not too many of you on this forum!) that trough is at a tank testing facility. It was used to test the fording ability of tanks.

Another common test bed was the "washboard" road with humps/troughs undulating with a period of about 2 meters. That was to test the suspension systems. These testing measures have changed little over the years.

Also notice there is no machine gun in the bow mount. I'm surprised the muzzle isn't covered as well. The Porche turret indicates an early model King Tiger and the crew is exposed except the gunner and loader. Since they are just testing, there probably was no gunner or loader because they aren't needed (you need a driver, radio operator, and commander), likewise if they were on board, one of them would be standing in the hatch next to the tank commander.

[TRDG]

Great pics here. thanks!!
Is there any word on how the crews liked them? Was it like the Jagdtiger, where the crews seemed to think it was 'not quite the thing', or might they have preferred the "regular" Tiger I for actual combat? This is assuming here that there is enough gas around.....

Cheers

Tom

[PanzerBob]

Originally Posted by TRDG

Great pics here. thanks!!
Is there any word on how the crews liked them? Was it like the Jagdtiger, where the crews seemed to think it was 'not quite the thing', or might they have preferred the "regular" Tiger I for actual combat? This is assuming here that there is enough gas around.....

Cheers

Tom

IIRC, crews liked being behind all that armour, I'm sure however, when misemployment, maintenance or fuel came up and few choice words would be used. Another thing to remember with these monsters is the stock of vet crews was drying up. So it was unlike the Tiger I's early and heydays where the Germans tried to put switched on crews into them, the Tiger II's crews were not as well trained or experianced generally speaking. I don't think I'm out of line in saying the Tiger II and her crews were far more effective on the Eastern Front. A place where her awesome 88L71 could be used to great effect.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by PanzerBob

I don't think I'm out of line in saying the Tiger II and her crews were far more effective on the Eastern Front. A place where her awesome 88L71 could be used to great effect.

And offered those monsters space to maneuver. A problem most T2 crews faced on the Western front too little room and too much tank.

It should also be pointed out that few crews had a chance to compare one tank over the other or for that matter choose. Usually in the latter part of the war when a crew lost their ride they were split up to flesh out other crews that were short handed.

Exceptions would only be top scoring commanders such as Wittmann who could keep his crew intact and choose their next vehicle.

[TRDG]

Great thoughts there, I do tend to get a little confused on how many actual vets were in the Kingtiger once a lot of the Tiger I units "switched" over to them.

Cheers, very good gentlemen!!

Tom

[cyberia]

With a Tiger II as a backdrop, a Waffen SS machine gunner and Hungarian solider pause for a smoke in Budapest, December, 1944

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by cyberia

With a Tiger II as a backdrop, a Waffen SS machine gunner and Hungarian solider pause for a smoke in Budapest, December, 1944

I'm always amazed at photos like that. Here it is 1944, the war is five years old give or take. Germany and her allies have been pushed out of the Soviet Union and into Hungary and Poland (nevermind that now they were fighting on a Western Front as well), and these guys seem to be sharing a laugh in the midst of a hopeless military situation. They certainly had to know that by then. I don't know if I could have maintained my sense of humor.

[cyberia]

I have often wondered the same thing myself. There many photographs like this out there. Gallows humor? Or perhaps some deep psychological mechanism that allows those faced with the unendurable to continue to endure?

Churchill said, "War is a game that is played with a smile".

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by cyberia

I have often wondered the same thing myself. There many photographs like this out there. Gallows humor? Or perhaps some deep psychological mechanism that allows those faced with the unendurable to continue to endure?

Churchill said, "War is a game that is played with a smile".

Some or all of the above. Though those smiling ought to be the victors.