Tiger I-One Tough Cat

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Interesting Tiger I fact. The broad battle tracks were far too wide for these beasts to be transported by rail with out first swapping over to narrower tracks.
In this photo, the broader tracks are stored under the tank until it arrived at its destination, where they were mounted again after the Tiger is off the flatcar.

Cyberia,
Is this one of your Reichsbahn photos or is this from another source? Great shot and great pics all!


Also note that on this tank there is a mount for an AA machine gun for the commander. If you look back in the photos you will see that many Tigers lack a that AA machine gun and/or mount. I suspect the AA mount became more common as the war progressed and enemy airpower became a greater threat to the Tiger Tanks.

[Pirate-Drakk]

Originally Posted by razorboy

:

A mid-production TIger with an
I like this shot. Mid/Late Tiger I with SdKfz. 7 / flakvierling alonside...cool shot! All of 'em look like SS to me.

Originally Posted by cyberia

Very nice, Dave. Color ones are great!

By the way, that is a quad 2 cm on that SdKfz. 7! The "rivet counters"
say that can't be, so we must be imagining that photo.

The Encyclopedia of German Tanks has a picture of this vehicle. It is designated the:
2cm Flakvierling 38 auf Fahrgestell Zugkraftwagen 8t (Sd Kfz 7/1)

There is also another version pictured with armor around the drivers compartment.

This web site claims 319 were built. The Encyclopedia has no specific production data.
2cm FlAK 30 and 2cm FlAK 38 <Briefing>
They add this:
"This 8-tonne (9-ton) halftrack was mated to the 2cm Flakvierling 38 in 1941. It had a crew of 10. Later variants had armoured cabs. The vehicle was also called the Selbstfahrlafette (Self-Propelled Gun Carriage) 2cm Flakvierling 38."

If you look closely at the picture between the Tiger and the halftrack you will see a second Flakvierling following behind.

I think Razorboy is correct about them being SS. The collar tabs on the tank commander look SS and the flak crew appears to be wearing camophlage uniform which is always a sign of the SS.

Here's another hot pic...




Here's some Specifications:
---
Ammo 20 mm 600 rounds
Armament 20 mm Flak 38 L/112.5
Armor 8 mm
Crew 10
Engine Maybach HL 62TUK/6 cylinder/140hp
Maybach HL 64TR/6 cylinder/140hp
Fuel Capacity 203 litres
Height 3.30 m
Length 6.80 m
Range Road 250 km
CrossCountry 100 km
Speed Road 50 km/h
CrossCountry km/h
Weight 11,550kg
Width 2.50 m
---

What rivet heads were we talking about?

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Pirate-Drakk

Cyberia,
Is this one of your Reichsbahn photos or is this from another source? Great shot and great pics all!


Also note that on this tank there is a mount for an AA machine gun for the commander. If you look back in the photos you will see that many Tigers lack a that AA machine gun and/or mount. I suspect the AA mount became more common as the war progressed and enemy airpower became a greater threat to the Tiger Tanks.

This one is from my panzer collection, P-D.

[cyberia]

The main draw back of interleaved road wheels was accessibility
A Werkstattkompanie had to removed six wheels to replace a single one struck by an anti-tank round

Inspekteur der Panzertruppen Heinz Guderian confers with a Tiger I crew during a training exercise in Russia

[cyberia]

Cat napping...

When and where possible, panzer crews dug shallow trenches under their rides to sleep in
As show in this photo taken under a Tiger I



When not possible, a quick tuck in under the rear of the panzer worked as well

[cyberia]

A Tiger I of the 1st SS Panzer Div., date and location unknown

[cyberia]

Eastern Front 1944

After de-training from the rail line in the background, a Tiger I has its interleaved wheels changed out for steel wheels, and transport tracks replaced with broader battle treads.

[cyberia]

A Tiger I and crew unbuttoned in Poland, 1944



Getting a fresh coat of white wash, Russia 1943

[cyberia]

Old and new modes of warfare in passing, Eastern Front 1943



A Tiger I crew breaks from the action on the Eastern Front, 1944
In the background the crew of a Panzer IV H do the same

[cyberia]

Tiger I taking on ammo, Western Front 1944





Tiger I moving through woodlands, Eastern Front 1943
Can you spot what two items are missing from this vehicle?