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Posted on 03/02/2004 12:00:32 AM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Tiger I  The most famous German battle tank, the Tiger generated an aura of invincibility giving it a psychological advantage of great value. This reputation was justified by events such as the action in which SS-Obersturmführer Wittmann, commanding a Tiger on the Villers Bocage road in Normandy on 13 June 1944, destroyed 25 half-tracks and tanks, effectively blocking the road and halting the advance of a complete armoured division. At that time the British and Americans called every German panzer a "Tiger", although most of them were PzKpfw IV. Few would claim it as the best tank of all time, but it showed the way to the Panther and Tiger II which went a long way towards making up in firepower and effectiveness for the numerical deficiency in armor with which the German army had to face the Allied forces in the closing stages of WWII.  Henschel's VK3601 prototype The Tiger tank originated from developments started in 1937, when Henschel were instructed to design and construct a 30- to 33-ton tank prototype as possible successor to the PzKpfw IV. The new vehicle was known as the DW1 (Durchbrüchwagen, breakthrough vehicle). However, after one chassis with interleaved road wheel suspension had been built, trials were suspended to allow work to be carried out on a further design for a 65-ton tank, the VK6501. The VK6501 was itself a further development of the original PzKpfw VI NbFz. This project was cancelled to resume development of the DW 1. The improved model, the DW2, weighed 32 tons, accommodated a crew of five, and had to be armed with the short 75mm gun. Trials were carried out until 1941, when Henschel, Porsche, MAN and Daimler-Benz were invited to submit designs for a new vehicle in the same class and weight as the DW2.  Porsche's VK4501 prototype at Rastenburg The Henschel version (VK3001H) was a continued development of the DW2, which superstructure resembled that of the PzKpfw IV, and had seven interleaved road wheels. It was planned to mount the 75mm L/48 gun in this vehicle, but the appearance of the Russian T-34 with its 76mm gun made the vehicle already obsolete and development was discontinued. The Porsche version (VK3001P) was a turretless prototype with several new features such as petrol-electric drive. With the order for the VK3001 an additional order has been placed for a 36-ton tank, the VK3601, which specifications included a powerful, high velocity gun, heavy armor and a maximum speed of at least 40 km/h. These specifications had been personally proposed by Hitler, who was impressed by the French "Char B1 bis" and the British Matilda I. Experimentel work on both the VK3001 and VK3601 was stopped when a further order for a 45-ton tank was received in May 1941. Designated VK4501, the intended vehicle was to mount a tank version of the 88mm gun, and the prototype should be ready in time for Hitler's birthday on 20 April 1942, when a demonstration was to be staged.   The early production Tiger I ausf. H with 'Feifel' air cleaning system at rear Henschel decided to incorporate the best features of their VK3001H and VK3601H project into the new design as time was limited, while Porsche incorporated as many as possible of the design features from their VK3001P model. The demonstration of the two competing prototypes, the VK4501H and VK4501P, took place before Hitler at Rastenburg, when the Henschel design was considered to be superior. The new vehicle was designated PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. E. The Tiger was subsequently in production for two years, from August 1942 until August 1944, and in this period a total of 1350 vehicles were delivered out of 1376 ordered, indicative of the fact that the Tiger was conceived primarily as a fighting machine and not as a mass-production machine. Ninety Porsche Tigers were also ordered, partly as safeguard against delays or failure of the Henschel Tiger, of which the chassis was eventually used as basis for the heavy tank destroyer Ferdinand/Elefant. These vehicles made their unsuccessful battle debut in the Kursk tank battle.   Tiger with the old cupola....Tiger with the new cupola with rotating hatch The Tiger I was the first German combat tank to be fitted with overlapping road wheel suspension, arranged with triple overlapping and interleaved wheels of a steel disc type with solid rubber tyres. The overlapping wheel system was adopted for optimum weight distribution. There were eight independently sprung torsion bar axles on each side, with the right hand axles trailed aft and the left hand axles led forward in order to carry all axles inside the hull. This resulted in an extremely soft and stable ride for a tank of this weight and size. Two types of track were used, one 725mm in wide was fitted for combat conditions, and a narrower one of 520mm in wide for travel and transportation. When the narrow tracks were fitted the outer wheels were removed from each suspension unit.   Tigers in northern Russia (winter 1943-1944) and in Normandy along the 'Carpet Bomber Alley' Through this type of suspension gave a superior ride, it also had its drawbacks, one being that the interleaved wheels were liable to become packed with mud and snow during winter fighting, and if ignored until frozen this could jam the wheels. The Russians discovered this and took advantage by timing their attacks for dawn, when the vehicles were likely to have become immobilised during the night's frost. Very late production Tigers had steel disc type wheels with resilient internal rubber spring rims of the type fitted to the Tiger II. In these Tigers, the outside run of wheels was omitted, reducing both the icing-up problem and the overheating problem of the axle bearing.  A Tiger tank with a rough white winter scheme (winter 1943-1944) The Tiger was technically the most sophisticated and best engineered vehicle of its time. The hull was divided in four compartments: the forward two housed the driver and hull gunner/radio-operator, the centre was the fighting compartment, and the engine compartment was at the rear. The driver sat on the left and steered by means of a wheel which acted hydraulically on the differential steering unit. Emergency steering was provided for by two steering levers on either side of the driver operating disc brakes. A visor was provided for the driver and was opened by a sliding shutter worked from a handwheel. Fixed episcopes were provided in both the driver's and radio-operator's escape hatches. The gearbox separated the two forward compartments, with the radio-operator seated on the right. He had a standard MG34 in a ball mounting in the front vertical plate, and had his radio sets mounted on a shelf to the operator's left.  The Tiger I crossing a devastated battlefield, in full killer-hunting action. Note the BT 7, in the background, destroyed. A second Tiger follows just behind.These Tigers are from sPzAbt.502. The Tiger's centre fighting compartment had a floor suspended from the turret by three steel tubes and rotated with the turret. The breech mechanism of the 88mm gun reached almost to the inside rear turret wall, dividing the turret into two. Like the hull, the turret was a simple structure; the sides and rear were formed from a single 82mm thick plate curved horseshoe fashion. The front was joined by two 100mm thick rectangular bars, and the upper and lower edges of the turret sides converged towards the front to allow for movement of the mantlet. The turret roof was a single shaped 26mm thick plate, bent slightly forward of the centre line to match the sides at the front. External turret fittings were three 90mm smoke generators on either side towards the front and two stowage bins either side of the centre line at the rear. Two types of cupola were fitted to the Tiger; the original type had five vision slits and was of plain cylindrical appearance, while the later type had seven episcopes and had a less prominent hatch which swung out to the side.  Changing a broken torsion bar was heavy mechanical work while many road wheels had to be removed In order to simplify assembly and allow the use of heavy armor plate, flat sections were used throughout the hull. Hull and superstructure were welded, in contrast to previous tanks were a bolted joint was used between hull and superstructure. The front and rear superstructure was in one unit and interlocking stepped joints, secured by welding, were used in construction of both the lower hull and superstructure. The top front plate of the hull covered the full width of the vehicle and permitted a turret ring to be fitted width enough to accomodate the 88mm gun. The Tigers used in North Africa, and in Russia in summer, were fitted with the feifel air cleaner system. This was attached to the rear of the hull and linked to the engine over the engine cover plate. The tropical Tigers were known as the Tiger (Tp), but the feifel air system was soon discontinued to simplify production. The first production Tiger's were equipped for a totally submerged wading with Snorkel breathing, but this proved an expensive luxury and was discarded. 
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Now we have books full of them and they're all ignored by the government.
We caught them with their tracks down
LOL
I was able to see a static display B-36 with the outboard jets when I was at Chanute AFB, IL. Since the base has been closed I don't know where that plane, or the B-29 painted as "Enola Gay" went.
Rumors were that the Allies were surmounting a massive attack aimed at Panzer Lehr's left flank.
When Wittmann stopped his tank to listen for enemy sounds, an alarmed infantry squad reported to him that strange tanks were rolling down the road. As he emerged on foot from the cover of a small wood he witnessed the arrival of a large number of British tanks, half-tracks, and infantry support carriers belonging to the 4th County of London Yeomanry (4th CLY), part of the famed 7th Armored Division (Desert Rats). The British were headed in the direction of Hill 213 and Wittmann realized that this unit was about to mount a flanking maneuver against Panzer Lehr. Near Villers Bocage the British stopped for vehicle maintenance and breakfast, not expecting to meet any German forces.
Wittmann ran back to his Tiger, placed his crew on battle alert and although he was not able to establish contact with other units, or did not want to to maintain radio silence, he broke cover and moved off in the direction of the British headquarters section tanks (RHQ) protected between A and B squadrons. The first vehicles were twelve M3 half-tracks, which were destroyed using both MG-34's. Next appeared three M5A1 Honey tanks which were fired upon with main gun rounds. The Tiger engaged the RHQ tanks inside Viller Bocage and knocked out three Cromwell tanks. Wittmann then moved down the road and bumped into B squadron which was guarding the road to Caumont. Turning around to return to his company for additional vehicles he ran into a stalking Cromwell which fired two 75mm gun rounds that bounced off the thick armor. Wittmann's gunner destroyed the Cromwell and they went back to their company area.
After reporting to his commander Sepp Dietrich, Wittmann returned in the afternoon with three Tigers and a PzKpfw IV Ausf. H to launch a counter-attack against A squadron and capture Villers Bocage. By that time Cromwells, Sherman Fireflies and Bren Carriers towing anti-tank guns had halted on the side of the road, parked nose to tail, with their guns swung to the side. The British tank crews were dismounted taking a break and brewing tea, and recognition of a quick kill was instinctive. Wittmann and his crew knocked out the entire line of British vehicles as he moved past, impervious to everything that was fired in return. After regrouping, the four German vehicles entered the town where B squadron had taken up defensive positions together with some 6pdr anti-tank guns. One of the anti-tank guns immobilized Wittmann's Tiger, and the crew had to escape. The other German tanks were knocked out by Firefly and Cromwell tank gun fire. The losses for the 7th Armored amounted to 25 tanks, 14 carriers and 14 half-tracks, the majority incurred during the morning.
Despite the German losses, Wittmann's single handed attack had inflicted such an overwhelming damage and a state of shock, that Panzer Lehr was saved from certain destruction. On the recommendation of General Bayerlein of Panzer Lehr, Wittmann was awarded the Swords to his Knights' Cross with Oakleaf and was promoted on the spot to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain). He was offered an appointment at an officers' tactical school but refused.
During the ongoing fight for Caen, Wittmann's tank, bearing the number 007, got a direct hit on 8 august 1944 near Cintheaux while engaging a superior force of Sherman Firefly tanks of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry. The hit in the right side of the vehicle resulted in an explosion, and a secondary explosion blew the turret off, killing the entire crew. Wittmann and his crew's bodies were moved from the unmarked field grave to the La Gambe cemetery in Normandy in 1983.
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