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The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - PanzerKampfwagen VI - Tiger I - Mar. 2nd, 2004
www.wargamer.com ^

Posted on 03/02/2004 12:00:32 AM PST by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

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PanzerKampfwagen VI
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.





TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: armor; freeperfoxhole; germany; panzer; tanks; tiger; treadhead; veterans; wwii
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To: SAMWolf
ODDBALL: Why don't you knock it off with the negative waves Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here. Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
81 posted on 03/02/2004 9:22:08 AM PST by Valin (America is the land mine between barbarism and civilization.)
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To: SAMWolf
They have some of them at the Wright Paterson AFB. An interesting triva fact on the B36 is the wing span is longer than the Wright Brothers flew on their first flight.
82 posted on 03/02/2004 9:23:27 AM PST by U S Army EOD (Volunteer for EOD and you will never have to worry about getting wounded.)
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To: All

Air Power
Ilyushin IL-2 "Shturmovik"

The Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik was one of the most formidable ground attack aircraft of World War II, and was produced by the Soviet Union in huge numbers; a total of 36,163 according to one source.

It was originally designed by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin and his team at the Central Design Bureau in 1938, as a two-seat aircraft with an armored shell protecting crew, engine, radiators, and the fuel tank. However, this was rejected in favor of a lighter single-seat design, which first flew October 12, 1940.

This version was officially designated Il-2, and started large-scale production in early 1941, with the first deliveries coming in May, just in time for the German invasion. The Il-2 proved itself to be a deadly weapon against German transport and armor, but was itself vulnerable to fighter attack, and so in February 1942 the two-seat design was revived.

The two-seat version was called IL-2M, and differed by having a rear gunner's position under a lengthened canopy. These modified versions started appearing in September 1942, and eventually existing single-seaters were modified also. Later changes included an upgrade from 20-mm to 23-mm cannons, aerodynamic improvements, use of wooden outer wing panels instead of metal, and increased fuel capacity.

In 1943 the IL-2 Type 3 or Il-2m3 came out with redesigned wings that were swept back 15 degrees on the outer ends. Performance and handling were much improved, and this became the most common version of the Il-2.

After the war the Il-2 could be found in service with several Eastern European countries for some years.

An improved version, the Il-10, was used in the Korean War.

----------------

During the Second World War, Germans captured no less than 100 Soviet Il-2 planes. They were never used (even for training purposes) because they had very poor technical data and pilotage capabilities. German were surprised why planes so poorly built as the Il-2 was produced and used in such large numbers. Using German standards this plane never could be used by Luftwaffe. Not only were the Germans disappointed, but also Hungarian and Finnish pilots. Those planes were used as ground targets and as trophy exhibited in main cities. Probably one plane was exhibited in Aviation Museum in Berlin.


Type: Ground Attack
Origin: Ilyushin
Crew: Two
First Flight: October 12, 1940
Service Delivery: May 1941
Final Delivery: 1944
Production: 36,163

Powerplant:
Il-2 Type 3:
    Model: Mikulin AM-38F
    Type: Liquid cooled piston engine
    Number: One      Horsepower: 1,720 hp

Dimensions:
Wing Span: 47 ft. 10¾ in. (14.60m)
Length: 38 ft. 2½ in. (11.65m)
Height: 13 ft. 8 in. (4.17m)
Wing Area: 414.42 sq. ft. (38.50m²)

Weights:
Empty: 9,976 lb (4525 kg)
Loaded: 14,021 lb (6360 kg)
  Performance:
Max. Speed: 255 mph (410 kph) at 4,920 ft.
Service Ceiling: 14,845 ft. (4525m)
Range: 475 miles (765 km)

Armament:
Two 23mm VYa cannon mounted in wings.
Two 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns mounted in wings.
One 12.7mm UBT machine gun in rear cockpit.

Payload:
Four 220 lb. (100 kg) bombs carried internally.
Two 220 lb. (100 kg) bombs carried under fuselage.
Or
Two 551 lb (250kg) bombs carried under fusealge.
Or
Eight RS-82 rockets or Four RS-132 rockets under outer wing panels.






All information and photos Copyright of Frans Bonne's Warbirds and other respective webites
83 posted on 03/02/2004 9:30:21 AM PST by Johnny Gage (If you tied buttered toast to the back of a cat and dropped it from a height, what would happen?)
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To: Valin
Two questions
1 Does your wife know you have one?
2 Can I get a ride?

1. Silly question.
2. You buy the gas?

84 posted on 03/02/2004 9:50:01 AM PST by Aeronaut (Peace: in international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.)
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To: SAMWolf
Hey Sam. Bet she burns more than the King Air.
85 posted on 03/02/2004 9:50:52 AM PST by Aeronaut (Peace: in international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.)
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To: Johnny Gage
The cowl mounted radiator has always hit me funny. It's well protected, but just looks wrong.
86 posted on 03/02/2004 9:56:19 AM PST by Professional Engineer (Tonight on Tolkien TV: Hobbits Gone Wild!)
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To: Johnny Gage
Great choice to profile today Johnny. ;-)
87 posted on 03/02/2004 9:56:55 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Valin
I'm just drinkin a little wine, eatin a little cheese, and soakin up the rays.

Sixty foot of bridge i can pick up almost anywhere.

88 posted on 03/02/2004 10:34:26 AM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: U S Army EOD
An interesting triva fact on the B36 is the wing span is longer than the Wright Brothers flew on their first flight.

Amazing how far we've come in such a relatively short time.

89 posted on 03/02/2004 10:36:23 AM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: Johnny Gage
Thanks Johnny.

More than 35,000 Ilyushin Sturmovik IL-2 ground attack aircraft were produced during WW II, the largest production run of any WW II aircraft. Often called “The Flying Tank,” the Sturmovik played a major role in the defeat of Nazi Germany on the Eastern front.

Capable of carrying a 2000 pound bomb load to its target, special armor piercing bombs carried by the Sturmoviks were capable of knocking out any German armor, including the legendary Tiger tank, if attacked from the rear. This aircraft also carried several machine guns and cannons, making it no easy prey for opposing fighters.

90 posted on 03/02/2004 10:44:28 AM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: SAMWolf

91 posted on 03/02/2004 11:37:10 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Professional Engineer
Had the Kentucky been pronounced dead when it's bow was transplanted in the Wisconsin?
92 posted on 03/02/2004 12:24:38 PM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf
Afternoon, Sam and Snippy. Treadhead Tuesday - my favorite day of the week! Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!
93 posted on 03/02/2004 12:34:23 PM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
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To: SAMWolf
Big Joe: What's happening?!

Oddball: Well, the tank's broke and they're trying to fix it ...

Big Joe: Well then, why the hell aren't you up there helping them?!

Oddball: [chuckles] I only ride em, I don't know what makes em work.

Woof, woof, woof!!

94 posted on 03/02/2004 12:37:45 PM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
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To: colorado tanker
I don't think so. I remember seeing pictures of the Kentucky being towed, minus bow, from the ways to be scrapped. She was far enough along to float when work stopped.
95 posted on 03/02/2004 12:44:57 PM PST by Professional Engineer (Tonight on Tolkien TV: Hobbits Gone Wild!)
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To: colorado tanker
Hey CT!.
96 posted on 03/02/2004 1:03:05 PM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: colorado tanker
Woof, woof, woof!!

"Arf Arf Arf - That's my other dog impression".

97 posted on 03/02/2004 1:05:34 PM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: Professional Engineer
On the way back, Joe sees his radioman and sends the message: Attack at dawn. We caught them with their tracks down.

You ever change a torsion bar on an M48? In the mud?

BTW, another limitation on the width of tracks was the width of the German railways flatcars used for transport on any move beyond 100KM. And that hadn't changed when we were there in the 1960s, as the tracks of our M48s and M60s overhung the sides of the flatcars. I wouldn't a bit have minded having a set of narrow tracks to roll onto for rail movements.

Yes, I've seen an M60 that went off the side of a Bundesbahn flatcar. Thankfully, it wasn't mine.


98 posted on 03/02/2004 1:08:40 PM PST by archy (Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT! Done dirt cheap! Neckties, contracts, high voltage...Done dirt cheap!)
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To: snippy_about_it

Until Bovington gets there Tiger running these are as close as we'll get to seeing them in "action".

99 posted on 03/02/2004 1:09:25 PM PST by SAMWolf (John Kerry has mentioned his Vietnam service more times than there are names on the Vietnam Memorial)
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To: archy
You ever change a torsion bar on an M48? In the mud?

Mud? On the flightline? Call the FOD sweeper! The only thing I had the pleasure of changing was tires on the these guys.


100 posted on 03/02/2004 1:17:49 PM PST by Professional Engineer (Tonight on Tolkien TV: Hobbits Gone Wild!)
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