DRAGON

ARMOR Series

DRR 60039 – BERGEPANZER* Tiger Tank (Sd.Kfz. 181 Ausf HI) mid production.
sPzAbt508 Italy 1944.**

1/72 SCALE; Approximately L 3.6” (4.75 w gun); W 2.1”.

ABOUTN THE PROTOTYPE FOR THIS MODEL
sPzAbt 508 (schwere Panzer Abteilungen - heavy tank battalions) was formed September 1943 and Disbanded February 1945.
The model represents mid production Tiger tank that was belongs to the battalion and based on the tactical number it could be assumed that it was unit one of the first platoon 3rd Companie. This tank was lost sometimes between the end of April – May 1944 and was captured by the British. It was reported as Bergetiger with a crane. However, many specialists believed that it is not a Bergetiger (evacuation vehicle) but charge laying and clearing vehicle. 
The tank was damaged near Anzio in Italy and than rebuild and field converted by the shop of sPzAbt 508 to a special purpose vehicle. The conversion was done on the first week of March 1945. Even now there no clear agreement of the real purpose of this one. The main gun was removed, the turret traversed to the rear and fixed. Therefore it should be displayed in such position.  On the top of it a 10-ton lifting crane and a winch were installed. The vehicle was also equipped with other auxiliary equipment.

DRAGON ADVERTISED MODELS FROM THIS LINE AS A LIMITED RUN, if so this one probably will become a very collectible one. Since only one unit existed ever and for very short time. Therefore, it can’t be presented in a livery of another unit or different paint job representing earlier or later period of time. GET IT NOW WHILE THEY STILL BE AVAILABLE

Dragon Armor
This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. Each item is fully detailed and historically accurate.
Dragon ARMOR 1:72 models are:
1. True to scale: Wheels, tracks, engines, hull accoutrements ... Dragon Armor are 100% true-to-scale -- these don't look like "model tanks", these look like TANKS!
2. Authentically detailed: Dragon Armor tanks are carefully researched for maximum authenticity in detailing ... color, camouflage, unit markings, and all the other little things which mark the difference between an authentic scale model and a "toy". Dragon Armor looks REAL!
3. Fully assembled: Each Dragon Armor tank comes fully-assembled and ready for display ... no glue, no paint, no worry about mistakes. An instant display piece or diorama centerpiece straight from the box!
4. Diecast Metal: This series is mostly of METAL.
5. Each WITH its own protective DISPLAY CASE!

ABOUT THE TIGER TANK
Panzerkampfagen (Tank) VI Ausf (Modification) E (Sd Kfz 181)
Other designation: TIGER (Tiger I after 8/1944); VK54501 (H))
Type: Heavy tank
Manufacturer: Henschel, Wegmann
In production: July 1942 – August 1944
Production: 1,354
Engine: Maybach HL210P45
Speed:(km/m) 38
Range:(km/m) 140
Weight:(tons) 57
Size:(m/foot) L 8.45/28.17; W 3.7/12.33'; H 2.93/ 9.77'
Crew: 5
Armament: One 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56; Two 7.92mm MG34
Ammunition: 92 Pzgr 4,800 Patr SmK Spgr
ARMOUR (mm/o) Front Side Rear Top/Bottom
Turret 100/8 80/0 80/0 25/81-90 Superstructure: 100/10 80/0 25/90
Hull: 100/24 60/0 80/8 25/90
Gun mantlet: 100-110/0

HISTORY
In 1937 Henschel started to develop a heavy breakthrough tank which would be about 50 percent heavier than the Pz Kpfw IV, two prototype were developed DW 1 and after an order followed in 1938 DW II.
In late 1939 Waffenamt (Ordnance Department) issued an order to develop a heavy tank project VK3001. Two major competitors for this project were Henschel (H) and Porsche (P). Henschel utilized the same hull arrangement as on DW II. In early 1941 after trials first VK3001 (H) were completed but in May the project was abandon in favor of heavier VK3601.
On May 26, 1941 the order to design VK4501 was issued. Both Henschel and Nibelungewerke (Porsche) extensively used experience and test results from their VK30001 project vehicles. Henschel won the contract for VK4501 (H) and the most famous tank in the history was born. It becomes known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf E (Sd Kfz 181) or The Tiger Tank, after development of the King tiger in late 1944 the Tiger tank become Tiger I.
Krupp developed and manufactured the turret for both VK4501 (P) and the VK4501 (H). Production started in July 1942, with 335 to be completed by the time of the 1943 summer offence, which was planned on May 12. The original order was 285 pcs but since 50 units were halted in production at Nibelungewerke additional 50 units was ordered to compensate the loss. Only 1,354 were built July 1942 – August 1944.
Out of fifty units at Nibelungewerke 48 were converted to heavy tank destroyer, the famous Ferdinand / Elefant, and two in an evacuation vehicles.
To support its 57 tons the Tiger had eight sets of interleaved road wheels with torsion bars suspension. The dish type road wheels were replaced with new steel-tyred, rubber-cushioned type in January 1944. For transportation a different narrow track set was used. In order to use it engineers need to be removing outer wheel row. To transport Tiger tanks a special railroad platform was designed and used.
The hull and superstructure were welded together. In order to allow an installation of a wide turret the superstructure extended over the tracks. The 8.8 cm (88 mm) gun developed from dual purpose Anti-Aircraft / Anti-Tank gun was mounted in the external gun mantlet. One MG34 machine gun was install coaxially along with the main gun and one in the front of the superstructure.
Original turret design had two machine-pistol ports in the rear and a cylindrical cupola with vision slits. In December 1942 an escape hutch replaced the pistol port on the right side and since July 1943 it was equipped with newest design commander cupola with periscopes. Maybach HL230P30 engine, which improved automotive performance, was installed since May 1943. During the production numerous modification were made to improve tank performance. The Ausf (Variant) E was the only version but production divided in Early, Mid and Late Production models.
Early production models had such features as schnorkel tube that allowed the tank wade to a depth of 13ft and the “Feifel” air cleaner system. Anti-personal small mine launchers located at a turret both front corner. These features were abandoned.
Eighty-four of Tiger tanks were issued as “Pz Bef Wg mit 8.8cm KwK L/56” – command observation tank, which was equipped with additional radio set. In order to accommodate it ammunition stowage was reduced to 66 rounds for the 8.8cm and 4,050 Patr for machine-guns. A few were field converted to evacuation and special purpose vehicles. One Tiger tank was sold to the Imperial Japanese Army, but was never delivered to Japan. Eventually it was lease to Germans. Interestly it was sold at a few times of its price. In August – December 1944 eighteen Tiger tanks, which were returned from the front with turret damage were converted to Sturmmorser Tiger (Sturmtiger) – Assault rocket mortar, which fired 38cm rocket-assisted ammunition (originally design as an anti-submarine weapon). All were issued to Sturmmorser Companies 1001, 1002 and 1003.
The first unit equipped with Tiger tanks was the 1st Platoon of the 502nd schwere (company), Panzerabteilung /PzAbt (heavy tank battalion detachment). It was rushed to the Leningrad area in August 1942. It was a total disaster; tanks were used in a terrain kind absolutely unsuitable for heavy tanks. The Russians captured one of the new Tiger tanks in the working order.
All Tiger tanks were issued to Army and SS as heavy tank battalion detachments and were transferred as needed.
Every crewmember was selected from experienced tankers only, than the entire crew will pass through very extensive theory and practice course before its deployment to the front. During the 1943 Summer Offensive in the Kursk area (The Battle of The Kursk / Operation Citadel) Germans used a mass use of the Tiger tanks. In wide-open Russian fields environment it was at its best, destroying Russian tanks at will. During the largest tank battle in history – The Battle of Prohorovka Russians managed destroy numbers of Tiger Tanks while point blank shooting. Russian also manage destroy numerous of Tiger tanks by air attacks. The legendary IL-2 - “Styrmovik” (assault plane) inflicted very heavy losses on German Tank Division during The Battle of Kursk.
The Tiger tank was in service until the end of the war and had taken a very heavy toll of enemy armour and personal on all fronts. With the exceptions of Russian 122mm and 152mm SPG, and IS 2 tank (Josef Stalin) and “Firefly” - British modified Sherman tank, allied tanks could managed a Tiger tank only if they had a chance to approach it to a close distance and use Tiger weakness in order to knock it from back side (Sherman with 75mm gun couldn’t do anything even from a back). It also was a great psychological weapon that raised German troops moral and inflicted a significant damage on Allied forces. The greatest tank ace Michael Wittmann scored most of his victories on both East and West Fronts while serving with a Tiger tank company.
Heavily armed and armored the 57 tons tank, surprisingly, could negotiate obstacles very well in other hand low power to weight ratio allowed relatively low speed especially on a soft ground and poor maneuverability. Another weakness was its turret rotation low speed. Tank required constant maintenance that could be made by highly trained personal only. Many regular procedures could be made at specialized facility only that required tanks evacuation from the front area. It had very high fuel consumption that became a tremendous problem for Germans by the end of the war; many were abandoned just because of a fuel shortage. The tank was very expensive in production and maintenance and required significant time to built one.

Zimmerit Paste coating (protection against anti-tank magnetic mines) was applied at the factory for all late production models. The coating also was applied at tank repair shops. The order was to cover vertical surface of a tank but not a turret, track guards or tracks, however it was widely ignored and practically on every picture that shows a tank with Zimmerit coating you will see a turret covered with it.