DRAGON ARMOR

UML (Cyber-Hobby) Exclusive, Limited Edition

DRR 60146 TIGER Panzer VI (Sd.Kfz. 181 Ausf E), early production, LSSAH, MICHAEL WITTMANN, Operation Zitadelle / The Battle of Kursk 1943.

1/72 scale; Tiger Tank: - approximately: L 3.625” (4.75 w gun); W 2.125”.

This is a difficult to find model that retails up to $175.00

Very limited quantity on hand

A turret rotates 360 degree, gun elevates.  Despite relatively small size models from this line are exceptionally detailed and have outstanding paintjob, display great!  This is a great model of arguably the most famous tank in the history. *

Dragon ARMOR 1:72 models are: This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. True to scale; authentically detailed and historically accurate; each WITH its own protective DISPLAY CASE, which is dust resistant and stackable.

In my personal opinion as a collector models from this series are great and priced very reasonably.

UML (Hong Kong) with cooperation with Dragon issued their Exclusive lines including in ARMOR Series.  Models from this line become very popular and enjoyed price appreciation from the moment as a model had announced.

Unfortunately UML also established themselves as very unreliable shipper with very poor customer services.  Many collectors from all over the world, which ordered from them had trouble to get their orders if ever. 

Regular UML Exclusive Ltd Edition model comes packed in a tin box with a colorful carton sleeve.  A model secured to a standard Dragon Armor Series display stand base, but no clear top comes with it.  It has a numbered collector card made of plastic.  Late 2004 issues have a collector card size booklet with pictures all UML Exclusive 2004 tank models.  A model may have an improved display appearance, like a realistic ground on a display base (a print on a carton) or commemorative plate.

This model is one out of first three UML models announced for 2005.   The model featured realistic grass display stand and tank commander figure inside the commander cupola.  DISPLAYS GREAT!

THIS MODEL IS IN STOCK.

ABOUT 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 / 23mph          

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 Kingtiger 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 during July 1942 – August 1944.

Ninety hulls were in production at Nibelungewerke for Tiger (P)  88  were converted to heavy tank destroyer the famous Ferdinand including two that were converted in an evacuation vehicles.  Forty-eight that left by the end of German 1943 summer offense returned to the factory were modified, upgraded and renamed to Elefant.

To support its 57 tons the Tiger had eight sets of interleaved road wheels with torsion bars suspension.  The dish rubber-cushioned type road wheels were replaced with new steel-rimmed, 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. On late production models a mount for a machine gun was added on the commander cupola for air defense purpose.

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.  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, therefore early and mid production units also could be seen on pictures with a Zimmerit coating.  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.

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.  Three Tigers were sold to Hungary in July 1944.  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, which was on display at the Gorky park in Moscow during the famous exhibition of captured German weapons and later send to Kybinka (famous Russian tank test ground)

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 Prokhorovka Russians managed destroy numbers of Tiger Tanks while point blank shooting.  Russian also manage destroy numerous of Tiger tanks by air attack.  Attacks by 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.  Most 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 side or 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 low speed of turret rotation.  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. 

MICHAEL WITTMANN  4/14/22 – 8/8/44 (for more information please open Michael Wittmann 1/35 scale figure.)

was the most successful and the most decorated tanker ace of World War II.
A warier who inflicted an enormous damage on enemies, he was credited with destruction of 138 Allies tanks and armored vehicles and 132 guns. His name is secured in a military history.  He assumed his first Tiger tank commander position during The Battle of Kursk.

TIGER BATTALION

It was decided that units equipped with new heavy Tiger tanks will be organized in the schwere Panzer-Kompanien (heavy tank companies), which will be organized as three Zuege (platoons) each.  Each platoon consisted of three Tiger.  Latter it was decided to expend the organization and to include 10 Pz.Kpfw. III (which was standard German originally designed for tank on tank battle) to compose one schwere Panzer-Kompanie.

The first three schwere Panzer-Abteilung (battalion) send into the field were 501, 502,503, experimented with different combination of Pz. III and Tiger within their companies.  

After first combat reports it was decided to drop all Pz. III tanks from the organization and straightened Tiger companies to 14 per company and 45 tanks per battalion with some Sd.Kfz.250 added to a battalion headquarters company (Abteilung-Stabscompanie) for performing scouting, reconnaissance, running messages and other tasks.  Though some commanders argued to save some Pz. III within the organization for performing duties unsuitable for heavy Tigers the organization remain without change for the rest of the war.

The first two independed army units (Heerestruppen) were Kompanie 501 and 502 that were incorporated into sPzAbt 501 and than two more sPzAbt 502 and 503 with two companies each.   Some short live ideas were to create sPzK for Panzer Regiment Grobdeutschland and three SS-Panzer-Regiments and assignment of several of sPzAbt within existing Panzer Regiments however all were converted to pure units consisted of three companies with 14 Tiger and 3 Tiger for the Abteilung-Stab.

During the war eleven sPzAbt were created for the Army (Heer) numbered from 501 through 510 and III.Abteilung/Panzer-Regiment Grobdeutschland and three for the SS that were numbered 101 through 103 in October 1943, (these were renamed to 501-503 in late 1944).

Other units that had Tigers were three Panzer-Kompnien (FKL) and Panzer-Abteilung (FKL) 301 that were converted to Tigers as control vehicles deploying radio-controlled explosive charge carriers (Sd.Kfz.301).  By the end of the war Germans created few Tiger groups as a stopgap measures.

Each and every Tiger crew was formed from experienced tankers only.  A crew will pass extensive theory and practice curse before sent to a combat.

Germans created complicated report system that allowed them constant tactics development.   There were four authorized formation for a Tiger platoon, five for a Tiger company.

Each battalion has its own marking, however they were used on many fronts and attached to a variety of units therefore camouflage paint and numeration system constantly changed to reflect current needs and commanders preferences.  However the most common numeration system consisted of three-digit number with the first one representing a company number, second for a platoon and the last tank number within a platoon.

Schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 101 (501)

I.SS-Panzer Korps. was created on July 19, 1943 with 13. Kompanie of SS-Panzer regiment 1 was to be incorporated as the third company and two new heavy companies were created.  At the time the unit was attached to Panzer Grenadier Division Laibstandarte SS Alolpf Hitler (LSSAH) and fought on the Eastern Front Operation Zittadel / The Battle of Kursk.  Due to Allies invasion in Italy the division with its attached unit was pulled out of the battle and sent to Italy in August 1944.  Attached to the division were 27 tanks of newly formed sSSPzAbt of I.SS Panzer Korps.  It remained in northern Italy until mid-October until its 1^st and 2^nd company were transferred along with LSSAH back to the Eastern Front and the rest of the battalion stays at a training ground.  At this time the battalion was renamed to sSSAbt 101.

In February 1944 the remnants of LSSAH were transferred to the West to refit. 

Some elements of the 101^st reached the Normandy in six days after Allies landing.  By than time the battalion had 45 Tigers, most late production models, including all new 14 in the second company commanded by the famous tank ace Michael Wittmann who fought a famous battle at Villers-Bocage.  The battalion fought well; it lost 15 Tigers and in July was pulled out to refit with King Tiger tanks.  On August 7, 1944 the battalion still have 21 operational Tigers but all were lost during the August retreat.  In September at training ground it starter to refit with King Tiger with a plan that 3^rd company will be equipped with Jagdtigers however after the Hitler’s order stated that no Jagdtiger will be supply to Tiger battalions it received King Tiger tanks also.  At this time the battalion was renamed SS 501 – sSSPzAbt 501. 

The battalion received 34 new King Tigers from the ordnance depot between mid Octobers – early December additional 11 were confiscated from sPzAbt 509 before the 101^st was sent to the Western Front on December 5, 1944 as a key unit for the Ardennes Offensive.  During the operation the battalion lost 13 its King Tiger and by the end of December had 31 King Tiger with only 18 operational.  On January 24, 1945 it was transferred to the Eastern Front attached with I.SS Panzer Korps. were it fought until the end of the war.

I am an authorized Dragon Dealer and going to have all upcoming models from DRAGON ARMOR SERIES.