The German Waffenamt issued an order to design the VK4501(H) (as the PzKpfw VI Ausf. E was then known) in May 1941, just one month prior to the commencement of Operation Barbarossa. Interestingly, Henschel und Sohn of Kassel was charged with building the heavily armored chassis while Krupp, by far the largest munitionwerks in Germany, was given the task of developing the turret. The PzKpfw VI Ausfuhrung E (type E) was one of the first German tanks to feature a torsion bar with eight interleaved wheels, which was designed to support the weight of the mammoth 57-ton tank. The Ausf. E mounted a huge 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 cannon and featured two MG34 machine guns for close support against enemy infantry. By war's end, 1,354 vehicles had been produced, some rolling off the Wegmann assembly line.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a early production Tiger Ausf. E heavy tank was attached to the 2/schwere Panzerabteilung 504, then deployed to Sicily during 1943. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-1/2-inches
Width: 2-1/4-inches

Release Date: October 2017

Historical Account: "Heavy Lifting" - Schwere Panzerabteilung 504 was formed in February 1943. One company was sent to North Africa in March 1943, where it surrendered to the Allies in Tunisia in May 1943.

The second company was attached to Fallschirm-Panzer-Division Hermann Goring and fought the Allies after the landing on Sicily in July 1943. It was evacuated across Messina Strait to Italy and was sent to Holland for refitting.

The 504 returned to Italy in June 1944 and was attached to SS Panzergrenadier Division Gotz von Berlichingen. It fought the Allies at Anzio in support of 362.Infanterie-Division.

It was refitted with Tiger II (Koningstiger) tanks and fought the Allies in Italy until the surrender in May 1945.