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.

The Tiger differed from earlier German tanks principally in its design philosophy. Its predecessors balanced mobility, armor and firepower and were sometimes outgunned by their opponents.

While heavy, this tank was not slower than the best of its opponents. However, at over 50 tonnes dead weight, the suspension, gearboxes, and other such items had clearly reached their design limits and breakdowns were frequent if regular maintenance was not undertaken.

Although the general design and layout were broadly similar to the previous medium tank, the Panzer IV, the Tiger weighed more than twice as much. This was due to its substantially thicker armor, the larger main gun, greater volume of fuel and ammunition storage, larger engine, and a more solidly built transmission and suspension.

Pictured here is a 1:32 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E heavy tank that was attached to 3.Kompanie/schwere Panzerabteilung 507 then deployed to Konigsberg, Prussia, during the spring of 1944. Comes with removable Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 engine. Pre-order! Price and ship date to be determined.

Dimensions:
Length: 10-1/4-inches
Width: 4-1/2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Roose on the Loose" - The 507th was formed on September 23rd, 1943, from personnel taken from I Abt./Pz.Rgt. 4 of 13.Panzer Division. It was organized in the usual fashion: a battalion HQ staff company, 3 tank companies, and a workshop company, plus supply and support detachments, and equipped with 45 Tigers between December 23rd, 1943 and February 25th, 1943. Transferred to the Eastern Front in March 1944, the 507th received seven replacement Tigers before the end of the month and a further 12 in April, eight in July, six in August, ten in November and one final tiger in December 1944. Over-strength at 55, the 507th met the Russian winter offensive on the Tarnapol River above Vitebk and around Narev, on January 14th, 1945, and by February 1st,1945, had only seven Tigers left, none of which were operational.