The Motor Pool TMP7002 German Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank - Panzer Grenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" (1:35 Scale)
"The gun and armor of the Tiger were superb, making it in many ways the most formidable tank in service. Even so, it was poor in maneuver, it was slow, and its turret was a slow traverser in action. It was a tank which was, at its best, immobile in ambush, when its killing power was very frightening."
- Douglas Orgill, "German Armor"
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 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.
Now The Motor Pool is proud to offer this stunning 1:35 scale diecast replica of the PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf E. heavy tank, which is hand painted in a summer camouflage scheme, overlaid with a coat of zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste, and 'muddied' to give it a more weathered appearance. Pictured here is the Tiger of Hauptmann Villebois, commander of the 10th Kompanie of the III Abteilung of the "Grossdeutschland" Division. In July 1944, this unit faced the great Soviet onslaught on the East Prussian frontier, in the region of Wilkowischen-Tilsitt. The Tigers confronted the new super-heavy Stalin 2 tanks, and the engagements did not always turn to their advantage. On August 6th, 1944, for example, four Tigers were lost during the fighting for Hill 51, which overlooked several important bridgeheads. On March 20th, 1945, the unit's two remaining Tigers made a gallant stand near Konigsberg before capitulating to overwhelming enemy forces pushing west towards Berlin.
Sold Out!
Dimensions:
Length: 10-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 4-inches
Historical Account: On June 23rd, 1943, Infanterie Division "Grossdeutschland" was officially re-classified as a Panzergrenadier Division. The two infantry regiments became known as Panzer Grenadier Regiment "Grossdeutschland" and Panzer Fusilier Regiment "Grossdeutschland". Interestingly, both units retained their white arm-of-service or branch color (waffenfarbe) rather than the new grass-green piping adopted by the panzergrenadiers. Involved in Operation: Zitadelle, Panzer Grenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" was, in actuality, a full-fledged panzer division since it was one of only a handful of units equipped with a battalion of Tiger tanks. After Kursk, the unit fought on the Dniepr Line, and by early 1944 was fighting in the north, retreating into East Prussia and Latvia as the Russian onslaught continue to gather momentum.
In November 1944, the "Grossdeutschland" Division was still regarded as a Panzergrenadier division, although other units within its 'sphere of influence' were expanded to form the Panzerkorps "Grossdeutschland".