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| | [[Image:Kingtigertank.jpg|thumb|300px|right|King Tiger tank, World War II]] | | [[Image:Kingtigertank.jpg|thumb|300px|right|King Tiger tank, World War II]] |
| − | The '''King Tiger Tank''' (''Königstiger''), also known as the "Tiger II", was used by the [[German]] Army and the most feared mobile armored [[vehicle]] deployed during [[World War II]]. It combined the thick armor of the Tiger I with the sloped armor of the Panther tank. Its front was nearly impenetrable, only giving way when repeatedly struck by armor piercing rounds. This [[tank]] caused great destruction to the [[Allies]]. | + | The '''Panzerkampfwagen VIB''' (''Königstiger'', German for Bengal Tiger,) also known as the "Tiger II", was used by the [[German]] Army and the most feared armored [[vehicle]] deployed during [[World War II]]. It combined the thick armor of the Tiger I with the sloped armor of the Panther tank. Its front was nearly impenetrable, only giving way when repeatedly struck by armor piercing rounds. This [[tank]] caused great destruction to the [[Allies]]. |
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| | ==Design and production== | | ==Design and production== |
| − | Both the Henschel company and [[Porsche]] submitted a model of the tank to [[Adolf Hitler]]. The Henschel [[design]] was accepted for mass production. Its front armor was 150mm thick and sloped at a 50 [[degree]] [[angle]]. Its sides were 80mm thick and sloped at a 25 degree angle. Its main [[gun]] had an 88mm bore with a muzzle [[velocity]] of 1000m per second with armor piercing rounds. It was highly accurate, and able to penetrate 150mm of armor at [[distance]]s greater than 2200m. The gun itself was 20 [[feet]] long. The tank was powered by a V12 [[gasoline]] [[engine]], and due to its [[weight]] of 69 [[ton]]s, consumed gas at a prodigious rate. With a 150 [[gallon]] tank it had a road range of 87 [[mile]]s and a cross country range of 53 miles; 0.6 and 0.4 miles per gallon respectively. | + | Both the Henschel company and [[Porsche]] submitted a model of the tank to [[Adolf Hitler]]. The Henschel [[design]] was accepted for mass production. Its front armor was 150mm thick and sloped at a 50 [[degree]] [[angle]]. Its sides were 80mm thick and sloped at a 25 degree angle. Its main [[gun]] had an 88mm bore with a muzzle [[velocity]] of 1000m per second with armor piercing rounds. It was highly accurate, and able to penetrate 150mm of armor at [[distance]]s greater than 2200m. The gun itself was 20 [[feet]] long. The tank was powered by a Maybach V12 [[gasoline]] [[engine]], and due to its [[weight]] of 69 [[ton]]s, consumed gas at a prodigious rate. With a 150 [[gallon]] tank it had a road range of 87 [[mile]]s and a cross country range of 53 miles; 0.6 and 0.4 miles per gallon respectively. |
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| − | Initially the King Tiger was prone to malfunctions and reliability problems due to the lack of post production testing, as the tanks were sent immediately into [[combat]] after leaving the [[factory]]. Most of the problems were fixed by the end of 1944. However, due to production difficulties and Allied air [[bomb]]ing of Henschel warehouses, production numbers fell and there were not enough spare parts to keep the these tanks running. Between 489 and 492 were produced. | + | Initially the King Tiger was prone to malfunctions and reliability problems due to the lack of post production testing, as the tanks were sent immediately into [[combat]] after leaving the [[factory]]. Most of the problems were fixed by the end of 1944. However, due to production difficulties and Allied air [[bomb]]ing of Henschel warehouses, production numbers fell and there were not enough spare parts to keep these tanks running. Between 489 and 492 were produced. |
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| | [[Image:Kingtigerturret.gif|center]] | | [[Image:Kingtigerturret.gif|center]] |