Jagdtiger

The Jagdtiger (Hunting Tiger), also known as the Panzerjäger Tiger B, was a heavy tank destroyer based on the King Tiger tank. Germany in World War II had success using the chassis' of their existing Panzers as the basis for self-propelled weapons (SPWs). After the success of the JagdPanther tank destroyer, it was decided to mount the large 128 mm PaK44 L/55 gun on a King Tiger lengthened chassis. The superstructure was box-like in appearence with sloped sides. The result was a monster heavy tank destroyer which could out-range any others.

It was manufacted by Nibelungenwerke from July 1944 until March 1945. It had a crew of 6 men; power by a V12 gasoline engine. It had thick frontal armor, which was sloped. It weighted 70 tons making it slow and unwieldy. It had many of the same production and spare part issues as the King Tiger tank. It saw combat service in the fall of 1944 and thereafter in the defense of Germany. Only 77 were produced by the end of the war in Europe.

References

• Chamberlain, Peter. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, (1999).