Panzer VI Tiger - Deutschland: Bücher - Geschichte (3/4)

Der andere Tiger - Der Panzerkampfwagen Porsche Typ 101

Aufgeschreckt von den grossen, schlagkräftigen T-34-Panzern der Sowjets begann die Entwicklung eines noch schlagkräftigeren Panzers: Ferdinand Porsche beteiligte sich mit einem Entwurf an der Entwicklung des Panzers, der zum legendären Tiger werden sollte, auch wenn dieser in der Erprobung dem robusten Henschel-Tiger weichen musste.

Michael Fröhlich widmet sich dem sagenumwobenen Porsche-Tiger, mit dem die Wehrmacht beabsichtigte, das Kriegsglück zu wenden. Detailliert schreibt er über Technik und Entwicklungsgeschichte, Erprobung und Verbleib dieses auf dem Papier besten deutschen Panzerfahrzeugs des Zweiten Weltkriegs.

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Elefant, Jagdtiger, Sturmtiger - Variations of the Tiger Family

Covers in detail the Tiger variants Elefant, Jagdtiger, and Sturmtiger.

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Kingtiger Heavy Tank 1942-45 (Osprey)

As World War II entered its later stages and Germany was forced increasingly onto the defensive, the need for fast-moving mobile forces lessened and the Wehrmacht required better protected and more powerfully armed tanks. After debacles against the T-34, Hitler and the Panzerwaffe were determined not to be unprepared again. The result of this determination was the production of the heaviest and largest tank to see combat during World War II, the Tiger II or Konigstiger (Kingtiger).

This title examines this formidable weapon, covering the problems and controversies surrounding its design and production as well as a detailed listing of every unit that was equipped with the Tiger II.

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The Porsche Tiger and Ferdinand Tank Destroyer

During the Second World War, Ferdinand Porsche's firm played an important role in designing military vehicles for the Wehrmacht. This work follows up on author Michael Fröhlich's book on Porsche's massive "Maus" tank and describes the firm's other armored-vehicle designs, with special emphasis on the VK 4501 (P) Tiger prototype and the "Ferdinand" tank destroyer.

VK 4501 was the designation for the prototypes competing to be what would become the Panzer VI "Tiger." Porsche's concept used a novel gasoline/electric hybrid power plant, but the Tiger contract eventually went to Henschel.

Through details on the Tiger trials at the Verskraft proving ground, readers will gain insight into the armament procurement process in the Third Reich. The hull/chassis design from VK 4501 (P) was later repurposed for a large tank destroyer named for the designer, "Ferdinand." These imposing vehicles saw combat on multiple fronts and were later renamed "Elefant."
Fröhlich's study, available in English for the first time, is grounded in original reports, manuals, and technical drawings.

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Tiger I Heavy Tank 1942-45 (Osprey)

Probably the most famous tank of the World War II, the Tiger I was originally conceived in 1941 in response to the German Army's experience in fighting British tanks and anti-tank guns in Western Europe and the North African desert. Following the invasion of Russia, the appearance of the Soviet T-34 and KW tanks lent a further impetus to the programme. The Tiger's power and performance on the battlefield is emphasised by tables of relevant performance throughout the book, which clearly show the battlefield survivability of the Tiger and its superiority to many allied tank designs.
This comprehensive and extremely detailed text is accompanied by a fine selection of black and white photographs showing the tank in use.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Production History - Production Modifications - Firepower - Mobility - Battlefield Survivability - Operational History.

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