Panzer VI "King Tiger" Variants : Tanks Evolve Too

 

The King Tiger included a coating of Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste and deep fording equipment. Also, during production, numerous modifications were made, including the replacement of gaskets and seals, the type of tracks used, the installation of sockets, the installation of additional track links, etc., although none of the modifications significantly changed the appearance or performance of the tank. The first 50 Tigers produced were equipped with one-piece 88mm turrets with 80 rounds of ammunition called Porsche Turrets, turrets that were originally designed by Krupp for Porsche's VK4502. However, later models were equipped with newer, more advanced two-piece 88mm turrets with 86 rounds of ammunition called Henschel Turrets, turrets that were originally designed by Krupp for Henschel. Both types of turret were mounted in the middle of the tank. However, Porsche's turret had a more strategic design, as it featured a curved mantlet and the commander's cupola was offset to the left. As a result, in December of 1943, Henschel was ordered to design a similar turret to be used as a standard for all future Panzer models. The new turret, produced by Krupp and in effect known as Krupp's turret, featured a flash cupola instead of a bulged one and a saukopf mantlet instead of a curved one. It also weighed approximately 1,300 kilograms more than ‘Porsche's turret'; the tank weighed 69,800 kilograms with the new turret installed, whereas it weighed only 68,500 kilograms with the old turret installed. Also, the new turret could now be traversed 360 degrees in only 19 to 77 seconds, depending on the engine power. In addition, the Tiger II was powered by a powerful 12 cylinder Mayback HL 230 P30 engine producing 700hp with an 8-speed Mayback OLVAR EG 40 12 16 B gearbox, the same engine that was used in the Panzer V Panther. It also featured Henschel's new L 801 steering mechanism, allowing the massive heavy tank to turn instantaneously. The tank's suspension consisted of nine sets of overlapping 800mm steel road wheels per side (five outer wheels and four inner wheels), on swing arms sprung on torsion bars. The overlapping road wheel arrangement finally solved the major problem with the Tiger I's interleaved arrangement, which caused mud, ice, and rocks to jam the track mechanism and immobilize the tank. However, it also caused the new problem of drastically reducing the life of the tank tracks due to the extreme pressure that it caused. The tank was also equipped with relatively narrow 660mm tracks for transportation on railcars (the tank was otherwise too wide to fit on standard flatcars) and relatively wide 800mm tracks for combat.

Unfortunately, almost every single improvement made to the King Tiger only made it heavier and more mechanically unreliable. The engine, designed to power the significantly lighter Panzer V, became strained to the point of near uselessness. Thus although the modifications made to the King Tiger would help create legendary indestructability and awesome firepower, they also ensured that the tank would be more of a semi-moveable bunker installation rather than a mobile tank.