Forces of Valor German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank with Zimmerit - "White 214", Schwere Panzerabteilung 509, Russia, Autumn 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 Engine] (1:32 Scale)

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German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank with Zimmerit - "White 214", Schwere Panzerabteilung 509, Russia, Autumn 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 Engine] (1:32 Scale)

Forces of Valor German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank with Zimmerit - "White 214", Schwere Panzerabteilung 509, Russia, Autumn 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 Engine]

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* Note: Includes a bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 engine enclosed in the packaging

Pre-order! Price and ship date to be determined

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Product Code: FOV801003A

Description

Extended Information

Forces of Valor FOV801003A German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank with Zimmerit - "White 214", Schwere Panzerabteilung 509, Russia, Autumn 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 Engine] (1:32 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 weight of 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.

The Tiger differed from earlier German tanks principally in its design philosophy. Its predecessors balanced mobility, armor and firepower and were sometimes outgunned by their opponents.

While heavy, this tank was not slower than the best of its opponents. However, at over 50 tonnes dead weight, the suspension, gearboxes, and other such items had clearly reached their design limits and breakdowns were frequent if regular maintenance was not undertaken.

Although the general design and layout were broadly similar to the previous medium tank, the Panzer IV, the Tiger weighed more than twice as much. This was due to its substantially thicker armor, the larger main gun, greater volume of fuel and ammunition storage, larger engine, and a more solidly built transmission and suspension.

Pictured here is a 1:32 scale replica of a German Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E heavy tank that was attached to Schwere Panzerabteilung 509, then deployed to Russia during Autumn 1943. Comes with removable Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 engine. Pre-order! Price and ship date to be determined.

Dimensions:
Length: 10-1/4-inches
Width: 4-1/2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Destruction of Armee Gruppe Centre" - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 509 (abbreviated s.Pz.Abt. 509) was a German heavy panzer abteilung equipped with Tiger I and later Tiger II Knigstiger tanks. The 509th saw action on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. As with other German heavy tank battalions, it was never assigned to a single corps; but shuffled around as needed.

The 509th was ordered formed on September 9th, 1943, taking most of its personnel from Panzer Regiment 204 of the disbanded 22.Panzer Division, although some sources claim March 1943. The battalion was initially issued with forty-five Tiger Is. It was committed to action in Ukraine as a part of Army Group South. Reaching the Front in October 1943, the 509th saw action near Kirovograd and Krivoi Rog, falling back as a part of the overall withdrawal of the front. In early November, the third company was detached and attached to the 2.SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich".

In early 1944, the 509th was involved in the Second Battle of Kiev and was heavily engaged in fighting for the city. After the defeat at Kiev, the detachment saw action at Pavlova during the withdrawal. In late May, the exhausted and severely depleted 509th was pulled back for refitting. After receiving a full complement of Tiger Is, the detachment was sent back to the front on June 1st, 1944.

On June 22nd, 1944, the Soviets launched Operation Bagration, and the 509th, attached to Army Group Centre, was in their line of advance. The 509th saw heavy fighting at Novosselki, Shitomir and Chelmik. On September 8th, 1944, the detachment lost sixteen Tigers in under 24 hours near Kielce, Poland.