In 1944, three Tiger I tanks were field converted by the sPzAbt 509 to recovery vehicles and redesignated Bergepanzer Tiger. In November of 1944, all three were transferred to the sPzAbt 501. Meanwhile, a lone mid production Tiger I that had been damaged near Anzio in Italy was rebuilt and converted by the workshop of sPzAbt 508 into a special purpose vehicle. Its gun was removed and the turret traversed to face the rear then locked in a fixed position. A winch was mounted atop the turret along with a tubular 10-ton lifting crane, which enabled it to recover and tow damaged/ mired vehicles. It was also equipped with other auxiliary equipment so that it could lay and clear demolition charges.

This particular 1:72 scale Bergetiger recovery tank was attached to the schwere Panzerabteilung 508 and deployed to Italy in 1944. Comes with a layer of zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: December 2004

Historical Account: "Up and Down the Boot" - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 508 was formed in August 1943 and immediately sent to Italy. It engaged the Allies at Anzio and maintained a tenacious defense while withdrawing up the Italian peninsula, suffering heavy casualties in the process. It was eventually disbanded in February 1945.

In early February 1944, the battalion was sent to oppose Allied landings at Anzio. Transportation by rail ended at Ficulle in Italy, far from the enemy beachhead. Because Allied air superiority made further rail transport difficult, the battalion drove the remaining distance, via Rome. One Tiger caught fire on route and was destroyed in an explosion. Sixty percent of the Tigers suffered mechanical breakdown on the 200-kilometre (120 mi) journey through the narrow, winding, mountainous roads. By 14 February, the first company deployed piecemeal in the Anzio region near Aprilia (known as The Factory), as the second company arrived in Rome.