Early in 1943, orders were given to design a heavy, self-propelled anti-tank gun, which would mate a 12.8cm gun with a Tiger II chassis. On October 20th, 1943 a wooden mock-up of the enormous vehicle was shown to the OKH planners who authorized that a prototype be finished by April 1944. Two Jagdtigers were built with the Porsche-designed longitudinal torsion-bar suspension. During field testing, this arrangement proved entirely unsatisfactory, which further delayed production of the tank destroyer. The initial series was set at 150 vehicles, but an order issued in October 1944 stipulated that when these had been completed, production capacity was to be switched over to the Panther. This mandate was reversed in January 1945, and assembly of the Jagdtiger was to be resumed as fast as possible. By March 1945, only 77 examples were produced, all assigned to either the Panzerjagerabteilung 653 or the schwere Panzerabteilung 512.

This model wears a coating of zimmerit, which Dragon's designers have ensured is replicated to scale. There is also a magnificently modeled crane installed on the roof, a device used to raise the roof plate to allow maintenance of the interior to take place. With its 12.8cm PaK44 L/55 gun, this was one formidable opponent on the battlefield. Dragon has also ensured it is one impressive model in 1:72 scale too! Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-1/2-inches
Width: 2-1/4-inches

Release Date: September 2007

Historical Account: Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653 was activated as a Sturmgeschutz unit - the 197th - then converted to the Ferdinand (later Elefant), and finally to the even more massive Jagdtiger in 1945.