In January 1943, a new Tiger tank was ordered by the Waffenamt, this time with a turret large enough to mount the fearsome 8.8cm L/71 gun. Besides improving its tank killing capabilities, the new Tiger was also intended to be more survivable on the battlefield. To achieve this, the thickness of the frontal armor was increased to 150mm, while the side armor remained constant at 80mm. A wooden mock-up showing the immense size of the vehicle was displayed on October 20th, 1943 and immediately became the center of attention to all that saw it. Production of the vehicle began soon thereafter in November 1943 although the first 50 vehicles sported the Porsche turret with its curved front plate.

On December 6th, the Waffenamt deemed that the shot-trap formed by the turret be eliminated. This was achieved by Henschel re-designing the turret and gun mantlet, in such a manner as to decrease the frontal area while at the same time incorporating a bell-shaped mantlet. By March 1945, 489 Royal Tigers (a.k.a. Konigstigers or "King Tigers") had been produced. Apart from five vehicles issued to the Feldherrnhalle division, all of the Tiger II heavy tanks were assigned to independent schwere Panzer detachments due to the tank's staggering size and weight, as well as its relatively slow rate of maneuver.

This particular King Tiger, which is outfitted with the Henschel turret and star antenna, was attached to schwere Panzerabteilung 101 which saw action in France during 1944. Vehicle features a rotating turret, elevating gun, working suspension, and vinyl treads. Vehicle also comes slathered in a layer of zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 11-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 4-inches

Release Date: October 2008

Historical Account: "Hitler's Elite" - Schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101, meaning Heavy SS-Tank Battalion 101, commonly abbreviated as schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101 was one of Waffen-SS's elite armored units, acting as a fire brigade and a crack assault unit on all fronts. With the introduction of new Tiger II - Royal Tiger tanks in late 1944, it was redesignated schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 501.

It was created on July 19th, 1943 as a part of the I. SS-Panzerkorps, by forming two new heavy tank companies consisting of Tiger I tanks and incorporating the 13.Kompanie of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1. Attached to SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" it was sent to Italy on August 23, 1943 where it stayed until mid-October. The 1st and 2nd company were then sent to East while the rest of the unit stayed behind in the West.