The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausfuhrung H1 (Tiger H1) is the first (early-production) variant of the Tiger I heavy tank family, designed and built by Henschel and used by the German Army during World War II. It offered the German Army its first armored fighting vehicle equipped with the 88 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 tank gun, developed from the 88 mm Flugabwehrkanone (FlaK) 36 anti-aircraft gun. Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were ordered on May 26th, 1941, to submit proposals for a 45-ton heavy tank that would be available by June 1942. Porsche developed an improved version of its VK 30.01 (P) prototype (which was originally intended to compete for the Panther contract), while Henschel developed two prototypes: the VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 tank gun and the VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm KwK42 L/70 tank gun. The Henschel VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype was accepted after evaluation, primarily because the Porsche VK 45.01 (P) prototype design used a petrol-electric transmission system that required large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electrical drive train components, a strategic war material of which Germany had limited supplies.

Early Tiger H1s with the Krupp-designed turret featured a high commander cupola. Later in the war, the design was modified, resulting in the Tiger E, which had a new dome-shaped cast-armor commander's cupola and a ring installed on the commander's cupola to accommodate the mounting of an anti-aircraft light machine gun. There are additionally five S-Mine dischargers on the hull-roof, three on the left side and two on the right. Two Feifel air cleaner units designed for dusty environments are located on the hull's back. Between August 1942 and August 1944, a total of 1,347 units were constructed. The Tiger I was phased out of production after August 1944 in favor of the Tiger II.

This par This particular 1:72 scale Tiger I Ausf. H1 heavy tank is painted in an east front summer camouflage pattern and bears the insignia of schwere Panzerabteilung 502. Now in stock!

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

Release Date: October 2003

Historical Account: "Elephant Hunt" - Schwere PPanzerabteilung 502 was formed in August 1942 and the first tanks arrived at the front near Leningrad on August 29th, 1942. The rest of the first company arrived in November and more tanks arrived at the front in February 1943. The second and third company was formed that April. It was redesignated schwere Panzerabteilung 511 in January 1945 where it eventually surrendered to the Allies.