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 replica of a Tiger I Ausf. H1 heavy tank is painted in an east front winter camouflage pattern and bears the markings of Tiger ace SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann's mount. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: October 2003

Historical Account: "Comes the Destroyer" - On January 13th, 1944, the following radio broadcast was made by the Ministry of Propaganda to the German people. "From July of 1943 to the beginning of January 1944, Michael Wittmann's tank destroyed 56 enemy armored fighting vehicles, including many T-34s and super-heavy self-propelled guns. On January 8th and 9th, he and his platoon halted and destroyed several breakthrough attempts being made by a Soviet tank brigade, and in that battle, he destroyed a further ten vehicles. On January 13th, nineteen T-34s and three super-heavy self-propelled guns were also destroyed. His total now stands at 88 tanks and self-propelled guns."

One week later, Wittmann was promoted to the rank of SS-Obersturmfuhrer, then on January 30th, he received the following telegram from der Fuhrer: "In thankful appreciation of your heroic actions in the battle for the future of our people, I award you, as the 380th soldier of the German Wehrmacht, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Adolf Hitler."

Several days later, Wittmann received the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross at the Fuhrerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze ("Wolves Lair") located in Rastenburg, East Prussia.