The German Waffenamt issued an order to design the VK4501(H) (as the PzKpfw VI Ausf. E was then known) in May 1941, just one month prior to the commencement of Operation Barbarossa. Interestingly, Henschel und Sohn of Kassel was charged with building the heavily armored chassis while Krupp, by far the largest munitionwerks in Germany, was given the task of developing the turret. The PzKpfw VI Ausfuhrung E (type E) was one of the first German tanks to feature a torsion bar with eight interleaved wheels, which was designed to support the weight of the mammoth 57-ton tank. The Ausf. E mounted a huge 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 cannon and featured two MG34 machine guns for close support against enemy infantry. By war's end, 1,354 vehicles had been produced, some rolling off the Wegmann assembly line.

This particular 1:72 scale Tiger I heavy tank has been slathered with a layer of zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste and was attached to the 1./schwere Panzerabteilung 506, then fighting in the Ukraine during 1944. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: June 2009

Historical Account: "Heavy Duty" - Schwere Panzer Abteilung 506 was formed in July 1943 around a cadre from the 9.Panzer Division. It fought with Heeresgruppe Mitte at the River Dnieper and later at Krivoi-Rog. Afterwards, the unit was sent to Germany, where it was refitted with Tiger II (Konigstiger) tanks in August 1944. It fought the Allies near Arnhem (during Operation Market Garden) and again at Aachen.

In November 1944, it was strengthened with a fourth company, known as the Schwere Panzer Kompanie Hummel, which was used as a heavy support unit whenever it was needed. It later participated in the Ardennes Offensive (as the only tank battalion from the army) in December 1944 and eventually surrendered to the Western Allies in the Ruhr pocket in April 1945.