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 1:35 scale King Tiger, which is outfitted with the Henschel turret, was attached to schwere Panzerabteilung 503, which saw action at Mailly le Camp, France, in 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: August 2007

Historical Account: "Is Paris Burning?" - The German Army's schwere Panzerabteilung 503 was the first operational unit to receive the impressive new Tiger II in late May 1944. It arrived in Normandy the following month with 12 of these powerful King Tiger tanks to counter the Allied landings. They first saw action on July 11th, 1944. The unit was decimated in the ensuing tough fighting against the Allies, and by the time it was withdrawn from the front line, schwere Panzerabteilung 503 had just two operational tanks remaining.