Jagdtiger
World War II tank warfare could be characterized as a race between the Axis and the Allies: to develop a tank that was fast, reliable, well-armored and armed a heavy gun. As one side developed a tank, the other side hurried to develop a counter. This was the design philosophy behind the Jagdtiger (Hunting Tiger).
As the Germans learned of Soviet development of heavy assault guns and tanks with thick armor and heavy guns (the ISU-152 and IS-2 series) in 1942, they raced to develop a counter. Since the Russians were already known to heavily armor their tanks, it was feared that a Soviet tank would appear that could resist even the mighty 88mm that was becoming Germany's primary antitank gun. As a result, the Wehrmacht issued a requirement for an assault gun that armed a 128mm gun. An assault gun would lack a turret, which saved on production time and cost. Initial attempts to mount the 128mm on a Panther chassis was a failure, and the Tiger I chassis was not much better. Finally, with the Tiger II/King Tiger, a chassis was found to mount the huge gun.
By this time, Germany was on the defensive, so speed was not a concern, but protection was. The fighting compartment was heavily armored, able to absorb shots from any known Allied antitank gun. Superb optics and the high-velocity 128mm meant that Jagdtiger crews could pick off opponents at over two miles, outranging their foes as well.
Unfortunately, the Jagdtiger was not quite the world-beater the Germans hoped for. It was not only slow, it was heavy, weighing in at 71 tons (the largest tank ever put into production), which meant it would sink into the ground if it ever left the road. The drive train was made for a much smaller tank and broke down frequently, the 128mm's recoil was such that it would wear down the gun barrel quickly, and the optics were so sensitive that they needed to be reset due to vibration. Though its ability to kill Allied tanks at long distance and even through obstacles was useful, an Allied unit that ran into Jagdtigers could always pull back and call in an airstrike, which happened on the Western Front with such regularity that Jagdtiger crews would frequently abandon their tanks at even a hint of Allied airpower. Only 88 were built in two years, a witness to its complicated production and disruption of German industry by Allied bombing. Two are known to survive to modern times.
When Dad started building armor in the early 1970s, he wanted to build the titanic Jagdtiger. It is painted in panzer yellow oversprayed with gray; while a nonstandard camouflage scheme, Jagdtigers were painted with whatever was available by their crews. This tank carries Zimmerit paste, applied to defeat Allied infantry magnetic satchel charges; as the Allies never used magnetic charges, only the earliest Jagdtigers carried Zimmerit. The R01 number indicates a command tank. A slight inaccuracy is the unit crest on the hull front, the shield and key of the 1st SS Panzer Division ("Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"); the 1st SS Panzer never operated the Jagdtiger, which were grouped in indpendent units attached to divisions as needed. Though Dad wanted to redo this tank, it still looks very impressive.
Jagdtiger
World War II tank warfare could be characterized as a race between the Axis and the Allies: to develop a tank that was fast, reliable, well-armored and armed a heavy gun. As one side developed a tank, the other side hurried to develop a counter. This was the design philosophy behind the Jagdtiger (Hunting Tiger).
As the Germans learned of Soviet development of heavy assault guns and tanks with thick armor and heavy guns (the ISU-152 and IS-2 series) in 1942, they raced to develop a counter. Since the Russians were already known to heavily armor their tanks, it was feared that a Soviet tank would appear that could resist even the mighty 88mm that was becoming Germany's primary antitank gun. As a result, the Wehrmacht issued a requirement for an assault gun that armed a 128mm gun. An assault gun would lack a turret, which saved on production time and cost. Initial attempts to mount the 128mm on a Panther chassis was a failure, and the Tiger I chassis was not much better. Finally, with the Tiger II/King Tiger, a chassis was found to mount the huge gun.
By this time, Germany was on the defensive, so speed was not a concern, but protection was. The fighting compartment was heavily armored, able to absorb shots from any known Allied antitank gun. Superb optics and the high-velocity 128mm meant that Jagdtiger crews could pick off opponents at over two miles, outranging their foes as well.
Unfortunately, the Jagdtiger was not quite the world-beater the Germans hoped for. It was not only slow, it was heavy, weighing in at 71 tons (the largest tank ever put into production), which meant it would sink into the ground if it ever left the road. The drive train was made for a much smaller tank and broke down frequently, the 128mm's recoil was such that it would wear down the gun barrel quickly, and the optics were so sensitive that they needed to be reset due to vibration. Though its ability to kill Allied tanks at long distance and even through obstacles was useful, an Allied unit that ran into Jagdtigers could always pull back and call in an airstrike, which happened on the Western Front with such regularity that Jagdtiger crews would frequently abandon their tanks at even a hint of Allied airpower. Only 88 were built in two years, a witness to its complicated production and disruption of German industry by Allied bombing. Two are known to survive to modern times.
When Dad started building armor in the early 1970s, he wanted to build the titanic Jagdtiger. It is painted in panzer yellow oversprayed with gray; while a nonstandard camouflage scheme, Jagdtigers were painted with whatever was available by their crews. This tank carries Zimmerit paste, applied to defeat Allied infantry magnetic satchel charges; as the Allies never used magnetic charges, only the earliest Jagdtigers carried Zimmerit. The R01 number indicates a command tank. A slight inaccuracy is the unit crest on the hull front, the shield and key of the 1st SS Panzer Division ("Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler"); the 1st SS Panzer never operated the Jagdtiger, which were grouped in indpendent units attached to divisions as needed. Though Dad wanted to redo this tank, it still looks very impressive.