King Tiger's World War 2 Battlefield Tour (Europe)

[King Tiger]

31. Stoumont
At dawn on 19 December, Peiper surprised the American defenders of Stoumont by attack from the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment and a company of Fallschirmjäger to infiltrate their lines.
This is followed by Panzer attack which gain the eastern edge of the town.
After a two-hour tank battle with the American tank battalion, Peiper finally captured Stoumont at 10:30.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - Approaching Stoumont the leading Panther received a direct hit outside the clapboarded house "La Maison Robinson" on the left.
Alert to danger, the commander of the following Panther presses on, head outside the turret cupola for better all round view in spite of the risk.

May 2010 - The Robinson house today as seen in the then and now photos.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - The battle of the Robinson house. A group pf Fallschirmjaeger set up a machine gun alongside the hedge.
All the shots was taken in actual combat on 19 Dec 1944.

May 2010 - Today a Police station is built on the former fighting ground in front of the house

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - SS-Sturmbannführer Werner Pötschke, Ritterkreuz dangling from his neck, turns to retrieve an unfired Panzerfaust.

May 2010 - Robinson house today.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - An Panzer IV comes up and reinforcing the attack.
A Panzer Grenadier runs for better cover up as dark smoke from the burning Panther drifts upwards.

May 2010 - Robinson house today.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - The lead Panthers continued through Stoumont and took the road toward the train station where they were supposed to move towards Ambleve.
However, as they passed the station, they ran into a strong American force of 16 tanks and tank destroyers.
Advance leading and outnumbered Panthers didn't have much chance and were quickly knocked out and the rest withdrew.

May 2010 - The same route towards the train station at Stoumont today.

 

[King Tiger]

This monument marks the farthest advance of the Kampfgruppe Peiper's forces on the road beyond Stoumont where the Panthers were knocked out.

 

[King Tiger]

32. La Gleize
Peiper was informed that the Americans had recaptured Stavelot to their east.
Orders was given retake Stavelot but without success and Peiper maintained his lines west of Stoumont.
In the meantime, U.S. 82nd Airborne Division arrived and deployed along Peiper's planned route of advance.

Unable to break through and retake Stavelot, Peiper concentrated his forces in La Gleize and withdrew his forces eastward.

 

[King Tiger]

Oct 2008 - Me at La Gleize with the Real Königstiger.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - In paper, it take 4 Sherman tanks versus 1 Tiger.
In this battle, US 3rd Armored Division use 15 Sherman tanks to take on the lone King Tiger "213".
King Tiger engaged the Sherman Tanks and keep up the hot fire, but the numerical superiority of the US tanks soon told;
the US tanks managed to disable King Tiger when one of the shot from Sherman tank's fire blew off the front third of King Tiger's gun.
The crews of the King Tiger survived the attack, decided to abandon their tank and managed to escape under fire of smoke screen.

Oct 2008 - A Restored King Tiger tank today

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - Notice the blew off part of the front third of King Tiger's gun

Oct 2008 - The same serial number "213"

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - Prior to the US Task Force attack, US 30th Infantry Division’s 105 and 155mm artillery poured over 57,000 shells into the area for 3 days
where the King Tiger was deployed. the constant bombardment leads to the German crews' lack of sleep.

Oct 2008 - A restore and repaint King Tiger tank.

 

[King Tiger]

Dec 1944 - King Tiger Back View with damage track
Tiger II '213' was left at the end of the Battle of the Ardennes in a meadow behind the farm Wérimont.
In July of 1945 the King Tiger '213' salvaged by Sherman three storage tanks.
While dragging shifted the tank, which made so much noise that Madame Jenny Geenen brought out.
With a bottle of brandy in hand, she offered this in exchange for the Tiger II.
The tank was put down on the Place Publique.
After a conversation with the mayor could stay the sample (or after many persuasive words of Madame Geenen).

May 2010 - It was restored in 1972 and the tank was sandblasted and repainted. This operation was repeated twice thereafter until 1993.
Through the years became more and more restored to the tank, such as shutters, fenders and running gear. The interior was restored as much as possible.
In 1996, it was decided to place the tank on a new substrate. Also in that year, the tank was sandblasted and painted again.
Thanks to many volunteers, the Tiger II has been preserved and is a unique piece military relic of the Battle of the Bulge.

 

[King Tiger]

Notice the 3 "wounded" marks at the front.

Close up shot, impenetrate from the front.

Sloping armour give advantage of Armour Piercing round being bounce off.

 

[King Tiger]

"Wound" from the Bullets round, of course, insignificant impact on any tanks.

Notice of the 2 exhaust pipe of King Tiger.

 

[King Tiger]

On all front, Tiger tanks usually fought in limited number against superior odds of Allies forces.

 

[King Tiger]

Weighing at almost 70 tons, it is also one of the most heavist tank in the world, which would require strong suspension and track to support.

 

[King Tiger]

Fortunately for the Allies, only 485 King Tigers were built.
Regardless how good or bad the King Tiger is, it is unable to turn the tide of war.

 

[King Tiger]

The hull of the King Tiger was of all welded construction with a maximum thickness of 150mm at the front.

 

[King Tiger]

Weight : 70 tons
Length : 7.61 m (10.286 m with gun forward)
Width : 3.755 m
Height : 3.09 m
Crew 5 : commander, gunner, loader, radio operator, driver

Armor : 25–180 mm
Primary armament : 1× 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 (84 rounds)
Secondary armament : 2× 7.92 mm (4,800 rounds)
Engine : V-12 Maybach HL 230 P30 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight : 10 PS/tonne
Transmission : Maybach OLVAR EG 40 12 16 B (8 forward and 4 reverse)
Speed : 41.5 km/h