The Tiger is Back!
The Tiger is back at Brickmania, and to celebrate, we are giving you 15% off PLUS free shipping*!
The Legendary Tiger
Of all the tank designs to reach a 20th Century battlefield, no other vehicle has attained such legendary and mythical status as the German Tiger heavy tank. Backed up by undeniable battlefield effectiveness, the Tiger’s mythos grew to legendary status and struck terror into the hearts of those faced with the challenge of defeating it.
The origins of the Tiger tank date back to 1937, when a 30-35 ton heavy tank was discussed by German planners. The idea was dropped in favor of the more lightweight and mobile Panzer III and IV series, which proved adequately effective against allied forces in Poland and France. When Hitler turned his forces against Russia, they were soon shocked to be faced against the formidable T-34 and KV-1 tanks, both closely guarded secret weapons up to that point. The Panzertruppen found themselves out-gunned, and facing certain defeat, unless they were equipped with more powerful weapons.
On Hitler’s orders, a new 55 ton heavy tank was to be produced, armed with an adaptation of the deadly 88mm anti-aircraft gun, and 100mm of frontal armor. The winning prototype was designed by Henschel (referred to as the Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger I Ausf H) and was ordered into production in July of 1942. While sequentially following the much sleeker Panther tank (Panzerkampfwagen V), the Tiger was clearly a throwback to earlier design work. Instead of sloping armor, the Tiger relied on shear brute strength of its armor for protection. This simplified design helped speed the Tiger into production, although not without such innovations as a semiautomatic transmission, a hydraulically powered turret, and power steering, which allowed the driver to steer with a wheel instead of a pair of brake levers.
The Tiger made it’s battlefield debut in September of 1942 and immediately proved effective at knocking out virtually any adversary well before itself was within effective range of opposing fire. The Tiger successfully served the Panzertruppen on all fronts on the European continent until the end of the war. The Tiger’s near invincibility against any other Allied armored vehicle instilled a fear known as “Tigerphobia” and reports of battlefield encounters with Tiger tanks were censored by British commanders to prevent panic amongst the troops.
While the Tiger (and its descendant Tiger II) was undoubtedly one of the most formidable weapons present at any battle in WW2, less than 2000 were produced due to it’s enormous material cost. Even though it was one of the greatest tanks of all time, achieving an unequaled legendary status in AFV history, it never reached the battlefield in sufficient numbers to the turn the tide of the war. Although inferior in almost every aspect, the mass-produced medium tanks of the Allies (Sherman and T-34) were deployed in sufficient numbers to overwhelm the limited number of German heavy tanks, even while suffering grievous losses to their own units.
- Crew: 5 (driver, radio operator, gunner, loader & commander)
- Weight: 60 tons (54 metric tons)
- Armor:1-4.72 in (25-120mm)
- Armament: Main Gun: 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56 with 92 rounds. Secondary: 2x 7.92×57 mm MG34
- Road Speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: 120 miles (195 km)
- Years Produced: 1942-43
*For a limited time we are offering a free shipping option for an order that includes the Tiger I Ausf H kit to select countries! Within the USA free shipping mean delivery by the United States Postal Service using First Class Mail (packages up to 8 ounces) and Priority Mail (packages over 8 ounces). Select Countries: Free Economy Mail delivery (4-8 weeks) is also being offered to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Offer ends 3-20-2016 or while supplies last!