"Memo on the new "King Tiger" (Koenigstiger) heavy tank and methods of combat against it
Elements of the 1st Ukrainian Front captured 4 King Tiger tanks near Szydłów on August 12th, 1944, one of which was functional. 2 non-functional King Tiger tanks were captured near Korozvenka on August 15th, 1944.
Preliminary characteristics of the King Tiger tank are as follows:
- Type of tank: heavy
- Combat weight: 68 tons
- Length with gun forward: 10.5 meters
- Width: 3.7 meters
- Armour:
- Front: 180 mm
- Side: 80 mm
- Roof and floor: 40 mm
- Armament:
- One 88 mm gun
- Two machine guns
- Ammunition capacity: 60 rounds
- Engine: Maybach (gasoline)
- Engine power: 600-650 hp
- Top speed: 40 kph
- Cruising range:
- 100 km cross-country
- 140 km highway
- Suspension: torsion bar
- Number of road wheels: 9 per side
- Track width: 800 mm
- Radios: two (one for the commander)
- Crew: 6
- Commander
- Gunner
- Loader
- Junior driver (also radio operator)
- Mechanic-driver
- Machine gunner/radio operator
|
King Tiger |
T-6 Tiger |
Type of tank |
Heavy |
Heavy |
Weight |
68 tons |
56 tons |
Length with gun |
10.5 m |
8.5 m |
Width |
3.7 m |
3.6 m |
Armour thickness |
|
|
Front |
180 |
100 |
Side |
80 |
62-82 |
Rear |
80 |
82 |
Floor and roof |
40 |
28 |
Armament |
One 88 mm gun |
One 88 mm gun |
|
Two machine guns |
Two machine guns |
Ammunition |
60 rounds |
86 rounds |
Engine |
Maybach |
Maybach |
Top speed |
40 kph |
44 kph |
Cruising range |
|
|
Off-road |
100 km |
100 km |
Highway |
140 km |
140 km |
Suspension |
Torsion bar |
Torsion bar |
Road wheels |
9 per side |
8 per side |
Track width |
800 mm |
720 mm |
Radios |
Two |
One |
Crew |
6 |
5 |
- All methods used against the Tiger and Panther tanks can be used against the new tank.
- The gun, foundation of the turret, running gear, rear armour, and turret roof are the most vulnerable parts of the new tank.
- The side armour can be reliably penetrated by 57-76 mm guns and higher. 57, 85, as well as 122, and 152 mm guns of IS tanks are the most effective.
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