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Tiger II

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Tiger II

AnnoG16_PzVIB_Tiger_II.png
Battle Tier
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Overview
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Well, the ones further down, of course.
" for more information
[Client Values; Actual values in
Specifically, the mismatch in crew values caused by commander's 10% crew skill bonus. Outside of a crew of 1 commander only, 100% crew is a fiction. The client values, given for 100% crew, will normally be taken into battle with 110% crew skill members aside from specific functions, causing their actual performance to deviate from the expected client value. These differences are taken into account in tooltip boxes.
]
2,450,000  Credits Cost
1500400 HP Hit Points
68.05/69.738.64/74 t Weight Limit
Crew
  1. Commander
  2. Gunner
  3. Driver
  4. Radio Operator
  5. Loader
Mobility
650700 hp Engine Power
38/12 km/h Speed Limit
2628 deg/s Traverse
9.5518.12 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio
YesYes Pivot
Armor
// mm Hull Armor
100/80/80245/120/80 mm Turret Armor
Armament







{{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING_CR|ARMOR_PIERCING||



{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING||


AP/APCR/HE







{{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING_CR|ARMOR_PIERCING||



{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING||


AP/APCR/HE
Shells




















405/4400/295




















1080/4800/670
Shell Cost
280/280/370360/360/440 HP Damage
203/237/44225/285/60 mm Penetration



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7.69 r/m 

Standard Gun

Reload Times
Nominal: 7.8 s
50% Crew: 9.66 s
75% Crew: 8.44 s
100% Crew: 7.48 s
Rammer: 6.73 s
Vents: 7.32 s
Both: 6.58 s
Both and BiA: 6.44 s
Both and Max Crew %: 6.17 s

See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information.



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5.77 r/m 

Standard Gun

Reload Times
Nominal: 10.4 s
50% Crew: 12.88 s
75% Crew: 11.25 s
100% Crew: 9.97 s
Rammer: 8.97 s
Vents: 9.75 s
Both: 8.78 s
Both and BiA: 8.58 s
Both and Max Crew %: 8.23 s

See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information.
Rate of Fire






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2153.2

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 1 (280 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2153.2
50% Crew: 1738.8
75% Crew: 1990.8
100% Crew: 2245.6
100% Crew
Vents: 2296
Rammer: 2494.8
Both: 2550.8
Both and BiA: 2606.8
Both and Max Crew %: 2721.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2433.2
50% Crew: 2018.8
75% Crew: 2270.8
100% Crew: 2525.6
100% Crew
Rammer: 2774.8
Vents: 2576
Both: 2830.8
Both and BiA: 2886.8
Both and Max Crew %: 3001.6

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 2 (280 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2153.2
50% Crew: 1738.8
75% Crew: 1990.8
100% Crew: 2245.6
100% Crew
Vents: 2296
Rammer: 2494.8
Both: 2550.8
Both and BiA: 2606.8
Both and Max Crew %: 2721.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2433.2
50% Crew: 2018.8
75% Crew: 2270.8
100% Crew: 2525.6
100% Crew
Rammer: 2774.8
Vents: 2576
Both: 2830.8
Both and BiA: 2886.8
Both and Max Crew %: 3001.6

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 3 (370 Damage):
With wholly penetrating hits

Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2845.3
50% Crew: 2297.7
75% Crew: 2630.7
100% Crew: 2967.4
100% Crew
Vents: 3034
Rammer: 3296.7
Both: 3370.7
Both and BiA: 3444.7
Both and Max Crew %: 3596.4

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 3215.3
50% Crew: 2667.7
75% Crew: 3000.7
100% Crew: 3337.4
100% Crew
Rammer: 3666.7
Vents: 3404
Both: 3740.7
Both and BiA: 3814.7
Both and Max Crew %: 3966.4

See here, here, or here for more information.






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2077.2

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 1 (360 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2077.2
50% Crew: 1677.6
75% Crew: 1918.8
100% Crew: 2167.2
100% Crew
Vents: 2217.6
Rammer: 2408.4
Both: 2462.4
Both and BiA: 2516.4
Both and Max Crew %: 2624.4

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2437.2
50% Crew: 2037.6
75% Crew: 2278.8
100% Crew: 2527.2
100% Crew
Rammer: 2768.4
Vents: 2577.6
Both: 2822.4
Both and BiA: 2876.4
Both and Max Crew %: 2984.4

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 2 (360 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2077.2
50% Crew: 1677.6
75% Crew: 1918.8
100% Crew: 2167.2
100% Crew
Vents: 2217.6
Rammer: 2408.4
Both: 2462.4
Both and BiA: 2516.4
Both and Max Crew %: 2624.4

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2437.2
50% Crew: 2037.6
75% Crew: 2278.8
100% Crew: 2527.2
100% Crew
Rammer: 2768.4
Vents: 2577.6
Both: 2822.4
Both and BiA: 2876.4
Both and Max Crew %: 2984.4

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 3 (440 Damage):
With wholly penetrating hits

Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2538.8
50% Crew: 2050.4
75% Crew: 2345.2
100% Crew: 2648.8
100% Crew
Vents: 2710.4
Rammer: 2943.6
Both: 3009.6
Both and BiA: 3075.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3207.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2978.8
50% Crew: 2490.4
75% Crew: 2785.2
100% Crew: 3088.8
100% Crew
Rammer: 3383.6
Vents: 3150.4
Both: 3449.6
Both and BiA: 3515.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3647.6

See here, here, or here for more information.
Damage Per Minute


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0.34 m 

With 50% Crew: 0.421 m
With 75% Crew: 0.368 m
With 100% Crew: 0.326 m
With BiA: 0.319 m
With BiA and Vents: 0.312 m
Maximum possible: 0.299 m

For more details, see Crew


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0.31 m 

With 50% Crew: 0.384 m
With 75% Crew: 0.335 m
With 100% Crew: 0.297 m
With BiA: 0.291 m
With BiA and Vents: 0.284 m
Maximum possible: 0.273 m

For more details, see Crew
Accuracy


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2.5 s 

With 50% Crew: 3.097 s
With 75% Crew: 2.704 s
With 100% Crew: 2.397 s
With GLD: 2.179 s
With BiA: 2.344 s
With BiA and Vents: 2.293 s
With both and GLD: 2.085 s
Maximum possible: 1.998 s

For more details, see Crew or Equipment


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2.5 s 

With 50% Crew: 3.097 s
With 75% Crew: 2.704 s
With 100% Crew: 2.397 s
With GLD: 2.179 s
With BiA: 2.344 s
With BiA and Vents: 2.293 s
With both and GLD: 2.085 s
Maximum possible: 1.998 s

For more details, see Crew or Equipment
Aim time
2727 deg/s Turret Traverse
360° Gun Arc
-8°/+15°-8°/+15° Elevation Arc
7242 rounds Ammo Capacity
General
2020 % Chance of Fire






380 m 

With 50% Crew: 298.6 m
With 75% Crew: 339.3 m
With 100% Crew: 380 m
With Recon and Situational Awareness: 399.2 m
With Coated Optics: 418 m
With Binocular Telescope: 475 m
Maximum possible: 544 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment






390 m 

With 50% Crew: 306.4 m
With 75% Crew: 348.2 m
With 100% Crew: 390 m
With Recon and Situational Awareness: 409.7 m
With Coated Optics: 429 m
With Binocular Telescope: 487.5 m
Maximum possible: 558.3 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment
View Range


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310 m 

With 50% Crew: 250.2 m
With 75% Crew: 286.6 m
With 100% Crew: 323.3 m
With 100% Signal Boost: 372 m
When affected by 100% Relaying: 341 m
Maximum possible: 465.4 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment


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710 m 

With 50% Crew: 573.1 m
With 75% Crew: 656.4 m
With 100% Crew: 740.5 m
With 100% Signal Boost: 852 m
When affected by 100% Relaying: 781 m
Maximum possible: 1065.9 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment
Signal Range
Values are Stock - click for Top
Tiger II

Additional Statistics
(Top Configuration)

Camouflage

  • Stationary: 4.6%
  • When Moving: 2.3%
  • When Firing: 1.1%


Terrain Resistance

  • On Hard Ground: 0.96
  • On Medium Ground: 1.15
  • On Soft Ground: 2.21


Dispersion Change Values

  • Turret Contribution
  • Rotation: 0.12
  • Shot Recoil: 2.88
  • Suspension Contribution
  • Acceleration: 0.17
  • Turning: 0.17


With 100% Crew

VIII

AnnoG16_PzVIB_Tiger_II.png

2450000

The Tiger II is a German tier 8 heavy tank.

The most heavily armored tank carrying the most powerful anti-tank gun. The vehicle's drawbacks included an overloaded suspension and engine-transmission group, as well as excessive general mass. When engaging enemy vehicles at long range, the Tiger II had an upper hand over any other vehicle in terms of the gun and armor protection. However, due to the excessive mass of the vehicle, relatively low durability of the engine and transmission, and small total number of vehicles built, the Tiger II did not have any significant impact on the course of war.

One of the most feared tanks in the Second World War, The Königstiger (literally "King Tiger") operates rather unsatisfying in stock configuration; however, with proper positioning, it is capable of bouncing shells off its sturdy sloped frontal armor, provided that its lower front plate is hidden at all times, as it is only 100mm thick. It sports a workable level of mobility, though the weak engine makes climbing slopes painfully slow. It also sports an excellent top gun, featuring the best accuracy of any heavy tank at this tier, good penetration, and balanced alpha damage and RoF.

The Tiger II leads to the E 75.

Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables

Modules

Ico_gun_alpha.png

Guns

Tier Gun Penetration
(mm)
Damage
(HP)
Rate of fire
(rounds/minute)
Dispersion
(m/100m)
Aiming time
(s)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VIII 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71 mod.Vlt 203/237/44 280/280/370 7.69 0.34 2.3 2562 112180
VIII 10.5 cm KwsPz.K. L/52 200/244/60 360/360/440 5.77 0.35 2.3 3000 116490
IX 10.5 cm KwsPz.K. L/68 225/285/60 360/360/440 5.77 0.31 2.5 3600 178500

Ico_engine_alpha.png

Engines

Tier Engine Engine Power
(hp)
Chance of Fire on Impact
(%)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VII Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 650 20 850 35500
VIII Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 700 20 1300 54000

Ico_suspension_alpha.png

Suspensions

Tier Suspension Load Limit
(т)
Traverse Speed
(gr/sec)
Rmin Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VII Tiger II Versuchs-Serie 69.7 26 0 22350 20080
VIII Tiger II 74 28 0 22350 37520

Ico_radio_alpha.png

Radios

Tier Radio Signal Range
(m)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

III FuG 5 310 50 630
VI FuG 7 415 70 8160
IX FuG 12 710 150 43200

Compatible Equipment

Low Noise Exhaust System Class 1 Vertical Stabilizer Class 1 Heavy Spall Liner Camouflage Net Class 2 Coated Optics Class 1 Stabilizing Equipment System Experimental Optics Wear-Resistant Gun Laying Drive Improved Configuration Venting System Innovative Loading System Enhanced Gun Laying Drive Class 1 Improved Hardening Class 1 Additional Grousers Class 1 Modified Configuration Class 1 Improved Rotation Mechanism Class 1 Improved Aiming Class 1 Improved Ventilation Class 1 Binocular Telescope Class 1 Gun Rammer Class 1 Turbocharger Class 1 

Compatible Consumables

Stabilizer Greasing Automatic Fire Extinguisher Natural Cover Chocolate Optical Calibration Aim Tuning Experienced Firefighters 100-octane Gasoline 105-octane Gasoline Manual Fire Extinguisher Pre-Battle Maintenance Vent Purge Large First Aid Kit Large Repair Kit Duty Comes First Shell Organizer Orderly Ammo Rack Focus on Target Increased Focus Small First Aid Kit Small Repair Kit Gearbox Intricacy Steady Hand Combat Course 


Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Decent stock grind - The 8.8cm has good accuracy for sniping, and is still competitive in terms of RoF and DPM.

- Upper glacis offers reasonable protection, especially when angled.

- Top 10.5 cm gun is one of the most reliable gun of its Tiers with great penetration, fantastic accuracy and decent DPM.

- Nice view range and short reload time compared to most Tier 8 heavies.

- Relatively good gun depression (-8). Surprisingly decent turret for a German vehicle.

- Overall mobility is acceptable due to good terrain resistance, hull traverse and top speed.

- Stock suspension can take upgraded engine and full set of equipment.


Cons:

- Upper glacis can bounce only Tier 8 guns reliably; any gun with about 250mm pen can go right through it.

- Huge yet inadequately armored hull except for the upper glacis; lower glacis is very weak, and the unimproved side armor allows only auto-bounces. Vulnerable to flanking.

- High profile and poor camo values.

- Engine is underpowered for the tank's weight, resulting in awful uphill speed.


Performance

The Tiger II more or less plays like the Tiger I, but with functional frontal armor and greater reliance on damage per shot instead of RoF. The combination of good DPM, superb accuracy, and outstanding APCR penetration & velocity allows the Tiger II to deal damage effectively at any range and tier. The Tiger II's sides and lower front plate are vulnerable in a brawl, and the turret can be penetrated with good aim, so it is not advised to sit still when endangered. Tier 9s treat this tank as a danger, while quite a few Tier X tanks treat it seriously. That does not mean that this tank should be played particularly aggressively in a high-tier match. Make use of the well-engineered armor and the excellent accuracy, high penetration, and decent gun depression; use cover and support your allies. If played well, this tank can engage any tank of the same tier and win.

If you are at the top of the list
You are going to have a huge impact on the outcome of the battle. Don't be surprised if many of your team tanks follow you wherever you go. Plan to spearhead the main attack. If you're forced into a defensive role, go where your line is weakest.
Your armor will prove quite frustrating to enemy tier 6's and even some tier 7's, but be wary of any fast moving mediums that try to flank you. You may be able to turn faster than most heavies, but that doesn't mean you are flank-proof.
Opposing IS-3s and other heavy tanks can mostly be successfully engaged with the 10.5cm.
Despite the apparent role of the Tiger II, it can occasionally prove useful to facehug, however this is NOT recommended against higher tier tanks, as they still will be able to punch straight through your armor.
If you are at the bottom of the list
A large portion of enemy tanks will be Tiers 9 or 10. You'll need to target vulnerable areas of the opponents for effective supporting fire; otherwise, you won't stand a chance. Try to stay alive and you might make more of a difference once the strongest tanks kill each other off. The accuracy and reload time help immensely.
The 'Peek-a-boom' tactic, relied upon by the IS series tanks, can prove very helpful for the Tiger II and the tanks it leads to, specifically at medium or long range; this is a good time to learn this skill as it becomes extremely potent in the E 75 and E 100.
  • Note: Tiger II was buffed in 1.10
  • 105mms removed from Tiger II and E 75, replaced with higher alpha damage variants:

Damage on 105mms from 320/320/420 -> 360/360/440 (No rate of fire change, so about 200 DPM higher) Hull thickness (frontally) from 150 -> 160 Turret thickness (185/80/80 -> 245/120/80) Turret roof weakspot increased to around 45mm-50mm thick (much less vulnerable to overmatch)


Early Research

  • The upgraded engine carries over from the Tiger.
  • The FuG7 radio is common on many German vehicles, and chances are you've probably already researched this one.
  • Upgrading the turret is a good place to start, due to the increased frontal armor and DPM. You can mount it with the stock suspension, but you'll either have to forego the top engine and equipment, or temporarily install the enhanced suspension. Otherwise, you'll need to research the suspension first, leaving you with a vulnerable turret for quite a while.
  • The short 10,5 cm KwK 45 L/52 is not a straight upgrade to the stock 8.8cm Kw.K 43, so equipping it is optional. It has inferior shell velocity and is very slightly worse in terms of accuracy, AP penetration, and DPM, but does offer markedly better alpha damage and a modest improvement in APCR penetration.


Suggested Equipment


Improved VentilationTank Gun Rammer Vertical Stabilizer Coated Optics Binocular Telescope Toolbox 


Gallery

Historical Info

The Tiger I had hardly entered service before the German General Staff requested a bigger and better successor, superior in armor protection and firepower to anything the Soviets were likely to produce. Henschel tried to persuade the General Staff to accept an interim solution in the autumn of 1942, which consisted of installing a curved bow-plate on the Tiger I, but this solution was rejected.

The German point of view was that, at the rate of evolution in armored warfare, superiority could only be maintained by one year, at maximum. Things being as they were in early 1943, the Tiger I and the Panther would be enough, but in order to preserve the superiority in 1944, a new heavy tank would be necessary. On January 1943, Hitler decided that the new Tiger would have the longer Rheinmetall 88 mm Flak 41, and to have 150 mm of front armor and 80 mm of side armor: the angle of the armor plates resulting in the new tank looking very similar to the PzKpfw. V Panther.

Once again, Porsche and Henschel were asked for designs which were to incorporate the latest sloped armor and the installation of the longer Rheinmetall 88 mm Flak 41. However, there was the sensitive question, for Krupp, of mounting an archrival's gun in their turret. On 5th February 1943, Krupp was awarded the contract for the development of the 88 mm KwK 43 L/71, a new gun specifically designed for the successor of the Tiger I. The only similarity between this gun designed by Krupp and the Rheinmetall Flak 41 was that the same penetration values were achieved when the same shell was fired with the same initial muzzle velocity. All other characteristics of the two guns were different. Following the main specification to achieve equivalent armor penetration, Krupp completely redesigned the gun for mounting in a tank turret. As compared to the Flak 41 L/74, the KwK 43 L/71 was shorter with different rifling and had a muzzle brake to retard recoil. In addition it had shorter, fatter recoil cylinders to fit inside a turret, had an air blast system fitted to evacuate fumes from the gun directly after firing, and chambered a shorter (but thicker) cartridge case for easier loading inside a turret.

Some Tiger IIs were used during the Battle of the Bulge, 6 months after D-Day.

PzKmpfVIB_image01.jpg

Krupp Turrets and Parts Standardization with the Panther II

Porsche updated its Tiger I design, and this time, was so sure of winning the contract that it ordered a first batch of 50 turrets from Krupp. Unfortunately, the Porsche ideas of electric transmission were once again rejected, as the supplies of copper were too small, and the contract went once again to Henschel. However, since 50 early-style turrets had already been made, they were fitted to the first units produced. The curved front plate created a serious shot trap, which deflected incoming rounds down into the driver's compartment. The bulge for the cupola was also a weak area in the turret side-armor. Krupp then modified the turret, and the new design eliminated those deficiencies, was simpler, and offered better protection while providing room for 6 more rounds of ammunition. The new Serien-Turm (series production turret) designed for the Tiger II had a 180 mm thick front plate, 80 mm sidewalls, and 40 mm roof. The gun mantlet was specifically designed to be immune to attack or being jammed. This new design did not create high explosive blast pockets and prevented deflections of projectiles down to the deck. The early-style turret is commonly referred to as the 'Porsche Turret'; and the series production turret, as the 'Henschel turret'. However, both turrets were designed and built by Krupp, and this classification leads to misunderstandings. It is best to call the first 50 turrets "early-production turrets", and from the 51st on as "series production turrets" (Serien-Turm).

PzKmpfVIB_image02.jpg
PzKmpfVIB_image03.jpg











In February 1943, WaPrüf 6/III drew a requirement for an extensive unification of the specification in order to standardize as many parts as possible with the Panther II, which never went into production, and the subsequent delays caused the production to never reach the planned levels until December 1943. The PzKpfw. Tiger Ausf. B was a massive and formidable vehicle, designed to dominate the battlefield. The new hull design for the VK 45.03 (H) consisted of sloping plates for increased protection. The front glacis plate was 150 mm at 50°, front nose plate 100 mm at 50°, superstructure side plates 80 mm at 0° vertical, tail plate 80 mm at 30°, deck plates 40 mm at 90° horizontal, and rear belly plate 25 mm horizontal. Forty-eight rounds of ammunition for the main gun were stored horizontally in panniers on each side of the hull. The rounds were stowed in three groups, on both sides. Each group was separated by sliding metal panels. An additional ten to 16 rounds were stacked loose on the turret floor.

PzKmpfVIB_image04.jpg

The whole running gear was redesigned. For the first time, a staggered running gear with nine pairs of rubber-spring road wheels, of 800 mm diameter, was used on each side. These road wheels consisted of two strong sheet-steel rims attached to a wheel disk of steel between two rubber rings under very high pressure. The drive sprocket was similar to that of the Tiger I, but were built more strongly. The road-wheel cranks were single drop-forged pieces and much strenghtened. The crank arrangement resembled those of the Panther without rubber, but with layered conical springs. Compared to the Tiger I, the torsion bars were strenghtened and fitted with toothed heads. They no longer differed in diameter, so they could not be fine tuned. The combat tracks, which weighed 3.2 tons each, were 800 mm wide, thus providing an acceptable ground pressure (when the tracks sunk to 20 cm) of 0.76 kilograms per square centimeter. Once again, loading tracks, 600 mm wide, had to be used for rail transportation. The combat weight of the vehicle was 68.5 metric tons.

PzKmpfVIB_image05.png

The Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B powerplant was the Maybach HL 230 P 30, a 12-cylinder engine also used on the Panther, producing 700 HP at 3,000 rpm, then through an 8-speed Maybach transmission and was designed to provide a maximum speed of 41.5 km/h. The OLVAR gearbox required a shifting process that was just like that of a manual transmission with power interruption. Its trouble free operation depended largely on the ability and calm (even in combat) of the driver. However, the easily shifted OLVAR gearbox and easily steered two-radius steering gear definitely improved the driver's job.



Official Designation

Thomas L. Jentz, in "Germany's Tiger Tanks: Vol.2 - VK 45.02 to Tiger II" (Schiffer, 1998), presents a list of official names given to the Tiger II, ordered by date, from 1942 to 1943:


Wa Prüf 6 Designations:


VK 45.02 (H) 15 April 1942

Tiger II for the VK 45.02 (H) 18 September 1942

Tiger III (VK 45.03) 12 October 1942

Henschel Tiger B 08 January 1943

Tiger II for the VK 45.03 03 March 1943

Pz.Kpfw. Tiger Ausf B 02 June 1943

Pz.Bef.Wg.Tiger Ausf.B 02 June 1943


The official designations were Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B and Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger Ausf. B (for the command version), which originated in a WaPrüf 6 (Waffenprüfamter 6 - Weapons Development and Testing Department - "6" being the number that corresponded to "Tanks and other Vehicles") order dated 2 June 1943. The official designation was frequently shortened to Tiger B. The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger (8,8 cm Kw.K. L/71) (Sd.Kfz. 182) and and Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger (Sd.Kfz. 267 und 268) Ausf. B were specified by the Inspecteur der Panzertruppen (In6) for use in training and maintenance manuals, as well as in the K.St.N. (organization and equipment tables). The suggestive name Königstiger (King Tiger) was an unofficial designation first used by the Reichsministerium für Bewaffnung und Munition, in 11 December 1944. This was never an officially accepted designation during the war by either the Panzertruppen or the Waffenamt.


Armor Protection

PzKmpfVIB_image06.jpg

The frontal armor of the Tiger II provided the best protection possible; the front turret was 180 mm inclined at 10 degrees from the vertical, compounded with a specially-designed mantlet, which was immune to penetration and being jammed. The glacis plate was a 150 mm thick plate inclined at 50 degrees from vertical, so the actual protection given by the armor plate inclination was more than 230 mm. There is no proof that this frontal armor was ever penetrated in combat, even though the British 17 Pounder, when using a special APDS ammunition, could theoretically penetrate the Tiger II front armor (front turret and lower front hull, only - the 17 Pounder could not penetrate the Tiger II glacis plate), but those APDS rounds were terribly inaccurate and had a tendency of ricochet off inclined armor such as was the lower front hull (100 mm inclined at 50 degrees from the vertical) of the Tiger II. Even the side and rear armor protection was sufficient to eliminate any serious threat from the American 75 mm or the Russian 76 mm tanks guns. The hull was welded, as was that of the Tiger I, but the armor was better sloped, using the experience of the T-34. Hull layout was similar to that of the Panther, and the large turret was roomy, although the gun came right back to the rear wall and made a complete partition longitudinally. The thickness and angles of the armor protection are shown in the Table below :

PzKmpfVIB_image07.png
PzKmpfVIB_image08.png


Firepower

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The long and powerful 88 mm KwK 43 L/71 gun could outrange and outshoot the main armament of nearly all Allied tanks, and this allowed the Tiger II to stand off and engage targets as it choose. Besides that, the 88 mm KwK 43 L/71 was a very accurate gun, being capable of first-round hits at well over 1000 meters. Given its high muzzle velocity, barrel wear was a difficulty with this gun, but this was solved by building the barrel in two sections, so it was possible to change the faster-wearing part easily. The tables below represent the penetration capability of penetrating armor at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical, and the probability of hitting a target representing the front of a tank.

During World War II, the Armor Piercing (AP) round relied on its own weight to penetrate the enemy's armor. The higher the muzzle velocity, the more penetration any kind of AP round would have, all other variables remaining constant. The Armor Piercing Capped, Ballistic Capped (APCBC) round relied not only on its own weight to penetrate the enemy's armor, but was also filled with high-explosive that caused great internal damage. The Armor Piercing Composite Rigid (APCR) round was made with a tungsten core. For flight performance effects and to aid the shot from shattering against armor plating, the APCR round was surrounded by a ballistic cap. The HEAT round, which was based on the hollow charge principle, used a directed explosion, rather than mass or weight, to penetrate armor. The explosion is channeled forward into a stream, which cuts through armor, melting it along the way and including it in the stream.

The designation 88 mm KwK 43 L/71 means that the diameter of the bore (caliber) of this gun is 88 mm, this is a Tank Gun (Kampfwagenkanone), that the year the development of this gun was finalized was 1943, and that the length of the gun equals 71 times the diameter of the bore (caliber) of the same gun. This was the main gun installed on the Tiger II. Of the total ammunition load of 86 rounds (80 for the Tiger II with "early-style" turrets), the recommended ratio was 50% Pzgr.39/43 (APCBC) and 50% Sprgr. (high-explosive shells). The Gr 39/3 HL (HEAT) were rarely used. When available, but very rarely due to a severe shortage, a few Pzgr.40/43 (APCR) rounds were carried for use against the heaviest armored Russian tanks and tank destroyers.


Accuracy of the 88 mm KwK 43 L/71

Range
Ammo 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m 2500m 3000m 3500m 4000m
PzGr. 39/43 100%/100% 100%/100% 100%/85% 95%/61% 85%/43% 74%/30% 61%/23% 51%/17% 42%/13%
PzGr. 40/43 100%/100% 100%/100% 100%/89% 97%/66% 89%/47% 78%/34% 66%/25% --%/--% --%/--%


The sights for most of the Tigers II that actually saw combat was the articulated, monocular Turmzielfernrohr 9d mounted parallel and on the same axis as the main gun. The gunner could select two magnifications, 2.5x and 5x. The lower magnification provided a wider field of view for target identification. The higher magnification assisted in precise aiming at long ranges. Two adjustable range scales allowed the gunner to register the exact range to the target. The range scale for the Pzgr.39/43 was graduated at 100 m intervals out to a range of 4000 m and the second range scale for the Sprgr.43 was graduated out to a range of 6000 m.


Mobility

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Numerous statements have been made that the Tiger II was too heavy, too big, too slow, "a casemate", etc. One is left with the impression that it was lucky to move at all. These banal generalities, stated as incontrovertible facts, are never substantiated by actual specifications, test reports, or after-action accounts from the units that used the Tiger II. In spite of these frequently repeated remarks, the capability of the Tiger II to negotiate obstacles and cross terrain was equivalent to, or better than, most German and allied tanks.

The Tiger II initially experienced numerous automotive problems which required a continuous series of minor modifications to correct. These problems can be traced to two main causes; leaking seals and gaskets and an over-taxed drive train originally designed for a 40 metric ton vehicle. The problem of keeping a Tiger II in running condition was compounded by a shortage of skilled drivers, many of whom may have never experienced driving any vehicle prior to entering the service. In addition, they were provided only limited driver's training, and then usually on a different type of panzer, and received their own Tiger II usually within a few days before being shipped to the front. But, with mature drivers, taking required maintenance halts, and modification of key automotive components, the Tiger II could be maintained in a satisfactory operational condition. Status reports from the Western Front, dated March 1945, showed that the percentage of Tigers operational at the Front was about equal to the PzKpfw IV and as good as or better than the Panther.

Production

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Following an initial order for three prototype chassis, an initial production series of 176 Tiger IIs was ordered in October 1942. Following cancellation of the Porsche Tigers in November 1942, the contract (with Henschel) was quickly expanded by an additional 350. Later extensions to the contracts increased the total order to over 1500. In accordance with the original production plans from October 1942, the first Tiger II was to be completed in September 1943. The number produced each month was to be expanded to reach a target of 50 per month in May 1944. This production schedule satisfied the Inpekteur der Panzertruppen, who wanted 100 Tiger II available for a spring offensive in 1944. Due to delays, the first prototype V1 was accepted by Waffenamt inspector in November 1943. Two further prototypes, V2 and V3, and the first three production series Tiger IIs were accepted in January 1944. The production run continued through March 1945 for a total of three prototypes and 489 production-series Tiger IIs produced by Henschel.

Only one model was built, and despite the heavy Allied bombing, Henschel always had at least 60 vehicles being assembled on its tank assembly line floors at any time. At the peak, it was taking only 14 days to complete a Tiger II. Severe fuel shortages and heavy Allied bombing forced the factory to use bottled gas for testing, as all available fuel was supplied for operations.


The Tiger II and Entfernungsmesser (Range Finder) Development

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The war in North Africa and in the large plains of Russia had shown that range measurement in wide areas such as the desert or the Russian steppes would be most useful, as guessing the range could be misleading. When the tank halts before firing and the range to the target is under 1000 meters, the elevation of a high velocity gun such as the 88mm KwK 43 L/71 (whose muzzle velocity was equal or more than 1,000 m/s) is not affected much by range, and range measurements can be dispensed with. The great advantage of using a range finder lies in the possibility of opening fire at longer ranges. Without the range finder, precious time and ammunition were lost when the elevation of the gun must be corrected by observing the effect of fire.

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As the tank commander was preoccupied with other tasks, the gunner would take charge of the range finder. After locating the target with the periscope and aligning the target in the sight, the gunner operates the range finder, reads the range, and adjusts the range scale to the correct range, which provides the additional elevation associated with the range. The range scale was seen at the bottom of the field of the right eyepiece. It was graduated in meters from 550 to 20,000.

On 28 February 1945, the armor manufacturers were asked, when turrets were produced, to mount the Entfernungsmesser (range finders). It was stated that they should strive to complete their first turret by 31 March and Krupp planned to start by mid-July 1945. Therefore, the effort was initiated too late to complete any Tiger IIs with range finders before the factory in Kassel fell into the hands of Allied troops.


Historical Gallery

Historical Accuracy Errata

The following are consensus errors or inconsistencies which have been identified with the configuration of the vehicle in question and conflict with information available on the public record. The causes for these divergences in the game are normally not disclosed and may be rooted in game balance.

The 10,5 cm KwK L/68 blueprint was merely a proposal that was rejected by the development department. The weapon itself had also been rejected by the Wehrmacht before it was even proposed for the Tiger II. The 10,5 cm KwK L/52 gun configuration is fake.
  • Dark yellow (dunkelgelb) was the standard colour on all Tiger II tanks. In World of Tanks, however, the Tiger II is in early Panzer Gray.
  • The Tiger II's engine was a redesigned HL 230, giving it 900 hp instead of 700, in the Henschel version (the top configuration).
  • Historical Sla.16 diesel engine with 750 hp is missing. According to various of sources such as Military Engineer and Amazing Porsche and Volkswagen Story, the engines were tested with positive results. A diesel engine was mounted onto a Tiger II as a prototype built by Nibelungen Werke and went through testings in the spring of 1945, though results has not been found from this test. Further proposals also wanted the engine to be mounted in the Panther and Jagdtiger vehicles for increased power, but the war's constraint on supplies and Nazi Germany's capitulation resulted in the cancellation of these programs.


Sources and External Links

Germany
Light Tanks ILeichttraktor IIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. D IIMKA IIPz.Kpfw. 35 R IIPz.Kpfw. 38H 735 (f) IIPz.Kpfw. 35 (t) IIPz.Kpfw. I IIPz.Kpfw. II III43 M. Toldi III IIIPz.Kpfw. M 15 IIIPz.Kpfw. 38 (t) IIIPz.Kpfw. III Ausf. E IIIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J IIIPz.Kpfw. I Ausf. C IIIPz.Kpfw. II Ausf. G IIIPz.Kpfw. T 15 IVPz.Kpfw. 38 (t) n.A. IVPz.Kpfw. II Luchs VVK 16.02 Leopard VIVK 28.01 mit 10,5 cm L/28 VIVK 28.01 VIIAufklärungspanzer Panther VIISpähpanzer SP I C VIIIleKpz M 41 90 mm VIIIleKpz M 41 90 mm GF VIIIHWK 12 VIIIHWK 30 IXSpähpanzer Ru 251 XRheinmetall Panzerwagen
Medium Tanks IIIGroßtraktor - Krupp IIIPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. A IIIPz.Kpfw. S35 739 (f) IVPz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J IVPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. D IVVK 20.01 (D) VPz.Kpfw. III Ausf. K VTurán III prototípus VPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H Ankou VPz.Kpfw. III/IV VPz.Kpfw. IV hydrostat. VPz.Kpfw. V/IV VPz.Kpfw. V/IV Alpha VPz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H VPz.Kpfw. T 25 VVK 30.01 (H) VIPz.Kpfw. IV Schmalturm VIVK 30.01 (D) VIVK 30.02 (M) VIIPanther/M10 VIIPanther VIIVK 30.02 (D) VIIIPanther mit 8,8 cm L/71 VIIIPanzer 58 VIIISchwarzpanzer 58 VIIIPanzer 58 Mutz VIIIM48A2 Räumpanzer VIIIKampfpanzer 07 RH VIIIIndien-Panzer VIIIPanther II IXE 50 IXT 55A IXKampfpanzer 50 t IXKunze Panzer IXLeopard Prototyp A XE 50 Ausf. M XLeopard 1
Heavy Tanks IVPz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f) IVDurchbruchswagen 2 VITiger 131 VIVK 30.01 (P) VIVK 36.01 (H) VIIVK 45.03 VIITiger I VIITiger (P) VIIIVK 100.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 Mauerbrecher VIIIVK 75.01 (K) VIIIE 75 TS VIIILöwe VIIITiger II VIIIVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. A IXE 75 IXMäuschen IXVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. B XE 100 XPz.Kpfw. VII XMaus XVK 72.01 (K)
Tank Destroyers IIPanzerjäger I IIIMarder II IVStuG III Ausf. B IVPz.Sfl. IC IVJagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer IVMarder 38T VStuG IV VPz.Sfl. IVc VStuG III Ausf. G VIDicker Max VIJagdpanzer IV VINashorn VIIE 25 VIIKrupp-Steyr Waffenträger VIIJagdpanther VIISturer Emil VIIIFerdinand VIIIKanonenjagdpanzer 105 VIIIRheinmetall Skorpion G VIIIRheinmetall Skorpion VIIIJagdpanther II VIII8,8 cm Pak 43 Jagdtiger VIIIRhm.-Borsig Waffenträger IXJagdtiger IXWaffenträger auf Pz. IV XGrille 15 XJagdpanzer E 100 XWaffenträger auf E 100
Self-Propelled Artillery IIG.Pz. Mk. VI (e) IIISturmpanzer I Bison IIIWespe IVPz.Sfl. IVb IVSturmpanzer II VGrille VIHummel VIIG.W. Panther VIIIG.W. Tiger (P) IXG.W. Tiger XG.W. E 100
Heavy Tanks
USA VT14 VT1 Heavy Tank VIPawlack Tank VIM6 VIIKing Tiger (Captured) VIIM-II-Y VIIT29 VIIIChrysler K VIIIChrysler K GF VIIIT26E5 VIIIT26E5 Patriot VIIIM54 Renegade VIIIT77 VIIIM-III-Y VIIIM-IV-Y VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT32 VIIIT34 VIIIT34 B IXAE Phase I IXConcept 1B IXM-VI-Y IXM103 IXT54E1 XM-V-Y XT110E5 XT57 Heavy Tank
UK VChurchill I VExcelsior VIChurchill VII VITOG II* VIIBlack Prince VIIFV201 (A45) VIIICharlemagne VIIICaliban VIIIGonsalo VIIICaernarvon VIIICaernarvon Action X IXFV4201 Chieftain Proto IXConqueror XFV215b XSuper Conqueror XT95/FV4201 Chieftain
Germany IVPz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f) IVDurchbruchswagen 2 VITiger 131 VIVK 30.01 (P) VIVK 36.01 (H) VIIVK 45.03 VIITiger I VIITiger (P) VIIIVK 100.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 Mauerbrecher VIIIVK 75.01 (K) VIIIE 75 TS VIIILöwe VIIITiger II VIIIVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. A IXE 75 IXMäuschen IXVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. B XE 100 XPz.Kpfw. VII XMaus XVK 72.01 (K)
France IVB1 VBDR G1 B VIARL 44 VIIAMX M4 mle. 45 VIIIAMX 50 100 VIIIAMX M4 mle. 49 VIIIAMX M4 mle. 49 Liberté VIIIAMX 65 t VIIISomua SM VIIIFCM 50 t IXAMX 50 120 IXLorraine 50 t IXAMX M4 mle. 51 XAMX 50 B XAMX M4 mle. 54
USSR VChurchill III VKV-220-2 VKV-220-2 Beta Test VKV-1 VKV-1 shielded VIKV-1S VIKV-2 VIKV-2 (R) VIKV-85 VIObject 244 VIT-150 VIIIS VIIKV-3 VIIKV-122 VIIIS-2M VIIIS-2 shielded VIIIS-2 VIIIIS-3 VIIIIS-6 VIIIIS-6 B VIIIKV-5 VIIIKV-4 VIIIIS-5 (Object 730) VIIIIS-3A VIIIIS-3A Peregrine VIIIKirovets-1 VIIIKV-4 Kreslavskiy VIIIObject 252U Defender VIIIObject 252U VIIIIS-M VIIIObject 703 Version II VIIIIS-2-II IXT-10 IXObject 777 Version II IXObject 257 IXObject 705 IXIS-3-II IXST-I XIS-4 XIS-7 XObject 260 XObject 705A XObject 277 XObject 279 early XST-II XObject 780
China VIIIS-2 VIIIWZ-111 VIIIWZ-111 Alpine Tiger VIII110 VIII112 IXWZ-111 model 1-4 IXWZ-114 X113 X113 Beijing Opera XWZ-111 model 5A XWZ-111 Qilin
Japan IIIType 91 Heavy IVType 95 Heavy VO-I Experimental VIHeavy Tank No. VI VIO-I VIIO-Ni VIIIO-Ho IXType 4 Heavy XType 5 Heavy
Czechoslovakia VIIŠkoda T 45 VIIVz. 44-1 VIIIŠkoda T 56 VIIITNH 105/1000 IXTNH T Vz. 51 XVz. 55
Sweden VIIIEmil I VIIIEMIL 1951 VIIIBofors Tornvagn IXEmil II IXStrv K XKranvagn
Italy VIICarro d'assalto P.88 VIIIProgetto CC55 mod. 54 VIIIBisonte C45 IXProgetto C50 mod. 66 XRinoceronte
Poland VII45TP Habicha VIII50TP prototyp VIII53TP Markowskiego IX50TP Tyszkiewicza X60TP Lewandowskiego
ja:Tank:G16 PzVIB Tiger II