7/21/2019 FoW - TigerP

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TIGER (P) HEAVY TANK

The competition between Porsche andHenschel to produce the next Germanheavy tank had been intense and theresulting designs were very similar.Both had the same armour specificationsand mounted the same gun in the sameKrupp-designed turret.

The differences were mainly mechanical.Porsche preferred longitudinal torsionbars that saved space over Henschelstransverse torsion bars, steel-tyredroad wheels, and a new Petrol-electrictransmission to solve the problem ofmoving such a heavy vehicle.

DESIGN FEATURES

The Tiger (P) heavy tank was designed to thesame specifications as the Henschel-designedTiger I E.

You may replace Tiger I E models withTiger (P) models in tournaments

DEVELOPMENT

Germany started work on a 27-tonne heavybreakthrough tank in 1937. Like the BritishMatilda, the French Char B, and the Soviet T-35, this tank was intended to breach WWI-styletrench lines so that the light and mediumtanks could fight a mobile battle. Afterthree successively heavier designs, the 45-tonne VK4501 specification was given to bothPorsche and Henschel in May 1941. The Porsche

prototype, now known as the Tiger (P), wasfinished in April 1942.

Its suspension consisted of six pairs ofsteel-tyred rubber-cushioned road wheels withrear drive sprockets instead of the more usualfront sprockets. Two air-cooled V-10 enginesdrove generators that powered an electricmotor for each drive sprocket. This sophisti-cated design had huge theoretical advantages,but proved to be troublesome in practice.

As production of both designs was scheduledto begin in July, there was little timefor testing or fixing the problems withthe petrol-electric drive. With five tanksbuilt, production was halted to enable t heproblems to be sorted out. The Henschel workswas delighted when its production order wasincreased to compensate.

By February 1943 many of the mechanicalproblems had been resolved and Hitler ordered

the massive 8.8cm L/71 PaK43 to be fitted toninety Porsche Tiger tanks as the Ferdinandassault gun in time for the Battle of Kursk.

COMBAT SERVICE

The Tiger (P) was scheduled to be sent toAfrica where their air-cooled engines wereseen as better suited to the hot and dustyconditions. After delays to modify theirelectric transmissions, the first fiveTiger (P) tanks were sent to Africa for fieldtesting, arriving as the Second Battle of ElAlamein began.

Their effect on the battle more thanjustified the effort in getting themoperational and production of theTiger (P) was restarted. Twobattalions of Tiger (P) weresubsequently committed to thetheatre where they have beeninvaluable against the British

and American forces.

Maybach engine

Dynamo Electric motor

PETROL-ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION

The basic principle of the petrol-electrictransmission is that each petrol engine spinsa dynamo to generate electricity. This then

powers an electric motor that powers the drivesprocket. In theory, the result is a smoothtransmission with no need to change gear andplenty of torque. In practice, the systemproved too complicated and unreliable.

Drive sprocket

TIGER I (P) AND TIGER I E SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

Tiger I (P) Tiger I E

SCHWERE PANZER (PORSCHE) PLATOON(HEAVY TANK (PORSCHE) PLATOON)

PLATOON

2Tiger(P)and2PanzerIIIN ..970 points

1Tiger(P)and1PanzerIIIN ..495 points

- Replace all Panzer III N tankswith Panzer III L or M tanksfor +5 points per tank.

4 Tiger (P) ..............1540 points

3 Tiger (P) ..............1155 points

2 Tiger (P) ...............770 points

1 Tiger (P) ...............385 points

Remember to roll for your TigerAce skills before each game.

Armour

Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

Tiger (P) Slow Tank 9 8 2 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Protected ammo,

Unreliable, Wide tracks.

Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

8.8cm KwK36 gun 40/100cm 2 13 3+ Slow traverse.

TIGER (P) SPECIFICATIONS

Designation: Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger (P)Crew: 5 (cdr, gnr, ldr, dvr, co-dvr)Weight: 125,656lb/57,000kgLength: 307/9.34m

Height: 92/2.8m Width: 111/3.38mArmament: 1x 8.8cm KwK36 tank gun,

2x 7.92mm MG34 machine-gunsArmour Thickness: 60mm to 110mmEngine: 2x Porsche Typ 101/1 V-10 petrol,

915cu in/15 litre, 315hp eachTransmission: ElectricMaximum Speed: 22mph/35km/hCross-country Speed: 6mph/10km/hVertical Obstacle: 26/0.80mTrench Crossing: 86/2.6m

ESCORT TANKS

The Tiger battalions sent to Africa had aPanzer III escort tank for each Tiger tank toprotect them from infantry and anti-tank guns.With their much lighter armour, their lifeexpectancy was low.

The companies fighting in Sicily and Italydropped the Panzer III tank in favour of moreTiger tanks.

A Schwere Panzer (Porsche) Platoon does notcount Panzer III tanks as Destroyed whendetermining if it needs to check PlatoonMorale.

HEAVYT

ANK

(PORSCHE)PLATOON

Tiger tank crews were hand-picked.

Schwere Panzer (Porsche) Platoons are ratedas: Confident Veteran

REPLACING STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Any German company may replace all of itsSchwere Panzer Platoons with Schwere Panzer(Porsche) Platoons, and replace all TigerI E tanks in the Company HQ with Tiger (P)tanks at no cost.