Tiger I

Combat debut December 1942 near Leningrad.

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Specifications

Crew: 5
Combat weight: 57 t
Engine: 700 hp
hp / tonne: 12.3
Road speed: 45 km/h
Range: 195 km
Main gun: 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56
In service: 1942–1945

Maybach HL230 P45 V12, 700 hp

Armor: 100 mm hull front, 120 mm gun mantlet, overlapping road wheels

Secondary: 2× 7.92 mm MG34

Briefing scores

Relative 1–10 for teaching, not a wargame rating.

Firepower: 8/10
Protection: 8/10
Mobility: 3/10
Awareness: 5/10
Logistics: 2/10

Ammunition natures

PzGr. 39 APCBCPzGr. 40 APCRSprgr. HE

History

Rushed to Tunisia and Leningrad in 1942. The 88 mm and thick welds created a myth; overlapping wheels, thirsty Maybachs, and recovery nightmares created a maintenance cult. About 1,350 built — each one a logistics event.

Doctrine

Independent heavy battalions (s.Pz.Abt.) as a fire-brigade: plug a breakthrough, counterattack, then recover the irreplaceable hull. Germany never had enough Tigers to make them a line tank.

Strengths

88 mm accuracy and punch
Frontal immunity to most 1943 guns

Limits

Reliability
Weight vs bridges
Slow to build

Related hulls

Panther

Germany

M26 Pershing

United States

IS-2

Soviet Union

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