new KT photo to share...

[dgsselkirk]

Thought I would share this photo...

[jarndice]

Hi , I know very little about Tiger 2s, not on my list of favourites, but clearly the outside wheels have been removed and it is running on tracks I would expect an earthmover to use, any Idea as to its story? shaun

[ALPHA]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Pretty interesting Photo ...I would have to wonder why dgsselkirk would post a picture of a KING TIGER...without mention of a build of any sort



the wheels look correct



main gun looks good........

OK ...dgsselkirk... how long did you have to lay on the ground to get that shot...of that fabulous beauty

ALPHA

[Panther Ausf G]

Hi Guys.
Tiger1 & Tiger2(KT),
Had two sets of tracks.
One set were for transportation, they were narrower tracks hence the outer road wheels removed. If you see any photos of either on a railway transport wagon the wide tracks are stored on the wagon.
And the wide operational tracks as seen on the move with the outer wheels fitted.

[Dietrich]

Hi Panther Ausf G,
Its late in my day and I am tired..but I am going to stick my neck out and say that the King Tiger did NOT need to remove road-wheels for rail transport. It did have rail transport tracks which were narrower than the combat tracks but no road wheels were removed....The road wheels were 'interleaved' and not 'overlapped' like in the Tiger 1...
.
This is one of the most famous pieces of film showing multiple King Tigers....and these all have the 'Narrow' Rail Transport track on.... From here they were all rushed off to the front to fight....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-F_HbSGIcE
.
Many of the King Tigers photographed in combat have the narrower tracks fitted because the tanks were unloaded and went literally straight into action.

[Dietrich]

Combat Tracks........ Do have a huge (apparently empty) edge that looks like it ought to have a wheel in it...but that is not the case....Here are two photos of KTs in museums....with the combat tracks..

332ColorAPG.jpg (58.11 KiB) Viewed 1495 times

.
Now the much narrower Transport tracks.... Same wheels, just narrower tracks with less width...

0000001904_eeS3uREXp7.jpg (71.75 KiB) Viewed 1495 times

[ALPHA]

I still think it's a trick picture ...a really good one... as someone took the time to clear the ground... but a trick photo all the same of a really well built KING TIGER I might add ...........

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Combat Tracks........ Do have a huge (apparently empty) edge that looks like it ought to have a wheel in it...but that is not the case....Here are two photos of KTs in museums....with the combat tracks..

800px-Bovington_Tiger_II_grey_bg.jpg

332ColorAPG.jpg

.
Now the much narrower Transport tracks.... Same wheels, just narrower tracks with less width...

0000001904_eeS3uREXp7.jpg

Hi Dietrich
So essentially what you are saying is the tank in dgsselkirk's photo has "combat" tracks...yes?

ALPHA

[jeff1101]

From the photo, (regardless if its the real thing or dgsselkirk's model ), based on dietrich's description it "seems" to be wearing the transport tracks as the track is narrow enough that the road wheel is close to the track's edge.

[ALPHA]

From the photo, (regardless if its the real thing or dgsselkirk's model ), based on dietrich's description it "seems" to be wearing the transport tracks as the track is narrow enough that the road wheel is close to the track's edge.

I'm no expert ... but I disagree


if you look at the rear idler... there is a gap from the end of the idler to the edge of the track
plus you cannot see the forward edge of the sprocket



with the transport tracks... the sprocket is clearly on the edge as well as the idler..the outer teeth are exposed...and if you look even closer to dgsselkirks photo there are two square slots where the sprocket catches... compared to the transport which has one per link

Also it doesn't look like the skirts are needed with the transport tracks

ALPHA