jackalope wrote:Do any factory build sheets (car speak not sure what it would be in the tank world) still exist stating that every King Tiger that rolled off the assembly line has zimmeret applied?
Also beyond that, and please correct me if I'm wrong, didn't zimmeret where off and need to be re-applied? From what I've read it wouldnt last that long in the field if this was the case the tank would need a re-paint or be red oxide. Being Porsche turret KT's were the first 55 (if I remember correctly) and seeing how several examples still survive today would it be too much a stretch that it wore off and the tank re-painted without it?
I know no one will hold it against him I'm just curious at this point being I've rarely seen a Porsche version with zimmeret in photo's. Could this be that the Henchel turret was just photographed more?
Couple of things:
No, but there are cataloged build and delivery dates available in various books as well as unit diaries. Much of this information is included in those. For instance 503 actually use Porsche and Henschel Tiger IIs as well as the Tiger 1 all at the same time for a short period. All the photos have zimmerit on all tanks.
As far as I know the only Porsche turret King Tiger left is the V2 prototype at Bovington.
Those first 50 tanks didn't last long. Several were prototypes and not combat worthy (3). Only two production tanks made it into 1945. Most of them were lost quite soon after deployment and combat not long after D-Day.
Yes, I guess it can be chipped off with some effort. Not sure if anyone would do that though. There's dated images of King Tigers built before September 1944 being used in very early 1945 with perfectly intact zimmerit. Again, looking at 503 which was the main unit to use them, they all had zimmerit and photos show that all their tanks during that era had it.
I guess if a tank was factory reconditioned, which did happen, they would want to repaint parts of it where they had to weld. Not sure any tanks lasted long enough or could get transported back. There's a photo of a 503 KT on its side after being blown off a rail carriage. At that time roughly 1500 2nd TAF aircraft were targeting railways!
