King Tiger Main Gun differences

[Saxondog]

This is a paragraph from the Site on Grossdeutschland and the Heavy Panzer units of that Division. The following is the information on Tiger II's or King Tigers they received. The reader can understand the text details a company received King Tiger but further reading describes the Paderborn crews were not issued King Tigers and were used as infantry in the finale month of the war. Bit what became of the company that were issued King Tigers? How many as a company at that time should of been issued 14? and what happened between Dec.1944 and April 1945? Any information would be helpful. Thanks Saxondog

Heavy Tank Battalion Grossdeutschland

On 13 December 1944, the III Battalion of the Panzer Regiment was redesignated Heavy Tank Battalion Grossdeutschland (schwere Panzer Abteilung GD). The companies were renumbered 1, 2 and 3 Company. The 1st Company received new Tiger II Ausf B "King Tigers".

On 16 December 1944, 4 more Tigers were delivered, but 2 were transferred to s.Pz.Abt 502, leaving GD with 17. These Tigers were factory rebuilds; the previous month a GD Tiger (C42) had been transferred to s.Pz.Abt 502 also.

On 1 February 1945, only 4 of GD's 11 Tigers were operational. The entire battalion was absorbed into the GD Division's tank battlegroup, with excess tank crews going to Paderborn to train on the Tiger II heavy tanks. This battlegroup consisted of a command platoon with one Tiger and two PzKpfw IVs, a Heavy Company with the remaining Tigers (and apparently a Brummbär), and a Medium Company with 5 Panthers, 1 PzKpfw IV, and a battery of assault guns composed of two Sturmgeschützen and two Jagdpanzer IVs.

On 19 March 1945, GD's last Tigers were destroyed in East Prussia during combat in the Balga pocket.

The last Tiger crews in Paderborn were used as infantry in April 1945, and never fought in tanks. No Tiger IIs were ever received by GD tank crewmen.

The GD Tiger unit, from its inception as the 13th company, through its expansion to regimental status and to its eventual destruction in March 1945, had the highest confirmed tally of enemy kills for any Army Tiger unit, with 1036 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles claimed, and over 300 enemy guns.

[[ICE]monkey]

sax the porsche turret was designed in order to move the gun trunnions forward, so this would explain why the barrels look longer on the porsche turrets , the original production of the 8.8cm Kw.K 43 L/71 consisted of a one piece monobloc gun tube, starting in may 1944 this was gradualy replaced by a two piece sectional monobloc gun tube that was easier to produce in quantity with no degradation in the performance, a lighter smaller muzzle brake was fitted to the latter guns
( info from new vanguard )

[Saxondog]

Thank ICE, that explains several points about my two KT'S including the difference in the muzzle brake. Really why in several books I have on German Tanks could that simple explanation not be given. It issues like this that drive me knutz.

What do you think about the picture? Grossdeutschland cuff title, or is his tunic on backwards? All joking aside,this photo has been driving me mad, Together with the information from Squadron/signal publications PZD Grossdeutschland and another book on Grossdeutschland by Helmuth Spaeter their is vague reference to a company of KT's assigned to Grossdeutschland along with the factory refurbsished Tigers.

And I really want to paint and decal my Porsche and my Henschel as Grossdeutschland Tanks. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,Sax

[[ICE]monkey]

sax as you have said drossdeutshland were the only unit in the german army to have the cuffband on the right arm apart from the fuhrer escort battalion but that was formed from grossdeutschland , then the fuhrer-begliet-battalion formed from the ranks of the regiment and was issued with an extra armband on the 15th january 1941 inscribed with fuhrer-hauptquartier to be worn below the grossdeutschland band
this info is from the spearhead book called grossdeutschland, guderians eastern front line
so i would asume from your pic that yes they were the gd regiment
cliff

[Saxondog]

Thanks Cliff, I searched for this confirmation of their being issued King Tigers between Oct1944 and Jan.1945 To bad I cannot find the same proof of one of the GD units being issued Henschel King Tigers. My Jagdpanther is from the Fuhrer Grenadier Div.which the Panther 1944 site( http://www.panther1944.de/en/jgpz-jagdp ... -japa.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) listed and then lead me to confirming the allocation of Jagdpanther's to that unit.

But unfortunately their is not a site I have been able to find with the same information structure for King Tigers. Any additional information I find will be posted. Thanks everyone for your help in resolving this issue.

Learning has been my motivation,and one of the best things about this forum.So many people sharing their knowledge to benefit others. For this I am grateful. Saxondog

[Tankie]

The Porsche barrel isn't fitted right on the model. On the third picture the part of the barrel with the step (white arrow) should actually be at the point with the black arrow (sleeve) and when the gun recoils will disappear inside the sleeve (mantlet). I presume there is some kind of extender fitted between the main barrel and the recoil mechanism that shouldn't be there? Can you show the inside of the porsche barrel to confirm? The barrels on the real thing extended by the same amount whether one or two part and as far as I can tell had the same breech & mounting as inferred by the Porsche pictures with 2 part barrel.

[Saxondog]

Not real clear on what you mean,here are some pics with the barrel guide attached and the Turret house installed.

[Tankie]

I can't work out why its wrong but for sure the barrel step down should be at the leading edge of the mantlet when its at its maximum forward stroke so not really visible, as with the real thing. I think you will find that the barrel is then the right 'calibre' ie the same length as the 2 part one. I note from the chipped paint that the forward part of the barrel is aluminium & the inner and outer sleeve look brass. Is there a fitting problem here somewhere? - the problem is definitely with the model, though and not any difference in length with the real thing.

[Saxondog]

The paint issue is just the result of no primer. I intend to give it a good restoration but for now it is at the end of my to do list. Here is a picture of the complete mounting assembly,these were sold through RCCOMMAND and built by Bubbajoexx for resale in custom tanks.

Not sure of the proper original mounting,my Henschel uses a Tamiya recoil bracket arrangement that seems to have the same barrel length difference if I install the one piece barrel into that turret assembly? So for now I will have to wait on any change,this is a completely custom built tank,the internal assembly has a one piece inner hull. The hull MG is servo controlled to pan left to right. I intend to post a build thread of the restoration. Saxondog

Custom barrel guide assembly,Porsche Turret

Internal turret assembly of custom Porsche King Tiger

Porsche King Tiger lower hull assembly

Porsche King Tiger lower hull section with custom inner hull

[Saxondog]

Check out this video of a Tamiya Porsche King Tiger,specifically the barrel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FNa-uD4 ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;