King Tiger zimmerit

[cupoftea]

I have a question for the King Tiger experts:

Been looking at pictures of King Tigers and was wondering if they all had zimmerit or if some went into service without? Some of the pictures I have seen appear to show a smooth finish on the amour plate but it may just be that the pictures are low resolution.

Many thanks

[thunderbolt]

Near the end of the war they ceased applying zimmerit to all armored vehicles, so if your doing a late war King Tiger it won't have zimmerit applied.

[tigerace007]

Hi,

The earlier models, both Porsche turret and Production turret had zimmerit but later War example, such as can be seen in the Ardenne campaign had no zimmerit and were painted in the so called " ambush scheme" . There is some famous footage of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 on Parade in Sennelager with both zimmeritted and no zimmerit tanks. Search youtube for Kingtigers and it will appear.
This was an organic Tiger battalion with a full compliment of 45 Konigstiger.

Hope this helps,

Stuart

[jarndice]

I cannot give you a certain answer, but the reason Zimmerit was used by the German armed forces was to prevent magnetic mines from sticking to the Tank, A great idea with only one shortcoming, late in the war the German high command realised that the only army in the European theatre of operations using magnetic mines on the battlefield was the German armed forces! Shortly after that the application of Zimmerit was discontinued, I would say that as the Tiger 11 was introduced late in the war a fair number never had Zimmerit applied at all but I have no evidence to support that, someone in the forum must know. shaun

[cupoftea]

Thanks chaps

That has cleared up the question for me. I really must get some books on German tanks. It is really interesting learning about their 'evolution'.

[Jussek]

hello

the zimmerit was applied on the factory until 09-september-44, but the application on the tanks in the units was discontinued on october.

some very useful info here:

Germany's Tiger Tanks VK45.02 To Tiger II - Design, Production & Modifications - Jentz & Doyle
King Tiger vol.II Developments Units Operations - Wolfgang Scheneider
Osprey.-.New.Vanguard.001.-.Kingtiger.Heavy.Tank.1942-45 - Jentz, Doyle & Sarson
The King Tiger Tank - Horst Scheibert


best regards