King Tiger Main Gun differences

[Saxondog]

Hey guy's slightly confused on the subject of the King Tiger barrel type and mainly the length. The Porsche Turret version is a MONO-BLOC barrel,the Henschel Turret having the two piece barrel. So were both barrels 71 calibres?

Or were the Porsche mono bloc barrel 71 and the Henschel two piece 56?

[Saxondog]

This link to Panzer World does describe the guns and the process of development. But the question still remains what Calibre was the Mono-Bloc Barrel installed in the Porsche Turret?

http://www.panzerworld.net/tigerii" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MarkofZollo]

Im not an expert on this but I am very sure that both KT barrels where/are 71 calibres long. Perhaps ease of manufacture or maintenance brought about the two part, like the turret?
Cheers, Dave

[Saxondog]

But the difference in length can be seen if the two are side by side. This is evident in the Tamiya kits,and the Schumo Barrels.The Henschel turret barrel is shorter than the Porsche barrels,why? I have looked and read and looked for the answer. But have yet to find a clear explanation of the differences?
http://www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk/schu ... -121-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.welshdragonmodels.co.uk/schu ... -111-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Both are listed as 8.8cm KwK 43 L/71 so if both are 8.8cm x 71 or does one turret the two piece have more breach assembly in the turret making the barrels seem shorter?

Henschel King Tiger and Porsche King Tiger

[MarkofZollo]

Who are the manufacturers of the two tanks and/or the turret/guns? Perhaps it is mistake like the HL Tiger 1? Looking back at your first post I can say for definate that the later KTs did have an L/71 barrel, im sure all the way through production they did as the gun came from the pak 43 as the requirement for the KT heavy tank included an 88mm gun with better penetration than the Tiger 1s.
Hope that helps?

[Saxondog]

These are both Tamiya King Tigers,one Henschel and a Porsche. I received a message that the barrels are the same number of calibres but the two piece barrel seems short because of the amount of gun in the turret?

This could be correct,the Tanks in the picture have the Tamiya Barrels. I am sure their is a reasonable explanation,I'm just not smart enough to figure it out. Every book I have and their are about ten on German Armor describe the only difference being the type of barrel but both are listed as 8.8cm KwK L/71 PAK43 Barrels, made in 1943,one mono-bloc 71calibres . The two piece barrels can be disassembled and re-lined where the mono-bloc cannot. If this is incorrect please clarify anyone?

Saxondog

[Tankie]

The Porsche barrel in your picture doesn't look like it is fitted correctly - there should only be one 'step' along the barrel I think? Both the guns used had the same calibre according to wikipedia and the books I have. I believe the breech and recoil distance would probably be the same on both types so they should 'sit' at the same length give or take the turret dimensions.

[Saxondog]

The difference in the Tamiya barrels are from the step down to the muzzle brake,the pictures below demonstrate this. But the real KT barrel differences must be at the breach, and maybe Tamiya got it wrong?

The barrels are the same length from the step down to the recoil mount.

So the issue remains that both are 71 calibres both 1943 designs yet built differently. To bad we cannot see a Porsche and Henschel parked side by side?

Saxondog

[[ICE]monkey]

sax the porsche turret was fitted with both types of maingun , the monoblock and the two piece

[Saxondog]

Thanks Ice,that is information I did not know. I thought they were different due to the turret. So why does the mono bloc seem longer? The barrel guide is different on the two turrets,I did not realize this was more because of the turret,instead of the gun?

Cliff do you know if the breach was different based on which barrel was mounted? Do you have any links with information on the units that received King Tigers and specifically where the Porsche equipped King Tiger were allocated?

I have some vague information about Grossdeutschland crews training in King Tigers,one source states the crews were never equipped and became infantry and another source describes them fighting in King Tigers independently of the FBB or FBG units in the last months of the war. Notice crewman in the picture below,cuff title on right sleeve? Only Grossdeutschland wore the cuff title on the right sleeve?