Kingtiger late production s.Pz.Abt.506 Ardennen

Plastic model kit to build an Sd.Kfz. 182 Tiger II in action in the Ardennes in 1944

• Scale 1:35
• Clear and photo-etched parts included
• Wire
• Close-range defense weapon open or closed
• Single link tracks (new type)
• unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Sd.Kfz. 182 Tiger II, officially Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B and commonly known as the "King Tiger", was a German heavy tank of the Second World War. It combined a powerful 8.8 cm gun with strong, sloped armor. However, its heavy weight, technical problems and large supply requirements limited its military usefulness.

Development began in 1942. Henschel and Porsche worked on competing chassis; The Henschel design was manufactured. Krupp developed the towers. The Tiger II was therefore a largely new design and differed significantly from the Tiger I.

Maximum speeds on the road are around 35-40 km/h; around 15 km/h was more realistic off-road. A compilation based on the driver's manual at the time states a range of around 140 km on the road and 90 km off-road. Such values ​​depended heavily on the terrain, driving style and vehicle condition.

The KwK 43 L/71 was a particularly powerful tank gun of its time. “L/71” indicates a barrel length of approximately 71 calibers. It made it possible to fight many enemy tanks at long distances. The strong frontal armor also offered considerable protection. However, this did not result in general invulnerability: the side of the hit, distance, ammunition and combat situation remained crucial.

The common names “Porsche Tower” and “Henschel Tower” are misleading because both tower shapes came from Krupp:

• The early tower had a rounded forehead and a prominent bulge at the commander's cupola.
• The later series turret had a more heavily armored, largely flat forehead and a simplified shape.

The association with Porsche is explained by the development history of the early tower for its ultimately rejected vehicle design.

Series production ran mainly from January 1944 to March 1945 at Henschel in Kassel. The first combat missions took place in July 1944 in Normandy.