Hulking Colossus: Polish Observer Dispels Myths About the Best Tank of World War II

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Polish author Jerzy Reshinski believes that it is hardly possible to confidently answer the question of which tank, fighter or bomber was the best during World War II. However, very often the most combat-ready a tank of that time they call the German "Tiger", the full name of which is Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B Tiger II.

The heavy tank of the final period of the war was produced in 1943-1945, and was in service with the Wehrmacht in 1944-1945. As you can see, the Tigers failed to turn the tide of the war. But this does not detract from the strengths of the tank, which favorably distinguished the German vehicle from the Allied tanks.



Pros and cons of Tiger II


The main advantages of the "Tiger" are a powerful 88-mm cannon, which made it possible to hit all the tanks of the anti-Hitler coalition at fairly long distances of 2,5 km, as well as strong armor, the sheets of which were located at rational angles of inclination and well protected the tank from most of the enemy's anti-tank weapons.

At that time, the German tank building industry could not create a power plant suitable for such a heavy vehicle. Therefore, the tank used a Maybach HL 230 P30 engine with a capacity of 700 hp, which also powered the lighter Tiger and Panzerkampfwagen V Panther tanks.

Mass production of the tank in question began in 1944. By this time, the situation on the fronts was clearly not in favor of Germany, and the German military industry was experiencing an increasing shortage of both raw materials and qualified personnel. As a result, less than 500 vehicles of this type were produced - a drop in the ocean compared to the total number of tanks that took part in the battles of World War II. An extremely complex technology that did not correspond to the economic realities of wartime was also a serious obstacle to the mass production of "Tigers". The complexity in production and maintenance was the first noticeable disadvantage of the legendary tank.

Another unconditional disadvantage was the discrepancy between engine power and tank weight. The Tiger tank weighed over 70 tons with a 700 hp engine, while, for example, a modern Abrams tank weighs over 60 tons with a 1500 hp engine. T-72 - Weighs only 41 tonnes, but with 780hp drive power, the K2 Black Panther weighs 55 tonnes with 1500hp drive. Obviously, this ratio of engine power and tank weight affected the speed of movement of the "Tiger" for the worse, significantly complicating its use in real combat conditions.

Hulking Colossus: Polish Observer Dispels Myths About the Best Tank of World War II

Jerzy Reschinsky notes that the Wehrmacht did not bother with the creation of special engineering companies as part of heavy tank battalions, which would provide very heavy vehicles with the ability to move. In the conditions of the war, things were already very bad with the roads and bridges. The situation was not saved by the transfer of sapper companies to tank units. As a result, there were situations when, while moving around cities and towns under the "Tigers", the underground infrastructure was destroyed, as a result of which huge cars were stuck in the ruins of the sewage system.

Also tanks "Tiger 2" were completely helpless in the swampy area, especially after heavy rains. The German military industry no longer had the ability to develop and quickly produce technical vehicles capable of evacuating a damaged 70-ton tank.

A victim of your own greatness


As a result, as Jerzy Reschinsky notes, the Tiger tank has become a victim of its own greatness. In August 1944, the tank made its debut on the Eastern Front. The first unit fully armed with these tanks was the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion, which had previously fought in Tunisia in North Africa. The renowned unit was transferred to Poland, where a swift advance of the Red Army was unfolding. However, the Tiger 2 tanks failed to stop him.


Firstly, 15 new vehicles were out of order when they were loaded onto railway platforms in Germany. Secondly, 10 tanks were damaged while marching towards the headquarters of the tank division. Nevertheless, German tanks managed to effectively oppose the Soviet troops, whose anti-tank guns were completely helpless in front of such heavy vehicles. This allowed the commander of the 501st battalion, Major Erhard von Legat, to arrogantly declare that this was not an attack, but a "hunt for Ivan."

But soon the Soviet troops transferred their own units of heavy tanks with well-trained crews here, and then not the "hunt for Ivan", but the "hunt for Fritz" began. As a result, 3 "Tigers" were abandoned by the crews in the area of ​​Ogledovo. Now one of these vehicles is exhibited at the Armored Museum in Kubinka, Moscow Region.

Of course, Nazi propaganda tried to create the appearance of the huge performance of the new tanks on the battlefield. But in fact, everything was quite different from what Joseph Goebbels' henchmen portrayed. For example, in a skirmish near Lisovo, Soviet IS-2 tanks completely destroyed the Tigers battalion, which lost all its equipment and was evacuated from the battlefield.

Soviet military experts carefully studied all copies of the "Tiger 2" that fell into their hands. As a result, the following conclusions were made about the shortcomings of the tank: the main disadvantage was recognized as being too heavy, which reduced the tank's maneuverability as much as possible. In addition, the presence of structural defects in the drive system, problems with the engine, and difficulty in maintenance were found out.

To their surprise, Soviet specialists also established a decrease in the quality of armor: it significantly deteriorated compared to earlier generations of Panther and Tiger tanks. The deterioration in the quality of armor was a direct consequence of the shortage of quality raw materials. Finally, the tank ran on gasoline, consuming huge amounts of expensive fuel.

Approximately the same conclusions, as noted by Jerzy Reschinsky, were made by the American military. The US Department of Defense did not understand what considerations the German engineers were guided by when creating this machine. The Polish author notes that instead of the "royal Tiger" it turned out to be a clumsy, problematic colossus. Its weaknesses were quickly revealed not only at the front, but even during the transfer to it.
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  1. +4
    April 6 2021 13: 05
    Well, now the best tank is "Merkava", judging by the Internet resources .. This is an ideal system of struggle)))))))
    I drove up and fired a shrapnel and drove over the hill ..
    1. +22
      April 6 2021 13: 13
      Quote: xorek
      best tank

      And Abrams! You forgot about Abrams! Wait, the Yusov singers will start praising him! lol
      1. +2
        April 6 2021 13: 20
        Quote: Uncle Lee
        Quote: xorek
        best tank

        And Abrams! You forgot about Abrams! Wait, the Yusov singers will start praising him! lol

        Well Abrams let them discuss among themselves .. wassat
        1. +5
          April 6 2021 13: 23
          Quote: xorek
          between themselves

          In between, he is the best ... wassat
          1. +2
            April 6 2021 15: 04
            Quote: Uncle Lee
            Quote: xorek
            between themselves

            In between, he is the best ... wassat

            Of course ! Sometimes they quarrel among themselves, but the Jews will argue with anyone ..
            Tank Merkava thunderstorm of the Arabs and others ..
            Well, our tanks, they do not count, for some reason ..))) And machine gunner Haim still

            Haim is a good machine gunner))))
      2. +11
        April 6 2021 13: 26
        Quote from Uncle Lee
        And Abrams! You forgot about Abrams! Wait, the Yusov singers will start praising him!

        They are afraid to sing along, but have already begun to minus. I wish them success in their "hard work".
        1. +4
          April 6 2021 13: 31
          Quote: tihonmarine
          Quote from Uncle Lee
          And Abrams! You forgot about Abrams! Wait, the Yusov singers will start praising him!

          They are afraid to sing along, but have already begun to minus. I wish them success in their "hard work".

          The work of the pack has started .. laughing
          Let them work, otherwise they completely relaxed here bully
          1. +7
            April 6 2021 14: 53
            There is a twist in the old German military equipment:
            almost all of them were started by hand, with a crooked starter (including the "Royal Tiger").
            There is something to envy. Why was this not installed on our old tractors?
            (I will repeat the reference, otherwise they are often confused here
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4ikLRoc3b8 )
            At the moment, my video link is at the top, and mine is replaced by someone else's. Perhaps they will change, here it is not predictable.
            1. +4
              April 6 2021 21: 01
              In Germany, starting the engine with a "crooked starter" did not take place directly, but through an inertial starter, which had an inertial flywheel. The flywheel was spun first, and then the engine was connected. In the USSR, piston aircraft engines also had such engines, and why they were not installed on ground vehicles is a question that remains open.
              1. +3
                April 6 2021 21: 26
                Quote: John22
                the engine was started with a "crooked starter" not on a straight line, but through an inertial starter, which had an inertial flywheel.

                I thought it was clear from the video. By the way, the starter of the An-2 engine is as powerful as that of the "Zaporozhets", but thanks to the untwisted flywheel it allows starting its engine (ASh-62IR with a capacity of 1000 hp).
              2. +2
                April 7 2021 01: 04
                Quote: John22
                this is a question

                On the Tiger - gasoline, on the T-34 diesel! hi
                1. +1
                  April 7 2021 10: 13
                  Quote from Uncle Lee
                  On the Tiger - gasoline, on the T-34 diesel!
                  It is solved by a more massive flywheel. Moreover, the diesel engine does not need to be turned for a long time, it just pulled it off and it is already working.
                  1. +1
                    April 7 2021 15: 26
                    Quote: Bad_gr
                    pulled a little

                    Have you ever started a diesel engine in the cold?
                    1. 0
                      April 7 2021 15: 28
                      No. The tank started up from the tug, there was enough push (literally, one and a half tracks)
                      1. 0
                        April 11 2021 13: 28
                        Matalyga was brought up from the pusher in the winter, a soldier man was 40, they rolled her on the parade ground for a long time, but they still brought her))
                    2. 0
                      April 7 2021 16: 48
                      Yes, it was necessary, preheating, starts. True, slightly dragging ..
                      1. -2
                        April 7 2021 23: 55
                        Quote: AlexFly
                        Yes, it was necessary, preheating, starts.
                        I think it meant a diesel that was frozen in the cold: big compression, frozen oil. The Scandinavians produce diesel engines for cars, where there is an additional candle in each cylinder. It helps ignite the fuel slurry while the diesel is cold. When the diesel warms up, the candles are turned off and it works as usual. These diesels run in decent freezing temperatures without preheating. Such a diesel engine can be started up with a spinning flywheel even in winter.
                      2. 0
                        April 8 2021 01: 16
                        Quote: Bad_gr
                        there is a candle in each cylinder

                        I had four diesels: Mitsubishi Jeep, Nissan Datsun, Toyota Town Ice, and Press ... Jeep was the best one, it was produced for the army under license from General Motors. And ALL had glow plugs. If at least one candle died, it was problematic to start in winter. And still the trouble with the fuel filters - our "winter" solarium waxed. I switched to gasoline. hi
            2. Zug
              0
              April 7 2021 09: 58
              Even with this zest of those, the way their cars are compared to ours is like a cart and a Lada.
              1. 0
                14 May 2021 17: 10
                I don't know why the Germans had to solve technical problems with technological bells and whistles, if in the USSR there was a tendency, to increase the quantity, to reduce the complexity of production and the price ... The Tiftonian genius apparently smoked a lot of the plan))) And it really was)
            3. 0
              7 June 2021 23: 05
              And where is the Leopard's curve starter?))
    2. +12
      April 6 2021 13: 22
      Yes, but while the Turks did not poke their heads into Syria - there was a Leopard))) In the meantime, in Iraq, the Iraqis did not stumble 2 Abrams on the bridge with Kalash - there were abrams))) I bet that the Leclercs will last the longest - to whom they nafig stuck)
      1. 0
        14 May 2021 17: 13
        I here on one YouTube channel heard about the real losses of the Abrams in Iraq))) The Americans know how to breed their subordinates, it's like in Yugoslavia, they lost 1 Stealth, and then he himself crashed, and in the realities of events they shot down at least 3, 1 may have crashed, but he was clearly helped in this by the Yugoslav air defense with Russian radars and missiles)
    3. +4
      April 6 2021 23: 17
      Tank "Merkava" was created for specific climatic conditions: in other conditions it is unlikely to show its "amazing" abilities, so it serves only in the army of Israel ...
      1. +1
        14 May 2021 17: 19
        The T-35 is said to be very impractical, but I read one story, (by the way, it had a place to be) like a couple of such tanks on a terrain where the Germans did not have guns and tanks nearby, this was done to the German infantry))) Firepower, the Germans did not have time to think of how to get close to it to throw a grenade, how to leave for another world ... Here is an example of specific conditions, when a seemingly completely unusable tank showed excellent results ... True, I must say that the Germans in 1941 so with their tank groups and 20k troops arrived, all in motorcycle equipment, including tanks and cannons, broke through the front, and left to smash the rear. Competently, without the supply of ammunition, more than 2 days do not fight, there is nothing to shoot with ... In short, the tank is an excellent means of preventing the infantry, at a safe distance from it)
  2. +14
    April 6 2021 13: 08
    Jerzy Reszynski believes that it is hardly possible to confidently answer the question of which tank, fighter or bomber was the best during the Second World War.
    They answered back in 1945.
  3. +10
    April 6 2021 13: 14
    The first "Tiger" was more successful, lighter and cheaper.
    1. 0
      April 6 2021 18: 12
      Quote: Olgovich
      The first "Tiger" was more successful, lighter and cheaper.

      read koshkin? if not, here's a link for you ... laughing laughing
      http://armor.kiev.ua/humor/txt/tiger_1.php
      And about the first tigers - remember their first use on the eastern front ...
  4. Hog
    +7
    April 6 2021 13: 14
    Xs, it seems like among the Germans, the best was the "first" Tiger.
    1. -1
      April 6 2021 18: 12
      Quote: Hog
      Xs, it seems like among the Germans, the best was the "first" Tiger.

      the best was "Panther", but not "tiger"
      1. +1
        April 7 2021 08: 44
        the best was "Panther", but not "tiger"


        Also very controversial. The disadvantages of the chassis were the same, plus it was frankly damp.
  5. BAI
    +4
    April 6 2021 13: 17
    This allowed the commander of the 501st battalion, Major Erhard von Legat, to arrogantly declare that this was not an attack, but a "hunt for Ivan."

    But soon the Soviet troops transferred their own units of heavy tanks with well-trained crews here, and then not the "hunt for Ivan", but the "hunt for Fritz" began.

    There are already few experienced tankers in the Wehrmacht, those who are not skilled will fail with any weapon, and those who know how to fight showed good results on the Royal Tigers, even on May 1-2, 1945.
    1. +4
      April 6 2021 13: 27
      Quote: BAI
      and those who know how to fight - on the royal Tigers showed good results

      It is best to ask Alexander Petrovich Oskin about this ... He is a "discoverer" so to speak ..
  6. +7
    April 6 2021 13: 21
    it was not an attack, but a "hunt for Ivan"
    Modest what, if you get acquainted with the reports of our side, then not everything was so rosy for the Germans. The tank itself turned out to be formidable, although not without flaws, for some reason I remembered the assault on Berlin, where only a couple of such vehicles in the central part badly battered the advancing units of the Red Army. Impressive))
    1. +1
      14 May 2021 17: 27
      Well, yes, until they brought the can opener. And so he badly battered parts of the red army. In general, there were many dug-in tanks not on the move, given their weight and armor, there were excellent protected firing points. It's just that the Germans came up with the concept of a bunker to put on a caterpillar track))) Well done pioneers. You just have to consider. That the Union did not put all the developments into series before June 22, 1941, but everything that appeared after 1946, they were just the developments of the late 30s. Well, there was no time to start up the series, when all of Europe was rushing at you ... But how we notably rolled out the Japanese))) Although there would have been at least a single skirmish between the IS-3 and the Tigers, oh, it would have been a completely different fart) By the way, this the expression has a historical background, so the Kolpakovites dealt with the nationalists who, their negotiators were cut to pieces alive, a grenade right into the point, and a fart explosion))) So you have to be very careful with this expression)
  7. -2
    April 6 2021 13: 21
    The first objective article by a Polish reviewer in a very long period
  8. -31
    April 6 2021 13: 27
    There is no need to flatter yourself. Our tanks also had serious shortcomings. Remember at least bad sights, radio stations are far from all tanks and bad shells. The British 17-pounder in penetration significantly surpassed our 85-mm S-53 and was already approaching the 122-mm guns. I have always said that building up caliber is a dead-end path. It is necessary to strive on the contrary - to increase the penetration in the previous caliber, or even decrease it. The apogee I see is the German 28-mm gun, which easily penetrated the IS turret. True, it turned out to be very difficult, scarce and expensive, but these are already problems of the economy and industry, they should not concern the warriors. If a country in the conditions of a total war cannot organize the mass production of such cunning products, if it cannot afford it, then this is not an economy, this is rubbish. The American military were supplied according to the first category, ersatz were not found there. This includes labor legislation, rights and freedoms - must be inviolable even in a total war. Ordinary Americans knew about the war only from the newspapers, but otherwise they lived the same life. And if a country cannot ensure a completely peaceful pre-war life a kilometer from the front, for example, on the other bank of Staligard, then that country is bad.
    1. +7
      April 7 2021 09: 04
      and was already approaching 122 mm guns.

      This is a blatant exaggeration - up to 122mm. long away.

      At its apogee, I see a German 28-mm gun, which easily penetrated the IS turret.

      Well, firstly, it was not easy, and secondly, not a tower, but an NLD, and only one case was registered, for the entire time of application. Thirdly, penetration by a BPS of this caliber will do nothing in most cases.

      True, it turned out to be very difficult, scarce and expensive, but these are already problems of the economy and industry, they should not concern the warriors. If a country in the conditions of a total war cannot organize the mass production of such cunning products, if it cannot afford it, then this is not an economy, this is rubbish.

      Yeah ... That's nonsense, that's nonsense ...

      The American military were supplied according to the first category, ersatz were not found there. This includes labor legislation, rights and freedoms - must be inviolable even in a total war. Ordinary Americans knew about the war only from the newspapers, but otherwise they lived the same life. And if a country cannot ensure a completely peaceful pre-war life a kilometer from the front, for example, on the other bank of Staligard, then that country is bad.


      How is your history? Do you know that the United States was overseas from the main databases, not a kilometer or even 100 km away? Why would they not know only from the newspapers, if the war is somewhere out there, hell knows where, for THOUSANDS of km.? Their economy, by and large, began to recover after the Great Depression only because of the war. So do not confuse warm with soft, as you do. Well, or learn some history. Rather, the latter is needed.
    2. +5
      April 7 2021 13: 34
      Oh, these victims of the exam, I would see how the Americans would establish a normal peaceful life a kilometer from the front if half of their territory was occupied by the Germans or the Japanese, and the other half would be subjected to systematic air strikes.
    3. +2
      April 7 2021 17: 09
      Have you studied history, geography, economics? Judging by this, yes, but only from American comics .... In the 20s of the last century, there was a Great Depression in the United States, and many ordinary Americans (not all, of course !!!) would like to leave for the USSR! It's just a note.
    4. +2
      April 8 2021 04: 37
      << I've always said: building up caliber is a dead end >>
      Talking is one thing
      To do is completely different ..
    5. 0
      14 May 2021 17: 50
      We had bad sighting devices, not sights. The scopes were excellent, because the British got these scopes from the Poles (and the Poles were developed like a native of the Union, such is the cycle of events), and we were from the British. No need to retell the dregs of the 90s. Indeed, at the turn of the winter of 1941/42, when many tutu factories moved to pre-prepared areas, the armies did not transfer much, there was a case, and they saved on everything, too. Yes, there was no time, the development of the late 30s in the series to start up, the front needed, albeit not the most advanced weapons, but in the right amount. A 120 mm mine fired from a mortar shattered the armor of any miracle of a German tank. A 100mm and above cannon, there was fire. For even their landmines put German tanks out of action. By the way, in 1988, the Americans, conducting experiments using our method, found out the effectiveness of landmines against tanks, including their Abrams, attachments, a cannon in a sieve were removed, observation devices were broken, and only landmines were blown up 1,5-2 m from the tanks. .. real story. It was later, after 1945, a miracle of 85 mm guns appeared)) M48 seems) By the way, a 17-pounder gun, and give an example, comparative weapons on our training ground during the war years))) Well, so as not to write anything, compare 1500 tigers, 8 to panthers ... It's like in 1941 a small number of KVs, and under 700 pieces of T-34s smeared across all tank regiments ... Any tank can be pierced with a 20 mm cannon, you just need to know where to aim, so you surprised me))) The 57 mm projectile does not suggest the strength of the impulse for a 57 mm blank?) We were not bad guns, the German chemical industry was at its peak, that is the question. And by the way, when, before 1940, the industrial potential of Germany and the USSR was compared, it was strongly not in favor of the Union. As one military historian wrote, the situation in December 1941 in relation to the ratio of the industry of Germany and its satellites in Europe and the state of the industry of the USSR, part of it was lost, part somewhere on the way, was just a disaster, it’s a pity they did not know about it in 1938-39, when they were preparing report to the government ... But somehow they endured, waited, survived. Lend-Lease really came to us after 1943, and before that, well, there were drops in the sea, they were waiting for the USSR to survive or not. These are the situations we do not take for analysis at all, but they were ...
  9. +2
    April 6 2021 13: 28
    Was the Zaporozhets the best car in the world? Against the background of heavier Mercedes and BMWs, he had both pros and cons ... So, thanks to the play on words and false statements, "ZAZ" became the best car. At the same time, the link appeared.
  10. +7
    April 6 2021 13: 42
    the main disadvantage was recognized as being too heavy, which reduced the tank's maneuverability as much as possible.
    It is more correct to talk not about maneuverability, but about cross-country ability in general.

    If this tank were in a dry, shallow region, it would have come down like a Merkava. But the Germans invariably had good optics, communication equipment, and a powerful cannon. When the armor additive problems began, it should come as no surprise that the quality of the steel got worse. Even thicker armor did not save, the main thing was that the weight became critical.
    The Germans must also be given credit for the fact that until the end of the war, they managed to create numerical superiority at the forefront of counterattacks.
    The victory was given at a high price, it was not so easy to burn the same "Royal Tiger", this is the courage and heroism of Soviet tankmen and artillerymen, stormtrooper pilots.
    1. 0
      April 6 2021 13: 59
      [quote = Per se.] [quote] The main disadvantage is recognized as being too heavy, which has reduced the maneuverability of the tank as much as possible. [/ quote] It is more correct to talk not about maneuverability, but about the passability in general.

      the tide didn’t bring the tank here ... hi
    2. +6
      April 6 2021 14: 26
      For each type of tank, you can find an image where it is completely buried - even for the T-34.




      1. +7
        April 6 2021 14: 40
        Konstantin, it's not about the image, if the T-34 is definitely lighter, with lower specific pressure, respectively, with better cross-country ability.
        If desired, they find a photo where there are "swamps" in Israel, but "Merkava" does not care. The trick is that the whole trick, what the bottom. The real swamp has no bottom. Where the "Royal Tiger" is shown in the photo, it got stuck not in a swamp, but in fact on a peasant's arable land, as they say, "black earth sucked" it. This is the difference, with the T-34, this would hardly have happened next to it.
        1. +3
          April 6 2021 14: 54
          The same ground pressure values, while obvious, are significant, but can be surprising.

          According to the Tiger Tank Owners Workshop Manual by Haynes - The Tiger Tank Owners' Repair Manual, Haynes, written, among other things, by the Bovington technicians who repaired the only Tiger I SdKfz181 in service.
          To my surprise, data were provided on the specific ground pressure for the Tiger - 0,735 kg / cm2, Sherman (average production batch) - 0,96 kg / cm2 and T-34/85 0,85 kg / cm2.
          It turns out that the Tiger I of these three should have the greatest cross-country ability, while the ground pressure is comparable to the first T-34 with a 76-mm cannon.

          This was not the case.

          The Sherman has a parameter that is almost identical to that of the Tiger II, but in his case there is no mention of flotation problems.
          1. +1
            April 6 2021 23: 43
            To the one who put a minus.

            Yes, I know that a minus is when you don't like something. In fact, you may not like the truth - that's what it is.

            I have provided the data, not my opinion - if you think that the data is incorrect, please provide the correct data. If you just don’t like real data, I’ll understand you - this is not my problem, this is yours.
            1. +2
              April 7 2021 00: 03
              To the one who put a minus.
              The one who put a minus has no opinion of his own. Unfortunately, this contingent on the site is becoming predominant. The minus was put to you solely on the basis of personal enmity.
    3. +2
      April 7 2021 09: 18
      It is more correct to talk not about maneuverability, but about cross-country ability in general.

      It is maneuverability. What agility can be with a power density of 10 hp / t? The T-34-85, for example, had 15 hp / t.

      The victory was given at a high price, it was not so easy to burn the same "Royal Tiger", this is the courage and heroism of Soviet tankmen and artillerymen, stormtrooper pilots.


      By that time, the tactics had already been worked out and the Royal Tigers were destroyed quite successfully.
      The victory was given hard, but if we proceed from the ratio of losses, then the losses of the Red Army, contrary to popular belief, amounted to 1.3 x 1. This, of course, applies to the entire anti-Hitler coalition. in fact, the USSR was at war with at least half of Europe.
  11. +6
    April 6 2021 13: 42
    Well, in general, in the west, tiger2 was not even considered as the best tank of the war!
    The first place is in fact shared by 34-85 and the panther! Depends on the efficiency of the Expert Advisor.
    The panther's cannon also made it possible to fight enemy tanks at extreme ranges.
    1. +5
      April 6 2021 13: 46
      The first place is in fact shared by 34-85 and the panther!
      It is quite reasonable.
  12. +2
    April 6 2021 13: 46
    The king tiger was a formidable foe. Its frontal armor was not penetrated by any cannon of either ours or allies. therefore, despite all of the above shortcomings, the Germans, especially when breaking through from the encirclement, always dragged the royal tigers with them like a ram capable of piercing almost everything.
    However, the very first acquaintance with tigers among our troops came out very positive. The T 34 crew shot several of these tanks from an ambush. They moved along the ravine on the other side of which our car was. So the Nazis got right into the side of the armor-piercing
    1. +8
      April 6 2021 18: 30
      Quote: certero
      Its frontal armor was not penetrated by any cannon of either ours or allies. therefore, despite all the above shortcomings, the Germans, especially when breaking through from the encirclement, always dragged the royal tigers with them like a ram capable of piercing almost everything.

      The ISU-122 A-19S / D-25S cannon, if it did not penetrate it, the crew did not even save the lining there, and the dvigun / transmission suffered so much that repairs were carried out exclusively at the factory ...
  13. +2
    April 6 2021 13: 58
    The reality of the end of the war for the Germans and for the tank industry in particular: the defensive nature of the war. Therefore, the number of SPGs exceeded the number of tanks, and among the tanks, it is not surprising that vehicles appeared that were really monsters in defense, and Tiger 2 looks quite logical here (Better than MAUS) wassat
  14. +3
    April 6 2021 14: 10

    Firstly, 15 new vehicles were out of order when they were loaded onto railway platforms in Germany. Secondly, 10 tanks were damaged while marching towards the headquarters of the tank division. Nevertheless, German tanks managed to effectively oppose the Soviet troops,

    Even the equipment "resisted" against being sent to the Eastern Front, let alone the manpower.
  15. +6
    April 6 2021 14: 14
    Approximately the same conclusions, as noted by Jerzy Reschinsky, were made by the American military.

    Nothing new sounded. All this was known. The Red Army proved that we had the best tanks.
  16. +1
    April 6 2021 14: 19
    There are tons of different ratings. Subjectively, based on sympathy for nationality or different parameters.
    There was no main battle tank and were divided by weight and purpose.

    And here he admits that I am surprised by the author's starting point.

    While the M-24 Chafee is quite often among the tanks put into service, in the category of light tanks, the M-24 Chafee is mentioned.
    Quite often found among medium tanks, PzKpfw V "Panther" or T-34/85 (with the exception of PzKpfw IV, in my mistakenly), I rarely saw Tiger II among the best heavy tanks. Tiger I appears there more often, although this late Soviet version of the IS-2 with a welded hull and beveled front plate is considered the best heavy tank (and, in my opinion, quite rightly, despite some peculiarities).

    The Tiger II, despite its undoubted advantages, lost a lot due to the weak, overloaded engine and transmission, the chemical composition of the armor in 1944-1945, as well as the nature of the battles carried out at that time.
    1. +2
      April 6 2021 18: 32
      Quote: Constanty
      Quite often found among medium tanks, PzKpfw V "Panther" or T-34/85 (with the exception of the PzKpfw IV, in my opinion),

      The PzKpfw V "Panther" is by no means a medium tank, it weighed as much as our KV-1 heavy ...
      1. +3
        April 6 2021 18: 49
        However, it was classified and considered as a medium tank.

        Similar in weight to the Soviet IS-2, the American M26 Pershing was a medium tank, and it was not until June 1944 that the tank's designation was changed from T26 to M26, and the vehicle's classification was also changed. Classified as a heavy tank. This was done mainly to raise the morale of American tankers in the fight against the enemy armed with heavy Tiger tanks. When this cause disappeared after the war, the classification was changed again and from May 1946 it was again classified as medium.
        1. 0
          April 7 2021 11: 08
          The Germans classified the Pz-lV as heavy. But the classification, oddly enough, did not help the "four" to become heavier ... winked
    2. +2
      April 7 2021 09: 22
      Among the best heavy tanks, I rarely saw the Tiger II. Tiger I appears there more often, although this late Soviet version of the IS-2 with a welded hull and beveled front plate is considered the best heavy tank (and, in my opinion, quite rightly, despite some peculiarities).


      The Germans themselves admitted that the Tiger 1 was better in terms of efficiency than the Royal Tiger. Not all is true :)
  17. +3
    April 6 2021 14: 26
    Funny Germans, zababahali wunderwaflu not having the resources, time, production of the order that even a piece version of the economy overwhelmed. laughing
  18. +4
    April 6 2021 14: 38
    Even such a wunderwaffle did not sleep such a tank ace as Kurt Knispel. Kurt Knispel is, according to German historians, the most productive tank ace of the Second World War with 168 destroyed enemy tanks (all on the Eastern Front). Mentioned in the Wehrmacht daily report (German Wehrmachtbericht, 25 April 1944)
    He presented himself for the Knight's Cross four times, but never received it. This fact is associated with his character. In particular, Franz Kurovsky, in his book, cites the famous case when Kurt Knispel attacked an Einsatzgroup officer, standing up for a beaten Soviet prisoner of war, or when he stole wine, champagne and food from the train, guarded by the SS Viking division, hiding everything that could be carried away in the air filters of his "Tiger".
    Until recently, there were many uncertainties about his death.
    This happened when the Soviet military units, which at the end of April 1945, were advancing towards the Czech city of Znojmo and fought on the front section between the settlements of Stronsdorf in Austria and Vlasatice in the Czech Republic.
    But in recent years, information has appeared that most likely K. Knispel's tank was knocked out in the Vlastitsa area by the Soviet self-propelled gun SU-100 under the command of the guard of junior lieutenant Sheiko. From the post-war stories of Sheiko himself and his letters home to his parents in one of the villages in the Znojmo region, his self-propelled gun destroyed the "King Tiger" tank under the following circumstances. SU-100 Sheiko moved forward and took up a position on the outskirts of the village (presumably - Vlastitsa). At this time, a German tank knocked out a T-34-85, which was moving to attack in the direction of the village, and left the cover to conduct targeted fire at two other advancing Soviet tanks on the left flank, thus exposing the side to the fire of the SU-100. Self-propelled gun Sheiko from the first shot from a distance of 100-120 meters into the side hit a German tank. Sheiko, from his recollections, saw exactly how the "Royal Tiger" lit up, leave the carriage. Most likely, it was Knispel's crew, who evacuated their wounded commander from the burning tank.
  19. +2
    April 6 2021 15: 11
    Dispelled myths 76 years after the end of the war?
    Ours dispelled the myths immediately after the first capture in battle.
    Poles are slowing down something.
  20. mvg
    0
    April 6 2021 20: 09
    very often the most efficient tank of that time is called the German "Tiger", the full name of which is Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B Tiger II.

    After that, too, you can not read ...
    Ilya, Murzilka magazine Your everything .. do not ignore it, pliz, make brains better for children .. How can you not respect yourself and your readers to write such articles.
  21. +5
    April 7 2021 01: 01
    Strange article.
    Royal Tiger (Tiger 2) has never claimed to be the best.
    It was a clear failure of the German designers who tried
    "cross" Tiger 1 and Panther.
    1. 0
      April 7 2021 01: 08
      Which tank specialists have you chosen the best?
      1. +3
        April 7 2021 01: 51
        There is no consensus. In my opinion, there are two: Tiger 1 and T-34-85.
        Only tanks produced in quantity should be included.
        more than 1000 pieces, at least.
        And these two always fall into the top five ratings.
        1. 0
          April 7 2021 22: 12
          Were the T-4 with a long-barreled gun and the panther worse than the thirty-four?
          1. +5
            April 7 2021 23: 20
            Tiger 1 was better than both of them. In the class: "a tank as an anti-tank weapon"
            (effective plugging of enemy tank breakthroughs).
            T-4 not from a good life weighed extra. screens.
            And the Panther was very weak from the sides.
            The T-34-85 was the best in its class: "infantry and raid support tank".
            Sherman is in the same class.
            Then we can additionally mark the T-3 as the best "tank of the blitzkrieg period".
            1. 0
              April 7 2021 23: 33
              I just think that someone probably did a great job comparing all the tank skills, their combat actions and reliability, and laid out a conclusion based on the sum of all factors. 34 had too many shortcomings, it was not in vain that our people fought with pleasure on the Shermans. Presumably you have come across such a book or document.
              1. +5
                April 7 2021 23: 50
                In the T-34-85 in 1944, most of the shortcomings were eliminated (gearbox, filters, etc.). In addition to the insufficient frontal armor of the hull.
                Sherman had better build quality. But he was also very inferior in battles to the Panthers and Tigers.
                It bothered that he could not turn around on the spot, for example. (And the T-34 could).
                But the Sherman infantry, like the T-34-85, was regularly supported
              2. +1
                April 8 2021 05: 48
                34 had too many shortcomings, it was not in vain that our people fought with pleasure on the Shermans. Presumably you have come across such a book or document.


                The Shermans were simply more comfortable in terms of crew comfort and ergonomics, but they weren't BETTER than the T-34-76, let alone the T-34-85. In terms of combat characteristics, the Shermans were far from 34.
                1. 0
                  April 8 2021 15: 22
                  Is crew survivability a combat characteristic?
                  1. +1
                    April 9 2021 03: 00
                    Is crew survivability a combat characteristic?

                    And where did the Shermans have a higher survival rate? Like the BC did not detonate? The number of Shermans with "wet" ammunition racks was not that great (meaning the percentage among the delivered Shermans). The rest of the Shermans did not increase survival in any way compared to the T-34. Moreover, their mobility left much to be desired, and as the Kursk Bulge showed, mobility increases survival.
                    1. 0
                      April 9 2021 18: 08
                      I think there should be some statistics on hit survival, as well as on rough terrain mobility. I have met different opinions. Before the Internet, I was sure that 34 was the best tank, but over time I read a lot. I was very upset by the fact that even if the 34's armor was not penetrated, the crew suffered losses from fragments of armor, which bounced off, since there was not enough viscosity.
                      1. +1
                        April 10 2021 02: 33
                        I think there should be some statistics on hit survival, as well as on rough terrain mobility.


                        Well, when you get the data on these statistics, that's when you speak. The only advantage of the Shermans is the relatively comfortable working conditions for the crew. The W modifications have a plus that the ammunition did not always detonate in a fire, but there were not many of them. In terms of booking, mobility, maintainability, they were much inferior, plus a very large silhouette, again a gasoline engine.

                        I have met different opinions. Before the Internet, I was sure that 34 was the best tank, but over time I read a lot.

                        They say that chickens are milked in Moscow. Believe it is not opinions, but facts and documents.

                        I was very upset by the fact that even if the 34's armor was not penetrated, the crew suffered losses from fragments of armor, which bounced off, since there was not enough viscosity.


                        Secondary fragments were formed not only in 34-k, this is generally a problem of all tanks of the WWII era. Why do you think modern tanks have internal lining? Not only for anti-nuclear protection, but just for protection against secondary fragments.
  22. -1
    April 7 2021 10: 10
    Quote: Uncle Lee
    Quote: John22
    this is a question

    On the Tiger - gasoline, on the T-34 diesel! hi

    Yeah, engine specialists laughing
  23. 0
    April 7 2021 11: 04
    Quote: PSih2097
    Quote: Hog
    Xs, it seems like among the Germans, the best was the "first" Tiger.

    the best was "Panther", but not "tiger"

    The best tank in the Panzerwaffe was the humble Pz-lV. He fought, in various modifications, from the first to the last day. Was easier and cheaper to manufacture. The Panther, like the Tigers E and B, was overweight, had a bunch of childhood illnesses, and could not possibly be the "best" tank.
    1. +5
      April 7 2021 16: 10
      Yes! Of course, this does not give the right to call the Panther not only the best, but simply even a successful tank. Instead of Panthers, it is possible to weld tens of thousands of fours only in terms of metal consumption. Only from which there was much more.
      By the way, guns of a smaller caliber with high ballistics are far from the most successful solution, the main enemy of the tank was the PTA. Especially for our tanks, because in the second half of the war the German tank had to be looked for, but the Germans had a lot of anti-tank equipment and very powerful ones. In the ammunition of our tanks, BB shells were, God forbid, a quarter.
      So, a powerful HE shell is important to combat anti-tank vehicles, therefore, by the way, the T-44s that survived until the 34th year were valued no less than the new T-34-85s, which did not have a HE shell in the war, there was only an anti-aircraft fragmentation projectile staked out. The F-34 HE shell was more powerful.
      If we return to the topic of conversation, then instead of the Korolevich one could build another thousand ordinary minke whales, which would be much more useful.
      In general, God, Glory to Him, did not give horns to a vigorous cow!
  24. 0
    April 8 2021 12: 08
    Quote: PSih2097
    The ISU-122 A-19S / D-25S cannon, if it didn’t penetrate it, the crew didn’t even save the lining there, let alone the dvigun / transmission

    I also heard this, however, there is no documentary evidence of such hits. I will be glad if you bring any documents
  25. 0
    April 8 2021 16: 29
    Another unconditional disadvantage was the discrepancy between engine power and tank weight. The Tiger tank weighed over 70 tons with a 700 hp engine, while, for example, a modern Abrams tank weighs over 60 tons with a 1500 hp engine. T-72 - Weighs only 41 tonnes, but with 780hp drive power, the K2 Black Panther weighs 55 tonnes with 1500hp drive.


    An attempt to compare soft to warm. I would then compare with the heavy tanks of the WWII.
  26. -2
    April 8 2021 17: 30
    that the panther, that the kingtiger were created to counter the hordes of medium tanks.
    and tiger2 is the direct development of the panther.
    By the way, the jagdtigr, even more monstrous, with experienced crews, has fully justified itself.
  27. -1
    April 9 2021 13: 42
    The heavy tank of the final period of the war was produced in 1943-1945, and was in service with the Wehrmacht in 1944-1945.
    author -> author -> author the first Tigers were produced in 1942, in the same year they fought near Leningrad. Massively participated in the Battle of Kursk -1943. Learn materiel author -> author -> author.
    1. +1
      April 9 2021 18: 10
      It's about the royal tiger!
  28. -1
    April 10 2021 23: 22
    No reviewer will be able to adequately assess the military equipment. He did not ride it, he did not fight on it. And sitting in the editorial office and surrounded by reference books, it is impossible to really evaluate this or that tank.
  29. The comment was deleted.
  30. 0
    April 11 2021 02: 01
    Quote: voyaka uh
    T-4 not from a good life weighed extra. screens.

    But the frontal armor was thicker than that of the T-34. In fact, modern tanks have weaker side armor than frontal armor.
  31. 0
    April 13 2021 16: 57
    Yeah. And the Polish cavalrymen, with one fell swoop, chopped the cannons to the tigers with their swords, the best in the whole universe. When they broke into Berlin at a gallop.
  32. 0
    April 16 2021 06: 33
    To be honest, I'm a little surprised that someone called the "Tiger 2" the best tank. Its numerous problems became known already in the first month of operation, and Soviet specialists from the Research Institute of BT, who were conducting a study of trophy samples, from the very beginning gave him a short description: "this is not a German", implying the absolutely disgusting quality of the product for such an expensive car, and a very low technological level, uncharacteristic for technically advanced Germans. Suffice it to say that the machine's transmission could not cope with the load, which caused it to wear out quickly and constantly overheat, and instead of solving the designer's problem, they simply provided for primitive water cooling, like the Maxim machine gun. This is not to mention the level of reliability, which completely covered all the positive aspects of the huge machine.
    But two more criteria that can be applied to select the "best in class" are the degree of influence on the course of hostilities and combat effectiveness. And on both counts, "Tiger 2" did not show itself too much - a very small model initially could not change the course of hostilities, because the existing copies turned out to be too demanding for maintenance, for delivery vehicles to the duty station, for the qualifications of crews and personnel, so that to be as involved as possible in the course of battles. Simply put, the cars were idle for an impermissibly long time, or broke down right in the battle. Moreover, being an expensive, complex machine, on the creation of which Germany spent the last available resources, this tank was in no way superior to the much more technologically advanced and massive IS-2. And already by these parameters it was clear that "Tiger 2", although it is a dangerous enemy, but clearly does not pull the role of the best. Therefore, it is completely incomprehensible why someone suddenly decided to extol him so highly, and even after so many years after the War, when, it would seem, all the priorities have long been determined, the accents are highlighted, the leaders are revealed that a separate exposing-analytical article was needed.
  33. 0
    April 30 2021 18: 31
    All this has already been written, rewritten once that. I wonder who manages to consider this scarecrow the best tank?
  34. 0
    9 May 2021 11: 32
    I always thought that * Tiger *, the best illustration to the words of Grabin, a tank is an armored cart for a cannon
  35. 0
    31 May 2021 15: 26
    You can continue to worship the cult of weapons and the form of nemchura as much as you like, but the fact remains that all this European united herd was simply trampled under boots and simple engineering solutions

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