"ACT
Results of investigation of the T-6-B (King Tiger) tank to discover weak spots and penetration, carried out on September 2nd, 1944, near the city of Staszow (Poland) by a commission composed of:
- Chair:
- Commander of Artillery of the 5th Guards Army, Guards Major General of Artillery V.I. Poluekov
- Members:
- Commander of the 31st Guards Rifle Corps, Hero of the Soviet Union, Guards Lieutenant General Rodimtsev
- Commander of the 155th Novorossiysk Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, Colonel M.A. Tarasov
- Commander of the 10th Tank Destroyer Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bazirenko
- Commander of the 31st Tank Corps, Guards Colonel Pleshanov
The results are composed into the following table:
Part of the hull | Gun caliber | Type of ammunition | Range | Angle | Result |
Hull and turret platform front | 152 | HEAT* | 250 | 80 | Penetration of the machine gun ball, 350 mm in diameter. |
46 | 70 mm deep dent 230 mm in diameter. | ||||
122 | HEAT | 300 | 65 mm deep dent | ||
85 | AP | 200 | 46 | 50 mm deep dent 170 mm in diameter | |
Turret front | 57 | APCR | 200 | 75 | 165 mm deep dent, 70 mm in diameter |
Turret side | 152 | HEAT* | 1200 | 70 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 200 mm |
250 | 86 | Penetration of armour and opposite side. Entrance diameter: 190 mm. Exit diameter: 840 mm | |||
85 | AP | 200 | 86 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 170 mm | |
Hull side | 152 | HEAT* | 465 | 85 | Penetration of armour and opposite side. Entrance diameter: 170 mm. Exit diameter: 750 mm |
85 | AP | 400 | 88 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 150 mm | |
76 | APCR | 400 | 88 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 40 mm | |
AP | 300 | 88 | 75 mm deep dent with a diameter of 84 mm | ||
57 | APCR | 400 | 88 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 70 mm | |
AP | 400 | 88 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 60 mm | ||
45 | APCR | 150 | 80 | Penetration, entrance diameter is 30 mm |
Conclusions
- The front armour cannot be penetrated by 45, 57, 76, 85, 152 mm AP or APCR ammunition.
- The side of the tank (side of the superstructure and side of the hull) can be penetrated by:
- APCR:
- 45 mm from 150 meters.
- 76 mm from 300-400 meters.
- AP:
- 45 mm at 150 meters does not achieve penetration.
- 76 mm at 200-300 meters does not achieve penetration.
- 85 mm penetrates at 400-600 meters.
- 152 mm penetrates at 1200-1500 meters.
- The turret side of the tank can be penetrated by:
- APCR:
- 45 mm from 150 meters.
- 76 mm from 300-400 meters.
- AP:
- 76 mm at 200 meters does not achieve penetration.
- 85 mm penetrates at 400-800 meters.
- 152 mm penetrates at 1200-1500 meters.
- The running gear is the most vulnerable part of the tank for all calibers of artillery.
[signatures]"
* 152 mm HEAT was not available at this time, this is likely 152 mm sharp tipped AP.