"Memo on the new "King Tiger" (Koenigstiger) heavy tank and methods of combat against it
Elements of the 1st Ukrainian Front captured 4 King Tiger tanks near Szydłów on August 12th, 1944, one of which was functional. 2 non-functional King Tiger tanks were captured near Korozvenka on August 15th, 1944.
Preliminary characteristics of the King Tiger tank are as follows:
- Type of tank: heavy
- Combat weight: 68 tons
- Length with gun forward: 10.5 meters
- Width: 3.7 meters
- Armour:
- Front: 180 mm
- Side: 80 mm
- Roof and floor: 40 mm
- Armament:
- One 88 mm gun
- Two machine guns
- Ammunition capacity: 60 rounds
- Engine: Maybach (gasoline)
- Engine power: 600-650 hp
- Top speed: 40 kph
- Cruising range:
- 100 km cross-country
- 140 km highway
- Suspension: torsion bar
- Number of road wheels: 9 per side
- Track width: 800 mm
- Radios: two (one for the commander)
- Crew: 6
- Commander
- Gunner
- Loader
- Junior driver (also radio operator)
- Mechanic-driver
- Machine gunner/radio operator
King Tiger | T-6 Tiger | |
Type of tank | Heavy | Heavy |
Weight | 68 tons | 56 tons |
Length with gun | 10.5 m | 8.5 m |
Width | 3.7 m | 3.6 m |
Armour thickness | ||
Front | 180 | 100 |
Side | 80 | 62-82 |
Rear | 80 | 82 |
Floor and roof | 40 | 28 |
Armament | One 88 mm gun | One 88 mm gun |
Two machine guns | Two machine guns | |
Ammunition | 60 rounds | 86 rounds |
Engine | Maybach | Maybach |
Top speed | 40 kph | 44 kph |
Cruising range | ||
Off-road | 100 km | 100 km |
Highway | 140 km | 140 km |
Suspension | Torsion bar | Torsion bar |
Road wheels | 9 per side | 8 per side |
Track width | 800 mm | 720 mm |
Radios | Two | One |
Crew | 6 | 5 |
- All methods used against the Tiger and Panther tanks can be used against the new tank.
- The gun, foundation of the turret, running gear, rear armour, and turret roof are the most vulnerable parts of the new tank.
- The side armour can be reliably penetrated by 57-76 mm guns and higher. 57, 85, as well as 122, and 152 mm guns of IS tanks are the most effective.