One of the most feared German tanks of WWII was the Tiger tank. Just the mention of it being in the area was enough to make its enemies very cautious and its presence often bolstered the morale of German troops around it. But was it the terror that its reputation would have you believe.

In this book on the Tiger family of tanks, author Thomas Anderson takes a look at the reason for the tank, the development of it, its mobility, firepower, armor and what it was like in combat. Two companies were requested to develop the Panzer VI; Porsche and Henschel. The idea was for both companies to produce a short run of vehicles so comparisons could be made between them and the best one chosen. Both vehicles were heavy and complex and both mounted the feared 88mm gun, an anti-aircraft gun that was devastating against other tanks.

Both tanks also had major development problems and Henschel was the first to have tanks trickle from their production line. Porsche, on the other hand was having such difficulty that the contract with them was cancelled after 50 turretless chassis were built. These chassis went on provide the automotive section for the Ferdinand and later Elefant tank destroyers.

The Tiger's introduction into combat was less than sterling. True, the tank packed a powerful punch and the kill ratio of successful Tigers was incredible. It had thick armor that was impervious to most other tanks, however, this came at a cost. The weight put a severe strain on the transmission and drivers had to be very careful not to damage it during operations. Its weight also made it difficult to rescue once it became immobile. It was also too heavy for many roads and bridges. However, it was tank that would make quick business against anything the US Army could put up against it and most of what the British and Soviet armies had.

The dozens of combat stories in the book tell of how effective the Tiger was against its enemies. However, as the war continued, it was a case of numbers that actually did the Tiger in. The tanks were expensive and complex to build so not that many were actually constructed. Not compared to tanks like the Sherman, T-34 and IS-2. Supply of spares was also a major difficulty with many tanks being immobilized in the last year of the war from the lack of parts and later by the lack of fuel. It was also a rather maintenance intensive tank and a section of the book is dedicated to that aspect.

In all, it makes for an outstanding look at this iconic German Tank. The hundreds of superb photos and diagrams only help to tell the story the way that words often cannot. It is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and is one that I can easily recommend to you.

April 2014

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