The German Tiger I of WW2 is one of those awesome war machines that evokes memories of the Third Reich as much as the Stuka or a Type VII U-boat! It debuted in 1942 in Leningrad and a few months later in Tunisia where it gained a reputation as a terror with its almost impenetrable armor and fearsome 88 main gun (KwK36 L/56). Weighing-in at 56 tons and covered with armor from 25mm (top/bottom/rear) to 80mm (sides) to 110mm (frontal) the Tiger seemed invincible and killed an avg. of 8:1 in its favor. On the E Front the T-34/85 would have to close within 500m to kill a Tiger while they were picked off at ranges up to 2000m! On the W Front the US Sherman had to approach at near point-blank range and either shoot the tracks or hit the vunerable rear, usually after losing 4-5 tanks in the process! Only the British adapatation Sherman Firefly with the 17 pdr gun could kill a tiger at 1750m! Latter heavy KV-series and JS-series Soviet tanks still needed around 1000m for a kill. The Tiger I carried 92 rounds and was a feasome beast to deal with. But only 1373 were ever made so it was hopelessly outnumbered on both fronts and subject to air attack by Typhoons, Tempests, and T-Bolts. However, it had great moments of glory with Michael Wittman killing an entire armored division (British 7th) and having naval guns used against it during the Sicily landings! Yes, that's right, offshore naval bombarment to kill a few Tigers!!!

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