The German Modern Tiger Tank: A Brief History

In August 1942, production of the German modern tiger tank finally began, marking a significant milestone in World War II history. The tank, originally designed as the VK4501 (H), was the brainchild of Porsche and was intended to play a crucial role in Germany's military strategy.

Initially, the manufactured Porsche Tigers were converted into heavy tank destroyers known as 'Elefant' or 'Ferdinand', named after Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. However, when production of the Porsche model VK4501 (P) was halted, the order for the VK4501 (H) was increased by 50% to compensate for the loss.

Despite its delayed start, the German modern tiger tank was designed with lessons learned from earlier models such as the VK3001 and VK3601. The Rheinmetall company also developed a turret prototype to mount the powerful 7.5 cm KwK L/70 gun on the tank, although this design never advanced beyond the prototype stage.

The development of the German modern tiger tank was a collaborative effort between several prominent companies, including Krupp and Henschel und Sohn. The latter company, based in Kassel, was responsible for designing the chassis, while Krupp developed turrets for both the VK4501 (H) and VK4501 (P).

The order to design the VK4501 (H), later known as the Tiger tank, was issued in . The resulting tank would go on to play a significant role in World War II, with its powerful armament and formidable armor making it one of the most feared tanks on the battlefield.