Pz Kpfw Tiger Ausf. B "Tiger II"

Subject: Items from the visit by Reich minister Speer.

Experiences With the Panzerkampfwagen "Tiger" B

Since 15 September 1944, the battalion has been fully equipped with the Panzerkampfwagen VIB. The soldiers are satisfied with the new vehicle. The problems experienced so far has been teething problems1The original word used is Kinderkrankheiten, meaning initial problems with the design, not literally problems with the teeth of the gears or drive wheel., and once they have been fixed, the Tiger B is the heavy tank.

The following mechanical malfunctions has arisen after 50 to 100 kilometers of travel:

• 12 final drive housings.
• 10 track tension devices.
  • Fork lever broken.
  • Spindle broken off.
  • Spindle thread sheared off.
• 4 sprockets, teeth sheared off, whereby 50% of all sprocket teeth has been heavily worn.
• 1 final drive intermediate shaft, all grooves twisted, so that the housing could only be removed by cutting through the intermediate shaft (80 mm). While disassembling the other housings, the grooves were also found to be more or less twisted.
• 6 transmissions with gear switching delays.
• 1 steering gear.
• 1 engine, water in cylinder.
• 1 torsion bar broken.
• 1 fuel tank, leakage from spot welded area, causing fuel loss; was likely the cause of two previous fires at the training ground.

Combat Damage From Action Against British Paratroopers at Arnhem

• 1 total write-off due to mortar hit at the rear deck. Shrapnel penetrated the fuel tank through the ventilation opening. Ingition of the leaking fuel, tank burned out.
• A second tank was similarly hit in the ventilation and fuel tank, but did not catch fire.
• 1 hit of unknown caliber to the turret roof caused a scratch in the armor. Sendt for homeland repair.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. Track links of the same type as the Tiger I, as the removal of a double track link causes the track to be too short for the track tensioning spindle.
2. The track deflector is insufficient. It is made from 12 mm steel sheets, which is welded laterally onto the hull. The distance from the hull to the transport track is only eight mm. When unloading and driving with the transport tracks, the idler sheel must be placed in the foremost position, whereby the transport track is too long. If a track link is removed, the track is too short. The consequence of driving with the long track is that the track is pulled off the drive sprocket when turning, breaking the final drive. When driving with the short track, the idler wheel fork or track tensioning spindle breaks. Transportation with the combat tracks is recommended, considering that Tiger Is have been transferred from Russia or Kassel with combat tracks.
3. Make the turret telescope turnable.
4. Armor protection for the upper fuel tank.
5. Reinforce the track tensioning device.
6. Change the intermediary drive shaft.
7. Add a layer of reinforced concrete to the roof in front of the commander's cupola.
8. Faster supply of the spare parts that show heavy wear. The original supply has already been used up. For example, four tanks can't be repaired due to broken track tensioning devices.
9. Final drives, track tensioning devices, final drive intermediary shafts, gears, gear screws.