ajmac Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I know that the British Army first encountered the KingTiger in Europe (presume Normandy), but what I haven't got a handle on it how well briefed our Tankers and AT people were on this vehicle. We had first hand dealings with Tiger 1 from North Africa and Italy, but was the KingTiger well known among our troups, with an entry in the ID references etc. when they arrived in Normandy? Whatever the case, can anyone recomend a book which details the first encounters with KingTigers in Normandy. There was an account in Ian Dalglish's book 'Goodwood', but one got the impression that the british Tankers were not that surprised, thus I presume they had already encountered them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 It was first used in Normandy sometime in August '44 but I have no idea of the exact date or location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 Must have been a little earlier, wasn't Goodwood in July? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't one of the King Tigers in Bovingdon the first King Tiger encountered and was sent back for evaluation from Normandy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 woa2 Correct me if I am wrong, the porshe turreted tiger 2 at bovington was 1 of a number of vehicles captured at the henschel test facility at Hustenbeck along with another Porshe turreted tiger 2 with a blown 8.8cm gun the protype Sfl Grille a tiger component 17cm SPG chassis and a Jagtiger. Elsewhere on this site were the prototype E100, an early Tiger 1 and runner VK3001(H) or Vk3601(H). The facility was captured by the US Army in late April 1945 -they are known to have played with 1 of the Tiger 2 and Jagdtiger. The facility being in the British occupation zone was subsequently handed to the British and certainly 1 porsche turreted tiger 2, the JagdTiger, Grille and E100 were returned to Britain for tests -where Grille and E100 were scrapped- it is said E100 was last seen at Pounds or another south coast naval scrap yard. The Early tiger was heavily tested, especially its submersible capablity but I am unsure whether these tests took place in UK or Germany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 ajmac Allies First KingTiger Encounter I know that the British Army first encountered the KingTiger in Europe (presume Normandy), but what I haven't got a handle on it how well briefed our Tankers and AT people were on this vehicle. There were Kingtigers (porshe turreted) in HQ Batalion and Company 1 of 503 at normandy but did not engage, most being neutralised by bombing. Most British tank units that had not served in Italy prior to service at Normandy seem to be blissfully unware of superior German -although quite a number of old timers reckoned the defeat in the west in 1940 had been down to superior German equipment. Tanks such as Tiger and Panther had been analized by british intelligence during 1943 -certainly the British had full access to eraly Panthers captured by the Soviets at Kursk and possibly one had been handed to the British in the fall of 1943 along with other tanks which one may have been the highly secret Pz38(t):wow: -already evaluated by the British in 1939. Intelligence doesn't seem to have filtered down to tank troop level in addition the the Goodwood book -Peter Beale book on the 9th RTR mentions that troopers were visibly shaken by the first sight of a recovered Tiger 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 (edited) ...Tanks such as Tiger and Panther had been analized by british intelligence during 1943 ... Analysed, I hope... How good was the communication to front line troops of research discoveries / experiments with captured AFVs? As you say, Steve, often the discoveries don't seem to have been passed on to those who needed to know... Edited April 21, 2011 by Sean N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 http://www.lerenfort.fsnet.co.uk/page11N.htm http://libellule.heavy.jp/site/vehicules/tigerII-FKL.html (French text) There's also the Porsche-turreted version famous from these photos. Figures in this month's CMV, along with Bov's two examples & their history ("Henschell turreted variant covered in first link) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Sean NAnalysed, I hope... Scientists and weapons technicians can be very analy retentive:D suppose they have to be, potentially proximity to loud noises and long lunches:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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