kids encyclopedia robot

Tiger I facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-299-1805-16, Nordfrankreich, Panzer VI (Tiger I).2.jpg
Tiger I in northern France, March 1944
Type Heavy tank
Place of origin Nazi Germany
Service history
In service 1942–1945
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Erwin Aders
Henschel & Son
Designed 1938–1941
Manufacturer Henschel
Unit cost 250,700 ℛℳ
Produced 1942–1944
No. built 1,347
Specifications (RfRuK VK 4501H Ausf.E, Blatt: G-330)
Mass 54 tonnes (60 short tons)
57 tonnes (63 short tons) (Ausf. E) (Combat weight)
Length 6.316 m (20 ft 8.7 in)
8.45 m (27 ft 9 in) gun forward
Width 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Height 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)

Armour 25–120 mm (0.98–4.72 in)
Main
armament
1× 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56
92 AP and HE rounds
Secondary
armament
2× 7.92 mm MG 34
4,500 rounds
4,800 rounds (Ausf. E)
Engine Maybach HL230 P45 V-12
700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight 13 PS (9.5 kW) / tonne
Transmission Maybach Olvar Typ OG 40 12 16 (8 forward and 4 reverse)
Suspension Torsion bar
Ground clearance 0.47 m (1 ft 7 in)
Fuel capacity 540 liters
Operational
range
Road: 195 km (121 mi)
Cross country: 110 km (68 mi)
Maximum speed 45.4 km/h (28.2 mph) on roads
20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) cross country

The Tiger I was a tank made by Nazi Germany. It was first made in 1942 by the Henschel und Sohn company. The tank was used during World War II in the North African Campaign and Operation Barbarossa. The Tiger I used a 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun. It had 100 mm (3.9 in) of armor.

The Tiger I has been called an outstanding design for its time. It has also been called overengineered. It was built using costly materials. The methods used to make it were labour-intensive. Early version of the Tiger would often have track failures and breakdowns. It also had a limited range because it used a large amount of fuel. The tank was costly to maintain but was mechanically reliable. It was hard to transport. It could not move well in areas with mud, ice and snow. These conditions would often jamming the tracks solid.

The tank was given its nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche. The Roman numeral was added after the Tiger II was being made. The original name was Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H.

Today, only seven Tiger I tanks still exist. They are in museums and private collections worldwide. As of 2021, Tiger 131 (captured during the North Africa Campaign) at the UK's Tank Museum is the only Tiger I restored to running order.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Panzer VI Tiger para niños

kids search engine
Tiger I Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.