World War Photos

Panzer VI Tiger Ausf E of schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, tank number 311 – Normandy 1944

The Tiger I’s KwK 36 88mm gun, derived from the FlaK 36 anti-aircraft gun, gained its reputation due to the high velocity necessary for anti-aircraft work, which translated into excellent armor-piercing capabilities when repurposed for anti-tank warfare. In North Africa and France, this gun became feared for its ability to penetrate Allied tanks at long ranges.

To fit the gun into the Tiger’s turret, a muzzle brake was added to reduce recoil by about 70%, shortening the recoil path. Without the brake, the gun’s recoil would damage the tank’s recoil system. The KwK 36 used electrical firing, meaning that anti-aircraft rounds with percussion primers were incompatible unless their primers were switched.

The high velocity of the gun’s rounds also gave it a flat trajectory, reducing the need for precise range estimation. Gunners were expected to hit stationary targets at 1,200m with the first shot and engage moving targets at speeds of 20kph within three rounds at 800–1,200m. Skilled crews could hit targets up to 2,000m with two or three shots, and even extend their range to 3,000m with some effectiveness.

However, in close terrain like the bocage of Normandy, the Tiger’s range advantage was often limited due to short sightlines. The Tiger’s major weaknesses lay in its slow engagement speed, especially in terms of turret rotation and reload times. Its hydraulic turret traverse took at least 60 seconds for a full rotation, while the manual system required an exhausting 720 turns of the handwheel. The 88mm rounds were also large and heavy, which made them awkward to handle in the cramped turret. British and Soviet tests revealed that reloading from the primary racks took between six and nine seconds, while accessing underfloor stowage took considerably longer.

The Tiger carried 92 rounds of ammunition: 64 rounds were ready in the hull racks above the tracks, with the remainder stored in bins near the driver or under the turret floor. The standard loadout was usually 50% AP and 50% HE, with a few HEAT rounds. Commanders typically recommended keeping AP rounds loaded, as their flat trajectory meant they could engage targets from 500m to 1,000m without adjusting the sight, set to 800m.

Ammunition Types

1. Panzergranate (PzGr 39):

   • The primary armor-piercing round, a kinetic-energy-based APCBC (armor-piercing, capped, ballistic-capped) projectile.
   • It had a small explosive charge that detonated after penetrating armor, causing internal damage.
   • The improved PzGr 40 APCR (Armor-Piercing Composite Rigid) round had a tungsten core for enhanced penetration, though most were sent to the Eastern Front for use against Soviet heavy tanks.

2. Sprenggranaten (SprGr):

   • This was the high-explosive (HE) round for use against infantry positions, anti-tank guns, and unarmored vehicles.
   • It could be time-fused for airbursts, though typically impact-fused.
   • Upon detonation, shrapnel spread 10 meters forward and 20 meters to either side.

3. Hohladung (Gr 39 HL):

   • This High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round featured a hollow-charge design with an inverted copper cone backed by explosives.
   • On impact, the charge created a jet of molten copper that could penetrate armor.
   • Although it had lower armor penetration at short ranges compared to the PzGr 39, it maintained penetration at longer distances and was also useful as a substitute HE round. However, it was less accurate than the PzGr 39.