The attacking German forces at Kursk amassed 777,000 men and around 2500 tanks and assault guns. This was about 70 per cent of all their tanks on the Eastern Front. …
German Responses to the Tank
Most of the articles on this blog look at the tank from a British perspective. In the end, though, it would be the effect they had on the Germans that would decide how useful a weapon they really were….
Background to the Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk was one of the most decisive battles of the Second World War….
The Tiger Family Part 2 – The Tiger II
In Part 2 we will consider the Tiger II, or King Tiger branch of the family. Despite the names, the two Tigers shared very little in terms of design or compatible parts, although this was not the original intention….
The Tiger Family Part I – To the Tiger I
The German Army’s desire for a heavy tank dates back to before the outbreak of war….
Two Widths of Track
The Tiger I was 3547mm wide and this posed a problem for its strategic mobility….
French First World War Tanks
The Renault FT is by far the most well-known French tank of the First World War, but it was not the first Char d’Assaut used by the French Army….
Experimental WWI Tanks – Part II
While the first instalment looked at early experimental tanks, this blog post examines vehicles created as a reaction to problems tanks were encountering in combat, such as the Invicta Roller and tadpole tail. …
Gas Turbine Jagdtiger
Although the gas turbine is a fairly old invention it does not appear to have been considered for tanks until about 1945, when the first prototype – on a Jagdtiger – was developed. Contrary to popular belief the first experimental installation of a gas turbine engine in a tank took place in Austria in 1945….
Panzer III
It might seem odd to find a post about the Panzer III on the Tiger Collection Blog, but in fact during the early days of the Tiger’s service the Germans used the two tanks closely alongside each other….
The Tigers Repainted
The Tank Museum’s Jagdtiger and Tiger II with pre-production turret were repainted to show how they looked when they were captured in 1945….
Capturing the Henschel
The Tiger II with Production turret was built in July 1944 by Henschel and given Fahrgestell Nummer (chassis number) 280093….
Porsche and Henschel Turrets?
Both turrets used on the Tiger II were designed and built by the Krupp company. So why are they so often called the ‘Porsche’ and ‘Henschel’ turrets?…
The Heroics of Elliott Hotblack
Elliot Hotblack was one of the most decorated and well-known of those celebrated in The Tank Museum’s exhibition….
Tank Men: Walter Ratcliffe
Walter Ratcliffe’s tunic, complete with brass bursting grenade badge, was donated to The Tank Museum to help with telling his story in their Tank Men exhibition. …
Capturing The Jagdtiger
The Tank Museum’s Jagdtiger has chassis no. 305004. It was one of eleven (plus an unarmoured prototype) which were fitted with the Porsche suspension system. …
First Tiger I Knocked Out by the British
While Tiger 131 was the first intact Tiger I to be taken back to Britain, it was not the first to be knocked out. This occurred several months earlier, by the 17th/21st Lancers….
Knocking Out A King Tiger
David Fletcher looks into the story of one of the first Tiger II (King Tiger) being knocked out in Le Plessis Grimoult, using only luck and a two inch mortar. …
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Comet
Close to the Aller River, a small action took place between a lone Tiger and Comet tanks….
Tanks in Palestine in the First World War
While writing on the First World War generally focuses on the Western Front, Palestine was the site of several tank battles against Turkey. …
