Translated as Hunting Tiger, the Jagdtiger was the largest and, at over 70 tonnes, heaviest tracked vehicle to fight in the Second World War.
The front armour was almost 20 cm (7.9 inches) thick and completely proof against all Allied tank and antitank guns. A well camouflaged Jagdtiger in a static position could inflict major damage on Allied tanks. Only about 85 of the 150 Jagdtigers ordered were ever manufactured. The tank was plagued by breakdowns and a number of losses resulted from crew members’ inexperience.
The Tank Museum’s Jagdtiger
This example was captured by American forces in 1945, having been used as a test vehicle at the Haustenbeck testing area. It was coated in Zimmerit – a special paste which prevented magnetic charges from sticking to the hull.
