Jentz, Thomas L. and Hilary L. Doyle Germany's Tiger Tanks: VK45.02 to Tiger II: Design, Production & Modifications. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1997.

ISBN 0-7643-0224-8
169 pages

Introduction; photos; diagrams; tables.

Appendices: Porsche "Tiger P2" Proposals; Porsche Design Data; Panzerkampfwagen "Tiger II" Data; Tiger B Technical Specifications; Part Numbers for Turrets; Armor Specifications

The second of Jentz's Tiger books, all resulting from more than twenty years of research in archival materials and careful examination of the surviving tanks in various museums, combines precise pronouncements about technical details with exacting diagrams, illustrative photos, sketches, and tables. The overall effect is very much like being given all the information necessary to open an assembly line and begin cranking out perfect copies of these famous panzers.

This volume begins with Chapter Four which describes the joint effort of the Porsche and Krupp firms, starting in February 1942, to design a tank with a long 88mm gun in the turret. Jentz enumerates specifications for the chassis and turret and their sub-assemblies for the VK 45.02 (P) and chronicles the progress of contracts and production efforts.

Chapter Five moves on to work by the competing firm of Henschel to design the VK 45.02 (H) which was soon aborted in favor of the VK 45.03, again with turret design by Krupp. Fifty Krupp turrets originally built for Porsche's VK 45.02 (P) were instead mounted on the first fifty Henschel chassis. Thus was born, although German nomenclature is considerably more convoluted, what is commonly known today as the Tiger II. Jentz provides complete, step-by-step explanations of the development process.

The bulk of the book is comprised of a lengthy Chapter Six with very detailed technical descriptions and illustrations of every part of the Tiger II.

6.1.1.9 Seitenvorgelege (Final Drives)

   The final drive housing, with a heavy central flange supporting the brake carrier, was mounted in a hole cut into the hull side. Power was transmitted from the steering gear through two drive shafts, one to each final drive on the right and left side. Each drive shaft had two double herring bone reduction gears which fitted into two similar gears, insensitive to small deviations. Both the final drive housings were symmetrical and interchangeable.
   The side shafts of the steering gear where connected by flanges to the pinion on the final drive shaft. Reduction of revolutions was effected first by a large spur gear and then by a planetary gear system. The planetary gear formed the reduction shaft to the drive sprocket wheel. The bell-shaped drive sprocket wheel was a heavy armor casting, secured with ten screws and eight bolts.

The illustrations accompanying Chapter Six are especially interesting: cutaway views, annotated sketches, wartime photos apparently from German factory maintenance manuals, close-up photos of interior and exterior details, and beautiful scale drawings by Hilary Doyle. Other photos and diagrams illustrate the many evolutions of such items as the loader's hatch lid, rain guards, spare track link hangers, fuel system vent line, etc. A handy reference chart, "Externally Visible Modifications Introduced during the Production Run of the Tiger Ausf.B," provides an easy way to identify specific Tigers according to its individual characteristics.

The appendices include a further wealth of technical specifications and even individual part numbers for some Tiger II components.

Even if you have no plans to crank up your own Tiger II assembly line, you'll probably find this massive collection of data fascinating.

Available from mail order booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Schiffer.

Thanks to Schiffer Military History for providing this review copy.