Legendary tanks of the Second World War. Interesting things on the web! Rating of World War 2 tanks

When tanks appeared during the First World War, it became clear that it would no longer be possible to fight battles as before. Old-fashioned tactical schemes and tricks completely refused to work against mechanical “animals” equipped with machine guns and cannons. But the “finest hour” of steel monsters came during the next war – World War II. What the Germans and the Allies were well aware of was that the key to success was hidden precisely in powerful tracked vehicles. Therefore, crazy amounts of money were allocated for constant modernization of tanks. Thanks to this, metal “predators” evolved at a rapid pace.

Tank KV-1

Before facing the Germans, the heavy tank underwent baptism of fire in the war with the Finns. The monster weighing 45 tons was an invincible enemy until the very end of 1941. The tank's protection consisted of 75 millimeters of steel. The frontal armor plates were placed so well that the shell resistance terrified the Germans. Still would! After all, their 37 mm anti-tank guns could not penetrate the KV-1 even from a minimum distance. As for 50 mm guns, the limit is 500 meters. And a Soviet tank, equipped with a long-barreled 76 mm F-34 gun, could knock out the enemy from a distance of about one and a half kilometers.

But, unfortunately, the tank also had disadvantages. The main problem was the “raw” design, which was rushed into production. The real “Achilles heel” of the KV-1 was the transmission. Due to the heavy loads associated with the weight of the combat vehicle, it broke down too often. Therefore, during retreats, tanks had to be abandoned or destroyed. Since it was unrealistic to repair them in combat conditions. Still, the Germans managed to snatch several KV-1s. But they didn’t let them get involved. Constant breakdowns and lack of necessary spare parts quickly put an end to the captured vehicles.

This Soviet tank acquired the status of a legend as soon as it appeared on the battlefield. The metal beast was equipped with a 500-horsepower diesel engine, “advanced” armor, a 76 mm F-34 gun and wide tracks. This configuration allowed the T-34 to become the best tank of its time.

Another advantage of the combat vehicle was the simplicity and manufacturability of its design. Thanks to this, it was possible to establish mass production of the tank in the shortest possible time. By the summer of 1942, about 15 thousand T-34s were produced. In total, during production, the USSR created more than 84 thousand “thirty-fours” in various modifications.

The main problem the tank had its transmission. The fact is that it, together with the power unit, was located in a special compartment located in the stern. Thanks to this technical solution, the cardan shaft became unnecessary. The dominant role was played by control rods, the length of which was about 5 meters. Accordingly, it was difficult for the driver to handle them. And if a person coped with difficulties, then the metal sometimes gave way - the rods simply broke. Therefore, T-34s often went into battle in one gear, switched on in advance.

Tank Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H1 "Tiger"

The "Tiger" was created with one purpose - to crush any enemy and send him into a stampede. Hitler himself personally ordered that the new tank be covered with a frontal armor plate 100 millimeters thick. And the stern and sides of the Tiger were covered with 80 millimeters of armor. The main “trump card” of the combat vehicle was its weapon - the 88 mm KwK 36 cannon, created on the basis of an anti-aircraft gun. The gun was distinguished by its consistency of hits and also a record rate of fire. Even in combat conditions, the KwK 36 could “spit” shells as many as 8 times in a minute.

In addition, "Tiger" was another one of the most fast tanks that time. It was driven by a Maybach power unit with 700 hp. It was kept company by an 8-speed hydromechanical gearbox. And on the chassis the tank could accelerate to 45 km/h. It is curious that the technical manual contained in each Tiger contained the following inscription: “The tank costs 800,000 Reichsmarks. Keep him safe!". Goebbels believed that the tankers would be proud that they were entrusted with such an expensive toy. But in reality it was often different. The soldiers were panicky that something might happen to the tank.

Tank Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther"

The German Panther, weighing 44 tons, was superior to the T-34 in mobility. On the highway, this “predator” could accelerate to almost 60 km/h. It was armed with a 75 mm KwK 42 cannon, the barrel length of which was 70 calibers. The “Panther” could “spit” an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile, flying a kilometer in the first second. Thereby German car could knock out almost any enemy tank at a distance exceeding a couple of kilometers.

If the Panther's forehead was protected by an armor plate with a thickness of 60 to 80 mm, then the armor on the sides was thinner. Therefore, Soviet tanks tried to hit the “beast” exactly at that moment. weakness. In total, Germany managed to create about 6 thousand Panthers. Another interesting thing is that in March 1945, hundreds of these tanks, equipped with night vision devices, went on an attack on Soviet troops near Lake Balaton. But this technical trick did not help either.

Tank IS-2

Tank evolution developed rapidly. Opponents constantly brought more and more improved fighters into the “ring”. The IS-2 became a worthy response to the USSR. The heavy breakthrough tank was equipped with a 122 mm howitzer. If a shell from this weapon hit a building, then, in fact, only ruins remained.

In addition to the howitzer, the IS-2's arsenal included 12.7 mm DShK machine gun located on the tower. Bullets fired from this weapon pierced even the thickest brickwork. Therefore, enemies had practically no chance to hide from the formidable metal monster. Another important advantage of the tank is its armor. It reached 120 mm. There were, of course, some downsides. Main - fuel tanks in the management department. If the enemy managed to penetrate the armor, then the crew of the Soviet tank had virtually no chance of escape. The worst thing was for the driver. After all, he did not have his own hatch.

Constant attempts to bury the idea of ​​a tank are not being implemented. Despite the rapid evolution of anti-tank weapons, there is still no more reliable means of covering soldiers than heavy armored vehicles. I bring to your attention a review of outstanding tanks from the Second World War, created on the basis of the Discovery programs - “Killer Tanks: Fist of Steel” and the Military Channel - “Ten best tanks XX century". Undoubtedly, all the cars from the review are worthy of attention.

But I noticed that when describing tanks, experts do not consider its entire combat history, but only talk about those episodes of World War II when this vehicle was able to perform at its best. It is logical to immediately break the war into periods and consider which tank was the best and when. I would like to draw your attention to two important points:

Firstly, strategy should not be confused with specifications cars. The red flag over Berlin does not mean that the Germans were weak and had no good technique. It also follows that possessing the best tanks in the world does not mean that your army will advance victoriously. You can simply be crushed by numbers. Do not forget that the army is a system; the enemy’s competent use of its diverse forces can put you in a difficult position.

Secondly, all the debates about “who is stronger, the IS-2 or the Tiger” don’t make much sense. Tanks rarely fight tanks. Much more often their opponents are enemy defensive lines, fortifications, artillery batteries, infantry and vehicles. In World War II, half of all tank losses were caused by anti-tank artillery(which is logical - when the number of tanks was in the tens of thousands, the number of guns was in the hundreds of thousands - an order of magnitude more!).

Another fierce enemy of tanks is mines. About 25% of combat vehicles were blown up by them. Aviation accounted for several percent. How much then is left for tank battles?!

This leads to the conclusion that tank battle near Prokhorovka - a rare exotic. Currently, this trend continues - instead of the anti-tank “forty-five”, RPGs are used.

Well, now let's move on to our favorite cars.

Period 1939-1940. Blitzkrieg

...Pre-dawn darkness, fog, shooting and roar of engines. On the morning of May 10, 1940, the Wehrmacht breaks into Holland. After 17 days, Belgium fell, the remnants of the English expeditionary force were evacuated across the English Channel. On June 14, German tanks appeared on the streets of Paris...

One of the conditions for a “lightning war” is special tactics the use of tanks: the unprecedented concentration of armored vehicles in the direction of the main attacks and the perfectly coordinated actions of the Germans allowed the “steel claws” of Hoth and Guderian to crash into the defense for hundreds of kilometers, and, without slowing down, advance deep into enemy territory.

The unique tactical technique required special technical solutions. German armored vehicles were required to be equipped with radio stations, and tank battalions had air traffic controllers for emergency communication with the Luftwaffe. It was at this time that the “finest hour” occurred Panzerkampfwagen III and Panzerkampfwagen IV. Behind such clumsy names are hidden formidable combat vehicles that have wrapped their tracks around the asphalt of European roads, the icy expanses of Russia and the sands of the Sahara.

PzKpfw III, better known as T-III – light tank with 37 mm gun. Reservation from all angles – 30 mm. The main quality is Speed ​​(40 km/h on the highway). Thanks to the advanced Carl Zeiss optics, ergonomic crew workstations and the presence of a radio station, the Troikas could successfully fight with much heavier vehicles. But with the advent of new opponents, the shortcomings of the T-III became more apparent.

The Germans replaced the 37 mm guns with 50 mm guns and covered the tank with hinged screens - temporary measures yielded results, the T-III fought for several more years. By 1943, production of the T-III was discontinued due to the complete exhaustion of its resource for modernization. In total, German industry produced 5,000 “triples”.

The PzKpfw IV looked much more serious, becoming the most mass tank Panzerwaffe - the Germans managed to build 8,700 vehicles. Combining all the advantages of the lighter T-III, the “four” had high firepower and protection - the thickness of the frontal plate was gradually increased to 80 mm, and the shells of its 75 mm long-barreled gun pierced the armor of enemy tanks like foil (by the way, it was fired 1133 early modifications with a short-barreled gun).

The weak points of the vehicle are that the sides and rear are too thin (only 30 mm in the first modifications); the designers neglected the slope of the armor plates for the sake of manufacturability and ease of operation for the crew.

Seven thousand tanks of this type remained lying on the battlefields of World War II, but the story of the T-IV did not end there - the “fours” were used in the armies of France and Czechoslovakia until the early 1950s and even took part in the Six-Day Arab-Israeli War of 1967 of the year.

Period 1941-1942. Red Dawn

“...from three sides we fired at the iron monsters of the Russians, but everything was in vain. The Russian giants were coming closer and closer. One of them approached our tank, hopelessly stuck in a swampy pond, and without any hesitation drove over it, pressing its tracks into the mud...” - General Reinhard, commander of the 41st tank corps of the Wehrmacht.

…August 20, 1941 KV tank under the command of senior lieutenant Zinovy ​​Kolobanov, he blocked the road to Gatchina for a column of 40 German tanks. When this unprecedented battle ended, 22 tanks were burning on the sidelines, and our KV, having received 156 direct hits from enemy shells, returned to the disposal of its division...

In the summer of 1941, the KV tank destroyed the elite units of the Wehrmacht with the same impunity as if it had rolled out onto the Borodino field in 1812. Invulnerable, invincible and incredibly powerful. Until the end of 1941, all the armies of the world had no weapons capable of stopping the Russian 45-ton monster. The KV was 2 times heavier than the largest Wehrmacht tank.

Bronya KV – a wonderful song of steel and technology. 75 millimeters of solid steel from all angles! The frontal armor plates had an optimal angle of inclination, which further increased the projectile resistance of the KV armor - German 37 mm anti-tank guns did not take it even at point-blank range, and 50 mm guns - no further than 500 meters. At the same time, the long-barreled 76 mm F-34 (ZIS-5) gun made it possible to hit any german tank of that period from a distance of 1.5 kilometers.

If battles like the legendary battle of Zinovy ​​Kolobanov had occurred regularly, then 235 KV tanks of the Southern Military District could have completely destroyed the Panzerwaffe in the summer of 1941. The technical capabilities of KV tanks in theory made it possible to do this. Alas, not everything is so simple. Remember - we said that tanks rarely fight tanks...

In addition to the invulnerable KV, the Red Army had even more scary tank- a great warrior T-34.

«… There is nothing more terrifying than a tank battle against superior enemy forces. Not in numbers - that didn’t matter to us, we got used to it. But against more good cars- this is terrible... Russian tanks are so agile, at close ranges they will climb a slope or overcome a swamp faster than you can turn the turret. And through the noise and roar you constantly hear the clang of shells on the armor. When they hit our tank, you often hear a deafening explosion and the roar of burning fuel, too loud to hear the dying cries of the crew..." - opinion of a German tanker from the 4th tank division, destroyed by T-34 tanks in the battle near Mtsensk on October 11, 1941.

Neither the scope nor the objectives of this article allow us to fully cover the history of the T-34 tank. Obviously, the Russian monster had no analogues in 1941: a 500-horsepower diesel engine, unique armor, a 76 mm F-34 gun (generally similar to the KV tank) and wide tracks - all these technical solutions provided the T-34 with an optimal balance of mobility, firepower and protection. Even individually, these parameters of the T-34 were higher than those of any Panzerwaffe tank.

The main thing is that Soviet designers managed to create a tank exactly as the Red Army needed it. The T-34 ideally suited the conditions of the Eastern Front. The extreme simplicity and manufacturability of the design made it possible to establish mass production of these combat vehicles in the shortest possible time; as a result, the T-34s were easy to operate, numerous and ubiquitous.

In the first year of the war alone, by the summer of 1942, the Red Army received about 15,000 T-34s, and in total more than 84,000 T-34s of all modifications were produced.

Journalists of the Discovery program were jealous of the successes of Soviet tank building, constantly hinting that the successful tank was based on the American Christie design. In a joking form, Russian “rudeness” and “uncouthness” were received - “Well! I didn’t have time to climb into the hatch - I was all scratched!”

Americans forget that convenience was not a priority feature of armored vehicles on the Eastern Front: the fierce nature of the fighting did not allow tank crews to think about such trifles. The main thing is not to burn out in the tank.

The Thirty-Four also had much more serious shortcomings. Transmission is the weak link of the T-34. The German design school preferred the front location of the gearbox, closer to the driver. Soviet engineers went for more effective way– the transmission and engine were compactly located in an isolated compartment in the stern of the T-34. There was no need for a long driveshaft running through the entire tank body; The design was simplified and the height of the machine was reduced. Isn't it an excellent technical solution?

The cardan was not needed. But control rods were needed. On the T-34 they reached a length of 5 meters! Can you imagine the effort required by the driver? But this did not create any special problems - in extreme situation a person is able to run on his hands and row with his ears. But what they could withstand Soviet tank crews— the metal couldn’t withstand it.

Under the influence of monstrous loads, the rods broke. As a result, many T-34s went into battle in one, pre-selected gear. During the battle they preferred not to touch the gearbox at all - according to veteran tankers, it was better to sacrifice mobility than to suddenly turn into a standing target.

The T-34 is a completely ruthless tank, both towards the enemy and towards its own crew. All that remains is to admire the courage of the tankers.

The year is 1943. Menagerie.

“...we took a detour through a ravine and ran into the Tiger.” Having lost several T-34s, our battalion returned back..." - a frequent description of meetings with PzKPfw VI from the memoirs of tankers.

1943, time of the greats tank battles. In an effort to regain lost technical superiority, Germany is creating by this time two new models of “superweapons” - heavy tanks "Tiger" and "Panther".

Panzerkampfwagen VI "Tiger" Ausf. It was created as a heavy breakthrough tank, capable of destroying any enemy and putting the Red Army to flight. By personal order of Hitler, the thickness of the frontal armor plate had to be at least 100 mm, the sides and rear of the tank were protected by eight centimeters of metal. The main weapon is the 88 mm KwK 36 cannon, created on the basis of a powerful anti-aircraft gun. Its capabilities are evidenced by the fact that when firing from the cannon of a captured Tiger, it was possible to achieve five consecutive hits on a target measuring 40x50 cm from a distance of 1100 m.

In addition to its high flatness, the KwK 36 inherited a high rate of fire of an anti-aircraft gun. In combat conditions, the Tiger fired eight shells per minute, which was a record for such large tank guns. Six crew members sat comfortably in an invulnerable steel box weighing 57 tons, looking out over the vast Russian expanses through high-quality Carl Zeiss optics.

The bulky German monster is often described as a slow and clumsy tank. In reality, the Tiger was one of the fastest combat vehicles of World War II. The 700-horsepower Maybach engine accelerated the Tiger to 45 km/h on the highway. This thick-skinned tank was no less fast and maneuverable on rough terrain, thanks to an eight-speed hydromechanical gearbox (almost automatic, like on a Mercedes!) and complex onboard clutches with double power supply.

At first glance, the design of the suspension and tracked propulsion system was a parody of itself - 0.7 meter wide tracks required the installation of a second row of rollers on each side. In this form, the “Tiger” did not fit on a railway platform; each time it was necessary to remove the “regular” caterpillar tracks and the outer row of rollers, installing thin “transport” tracks instead.

One can only be amazed at the strength of those guys who “took off” the 60-ton colossus in field conditions. But there were also advantages to the strange suspension of the Tiger - two rows of rollers ensured a very smooth ride, our veterans witnessed cases when the Tiger fired on the move.

The Tiger had another drawback that frightened the Germans. This was the inscription on the technical manual that was in each car: “The tank costs 800,000 Reichsmarks. Keep him safe!". According to Goebbels's twisted logic, tankers should have been very happy to learn that their Tiger cost as much as seven T-IV tanks.

Realizing that the Tiger was a rare and exotic weapon for professionals, German tank builders created a simpler and cheap tank, with the intention of turning it into a massive Wehrmacht medium tank.

Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther" is still the subject of heated debate. The technical capabilities of the vehicle do not cause any complaints - with a mass of 44 tons, the Panther was superior in mobility to the T-34, developing 55-60 km/h on a good highway. The tank was armed with a 75 mm KwK 42 cannon with a barrel length of 70 calibers!

Armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile, fired from its hellish mouth, flew 1 kilometer in the first second - with such performance characteristics, the Panther's cannon could make a hole in any Allied tank at a distance of over 2 kilometers. The armor of the Panther is also considered worthy by most sources - the thickness of the forehead varied from 60 to 80 mm, while the angles of the armor reached 55°. The side was weaker protected - at the level of the T-34, so it was easily hit by Soviet anti-tank weapons. The lower part of the side was additionally protected by two rows of rollers on each side.

The whole question is in the very appearance of the Panther - did the Reich need such a tank? Perhaps efforts should have been focused on modernizing and increasing production of proven T-IVs? Or spend money on building invincible “Tigers”? It seems to me that the answer is simple - in 1943, nothing could save Germany from defeat.

In total, less than 6,000 Panthers were built, which was clearly not enough to saturate the Wehrmacht. The situation was aggravated by the decline in the quality of tank armor due to a lack of resources and alloying additives. "Panther" was the quintessence of advanced ideas and new technologies. In March 1945, near Lake Balaton, hundreds of Panthers, equipped with night vision devices, attacked Soviet troops at night. Even that didn't help.

The year is 1944. Forward to Berlin!

Changing conditions required new means of warfare. By this time, Soviet troops had already received heavy breakthrough tank IS-2, armed with a 122 mm howitzer. If a hit from an ordinary tank shell caused local destruction of the wall, then a 122 mm howitzer shell demolished the entire house. Which is what was required for successful assault operations.

Another formidable weapon of the tank is the 12.7 mm DShK machine gun, mounted on the turret on a pivot mount. Bullets heavy machine gun They reached the enemy even behind thick brickwork. The DShK greatly increased the capabilities of the Is-2 in battles on the streets of European cities.

The thickness of the IS-2 armor reached 120 mm. One of the main achievements of Soviet engineers is the efficiency and low metal consumption of the IS-2 design. With a mass comparable to that of the Panther, the Soviet tank was much more seriously protected. But the too dense layout required the placement of fuel tanks in the control compartment - if the armor was penetrated, the Is-2 crew had little chance of surviving. The driver-mechanic, who did not have his own hatch, was especially at risk.

IS-2 liberation tanks became the personification of Victory and were in service Soviet army almost 50 years.

The next hero M4 Sherman, managed to fight on the Eastern Front, the first vehicles of this type reached the USSR back in 1942 (the number of M4 tanks delivered under Lend-Lease amounted to 3,600 tanks). But fame came to him only after mass use in the West in 1944.

The Sherman tank is the pinnacle of rationality and pragmatism. It is all the more surprising that the United States, which had 50 tanks at the beginning of the war, managed to create such a balanced combat vehicle and rivet 49,000 Shermans by 1945 various modifications. For example, in ground forces the Sherman with a gasoline engine was used, and the units Marine Corps There was a modification M4A2, equipped with a diesel engine.

American engineers rightly believed that this would greatly simplify the operation of tanks - diesel fuel could easily be found among sailors, unlike high-octane gasoline. By the way, it was this modification of the M4A2 that came to the Soviet Union.

No less famous are the special versions of the Sherman - the Firefly tank hunter, armed with a British 17-pounder gun; “Jumbo” is a heavily armored version with an assault body kit and even an amphibious “Duplex Drive”. Compared to the swift shape of the T-34, the Sherman is a tall and clumsy hulk. Possessing the same weapons, the American tank is significantly inferior in mobility to the T-34.

Why did the Red Army command like the “Emcha” (as our soldiers called the M4) so ​​much that they completely switched to them? elite units, for example the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps and the 9th Guards tank corps? The answer is simple: "Sherman" had the optimal ratio of armor, firepower, mobility and... reliability.

In addition, the Sherman was the first tank with a hydraulic turret drive (this ensured special pointing accuracy) and a gun stabilizer in the vertical plane - tankers admitted that in duel situation their shot was always the first. Another advantage of the Sherman, usually not listed in the tables, was low noise, which made it possible to use it in operations where stealth was needed.

The Middle East gave the Sherman a second life, where this tank served until the 70s of the twentieth century, taking part in more than a dozen battles. The last Shermans completed their service military service in Chile at the end of the twentieth century.

The year is 1945. Ghosts of future wars.

Many people expected that after the terrible casualties and destruction of World War II, the long-awaited lasting peace. Alas, their expectations were not met. On the contrary, ideological, economic and religious contradictions have become even more acute.

This was well understood by those who created new weapons systems - therefore, the military-industrial complex of the victorious countries did not stop for a minute. Even when Victory was already obvious, and fascist Germany was in its death throes in the design bureau and at the factories, theoretical and experimental research continued, and new types of weapons were being developed.

Particular attention was paid armored forces, which proved itself to be excellent during the war. Starting with bulky and uncontrollable multi-turreted monsters and ugly wedges, just a few years later tank building reached a fundamentally different level. where again faced many threats, because. anti-tank weapons have successfully evolved. In this regard, it is interesting to look at the tanks with which the Allies ended the war, what conclusions were drawn and what measures were taken.

In the USSR, in May 1945, the first batch was rolled out from the factory workshops of Tankograd. IS-3 tank. The new tank was a further modernization of the heavy IS-2. This time the designers went even further - the slope of the welded sheets, especially in the front part of the hull, was brought to the maximum possible. Thick 110-mm plates of frontal armor were positioned in such a way that a three-slope, cone-shaped, elongated forward bow was formed, called the “pike nose.”

The turret received a new flattened shape, which provided the tank with even better shell protection. The driver received his own hatch, and all viewing slots were replaced with modern periscope devices. The IS-3 was several days late for the end of hostilities in Europe, but the new beautiful tank took part in the Victory Parade along with the legendary T-34 and KV, still covered with the soot of recent battles. A clear change of generations.

Another interesting new product was T-44 tank(in my opinion, an epoch-making event in Soviet tank building). Actually, it was developed back in 1944, but never managed to take part in the war. Only in 1945 did the troops receive sufficient numbers of these excellent tanks.

A major drawback of the T-34 was the turret moved forward. This increased the load on the front rollers and made it impossible to strengthen the frontal armor of the T-34 - the “thirty-four” ran until the end of the war with 45 mm on the forehead. Realizing that the problem could not be easily solved, the designers decided to completely redesign the tank. Thanks to the transverse placement of the engine, the dimensions of the MTO were reduced, which made it possible to mount the turret in the center of the tank.

The load on the rollers was leveled, the frontal armor plate increased to 120 mm (!), and its slope increased to 60°. The crew's working conditions have improved. The T-44 became the prototype of the famous T-54/55 family.

A specific situation has developed overseas. The Americans realized that in addition to the successful Sherman, the army needed a new, heavier tank. The result was the M26 Pershing, a large medium tank (sometimes considered heavy) with heavy armor and a new 90mm gun.

This time the Americans were unable to create a masterpiece. Technically, the Pershing remained at the level of the Panther, while possessing slightly greater reliability. The tank had problems with mobility and maneuverability - the M26 was equipped with a Sherman engine, while weighing 10 tons more. Limited use of the Pershing on the Western Front began only in February 1945. The next time the Pershings went into battle was in Korea.

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In principle, everyone knows the saying that the best is the enemy of the good. But this is only in principle. If the best is intended to replace the good ahead of time, then you can only encounter additional difficulties. This is exactly what happened with the strongest German tank of World War II - the Tiger II model, better known as the Royal Tiger.

In fact, its predecessor, the Tiger I tank in 1942 on the Eastern Front, where its task was to counter the Soviet T-34 tank, was also deployed too hastily. And only when in 1943 it was possible to cope with technical problems this machine and set up its mass production, it became a truly formidable weapon that terrified enemies.

When tests of the Tiger-I tank had just begun, its manufacturer, the Henschel concern, received an order to develop a new, more advanced model. The design bureau of Ferdinand Porsche also received a similar order. At the same time, Porsche’s previous development turned out to be overly innovative, and as a result, the chassis that it had already built were redesigned and adapted for production of the Ferdinand self-propelled guns on their basis.

Layout of the Tiger II tank

When developing the “successor” of the Tiger I, real chaos also soon began. The designers were given fairly clear tasks: in particular, new model should have had a body that was impenetrable hand grenades, that is, to have sheer walls, like the T-34, as well as the medium-heavy Panther tank.

For comparison: the Tiger heavy tank. The main difference is the shape of the body. The "Tiger" has a blunt hull nose - a "step", while the "Tiger II" has an inclined nose.

In addition, the Tigers II were equipped with a better gun

The new tank was to be equipped with a new long 88 mm cannon, design number 43 L/71. It was the most powerful tank gun throughout the Second World War. It was much more advanced than the cannon of the Soviet IS-2 tank, despite the fact that it had a caliber of 122 mm.

Thirdly, engineers were instructed to develop, if possible, a simple design for mass production. German gunsmiths were convinced of the importance of this factor using the examples of the T-34, as well as American tank M4 "Sherman" (Sherman). In particular, they assumed the use of many identical spare parts for the Tiger-2 and Panther-2.

First prototypes developed by both competitors design bureaus, did not meet the assigned tasks. Development stalled until Hitler personally intervened and demanded Once again strengthen the front and side armor to 185 millimeters and not pay attention to the inevitably increasing weight of the new tank.

Ultimately, after the new developments were demonstrated to Hitler, in October 1943 it was Henschel that received the order for the production of tanks. To begin with, it was necessary to build 175 cars. A proposal by chief designer Erwin Aders to initially concentrate all power on the production of an improved intermediate model based on the Tiger I, which would have thicker frontal armor, was rejected. In this case, however, it would be possible to produce large quantity tanks that would have fewer problems with spare parts.

However, the military department preferred this pragmatic option to establish production of the “Royal Tigers”, which had not yet been put into production. In December 1943, the first three test vehicles left the Henschel plant in Kassel. In January 1944, the first series of eight Tiger IIs was released.

At the same time, Henschel increased production of Tiger I to 95 vehicles per month. Their number could have been almost twice as large if the plant had not had to adapt to the production of the new model.

Tank tracks on the turret and sides are a clumsy attempt to create additional protection

In the spring of 1944, the first Royal Tigers were delivered to troops - first to an elite tank training division, and then to heavy tank units that operated independently of regular divisions at the front. First tests showed that the new model had many advantages over its predecessor, but also had serious disadvantages.

One of the main advantages was new gun, which could destroy any enemy tank with a frontal hit from a distance of two kilometers. In addition, the gas tank capacity of the new tank increased from 534 to 860 liters, thanks to which it could cover distances of up to 140 (instead of 100) kilometers on flat terrain and up to 90 (instead of 60) kilometers on rough terrain.

The main disadvantage of the “Royal Tiger” was its weight, which increased from 60 to 70 tons. It was too large for most of the bridges that the troops had to cross along the way. Therefore, Tigers II often had to find detours.

And since the new Tigers were equipped with the same engines as the old ones - 12-cylinder Maybachs with a volume of 24 liters and a power of about 700 hp. s., then their already low relative power decreased from 12.5 to 10 hp. With. per ton. For comparison: German Panthers and Soviet T-34 relative power was 16 hp. With. per ton. And only when the engine was modified and its power increased to 800 hp. s., its relative power was equal to that of the Soviet IS-2 heavy tank.

However, perhaps the most serious drawback of the Tiger II was low quality his steel. The German mining industry did not have a sufficient amount of molybdenum and used vanadium to alloy steel. However, the result turned out to be different than the engineers expected: molybdenum increased the strength of steel, and vanadium increased its elasticity. This resulted in the Tiger 2's nominally much stronger armor being destroyed inside the tank, resulting in the death of the crew, although the enemy grenade did not penetrate through it.

First 50 serial tanks received towers that Ferdinand Porsche produced at his own risk. Only starting in June 1944, vehicles began to be equipped with turrets better shape, produced by Henschel, which, however, were still 1.2 tons heavier.

The Royal Tigers were first deployed on March 19, 1944, during Operation Margarita, a tank training division in Hungary. But there they met no resistance at all.

The Americans captured the Royal Tigers and took them into their service.

The first serious battle in which the Tigers II took part was the battle on July 11, 1944 near the French village of Colombelles in Normandy. In the shortest possible time, twelve "Royal Tigers" destroyed twelve "Shermans", as well as several American anti-tank guns and half-track vehicles without suffering any losses. However, the Americans called in reinforcements from the air as well as from the sea, and the Tigers II were forced to retreat.

A week later there was a heavy bombing attack on their positions, and during the ensuing battles all but one of the Tiger IIs were destroyed. The super-heavy new tanks, of which about 500 units were built before May 1945, were unable to counter the enemy’s great quantitative superiority, even despite their most powerful guns.

"Tiger II" in the museum.

Although the first World War was marked by the appearance of tanks, World War II showed the real fury of these mechanical monsters. During the fighting they played important role, both among the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and among the Axis powers. Both warring sides created a significant number of tanks. Below are ten outstanding tanks of World War II - the most powerful tanks of this period ever built.
10. M4 Sherman (USA)

The second most popular tank of the Second World War. Produced in the USA and some others Western countries the anti-Hitler coalition mainly due to the American Lend-Lease program, which provided military support for foreign allied powers. Medium tank The Sherman had a standard 75 mm gun with 90 rounds of ammunition and was equipped with relatively thin frontal armor (51 mm) compared to other vehicles of the period.

Developed in 1941, the tank was named after the famous general Civil War in the USA - William T. Sherman. The vehicle took part in numerous battles and campaigns from 1942 to 1945. The relative lack of firepower was compensated by its enormous quantity: about 50 thousand Shermans were produced during the Second World War.

9. "Sherman-Firefly" (UK)

The Sherman Firefly was a British variant of the M4 Sherman tank that was equipped with a devastating 17-pounder anti-tank gun, more powerful than the original Sherman's 75 mm gun. The 17 pounder was destructive enough to damage any known tank of the time. The Sherman Firefly was one of those tanks that terrified the Axis countries and was characterized as one of the deadliest fighting vehicles of the Second World War. In total, more than 2,000 units were produced.

PzKpfw V "Panther" is a German medium tank that appeared on the battlefield in 1943 and remained until the end of the war. A total of 6,334 units were created. The tank reached speeds of up to 55 km/h, had strong 80 mm armor and was armed with a 75 mm gun with ammunition from 79 to 82 high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing shells. The T-V was powerful enough to damage any enemy vehicle at that time. It was technically superior to the Tiger and T-IV tanks.

And although the T-V Panther was later surpassed by numerous Soviet T-34s, it remained a serious opponent until the end of the war.

5. “Comet” IA 34 (UK)

One of Britain's most powerful fighting vehicles and probably the best that the country used in World War II. The tank was armed with a powerful 77-mm cannon, which was a shortened version of the 17-pounder gun. Thick armor reached 101 millimeters. However, "Comet" did not provide significant influence on the course of the War due to its late introduction to the battlefields - around 1944, when the Germans were retreating.

But be that as it may, during his short term During operation, this military vehicle showed its effectiveness and reliability.

4. "Tiger I" (Germany)

"Tiger I" - German heavy tank, developed in 1942. It had a powerful 88-mm gun with 92–120 rounds of ammunition. It was successfully used against both air and ground targets. The full German name of this beast is Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf.E, but the Allies simply called this vehicle “Tiger”.

It accelerated to 38 km/h and had non-tilted armor with a thickness of 25 to 125 mm. When it was created in 1942, it suffered from some technical problems, but was soon freed from them, turning into a ruthless mechanical hunter by 1943.

The Tiger was a formidable machine, which forced the Allies to develop more advanced tanks. It symbolized the strength and power of the Nazi war machine, and until mid-war, no Allied tank was strong enough or powerful enough to withstand the Tiger in a direct confrontation. However, during the final stages of World War II, the Tiger's dominance was often challenged by the better armed Sherman Fireflies and Soviet tanks IS-2.

3. IS-2 “Joseph Stalin” (Soviet Union)

The IS-2 tank belonged to a whole family of heavy tanks of the Joseph Stalin type. It had characteristic sloped armor with a thickness of 120 mm and a large 122 mm gun. The frontal armor was impenetrable to German 88 mm anti-tank gun shells at a distance of more than 1 kilometer. Its production began in 1944, a total of 2,252 tanks of the IS family were built, about half of which were modifications of the IS-2.

During the Battle of Berlin, IS-2 tanks destroyed entire German buildings with high-explosive fragmentation shells. It was a real battering ram of the Red Army as it advanced towards the heart of Berlin.

2. M26 “Pershing” (USA)

The United States created a heavy tank that belatedly took part in World War II. It was developed in 1944, total The number of tanks produced amounted to 2,212 units. The Pershing was a more complex model compared to the Sherman, with a lower profile and larger tracks, which provided the vehicle with better stability.
The main gun had a caliber of 90 millimeters (70 shells were attached to it), powerful enough to penetrate the Tiger's armor. "Pershing" had the strength and power to frontally attack those vehicles that the Germans or Japanese could use. But only 20 tanks took part in combat operations in Europe and very few were sent to Okinawa. After the end of World War II, Pershings took part in the Korean War and continued to be used by American troops. The M26 Pershing could have been a game changer if it had been deployed to the battlefield sooner.

1. "Jagdpanther" (Germany)

Jagdpanther is one of the most powerful fighters tanks in World War II. It was based on the Panther chassis, entered service in 1943, and served until 1945. It was armed with an 88 mm cannon with 57 rounds and had 100 mm frontal armor. The gun maintained accuracy at a distance of up to three kilometers and had a muzzle velocity of over 1000 m/s.

Only 415 tanks were built during the war. The Jagdpanthers received their baptism of fire on July 30, 1944 near Saint Martin De Bois, France, where they destroyed eleven Churchill tanks within two minutes. Technical superiority and advanced firepower had little impact on the course of the war due to the late introduction of these monsters.

Although World War I saw the introduction of tanks, World War II revealed the true fury of these mechanical monsters. During the fighting, they played an important role, both among the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and among the Axis powers. Both warring sides created a significant number of tanks. Below are ten outstanding tanks of World War II - the most powerful tanks of this period ever built.

M4 Sherman (USA)

The second most popular tank of the Second World War. It was produced in the USA and some other Western countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, mainly due to the American Lend-Lease program, which provided military support for foreign allied powers. The Sherman medium tank had a standard 75 mm gun with 90 rounds of ammunition and was equipped with relatively thin frontal armor (51 mm) compared to other vehicles of the period.
Developed in 1941, the tank was named after the famous American Civil War general, William T. Sherman. The vehicle took part in numerous battles and campaigns from 1942 to 1945. The relative lack of firepower was compensated by its enormous quantity: about 50 thousand Shermans were produced during the Second World War.

"Sherman Firefly" (Great Britain)

The Sherman Firefly was a British variant of the M4 Sherman tank that was equipped with a devastating 17-pounder anti-tank gun, more powerful than the original Sherman's 75 mm gun. The 17 pounder was destructive enough to damage any known tank of the time. The Sherman Firefly was one of those tanks that terrified the Axis countries and was characterized as one of the deadliest fighting vehicles of the Second World War. In total, more than 2,000 units were produced.

T-IV (Germany)

PzKpfw IV is one of the most widely used and massive (8,696 units) German tanks during the Second World War. It was armed with a 75 mm cannon, which could destroy the Soviet T-34 at a range of 1200 meters.
Initially, these vehicles were used to support infantry, but eventually took on the role of a tank (T-III), and began to be used in battle as the main combat units.

This legendary tank was the most popular during the War and the second most produced of all time (about 84 thousand vehicles). It is also one of the longest lasting tanks ever produced. To this day, many surviving units are found in Asia and Africa.
The popularity of the T-34 is partly due to its sloping 45mm frontal armor, which was not penetrated by German shells. It was a fast, maneuverable and durable vehicle that caused serious concern to the command of the invading German tank units.

T-V "Panther" (Germany)

PzKpfw V "Panther" is a German medium tank that appeared on the battlefield in 1943 and remained until the end of the war. A total of 6,334 units were created. The tank reached speeds of up to 55 km/h, had strong 80 mm armor and was armed with a 75 mm gun with ammunition from 79 to 82 high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing shells. The T-V was powerful enough to damage any enemy vehicle at that time. It was technically superior to the Tiger and T-IV tanks.
And although the T-V Panther was later surpassed by numerous Soviet T-34s, it remained a serious opponent until the end of the war.

"Comet" IA 34 (UK)

One of Britain's most powerful fighting vehicles and probably the best that the country used in World War II. The tank was armed with a powerful 77-mm cannon, which was a shortened version of the 17-pounder gun. Thick armor reached 101 millimeters. However, the Comet did not have a significant impact on the course of the War due to its late introduction to the battlefield - around 1944, when the Germans were retreating.
But be that as it may, during its short service life this military vehicle has shown its effectiveness and reliability.

"Tiger I" (Germany)

Tiger I is a German heavy tank developed in 1942. It had a powerful 88-mm gun with 92–120 rounds of ammunition. It was successfully used against both air and ground targets. The full German name of this beast is Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf.E, but the Allies simply called this vehicle “Tiger”.
It accelerated to 38 km/h and had non-tilted armor with a thickness of 25 to 125 mm. When it was created in 1942, it suffered from some technical problems, but was soon freed from them, turning into a ruthless mechanical hunter by 1943.
The Tiger was a formidable machine, which forced the Allies to develop more advanced tanks. It symbolized the strength and power of the Nazi war machine, and until mid-war, no Allied tank was strong enough or powerful enough to withstand the Tiger in a direct confrontation. However, during the final stages of World War II, the Tiger's dominance was often challenged by the better armed Sherman Fireflies and Soviet IS-2 tanks.

The IS-2 tank belonged to a whole family of heavy tanks of the Joseph Stalin type. It had characteristic sloped armor with a thickness of 120 mm and a large 122 mm gun. The frontal armor was impenetrable to German 88 mm anti-tank gun shells at a distance of more than 1 kilometer. Its production began in 1944, a total of 2,252 tanks of the IS family were built, about half of which were modifications of the IS-2.
During the Battle of Berlin, IS-2 tanks destroyed entire German buildings with high-explosive fragmentation shells. It was a real battering ram of the Red Army as it advanced towards the heart of Berlin.

M26 Pershing (USA)

The United States created a heavy tank that belatedly took part in World War II. It was developed in 1944, the total number of tanks produced was 2,212 units. The Pershing was a more complex model compared to the Sherman, with a lower profile and larger tracks, which provided the vehicle with better stability.
The main gun had a caliber of 90 millimeters (70 shells were attached to it), powerful enough to penetrate the Tiger's armor. "Pershing" had the strength and power to frontally attack those vehicles that the Germans or Japanese could use. But only 20 tanks took part in combat operations in Europe and very few were sent to Okinawa. After the end of World War II, Pershings took part in the Korean War and continued to be used by American troops. The M26 Pershing could have been a game changer if it had been deployed to the battlefield sooner.

"Jagdpanther" (Germany)

The Jagdpanther was one of the most powerful tank destroyers of World War II. It was based on the Panther chassis, entered service in 1943, and served until 1945. It was armed with an 88 mm cannon with 57 rounds and had 100 mm frontal armor. The gun maintained accuracy at a distance of up to three kilometers and had a muzzle velocity of over 1000 m/s.
Only 415 tanks were built during the war. The Jagdpanthers received their baptism of fire on July 30, 1944 near Saint Martin De Bois, France, where they destroyed eleven Churchill tanks within two minutes. Technical superiority and advanced firepower had little impact on the course of the war due to the late introduction of these monsters.