Panzer VI Tiger Ausf E (Late production), Turret Number ‘Black 300’, sPzAbt. 505, Eastern Front, Summer 1944, Russia on the offensive

For many with an interest in military history, the German Tiger I is still widely regarded as the epitome of tank design, beautifully conceived and manufactured, while at the same time proving deadly on the battlefield. Unrivalled by any opposing tank when it saw its combat introduction on the Eastern Front during September 1942, the Tiger I soon began to show its potential, using its highly effective sighting optics and accurate 88mm KwK 36 tank gun to take a heavy toll of Soviet armour.

Capable of destroying enemy tanks at ranges which made it almost impervious to return fire, it was not uncommon to hear reports of small units of German Tigers destroying more than ten times their number in Soviet armour during engagements, as their opposition rushed headlong towards the German tanks in a deadly hail of armour piercing shells, with only the amount of ammunition held limiting the effectiveness of the Tigers killing spree. Indeed, if a Soviet tank did manage to get close enough to fire on its capable adversary, their shells would invariably ricochet off the thick frontal armour of these German beasts and attract the attention of the enemy tank commander in the process.

During the spring of 1944, the Tigers of the 505th Heavy Tank Battalion adopted the distinctive ‘charging heavy knight’ as their unit insignia, an emblem which they would retain until the end of the war in Europe and one which drew inspiration from the fact that th