Henschel Sd.Kfz.181 Tiger

German Army sPzAbt 504, Tunisia, April 24th1943

Corgi 1:50 CC60515

Although the Allies had become aware of a powerful new German heavy tank from its introduction on the Eastern Front in September 1942, British and Commonwealth forces would not encounter the mighty Tiger I until the final stages of the battles to capture Tunis in April 1943. During heavy fighting around Guriat el Atach, one Tiger tank was abandoned by its crew and captured by British troops, who defended their impressive prize until it could be recovered and repaired. Highlighting the significance of this acquisition, Tiger 131 was later inspected by both King George VI and Winston Churchill and would become the most famous fighting vehicle in the world.

Henschel Sd.Kfz.181 Tiger
Production of the Tiger began in August 1942, and by August 1944 1,355 of these tanks had been built. The 88mm main gun was the most powerful anti-tank gun in use by any army. The superior mobility of Allied tanks allowed them to attack from behind or from the side in the hope of taking a Tiger down. The influence of Tiger tanks on allied morale grew to almost mythical proportions, and was known as "Tigerphobia." Tigers destroyed tremendous amounts of enemy equipment and often just the sight of a Tiger would induce the Russian tankers to withdraw.