1/32 Forces of Valor 801024A

German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjager Tiger Ausf. B heavy tank JagdTiger, Henschel suspension

No.331, sPzJgrAbt 653, Germany 1945 

German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjager

Porsche, no stranger to designing combat vehicles for the German army, was awarded the coveted project of mounting a 12.8 cm gun within the bowels of the newly-created Tiger II tank chassis. Porsche was chosen because its suspension system was easier to manufacture than the one produced by Henschel, its chief competitor. Less parts were involved and, most importantly, it occupied less space inside the chassis as compared with the typicaltorsion bar type suspension system developed by Henschel. As a result, the first 11 Jagdtigers that rolled off the production line were equipped with the Porsche suspension system in an effort to get them into the field and into the hands of the panzerwaffe as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, shortly after being deployed, reports began to surface that the Porsche suspension was prone to breaking down largely due to the enormous weight of the 71-ton Jagdtiger. Despite its cost and longer build time, it was therefore determined that the remaining vehicles in the series be fitted with the Henschel torsion bar suspension system, thereby giving the vehicle better durability and reliability under combat conditions, two important attributes to armored combat in the latter stages of the war.

Forces of Valor" vehicles have these characteristics:

• Die-cast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Rotating turret, lifting gun and precise hull.
• Mobile tracks on detailed rotating wheels.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad-printed markings and placards that will not fade or flake like decals.