Tiger Tank Manual: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (SdKfz 181) Model [Hardcover]

David Fletcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2011

The German Tiger I—officially known as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I Auks. E (Skiffs 181)—was probably the most feared battle tank of World War II. Its invincibility lay in its main gun and heavy defensive armor. The Tiger’s primary armament was the deadly 88mm Kiwi 36 L/56 gun that was the most powerful antitank gun then in use by any army, capable of penetrating 112mm of armor plate from a range of 1400 meters. The Tiger I also had the toughest armor of any German tank—its frontal armor plate measured 100mm thick. Using the successful approach and format adopted for the Spitfire and Lancaster manuals, Tiger Tank Manual gives an insight into acquiring, owning, and operating one of these awesome fighting vehicles. It also gives an idea through personal recollections of what it was like to command a Tiger in war and what it felt like to be on the receiving end of its 88mm gun.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Fletcher is the Tank Museum librarian, prolific author, and a world expert on tanks. He will write the historical part of the manual. Other museum volunteers who have been closely involved in the Tiger 131’s restoration to running order will write the technical element of the manual.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press; First edition (July 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760340781
• ISBN-13: 978-0760340783
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > History > Military > Pictorials

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Primer, restored Tiger 131, June 3, 2011

By 

cpt matt (tanktown, DE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Tiger Tank Manual: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (SdKfz 181) Model (Hardcover)

Who should buy this book? Indeed, co-author David Willey asks that very question in his intro. He points out all of the previous works done by, Tom Jentz and others have been very exhaustive. The authors, all of whom work for the British Tank Museum in Bovington, state that they hope to add a new chapter to the past works.

In this, I think they succeed. Most of this book is about the only "runner" Tiger tank in the world. Captured by the British in WW2, much is known about the tank. David Fletcher gives a nice, concise history of the development of the Tiger. A lot of this book centers on the restoration of Tiger 131. Many of the excellent color photos here can be found on line, some of the B&W photos have been published before, as have the original British 3-D cut away drawings of the interior of the Tiger's layout, but these cutaways are larger than previous versions and one in color. Color photos of the interior restored Tiger make this a very good book. For those who love engineering, there are cutaway color diagrams of the transmission, fuel pumps, clutch, and starter.

One thing I did not like - the product description by the publisher states that "Tiger Tank Manual gives an insight into acquiring, owning, and operating one of these awesome fighting vehicles". Only a few sentences cover acquiring or ownership - it basically says forget it. Only six survive now and it is unlikely any of the 1,354 made will be discovered.

Having said that, operating the tank is described well, from the complexity of starting it, to maintaining it and keeping it in running condition. Driving, loading, gunning and commanding the tank, the armor, 88mm cannon, ammunition are covered well. Eperiences of German tankers are included, tanking is hard work. The authors bust one myth of the Tiger's reputation for poor mobility by showing its ground pressure and HP to weight ratio compared to the Sherman and T-34. If driven with care and experience, it did well despite the weight.

So, who should buy this book? As a modeler, not so much. It does have a good description of German camouflage paint used in WW2, but no diagrams showing different patterns. If you already own Jentz's, Speilbergers, Osprey, In Action, Michael Green's books, then you are a Tiger junkie and should buy this. Treadheads and Armor addicts will like this. It is a very nice supplement to those other works. For the price, it's an excellent primer, high quality hardbound book. Even as a fan of the Tiger, I found or relearned new insights into this Tank. For a primer, five stars. Overall, four and a half stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 7, 2011

By 

G. Kennedy (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Tiger Tank Manual: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (SdKfz 181) Model (Hardcover)

Without doubt, the best book on the Tiger to date. If your really interested in getting to know the Tiger tank inside and out, this is the book you want! In years past, Bovington had been know for historical errors in their displays, like the infamous extra storage boxes, but that is all in the past now. They are dedicated to historical accuracy and preserving the vehicles in a condition as close to origional as possible. In this book, you get a inside view of some of this process as well as a detailed look at the systems and operation ofthe Tiger tank. I couldn't be happier with this book!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a deal!, July 11, 2011

By 

tigerisrule - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Tiger Tank Manual: Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausf.E (SdKfz 181) Model (Hardcover)

At first when I heard about this book, I thought I was supposed to pick it up at my local auto repair shop! The value of this book is unmeasureable. For about $20 you get a real insight into the restoration of this rare and respected tank. If you need just one book on the Tiger I this is it!