Königstiger

Königstiger, meaning King Tiger in German, is the common name for the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, the heavyweight German tank developed during World War II as an even more heavily protected successor to the Tiger I. The name Königstiger was used by Allied troops and in German practice, though the official designation was Tiger Ausf. B.

Development and production began in 1943–1944, with Henschel as the primary producer. A smaller number of vehicles were built between 1944 and 1945, with production totaling around 490–500 units. The Königstiger was intended to counter Allied heavy tanks and to deliver long-range firepower and strong frontal armor. Its late arrival limited its impact on the war, and complex maintenance, limited fuel, and supply constraints reduced operational availability.

Design and characteristics include a very heavy, well-sloped armor layout and a powerful main gun. The primary armament was the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71, capable of penetrating most contemporary armor at significant ranges. The tank featured a robust, albeit complex, suspension and a large turret, with armor thickness among the thickest applied to German tanks in the war. It was powered by a Maybach engine (commonly cited as the HL 230 P45 V-12) producing about 700 horsepower, which gave the vehicle a limited top road speed and substantial weight, leading to limited mobility off-road and high logistical demands.

Operationally, Königstiger tanks saw action from late 1944 into 1945 on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, including the Battle of the Bulge. They were capable of delivering decisive firepower in defensive and breakthrough roles but suffered from reliability problems, mechanical vulnerability, and scarce fuel, which restricted their overall impact.

In the postwar record, captured examples influenced Allied testing and German wartime intelligence, but the Königstiger did not have a lasting military role beyond late World War II.