# King Tiger (DD-146)

> The Tiger II, nicknamed 'King Tiger' by Allied soldiers, was a German heavy tank of the Second World War, used in combat from 1944 to 1945. It weighed about 68 to 70 tonnes and carried the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun. Its sloped frontal armor, up to 180 mm thick on the turret, was hard for most Allied tank guns of the time to penetrate from the front. About 490 were built. Its weight strained the engine and drivetrain, which were prone to breakdowns, and it was difficult to transport and to cross many bridges. The footage shows archive and museum images of the Tiger II, with the presenter.

- Department: Military (also History)
- First published: 2023-12-27
- Last updated: 2023-12-27
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/king-tiger/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1944**: The Tiger II enters combat
- **1945**: Its combat use ends

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=king-tiger

## Quick facts

- **DD-146-F01**: The Tiger II was a German heavy tank used 1944-45. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (WWII heavy tank))_
- **DD-146-F02**: It weighed about 68 to 70 tonnes. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Weight))_

## Write-up

The Tiger II weighed nearly 70 tonnes. Its weight made it hard to move and to keep running.

1. **WWII heavy tank**: The Tiger II was a German heavy tank used 1944-45.
2. **Weight**: It weighed about 68 to 70 tonnes.
3. **Gun**: It carried the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71.
4. **About 490 built**: Production was about 490.
5. **Breakdowns**: Its drivetrain was prone to breakdowns.

## Related case files

- [Bunker Valentin (DD-571)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/bunker-valentin/): I linked another WWII German project
- [Typhoon (DD-148)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/typhoon/): I linked a much later European war machine

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed. The caption writes the gun as 'KWK 43'; its designation is KwK 43 L/71.

## Video: King Tiger: The Tiger II Weighed Nearly 70 Tonnes

- Duration: 25.5 s · Published: 2023-12-27
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C1YYRqftP_k.mp4

### Transcript

The Tiger II, also known as the King Tiger, was a formidable German heavy tank during World War II. DID YOU KNOW? Weighing around 70 tons, it featured thick armor and the powerful 88mm KWK 43 L71 gun. Its frontal armor, known for its strength, was nearly impenetrable for many allied tanks of the time. However, its sheer weight made it challenging to transport and prone to mechanical issues. The delicate balance between firepower, protection, and mobility in tank design. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Which army used the Tiger II?**  
A: In 1944-45. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (WWII heavy tank) · Wikipedia: Tiger II)_

**Q: About how much did it weigh?**  
A: Very heavy for its time. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Weight) · Wikipedia: Tiger II)_

**Q: What gun did it carry?**  
A: A long 88. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Gun) · Wikipedia: Tiger II)_

**Q: About how many were built?**  
A: Production was limited. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (About 490 built) · Wikipedia: Tiger II)_

**Q: What was a key weakness?**  
A: Hard to transport too. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Breakdowns) · Wikipedia: Tiger II)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Tiger II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_II)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "King Tiger." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-146, last updated Dec 27, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/king-tiger/