Tiger IThe powerful Tiger I took a heavy toll of all Allied armour and vehicles in all fronts. The Tiger I's 88mm L56 gun has greater penetrative power than any other tank gun in 1942. Unsurprising, given its weight, the Tiger I has a short operational range, thus reducing its strategic mobility. A column of Tigers on a route march had always resulted in many broken down vehicles.*
Otto Cassius' 'Tiger in the Mud' is a classic account from a Tiger tank commander. He eventually finished the war with more kills than the legendary Michael Whitmann.
Wolfgang Schneider's 'Tigers in Combat I' and 'Tigers in Combat II' carry unit histories of every Tiger units and their exploits.
*As related in Otto Cassius' account.
'We're ready for a new age of innocence'
Faith and the Muse 'Shattered in Aspect'
2 comments:
Just want to clarify that the name of the Tiger "Ace" that you mention in your webpage is not Otto Cassius, the correct name is Otto Carius.
And yes, he achived more than 150 destroyed allied tanks, but you had to consider that he made this mark against less trained tank personel in the Russian Front.
Whilst Michael Whitman, achieved 100 destroyed tanks confronting much better trained tank gunners and personel on board of the Brithish and American Tank regiments in the western front.
A point to look: he just destroyed 22 tanks in one day of combat in the Normady theatre of operations, he was almost alone fighting against 11 british Sherman tank commanders at one point of the battle, destroyed or incapacitated almost al of them.
He finally sucumbed under the guns of an attackin Typhon Heavy gunned anti-tank arcraft the same day he achieved his 22 kills in one day.
Cheers from Colombia.
Thank you for the clarification. It is greatly appreciated. I was too hasty when I typed that in.
You are right, armoured opposition on the Western front was, of course, of another nature altogether. However, Whitmann also achieved a lot of his kills on the Eastern Front. When he was transferred over, he was an acknowledged tank ace right?
When he destroyed those 22-25 vehicles, was Whitmann not with three other Tigers?
I have read of Whitmann's death in that he was boxed in by several Shermans and the turret was blown off his Tiger I? Is that accurate?
Thanks!
Columbia! Wow! That is a place that is so far away! Greetings from Singapore!
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