RSColonel_131st Posted May 22, 2003 Share Posted May 22, 2003 The question is simple enough, yet seems hard to answer: The Tiger is the PzKmpfw VI (Panzerkampfwagen Sechs), and the Panther is the PzKmpfw V. But from all I know, the Panther entered service later than the Tiger, no? My internet source says Henschel got the order to plan a 36t Panzer in May 1941, but the project had been going on since 1937. Daimler and MAN only started planning the Panther in November 1941. Somewhat strange, isn't it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tondu Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 My dear colonel, It MAY something to do with the fact that Germans have never been known to count correctly. [ May 22, 2003, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: Le Tondu ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaBellum Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Or it may have something to do with the fact when it was decided which prototype of each tank would enter production. For example the two different prototypes for the Tiger were the called VK4501H (Henschel-Tiger) and VK4501P (Porsche-Tiger). Only when it was decided to finally build the Henschel version the new Pz was designated PzKpfw VI Tiger (August '42 IIRC). The Panther's design on the other hand had already been accepted in late June '42, named Pzkpfw V, with the production planned to start in December. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikko H. Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 But why is Tiger I called PzKpfw VI Ausf. E and Tiger II (King Tiger) PzKpfw VI Ausf. B??? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSColonel_131st Posted May 23, 2003 Author Share Posted May 23, 2003 Seems resonable, Para, but if the Panther entered production earlier, then why wasn't it avalable in the field earlier? Also, from lexikonderwehrmacht.de, about the Tiger Im Mai 1941 erhielt Henschel den Auftrag zur Entwicklung eines 36 t schweren Kampfpanzers, dem 3601(H). Krupp entschied sich bei diesem Fahrzeug für den Einbau einer 7,5-cm Kanone mit konischem Rohr. Wegen der mangelnden Wolframversorgung, die Granate trug einen derartigen 1 kg schweren Kern, wurde diese Entwicklung aber wieder aufgegeben. Henschel baute von seinem Fahrzeugentwurf sieben Fahrgestelle, es wurde aber nur eines völlig ausgerüstet. Der 40 t schwere Panzer wurde von einem 12-Zyl.-Maybach-Motor von 19,11 Hubraum angetrieben, der 550 PS leistete; damit wurden 40 km/h erreicht. Das nun entstandene Fahrzeug war 6050 mm lang, 3140 mm breit und 2700 mm hoch. Das Projekt erhielt die Bezeichnung Panzer 6. Die Panzerung betrug maximal 100 mm.It's not exactly clear when they named it "Panzer 6" but they started building prototypes in May 41. According to them... Am 14. Mai 1942 wurde der "Panther" von Hitler genehmigt und im September 1942 konnten die ersten beiden Fahrzeuge in Weicheisenausführung geliefert werden. Speer fuhr dann am 3. November den mit einem behelfsmäßigen Turm ausgerüsteten »Panther« auf dem Übungsplatz in Bad Berka zur Probe. Bei weiteren Erprobungen des Waffenamtes zeigten sich zahlreiche Schwachstellen am Fahrgestell, durch die die Serienproduktion immer weiter verzögert wurde. So the Serial Production of the Panther seemingly did not start after November 1942, that's 17 months after they started planning the Tiger. Sadly the site does not give an exact date when the Tiger entered production. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Originally posted by Mikko H.: But why is Tiger I called PzKpfw VI Ausf. E and Tiger II (King Tiger) PzKpfw VI Ausf. B??? The "B" stands for bigger? Regards Jim R. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaBellum Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Originally posted by RSColonel_131st: Seems resonable, Para, but if the Panther entered production earlier, then why wasn't it avalable in the field earlier? Actually it didn't enter production earlier, but later than the Tiger I. But the design concept was accepted earlier and thus he recieved its designation earlier. It's not exactly clear when they named it "Panzer 6" but they started building prototypes in May 41.Yup, that's why they were prototypes. Only when the new tank design was finally approved did it get its 'Pz type'-designation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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