Kommandeur (commander) stands in his Prismenspiegelkuppel (Prisms Mirror Dome or Armor Copula), which is an early design with slit-vision ports. Frontal driver visor is called Politic Fahrerblende, while its visor flap is called Fahrersehklappe. Inscription of "Gerti" written on Commander Copula referred either to his wife or girlfriend. White Kill Rings wrapped around gun barrel indicating number of victories. Most famous Tiger tank commander was SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann with over 300 victories, assigned to sSSPzAbt 101 of 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (sSSPzAbt is German acronym for Schwere Schultz-Staffel Panzer Abteilung, or Heavy Waffen-SS Tank Battalion). Michael Wittmann (April 22, 1914 - August 8, 1944) - www.achtungpanzer.com/gen3.htm

Inset 1 : Tiger tank captured by American troops in Tunisia 1943, spare Panzer IV and Tiger tracks bolted on glacis for additional armor protection. When captured enemy tanks are driven to the rear, white sheets are drapped over superstructure and its gun rotated to rear to prevent Friendly Fire incidents. Friendly fire - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_fire

Sociological note, 1942-1943 North African campaign was America's first offensive in European theater, thus initial encounters with Tiger tanks cast a profound impression upon US troops, one American soldier saw the Tiger's 8.8cm gun and remarked "it was as long as a telephone pole". Although Germans produced even more powerful tanks and tank destroyers throughout the war (ex. Panther, Jadgtiger, Jadgpanther), Tiger's image is perpetually engrained in American veteran and Hollywood-movie pysche. Tunisia 17 November 1942-13 May 1943 - www.mtmestas.com/Military/campaigns/tunisia.htm

Rollover : Tow cables wrapped around top hull, along with tool sets (ex. cable cutters, sledge hammer, shovel). Vehicle number 223 indicates 2nd Company - 2nd Platoon - 3rd vehicle in platoon, this numbering standard used for all German tanks, armored half-tracks, self-propelled guns, tank destroyers. Developed for Panzerkeil doctrines, Tiger tanks possess thick frontal and side armor, but less armor applied to top and rear areas. With domination of Allied airpower by 1944, Tiger tanks became extremely vulnerable to marauding Allied ground-attack aircrafts (ex. Typhoon, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang) armed with armor-piercing rockets. It was alleged that famed Tiger tank ace Michael Wittmann was killed in such aerial attack on 8 August 1944 in Normandy-France. Ground attack aircraft - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_attack_aircraft

Related Model and History : Uwe Militaria Typhoon Fighter - UweMilitaria.org/3-Aerial/Tiffy/12.html

Inset 2 : this Tiger was no match for Allied carpet-bombing or naval artillery. Below US troops examine Tiger which either flipped or blown into large shell crater. German tank crews often debated about safest place to be during such enemy barrages, some preferring to evacuate the tank since it was the prime target, other Panzertruppen (Panzer crew) elected to remain inside the tank protected from sharpnel and explosive concushion injuries for only a direct hit could destroy the vehicle.

Nevertheless, in one-on-one tank duel, Panzertruppen combat experience and Tiger awesome firepower gives Germans distinct advantage. During early-1944 retreat of German Army Group North from Eastern Front, entire battle sector at one point was defended by only 3 operational Tigers destroying onslaught of 60-70 Soviet tanks. Ultimately, 200,000 of Army Group North were encircled in Baltic region of Courland (Kurland in German) by late-1944, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler refused their evacuation back to Germany for propaganda rationale that Germans were fighting on Soviet soil. This Army Group changed its name to Army Group Courland, fought off 6 major Soviet offensives to destroy its pocket, and finally surrendered on May 1945. German prisoners marched off to Soviet slave labor camps in Siberia, out of which very few survived for repatriation back to Germany some 20 years later. Courland Pocket - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courland_Pocket

As for Allies, controversy continues to this day concerning its carpet bombing strategies since high number of civilian deaths and destruction of historical landmarks were the norm, such as bombings in Monte Cassino-Italy, St. Lo-France, Caen-France. Most notable was so-called "Morale Bombing" (Allied euphuism for terror bombings of enemy urban centers), such as German cities of Koln, Hamburg, Dresden. Most notable was US incendiary night bombing of Tokyo-Japan on 10 March 1945 which killed circa 130,000 people (contrasted with nuclear bombing of Hiroshima-Japan in August 1945 which killed about 70,000). The Tokyo Fire Raids, 1945 : The Japanese View - www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tokyo.htm

Inset 3 : Photo show Tiger from sSSPzAbt 101 (reportly one commanded by Tiger ace Michael Wittmann) knocked out by a British tank in July 1944 street battles at Villers Borcage - Normandy, France. Villers-Bocage Commemoration Special Page - www.desertrats.org.btinternet.co.uk/Villersbocage.htm

Tiger's prowess was at its best in ambush or open country terrain where its gun can pick off targets up to 4,000 yards. Within build-up urban areas, Tiger's armor and gunnery strength are quickly negated by short distance of tank duels (by which enemy guns can be as lethal as the Tiger) or by enemy tank-hunting teams (armed with man-portable American Bazooka or British PIAT) using buildings and debris field as cover for their ambush.

Note, Bazooka was an electrically-fired rocket launcher, firing a 3.5-inch armor-piercing rocket. Allegedly, nickname Bazooka came from American serviceman observing its tube-like apparatus from 1930s-era comedy skit in Chicago where a fake tube-like musical instrument called a Kazooka was introduced. Since the rocket launcher resembled a Big Kazooka...hence, was nickenamed Bazooka. Bazooka - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka

PC Games replicating this anti-tank ambush are as follows :

• Battlefield 1942 - www.gamespot.com/pc/action/battlefield1942/screenindex.html

• Call of Duty - www.gamespot.com/pc/action/callofduty/screenindex.html

• Battlefield 2 - www.gamespot.com/pc/action/battlefield2/screenindex.html

On production note, Tiger was designated Panzerkampfwagen VI, while its sister Panther tank program designated Panzerkampfwagen V. Panther was suppose to rollout before the Tiger, but engine overheating problems prevented its mass deployment. Hence, German Panzerkeil tanks in Summer 1943 Kursk Offensive on Eastern Front was debuted by the Tiger. Panther tank - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tank

Battle in Kursk salient was world's largest tank battle, results of which still debated today whether Germans achieved tactical victory, but lost strategic war effort due to lack of armored reserves to exploit victory. Battle of Kursk - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kursk

Inset 4 : color photo of knocked-out Tiger on Normandy-France battlefield in Summer 1944, shoved to roadside to allow Allied through-traffic. Tank has bolted-on spare tracks and zimmerit paste. Note shell indention mark on front glacis, given Tiger's thick 100mm frontal armor...this shell impact only grazed the hull, scratched the paint, and chipped off zimmerit ceramic paste.

Passing US truck on left has European theater circle-white star insignia, circle added to prevent Friendly-Fire incidents since from a distance white star resembled German Balkenkreuz national insignia, hence Allied personnel proned to immediately open fire and ask questions later. The Balkenkreuz - chrito.users1.50megs.com/turmnummern/balkenkreuz.htm