News Update August 4th, 2025 - WWII German Armor Special Pre-Order (5 Viewers)

[tsukaiban]

I wonder what Mitch and Alex have in mind. I haven't heard from them for years. Glad to hear comments from them.

 

[Hunter Rose]

About the KingTiger #123 :

it was one of the twelve KingTigers with Porsche turret from the 1st company of the s.H.Pz Abt. 503 in Normandy.
Its commander was the Unteroffizier Curt Weidenkaff.
On August 3, the tank was first immobilized by artillery fire at La Bigne and then scuttled by its crew.
According to a recent historical book, the number of tanks destroyed by the battailon during all the Normandy battle was very low : only 23 !
( in comparison : about 200 for the s. SS Pz Abt 101 and 227 for the s. SS Pz Abt 102 ).
Even with other more "optimistic" sources that speak of 70 to 80 destroyed allied tanks, the score remains very bad compared to the 55 Tigers I and KingTigers lost.
( including the KingTigers of the recompleted 3rd company).
This could be explained by several reasons : the lack of logistical, technical and strategic support, insufficient training of KingTiger crews and unsuitable environment.
Poorly deployed, these heavy tanks were unable to take advantage of their striking power.
Just a little remark about the very nice JJD model : as shown in the attached photo, the exhausts should have been the production model and not the early-style system.

That's interesting new information. I never bought that book because it is only available in French text.

The picture you posted is probably the highest resolution image I've ever seen of the rear of that tank, and to me the third digit is still unrecognizable. I just see the hint of a number outline of where the top of the third digit likely would be.

I imagine the author identified it from veterans accounts?

I've always seen those pictures identified as King Tiger #121, including the identification efforts of the old Tiger Im Focus website (pic below). I'm curious, does the Maranes Edition Series '44 s.Pz.Abt. 503 book have pictures identified as King Tiger #121?