Sonderkraftfahrzeug 182, commonly known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B, or Tiger Ausf. B was a German heavy tank produced during World War II. Highly regarded as the pinnacle of German engineering, featuring sloped armor and a 71-caliber 8.8 centimeter KWK L/43 Anti tank cannon. Powered by a Maybach HL 230 P30 Petrol engine with 700 horsepower, it was very expensive, costing $160,755 USD in 1945, or around $2,982,465 USD today. There were two turret designs, erroneously called the 'Porsche' and 'Henschel' turrets, despite both turrets being designed by Krupp. The 'Porsche Turret' featured a curved mantlet, which served as a shot trap, deflecting rounds into the hull roof. The 'Henschel Turret' or 'Production Turret' had a flat mantle to solve this issue. Due to high construction costs and allied bombing raids, only 492 Sonderkraftfahrzeug 182s were constructed, 1 in 1943, 379 in 1944, and 112 in 1945. Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. B saw no postwar use, serving during 1944-1945.
Sonderkraftfahrzeug 182, commonly known as Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B, or Tiger Ausf. B was a German heavy tank produced during World War II. Highly regarded as the pinnacle of German engineering, featuring sloped armor and a 71-caliber 8.8 centimeter KWK L/43 Anti tank cannon. Powered by a Maybach HL 230 P30 Petrol engine with 700 horsepower, it was very expensive, costing $160,755 USD in 1945, or around $2,982,465 USD today. There were two turret designs, erroneously called the 'Porsche' and 'Henschel' turrets, despite both turrets being designed by Krupp. The 'Porsche Turret' featured a curved mantlet, which served as a shot trap, deflecting rounds into the hull roof. The 'Henschel Turret' or 'Production Turret' had a flat mantle to solve this issue. Due to high construction costs and allied bombing raids, only 492 Sonderkraftfahrzeug 182s were constructed, 1 in 1943, 379 in 1944, and 112 in 1945. Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. B saw no postwar use, serving during 1944-1945.