Author Topic: How do you kill a tiger? (Read 1765 times)

AKcurly · « **on:** March 03, 2003, 04:17:46 AM »

Ok, web research shows that near misses with a 1k bomb would not kill a tiger (in real life.) OTOH, strings of bombs will kill one.

So will an M8.

From
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/5096/upgtiger.htm

The ability to destroy a Tiger I from other than the front is described in a wartime report from the 7th Armored Division while in Belgium in December of 1944:

While northern and eastern flanks had been heavily engaged, the northeastern section had been rather quiet. The only excitement there had been was when an M8 armored car from "E" Troop destroyed a Tiger tank. The armored car had been in a concealed position at right angles to run along a trail in front of the MLR. As the tank passed the armored car, the M8 slipped out of position and started up the trail behind the Tiger, accelerating in an attempt to close. At the same moment the German tank commander saw the M8, and started traversing his gun to bear on the armored car. It was a race between the Americans who were attempting to close so that their puny 37-mm would be effective in the Tiger’s "Achilles heel" (its thin rear armor), and the Germans who were desperately striving to bring their "88" to bear … Suddenly, the M8 had closed to 25 yards, and quickly pumped in 3 rounds… the lumbering Tiger stopped, shuddered; there was a muffled explosion, followed by flames which bellowed out of the turret and engine ports, after which the armored car returned to its position.

curly

Dowding · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:29:56 AM »

Near misses from 1k bombs would put Tiger's on their backs in real life. Check out the damage done to tanks after the pre-D-Day carpet bombing of the Normandy area.

Saintaw · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:38:39 AM »

Just need to deceive your enemy into tree "smacking."
It seems to work for my enemies when I am in a Tiger.

Pepe · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:38:55 AM »

Obviously.... hit a tree or a white stone

straffo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2003, 05:50:14 AM »

slamming a tree is a squad special feature (at least for my squad

)

btw ready to wing again with you pepe

(beware of killshooter

)

wulfie · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2003, 06:03:00 AM »

Even at 25m, with a 37L53, they were lucky to get a 'catastrophic kill' on a Pz VIE.

Pz V, Pz VIE, Pz VIB were all very sturdily made, had good ammo/fuel storage (from a safety standpoint), and good fire extinguishing systems.

Get a copy of the book 'Panzer Battles of the Waffen-SS'. It's basically a large # of platoon and company AARs from Waffen-SS Panzer units.

The number of times those AFVs 'caught fire' in the engine compartment...crew bailed out...and reentered vehicle to continue fighting once the extinguishers had done their job - it was a surpisingly common occurance (and goes a long way to explaining 'claimed destruction of enemy MBT' by Allied ground attack types - smoke from the MBT, crew bails out...must be a kill - totally reasonable assumption if you think about it).

The main cause of 'catastrophic kills' vs. AFV was fuel fire detonating ammunition. The bigger and faster the round the better chance of this in general, and some MBTs (pre-'44 Shermans are a glaring example) had very poorly protected fuel and ammunition, causing them to catch fire and (eventually)/or explode even vs. 'non-extreme' penetrations.

It sounds like they hit that Pz VIE from so close that the penetrating rounds had enough power left to actually start a fuel fire. I don't think the MA ammunition exploded though - that would have taken the turret off most likely (88mm charges are pretty 'explosive').

Mike/wulfie

p.s. 'catastrophic kill' = total destruction of AFV and all crew.

crowMAW · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2003, 08:51:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pepe
Obviously.... hit a tree or a white stone

LOL...either that or it ran over some scrap of debris from a blown up building or hanger.

Innominate · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2003, 08:56:39 AM »

Put a round through the drivers view slit.

Sox62 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2003, 10:54:34 AM »

How to kill a Tiger?

You need bushbeaters,a large party,and a high power rifle at the very least.

Meatwad · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2003, 12:38:21 PM »

This is actually about an ostie, but it is funny in a roundabout way.

Attacking A1 last night in an Ostie, low buff carpet bombs us GV's. For the first time EVER in a GV, I had a "driver wounded" by a bomb. I was joking around with a squaddie about it, and said that maybe an egg went through the view slot. He replied with "Your head would of blown apart lol." So in that case, I was driving an Ostie with a headless driver ROFL!!

I have that book about panzer battles, I have to read through it again since it has been years since I last read it. Pretty interesting stories in there!

SlapShot · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2003, 12:46:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sox62
How to kill a Tiger?

You need bushbeaters,a large party,and a high power rifle at the very least.

BIG Elephants too !!!

vorticon · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2003, 01:05:00 PM »

tiger shmiger the panzer is still the best...except when it gets killed in one hit while the enemy panzers are still invisible!!!

as to kill one you dont...you kill the crew not the tank itself...got one with a m16 in the hth once...drove right to its front while it was distracted and started putting mg through its veiw slit...of course what i didnt see was its panzer freind on the hill 2k away

ccvi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2003, 01:07:38 PM »

Where do I get little white rocks as loadout?

AKcurly · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2003, 01:12:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
Near misses from 1k bombs would put Tiger's on their backs in real life. Check out the damage done to tanks after the pre-D-Day carpet bombing of the Normandy area.

A near miss from a 1k bomb does nothing - in real life. Near misses from 1k bombs --> string of bombs.

curly

icemaw · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2003, 01:17:06 PM »

Ive done this exact attack many times. Never once did the tiger even smoke I have pumped 20 37mm AP m8 rounds into the back of a tiger from point blank range and never as far as I could tell ever did any damage to one.