The Tank Museum’s King Tiger V2 prototype is unique. It was the second of these formidable German Second World War tanks ever built, and today it is the only survivor to have this distinctive turret design.
The King Tiger
Another name for the King Tiger is Tiger II, and this helps explain its origins.
The original Tiger tank was a formidable weapon. When it appeared in 1942 it had a gun that could destroy any Allied tank and armour that could keep out anything the Allies could fire at it. However, by mid-1943 it was clear that these advantages wouldn’t last much longer, and that the Tiger I couldn’t really be upgraded. The Germans began work on a new vehicle to do the same job.
This would have an even more powerful 88mm gun and much thicker armour. However it would also weigh 14 tonnes more despite having the same 700hp engine as the Tiger I.
The Henschel company were given the contract to build the Tiger II. They began with three Versuchs-fahrgestelle, or Trials vehicles. The Museum’s tank is the second of these – hence the name V2. It was completed in December 1943 and sent to Henschel’s facility at Haustenbeck for use in testing. It would stay here for the rest of the war.
Although King Tiger V2 almost certainly never fired a shot in anger, it still played a valuable role. The tests it was used for highlighted several problems with components that Henschel were then able to fix.
These included checking the fit of the engine air filters, a problem with the travel lock that should have held the gun secure while the tank was in motion, and an issue with the escape hatch in the hull floor.
Without this work, these flaws would not have been removed from King Tigers that were issued to the German Army and they could have caused problems in combat.
The Turret
The first 50 King Tigers were built with these curved-front turrets. This style of turret is often called the ‘Porsche’ turret. This isn’t accurate – they were actually built by Krupp for an unrealised Porsche design but then used on the Henschel hull. ‘Pre-Production’ is The Tank Museum’s preferred term.
This article explains how the name came about.
The curved front of the pre-production turret, intended to minimise the area that could be hit by an incoming round, actually formed a shot trap that could deflect a round down into the top of the hull with potentially disastrous consequences. They were also very complex to manufacture, particularly in incorporating the bulge for the commander’s cupola. This turret design was therefore replaced with the Serienturm or ‘Production’ turret, which replaced the curved front with a thicker piece of flat metal.
A Unique Vehicle
As a prototype, King Tiger V2 has a number of unique features that aren’t even seen on other Pre-Production King Tigers. One of the most distinctive is the armour on the turret roof. It is 40mm thick in the middle, but only 25mm at the front and rear, so a step can be seen. This would be changed to 40mm all over.
At the back of its hull V2 has a distinctive attachment to its exhaust. This was fitted as part of gas-proofing tests. For these tests the tank was put in a gas chamber and completely sealed. The running engine fed air into the tank, keeping the pressure inside greater than outside. The engine exhaust fumes had to be fed out of the chamber through hoses. This attachment connected the exhaust to the hose.
One feature that isn’t present is Zimmerit. This anti-magnetic mine paste was fitted to production tanks that would go into combat, but there was no need to spend the time and resources applying it to a test vehicle like V2.
V2 after the War
Haustenbeck was captured in April 1945 and in early 1946 King Tiger V2 was shipped to the School of Tank Technology in Britain. It was tested and assessed, but by 1952 it had outlived its usefulness and it was sent to The Tank Museum.
When it arrived several components were missing, including the gearbox, the commander’s cupola on the turret roof and the large hatch on the rear of the turret. Perhaps the most obvious missing piece was the gun.
This had been refitted by 1956. However the mounting cradle for the gun was also lost, so for decades it was held in place with pieces of timber! These have now been replaced with a secure metal frame.
The tank’s original engine was in place until the 1980s when it was removed in order to use it in the restoration of Tiger 131. Unfortunately it was damaged during the restoration project. Parts from it have since been used to build a working engine for Tiger 131.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, 492 King Tigers would be built by the end of the war. They could never change the outcome, but they would have a major impact on any Allied soldier who encountered one. The Tank Museum’s King Tiger V2 is a hugely significant part of the story of this rare, but formidable tank.
2025 Crowdfunded Restoration Project
The vehicle is currently undergoing a restoration to get it to running order. The Museum needs to raise £1,000,000 in order to fund the necessary work. Find out more and donate HERE.
*A huge ‘thank you’ to Melcher Stikkelorum for his research on King Tiger V2 – which is available here.
