King Tiger tanks of the German army of
the 1st SS Panzer division, Jochim Peiper, 501st heavy tank battalion, 503
heavy tank battalion in military art prints by David Pentland.
The
Konigstiger with its high level of armour and firepower, was without doubt
the heaviest operational German tank, which had no equivalent in the
allied tank armoury. First ordered in January 1943 with the
prototype appearing in October 1943. It was planned to have
the Henschel factory building 140 King Tigers a month, but by the end of
the war there was only a total of 487 built. Weight
68 tons. Speed 35 KM/H. Crew 5 Range 170 miles. Armament: one
88mm KwK 43 L/71 with 72 rounds on board. plus two 7.92mm MG
34. Armour Thickness 180mm thick, to less armoured
areas of 25mm
Night Drive to Manhay, Barkmann in the Ardennes, 24th December
1944 by David Pentland Oberscharfuhrer Ernst Barkmann in Panther 401 accidentally found
himself as the spearhead of the 2nd SS Panzer Division's night assault
on the crossroads at Manhay. Initially mistaking a lone Sherman of
US 7th Armoured Division as that of his own commander, he pulled
alongside the enemy tank, and only realised his mistake when he noticed
it's unusual red interior lights. In a brief close quarter fight
he managed to destroy the M4 with the Panther's anti-personnel mortar (Panzergranate).
He then proceeded along the moonlit forest roads past a succession of
surprised American units to Manhay and on towards Liege, having left
several destroyed vehicles in his wake. His appearance caused
havoc in the US defences, culminating in a rout.
The Last Battle, Berlin, 30th April 1945 by David Pentland
Unterscharfurher Karl-Heinz Turk of the Schwere SS Panzerabteilung
503, in one of the units few remaining Kingtigers, defends the
Potsdammer Platz along with elements of the Munchberg Division against
the rapidly encroaching Soviet forces.
Night Fight, Bollersdorf, East of Berlin, 19th April 1945 by David Pentland.
Following a full day of combat Hauptscharfurher Korner of SS Heavy Tank Battalion 503 foiled a night attack by a battalion of Josef Stalin JSII heavy tanks. By the end of the day he had accounted for 76 enemy tanks, over 40 of these on this one day alone. It was his 25th birthday.
Item Code : DP0134
Night Fight, Bollersdorf, East of Berlin, 19th April 1945 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
King Tigers of Kampfgruppe von Rosen, 3rd Company Heavy Tank Battalion 503, preparing to move out from the Tisza bridgehead to counter Soviet pressure on German forces attacking to the northwest at Debrecen during the first battles to defend the Hungarian capital of Budapest.
Item Code : DHM0794
Tigers in the Mist by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Norbert Kujacinski Knights Cross signature series edition of 20 prints (Nos 346 to 365) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Full Item Details
Franz-Wilhlem Lochmann Tank Ace signature series edition of 50 prints (Nos 326 - 375) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Full Item Details
Farewell to a Friend, Normandy, France 5th August 1944 by David Pentland.
Kurt Knispel rescues his Commander Hans Fendsack after heavy attacks on the Tiger IIs of 1st Company, Heavy Tank Battalion 503 by allied fighter bombers. Despite being pulled to safety Oberfeldwebel Fendsack died later that night from his wounds. For 4 years they had been friends and comrades.
Item Code : DP0124
Farewell to a Friend, Normandy, France 5th August 1944 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Finale at Arnhem, Holand, 24th September 1944 by David Pentland.
In the predawn light the last Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II (Kingtigers) of 2nd Company 506th Heavy Tank Battalion, drive south across the Arnhem bridge to prepare for the upcoming counter-attack to retake Elst and the Nymegen road bridge.
Item Code : DHM1104
Finale at Arnhem, Holand, 24th September 1944 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Defence of the Reichstag, Berlin, 1st May 1945 by David Pentland.
On the 30th April, Untersharfuhrer Georg Diers and his crew of tank 314, were ordered to take up a defensive position at the Reichstag buildings. This was one of only two remaining King Tigers belonging to Heavy SS Tank Battalion 503 in Berlin. By that evening they had knocked out about 30 T34s, and the following day led a successful counterattack against the Kroll Opera House directly opposite the Reichstag. Their efforts though, merely postponed the inevitable and by the end of the day the order was given to abandon the position and prepare to break out of Berlin.
Item Code : DHM1109
Defence of the Reichstag, Berlin, 1st May 1945 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Norbert Kujacinski Knights Cross signature series edition of 20 prints (Nos 921 to 940) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Full Item Details
Franz-Wilhlem Lochmann Tank Ace signature series edition of 20 prints (Nos 901 - 920) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Full Item Details
Oberssturmbannfuhrer Jochim Peiper, commander of the armoured spearhead of 1st SS Panzer Division, in conference with some of the officers of other units under his command. Aside form men and tanks of his own division, these included King tigers of the 501st heavy tank battalion and paratroops of 1st battalion, 9th Fallschrimjager regiment.
Item Code : DHM0846
Kampfgruppe Peiper by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Feldwebel Heinz Gärtner - Where is Hill 128 by David Pentland.
Mor, Hungary, 1st January 1945. Feldwebel Heinz Gärtner and Oberleutnant von Rosen, plus a handful of other King Tigers of Heavy Tank battalion 503, searched for the units objective, Hill 128. Despite heavy snow and poor visibility, the Tigers found and took the hill, routing the strong Soviet defences present. By the end of the war Feldwebel Gärtner had destroyed 103 enemy tanks.
Item Code : DP0157
Feldwebel Heinz Gärtner - Where is Hill 128 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
The Last Battle, Berlin, 30th April 1945 by David Pentland.
Unterscharfurher Karl-Heinz Turk of the Schwere SS Panzerabteilung 503, in one of the units few remaining Kingtigers, defends the Potsdammer Platz along with elements of the Munchberg Division against the rapidly encroaching Soviet forces.
Item Code : DHM1179
The Last Battle, Berlin, 30th April 1945 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Franz-Wilhlem Lochmann Tank Ace signature series edition of 50 prints (Nos 326 - 275) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Full Item Details
Escape from Berlin. Germany 3.00 a.m, 2nd May 1945 by David Pentland.
Leading one of the last columns attempting to breakout from the doomed city, Georg Diers battered Kingtiger of SS Heavy Tank Battalion 503 smashed through the Soviet roadblock on the far side of the Weidenammer Bridge.
Item Code : DP0132
Escape from Berlin. Germany 3.00 a.m, 2nd May 1945 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Prepare to Ram, Operation Goodwood, normandy, 18th July 1944 by David Pentland.
While probing forward near Cagny on the initial day of the Goodwood offensive, Lt John Gorman, a troop commander of 2nd Armoured Battalion, Irish Guards, suddenly found himself confronted by a Tiger II and three Tiger Is of the elite 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion. Supported by only one other Sherman, and aware that their 75mm guns would be ineffective against such monsters, he gave the order to his driver to ram the King tiger. Gormans tank Ballyragget succeeded in colliding with its target before the Tigers 88mm gun could be brought to bear on his Sherman, and with both tanks immobilised the crews quickly abandoned their tanks. Lt. Gorman, however, was not finished and making his way off the field, he returned shortly afterwards with a Sherman Firefly, to finish off the stricken Tiger II and one of the Tiger Is. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross, and his driver L/Cpl Baron the Military Medal.
Item Code : DHM1026
Prepare to Ram, Operation Goodwood, normandy, 18th July 1944 by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Kerschers Defence of Neuhauser Forest by David Pentland.
Oberfeldwebel Albert Kerscher, commander of 2nd company 511 Heavy Tank Battalion aided by a Panzer IV, two Hetzers, a Kingtiger and a Pak gun, successfully defended against concerted Soviet air and armoured attacks, his action buying valuable time for the evacuation of German wounded from Pilau and scoring his 100th victory in the process.
Item Code : DHM0584
Kerschers Defence of Neuhauser Forest by David Pentland. - Editions Available
Kampfgruppe Peiper by David Pentland Oberssturmbannfuhrer Jochim
Peiper, commander of the armoured
spearhead of 1st SS Panzer Division, in conference with some of the
officers of other units under his command. Aside form men and tanks of
his own division, these included King tigers of the 501st heavy tank
battalion and paratroops of 1st battalion, 9th Fallschrimjager regiment.
THE BATTLE -Battle of the Bulge (or Ardennes Offensive):
Throughout December and January of 1945 Hitler's code-named plan
'Watch on the Rhine' took place. Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt was to
break through the US line at Ardennes in order to create a German
salient or 'bulge' which would isolate Allied forces at the north end of
the corridor created by the drive. The casualties were tremendous and
included Hitler's elite Panzer units. The German counteroffensive,
although pinning US troops for some weeks, eventually failed.
Three Panzer units were used in the operation, the 5th, 6th and 7th
along with a troop of English-speaking Germans in US uniforms commanded
by Otto Skorzeny. The operation began on 16th December on a 113km
section of the front line under the watch of US 1st Army and General
Bradley's 12th Army. This section of the front had been quiet in the
previous months and so the Allies were taken by surprise, and Allied air
support could not be scrambled because of poor weather conditions. These
factors allowed the German troops to advance quickly.
Defence of the Reichstag, Berlin 1st May
1945 by David Pentland On the 30th April, Untersharfuhrer Georg Diers and his crew of tank
314, were ordered to take up a defensive position at the Reichstag
buildings. This was one of only two remaining King Tigers belonging to
Heavy SS Tank Battalion 503 in Berlin. By that evening they had knocked
out about 30 T34's, and the following day led a successful counterattack
against the Kroll Opera House directly opposite the Reichstag. Their
efforts though, merely postponed the inevitable and by the end of the
day the order was given to abandon the position and prepare to break out
of Berlin.
"Prepare to Ram", Operation
Goodwood, Normandy,
18th July 1944 by David Pentland While probing forward near Cagny on the initial day of
the "Goodwood" offensive, Lt John Gorman, a troop commander of
2nd Armoured Battalion, Irish Guards, suddenly found himself confronted by
a Tiger II and three Tiger I's of the elite 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion.
Supported by only one other Sherman, and aware that their 75mm guns would
be ineffective against such monsters, he gave the order to his driver to
ram the King tiger. Gorman's tank "Ballyragget" succeeded in
colliding with it's target before the Tiger's 88mm gun could be brought to
bear on his Sherman, and with both tanks immobilised the crews quickly abandoned
their tanks. Lt. Gorman, however, was not finished and making his way off
the field, he returned shortly afterwards with a Sherman Firefly, to
finish off the stricken Tiger II and one of the Tiger I's. For this action
he was awarded the Military Cross, and his driver L/Cpl Baron the Military
Medal.
Tigers in the Mist by David Pentland
King Tigers of Kampfgruppe von Rosen, 3rd Company Heavy Tank
Battalion 503, preparing to move out from the Tisza bridgehead to
counter Soviet pressure on German forces attacking to the northwest at
Debrecen during the first battles to defend the Hungarian capital of
Budapest.
Finale at Arnhem, Holland 24th September 1944 by David
Pentland
In the predawn light the last Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II (Kingtigers) of
2nd Company 506th Heavy Tank Battalion, drive south across the Arnhem
bridge to prepare for the upcoming counter-attack to retake Elst and the
Nymegen road bridge.
(matted)
