Fighting Tigers in Italy

Of all the tanks in the German arsenal, the Tiger was perhaps the one most feared, certainly by the Western Allies from the time they first encountered it in North Africa to the end of the war in Europe. This was no small feat for a tank of which only 1,347 were produced out of a total German tank production of around 27,000 tanks. This is not surprising given that it was armed with the dreaded 88 mm gun, the rounds of which could pass right through a Sherman tank and whose thick frontal armour meant that it was virtually invulnerable to anything the Allies could field at that time.

Though a fearsome weapon on the surface, the Tiger was not well suited to offensive operations. It suffered from a weak transmission, which often failed. The lack of suitable recovery vehicles, until the Bergepanther made its appearance, meant the crews would often attempt to tow it with another Tiger rather than abandon it. This usually resulted in the loss of both Tigers as the towing tank also broke down through mechanical failure, brought about by the extra strain imposed on the towing vehicle.

However, as a defensive weapon, it was second to none, especially in Italy. Here the country's hilly terrain, with its scattering of small villages, restricted the routes of advance the Allies could take. Just the knowledge that Tigers were in the area imposed an extra caution on Allied tank crews, particularly after their duels with its lighter Panzer cousins.

New Zealand troops first met the Tiger during the fighting in Tuscany, their first encounter with this behemoth leaving such a lasting impression on them that the region was dubbed 'Tiger Country'. As stated in one official history, “it became a kind of bogey, and the air was full of rumours of more and more Tigers lying await just ahead.” Yet they learned ways, if not to defeat it, to at least nullify its influence on the battlefield. Just how they did this is detailed in first person accounts in the book.

Author: Jeffrey Plowman is a research biochemist by profession who has had a keen interest in military history for over 45 years. He has made a special study of New Zealand armour and armoured units, extending his interest into the operations of the 2nd New Zealand Division in the Mediterranean theatre in World War II. He has published over twenty-five books on these subjects and co-authored numerous articles in After the Battle and Wheels and Tracks magazines. He has published four books with Pen and Sword: War in the Balkans: The Battle for Greece and Crete 1940-1941, Monte Cassino. Armoured Forces in the Battle for the Gustav Line, Greece 1941: The Death Throes of Blitzkrieg and Tank Attack at Monte Cassino. The Cavendish Road Operation 1944.

Features: 70 b/w illustrations