Panzer Lehr Division and there King Tiger's

[Brady]

Did the Panzer Lehr Division, get 5 king Tigers for use in Normandy, or was that later on ?

Side- ?, Were all the King Tigers in Normandy equipped with the ( Krupp aka Porsche Turrets ) ?

[Michael Kenny]

A Google for (fkl) 316 Tigers in 'images' will show them all.

[Brady]

I have a reference that shows that they received five in February 44, but I have no way of knowing if they still had them in Normandy

[spannermann]

Hi,
The five Tiger II were chassis numbers 280001 to 280005, which were the first five production vehicles, all five had been used for test purposes previously and were thus very "second hand" when in Normandy and subject to many breakdowns.

They belonged to PanzerKp(fkl) 316 and were only loosely associated with the Pz Lehr Division at the very beginning of Normandy.

Eventually all five were lost through mechanical problems in the Druex / Chanteaudun area, tactical numbers 02, 10, 11, 12, 13, although an 03 has supposidly been seen, which makes a sixth Tiger II, but no evidence so far as I know. All captured by the US Army, but not fought against by the US Army as all had been abandonned, within a relatively small area.

There may be more up todate information availabe on other forums.

cheers PAUL

[Brady]

Thank you

[warriorant]

[spannermann]

Hi,
Excellent photo of 03, so a sixth Tiger II or a renumbered one of the original five ? anybody know ?.

cheers PAUL

[warriorant]

2

3


10

11

12

13?

[Brady]

Schwere Panzerabteilung 503, was then apart from the Panzer Lehr, the only other unit to have King Tigers in Normandy, correct ?

[spannermann]

Hi,
In Normandy ;- Tiger II in 1 and 3 Kps /sPzAbt 503, PzKp (fkl) 316 and 1 Kp / sSSPzAbt 101.

cheers PAUL

[Brady]

So, When Panzer Lehr, shifted to the "American" area in Normandy, apparently sans any operational King Tigers(?), This translates into No American (crewed) Tanks fighting King Tigers in Normandy, afik… ?

[spannermann]

Hi,
Yes, the King Tiger attachment to Pz Lehr was very brief and almost only a paperwork arrangement.

The first US Army encounter with Tigers I and II was possibly just to the south the R Seine in August 44 (?) but its a confusing situation, with the odd Tiger I straggler trying to get across the R Seine, but definitely they did north of the river Seine in August/September 44, predominently the Tiger II of 1/sSS PzAbt 101 and possibly some from 3/sPzAbt 503.

cheers PAUL ,

[Brady]

Thanks

[Brady]

When did sSS PzAbt 101 arrive in Normandy ?

sPzAbt 503 arrived around the 7th of July

[Michael Kenny]

When did sSS PzAbt 101 arrive in Normandy ?

June 13th