Königstiger, King Tiger, Royal Tiger, Kungstiger or Kuningastiikeri, the dear child has many names and in some languages more. Official called Panzerkamfwagen VI Ausf. B ”Tiger II” King Tiger is staying in Parola until March 2024.

Built at the Henschel factory in Kassel in January 1944, it was the second of 492 King Tiger’s off the production line - hence its designation as “V2” (The V short for Versuchs, German for ‘experimental’).

This Tiger II was the second prototype of three built by Henschel, with the Chassis Number V2 (Versuchs-Fahrgestell No. V2 (Trial Chassis V2)), and completed in January 1944. It was not issued to a combat unit, remaining with Henschel were it was used for various trials. It was later captured by the British at the Henschel testing area in Haustenbeck, Germany at the end of the War. It is still fitted with a modified exhaust pipe that Henschel were using to test exhaust pressure.

V2 is unlikely to have ever seen active service. Instead, it was earmarked for military trials and sent to a testing facility. As a result, it had neither the anti-magnetic Zimmerit paste or a camouflage paint scheme applied. The facility was captured by the Allies in April 1945 and V2, then in full working order and fully stowed, became the property of the British Army.

Following a range of trials, the tank was sent to The Tank Museum for display in 1952 – where it was painted in an erroneous camouflage scheme and incorrectly became known as the “Porsche Turret King Tiger”.

The Tiger II was probably the most powerful tank of the war and certainly the most expensive.

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