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Tiger Tank Mk.VI |
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On the southern outskirts of the Normandy village of Vimoutiers is World
War 2 German Tiger tank. It was abandoned by the crew during the Allied breakout
from the D-day beaches and the following encirclement of the German forces in
what is known as the Falaise Gap.
TigerPanzerkampfwagen VI Heavy Tank (SdKfz 181.)
Maximum Speed: 37 km/hr
Main Gun: 88 mm
Armor: 25 to 100 mm
When it was introduced, the Tiger was the most heavily armoured
and armed of the tanks of German army. Although is was slow, had very high fuel
consumption, and was prone to breakdown it was a far superior to the American
Sherman tank of the period . Under the command of such tank legends as Lieutenant
Michael Wittman* it caused much damage and delay to the Allies in Normandy.
It was only with the introduction of the American M36 tank destroyer with its
high-velocity 90-millimeter gun and the 17-pounder-armed Sherman Firefly that
the Tiger finally met it's match.
*Lieutenant Michael Wittman.
On the 13th June 1944 Wittman attacked the leading brigade of the 7th Armoured Division at Villiers Bocage. On the outskirts of the village he destroyed many of the tanks and armoured cars of the 4th County of London Yeomanry. He then entered the village and attacked and destroyed several more Shermans and Cromwells. He had effectively single handed stopped the British advance. He was killed in action on August 8th.