Forces Of Valor 1/32 German Jagdtiger # 80078

Jagdtiger ("Hunting Tiger") is the common name of a German tank destroyer of WWII.  The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. It saw service in small numbers from late 1944 to the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front. The Jagdtiger was the heaviest armoured fighting vehicle operationally used during WWII. Due to an excessive weight the Jagdtiger was continuously plagued with mechanical problems.In early 1942 a request was made by the Army General Staff to mount a 128 mm gun on a self-propelled armoured chassis. On 18 May 1942 Adolf Hitler ordered that the 128 mm gun be utilized in the tank destroyer role, rather than for infantry support. By early 1943 a decision was made to install a 128 mm gun on a Tiger II chassis as a heavy assault gun. Two prototypes were produced; a version with the eight road wheel Porsche suspension system (number 305001) and a version with the Henschel nine overlapping wheel suspension system (number 305002), as used on the production Tiger II.  It was originally designated as Jagdpanzer VI, but was later named the Jagdtiger. It received the inventory ordnance number Sd.  Kfz.  186.The Jagdtiger used a boxy casemate superstructure, with its sides completely integral with the hull's sides, on top of a lengthened Tiger II chassis. The resulting vehicle featured very heavy armour and the 128 mm PaK 44 L/55 gun, capable of defeating any tank fielded in WWII, even at very long ranges (over 3,500 m (2.2 mi)). It had 250 mm (9.8 inches) armour on the front of the casemate and 150 mm (5.9 inches) on the glacis plate. The main gun mount had a limited traverse of only 10 degrees; the entire vehicle had to be turned to aim outside that narrow field of fire.The Jagdtiger suffered from a variety of mechanical and technical problems due to its immense weight and under-powered engine. The vehicle had frequent breakdowns --- ultimately more Jagdtigers were lost to mechanical problems or lack of fuel than to enemy action.150 Jagdtigers were ordered but only half that number were produced. Only two heavy antitank battalions (schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung), numbered 512 and 653, were equipped with Jagdtigers, with the first vehicles reaching the units in September 1944. Forces of Valor® Jagdtiger is produced with a mix of plastic and die cast metal components. The upper portion of the hull is metal with the top and rear casement made from plastic for detailed recreation of hatches and access doors. The lower portion of the hull and the wheels are plastic and feature detailed rivets and bolts. The opening commander's hatch has a removable figure, and the main gun pivots and can be positioned on the retractable transport support assembly. The battlefield equipment is removable and the rubber tracks and tires roll freely.The Forces of Valor® replica is of a Sd. Kfz. 186 Jagdtiger heavy tank destroyer #201, which was attached to 512nd s. Panzerjäger-Abteilund and deployed in Germany during early 1945.  This tank was commanded by the German Ace Commander Otto Carius. Otto Carius was the commander of a Jagdtiger company of the 512th Heavy Antitank Battalion (schwere Panzerjägerabteilung) in the West at the beginning of 1945. On 8 March 1945, without finishing its training, the 2nd company was directed to the front-line near Siegburg. It then took part in the defense of the River Rhine and eventually surrendered to the US Army on 15 April 1945.FEATURES Die cast metal and plastic construction.Upper chassis is metal.Hatches open.Removable spare tracks.Working vinyl tracks.Two tow cables.Elevating barrel.Comes with assorted gear and other accessories.Comes with a commander figure.No ties or screws for 2013 new packaging, double blister construction.DIMENSIONS Length: 13 inches Width: 4.75 inchesHeight: 3.5 inchesWeight: 1.6 lbs.Ages: 14+