Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B King Tiger (late production) with full interior
German heavy tank of World War 2 The heaviest and most powerful tank of World War II was the German Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B. It was developed by the Henschel company under the leadership of E. Aders. Its serial production was started in February 1944. The tank had heavy armor and a long-barreled 8.8-centimeter gun. Its armor-piercing projectile was able to hit any allied tank at a distance of 2000 m and above. However, the tank had insufficient mobility and reliability of the power plant and transmission. The tank received the army nicknames Tiger II or Königstiger. From July 1944, Henschel turrets were installed, and from October 1944, the Zimmerit coating was discontinued. Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B tanks served in heavy tank battalions until the end of the war. In 1944-1945, 479 Königstiger were produced.
