Tiger Weak Spots

The Tiger is a pretty iconic tank and is mentioned pretty frequently in Soviet anti-tank manuals, but penetration diagrams for the big cat are hard to come by. The one in the collection I posted earlier is very simplistic and does not really give a lot of details. Fortunately, this diagram provides a little bit more information, if only for the 76 mm ZIS-3 gun.

As in the Panther diagram, red represents APCR, blue is AP, and green is HE. 

As can be expected, the front of the Tiger is a pretty tough target. The only hope with AP is to penetrate either the driver's viewport or to jam the turret. APCR also points at the turret ring. The maximum range for this kind of attack is 500 meters. At 800 meters, you can hope to knock off the tank's tracks with HE.

From the sides there are more options. The side of the turret and hull are vulnerable to AP and APCR from 800 meters, which matches some instructions I've seen. At this range you can also use AP or HE to hit the idler or drive sprocket, immobilizing the tank.

Panther Weak Spots

Soviet diagrams showing areas where to shoot enemy tanks are pretty common. There were both elaborate ones showing various weapons printed at the Publisher of the People's Commissariat of Defense and simpler ones, produced in the field, showing whatever weapons were relevant for the unit that printed them. Here are two such flyers for the Panther.

The first one is relatively well known. Each drawing of a shell shows the range and caliber with which you can destroy a Panther tank. The small bullets are 14.5 mm bullets fired from the PTRD or PTRS. The large tube symbol under that is HE, a projectile partially filled with red is an AP shell, a fully red projectile is solid AP shot. The red arrowhead projectile is 45 mm APCR. 

Comparing Shells

 "Report of the GBTU Self Propelled Artillery Directorate on results of comparative penetration trials of American, German, and domestic AP shells
May 13th, 1945

Firing according to the attached velocities was done at the Main Artillery Proving Grounds of the GAU at NKB proving grounds at Sofrino

Results of firing the shells at armour plates at prescribed velocities (see table)

#1: 76 mm AP shells against 50 and 75 mm thick plates.

The experimental shell from 60Kh30 steel shows undoubtedly superior results compared to the stock shell or the American shell.

Elephant Hunters

 "Characteristics of penetrative ability of guns and mines against enemy tanks
Based on combat experience and trials

1. Experimental firing against the 88 mm "Ferdinand" self propelled gun gave the following results:

A) Armour:

• Roof: 45 mm
• Rear: 80 mm
• Sides: 80 mm
• Front vertical plate: 200 mm
• Ball mount armour: 110 mm
• Driver and radio operator visor plate: 200 mm

Final Exam

"Questions that must be studied during evening training by privates and sergeants of the 8th Independent Guards Belaya Tserkov Order of Lenin Artillery Tank Destroyer Brigade of the Reserve of Supreme Command 

1. Combat qualities of your weapon.
2. Ballistic properties of your weapon.
3. Ammunition issued per each of our weapons.
4. Penetration of our weapons with AP and APCR ammunition.
5. Armour thickness of the T-6 (Tiger) tank.

Panther Penetration

"Maximum penetration at which the armour of the German Panther tank is destroyed

Composed according to experimental firing data.

System	Ammunition type	Maximum distance in meters at which penetration was achieved  during experimental firing						Effect
		Front armour			Side armour
		Upper sloped plate (90 mm)	Lower sloped plate (50-65 mm)	Gun mantlet (100 mm cast)	Turret side (45-50 mm)	Upper side (45-50 mm)	Lower side (45 mm)
45 mm gun mod. 1942	APT BR-240	-	-	-	400	300	400	Complete penetration of the turret and hull side armour.
	APIT BZR-240	-	-	-	400	300	400
	APCR BR-240P	-	-	-	400	300	400
57 mm gun mod. 1941	APT BR-271	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
	APIT BZR-271	-	-	-	1000	1000	1000
	APT BR-271 SP	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
	APCR BR-271P	-	-	-	1200	1200	1200
76 mm regimental gun mod. 1927	HEAT BP-354A	-	-	-	600	600	600	Complete penetration of the sloped turret armour.
76 mm regimental gun mod. 1943	HEAT BP-344A	-	-	-	600	600	600
76 mm ZIS-3 mod. 1942	APT BR-350	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200	Penetrates the turret and the side of the hull.
	APCR BR-350P	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
	HEAT BP-350	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
SU-76	APIT BZR-354	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
	APCR BR-354P	300	300	-	1200	1200	1200
SU-85	APT BR-365	1000	1000	1000	1500	1500	1500	Complete penetration of various parts of the hull.
	APT BR-365 SP	1000	1000	1000	1500	1500	1500
122 mm gun mod. 1938	HEAT BP-463	800	800	800	1000	1000	1000	Penetrates armour and detonate the ammunition.
KV-122	APT	1200	1200	1200	1500	1500	1500	A shot to the front destroys the tank.
152 mm gun mod. 1937	AP BP-545	800 m and closer						The front armour is penetrated.

Confirmed: Authorized representative of the Operational Department of Artillery of the 1st Belorussian Front, Colonel Levit

Confirmed: Colonel Utin"

King Tiger Penetration Trials

"ACT

Results of investigation of the T-6-B (King Tiger) tank to discover weak spots and penetration, carried out on September 2nd, 1944, near the city of Staszow (Poland) by a commission composed of:

1. Chair: 
1. Commander of Artillery of the 5th Guards Army, Guards Major General of Artillery V.I. Poluekov
2. Members:
1. Commander of the 31st Guards Rifle Corps, Hero of the Soviet Union, Guards Lieutenant General Rodimtsev
2. Commander of the 155th Novorossiysk Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, Colonel M.A. Tarasov
3. Commander of the 10th Tank Destroyer Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bazirenko
4. Commander of the 31st Tank Corps, Guards Colonel Pleshanov

The results are composed into the following table:

King Tiger Penetration Trials

"10th Tarnopol Order of Lenin Independent Guards Tank Destroyer Brigade

September 3rd, 1944

#0302

To: Commander of artillery of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Colonel General of Artillery, Barentsov

CC: Commander of artillery of the 13th Army, Commander of artillery of the 5th Guards Army

I report that on September 1st and 2nd, 1944, I performed penetration trials against the "T-B King Tiger" tank using 57 and 76 mm guns, a 57 mm SPG, an 85 mm gun on a SU-85, and a 152 mm gun-howitzer on an ISU.

Results of penetration trials:

HEAT and APCR

"USSR NKO

Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army #11794s

ArtKom

December 18th, 1943

#800360s

To commanders of Fronts and Armies

Copy for Leningrad Front only

RE: using subcaliber and armour burning (HEAT) ammunition

With the goal of increasing the effectiveness of artillery against modern enemy tanks, the Main Artillery Directorate produces and supplies the following new types of ammunition:

• 45 mm, 57 mm, and 76 mm subcaliber AP-tracer shot with a tungsten core
• 76 and 122 mm armour burning (HEAT) shells with a powerful explosive charge

Subcaliber shot penetrated armour with a pointed tungsten core and is most effective at close tactical ranges as due to the shape and light weight it quickly loses speed, and therefore penetrative power.

HEAT shells penetrate the armour via a directed explosion and allow the use of guns with low muzzle velocity as effective anti-tank weapons. The effectiveness of these shells remains at long ranges.

Thick Skin of German Beasts

German Tiger, Panther, and King Tiger tanks are some of the best known vehicles in the history of tank building and still occupy the minds of armoured vehicle enthusiasts. Their enormous size, thick armour, and long powerful weapons created a reputation of all-destroying and nearly invulnerable tanks. However, if everything is more or less clear with their size and armament, then the issue of armour is much more difficult. This is the first in a cycle dedicated to the creation of armour for the Tiger Ausf.H1, Panther of all variants, and the Tiger Ausf.B, their assembly, and trials of the armour in the USSR, USA, and Great Britain. To start, let us talk about rolled armour that the hulls and turrets of Tigers and Panthers were composed of almost fully.

How to Kill a Tiger

There were many guides on how to take out Tiger tanks printed in the Red Army. I've shown two of them here, but this one is a lot more detailed.

APCR and HEAT Instructions

"Artillery HQ of the 25th Rifle Corps

May 23rd, 1944

#[illegible]378

To artillery commanders of divisions. Copy personally for the 77th Guards Rifle Division

I send out a copy of instructions issued by the GAU KA regarding the use of 76 mm subcaliber ammunition, 76 mm HEAT, and 122 mm HEAT.

The Corps Artillery Commander orders that:

1. The instructions are to be taught to all artillery personnel of the units (for the appropriate caliber) before May 27th, 1944.
2. Personally check the knowledge of these instructions by officers on May 27th, 1944, and report on the results of the check.
3. Subcaliber and HEAT ammunition must always be stored with the guns and kept in reserve against tanks and SPGs. Do not permit firing at other targets.

Chief of the Artillery HQ of the 25th Rifle Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Solodilov"

Detailed Trials

"Approved by the Commander of Artillery of the 38th Army, Major-General of Artillery Likhachev

June 31st, 1944

Plan of firing trials demonstrating penetration ability against enemy T-4 and Panther tanks held by the 9th Guards Independent Kiev Order of Lenin Order of the Red Banner Tank Destroyer Artillery Brigade of the Supreme Command Reserve, as an element of the 38th Army

Held on June 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1944

Objective of the firing trials demonstration:

1. To illustrate to the NCO and private ranks the effectiveness of various types of shells fired from domestic weapons against enemy tanks.
2. To establish the penetration of weapons and the best distance from which to fire.
3. To inspire confidence in the power of our artillery against tanks.
4. To demonstrate the weak points of enemy tanks.
5. The demonstrate the effectiveness of dense fire of the small arms of an anti-tank battery against enemy submachinegunners that are advancing on the observation post.

Never Penetrated in Combat

Fans of German armoured vehicles often claim that the Tiger II was the ultimate in armoured vehicles of WWII. Particularly, one claim is often made: its upper front plate was never penetrated in combat (even though it was penetrated in testing by several types of guns). Indeed, as this vehicle is rather rare, few photos of them with battle damage exist at all, let alone ones with a visible hole in the UFP. There is one, however.