Geschützwagen Tiger

GW Tiger
Type	Artillery
Place of origin	Nazi Germany
Production history
Manufacturer	Krupp
No. built	1 partial prototype
Specifications
Mass	58 tonnes (64 short tons; 57 long tons)
Length	10.27 m (33 ft 8 in)
Width	4.48 m (14 ft 8 in)
Height	3.29 m (10 ft 10 in)
Crew	8
Armor	16–30 millimetres (0.63–1.18 in)
Main armament	170mm K 72 L/50, 210mm Mortar 18/1 L/31, 305mm GrW L/16 mortar, or 420mm Grw mortar
Secondary armament	2 x 7.92mm machine guns
Engine	Maybach HL230P30 or HL230P45
Operational range	250 km (160 mi) (road)
Maximum speed	45 km/h (28 mph)

The GW Tiger tank was a self-propelled gun (SPG) in World War II that never saw service. The decision to build this heavy artillery came in June 1942. The first prototype was tested at the end of the war. The tank never saw service because the Germans were on the brink of surrendering. The Tiger II's success caused the program to be suspended in January 1943.

Development

In 1942, Krupp received orders to design a vehicle (Waffenträger) using the Tiger II’s components. It was to be able to mount the 170mm K 72 L/50 gun and designated GW Tiger. It was ordered that its weight should be 53 to 58 tons. It was also planned to upgrade the gun to the 210mm Mortar 18/1 L/31 as well as variants equipping the Skoda 305mm GrW L/16 mortar and the 420mm Grw mortar. In 1943/44, Krupp started production of the prototype, while full-scale production was to start in mid-1945, but the end of the war canceled any further development. The GW Tiger would of had its armament mounted on the rail platform inside the hull, allowing it to be dismounted anytime. Each variant was also armed with two 7.92mm machine guns. It would be operated by the crew of eight which consisted of Driver, Commander, Gunner, Radio Operator, the gun would of required four Loaders. Powered by the Maybach HL230P30 or HL230P45, its maximum speed would of been 45 km/h with a range of 250km. The fuel capacity was to be 860 liters. Its armor protection ranged from 16mm (side) to 30mm (front). The Grille 17 weighed 58,000 kg, but only carried 5 rounds of ammunition. The Grille 21 weighed 58,000 kg and carried only 3 rounds of ammunition. One prototype with a 170mm gun was almost completed in May of 1945, and was captured by British troops at Haustenbeck near Paderborn.