[chascbv]

Again, thank you very much for your kind words, DirtyACE.

Your question is a very interesting one, and as far as I know Jochen Peiper commanded no Tiger II tanks during the offensive.

Some kit and diecast model manufacturers have depicted Tiger 008 as Peiper's mount, but that was likely not the case during the Ardennes offensive. Tigers 007, 008, and 009 were to lead sPzAbt 501 into combat, but - according to a war veteran - Tiger 007 was left behind in the assembly area due to mechanical problems. Its commander (the Abteilung's commander), Obersturmbannführer Von Westernhagen, had seemingly to use a different transport, most probably a half-track.

Tiger 008 was at the command of Untersturmführer Kalinowsky, and Tiger 009 was the mount of the Abteilung's Signal-Offizier (name unknown). In the picture below you can see Kalinowsky (not Peiper), the Adjutant des Abteilungskommandanten, riding his corresponding tank, Tiger 008.

So, I'm afraid that Peiper's Tiger is merely a myth!
(However, other members may have more or better info on this subject...?)

620)this.width=620" border=0>

[DirtyACE]

chascbv, thank you for all the excellent info again. I did read that the 008 belonged to the adjutant of the battalion but was confused as to whether the tank was also used by Piper personally. This clears up all the confusion. I also found some interesting videos recently on youtube regarding tanks of WWII. Found a very interesting documentary about tanks used in the Ardennes offensive. Within the documentary there is a clip of the 008. I believe the photograph you posted of that tank was taken from that clip. I can post a link to the documentary if you're interested.

[chascbv]

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

chascbv, thank you for all the excellent info again. I did read that the 008 belonged to the adjutant of the battalion but was confused as to whether the tank was also used by Piper personally. This clears up all the confusion. I also found some interesting videos recently on youtube regarding tanks of WWII. Found a very interesting documentary about tanks used in the Ardennes offensive. Within the documentary there is a clip of the 008. I believe the photograph you posted of that tank was taken from that clip. I can post a link to the documentary if you're interested.

Yes, please, DirtyACE, I'd very much appreciate it!!

[DirtyACE]

Here are the links to all 5 parts of the documentary. Enjoy!

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCDFQivoPt0

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OgmkgO-IlY

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_swzYzb0ws

Part 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Paij3Buco

Part 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcusJyhTJjs

[chascbv]

Above all, thanks a lot DirtyACE for the documentary links. I really enjoyed it!!!

Now here's another mini-review, this one on my favourite Tiger by Dragon - Tiki. The model very accurately depicts Tiger 812 of 8./SS-Panzer Regiment 2 "Das Reich" as photographed on April 20, 1943 in Berezhnaya, a small village in the Ukraine. Only two nits to pick here: 1) my usual complaint on the "solid" sprockets, and 2) those yellow swashes should have been maybe a bit wider? Not much to worry about, as you may see.

Tiki's commander was Heinrich Warnick, who would later become a Panther commander and ace with 77 tank kills. Pictures were taken at a Knight's Cross award ceremony shorly after the battle for Kharkov. Walter Krüger, the general commanding the "Das Reich" division at the time, is seen here standing on Tiki while addressing the troops.

According to a relative of H. Warnick the name Tiki emerged when the latter called the beast "our child" (unser Kind in German), which made the crew laugh. The tank was then referred to as "Tigerkind" (Tigerchild), and hence nicknamed Tiki.

This is a fine model with an uncommon, interesting paint scheme, and I really love it!

[chascbv]

This Panther arrived yesterday in my collection.

The model represents an early G version, and is correct in both proportions and details. As this is an earlier mould, small details are not as sharp as in Dragon's Shermans, for instance, and details such as handles and lift rings are solid blobs. However, this does not detract much from the model's excellent looks.

As this is an early G in September 1944, of course the original vehicle had a factory-applied coat of zimmerit, which Dragon has not reproduced. This is a pity since Panthers are the only Dragon models where zimmerit is adequately done, meaning that the tanks still keep their full complement of tools, cables, supports, etc., and no oversimplifications are apparent.

The model is based on the profile included below, found in Concord's second volume on the 4.Panzer Division (no photograph of this vehicle is included in said volume, maybe in another title from Concord that I still do not have...). The profile represents a vehicle from Pz.Rgt 35, 4.Pz Div, somewhere in Courland (Latvia) during September 1944. Two features are characteristic of this tank, and both have been noted by the manufacturer - the dark mottled gun barrel, and the peculiar way track links are attached to the turret sides (a longitudinal segment, rather than the usual vertical lengths); however, Dragon has used two parts for each track segment, and thus the white number is not at the centre, but on the rearmost length. Also, the model has side skirts, which the vehicle in the profile has not.

4.Pz Div was transported from Poland to Latvia in August 1944. Operation Bagration, the massive Soviet offensive for the summer, was ongoing since June, and had been successful on all fronts. German resistance had collapsed everywhere, and the extent of success for Soviet armies even surprised Soviet commanders themselves. Soon, on October 10, 1944 the Soviets reached the Baltic Sea at Memel, and cut off a number of German units - including PzRgt 35 - from the rest of German Armies: the battle for the Courland pocket had just begun! The remnants of Army Group North were renamed Heeresgruppe Kurland, and these German troops, facing vastly superior enemy forces, successfully - heroically maybe - fought off Soviet attacks in what would be the last German victories of WW2. When Germany surrendered, Admiral Dönitz ordered the surrender of all German divisions in Courland. Around 190,000 German troops were then taken into captivity. But 4.Pz Div was no longer there - it had been transferred to West Prussia in January 1945, where it finally surrendered to the Soviets in April.

But for now we see our tank in September, somewhere in Latvia, getting ready for the upcoming onslaught among worrying, pesimistic news from all fronts.

[theToyFederation]

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

Another excellent review with plenty of info! I'm looking forward to more, chascbv

I have a question for your since you seem like a bigger expert than me What do you think of the King Tiger from Kampfgruppe Piper? Is that an actual tank that Piper used as his ride in the Ardennes? I always thought he'd ride in a halftrack or some other lighter vehicle since he was commanding the entire battle group.

On page 142 of the Battle of the Bulge Then and Now, the author mentions that when the Kampfgruppe entered the town of Ligneuville, the lead Panther was knocked out and a Sherman was drawing a bead on Peipers' vehicle(SPW) before the driver backed up out of the line of fire.

Also remember that the Kampfgruppes' mission was to move fast and Peiper considered the Tiger II's a burden and positioned them at the end of his column. An experienced veteran like Peiper would never lead from the rear.

[DirtyACE]

chascbv, I have recently read the Panzer Aces book. It seems that a commander by the name of Herman Bix was in the PzRgt 35. I'm wondering if this panther is one from his platoon or company or even perhaps his own.

[chascbv]

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

chascbv, I have recently read the Panzer Aces book. It seems that a commander by the name of Herman Bix was in the PzRgt 35. I'm wondering if this panther is one from his platoon or company or even perhaps his own.

Hello, DirtyACE. When 4.PzDiv arrived in Courland Hermann Bix indeed commanded a Panther (he was a platoon leader), but was in the 3rd company of 1st. Abteilung, which means his vehicle's tactical number was 3xx. I have no information on the Abteilung Panther 113 (a 1st company vehicle) belonged to.

In addition, Bix was wounded almost immediately upon arrival in Courland, in August 1944, and sent to a hospital in Germany; he returned to service in October, so he was in hospital at the time our Panther 113 was immortalised by a photographer (September).

[Copland]

The videos were great! Thanks for listing them.