Misc. Comments on the Tigers of sPzAbt. 501 in Tunisia

sPzAbt. 501 received 20 Tigers—2 Tigers in September 1942, 8 Tigers in October, and 10 Tigers in November. The Tigers of the 501st were transferred to Tunisia between November 1942 and January 1943. Two Tigers served in the Stab [01 and 02], 9 Tigers in the 1st Ko. [11 (source: Jentz), 111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142] and 9 Tigers in the 2nd Ko. [21, 211, 213, 221, 223, 231, 233, 241, 243). The Tigers of the 1st Ko. and 2nd Ko. were extensively modified and are easily distinguished from other units.

For a good selection of sPzAbt. 501 Tiger photographs, see Tiger im Focus – sPzAbt. 501.

Photographic Record:

  • Only one confirmed photograph of a Stab Tiger exists (01), so the exact features of the Stab Tigers are unknown. [Note: a photograph of Tiger 02 has been discovered.]
  • Identifiable photographs exist of all the 1st Ko. Tigers except Tiger 11. Tiger 121 is unique among the 1st Ko. Tigers in having the shovel mounts on the front glacis plate.
  • Identifiable photographs exist of 2nd Ko. Tigers 231, 241, and 243. Tiger 231 and 243 carried spare track links on the lower front plate, while Tiger 241 did not.
  • In February 1943, the 501st was redesignated as the 7th Ko. and 8th Ko. of 10th Panzer Division. Presumably the 1st Ko. Tigers were also renumbered at this time, although no photographic proof exists that the Tigers were renumbered before the additional reorganization described below. For example, a photograph exists of Tiger 142 during Operation Ochsenkopf alongside photographs of renumbered 8th Ko. Tigers.
  • The Tigers of 2nd Ko. were renumbered as 8th Ko. and identifiable photographs exist of 813, 823, and 833. 823 is noteworthy in having the reinforced mantlet. 833 is noteworthy in having the new hinged front mudguards.
  • After the heavy losses in Operation Ochsenkopf, the Tigers were consolidated into a single company and renumbered as 7th Ko. Identifiable photographs show Tigers 712 [formerly 2 Ko.], 724 [formerly 112 as recognizable from battle damage], 731 [formerly?], and 732 [formerly 1 Ko.].

Tiger Characteristics:

The following characteristics are visible in photographs of Tigers of the unit:

 

No. Cross Size New Mud Guards Reinf. Mantlet Front Shovel Notes
01 small ? N ?  
02          
111 large ? ? ?  
112 large N N N  
121 large N N Y  
122 large N N N  
131 large N N N  
132 large N N N  
141 large N N N  
142 large N N N Destroyed near Beja.
UNK1 large N N Y Destroyed near Beja.
UNK2 small N N Y “Heidi” on front plate.
UNK3 small N N ? Tiger painted behind headlight.
21          
22? ? N Y ?  
231 ? N ? ?  
241 ? N ? ?  
243 ? N ? ?  
811 ? ? ? ? Destroyed turret photographed near Beja.
813 small ? ? ?  
82? small N Y Y Photographed on road near Sidi Nsir. May be same as 823.
823 small N Y ? Destroyed near Beja.
833 small Y N ? Destroyed near Beja.
843         Turret shell destroyed near Beja.
71          
712 small Y N Y Aberdeen Tiger. Formerly 2 Ko.
724 large N N N Formerly 1 Ko. Tiger 112 (from battle damage).
731 large N ? N Norbert? Characteristics of both formerly 1 Ko. and 2 Ko.
732 large N ? ? Formerly 1 Ko.

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2 Responses to Misc. Comments on the Tigers of sPzAbt. 501 in Tunisia

  1. Robert Escher says:

    What happened to the turret storage container on tank 712? I have seen photos of it on the tank when it was captured and when the turret was taken off the hull for transport to the USA. 712 also had the later style front mud guards when captured as seen in seversl photos.

  2. David Byrden says:

    An update as of 2014;
    Both Stab Tigers 01 and 02 can now be seen in photos, and show no differences from 1.Ko. Tigers.
    Tiger 712 appears to have been 221 originally.
    1.Ko. Tigers were not renumbered in Ochsenkopf.

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