Newsgroup: it.cultura.storia.militare
Titolo: Come combattere un panzer Tigre

Un documento interessantissimo,le istruzioni di un alto ufficiale
sovietico,l' Artillery Marshal Voronov per combattere i carri Tigre.
il documento porta la data del 20 Aprile 1943
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http://pkka.narod.ru/tiger.htm
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    Instruction on fighting German tank T-VI.
    Signed by Artillery Marshal Voronov
    20 April 1943
In the recent battles Germans used their new heavy tank T-VI (see
Pic.1) named Tiger (Elefant, Henschel).
    Remark: all German heavies seem to be mixed up. However, on the
pictures below scanned from the instruction accurately depict early
Tiger.
These tanks cover action of medium tanks, at the same time, acting
themselves under the cover of medium tanks. As a rule, they do not come
forward. Very often tanks T-VI open fire from distances 1.5-2.5 km.
They retreat (reverse) from under the fire of our artillery.
Dimensions of T-VI.
Length - 6220 mm
Width - 3600 mm
Height - 2940 mm
Armament: one 88-mm anti-aircraft gun and two submachine guns 7.92-mm.
The front part of T-Vi is reliably penetrated by anti-armor shells of
45-mm guns model 1942 and 57-mm and 76-mm of all models from distances
100-700 m, by armor-piercing shells of 122-mm guns model 1931, 152-mm
gun-howitzers model 1937 from 700-1000 m.
Sides, rear part and turret additionally to that are penetrated by
subcaliber shells of 45-mm gun from 200-500 m, by armor-piercing shells
of 57-mm AT guns, 76-mm and 85-mm antiaircraft guns from 1000 m.
Commanders of gun crews and gunners must carefully study and know
vulnerable places of the tank, as well as which shell of which gun from
what distance kills the tank.
Suspension, base of turret and gun are the most vulnerable places.
A hit of any shell from any gun in suspension stops the tank. The best
is firing from angles 0-30° as in this case a few wheels are damaged
and track is broken.
A hit in the base of turret blocks it and prevents rotation of the
turret in the desired direction, The tank has to turn and expose to the
fire its most vulnerable places.
A hit in the gun forces the tank to disengage from the battle.
Damaged tank that retained its armament and some fighting ability must
be rendered useless by fire at its gun and turret.
    Remark: it shows respect to Tiger as the instruction demands to
shoot at Tiger until it has only wheels left.
A gun must pick up target among attacking tanks with the consideration
of best shooting angles 0-30° , that is, the target must be to the
side of the gun.
Guns of all types fire the standard shells only at suspension, turret's
base and gun.
By subcaliber and armor-piercing shells the fire is effected from:
45-mm gun model 1937
    suspension, turret's base and gun - by armor-piercing shells;
    from 200 m at sides, rear and turret - by subcaliber shell;
45-mm gun model 1942
    suspension, turret's base and gun - by armor-piercing shells;
    from 500 m at sides and turret - by sun-caliber shell;
    from 100 m at front part.
57-mm gun
    from 600 m at sides, rear and turret - by armor-piercing shells;
    from 500 m at front part by sub-caliber shells.
76-mm gun model 1942
    at suspension, turret and gun;
    from 700 m at sides, rear, turret - by sub-caliber shells;
    from 100 m at front part.
76-mm AA gun
    from 500 m at sides, rear and turret - by armor-piercing shells;
    from 700 m at the front part by sub-caliber part.
85-mm AA gun
    from 1000 m at sides, rear and turret.
122-mm model 1931
    from 1000 m by armor-piercing shell at the front part. Rear, sides
and turret can be hit from 1500 m.
152-mm gun-howitzer model 1937
    from 1000 m by armor-piercing shell at sides, rear and turret.
Front part can be hit from 500 m.
Commanders of gun crews and gunners must allow tank to close up, as
close as possible, and open fire from distances securing reliable
destruction.

 il documento porta la data del 20 Aprile 1943
Interessante ma da maneggiare con cura, mi pare.
Ho qualche dubbio che il 45mm, pure nella versione M1942 da 66 calibri,
perforasse "in modo affidabile" la corazza frontale del Tiger, per quanto
corta fosse la distanza.
Ho anche qualche dubbio che "qualunque modello di cannone da 76mm" la
potesse perforare a 700 metri.
Tutte le parti che non presentano dati di distanze di penetrazione non sono
consigli rivoluzionari:
- è preferibile colpire sul fianco,
- i pezzi anticarro devono lasciare che i carri si avvicinino prima di
sparare,
- i comandanti devono conoscere i punti deboli del bersaglio,
- i carri danneggiati devono essere colpiti ancora per accertarne la
distruzione,
- se nonostante quel che vi racconto proprio non riuscite a perforare, però
siete ancora in circolazione, puntate il vostro 45mm a) al treno di
rotolamento, b) all'anello di torretta, c) al cannone.

Bastava che consultasser qualche reduce di Bir el Gobi per esempio.