Didn`t you read about IS-2? It could resist Tiger 2 if not as equal than very near to it.
First time when Tiger 2 were used on East front in august 1944 (Sandomir, Poland). This is a story what happened there:
This history cannot be carried to the unknown pages of war. However, the precisely repeated retelling of the occurred events by the works of regular domestic propagandists and the known tendency of our society toward the myths and the legends they played unfavorable role, after burying real events under the heap of the devised “details”, as a rule, the same picturesque and distant from the reality. In different publications both our memoirs, and popular science, describing the first encounter tankers with the “royal tigers”, plausible remains perhaps that very fact of that occurred. But in other respects the authors disperse even in the date of event, to say nothing of the number of those lost in the Germans of the tanks, “which go for a walk” on the taste of the authors, from two units to three dozen combat vehicles. Somebody assigns participation in this battle even of designer f.Porshe himself (by the way, straight relation to this tank of that not had). Not to find the authentic picture of events and in the western sources, inclined not to note the defeats of Wehrmacht at the eastern Front and already that it is more deficiencies in its technology. But meanwhile results it is combat on the Sandomir bridgehead they exceeded even the most daring their retellings. Preserved in TSAMO RF the combat reports and the reports of August of 1944 make it possible to restore the arrangement of forces and the reliable course of events. To 10 August, 1944, the forces of the 1st Ukrainian front, boosting r. the Vistula, broke through the enemy defense southwest of Polish city Sandomir and, after overturning the parts of the 4th tank hostile Army, they considerably enlarged bridgehead. Attempting to restore the lost positions on the western shore r. of the Vistula, Germans urgently moved into the region of Sandomir of five divisions (including one tank) from the army group “South Ukraine”, five infantry divisions from Germany, three infantry divisions from Hungary and six brigades of the assault guns. Being prepared for the German counterattack, Soviet command accomplished troop regrouping, urgently were raised defensive strengthenings and the mine fields were established. From 11 August, prednamerenno after going away of that previously undertaken of the place Of shidluv and village Of oglenduv, send to defense and part of the 6th guard armored corps (GvTK), the 3rd guard tank army (GvTA). Bridgehead was by this time uneven, that is abutted against r. the Vistula the semiring, in center of which took up defense 53-4 guard tank brigade (GvTBr), left flank of which adjoined 52nd GvTBr. To unearth for the machines of the shelter of complete profile in the sandy soils did not succeed - the walls of entrenchments here crumbled. Numerous troubles this locality reached to Germans. Our tankers repeatedly observed how in the sands frequently skidded “panthers” and as to their drivers with the attempt to be selected it was necessary to substitute weak side armor of its machines under the fire of our troops. In previous combat for Shidluv and Oglenduv these maneuvers of “panthers” helped to apply to enemy the serious losses (only for 11 August of 1944 by tankers 53-1 GvTBr it was destroyed 8 tanks of enemy). Therefore on 12 August the commander of 53-1 GvTBr Colonel V.S.Arkhipov with their chief of staff S.I.Kirilkinym, they came to the conclusion that the enemy along the open sandy fields no longer will go, but he will try to go around the positions of brigade from the flanks. Before 2- m the tank battalion (TB) of Major a.G.Korobov entire locality was in sight. On by right the flank, where took up defense tanks T -34 3rd TB of captain i.M.Mazurin it were pulled deep and wide is hollow, according to whom of the village Of oglenduv to the place Of stashuv into the rear of our troops passed field road. Beyond the hollow was located the swamp, where went over to the defensive 294 the rifle regiment (SP) of 97 rifle divisions (SD). The pulled in the low place road, which derived directly to the purpose, could not prove to be without the attention of Germans. In order to cover this way the command of brigade it decided at the output from the hollow on the slopes of nameless hill to place in the ambush two tanks T -34 from 3rd TB, after charging to command it to the deputy commander of the battalion of guards captain p.T.Ivushkin. The remaining tanks of battalion were located in the kilometer from Oglenduv. However, assumptions about the intentions of enemy obtained confirmation already in the first reports of reconnaissance, which in the expected directions of the advancement of enemy conducted the patrols and three bronegruppy on the tanks and the motorcycles. In the intelligence report № of 53 staffs of 6 GvTK, comprised into on 19.00 13 August it communicated: "on the night with 12 to 13.08 in the region of zap.Shidluv are seized prisoners sergeant-major, who belongs to 1 company of 501 separate heavy tank battalion RGK, and series, who belongs to 10 companies 79 MP Y’TD, undertaken in Ponik region. Sergeant-major showed that to st.Koneupol’ after unloading of 501 separate heavy tank battalion RGK was unloaded the tank division of unknown to him numeration. 501 TB consist of three TR and company of supply… Battalion arrived in the composition of 40 tanks, 20 of them type “panther” even 20 - T- willows. In the hop field it arrived to 30 tanks, rest malfunctioned and they require easy repair ". The arrival of 501 separate heavy tank battalion under the command of Major von legat, by itself spoke about the much. During July - August of 1944 the battalion passed reformation in the training center in Ordrufe (Ohrdruf) and was obtained new materiel - the pride of German tank designers, by those in good time betrothed “annihilating” - tanks “Tigris- B”. However, the low reliability of “damp” machine (to develop which they began as early as 1942, but so they did not bring to the “mind”) it led to the fact that for the eastern Front on 5 August the battalion was sent not in full strength, 14 tanks with different troubles were concentrated in 1 company, which remained in the training center. On 9 August battalion arrived to Poland and was unloaded at Konsupol’ station in the city district Kel’tse. As showed prisoners of 40 tanks, only half was heavy “Tigris- B”, whereas rest - not to send into the offensive battalion with the forces, hardly with those exceeding tank company - at the last moment supplemented Pz Kpfw THE IV (word of prisoners about the arrival of “panthers” they were, most likely, the attempt to hide from the enemy appearance at the front of secret novelty). In the course of short march from the station of unloading to the staff 16 TD, located in region hop field, on three kilometers of way remained 10 defective tanks. After spending the pair of days on repair and the preparation of materiel, the battalion on 11 August after completing 2- km march, it reached the place Of shidluv. Since the march was again accompanied by breakdowns in the new machines, then to the outcome of day in the system of battalion were located only 11 proper tanks “Tigris- B” - to which it was necessary to accept the baptism of fire in the offensive to Stashuv. It is here necessary to note that the forces of the 6th Of gvTK by no means ensured to our tankers of the significant numerical superiority: Germans resisted 9 combat-effective T -34-76 of 53 GvTBr, 9 T -34-76 and 10 T -34-85 of 52 GvTbr, and occupied (on the north) defense 51 GvTBr in its composition had 11 tanks T -34-76 and 4 tanks T -34-85. In Stashuva were located also 11 heavy tanks IS -2 and 1 tank IS -85, belonged 71 OGvTTP. From the middle of night with 12 on 13 August increasingly more distinctly reached the increasing rumble of tank engines in the depth of German positions. Before the dawn the commander 53-1 GvTBr returned from the staff to his tank, which served observation post and located in the battle formations 1st TB, whose machines hid the bank of low sandy dunes in front to the right it stretched hollow with the departed to Stashuv road. In the field were to the left scattered the shocks of the straws, in which they were they disguised the tanks Of ivushkina. Nearer to the output from the hollow it stood Junior Lieutenant a.P.Os’kin’s “T-34 tank”, into crew of whom they entered: driver A.Stetsenko, the gunner Of a.Merkhaydarov, radio operator a.Grushin and loading A.Khalychev. Colonel Arkhipov with The the ivushkinym in a low crawl they were selected to the shock, which hid tank, and, after discussing with The the os’kinym, they ordered without the command fire not to open. Diagram of the layout of the German tanks, hit by the parts of 6 GvTK of 11-13 August of 1944 in the region of m.Stashuv Diagram are combat 6 GvTK of 11-13 August of 1944 in the region of m.Stashuv The morning was issued by misty. From the observation post of commander 53-1 of brigade were no longer visible neither outskirts of the village Of oglenduva nor hollow nor even shocks of straw with the disguised tanks. The slowly increasing roar of tank engines interrupted the silence of the early morning, and soon became audible and the being approached clank of caterpillars. From air floated the rumble of the “Junkerss”, who go to Stashuv. After the fact German artillery opened fire, but projectiles were carried highly above the forward edge of brigade. Reconnaissance of enemy so could not reveal the battle formations of 53-1 TBr, to say nothing of ambush. In on 7.00 13 August the enemy under the cover of fog went over to the offensive to nameless hill 11 by tanks “Tigris- B” in tracking of several armored carriers with the infantry. Ivushkin reported on NP: "tanks send. I do not see, but I hear. They go by hollow ". This is how further course of events described commander himself 53-1 GvTBr: "monstrous sizes tank was selected from the hollow. It crawled to the lift by jerks, skidding in the sand. The Major of the ducts wired from the left flank: - they go. I answer: - not to hurry. To beat from four hundred it is meter. Meanwhile from the hollow crept out the second huge thing, then seemed the third. They appeared with the significant spaces: thus far left the hollow the third tank, the first already passed the ambush Of ivushkina, “to beat?” - it asked. - “beat!” I see, as the side of the shock, where stands the tank Of os’kina, slightly stirred. Rolled down downward sheaf, became visible cannon stem. It twitched itself, then still and still. Os’kin conducted fire. 4 distinctly it saw into the binoculars, as in the starboards of enemy tanks black holes appeared. Here and hazes it seemed, and flame flared up. The third tank unrolled by front to Os’kinu, but, after giving a ride on the perebitoy caterpillar, it stopped and it was finished… … I transfer by the radio: “307 - 305”. Signal general, struck by the direct laying immediately of ten three it was trunk. Yes even howitzer battalions covered hollow with the high angle fire, and it for entire elongation to Oglenduva was hidden in the clouds of smoke and sandy dust ". Appeared the “Junkerss” and “Messerschmitts”, almost simultaneously - our destroyers. Battle in air boiled. 2-1 TB Of korobova during the day conducted battle with the tanks of enemy west of height 247,9. To the outcome of day 53-4 brigades took up defense on its southern part - 300 m are eastern than the village Of oglenduv in the readiness for the offensive in the direction to Shedluv. 2 tanks 3rd TB with the company of sub-machine gunners in ten in the evening attacked the village, from which at eight A.M. it was possible to completely clean enemy. After which 3rd TB it were fastened in the outskirts. Among the trophies undertaken in the village proved to be the German tanks detached after unsuccessful attack. Here that was explained that it was necessary to conduct battle with the newest German tanks (by misty morning to be investigated was there is no time, and in the first reports, after computing the burning tanks, they reported destruction three “panthers”). 2-1 TB in interaction with 2-1 tank company of 71 OGvTTP and 289 SP into 9.00 began offensive in the direction to the neck. Located west Of oglenduva “Tiger- B” by their fire they intercepted to advancing infantry. Then the platoon of the tanks IS -122 of guards of Senior Lieutenant klimenkov, was advanced forward and from the deliberate positions opened fire on the tanks of enemy, as a result of the brief battle Of klimenkov one tank it burnt and one lined. After this, the infantry, without meeting strong resistance, entered into Oglenduv, where attained enemy tanks 3rd TB. Simultaneously 7 tanks “Tigris- B” attacked our positions from the direction of height 272,1. Lain in ambush in the bushes east Mokre on the tank IS -122, gv.st.l- that Of udalov (gv.st.l- t of udalov warred on IS -122 with the the tower № 98, that had gun D -25. - note of the authors) it allowed to approach the tanks of enemy on 700 - 800 m, opened fire on the head and one tank was burnt after several well-aimed shots, and the second was hit. The tanks of enemy turned away and began to be moved away. Udalov it derived its machine by forest road towards the enemy and from the edge of the woods again opened fire. After leaving one additional burning tank, enemy turned back. Soon the attack of “royal tigers” was repeated, this time they dispatch in the direction Of ponik, where stood in the ambush tank IS -122 gv.l- that Belyakova, which opened fire from the distance of 1000 m and tank lit up by the third projectile. Vidya and here disastrous for the offensive direction, the remained tanks of enemy turned back. In all in three days of continuous in the period from 11 to 13 August, 1944, in the region of the places Of stashuv and Shidluv by troops of the 6th Of gvTK was combat seized and destroyed 24 enemy tanks, 13 of which there were the newest heavy tanks “Tigris- B”. Besides this, as it follows from the reports of parts and connections of housing about the prisoners and the trophies, seized in the enemy: “in the period from 9 to 19 August, 1944, of 52 GvTBr it captivated 7 and destroyed 225 soldiers and officers, destroyed one machine gun, took 3 guns, destroyed 6 tanks and 10 cargo motor vehicles, two spets.mashiny”. “53 TBr from 1 to 29 August, 1944, destroyed 8 ober- officers, 37 non-comissioned officers, 153 soldiers, took 2 non-comissioned officers, 6” royal tigers "and destroyed: 1 aircraft, 12 tanks, 29 howitzers, 150 rifles, 7 automata, 20 machine guns, 4 mortars even 2 guns ". It is necessary to note, that this success was those more impressing, that the subdivisions of the 6th Of gvTK in these combat lost not their one tank. The losses of enemy, only it is later, were confirmed and the razvedsvodkoy № 39 staffs of 6 GvTK, composed on 16 August into 19.00.: "16.08 in the region is at one sitting seized prisoner, who belongs to 501 heavy tank battalion. Prisoner showed that 501 separate heavy tank battalion was formed in Germany, were obtained 40 new tanks to 20 of “royal tigers” and to 20 types “t-th”. In the region the hop field battalion arrived two weeks ago. At present in the battalion it remained to 26 tanks, rest were burnt and hit. Prisoner, besides his tanks, saw the tanks “Tigris” of another part. Unit numbers the prisoner does not know ". On the recollections of commander 53-1 GvTBr: "… who lined and how much - a question difficult, since fire conducted the tankers of two battalions - I.M.Mazurina and A.G.Korobova, and attached to us two artillery (185-1 howitzer and 1645-1 light) two motorized artillery (1893-1 and 385-1) regiments. Attack aviation excellently worked. The crew Of os’kina it burnt three tanks, one lined. Itself Aleksandr Petrovich was honored the Title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Abubakir Of merkhaydarov - the Order of Lenin. Were noted by rewards all members of crew ". After battle the commander 2- GO tb of ducts composed the report, in which he indicated that “about 20 large tanks began in the joint of its battalion and 51-1 guard Of tBr”. Is legitimate a question, and where did get to remaining “royal tigers”? By them so it did not transport. They burn into the ambush, arranged by command 52nd GvTBr, which occupied defense on the left flank of the 6th Of gvTK. 2-1 TB of this brigade Major a.N.Golomidova on 12 August was located on the edge of the woods in the region of hamlet To mokre, located several kilometers west Stashuv. Nearer toward the evening battalion commander summoned company commander st. l- that V.I.Tokareva and, point the map, it ordered to organize ambush. In the kilometer from the battle formations of battalion, in the region of high-rise with the bushes, two tanks, headed by company commander, arose into the ambush. Entire night on 13 August tank crews conducted without the sleep. Then “T-34 tanks” were partially dug in into the earth among the shocks from the sheaves of bread. To reveal both machines was practically impossible. This is how further course of events described the commander of the 52nd guard Rostov tank brigade the Hero of the Soviet Union of guards in sequence- to L.I. It kurist: “early in the morning in the sky appeared the so-called” frame "- enemy observation aircraft. It flew above our region and was hidden a little pogodya enemy it opened strong artillery fire. Projectiles with the whistle flew above head of tankers and were torn up behind - in the edge of the woods and the outskirts of neighbor village. - now will grant the “tigers” yes of “panther”, said Tokarev, when film ceased. - I will be in the entrenchment, from there more visible. But you, Georgiy (Komarichev - Senior Sergeant, the spotter of the instrument of the tank of company commander), be on the alert. … Komarichev and Dzhoparidze (loading napryazhenno scrutinized far, from where the roar of motors reached. After several minutes they saw how because of the hill appeared the armored machines, which go from the hollow around height, substituting board to our tanks. Apparently, Germans even did not assume that here there can be the ambush. - five, six, seven… twelve… - counted Komarichev. - Tengiz! Twenty! You understand, twenty! But after them - infantry. - Nothing, Zhora. We - guardsmen! - give armor-piercing! Enemy tanks noted the crew of Junior Lieutenant stepan Kraylova. Tankers decided to allow to approach enemy up to the close distance in order to beat for sure. When Hitlerites proved to be meters in five hundred, Komarichev and Kraynev opened fire. From the shot Of komaricheva caught fire one “tiger”, Kraynev lined another. Fascists made the desperate attempts to be opened to the edge of the woods. Tanks took only more left. However, this did not help: the burning and hit machines remained in the battlefield. Suffering large losses, Germans trembled, tanks unrolled and began to gradually retire. From further attempts to begin on the boundary, occupied with brigade, they refused. The incandescence of that battle it is possible to judge at least because the tank crews consumed almost all projectiles. On the calculation Of komaricheva and Dzhaparidze it was eight destroyed “tigers” and “panthers”. Kraynov lined six. … after entering the opposition with the enemy… our tankers destroyed 14 tanks, more than 50 Hitlerites, and the main thing - they tore away the counterattack of enemy in their section ". Unfortunately, both commanders of tank brigades in their recollections did not separately indicate a precise quantity destroyed and hit “royal tigers”. According to the latest data, published in the book the “tactics of the action of tanks the Tigris -1 and Tigris -11” English researcher Thomas dzhemtza, the week after battle on 21 August, 1944, in the system of 501 tank battalion were counted 12 proper tanks the Tigris -.ll, 27 tanks required repair, and six tanks the Tigris -.II were forever lost. However, citing these data the author somewhat it deceives by cunning. To the battlefield in Oglenduv, Mokre and Shidluv remained 12 tanks “Tigris- B”. Today it appears from archive data, that during these it is combat it was possible to the head to destroy 501 separate battalion “Tiger- B”, after taking in this case three completely proper machines of new model, with tower numbers 102, 502 and 234. Tank № 502 was discovered confronting in the court of house in the outskirts of the village Of oglenduv. The reason, for which the crew threw technically proper combat vehicle it remains obscure. Most likely, since the village Of oglenduv was undertaken by one swift of with a throw our tanks, the crew of the “royal tiger” simply panically ran, after leaving entire technical documentation inside the machine. In the tank complete fire unit and sufficient fuel stock was located. On the technical documentation obtained in it it was explained that tank passed only 444 km pri the attempt to neglect engine it it were brought “with the half turn”. The seized tanks of №y02 and 502 were commander, since had the extra-budgetary resources of connection. Germans estimated that happening worthily, after removing von legata from the post after only the week. Soon in the front newspaper of the 6th Of gvTK “combat call” appeared editorial by subtitle - the “best in the world tanks - our, Soviet!”. In it recent events on the Sandomir bridgehead so were illuminated: “… after seeing our, in everything exceeding, tanks, the Germans started to construct their clumsy and clumsy monsters -” tigers “,” panthers “and” the Ferdinands ". But these machines on the previous was inferior and be inferior to the quality of Soviet machines. This is proven from the last battles, where the way of the retreat of the German armies of useyan by the fragments of the “tigers” and of another German technology. Did not frighten Soviet soldiers last German tanks of the type “T -via” “royal tiger”. However, our tankers and artillerymen with the first encounter with them proved the absolute superiority of our combat vehicles against this, so-called, “secret” weapon of Germans. However, our valiant tankers Of os’kin, Udalov and fun in the first battle destroyed on several “royal tigers”… Experience is combat at the Soviet-German front it proved that the advantage of the Soviet tanks over German is explicit and is unquestionable. Our new tanks have the best gun, they possess high passability and maneuverability ". So was made the first step toward the creation of the legend, which overshaded the real and where more impressionable success of our tanker-soldiers. By reason for the complete fiasco of “royal tigers”, so the not justified hopes of Germans in the environs of Sandomir, steel the skillful organization of defense and unquestionably the craftsmanship of our tankers. From other side, enemy brought numerous errors in the planning and the tactics, unsuccessful selection of direction for applying of heavy tanks, especially 70- ton “royal tigers”. The desire to faster throw in the battle not brought to the “mind” “miracle- weapon” gave in the final analysis to the fact that sequential prepared by German “tank culinary specialists” the “pancake” so did not fall on table in the proper form.
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