The Tiger I VI Ausf. E
Originally
developed under the name Pzkw VI Ausf. H the tank was redesigned as Ausf. E (Ausführung
Ger. "version") in March 1943. The tank was also known as the Mark VI-E,
Panzer VI-E, PzKpfw VI-E or Sd.Kfz. 181 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 181), although in
general it was commonly known as the Tiger I or simply the Tiger.
The Tiger
I was in use from late 1942 until the German surrender in 1945. It was given its
nickname by Ferdinand Porsche. The design served as the basis for other armoured
vehicles, including the Tiger II, or King Tiger tank, and the Sturmtiger self-propelled
gun.
The Tiger's crew training manual, the Tigerfibel, became a souvenir
item after WWII.