Reddit reviews Germany's Tiger Tanks: VK45.02 to TIGER II Design, Production & Modifications (Schiffer Military History)

For those two tanks, I recommend the books by Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary L. Doyle. The books they have out in regards to German heavy tanks list and illustrate all branches of development from the first prototypes to the finished tank. The two you would need for the 3601 (H) and the 4502 (P) would be found in these two books:

http://www.amazon.com/Germanys-Tiger-Tanks-Production-Modifications/dp/0764302248

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764310380/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0764302248&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16ZP4E3DBFB47QHXZ4AW

> Thomas Jentz

https://www.amazon.com/Germanys-Tiger-Tanks-Production-Modifications/dp/0764302248

>The reasons I didn't give the book a 5-Star rating are 1) I felt the discussions on the transmission and final drive systems were weak. The text describes what they were and how they functioned but not any thinking on how they were designed. In particular, there is no discussion on the relationship between the steadily increasing weight of the tank and the consequences on the overloading of the mechanical components; 2) in relation to the previous comment, the are no discussions on the reactions (if there were any) to field combat reports on the very high maintenance levels required to keep the tank functioning and on the extensive mechanical failures of the transmissions, final drives, and drive sprockets. By the time the Tiger II was being designed and placed into production, the mechanical failures of the Tiger I and Panther were well known. Yet both the design engineers and the Army weapons department staff continually allowed the weight of the Tiger II to increase as more armor was added without revising the transmission and final drives accordingly. It would have been interesting to read some explanations as to why this was allowed to happen.


It seems like it was not touching on these problems based on this review. Other than that I can't say more since I did not read the book. The book I did read, however, has direct quotes from contemporary German sources about the reliability issues, the reduced speed and whatnot.

So there's that.