About this Tiger unit
s.Pz.Abt.505 was formed in February-March 1943 with the original structure of Tiger battalions : it had 20 Tigers, including two Command Tigers. The Command Tigers issued to the 505 were of the "Early" type and were painted a medium-dark colour. Roman-numeral identifiers "I" and "II" were marked on their turret sides when they embarked for the Eastern Front at the start of May.
The first change in the appearance of these Tigers came when they were repainted in camouflage patterns of a lighter tone and higher contrast. The new 3-colour paint system was probably used. A photo caption in one book claims that this repaint happened during May.
Meanwhile, a new structure for Tiger battalions had been defined, and the 505 was reorganised along those lines. Additional Tigers including a third Command Tiger arrived at the battalion's railhead on 20 June. The new Command Tiger was also of the "Early" type but probably differed in having the new HL230 engine.
The main distinguishing features of the 505's three Command Tigers were:
- I ... standard mantlet (thick bar at the eye holes) and the 1.4m turret bin.
- II ... unusual mantlet with a large thick panel, standard turret bin.
- the new Tiger ... flat mantlet, standard turret bin.
All three Command Tigers were then renumbered, so that the newest tank was allocated to the battalion commander. These are the number changes:
- I became II
- II became III
- the new tank became I
The next change was the addition of barbed wire to the sides of at least two of these Tigers. Many Tigers of the 505 battalion used this defence.
At some point in 1943, Tiger "III" was destroyed.
In 1943, or very early in 1944, Tiger "I" apparently took such damage that its hull could no longer be used. Photos strongly suggest that a standard Tiger's hull was converted to carry the turret of "I" and the Fu 8 radio, while the battalion commander moved back to his original undamaged Tiger.
When the winter of 1943-44 set in, the barbed wire was gone. Both Command Tigers were painted solid white.
Next, while the Tigers were still coloured white, the battalion adopted a new logo. A knight was painted on the tanks' turret sides, and their identifying numbers were moved to the gun sleeve.
In the Spring of 1944, the two Tigers were painted in camouflage colours once again, in a new style featuring broad diagonal stripes.
The 505 had been operating for some time with a single intact Command Tiger and a hybrid that was probably lacking in some capabilities. On 25 April 1944, the battalion acquired two new Command Tigers of the "Mid" type. They were assigned the numbers "I" and "II". The old Tiger "I" was renumbered as "III". The old Tiger "II" no longer appears in the photographic record.
Some Tigers of this unit
- Befehlstiger I then II
- 'Mid' Befehlstiger I
- Befehlstiger II then III
- Befehlstiger I then III
- 'Mid' Befehlstiger II