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On paper, the Tiger tank appears a more formidable opponent than the Panther. It carried a huge, long-barreled, high-velocity 88 mm gun (the same 88 mm gun used by flak units that made flight over Germany so hazardous on bombing missions), capable of penetrating any tank's armor even at long range. Its frontal armor was 100 mm (over six inches) thick! Even on the sides and back, its armor was 60-80 mm thick. But these features came at a considerable cost. Its weight of 55-70 tons held it to only 24 mph on roads, and it was unable to move at more that 12 mph over rough terrain. Its range was another limiting factor. The Panther was able to travel 60-120 miles before refueling, but the Tiger could only travel 45-70 miles. Additionally, it was difficult to maintain in fight condition, and this situation was exacerbated by its frequent mechanical breakdowns.
The Tiger found its forte in combating opponents from preset defensive positions, as the Americans discovered at Normandy. Once its opponents learned to use their speed and agility to attack from the sides and rear, the Tiger suffered. Because of its complicated manufacturing process, only 1,300 or so were produced during the war.
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