Panzer Grenadier: An Army at Dawn: Tunisia 1943

[Brett Nicholson]

I didn't think the Tiger was in the desert war ?

I was watching a British program about tanks in North Africa a few nights ago and it claimed that there were a few Tiger Is in the later part of it 42-43. That despite their dreaded firepower did not perform well mechanically in the desert, but were present. Funnily enough the documentary also stated that the PzIVs had less armor protection than the PzIIIs, contrary to the PG stats. I didn't think they were present either until watching that program. I had thought the most powerful German tank available at the time was the PzIVF2 but this show claims otherwise.

Actually, I just looked it up on Wikipedia and it backs that up, that they made their appearance in late 42 in Tunisia.

certain versions of the PzIV has lesser armour than later versions of the PzIII. The IV A & D for example would be less resistant than a PzIII H & J I should think, and the E might be about comparable ? Remember a StGIIIG is a PzIIIG chassis and they were plying their trade right up to the Arab-Israeli Wars !

The documentary also mentioned how the PzII performed exceptionally and in great numbers. Not for actually battling British tanks but used as bait to lure them into the range of the 88mms. Something the British fell for again and again sadly.