Handbuch für Tiger B
Tiger II driver's photo manual
Tiger II driver's photo manual
Updated: Oct, 2022
From my original manual collection.
Handbuch für Tiger B; Tiger II driver's photo manual.
Panzer drivers served many works, not only tank driving but maintenance and repairing work for all device of hull (except for radio system). They must have covered the engine, gearbox, wheels, tracks and battery, etc in broad, so the Panzer driver's manual needs to show each procedure of the work with the detailed diagram.
We have seen the publications like this in various archives or collections so far, however I found this photo manual has the original monochrome photographs of the Tiger II driver's manual.
By the below presumption and the facts, it is considered made as the draft manual for the compilation of the official D 656/43 (Tiger II driver's manual) and is assumed to have been in the possession of "Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" prior to 1st September, 1944.
And it's not beyond my presumption but "Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" might be trained as tank driver and served the editorial work of D 656/43.
Compare the handwritten "Handbuch für Tiger B" title text on the front cover, which is very similar to the text of the signature "Ofeldw. Lessinghaus = Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus" on inside of the front cover.
The inside cover reads D 656/43, and the book is accompanied by 116 black-and-white photos that closely resemble diagram of the work in the printed edition of D 656/43, with the same description of their works.
The following pages of the printed edition (list of manuals relating to the Tiger II, engine air-cooling treatment diagram, gasoline tank and engine refueling tube connection diagram, turret drawing, and hull rear view) are not attached to this photo manual. It is assumed that these pages would be added in the work on the printed edition of D 656/43.
The printed edition of D 656/43 was issued on 1st September, 1944.
It's thick and heavy. Hard cardboard cover and about 120 thick paper pages are tightened by three steel bolts and two steel plates (rusted).
Maybach HL210 illustration on the back cover.
On the back of the front cover,a handwritten Maybach HL230 structural drawing has a polite cursive signature of "Ofeldw. Lessinghaus = Oberfeldwebel Lessinghaus".
D 656/43
Zum Einlegen in das Gerät!
Pz Kpfw Tiger Ausführung B
Handbuch fur den Panzerfahrer.
Size and weight, Engine, etc specification
All monochrome photograph is very good condition without damages and spots.
I am now scanning all the pages and trying to find a suitable resolution for the original monochrome photos that were developed at the time and glued to the pages.
After a few tries, I realized that a resolution of 2,400 dpi is good for analyzing the photos.
The first trial, here are three resolution samples where I focus a device with a red arrow.
The first sample: 350 dpi
The second sample: 1,200 dpi
The third sample: 2,400 dpi.
This resolution shows that one wire is attached with a double twist. With 350 dpi and 1,200 dpi, however, it was difficult to know this fact.
The second trial. A fire extinguisher in the hull. The photo size is around 7 x 5 cm.
The text on the plate may be barely legible with 2,400 dpi.
Difference between the track tension of Tiger B and E.
The track for Tiger B must sag one hand wide over the first road wheel, and the four fingers wide for Tiger E.
The hand from the original photo of Handbuch für Tiger B.
The All Copyright of Photos and Texts are reserved to Panzerfibel.