SD:Königstiger (H)

 is a German Tank unit, developed as the successor to the Tiger I. It was a combination of the Tiger design with the sloped armour of the Panther and cost large amounts of resources and manpower to manufacture, during a time where Germany's might was on the decline. Nevertheless, it is the undisputed ruler of the battlefield and the most powerful tank in the game. A true monstrosity, the Tiger II is impervious to all Allied anti-tank units at long ranges and sports a tank gun that has no Allied equal, derived from the towed Pak 43 anti-tank gun. The same gun is also mounted on the Jagdpanther tank.

Two Königstiger variants existed:

The (P) designation stands for the Porsche prototype, which was a less effective design as the curved Porsche turret created a shot trap: an enemy shell fired at the lower turret would deflect into the crew compartment, with lethal results. This initial and weaker variant is fielded by the 21. Panzer.

The (H) designation stands for the version mounting the so-called Henschel turret, which would go on to become the standard production model for the Tiger II. it featured some re-designs, and these improvements are reflected in the game by the Königstiger (H), a more heavily armoured variant fielded by Panzer-Lehr.


 * ''Neither designation is actually correct. Both turret designs came from one company, Krupp, with the conventional designations referring to the designs they were intended for: The failed VK 45.02(P) by Porsche and the successful Tiger II by Henschel. Turrets built for the Porsche tank were later mounted on the Henschel design, with the Serienturme (the so-called Henschel turret) being a modified version of the former for mass production. See here for an in-depth explanation.

Orders of battle
5 Tiger II were assigned to ''316. Funklenk-Panzerkompanie'' along with mixture of Tiger E and StuGs. These Tiger II never saw combat since they mechanically unsound and it was decided to ship them back to Germany. But they were not able to be transported back and was destroyed in Chateaudun to prevent capture.

Strategy
The Königstiger (H) is the more powerful version of the two Tiger II variants and is the most powerful tank fielded in-game. Furthermore, it is manned by experienced crews, making it a deadly and precise unit. Its combination of firepower and armour is unrivalled. Indeed, the Tiger II provides the pinnacle of German power for the Panzer-Lehr division in phase C. This is where Panzer-Lehr's restricted outcome finally expands and the floodgates of Germany's most powerful tanks open, to pour out on the battlefield and cause mayhem.

Unless attacking at point-blank to very close range, no Allied unit is able to penetrate it from the front, even less so since this is an upgraded version of the königstiger (P). Flank attacks are the only tactic that can work against this monstrosity, giving the German player a very big advantage in battles.

One thing, however, must be stressed. The Tiger II is NOT invincible. it is NOT a I-WIN BUTTON. The player should NOT expect it to drive through enemy lines and waltz through everything. Frontal unsupported charges against enemy lines can, should and will result in a burning wreckage and a waste of already scarce German resources. Instead, it should be the focal point of a German armoured thrust, supported by infantry, artillery, tanks and anti-aircraft power.