Tigers in Urban Combat

This is a giant rocket firing mortar the Germans used to destroy whole buildings with one hit.

There were a number of operational Tiger II tanks in Berlin at the end of the war.  This is the ambush scheme of camouflage, modified for urban operations.

This camouflage is notional, that is, it never existed, but the pattern was used, but typically in brown, tank, and green. 

I have two of these tanks that I got used 20 years ago or more.

I think it is a pretty cool color scheme for city combat.

This is the Porsche Tiger.  This is what the Tiger I would have looked like if Porsche got the contract.  As it was the turrets were put on the Tiger II tanks and this hull was used for the Elephant tank destroyers.  I think they did actually complete one or two of these.
 

Preparation for a Counter-Attack

Tanks and infantry prepare for a limited counter attack.

German doctrine was to try and counter attack as soon as possible so the enemy did not have time to establish defenses.

Panzerschreck. 

Note troop in the window.

Twin 128mm guns in a single turret.
 

Tanks in Rubble

Bombed out store fronts.

Enemy in almost any direction requires a 360 defense.

Vehicles that were rarely seen on the battlefield.

Mostly used in the indirect fire mode, or in long distance ambush.  Pulling away before the enemy got within range.

It was too slow to out run the enemy so it would usually retire to a secondary prepared position.

 Super heavy rocket gun, perfect for urban combat.

Very Late War Heavy Tanks

Two series production Tiger II tanks with the urban ambush camouflage scheme.

A familiar sight late in the war, Germans troops defending rubble.

Triple purpose, dual 128mm Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Tank, and indirect fire turret for the Tiger II.  The turret is very heavy and the tank was quite slow.

Porsche tank hull with early production Tiger turret.

Late war urban ambush scheme, this time in color.