Sturmtiger or Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61 with chassis number 250174. Based on the Panzerkampfwagen VI – Tiger. Photographed at the Panzermuseum in Munster Germany in 2011.
The Sturmtiger was a German assault gun developed during World War II, based on the chassis of the Tiger I tank. It was designed for close support and urban combat, primarily to destroy heavily fortified positions like bunkers and buildings. The Sturmtiger was armed with a 380mm “Raketenwerfer 61” rocket launcher, capable of firing powerful HE rockets with a range of approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). These rockets could cause significant damage to structures and enemy fortifications, making the Sturmtiger a formidable weapon in siege operations. It also had a secondary armament of a 7.92mm MG34 machine gun for self-defense.
Weighing around 64 tons, the Sturmtiger was heavily armored, with 100mm of front and side armor, making it resistant to most small arms and shrapnel. Its Maybach HL230 P45 engine, producing 700 horsepower, allowed it a top speed of around 38 km/h (24 mph), which was slow but sufficient for its intended role.
Only 18 Sturmtigers were built in 1944-1945, making it one of the rarest German armored vehicles. Due to its limited mobility and heavy weight, the Sturmtiger was primarily used in defensive operations, particularly in urban combat situations, where it could deliver devastating firepower to enemy positions.
