HC Deb 08 June 1943 vol 390 cc524-5
37. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German Mark VI Tiger tanks were captured in Tunisia?

38. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German Mark VI tanks the Allies have captured in North Africa?

Sir J. Grigg

The clearing of the battlefield is still continuing, and as yet there is no information available as to the number of German Mark IV Tiger tanks destroyed or captured in North Africa.

Mr. Stokes

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer to this Question when we reassemble after Whitsuntide?

Mr. Bellenger

In view of the desirability of getting accurate information about German Mark VI tanks, can my right hon. Friend say whether he has got even one specimen of them?

Sir J. Grigg

The very next Question on the Order Paper deals with that point.

39. Rear-Admiral Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War the calibre and weight of gun and weight and type of projectiles with which the German Mark VI Tiger tank is equipped; and the speed and total weight of the tank and the thickness of its armour?

Sir J. Grigg

This tank weighs between 55 and 60 tons. Its front armour plates are 4 inches thick and the side ones 3¼ inches thick. Its gun has a calibre of 8.8 centimetres and weighs about 1½ tons. The gun fires an armour piercing shell weighing 20 lbs. 12 ozs. and a high explosive shell weighing 20 lbs. 5 ozs. The speed of the tank depends greatly on the surface over which it is travelling. It might reach a speed of 16 miles per hour on good level ground.

Mr. Bellenger

How does my right hon. Friend know that information if he has not captured any of these tanks?

Sir J. Grigg

I did not say that I had not captured any. I said that I had not counted the number captured or destroyed.