How a Tiger Was Hunted in Africa

It is April 24, 1943, on the sun-scorched plains of Tunisia. Explosions shake the ground as soldiers of the 2nd Battalion hunker down in shallow trenches. Enemy fire rains upon them, and just 300 yards away, a German Panzer unit, positioned for maximum advantage, relentlessly pounds the Allied lines.

Leading the assault is a tank that strikes fear into all who face it—a Tiger. Equipped with a devastating 88mm gun and nearly impenetrable armor, it is the pinnacle of German engineering and a terrifying challenge for anyone opposing it.

How can such a formidable weapon be destroyed, let alone captured? Its presence alone is enough to unnerve even the most seasoned troops. For this infantry battalion, armed with little more than PIATs, the odds seem insurmountable.

In desperation, a small group rushes to an abandoned enemy position. There, they discover a Pak 97/38 anti-tank gun. With no time to lose, they drag the weapon into position and gather whatever ammunition they can find.

Inside the Tiger, the crew has strict orders: under no circumstances must their vehicle fall into enemy hands. To ensure this, the tanks are equipped with charges to destroy themselves if necessary. For the Allies, disabling one of these machines is a monumental challenge; capturing one intact is almost unimaginable.