The Tiger 205.
The Tiger Tank "205" is a new unit introduced in Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor as a reward unit. Tough, powerful and commanded by Hauptmann (later Major-General) Maximillian Voss, this tank is feared by many amongst the Allied ranks.
Tiger Ace campaign
I have a piece of Russian steel still in my ribs.
Arno, drive!
This never gets old, Tigergruppe!
Fight for Germany or fight for nothing!
Shultz, how are the optics?
Tank Crew
- Arno Schroif (Senior Private, Driver)
- Joseph Shultz (Sergeant, Gunner)
- Alfred Litzke (Private, Loader)
- Dieter Berndt (Private, Radio Operator)
History
This specific tank was deployed at the eastern front, at Leningrad, Russia as one of the combatants in the 101st tigergruppe. This is where the crew made a name for themselves, often being referred to as the "Tiger Ace". On June 13, 1944, they were redeployed to point 213. Although they were ordered to move there, they went on destroying the British convoy in Villers-Bocage. There were some breakdowns during their assault, but the tank has backed up its fame as being nigh indestructible. Although they were successful, the British forces destroyed the tank's tracks, forcing the crew to abandon it. Without it, they had no choice but to break through the town and out of it, and exact their revenge when they got back and retake Villers-Bocage.
After their assault, the tiger crew were disbanded. Joseph Shultz, the gunner of the crew took command of the 502 tigergruppe. He stalled the advancing Allies from Autry, up to the bitter end. He died in his Tiger. Maximillian Voss was promoted to Major-general of the Panzer Lehr division. The remnants of the crew were redeployed to Holland on September 1944.
Campaign unit
This campaign displays the real strength of the German's tank battalions; even out-numbered, it can never be out-gunned as it has the best crew and the best armor in the campaign. It has little need of support from friendly troops except for capturing territory. As a special unit in the campaign, it is granted with a wide variety of abilities as well as its own upgrade window; the crew's efficiency and experience can be upgraded as the tank gathers command points. The longer it fights and kills, the more weapons and abilities the tank could get.
While the crew itself can be upgraded manually, they as a whole, are automatically upgraded depending on the amount of command points earned. These upgrades are tank awareness, threat assessment, combat maneuvers, inspiration and veteran reactions.
The crew themselves are trained to fight, even without their armor. They are capable of reviving their comrades, a skill that no other unit in the game could even do. They can also drop any heavy weapon that they carry to change their firepower against any opponent. Also, they are capable of camouflaging themselves to discretely move around, as what they did during their escape in Villers-Bocage. Just like most German units, the crew are equipped with panzerfausts. Due to their status within the reich, they can call in an artillery barrage at a target location.
Abilities
When all of the available upgrades are unlocked, the full set of the tank's abilities are unlocked.
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Repairs the tank for 35 munitions. While repairing, the tank is immobile, but still able to attack any surrounding targets. Active for 20 seconds Cooldown: 15 seconds |
File:Defensive Smoke 2 thumb.jpg Defensive Smoke Screen Berndt will fire the tank's six smoke launchers, creating temporary cover against enemy fire. Costs 50 munitions to activate. Cooldown: 53 seconds |
File:Flank speed 2 thumb.jpg Flank Speed
Costs 35 munitions to activate. Active for 30 seconds Cooldown: 30 seconds |
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File:Tank shock 2 thumb.jpg Tank Shock Schroif will use the tank as a battering ram, crushing enemy units and suppressing anyone left behind. Active for 15 seconds
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Berndt will call a concentrated off-map artillery strike, destroying anything in the targeted area. Costs 50 munitions to activate. Cooldown: 4 minutes |
File:Turret hatch thumb.jpg Open/Close turret hatch Voss will provide increased visual assistance by positioning himself at the turret hatch. Increases visual and attack range. |
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File:High explosive thumb.jpg Load HE/AP shell Litzke will switch between High-explosive or Armor-piercing shells when activated. Cooldown: 3 seconds |
File:S mine launcher 2 thumb.jpg S-mine launcher Berndt will activate the S-mine launcher, killing any close infantry surrounding the tank. Costs 50 munitions to activate Cooldown: 20 seconds |
File:Direct fire thumb.jpg Direct fire Toggle from the crew's control or the player's control of the turret. When active, the turret will follow the mouse pointer; left-click to fire cannon. |
Upgrades
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Loader Litzke |
Radio Operator Berndt |
Driver Schroif |
Gunner Shultz |
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Litzke can now switch between High-explosive shells and Armor-piercing shells. High explosive shells are good against structures and infantry, while Armor-piercing for tanks and vehicles. Costs 1 command points |
Repairs the Hull's secondary MG34 Machine-gun, giving Berndt the ability to attack infantry. Costs 2 command points |
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Shultz will increase his accuracy with the tank's gun. Costs 1 command point |
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Litzke will increase his loading speed by 50%. Costs 1 command point |
Berndt will activate the tank's 92mm mine launcher. Effective against close infantry. Costs 1 command point |
Schroif will use the tank as a battering ram, crushing enemy infantry in its wake and forcing the rest to suppress. Costs 1 command point |
Shultz will further increase his accuracy, allowing him to increase the chances of hitting weak spots. Costs 1 command point |
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Litzke will increase his loading speed even further, doubling the tank's firing speed and reloading speed. Costs 2 command points |
Costs 2 command points |
Increases power takeoff from the tank's engine to the hydraulic systems, allowing the turret to be rotated faster to acquire new targets. Costs 2 command points |
Litzke and Shultz will coordinate together as veterans, allowing them to increase the tank's firing rate and accuracy. Costs 2 command points |
The Tiger Ace Upgrade tree.
Skirmish unit
The Tiger 205 firing.
It replaces the Wehrmacht Tiger, which is called by the Blitzkrieg Doctrine Company Commander. It will lose all of its versatility when used as a skirmish unit. The only difference between this and the other Tigers is its painted camouflage, made in such a way to imitate the Russian tundras and snowy weather. In addition, the Tiger's commander voice was replaced with Voss's voice from the campaign.
To unlock this unit, the Tiger Ace mini-campaign must be completed, which is also introduced in Tales of Valor.
Weaknesses
In the Tiger Ace campaign, it is nigh indestructible; nothing can stand in its way, even enemy tanks fear them. But the tank's treads were destroyed, showing some of its weakness, and it is also prone to engine breakdowns, despite its frequent replacement of parts. It was replaced however by a new Tiger after the crew's retreat and presumably repaired after the retake of Villers-Bocage.
Trivia
This unit, along with its campaign mission "Tiger Ace" was inspired by a real-life campaign by Michael Wittmann, a Waffen SS Panzer commander who was one of Germany's top tiger aces during World War II. He ambushed the elements of the 7th British armored division during the battle of Villers-Bocage and destroyed 14 tanks, 15 personnel carriers, 2 anti-tank guns - all within the space of 15 minutes. Just like in the campaign, he uses a Tiger 205 during his ambush.