@ Dave
It's my understanding the Tiger was originally intended as a limited production vehicle for use against fortifications. 32 ton VK3001 was to replace Panzer III and Panzer IV as the first German MBT.
Speer changed the program when he took over during the spring of 1942. Production order for Sd.Kfz.165 10.5cm SP howitzer was cancelled and the chassis were used to build Panzer IVG. Tiger tank production was increased beyond original intent as it could defeat Soviet heavy tanks such as KV series.
I have told you once that this claims are very wrong!
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/tanks-europe-1944-45-a-33460.html
To repeat them, make them not better!
Speer had nothing to do with the introduction of the PanzerIV F2, this was decided summer/autum 1941, as the T34 and KV were a bad surprise at Barbarossa and german tanks in
production needed as fast as possible much more firepower and the PanzerIV was the only tank in production, which had the room for this firepower upgrade.!
The german's heavy tank project was in development since 1937. Look at the development historie of the VK 3601, the direct forerunner.
The construction of the TigerI was beginning spring 1941!
@ parsifal
I don't fully agree with your summary.
After the kindergarden diseases were sorted out and especially the HL 230 P45 became more reliable the TigerI had very good cross country characteristics and was
not slow wether on the streets or cross country.
Anyway the rest of your analyse is very correct, because the Tiger I was to short legged, the complexity of the maintenance was much too high and overcharged every german logistic, especially at the Russian Campaign and the production costs and manpower was much too high compared to the Panther.
The Panther was the much better tank for mass production, logistics, maintenance and all tactical circumstances, here I fully agree.
But in summary if we look at all other heavy tank projects and introduced heavy tanks from all other nations, the TigerI had more advantages then flaws compare to other nations heavy tank projects and introduced heavy tanks.
Even the IS2 was not all around better then a Tiger I from a battleground analyse and the Tiger I could stand it's "man" on the battleground till wars end.
In summary only a Panther in mass production would be the better alternative, here I fully agree.