I recently purchased the Dragon King Tiger with the s.Pz.Abt.505 Russia 1944 markings. Which support tanks would be appropriate in a diorama? Thanks so much!

This might help... http://www.track48.com/shop/product.php?productid=1198

I think a Panzer II Luchs would do quite nicely as a support tank. It would contrast well against the hugeness of the Tiger II.

Thank you!

Generally, Tigers (I's and II's) were separated into their heavy tank battalions and operated independantly. But if you want to make it part of a Kampfgruppe, then you could mix it up with any other German armor in service at the time.

Perhaps a Flakpanzer or half track?

You can never go wrong with a Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251...

Thank you!

This also depends on what part of the year 1944 you mean? The Tigers were in separate heavy Bn yes,but a few tank regts still had an independent 9th heavy company like the 3SS. Later in the war@ winter'44 the shortage of tanks meant almost all rebuilt Regts had to have a "mixed" first Bn of Panthers and PzIVs and a heavy tank Bn filling in as the 2nd Bn. These Bns all had support vehicle like flak tanks,Eng tracks,Inf carriers and of course,the FDC tanks that travelled with the tanks to call for arty fire support. By the end of the war the regts were so reduced they almost all had only a handful of tanks of all kinds still running. Long way of saying you can show almost any vehicle with your Tiger that was being built from early 44 on !
J

Thanks so much to all of you! You have been very helpful and I appreciate your expertise!

The battalion would have had a platoon of antiaircraft tanks, 3.7 cm Moebelwagen and 2 cm Wirbelwind. It also had Bergepanther recovery vehicles (unfortunately, the Italeri kit is the only one available, and it is rather poor).
A large support column of trucks and cars was also an integral part of the heavy tank battalion, so a three-ton truck or Kubelwagen would be appropriate.
The remaining Luchs recon tanks had been returned to Germany for rebuilding, and then went to the Normandy front in the spring of 1944,, so they wouldn't be appropriate for the eastern front in late 1944 (ther 505th got its King Tiger tanks in the autumn).

There are also some practical considerations as opposed to just throwing any two vehicles together.

Where is the tank going? Off the side of the road doing maintenance? Could be anyone going by.

At the front hunting prey? Only combat support vehicles like artillery observation, engineers, command and control or anti-aircraft.

To widen it, what units was the 505 supporting at the time? You could always go the contrast route and have something as unlike a monster panzer as possible like a light Halftrack, a car and or motorcycles.

You all have been so kind and helpful.

I am planning on my winter project being a large diorama - 18" X 18" base. I am planning on having a halftrack and crew under fire with a Tiger II or two coming to the rescue. The title of the diorama is "Hang on, help is on the way." So, I am thinking in terms of an advancing group with at least 1 King Tiger (505) and perhaps a Bergepanther. I am also thinking fall of 1944.

I do appreciate all of your thoughts.