Tiger I nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Roman numeral was added after the later Tiger II entered production. The initial designation was "Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H" (‘‘"Panzer VI version H"’’, abbreviated "PzKpfw VI Ausf. H") where 'H' denoted Henschel as the designer/manufacturer. It was classified with ordnance inventory designation "SdKfz 182". The tank was later re-designated as "PzKpfw VI Ausf. E" in March 1943, with ordnance inventory designation "SdKfz 181". Today, only seven Tiger I tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide. The Tiger 131 at the UK's Tank Museum, which was captured during the North Africa Campaign, is
Tiger I command. These battalions would be deployed to critical sectors, either for breakthrough operations or, more typically, counter-attacks. A few favoured divisions, such as the "Grossdeutschland", and the 1st SS "Leibstandarte" Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS "Das Reich", and 3rd SS "Totenkopf" Panzergrenadier Divisions at Kursk, had a Tiger company in their tank regiments. The "Grossdeutschland" Division had its Tiger company increased to a battalion as the III Panzer Battalion of the Panzer Regiment "Grossdeutschland". 3rd SS "Totenkopf" retained its Tiger I company through the entire war. 1st SS and 2nd SS had their Tiger companies taken away and incorporated into the