Bulgaria's Tiger-like tank in a 1952 CIA report

[datafuser]

A CIA report dated 1 December 1952 mentioned that the 24th Tank Regiment of the Bulgarian Army was using 'a tank very much like the German Tiger tank. These weigh 20 tons and have a gun with a two-meter barrel.' Any idea what tank this was?

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00457R015000360006-4.pdf

 

[A Tentative Fleet Plan]

Most likely misidentified left-over long-barreled Panzer IVs or T-34s.

 

[TsrJoe]

After the end of the Second World War, the first Soviet T-34 tanks were delivered to the Bulgarian Army. As a result, a new tank regiment was formed in Samokov with 65 T-34 tanks and an armored troops school was formed in Botevgrad.
At the beginning of 1946, the Bulgarian First Tank Brigade was armed with 49 CV 33/35, Pz.Kpfw. 35(t)/LT vz. 35/T-11, Pz.Kpfw. 38(t)/LT vz. 38, and Renault R35 light tanks, along with 57 Pz. IV Ausf.G, H, J medium tanks, 15 Jagdpanzer IV, and 5 StuG 40 assault guns.
Immediately after the end of the war, the completely outdated Italian CV 33/35 light tanks and French Renault R35 light tanks were discarded. The Czechoslovak LT vz. 35 and LT vz. 38 lasted until the early 1950s. The last order for spare parts for them was received by Škoda in 1948.

By 1950, only eleven of the Panzer IVs (of different variants) remained in the 1st Tank Brigade, while the main element consisted of 65 Soviet T-34s obtained back in 1945.

People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946-1990) - Tank Encyclopedia

Page covering the history, politics, and armored vehicles of Bulgaria during the Cold War. Largely Soviet imports but also some indigenous designs.

tanks-encyclopedia.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

A 2m long barrel? Does someone in the CIA or their sources not know how big a meter is?

 

[datafuser]

Panzer III Ausf F, G, H, and some Js happened to have a 2.1-meter long gun (50mm/L42 KwK 38) and were 20+ tons.