Ok, let's go at this a different way. Assume he is correct. What conditions are necessary to get this rate of rotation?
1. The engine must be a 3000 rpm, 500 rpm (or roughly 20% over the safe rpm of the engine). Ok, we "redline" the engine.
2. Since it is reasonable to assume that the tank is not moving at maximum speed (a real rarity with tanks in combat in WW 2), the driver must have disengaged the clutch while over-reving the engine. Of course, if the tank is moving at maximum speed the engine is grossly overloaded by the combination of speed and rpms being used.
3. The gunner is slewing the turret at maximum rate of turn.
4. The hydraulic system doesn't explode, blow a gasket or any other problem during this period as the only way to increase rotation rate beyond the 19 second period would be to continue to increase hydraulic pressure (and therefore force to turn the motor faster). It is far more likely that the hydraulic system has a pressure relief bypass once it reaches a maximum pressure (eg the 19 second rate is the maximum regardless of additional engine speed).

Would this be useful if it could be done? Probably not. The tank is at (or almost at) a halt during the slew of the turret. The engine is reving at a speed not likely to enduce long engine life. The tank cannot move while engaged in this practice. If the engine siezes or throws a rod or some other nasty happenstance during this the tank is nothing but an immobile target. On top of this, the gunner is unlikely to be able to control the slew rate adequitely to bring the gun anything more than roughly in line with the target. Fine manual adjustment will still be required.
More likely, the Tiger's typical rate of rotation is somewhere between 19 and 77 seconds dependent on vehicle speed. The British report states that "the turret rate of rotation is very slow." Essentially, the point is moot. If the 9 second rate is achievable, then it is at the expense of tactical mobility and vehicle reliablity. I doubt that many crews would be willing to trade their safety for a few seconds faster turret rotation.

Let me add as an addendum: The M60A2 has one of the fastest turret rotations of any major battle tank ever. It uses a 2000 psi hydraulic system. It's 360 degree time is 9.1 seconds. Reference: Main Battle Tanks, Part I, War Data #14, Esgel-Dramit Publishing Ltd, Hod Hasharon, Israel 1984

Patton, A History of the American Main Battle Tank Volume 1, H.P. Hunnicutt, Presidio Press, Navato, CA, 1984

This makes the 9 second figure for the Tiger II even more unlikely.

[ 31. December 2003, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: T. A. Gardner ]