Pix - Tiger I at Vimoutiers.

Don't forget the later Churchills 'win' hands down for frontal Armour thickness at 152mm.
Still couldn't always stop the German HVs, but worth remembering when talking 'heavy' tankage.

 

are you flirting Za?!!

 

Another theory that i have heard, is that the scrap metal merchants moved in and began to cut the tank up and later gave up on the idea.

I'm not sure that all of the cuts/fractures have been caused by the scrap men as some of the damaged areas do look like explosion damage. Of course as we know, it was standard crew procedure to destroy a vehicle should it be abandoned

 

I can't see a scrappy causing cracks in hardened armour, unless he was using explosives to break her up (though who knows in postwar France ). Far more likely, almost certain in fact, to be the two demo charges laid in 1944.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

I noted that the Tiger appeared to be cemented to the ground, the crack in the turret seems to be the remnants an explosive charge or similar device but in response to the Churchill possessing thicker armour, I believe that the experience of a veteran crew would become pre-dominant in the event of enemy contact. I would give the Germans my vote hands down at the outset of the war, Poland,France, early eastern front but as german manpower ebbed away so did their once feared tank crews and capable tank crews on the allies became the favorite although the Germans never lost their tenacity to defend the Fatherland.

 

..this is the story that is repeated in the recent Heimdal publication 'couloir de la mort' - at least for the vertical weld along the rear of the turret visible in the pics. It took the intervention of a number of local 'experts' to halt the scrap work...

 

Lovely photographs; I bet there is a good story behind that Tiger and I bet the crew had a bad week!

I have some shots of the Tiger at Bovington in the UK on my laptop at home; I understand it is the only fully operational Tiger left and would be happy to pop them on the site if anyone is intersted?

 

that is a big tank, photos in books don't do it justice. I can almost imagine tank panic now, Thank you for sharing.

 

It could have been just the weather. Acid rain from pollution can actually make metal "bend".

 

28th & 29th of June is the provisional date for this years 'Tankfest', when, as is becoming the norm, she's slated to run. Worth a shufti I promise you.
YouTube - Tiger
YouTube - Tiger 131 Backing Up
YouTube - Tiger 131 again

Cheers,
Adam.

 

That's a date worth keeping

 

A small 'heads up' that the theme for this years 'Tankfest' has been announced.
Once again the rumour mill fails, and it won't be 'Panzerfest'...

Much better than that, this years title is "The British are Coming!".

:afv_crusader2::afv_humber::afv_matilda2:​

http://www.tankmuseum.co.uk/news/pr_tankfest_08_150108.htm
(they plan to run the Vickers Medium too, now that's rare moving armour.)​

Cheers,
Adam.

 

CURSE THE YERKS WHO SPRAYED THEIR STUPID NAMES ON THE TANK. THAT IS A COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT. THE PICS ARE AMAZING !!!!!

 

Nice pictures. One of my favorite tanks of the war, shes still standing proud. Although commanded by the Nazis, shes a beauty.

 

Great pictures! It sure looks majestic poised on top of the hill like that. I never realized how square the Tiger's turret was either (I always saw it as more like a rectangle).

 

I always thaught it was interesting that the insides of the track are more worn than the outsides (look at the cleats on the track face). I guess when they went from rubber rimmed wheels to steel ones the weight distrabution changed a bit. Seeing as the track wear is unequal im going to make a guess that it is not just postwar disintegration.

 

That is my guess too, the huge weight added to time will claim their toll. One day this Tiger will have to be stored inside because humidity and vandalism are other enemies.

 

Once a while this baby was a great beast in the battle..but now she rest in peace...
HEiL Tiger King!!

 

nice photos=D

 

And how is our tiger doing in May 2008?



It is still in the same condition. But it is not going last another 64 years in open air

In this thread a detailed photo of the steel tracks are missing:



Who stole the wheelnut from this side (a few years ago)?



The inpact of a bullet in the steel-panzer.



There starts to grow something in the engine compartment:



Another view from the turret:



I managed to make another photo of the inside wich we have not seen so far, a closup from the 88mm gun. Only don't let your camera slip out of your hand, you won't get it back!



Grüber and his little tankie: