Panzer wrecks in Tunisia 1943
Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:38 pm
Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:34 am
My dad was in that general area with the First Armored Division--he might have seen these remains in his travels. He mentioned to me once that his maintenance unit got a Tiger I operating so that it could be evaluated. I wonder if anyone knows if a Tiger was sent to England or the U.S. from North Africa--if so, my father may have had a hand in saving it.
Scott
Scott
Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:58 am
The Tiger that is at the Tank Museum in Bovington was captured in Tunisia during 1943. See more about it's history here http://www.tankmuseum.org/ixbin/indexplus?_IXSS_=_IXMENU_%3dVehicles%26_IXACTION_%3dSUMMARY%26%253atext%3d%2522Desert%2522%2bin%2bmus_current_location_Bay%2bindex%2bmus_text_location%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d12%26_IXSESSION_%3dcslgT9nhrEg%26%2524%2bwith%2bmus_catalogue%3d%252e%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ffull%252ftvod%252ft%26%253amus_administration_name%3dVEH&_IXFIRST_=5&_IXSPFX_=templates/full/tvod/t&_IXMAXHITS_=1&submit-button=summary&_IXSESSION_=cslgT9nhrEg&_IXMENU_=Vehicles
Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:08 am
Thanks much for the link!
The story behind the retrieval is quite similar to what my father told me. I don't think he had a hand in repairing this machine unless his unit assisted the British. Dad never spoke about combat damage to the one he got running, just that it had broken down (not too uncommon with early Tiger Is) and they used parts from knocked-out units to get it running. It doesn't mean that First Armored didn't help in order that the Allies could evaluate it though, so maybe my pop DID lay hands on it.
I think dad's Tiger is the second one listed here: http://www.alanhamby.com/survivors.shtml Since this unit appears to have been shipped to the USA (owned by Aberdeen Ordnance Museum) it would seem to be more likely. I need to track down which one he worked on and go visit it soon! Thanks to both of you for re-energizing my interest in this subject!!!!!
Scott
The story behind the retrieval is quite similar to what my father told me. I don't think he had a hand in repairing this machine unless his unit assisted the British. Dad never spoke about combat damage to the one he got running, just that it had broken down (not too uncommon with early Tiger Is) and they used parts from knocked-out units to get it running. It doesn't mean that First Armored didn't help in order that the Allies could evaluate it though, so maybe my pop DID lay hands on it.
I think dad's Tiger is the second one listed here: http://www.alanhamby.com/survivors.shtml Since this unit appears to have been shipped to the USA (owned by Aberdeen Ordnance Museum) it would seem to be more likely. I need to track down which one he worked on and go visit it soon! Thanks to both of you for re-energizing my interest in this subject!!!!!
Scott