Tiger 131: Inside & Out | The Tank Museum
Every museum has its 'hero' object. For The Tank Museum it's Tiger 131. Join Museum Director Richard Smith as he discusses why Tiger 131 isn't just the most famous tank in The Tank Museum's collection, but arguably the most famous tank in the world.
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Imagine being the only Tiger driver in the world... What a job
Its a honnor to fatherland.😊🖤❤💛🇩🇪
I just wanna touch it
@@Bountyhunter23284 its in the uk tho…
I feel sad for the Tiger 131. It may be a steel beast, but it's the last of its kind.
There's only one so... Not much demand lol
I love equating 131 to the Mona Lisa of the museum.
True 😁🇩🇪
I`d take 131 every time.
Here is a thought for you: Preserve art in a static condition is proper because art is designed to be static but machines are art in motion thus preserving them in an operating condition is only proper, History is not only events and dates, it's the human story. Inorder to understand the human story we must understand the technology that they used.
Well said.
Based af
words of wisdom
Except that you are not actually preserving a machine if you use it. All machines wear out. If you are careful, you can use it up very slowly and make it last as long as possible, but in the end, you are still ruining it and using it up.
I've seen it standing in the old workshop 4+ years ago (I believe I was 15-16 at the time). Me and my family were on vacation in the area (I'm from the Netherlands) and I just had to go to the tank museum. After convincing my parents I found out tiger 131 was in the workshop for maintenance because we visited the museum 4-5 days before tiger day. But by then we'd have gone back home. It had literally been moved there the weekend before. I was really sad about it but then the lady behind the desk asked a guide whether it's be possible for me to go see it anyways because otherwise I wouldn't get to see it for years (I'm yet to return, definitely going to visit again sometime). But there it was, in the old workshop. Engine cover open and everything. The air filters were on a bench near the tank for cleaning even. It was one of the best days of my life. I was fangirling so hard... I loved every second of it.
I live in Australia and I am rather jealous that you got that close to 131.
I'm rather jealous too but seriously I'm glad that you enjoyed fully seeing the beast! 👍👍
@Oliver Viehland oh? Wheres that at?
R W Private collection, I believe
There’s a war museum in Indiana that has a complete me262 jet engine and I was in love from sight!!! I would be in history heaven just to lay eyes on 131
To me the fascination with Tiger 131 is the fact that it is still running, which makes it very popular. Fine you can go into the museum and see the static displays, but to actually see one still alive and kicking makes it much more enjoyable. The same with WWII aircraft, and I bet seeing the surviving FW190 still flying is a wonderful sight, and much better than just seeing a static one on display. The same goes for a Spitfire and other aircraft still in flying order up in the skies where they are most happy......:)
Sound. The pure sound of their engines absolutely roaring into life really adds onto the experience
@@jahnjee Yes, it does make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up......to attention, when they fly low over head......:)
On my 19th birthday me and my parents went to IWM Duxford and we saw 17 spitfires flying in formation for the first time since the second World War
@@hunterkillerzombiekiller4946 Back in 2015 there was a celebration of 75 years since the BoB, and saw a Spitfire and Hurricane fly past (where I Iive) the Isle of Wight, viewed from on top of the Boniface Downs (the highest point on the Island) out to sea in the English Channel. A bit far out, but still a great sight to see, and the weather was not too helpful that day though.. I believe there was a total of 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims were used for the fly past.
Hollywood studios did use Tiger 🐯 131 making movie Flurry They should make Tiger in the mud instead This will be more realistic Otto Carius#217 Tiger Tank Second Battalion First Platoon Seventh Tank This is real history Social media have hard time to understand that 🤠
Oddball’s looking like a pretty crafty investor, right about now, despite all them negative waves from Moriarty.
He can't fix if there isn't anything to fix with and no positive wave is known to generate new fuel lines.
The fuel system leaks all over the place! It's a piece of junk!!
Good for blowing the doors off a bank behind enemy lines too (just ask Lt Kelly)
Hell yeah
That was an american tank......
@@01Bouwhuis , actually it was a T-34 modified to look like a Tiger I.
"You are...ze American armee?" "No we ain't, baby..."
I saw a documentary about that bank job
I went to Tankfest in 2004 especially to see Tiger 131 running for the first time. I should have been with my girlfriend at our friends wedding that day, the bride to be couldn't understand why I preferred to watch the Tiger instead of her getting married. Women eh !
😂😂 Loyaity to the Vaterland!!! In much need but much to late
The tiger will last far longer and is more reliable than the promise of a woman made at the altar.
Think like a guy lol
Well thats what most real mens pick
Loyalty to the fuhur’s cat, I see. A man of culture just like myself!
“If everybody's thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” ― George S. Patton
Like why is The Tank Museum so politically correct and buying into the post war narrative.
@@taylorc2542 Could you support that statement please? I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
@@taylorc2542 What narrative would that be, other than what I and billions of people have lived through and experienced first hand?
RW4X4X3006 I seriously doubt you have any meaningful experiences from the Second World War if you are posting here. Not a whole lot of 80-90 year olds in the KZhead comment section, and even if you were I’d ignore your senile positions on something that happened during your childhood
@@BotNard The important phrase here is 'post war narrative'. You appear to have missed that, but piled in anyway and accused someone of being senile based on your lack of understanding of the post you were responding to. In the spirit of your post, I'm curious, were you born stupid or did you have to work at it?
This may sound silly but as a American i thank everyone that put this video together and the guys and gals that do everything at the museum ,since it might be a while till i can get over to visit the museum!
I’m glad they keep it a runner.
"The most famous tank... In the world" Ahhh it's been too long
Since the last time i have seen my son lost to this monster, to the man behind the slaughter
Reminds me of the old joke: Three restaurants on a busy street; The first erects a sign “Most Famous Restaurant in the City!” The following week, the second restaurant erects its own sign “Most Famous Restaurant in the World!” Not to be outdone, the third restaurant put up its own sign as well “Most Famous Restaurant on this Street!”
Tiger going "speed and power"
Even for today's standards, the Tiger 131 tank is still awe-inspiring!
They were breakthrough tanks. That's a very specific usage and their combat records were fairly good actually
When it comes to preserving vehicles, or any machinery really, they need to be run occasionally if they aren't to rot away.
It's a fearsome tank. I hope it keeps running for decades to come, because people have to remember what we were up against.
If I ever travel to this museum it will be the one I'm most excited to see in person. Just the scale.
This was a wonderful explanation of the background of Tiger 131 and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I agree that it may may be one of the more famous tanks out there. I certainly recall reading about it and seeing pictures of it many, many years ago. Thank you for making this video, well done! I'm glad to be a supporter.
There is a small issue though. If Tom Hanks brings a Thompson to the drivers view port, the bulletproof glass ceases to exist. Sorry 131
Only if it happens to be a tiger I based on a t-34 chassis
You don't shoot a bullet proof 90mm thick laminated glass with a .45 calibre Thompson that will only bounce all over including Tom Hanks! Eventually after continually shooting at the same spot, if you survive, it will begin to crack up but by then the driver, if quick enough, he will insert a new laminated bullet proof glass! Mind you that those glasses were made to resist Russian anti-tank rifles like the PTRD-41 which fired a 14,5x114 round! Sorry Tom Hanks...
@@paoloviti6156 it's just a joke.... And op probably just referencing Lindybeige's Panzer 3 video
@@demodude6865 don't worry as the joke is well taken! 👍👍
@Me Smith 😆 🤣
One of the best things about this video... 1944 minutes long. I hope that was on purpose editors 😂
Well spotted!
umm im pretty sure this video isnt one thousand, ninehundred and forty-four MINUTES long. Its nineteen minutes and fortyfour SECONDS long.
@@vekuboi I think the point comes across... let's not make this too long winded 😂
@@Ihaza123 u can just edit ur comment
@Kernal Scott 2 you are on Pc that why. On mobile its 1 second longer
Visiting the Tank Museum was the highlight of my holiday to England a while back. I was great being able to actually get up close to the tanks.
I've had fascination with the Tiger tank for as long as can remember(I'm now 57) and when I heard that there was one in running condition in The Tank Museum I decided I would have to make the effort to go and see it(a round trip of 1300 miles). This happened on 28/4/18 -Tiger Day IX. A day I will long remember. What a shame it will be when this iconic vehicle is finally retired as it so deserves to be seen in action. Still very impressive as a static display, but so much more impressive while on the move. The Tank Museum should be very proud to have such a varied collection of vehicles and to show as many as they do in running condition is quite remarkable.
It makes a big difference when you have an experienced crew like the guy said , you notice very quickly if something isnt right and I bet experienced crews in the war could run a damaged tiger for days where a new green crew probably had many break downs before the crew learned the tank , anyone who works with heavy equipment knows some machinery has quirks to it I'm sure the tanks were the same way.
That's why crew loss was more of a problem than tank loss, because it meant having to put inexperienced crews into new tanks
The setting where the conversation is happening is wonderfully decorated. Well done to whoever did this!
Arguably it's a lot more damaging to not run a vehicle ...
Robin Usher I think it’s because they try to keep them as original as possible. As original spares are becoming more and more rare they don’t want to risk something breaking that they can’t replace with an original. And as it’s a Tiger it’s pretty much guaranteed something’s gonna need replacing when you run it 🤣
Yep, look no further than the recent AD for the 5th stage bleed valve on 737’s. Turns out parking the entire 737 fleet isn’t great on aircraft.
If you leave it sitting outside somewhere, yes. Not if you look after it, keep the lubricants changed, and internals oiled, keep rodents out, keep it dry and out of sun and weather.
@@justforever96 Well parking the vast majority of the world civil aviation fleet certainly showed how difficult that could be. Parking spots on airport ramps in dry climates became expensive and rare. Airlines had to make decisions about just how deep into storage individual aircraft and aircraft sets were to be stored or if they were to be struck off from the fleet. Each level of storage required different parts to be protected and different levels of periodic maintenance inspections. All of this involves costs and lead in times when the time comes to return the aircraft to the operating fleet after preflight maintenance, inspections and test flights.
@@him050 like the transmission for example
Thank you again for another great Video. I still remember the day i was privileged to have a peak into what it takes to make 131 "show ready" and the pure excitement of driving inside the radio mans position.
The display at the end of the vid is class! I'll never not be surprised by the size of the Tiger up close, incredible
One of your best videos! Really like hearing from the folks involved at all levels. Two thumbs up!
Add in the name to the mystique, you have to admit Tiger is such a cool name for a tank
I’m glad to see that the steering wheel that I repaired/ refurbished several years ago is still looking ok. It was very cracked and slightly distorted before, from many years of use and age.
what a fine job are you all doing for the people , thank you all.
one of the best produced and interesting things i have watched recently
In my opinion the Tiger I was the ultimate weapon in WWII - far and away. The 88mm was already the most feared gun on the battlefield in WWII, and the Tiger I carried the 88mm plus better armor than anything else. Nothing could penetrate Tiger I armor at the time it debuted on the battlefield. Technologically, it was decades ahead of all other tanks in the era. The accuracy of the 88mm gun is often overlooked, which highlights the superior optics of the gun sights. On top of all of this, the Tiger tanks could be driven like a car, and steered with one finger. Opposing tanks needed brute force just to change gears and turn the vehicle. The Tiger I was a mechanical masterpiece, and a devastating weapon of war. DaVinci himself could not design a better tank.
You keep saying "the 88 gun" but in fact the Tiger's gun was a different beast to the famous "88" that was already being used in the anti-tank role. They shared only a caliber size. Optics, mounting, everything else was different. They couldn't fire each other's ammunition.
*Laughs in suspension and engine*
Absolutely marvelous. As soon as the 🦠 will be maintained, prepare for this Belgian superfan to visit Tankmuseum (again)! Fingers crossed that Tankfest 2021 is a go ! Keep up the good work, sincerely. Erik V, Antwerp Belgium.
Not the museum made the vehicle famous, the vehicle made the museum famous.
What an amazing historic piece, I fully enjoy seeing this piece of living history doing a lap of honour, the machine earned its stripes and is a blessing to viewed .
Wonderful! Welcome back Mr Director. Keep them running. They are machines and not static items. They must be seen in motion to experience them. Parts can be made. They can be supported indefinitely.
I want to give a second thumbs-up for the Haynes manual.
Germany still turns out amazing tanks, weapons, and armored vehicles. They’ve never lost their talent for it. Truly amazing innovators.
Surely by running it you keep the practical knowledge and expertise alive.
part of this tank's mainenance now is keeping public interest in it. Great job so far TM. Thanks for the awesome video's, I so look forward to visiting you one day. I can't believe I never made it in the 3 years I lived in the UK and the umpteen times I've visited the UK, despite having somewhat of a love for escaping into war fantasies. I've only, in the last few years been a KZhead consumer, hopefully this avenue carries you through quite a bit.!
I’ve been it whilst it was being driven absolutely love it !
Interesting video, I always thought it looked a beautiful machine and would love to visit the museum one day and see it in real life. Thank you for uploading.
Then: Tiger! *runs away* Now: Tiger! *Takes a picture of it*
Prinz Eugen lol
I don't get it........
G Man by “then” he means during WW2 when the Tiger 1 was feared by the Allies and by “now” he means modern time.
Probably also true of the Feline Tiger, sadly
Another masterpiece video. The presenter trio ("+Finn) is a legendary gang. The Director, Mr. Willie, and Fletcher "the Old Chap" are such excellent characters with their unique style. I have to write it down from time to time. I never ever imagined to be so much into tanks, but after the first recommended videos me and my wife were just enchanted by the content.
Got to admit that Finn is the breakout success of the whole pandemic shutdown. He has been for more drives in an armoured car than I have.
Really good vid guys. Such amazing things y'all are doing. :)
Brilliant, I hope to go see 131 and the other pieces at the Tank Museum one day👍
Good video. My grandson is a tank fan and will enjoy this.
Oh man being able to go to The Tank Museum would be a dream! I've been to the war museum in Ottawa, Canada once and that was amazing. I'd love to make a trip to go see this some day!
I don't think you would regret a trip across the pond.
@@rogerbond7811 Oh definitely not! I've always wanted to visit. Ever since I was a kid I've been fascinated by England. My only fear is if I visit I'm scared I wouldn't want to leave! haha
What and amazing tank it brings so many people together to learn about history and the true story's of the men that fought in ww2.
"Why did nobody build them after the war if they were so good?" Because the nation that made them lost the war and by the time they were allowed to build tanks again the Tiger and the Heavy Tank Concept was completely obsolete?
This is great please make more.
Fantastic artifact!
Three D printing is so advanced you could make any part you need. Great museum, excellent presentation, carry on.
Yes, but you are still losing more and more of the vehicle with every part you replace. At some point the tank will be retired to preserve the original substance.
@@krautreport202 Not really. The main consumables are seals and bearings. The hull turret fittings and casting will pretty much last forever. The things likely to go is the transmission and final drive gears, and those can be "easily" machined. And track links can be 3D printed at a cost much less than having them cast and machined.
If you don't run it, the seals, hoses, and many other parts would rot away.
@@CrazyKitBuilder Agree. Seals and hoses are cheap. Camshafts, cylinder heads, gears, tracks, transmissions are not.
@@freewill51 you realize there are seals _inside_ the engine and transmission as well right? Those can be very time consuming to replace, especially in these old German tanks, which means lots of money for labor. It's far easier and cheaper to just run it every so often since the parts that will wear out from being run (external filters, seals, and hoses) are cheap and easy to replace because they don't require removal and complete disassembly of the engine/transmission. Just letting it sit will mean not only do you need to replace all those cheap seals and hoses, but you also have to remove the drivetrain for rebuilding.
@@freewill51 What is the point of intact camshaft, cylinder heads, gears, tracks and transmission if you can't run it? As i think the piece trys to say, the benefit of exposes these machines to new audiences outweighs the detrimental effect of doing so. Who's to say that the next generation of "Tankies" created by running 131 will not be the ones to keep the tanks of yesterday and today running tomorrow?
But if you never run it, what is the point of having a working engine and transmission? If it breaks, it is still a good static display.
Yup, better to wear out than rust out. They could always remanufacture some critical wear items for shows and preserve the originals if that was deemed so important.
Would love to one day visit the museum. Then will be happy to make a nice donation! Thank you to all those who put their hearts and time into preserving this and all the other things!
Probably you should donate now so the museum will still be existing once you show up!
Amazing tank... Seen it at Bovington, well worth a visit. Also seen ww1 tank, fantastic day at Bovington tank museum.
Enjoyed this video very much.
Yay! A tiger 131 vid!
Always been my favourite machine still hope to see her one day
The moment it came on sale on World of Tanks as an instant buy for me. Hope to see it in person sometimes (already saving for a trip to see you guys).
Beautiful tank . Wish when places have tank running days , they’d run them with the hatches down at one point.
Im going to this beauty in August!!
I love the picture of HM The Queen. Given her work as a mechanic during the war. I bet she appreciated the beast.
My Grandfather was instrumental in the capture of Tiger 131 and received a Military Cross for his part in this great story.
Love the passion
Listening to David Willey talk about how to balance preservation against showing people this tank running was very interesting. After some consideration I think that there's a difference between a tank and a work of art. The painting exists to be looked at, it conveys emotion, joy and wonder to the appreciative viewer. But it is designed to be static and should be treated thus. Tiger 131 is a machine and it was intended to move. In fact movement is it's purpose. So by restoring it to it's mobile state the Tank Museum is letting us see this artifact in it's natural state. It puts us much more in touch with how our fathers and grandfathers lived and died in WW2 and that is priceless.
Brilliant video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Such a beauty.
You make a good argument for preserving history regardless of the motives and evils of those that created it. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana
I saw a static Tiger I on display at the Deutsches Panzer Museum, in Munster, Germany (near Hamburg). This particular vehicle had been built using components from two or three damaged vehicles, so there was not an operational history of the tank, to go with the display. However, it was a very impressive display, as were all of the other vehicles at the museum!
Outstanding video and presentation. Like a fine classic car you need to drive it or the vehicle quickly deteriorates.
Great video thank you
I have 4 of these. They are amazing
kudos to the maintenance and operations crew!!!
Fun fact: The American forces in northern France after the landings on D-Day reported hundreds of sightings and engagements with Tiger tanks but the Americans never encountered any Tigers in France out side of 3 tigers that had been loaded onto a train for transport.
The best example I ever saw of this was the photograph of a burnt Hotchkiss H39 that was unironically marked with "German Mark VI Tiger knocked out".
KrautReport are you sure it was unironic, sounds like they would have been memeing, like, “hey look guys, we tooootal just took out a tiger”
Fun fact the American forces were the only Allied forces to gain any ground in France after D-Day.
Paul Frederick not true but ok.
@@jk844100 of course it is true. British and Canadian forces never got to Caen before the Americans approached it from the west. After they'd gone through the rest of the country to get there. As it is commonwealth forces still failed to close off the Falaise pocket. Allowing tens of thousands of enemy forces to escape.
A really nice thing about this Tiger I is that they left all the original battle damage scar on it.Quite a story there.
They always high light battle damage by painting silver
@@foxxy46213I'd prefer it fully repaired and painted a different color so it's still obvious but at least it was still mostly repaired.
What a beautiful machine
Just looking at tiger 131 in the museum would be great, but to hear it roar around the arena would spark that part of the human brain that lets our imagination run wild and would allow you to appreciate it a hell of a lot more.
We have all the technology to recreate any single part on that beast !!! Keep running it
Perhaps we have, but if a part is missing and no drawings survive, what can we do about it? Case in point; Tiger 131 is missing the controller for the S-mines.
I'm going to the Tank Museum in June.I live in the States but going to England just to see the Tiger.
Fab film guys. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Really incredible ....love the myth of this beast!!! It's so cool , what a totally impractical monster tank.....just love this video....my fav!!!
Impractical ? From what perspective ? It was overengineered, but it was quite efficient as well. How it performed in battle and effect it had on morale. Saying that Tiger was impractical is like saying that machine-gun is impractical in comparison to slingshot.
@@sjent If you nearly bankrupt yourself making only 1200 of these fail-prone, maintenance-nightmare divas, I'd call that highly inefficient. The Germans would have been far better off building more Panther tanks instead. They could have enjoyed all the advantages of a reliable, hard-hitting tank without suffering the shortcomings of an overengineered colossus.
@@winnietheshrew2957 The Tiger was actually much more reliable than the Panther and had numerous advantages as well, especially it's devastating HE shell compared to the Panther's somewhat mediocre one. Also over 1300 Tiger 1s were built.
@@sjent The Pz VIs were impractical strategically more than tactically. They needed a lot of resources and time to keep them running and to transport them. Tiger 1 in particular was specified pre-war and designed as a “breakthrough” tank intended to punch through enemy lines then retire for needed maintenance while the other tanks exploited the breakthrough - somewhat like the 1930s British infantry and cruiser tank concept that the Pz III and IV were largely based upon. Their sheer size and weight also caused strategic (and tactical) manoeuvre problems, there were many rivers that had few if any bridges able to take their weight. Unfortunately for Germany by the time Tiger got to the front the strategic situation meant opportunities for large breakthrough attacks were few and what German attacks there were mostly ground to a halt. Tigers ended up being used as a “fire-brigade” to block holes in the German lines or to attempt to stop allied breakthroughs. Which they could do, but being needed everywhere at once meant they often didn’t have enough time for service and repairs and in the end there simply weren’t enough of them in the face of overwhelming numbers of Shermans and T34s or the supporting resources they needed. Maybe more importantly, as the war progressed there was also an increasing shortage of well-trained experienced crews and mechanics as well as the materials needed to build AFVs of any kind.
@@tlw4237 _. They needed a lot of resources and time to keep them running and to transport them._ So were aircraft carriers and battleships. _Tiger 1 in particular was specified pre-war and designed as a “breakthrough” tank intended to punch through enemy lines then retire for needed maintenance_ Id like to see sources for this claim, considering how it does not seem to fit with it design specifications at all. _Their sheer size and weight also caused strategic (and tactical) manoeuvre problems, there were many rivers that had few if any bridges able to take their weight._ Its a logistic, not design problems. Allies also had heavy tanks in their service. _...they often didn’t have enough time for service and repairs and in the end there simply weren’t enough of them in the face of overwhelming numbers of Shermans and T34s..._ Those were two main problems with Tigers - lack of proper logistic setup and too few of them were in service. Even if Tiger could take out 10 Shermans/T-34, US and SU produced 100 of those for every Tiger. It was a question of resource availability, rather than tank quality. If Germans would have access to same amount of resources as either US or SU, and spend only half of what was spent on Shermans/T-34, they would have no problem wrecking latter in staggering numbers. While cost more, than either of those medium tanks, their performance was considerably higher, in comparison, when they were present on the battlefield. One Tiger could take on 5+ of either and prevail, while costing only 2.5 times more. Simple fact that Tiger, due to it 88mm gun and optics on par, could take out targets on range of over 1500 meters, while both Shermans and T-34 had effective range of around 800 meters, with fire rate of around 12 shots a minute, Tiger would take out 3-4 tanks even before they would get in range. Considered that gun stabilizers did not really existed during that era, only way to effectively fire at opponents would be from stationary position and Tigers had armor to allow them take quite a lot of beating. So it would fire off shell after shell even when opponents would get into firing range. There have bee instances of Tigers taking on over a dozen of allied tanks and emerging victorious. Particularly when they were used in ambushes, where one tank could completely dominate whole area and leave nothing but dozens of burning hulks behind. There is a reason why majority of Tigers were either destroyed by aerial attacks of were abandoned once they run out of fuel or ammo. When it comes to Shermans/T-34 vs Tiger, we are talking about quantity vs quality. American and Soviet-build tanks were cheap and easy to produce. They were also complete trash. Tigers were efficient, but not without their flaws. But in the end it all came down to how much resources each country could spent on those tanks and both Soviet Union and United States had far larger manufacturing base. There is a reason n why Germany needed fast and decisive victory against SU - they simply lacked enough resources for prolonged conflict. This is why most historians agree that Germany lost war by 1942, after that it was just drawn out defeat. Red Army, despite enormous losses, held out, recuperated and then defeated Wehrmacht.
What an awesome Tank
It would be awesome to get one member of each of the tiger family members up and running again. Tiger1, tiger2, jagdtiger, sturmtiger, and or the Ferdinand/elephant
Maybe fire up a few of the concentration camps too.
The Ferdinand would instantly break
On the subject of running the equipment, not running can be equally destructive. Engine seals and bearings not being lubricated by moving oils and grease over surfaces can encourage rust and rubber hardening. It’s a no win situation, of course, but the educational advantages of doing so far outweigh the negative effects. Good work boys! Only wish I could come and see it in action!
with the technology now a days we can manufacture any part required to keep 131 running for many more years
True but it costs quite a bit The tools for the parts and then the part itself.
@@ErukanuSenpai we are talking about parts. if you want a part. replicate it. the technology didnt exist. now it does. anything can be done.
@@Chodda it seems you don't rly understand how the industry works xD making custom parts is hella expensive
@@ErukanuSenpai when they decide to restore a Tiger Tank i'm sure they understood the 'hella' price of it
@@ErukanuSenpai that's where people like us come in. Donating to the museum, buying from the shop or joining the Patreon helps the museum to pay for those repairs. Running the tank brings more supporters in helping in turn to fund it being run.
Great film .
The inside of that tiger almost looks modern 🤯 Fine German engineering 🙋♂️
You could easily argue that it fine German Over-engineering that was the problem. It cost something like four times as much as a Sherman or a T-34 in cost, man hours and materials to make a Tiger, something which the Germans could ill-afford.
@@markfryer9880 yeah couldn't afford it cuz they had to build houses for the workers who were firebombed. Not having air superiority and lack of encryption technology is what led to the downfall of nazi germany, suddenly the tactic that was undefeatable at first seemed literally useless when the allies knew exactly where you were gonna be attacking from.
No, it doesn't. German engineering often overcomplicates things
"... a mistery why Tiger 131 was abandoned" Not a mistery - it had no parking sensors "HAAAAANS you hit a tree, again." Hans: "You know what? I am sick and tired of you yelling at me. You think you can do it better? ;(" "Yes I could \o/" Hans: "Fine, i am going home....."
The DAK ran out of DEF. That explains everything.
I enlisted in the U.S. Army a few months before 9/11. I wanted to be a paratrooper, but the Army guidance counselors were trying to push me to join as an Abrams tanker. I refused their attempts and enlisted as a paratrooper. A few years later I was in Iraq and got to climb inside an Abrams. I had to be helped out of the driver seat as I’d gotten stuck because I’m too tall. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the counselors. I’d have been miserable. Well, I was still experiencing misery as a paratrooper but it was the manageable misery, I guess. 🤷♂️
Very informative...interesting to see the history and early photos of the Tiger before and after capture. Why was the original red insignia seen in the original photos to the left of the driver view port not reapplied after restoration?
I have to wonder what you mean by "red". No colour photos were taken of "131" after its capture, for a long time, so how could you know the colour. Anyway, there are insignia there in some of those photos. But they are not original. They were added by the British.
Greate video, given the current trend on models of full interior kits. Is there any chance of a full interior / engine compartment ‘look around’?
The engine in 131 is not a Tiger 1 engine. It was taken from a Tiger II if I hear right. It's not even the same version of engine that "131" originally had. The gearboxes connecting the engine to the fans had to be built from original plans because the original gearbox didn't work with the new engine (different version, remember). As for the engine compartment: it used to contain a lot of very interesting "heath robinson" machinery to make the tank waterproof. The museum took all of that out.
Sweet Tanks!!!
One day I'll visit England and visit the tank museum.
thats in my plans too
I was lucky enough to get to the museum in 2018. Thank you for these films. Spot on analysis of the Tiger myth.
Sometimes i wonder if i left my video playback at half speed when Richard speaks... then i realize its him speaking at regular speed :D
Tiger 131 is, I think, by far the most important tank in the Tank Museum collection. It is one of the few tanks in the collection captured during WW2 combat and still in almost perfect condition, almost entirely original, apart from the engine. Even the engine is taken from another German WW2 tank.
I think Little Willie and the Mark 1 landship are more important historically - they were the very beginning of tanks, and there was only ever one Little Willie. Though Tigers are a crowd-pleaser of course.
Well put. Thank you. Understand you have a King Tiger? :)
The finest art of all.😊🖤❤💛🇩🇪