Between 2017 and 2019 the Tank Museum in Bovington presented a special exhibition named “The Tiger Collection“, where the museum tried to gather and display all the surviving Tiger variants. In this article we share the pictures of the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger, Sd.Kfz. 181 a.k.a. Tiger 131. For technical description and more information follow this link to an article on the Tiger I.
This is probably the best known version. The Tiger I is powered by a Maybach HL210 TRM P45 engine. Tank Ace Michael Wittmann would prove to be a deadly combination together with this tank.
Tiger 131 is one of the most famous and well-preserved examples of the German Tiger I heavy tank, which saw extensive service during World War II. Manufactured in 1942, Tiger 131 is notable for being the first Tiger I captured by the Allies, which was later restored and put on display. It was armed with the powerful 88mm KwK 36 L/56 gun, capable of penetrating the armor of most Allied tanks at long range. The tank also had a coaxial MG34 machine gun for close defense.
The Tiger I’s armor was exceptionally thick, with up to 100mm on the turret and 80mm on the hull, making it nearly impervious to most anti-tank weapons of the time. Powered by a Maybach HL230 P45 engine producing 700 horsepower, the tank had a top speed of around 38 km/h (24 mph) on roads, but its heavy weight (nearly 56 tons) resulted in slow maneuverability and mechanical issues.
The Tiger 131 was part of the 1st Battalion, 504th Heavy Panzer Regiment, and saw action in Tunisia in 1943, where it was captured by British forces. It is now preserved at the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK, providing a rare opportunity to study a Tiger I in excellent condition.
