Bovington 'Tiger Day' - 31st March 2012

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by von Poop, Nov 4, 2011.

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  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Welcome to the Tank Museum - Home of the Tank - Tiger Day

    2012 marks the 70th Anniversary of the Tiger tank; one of the most feared and revered machines in the history of warfare.

    To mark the conclusion of our latest Heritage Lottery and PRISM Fund sponsored conservation project, The Tank Museum is hosting a special event exploding the myths and exploring the reality behind the most famous tank in the world – Tiger 131.

    Tiger Tank In Action*
    The highlight of the day will see Tiger 131 make its return into the arena to take part in a 30 minute display which will examine and compare this World War Two beast to its Axis and Allied contemporaries; including Matilda II, Panzer III, T-34 and Sherman. The display will also examine the impact Tiger had on future tank design, with Centurion and Leopard.

    [​IMG]Family Activities
    A range of other activities will also be taking place within the museum. Free talks and tours will include an examination of The Tiger II – The King Tiger, along with regular screenings of the film `Saving The Tiger – The Story of Tiger 131`, along with other hands on activities for kids.

    Normal admission prices will apply for this event. Annual Pass holders will be admitted free.

    But for real Tiger fans, we recommend a Premium Ticket…


    ~A
     
  2. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Sounds excellent and the day after my birthday too. I think I will forward this thread on to my Nearest and Dearest...
     
  3. wowtank

    wowtank Very Senior Member

    wowtank thinks about plaining holiday.
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Surely the Tiger is nothing but a symbol of evil ? Has no one got a preserved 17 pdr A/tk gun and a couple of rounds of AP ?

    An opportunity not to be missed.

    Rich-the-Troll:wink:
     
  5. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    wowtank thinks about plaining holiday.

    I've changed my mind.
     
    Owen and von Poop like this.
  6. Susan Smethurst

    Susan Smethurst Senior but too talkative

    Have told kids they are going. 14 year old daughter asks if there is anything to buy....somehow I dont think she means a model tank...told her there was no discussion about visiting Bovington in my childhood-didnt everyone spend summers in the 70s sitting on tanks?
     
  7. mollusc

    mollusc Member

    Surely the Tiger is nothing but a symbol of evil ? Has no one got a preserved 17 pdr A/tk gun and a couple of rounds of AP ?

    An opportunity not to be missed.

    Rich-the-Troll:wink:

    Aren't all tanks a symbol of evil? No-one likes to be killed.

    But to consider your suggestion - 17 pdr v Tiger 1, I'd pay good money to see that, shame that "health and safety" would probably rule it out.
     
  8. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Rich/Mollusc
    It should be recalled that this particular Tiger was knocked out by a gunner of 4th Troop of the 48th RTR in the 21st Tank bde in North Africa - with a six pounder shot only as the 17 pounders - all four of them - had been busy down at Medenine with 8th Army finishing off Rommel who was fired the next day after that battle.

    The six pounder shot hit the Tiger between the Hull and Turret thus jamming the turret and preventing the gun from traversing and the crew baled out - Gerry's NIH did the recovery work and it was sent to Bizerta then Bone and finally to Glasgow - to the Horse Guards parade for a few weeks then down to Bovington from where it was restored to it's intial state for all to see - and remember the lads of 4th Troop 48th RTR

    Cheers

    PS - anyone visiting Bovvy should pop in to see Sapper in Swanage as he will be glad to see you - BUT- take your own cameras as he NEVER has batteries for his - he says ! Love to the saintly one Brian ...
     
  9. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Thanks for the heads-up Von Poop. Ordered my premium tickets this week. Again a birthy present for my father for which I 'unfortunately' have to travel with him... :)

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  10. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    The tickets are in. Fingers crossed there isn't a technical problem on the day that will prevent it from moving around. I have had bad luck with Tigers in the past: everytime I went to a museum especially for the Tiger it either lay in pieces (Bovington) or was loaned to an other museum (Samur) or.... Took some time before I had my first pictures (the one standing outside a village in France).

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  11. jw021979

    jw021979 Still Learning

    The Tank Museum have now announced a second Tiger Day on 22nd September 2012:
    Tiger Day 2

    I will probably be going to both Tiger days (not as premium due to lack of funds) as I am only a few miles from Bovington
     
  12. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    Yep me to was there this year so it's free for me :lol:
     
  13. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    JW, drop me an e-mail through my website with your address. As I understand it I will get a card for a year free entry with my premium ticket for which I have no use. Better it goes to someone who will enjoy it.
     
  14. jw021979

    jw021979 Still Learning

    JW, drop me an e-mail through my website with your address. As I understand it I will get a card for a year free entry with my premium ticket for which I have no use. Better it goes to someone who will enjoy it.
    Thanks for the offer but I already have my years free normal entry ticket from my visit to Tankfest (unless you wanna give me a free premium ticket :D ).
     
  15. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    JW ok, no problem.
     
  16. grimmy

    grimmy Guest

    Rich/Mollusc
    It should be recalled that this particular Tiger was knocked out by a gunner of 4th Troop of the 48th RTR in the 21st Tank bde in North Africa - with a six pounder shot only as the 17 pounders - all four of them - had been busy down at Medenine with 8th Army finishing off Rommel who was fired the next day after that battle.

    The six pounder shot hit the Tiger between the Hull and Turret thus jamming the turret and preventing the gun from traversing and the crew baled out - Gerry's NIH did the recovery work and it was sent to Bizerta then Bone and finally to Glasgow - to the Horse Guards parade for a few weeks then down to Bovington from where it was restored to it's intial state for all to see - and remember the lads of 4th Troop 48th RTR


    Tom,

    It must have spent at least some time at Longcross depot (probably 1946). My Dad was amongst a group of fitters who fixed the turret. The story they were told was that the crew were finished off with grenades.
     
  17. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    See our Tiger Tank being started with its restored inertia starter for the first time since the war. This means there is now only a few more things to be done before we display Tiger 131 at our special Tiger Day event in March!
    [YOUTUBE]Fza741Vo8js[/YOUTUBE]

    I must confess, I've surely read the term 'Inertia starter' many times without even considering what one actually is.
    Rather good.
    Clever buggers, and none of the terror associated with standard crank-starts.
     
  18. cash_13

    cash_13 Senior Member

    The Germans used the same Inertia starter method on the DB range of engines of the Messerschimdt 109-110 planes and also the Focke Wulf 190's it is an amazing system to see being used...

    When we were down at the Museum they were waiting for the return of the newly built Fan drive gearboxes I think the guy working on Tiger 131 said they were 35K a pop...yeouchhh!!
     

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  19. jw021979

    jw021979 Still Learning

    Tiger day tomorrow. Anyone going? I will be there, will try to post pictures sunday/monday for anyone who cant make it.
     
  20. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

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