THE TIGER 1 AT VIMOUTIERS

A Tiger 1 late version is displayed by the road, close to the little town of Vimoutiers. This tank has the hull number 251 113 ( the Tiger at Saumur is number 251 114 )

This tank belonged, like the Tiger1 at Saumur, to the SS s.Pz Abt 102.

This tank miraclously escaped from the Falaise gap and was driving north-east to the Seine. But after the town of Vimoutiers the road climbs steeply which was fatal for this tank and some other German tanks abandoned in this area (Tigers and Pz IV).

The Tiger was blown up in the middle of the road by its crew, probably hoping to delay the US advance.

Soon afterwards, 3 US bulldozers were used to push the wreck out of the road into a deep ditch.

This ditch was not easy to reach; this fact probably saved the Tiger from the blowtorches after the war. All the other tanks abandoned in the area were cut into pieces converted to razor blades.

The tank was brought out of the ditch and restored in the '70s by a local man, who used a lot of welding to make it look better.

The tank is displayed on a concrete support that supports it; in fact this vehicle has no remaining floor nor suspension. In some places, the armoured plates are deformed by the internal explosions that destroyed it

As one can see, the tracks are touching the upper hull. It's impossible to get inside this tank; the hatches are welded, and anyway the interior is just a mess of rusted and twisted steel.

Left views of the tank. Many bolts are missing from the road wheels. One can see on the right hand photo how the hull roof was deformed by internal explosions. The camouflage could be corrected by inverting the colours brown and sand; there was a specific pattern on the 102nd SS tanks, with large brown and green areas separated by thin lines of sand.

The rear plate. All the easily dismantled parts were removed after the war.

The front MG mount "Kugelblende 100" and the driver's visor. Although it was done to the Saumur vehicle, these part were never covered with zimmerit in reality.

One can see numbers stamped on many places on the tank; such numbers are not visible at Saumur because of the zimmerit and also the numerous layers of paint. Even the headlight support plate has a number.

The Tiger at Vimoutiers is the only remaining one in the world fitted with the small muzzle brake; in fact it's the same muzzle brake as on the Tiger II, the Jagpanther, and the Pak 43. The Germans standardised many parts toward the end of the war.

Closer views of the little muzzle brake.

The engine cover plate and air outlet grilles are missing; Pz IV engine plates were used instead by the man who recovered the wreck.

The mine launcher Nahverteidigunswaffe, also with a serial number.

The escape hatch. The hinge is a late model with 2 bolts, the lower part of the hinge is cut to clear the armoured ring around the turret base. This ring was probably torn off by the explosions. On the right one can see how the turret was broken into 2 parts.

The mantlet is drilled with one hole for the monocular TZF9c sight. In the Saumur vehicle the mantlet was drilled with 2 holes for the binocular TZF9b, then the left hole was plugged and welded.

The mantlet; this one is numbered on top "AMP 250", that at Saumur is number "AMP 247". The letters "AR" are not originals, but the initials of the man who restored the tank.

BACK

IMPORTANT : NO COPY OR PUBLICATION WHITOUT MY AUTHORIZATION

		The tank is displayed on a concrete support that supports it; in fact this vehicle has no remaining floor nor suspension. In some places, the armoured plates are deformed by the internal explosions that destroyed it
		As one can see, the tracks are touching the upper hull. It's impossible to get inside this tank; the hatches are welded, and anyway the interior is just a mess of rusted and twisted steel.
		Left views of the tank. Many bolts are missing from the road wheels. One can see on the right hand photo how the hull roof was deformed by internal explosions. The camouflage could be corrected by inverting the colours brown and sand; there was a specific pattern on the 102nd SS tanks, with large brown and green areas separated by thin lines of sand.
		The rear plate. All the easily dismantled parts were removed after the war.
		The front MG mount "Kugelblende 100" and the driver's visor. Although it was done to the Saumur vehicle, these part were never covered with zimmerit in reality.
	One can see numbers stamped on many places on the tank; such numbers are not visible at Saumur because of the zimmerit and also the numerous layers of paint. Even the headlight support plate has a number.
		The Tiger at Vimoutiers is the only remaining one in the world fitted with the small muzzle brake; in fact it's the same muzzle brake as on the Tiger II, the Jagpanther, and the Pak 43. The Germans standardised many parts toward the end of the war.
		Closer views of the little muzzle brake.
		The engine cover plate and air outlet grilles are missing; Pz IV engine plates were used instead by the man who recovered the wreck.
	The mine launcher Nahverteidigunswaffe, also with a serial number.
		The escape hatch. The hinge is a late model with 2 bolts, the lower part of the hinge is cut to clear the armoured ring around the turret base. This ring was probably torn off by the explosions. On the right one can see how the turret was broken into 2 parts.
		The mantlet is drilled with one hole for the monocular TZF9c sight. In the Saumur vehicle the mantlet was drilled with 2 holes for the binocular TZF9b, then the left hole was plugged and welded.
	The mantlet; this one is numbered on top "AMP 250", that at Saumur is number "AMP 247". The letters "AR" are not originals, but the initials of the man who restored the tank.