Last week one of the two remaining Elefant tank destroyers from WWII arrived at the Tank Museum at Bovington UK to be part of their upcoming Tiger Collection exhibit. Here is an article from the Tank Museum about the arrival of this armored beast.
Seventy-two years after it fell into Allied hands, one of the largest combat vehicles to see action in the Second World War has arrived safely at The Tank Museum in Dorset.
The 70 ton Panzerjäger Tiger (P), commonly known as Elefant, has undergone an historic 3,500 mile return journey across the Atlantic.
It was captured near Anzio, Italy, by US troops in June 1944 – and quickly shipped stateside for military evaluation.
Tank Museum Curator David Willey said: “Tiger tanks like this one have a powerful reputation which was underpinned with Nazi propaganda at the time.”
“This reputation has persisted beyond the war itself into books, films and video games.”
The tank is being loaned from the US Army Ordnance Training and Heritage Center at Fort Lee, VA, by The United States Army Centre of Military History and is one of just two surviving examples of the 91 Elefants that saw service with German forces.
It will be the first time that an Elefant has ever been seen in the UK.
“This mythical reputation, coupled with their rarity, is what makes them of such great interest. But in truth, the myth has elevated them to be greater than the reality.” David added.
Designed by famed auto-engineer Ferdinand Porsche, the Elefant was a self-propelled anti-tank gun and member of the ‘Tiger family’ of Second World War German tanks.
Before serving in Italy, it took part in the Battle of Kursk, which remains the biggest tank battle in history.
Its final destination is The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset, where it will feature in ‘The Tiger Collection – the Tanks, the Terror & the Truth‘ exhibition sponsored by World of Tanks.
“Tigers are large and impressive by contemporary standards – but there is a moral responsibility to remember what they were used for and the regime who created them,” said David.
“Representing less than 7% of their wartime tank production, Tiger tanks failed to have a real impact and our exhibition will be presenting a more balanced account of these vehicles, along with views of veterans.”
Set to open in April 2017, the exhibition will bring every member of the Tiger tank family together in one space for the first time in history. However, one example that has eluded the Museum will be appearing virtually, courtesy of exhibition sponsors World of Tanks.
“We’re taking our experience of creating historically accurate models for our World of Tanks video game and using this to create an exhibit to complete the collection,” said Richard Cutland, World of Tanks European Head of Military Relations.
“Using the latest digital technology, visitors will be able to see a full-sized Sturmtiger in the exhibition with the use of our Augmented Reality App. We’re pleased to be supporting an exhibition of such international significance.”
For those looking for something tank related to do this summer, The Military Vehicle Preservation Association has announced the 42nd Annual MVPA International Convention will be held in conjunction with the Cleveland Tank Plant Homecoming Military Show and Swap Meet, June 22 – 24, 2017 at the I-X Center.
The city of Huntington’s City Services department learned Monday that the Sherman tank at the park had been tagged in white spray paint with “KKKK,” a common nod to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. In a Facebook post, the city said the graffiti was part of a “wave of vandalism” around the city and called the markings on the tank “most troubling.”
presentatives of over 20 Israeli companies involved in the development and production program for the Merkava tank and Namer armored personnel carrier today finished the first seminar ever conducted in India. Dozens of Indian companies attended the seminar. The Ministry of Defense SIBAT – Ministry of Defense International Defense Cooperation Authority sponsored the seminar, in view of the emerging needs of Indian industry in order to prepare for the large-scale procurement of armored vehicles by the Indian army expected in the coming years.
The inability of DRDO to put its foot down and admit that it could not build the tank on time and on schedule doomed the tank. India’s state of the military art was such that a new tank would out of necessity face a prolonged development time. The more the tank project dragged on, the more the tank needed to be redesigned to incorporate new technologies. The tank was trapped for decades in a development death spiral, and the end product is correspondingly mediocre.
If you have a few grand to blow through and want to make a really, really big bang then you might want to look into DriveTanks, located at the Ox Ranch in Uvalde, Texas. The sprawling ranch bills itself as the only place in the world to drive and shoot fully functional tanks and major artillery without having to actually enlist in the military or join some sort of militia. DriveTanks calls itself a living military museum. Whereas other places will let you look at weapons of war behind glass or a velvet rope, DriveTanks offers a first-hand experience that you might still feel the next day.
Chase Paczosa knew he wanted to thank veterans through his Eagle Scout project. Their service and sacrifices are what allow him to participate in Boy Scouts, an organization he joined about seven years ago. “I wanted to help the veterans, do something for the veterans,” said Paczosa, a member of Troop 212 in Columbus. He just didn’t know exactly what that gesture would be. Initially, the 14-year-old Columbus Middle School student had a plan to raise money for an all-terrain wheelchair that would be donated to a local veteran. The chairs, which have tracks instead of wheels, make it easier for those with physical disabilities to participate in outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
CAMP SHELBY, MS (WDAM) – One Hattiesburg man is helping to tell Mississippi’s military history through the history of the tank. Glenn Husted is the collections manager at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. He’s also an Army veteran and tank expert, who’s led conservation efforts on several historic vehicles at the museum. His pride and joy is a one-of-a-kind tank from 1936. It’s an M2A2 light tank that was donated to Camp Shelby in 1977. The museum is the only place where the tank can be seen.
LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) – A popular Largo attraction will soon close because of financial problems.
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