Pic : Tiger 131 at Bovington - rolling !

She carries evidence of eight attacks on her, Gaines. Five definitely from her last fight.
The rear damage on those cyclones & exhaust shrouds is blast-related shrapnel stuff.

Other hits/strikes (refreshing my memory with the Haynes manual) :
57mm solid on underside of main gun.
.303 raking of gun & mantlet.
.303 burst on the open commander's hatch, vision slit & cupola.
57mm on turret lifting stud.
57mm through loader's open hatch.
.303 right hull rear.
And a possible hit to the driver's hatch.

Some of the more obvious scars, snapped a while ago:











The damage is seemingly quite superficial compared to some Tiger kills, but the more I've thought about it over the years, adding smashed radios, possibly jammed traverse & seemingly hit while open hatches, and despite the fact there's no German evidence as to why, I can't say I blame them for legging it.
I'd have tried to leg it before being made to fight in the things...

 

hello Gaines

Sorry - I almost missed your posting......

Adam is quite right - there's a photo in the Haynes 'Tiger Tank Manual' showing Tiger 131 very soon after being captured in April 1943 with the 'original' shrapnel scars to the exhaust shrouds.

( And yes, we're cracking on with the restoration of Mosquito FB.VI TA122 - I must soon do a little photo-essay update on the Forum.... )

 

Thanks , fellows, for the updates and the photos. When I saw it it was not running but I remember the evidence of hits but not as aware of the exactness above. I imagine the 57mm through the open hatch, even if a solid shot . would play some havoc . If a tank becomes slightly disabled it probably attracts attention !! And it appears the 57 had it's range. . Great thread Martin.

Glad the Mosquito is progressing, that rare plane really deserves all of the great effort being put into it.. I have just finished the misnamed "Night Fighter over Germany" about life of a sergeant pilot from enlistment till 1950 but not really much about combat but some tiny but interesting information about Mosquitos and Beaufighters rigged for night fighting. It is a good source for life as a piolet during the war and their endless training.

again my appreciation,

Gaines

 

Unashamed *bump* for this thread.

Now that Photobucket has stopped messing around, some of my favourite WWII-related pics that I've ever taken have reappeared and I'm just glad to have them all in one place where I can keep gloating over them !

 

This is one great thread, glad you bumped it. The Tiger 1 is my favorite looking tank of WW2. It's straight vertical front and turret are not ballistically correct but they seem to say, to hell with you and your little anti-tank guns. there is a brutal quality about it, a certain toughness that should have instilled fear, huge treads, blunt strong steel.. I keep imagining the Tiger's AP round hitting the 2" turret of an M-4. I am very fond of the Sherman and aware of it;'s merits but still think of the image a Tiger projects, an icon.

Funny what one sees in a picture. I agree with your wife, again, I see the tourist as refugees fleeing, but the profile of the Tiger, that long stepped barrel looks menacing, as if stalking a prey the T-Rex of its time. The irony of all this is that a Sherman, with a clear side shot, brought down Michael Whitman. I always likened being in a tank to being in a submarine, sparse vision, your hunter always lurking.

Brilliant thread, Martin

 

Tiger is my favourite,too. As I am an ostfront 'fan' the Germans Used to say that the T-34 took its hat off for respect as the 88 hit it i.e. the cupola blew off up in the air...