So I'm away for a few days this week, visiting Dorset with my family and this means I'm just a short hop from the
Tank Museum at Bovington. My wife gave me a 'day pass' to head off alone (while she and my daughter visited
Monkey World down the road) and consequently I have spent a blissful few hours wandering around my favourite museum. I've been here dozens of times but this visit I specifically wanted to see the Tiger Collection exhibition which brings together the Museum’s Tiger I, both its King Tigers, Jagdtiger and an Elefant on loan from the
US Army Ordnance Training and Heritage Center.
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| Tiger I in front with the Elefant behind. These are massive vehicles. |
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| The Elefant is a huge and imposing vehicle. |
This was a rare opportunity to see the Elefant, a unique and somewhat odd vehicle based on the rejected Porsche Tiger chassis. Ninety-one "Porsche Tiger" chassis were converted into Ferdinand tank destroyers in early 1943 and took part in the Battle of Kursk. The surviving vehicles (about 50) were then modified based on lessons learned in the field. The improvements included a Hull mounted MG, a commanders cupola and Zimmerit anti mine past. The frontal armour was also increased and wider tracks were fitted. The changes were significant and not only made this a much better combat vehicle but also prompted the change in name to Elefant in may 1944.
Aberdeen proving ground was both a amazing place and a terrible place. They coudn't afford to cover the collection, so they were left out in the Elements to slowly rust away. They close the museum in 2010 and moved most of the tanks to Virginia, But the state wont help with the cost of opening a new museum, So most the tanks and guns are lock away in storage. The Elephant was in a episode of Tank Overhaul show.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise that Aberdeen was closed down. I just hope the collection is maintained and finds a home eventually.
DeleteLucky you...I had to go round Monkey World last time I was down in the area, even driving past the Tank Museum to get there!
ReplyDeleteMonkey world is nice, but I know where I would rather be if I had the choice.
DeleteAlways worth looking at 131
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Its a unique survivor and a real beast of a machine when you stand next to it. Even more so when you stand next to it as it drives past...see my video from a few years ago here https://youtu.be/PsVLkJQgJmU
DeleteWhat a splendid and rare treat.
ReplyDeleteThe museum is always changing, every year that have at least on new exhibition. They also have a huge covered collection in the Conservation Building so they can bring rare tanks out on display and swap vehicles around.
DeleteI'm hoping to go to the wargame show there next month, and am hoping the Elefant will still be there.....
ReplyDeleteI think it will be. Seeing all the Tiger variants in one place is quite a treat.
DeleteI do need a trip to Bov myself. I haven't been for years!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a road trip is required? To really get a proper look around you need a couple of days to explore the collection.
DeleteAh, so the Elie is on loan from the US. I was wondering why I hadn't seen it there when I visited in 2013. That is a really odd one-off design - guess they wanted to get the most bang for their buck with the Porsche chassis. The Tigers, Jagdtiger, Jagdpanther and Pershing were monsters then and still today!
ReplyDeleteThe Elefant is a massive vehicle with that huge armoured superstructure housing the gun. I was a little surprised at how rough some of the welding was on it though...not your normal German precision build. I guess that's partly because by the time this was being upgraded and turned from a Ferdinand into an Elefant the war was starting to turn against the Nazis and resources, manpower and time were stretched.
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