The turret of a Tiger 1, a World War II era German tank, is secured to be moved at Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, July 9, 2012. The Tiger 1, one of six left in the world, will be shipped to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)
A Tiger 1, a World War II era German tank, sits incapacitated. A Tiger 1, one of six left in the world, will be shipped to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restoration. (File photo)
The turret of a Tiger 1, a World War II era German tank, is secured to be moved to Royal Air Force Lakenheath by members of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Alconbury, England, July 9, 2012. The Tiger 1, one of six left in the world, will be shipped to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restoration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)
Airman 1st Class Steven Bueso (left), and Staff Sgt. Rafael Bernal, secure a Tiger 1 turret at Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, July 9, 2012. The Tiger 1, one of six left in the world, will be shipped to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restoration. Bueso is a vehicle operator and Bernal is a vehicle dispatcher. Both are with 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne)
by Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
7/17/2012 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFNS) -- One of the most feared and powerful tanks of its time is making its way to the United States courtesy of the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
The squadron is shipping a World War II-era German Tiger 1 tank from Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., for repair and full restoration.
The Tiger 1 is a German heavy tank that was one of the most advanced weapons during its time. Armed with an 88 mm gun on the turret and protected by a thick layer of armor on all sides, the Tiger 1 was considered a formidable force by the Allies. Although proven to be effective in both offensive and defensive combat, the tank was expensive and time consuming to build. Production was limited to little more than 1,300 built between 1942 and 1944.
Due to the relatively low number built, finding a Tiger 1 in good condition after more than 60 years is rare.
"There are only six known Tiger 1s that are still in one piece left in the world," said Len Dyer, the director of the Army Armor and Cavalry museum. "This particular one was captured by the British in Tunis, North Africa, in 1943. She has plenty of combat action and a few combat scars that have had repair work done."
Although the tank is now disassembled for relocation, the battle scars that have since been patched can still be seen on several parts of the tank.
The unique task of moving this battle-hardened tank came down from the U.S. Army to the 48th LRS. Specifically, the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, sent the request in an email to Bill Pratt, the 48th LRS Transportation Management Office chief of cargo movement.
Although the 48th TMO is more commonly known for moving Airmen's personal property when changing duty stations, the office also is in charge of moving important military property.
"Part of TMO moves personal property and personal goods, but there is a big part of TMO that never gets noticed," said Pratt. "Everything that comes in and out of Lakenheath -- doesn't matter if it's a boat or bomb -- comes through TMO."
"That's what we do," Pratt said. We support all the cargo movements all over the world, supporting the 48th Fighter Wing and other units of the U.S. military."
This particular cargo is slated to be completely broken down, cleaned, and ready to be taken back to the U.S. within the next month, to join other pieces of military history at the Fort Benning U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum.
Comments
7/23/2012 10:38:04 AM ET I note also that the comment software is stripping punctuation from our posts and making us look less than literate.
Sgt F, annoyed
7/23/2012 3:31:17 AM ET I'd like to thank Koldo for his statement which opens this thread up for an argument over the merits of various MBTs. Koldo what about the IS-2In the meantime hats off to 48 LRS for handling this. I wonder who took on the task of taking turret tracks etc. off for shipment
Sgt F, USAFE
7/21/2012 4:14:36 PM ET I'm interested as to why in the video clip our people care so little for these rare artifacts that they are being transported without any cover to prevent water damage.Last time this tank was in the U.S it was left to rot for 40 years. We do not appear to have learned a thing about vehicle preservasion
Jeff Arnett, Boise
7/21/2012 3:41:06 PM ET Mr Zrodlowski is incorrect and Mr Dyer is correct the Tiger was found by the Britsh as they advanced and later US forces moved into the Area.From what I can see on the film Mr J has said lots of things and they all prove incorrect about missing Engines etc if you look at the film you can see the Engine headers ect all tied down. What dammage can be caused to those headers by that
Urie van Kerr , USA
7/19/2012 12:57:46 AM ET It seems that this TIGER belonged to the 1st Leibstandarte Panzer Divisionen and well it made the ruskis and the americans to wet their pants when they were attacking them. The most powerful tank ever madeGerman technology at its best
Koldo, Spain
7/18/2012 5:51:39 PM ET Len Dyer is incorrect for stating that this Tiger was captured by the Brits. This Tiger is the one from Aberdeen Proving Grounds and was captured by the U.S Army. It our Tiger and it's finally coming back home to its rightful owners. The left side of the turret and hull were cut away for instructional purposes after the war. Afterward steel sheets were welded over the cut out ares to protect the interior when the tank was displayed outdoors. There is a patch welded over on the right side of the turret where the smoke grenade discharger was shot off. None of the five other surviving Tiger I's in the world possess these unique features which identify it as the APG Tiger. I'm interested to find out how many of the remaining original components were stripped off by Kevin Wheatcroft before he had to return the tank.
Joe Zrodlowski, New York
7/18/2012 4:09:00 PM ET Len Dyer is incorrect for stating that this Tiger was captured by the Brits. This Tiger is the one from Aberdeen Proving Grounds and was captured by the U.S Army. It our Tiger and it's finally coming back home to its rightful owners. The left side of the turret and hull were cut away for instructional purposes after the war. Afterward steel sheets were welded over the cut out ares to protect the interior when the tank was displayed outdoors. There is a patch welded over on the right side of the turret where the smoke grenade discharger was shot off. None of the five other surviving Tiger I's in the world possess these unique features which identify it as the APG Tiger. I'm interested to find out how many of the remaining original components were stripped off by Kevin Wheatcroft before he had to return the tank.
Joe Zrodlowski, New York
7/18/2012 3:27:56 PM ET Excellent story about saving a piece of World War II historyHowever to be correct the second picture color historical picture of knocked out tank is not of a Tiger I tank it is a Panzer Mk IV. They look outwardly similiar but the Tiger was much more heavily armed and armored.
Fred S, Oklahoma
7/18/2012 2:36:37 PM ET Great article, but picture 2 of 4 is a PzKw Mk IV an H or J model not a Tiger I PzKw Mk VI. The turret armor schurzen on the Mk IV has thrown IDs off since WW2.Steve
