Tiger II Museum Saamur

[huntpe1]

Hi can any one tell me the story of the saamur Tiger 11 please as I think it could be my next tank . Thanks Pete

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon,
From: http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Tigers.pdf

Stephen Drew, July 2006
Tiger II – Musée des Blindés, Saumur (France) – running condition
Fahrgestell number 280112. According to an article from the Saumur museum's magazine n° 54, this tank, which now carries the
turret number 233, could be the tank n° 123, which belonged to the 1st Company, 101 SS.s.Abt in August 1944. It could have been
abandoned by its crew on 23 August 1944, due to some engine problems, at Brueil-en-Vexin (near Mantes-la-Jolie). It has been
apparently salvaged by the French Army in September 1944, and then stored at the AMX factory at Satory before being transferred to
the museum, when it was created. It was not in running condition for some months due to a gearbox problem, but the tank has been
repaired recently and now, it runs normally (France AFVs register)

regards,
Painless

[huntpe1]

Thanks for the reply most helpful.Pete

[PainlessWolf]

Pete,
A pleasure, Sir. ;o)
regards,
Painless

[TKcommander]

A shame, the museums website has vanished!!!
I enjoyed my visit this summer gone, just wish I had more time to appreciate all that was on show.

[huntpe1]

Thank you for the photos most useful I think its the one for me. regards Pete

[billpe]

If you type Saumur King Tiger into youtube, you'll get plenty of videos. They have a Panther they run with it as well.

[Johnf]

I was there a while back. Needed more time. Need at least 1 day inside and another outside.

[tanks_for_the_memory]

The Saumur Tiger II is in remarkably good condition - externally at least - and, of course, it's a runner. It was obviously stored indoors for much of its post-war life.

By contrast the Tiger 1 shows signs of quite heavy rust pitting, suggesting it may have been exposed to the elements for many years before being brought inside. Curiously the surface of the Vimoutiers Tiger is better - even though it has been outside for 70 years! In most other respects, however, that tank is in a sorry state compared with the Saumur vehicle.

It's worth noting that the zimmerit on many of the Saumur tanks appears to have been replicated quite recently - I believe in Germany - and cannot be taken as authentic. For example there are parts covered on the Tiger 1 - e.g. the driver's visor - that I have not seen in war-time photos. David may correct me however...

The Tiger II zimmerit certainly looks 'right' and it's very close to the Bovington Henschel example (which came from Shrivenham Defence Academy).

The Saumur museum is an absolute must - as is Bovington - but I find it curious that the history of the French museum's German armour is so poorly documented. It would make an interesting book in itself. One can understand how our Gallic cousins must have been sick to death of the sight of these tanks after all they had to endure during the war - but surely there must be photos and other documents in existence recording their history post war?

[Johnf]

I think all the zimmerit id restoration. I believe most of the bovingtomn king tiger zimmerit is also restoration except for some of the rear armour which they have protected with a sheet of perspex.