Taming the Tiger

The Tank Museum’s Nik Wyness discusses the work involved to keep Tiger 131 running

Tiger 131 undergoing an oil change in the workshop at The Tank Museum THE TANK MUSEUM

Tiger Day offers a rare opportunity for visitors to see our most famous exhibit in action and is a great spectacle. But few consider the effort that goes into getting it out there in the first place.

Mike Hayton is a man who knows more about operating Tiger tanks than anyone else alive. He retired as workshop manager several years ago but remains on board as an advisor owing to his unique experience of working with the world’s only running Tiger tank.

Before Tiger 131 participates in a display it must be thoroughly checked over. “From an engineering perspective, we love the Tiger,” said Mike. “We learn something new every time.”

Tiger tanks have a mechanical and operational complexity that far exceeds their peers. Careless maintenance or clumsy gearchanges could cause as much damage as enemy action.

Want to read more?

This is a premium article and requires an active subscription.

Existing subscriber? Sign in now

No subscription?

Pick one of our introductory offers