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Click to find out how to purchase this photo. Tank Museum photo No. 5518/G/6 Meanwhile the reassembled hull joined the turret in the Museum

In 1998 a new stage began in the Tiger story. Up to now we had concentrated on dismantling the tank, checking the various parts and evaluating the next stage. It was clear that a full restoration job was beyond the Tank Museum's own resources so a bid was launched for money from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. There were two significant requirements; in the first place we had to find an engineering company capable of working on the tank, in the second we had to raise money to match that which came from the National Lottery. For a while work on the Tiger ceased and the real work was done in the office. It was quickly agreed that the task of restoring the tank was best left to the professionals so a contract was drawn up with the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) here at Bovington Camp. ABRO repairs Challenger tanks for the British Army so a Tiger would not prove a problem but it did create a lot of interest.

ABRO decided that they would begin work on the turret first so it was removed from the Tank Museum in May 1999.

Click to find out how to purchase this photo. Tank Museum photo No. 5702/F/5

Click to find out how to purchase this photo. Tank Museum photo No. 5712/E/5

Work begins at ABRO; here Dave Marsh supervises as the 88mm gun is removed from the turret. Notice the counterweight, hanging from the barrel to keep it balanced.

To continue to the next page of the "Tiger 131" journal, follow this link © 2000 : The Tank Museum