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Some Russian archaeologists were digging around Leningrad looking for bodies of soldiers that went missing during the war, to re-bury with proper military honours. As it happens in this sort of expeditions, they came across a bunch of odd bits and bobs that set off the metal detector. However, once a part that could be identified was found, the tank was identified as a Tiger. That part also carried a rather special serial number.
Tiger #250001, the first serial production Tiger. The history of this vehicle is well known. This first Tiger was made in May of 1942, drove around for thousands of kilometers (not without numerous parts replacements, of course) at Kummersdorf, and was then sent to Leningrad with three other Tigers. All four were knocked out. The Germans managed to recover three, but the last one remained in No Man’s Land for months, without any interest from the Soviets. Eventually, the Germans blew up the abandoned tank, “sparing no expense on explosives” according to the archaeologists. This is what they’ve managed to find so far:
This discovery introduces many new facts into military history. For instance, it’s widely believed that the first Tigers were painted gray, but this Tiger has remnants of dark yellow paint on its fragments.
Tiger #250001, the first serial production Tiger. The history of this vehicle is well known. This first Tiger was made in May of 1942, drove around for thousands of kilometers (not without numerous parts replacements, of course) at Kummersdorf, and was then sent to Leningrad with three other Tigers. All four were knocked out. The Germans managed to recover three, but the last one remained in No Man’s Land for months, without any interest from the Soviets. Eventually, the Germans blew up the abandoned tank, “sparing no expense on explosives” according to the archaeologists. This is what they’ve managed to find so far:
This discovery introduces many new facts into military history. For instance, it’s widely believed that the first Tigers were painted gray, but this Tiger has remnants of dark yellow paint on its fragments.
Additional Tiger tank history here, and it corroborates the story above.
Combat Service
The first Tiger to see action was against the Red Army on August 29 1942, southeast of Leningrad with 1st company of sPzAbt 502. Four Tigers were deployed in a single file on marshy ground, a terrain completely unsuitable for a tank their weight. Three of the Tigers broke down due to mechanical failures and all four of them had to be recovered and repaired.
They were committed to battle again on September 22 1942 around the same marshy area. This time, either all four Tigers were knocked out by Russian antitank guns or got stuck in the mud. Three were later recovered and the forth was destroyed by its own crew to prevent it from being captured."
The first Tiger to see action was against the Red Army on August 29 1942, southeast of Leningrad with 1st company of sPzAbt 502. Four Tigers were deployed in a single file on marshy ground, a terrain completely unsuitable for a tank their weight. Three of the Tigers broke down due to mechanical failures and all four of them had to be recovered and repaired.
They were committed to battle again on September 22 1942 around the same marshy area. This time, either all four Tigers were knocked out by Russian antitank guns or got stuck in the mud. Three were later recovered and the forth was destroyed by its own crew to prevent it from being captured."
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