Capture and recovery of Tiger 131
Need a bigger truck

Capture and Recovery of Tiger I #131 in Tunisia, Going to need a bigger Truck!

They are a couple of competing versions of how Tiger 131 was damaged and abandoned. The versions include being hit by a Piat used by infantry, A captured 75 mm French gun used by the 2nd Sherward Foresters and lastly by Churchills of B Squadron of 48th Royal Tank Regiment. The tank was apparently abandoned after a shell most likely from a Chrurchill’s 6 pounder gun hit the barrel and richoceded into the turret ring jamming it and preventing the Tiger from continuing the fight with its crew abandoning it without destroying it. Other damage to the tank included a split weld on the top plate and another 6 pounder hit damaged the open loader’s hatch. Regardless of how it happened this was the first time a Tiger i was captured and the British were determined to recover it and study it.

I decided to try to model the recovery of the tank after the battle in a diorama. Since the whole premise is on the recovery the center of the attention is the Scammel Transporter and the Captured Tiger. The British may not know exactly how heavy the Tiger is but it's not going to fit on the TMU30 trailer being wider than it. The trailer is rated for 30 tons and the Tiger is 45 tons (150%) capacity. This is conveyed by the placement of jacks near the rear of the trailer and the concerned personnel monitoring the loading. The ramp cables have been removed but the cable stays also need to be taken off the ramps to get the wide prize on the trailer.

They are most likely going to need to call in an American made Diamond T tractor with a 45 ton rated M-19 trailer to transport it to a secure logistics area.

The Churchill in the scene is providing security for the 48ths RTR prize, while the NZ Scout car driver is just being a looky loo to the proceedings;.

Construction Details

Since I used the Academy Kit for the Tiger I was limited in showing the hatch damage since all the hull and loader hatches are molded closed. This was built out of the box using Vallejo Air 117 for the Africa Brown and 118 for the sand grey disruptive camouflage. Flory brown dirt was used as a weathering agent followed by a light dusting of Vallejo sane pigment.

I also used the IBG Scammell Pioneer transporter kit built out of the box. It was finished in Vallejo Air 143 Lt Stone and marked for the 8th Army 372 Tank Transporter Company of the Royal Army Service Corps as supplied with the kit. Weathering was again done using Flory Brown wash and a dusting of Vallejo sand pigment. In addition, I also added rust to the TRMU30 trailer using the Vallejo rust set following the set instructions at areas subject to wear and rusting

In addition to the tank and recovery vehicle I also balanced the diorama out with an Italeri Churchill Mk III, and also an Italeri M3A1 white scout car. The Chrucill was painted using Vallejo Air 294 with Markings for an Unknown unit in Tunisia 1943, I am assuming it is the 48th RTR mentioned above. The M3A1 was finished using Vallejo Air 288 BSC Portland Stone and 052 Anthracite gray in a disruptive pattern, markings are from Star Decals 72-A-1064 depicting C Sqn, 2nd NZ Div. Calvary Reg, Signals Division. The canvas top was painted using Vallejo Color 880 Khaki Gray, with a dry brushing of Vallejo Air 401 BSC 28 Silver Grey. Both vehicles were weathered as the subjects above.

Figures are a mixture of Italeri, Mirage Hobby, and White Stork Miniatures finished using various Vallejo Air and Color paints and appropriate dry brushing and wash techniques

The base is foam core coated with local sifted sand using 3M adhesive, followed by loose sand, pebbles and rocks to simulate the local topography. Fine ballast was used to build a rough dirt road.