Gentlemen,
I bet you all know this picture of Michael Witmann’s destroyed 007.
There are quite a lot of Panzer Modelers that made the (still intact) version of this 007 Tiger I.
And every time I see a model of the 007, its is ALWAYS equipped with the Exhaust Heatshields.
Now, unless my eyes deceive me, there is no trace of the exhaust heatshields in above picture. The only thing I see are the baffle pIates sticking out above the top of the exhaust mufflers. Is it wrong to assume that 007 operated WITHOUT heatshields on his last day ? Did Tiger I’s NEVER went to battle without the exhaust heatshields ? Or have those been plundered by the local people after the battle, before the picture was taken? Anybody knows the correct version on this matter ?
greetings,
Birdie
It appears that somebody has rolled this hull forwards and taken the tracks. Most likely it was the Germans. They could have taken other things too.
David
Thanks for the clarification David. Are you convinced that Tiger I ‘s always had their exhaust heatshields installed during operation ?
“Das Reich” in early 1943 are the only unit that I’ve noticed getting rid of the things deliberately.
David
Perhaps they were blown off by the force of the internal explosion and are lying somewhere out of shot?
Probably not.
The field was won by the British/Canadians/Polish forces so I think it would be unlikely for German forces to have salvaged anything. Also they would have recovered crew remains, which they didn’t.
Most likely salvaged for scrap, or repurposed, by local farmers. This happened frequently.
Thanks for your input. So , pure hypotetical : If one would make a model of the 007 Tiger WITHOUT exhaust heatshields during operation, it would not be considered as historically incorrect ?
Well, we can’t know everything that happened in the past.
But, looking through my photo collection of 101-ss Tigers in action, they all have heat shields installed.
David
Can’t help on the heat shields, but the Canadians are the ones who pulled it forward off the tracks and welded them on their tanks as extra armor.
Gentlemen,
thanks for your help
Not wanting to sound confrontational, but what are your references, or sources, for that?
Yes Biggles is correct. The historical records show the Canadians pulled the tank forward but the Polish removed the tracks.
So, this has popped up again about the position of the hull/tracks. According to the Canadian War Diaries of the LAD units of the RCEME from the 4th Canadian Armoured Division , the hull was pulled forward to take the tracks off, and the tracks were welded onto Canadian tanks of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division Armoured Regiments. Photo to show the locations/units of the LAD detachments of the RCEME during the time.
More information, taken from the Canadian War Diaries , and shared in an article dealing of what happened to the vehicle wrecks post August 1944 action.
Interesting. I have not seen this map before. There is a “recovered” Tiger tank on the highway just outside of Gaumesnil, not identified by number. Is there any way of knowing who recovered it…Canadian/British, or Germans, or what it’s number was? Although I would presume it was Allies as they won
that battlefield.