La Gleize Tiger II - March 2009

[DonC]

Here's a few pics of the La Gleize Tiger II - first one I saw "in the flesh"...

Don

[DonC]

B

[DonC]

C

[DonC]

D

[DonC]

The barrel was damaged after the battle and was repaired in the 1970's - the muzzle brake is actually from a Panther...

This is by far the best cared for piece of German armor in the Ardennes.

Don

[Alan Smith]

Is the damage to the front of the hull actual battle damage? Or, rather, is the damage from post-battle "target practice"?

[PerMilitaria]

I have seen it once, and that was in 2007. When I saw this Königstiger it was yellow and not fully repainted. Here is a photo of me standing in front of it:

[DonC]

Judging from the grouping I suspect target practice. There's also a couple of areas where it was sprayed by MG bullets, which look like that could have come in actual battle.

Don

The barrel was damaged after the battle and was repaired in the 1970's - the muzzle brake is actually from a Panther...

This is by far the best cared for piece of German armor in the Ardennes.

Don

[besslein]

not far away from La gleize we can meet this nice Panther from "Das Reich"

[Greg]

I see you made it to La Gleize, Don! Thanks for posting the photos; Tiger 213 is one of my favorite surviving tanks (and the Grandmenil Panther, too)! It's a far cry from what it looked like at the end of the war on the Werimont farm, just south of La Gleize (photo from the December 1944 Museum, La Gleize).

The gun tube was damaged during the battle. Tigers 211 and 213 were posted at the Werimont farm, with clear fields of fire to the south and east. On 22 Dec 44 TF McGeorge of the US 3rd Armored Division tried to advance against La Gleize from the east. Tigers 211 and 213 picked off several of the Shermans, but they were both put out of action from enemy fire. Some Sherman got a lucky hit and blew off the front third of 213's gun tube.

The front 1/3 of the gun tube now on the tank is from a Panther. You can see the story of the restoration of 213 here http://www.ss501panzer.com/213_restoration.htm

I agree that the shots on the front of 213 represent "target practice." It was only ever engaged against the 75mm-gun Shermans of TF McGeorge. It seems unlikely that one of the 75mm solid shots could have penetrated that deeply from the ranges of around 1,000-1,500 meters. I think some Sherman drove up close after the battle to see what they could do.

Best,
Greg

[DonC]

not far away from La gleize we can meet this nice Panther from "Das Reich"

Here's a few more of the Grandmenil Panther:

[DonC]

Too bad about the track links...

[Greg]

Don,

These are great photos! Show us where else you went ... I saw your Houffalize Panthers pics. You're right, too bad no one takes better care of it.

Best,
Greg

[RTY]

Does anybody have photos of Grandmenil Panther' interior?

[Jørn Schmidt]

I have a few of the Grandmenil Panther' interior,but there really nothing to see inside it,its totally stripped,but what I really like is the marking outside.
Cheers
J.S