Tiger 131 undergoes extensive repair work at Tank Museum

The famously delicate Maybach engine of the Tiger 131 was stripped, repaired, rebuilt and reinstalled in time for the sell-out autumn Tiger Day event.

Specialist engineers supported the museum's in-house workshop team to get the famous tank back in action.

Head of collections Chris van Schaardenburgh said: “When we discovered a major oil leak this May, we decided that the engine needed to come out for a full inspection.

"The problem is with engines like this, you don’t exactly know what the issue is and how it can be fixed until it’s on the stand.”

Workshop volunteer Les Wilkins re-installing a piston and connecting rod into the engine (Image: Tank Museum)

In a stroke of good luck, as investigations were taking place the Tank Museum workshop was being visited by ARMYTECH - a company based in the Czech Republic who specialise in rebuilding historic engines.

ARMYTECH worked alongside the museum’s workshop team to develop a plan for the disassembly and repair of the Maybach engine.

They then discovered damage to a bearing and problems with the cooling of the cylinder head. 

“We had a hard deadline to have the engine repaired by, but at the same time we weren’t prepared to take risks or cut corners,” said Chris.

ARMYTECH returned to the museum in August and along with specialists from Formhalls Vintage & Racing Ltd, the Tank Museum team completed the work in the museum’s own workshop.

Tiger 131 ran faultlessly during Tiger Day on September 28, to the delight of the 4,500 visitors in attendance.

“I can’t overstate just how challenging this project was, particularly under the circumstances,” said Chris.

Workshop team and ARMYTECH re-assembling the engine (Image: Tank Museum)

“The team had to pull out all the stops but received excellent support from our partners – who could not have been more helpful.

"They both understood the importance and urgency of the project and we are very grateful to them.”

The project came at the end of a busy season for the Tank Museum team, who maintain and repair the many running vehicles used during Tankfest and more than 40 other displays over the year.

Museum curator David Willey added: “The Tiger 131 is the most famous tank in the Museum’s collection and was an important prize when it was seized by the Allies in 1943. 

“Over 80 years from its capture, the Tiger 131 is still fascinating crowds and playing an important role in telling the story of tanks and the people that served in them.”