Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The world’s only running King Tiger has arrived on the shores of the United Kingdom for the first time ever ahead of TANKFEST 2025 – the world’s biggest and best showcase of historic vehicles.
The Musée des Blindés has lovingly restored the King Tiger to full running condition in an impressive feat of engineering. The Tank Museum, meanwhile, has worked tirelessly to bring the King Tiger to British soil, ensuring the 70-ton vehicle’s safe and secure transport across borders and water, in partnership with World of Tanks. As the principal sponsor of TANKFEST, World of Tanks facilitated and funded the transit between the two museums across La Manche/English Channel.
Video/editing: Jukka O. Kauppinen
(C) Tankspotting / Mediapalvelut 2025
Photos: World of Tanks / Musée des Blindés
Music: Aflecht
mediapalvelut.fi
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More videos from The Tank Museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVrkyzq81gSU3NY0QfPqoh9E83w9Ge4A
More Tiger II: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVrkyzq81gSkgFH_OXghYATiyjF_qO6P
This tank's history
This King Tiger tank, which now carries the turret number 233, is believed to be tank number 123, which belonged to the 1st Company, 101 SS Panzer Abt in August 1944. It is believed to have been abandoned by its crew on 23 August 1944, due to engine problems, at Brueil-en-Vexin, near Mantes-la-Jolie. It was salvaged by the French Army in September 1944, and then stored at the AMX Tank factory at Satory before being transferred to the museum in 1975.
French Army Colonel Aubry decide to put 233 on the turret to remember the King Tiger which destroy his own Sherman at end of war. Colonel Aubry is the man who set up the French Tank Museum in the year 1970. He was the first Director of museum. Unlike some of the captured German Panther tanks, this Tiger II tank was never used by the French Army after WW2.It was not modified in any way and kept in the dry at AMX Satory. For a long time it was just forgotten about.
History of the King Tiger
When the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, they faced increasingly advanced German armour. The Tiger II — better known as the King Tiger — combined the thick armor of the Tiger I with the powerful 88mm KwK 43 L/71 gun, capable of punching through Allied armor at extreme range. Weighing nearly 70 tons, it wasn’t merely a tank: It was a rolling fortress.
Despite being produced in relatively small numbers—only about 490 units—the King Tiger made a brutal impression on the battlefield. It first saw combat during the Battle of Normandy and later played a central role in the Battle of the Bulge.
But this impressive piece of machinery had its weaknesses. Its massive weight made it prone to breakdowns, and fuel shortages plagued its operational use. Often, King Tigers were abandoned or destroyed by their own crews to avoid capture. Nonetheless, when deployed effectively—especially in ambush or defensive roles—it could halt entire armoured formations.
After the Second World War, surviving King Tigers were captured by Allied forces, although just a handful survive today across museums and private collections, and only one in the world which is in running condition.
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The world’s only running King Tiger has arrived on the shores of the United Kingdom for the first time ever ahead of TANKFEST 2025 – the world’s biggest and best showcase of historic vehicles.
The Musée des Blindés has lovingly restored the King Tiger to full running condition in an impressive feat of engineering. The Tank Museum, meanwhile, has worked tirelessly to bring the King Tiger to British soil, ensuring the 70-ton vehicle’s safe and secure transport across borders and water, in partnership with World of Tanks. As the principal sponsor of TANKFEST, World of Tanks facilitated and funded the transit between the two museums across La Manche/English Channel.
Video/editing: Jukka O. Kauppinen
(C) Tankspotting / Mediapalvelut 2025
Photos: World of Tanks / Musée des Blindés
Music: Aflecht
mediapalvelut.fi
Tankspotting (TV) is dedicated for the heavy metal battlefield. If you enjoy tanks and other awesome things then please subscribe - just click here:
youtube.com/user/Tankspotting?sub_confirmation=1
More videos from The Tank Museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVrkyzq81gSU3NY0QfPqoh9E83w9Ge4A
More Tiger II: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVrkyzq81gSkgFH_OXghYATiyjF_qO6P
This tank's history
This King Tiger tank, which now carries the turret number 233, is believed to be tank number 123, which belonged to the 1st Company, 101 SS Panzer Abt in August 1944. It is believed to have been abandoned by its crew on 23 August 1944, due to engine problems, at Brueil-en-Vexin, near Mantes-la-Jolie. It was salvaged by the French Army in September 1944, and then stored at the AMX Tank factory at Satory before being transferred to the museum in 1975.
French Army Colonel Aubry decide to put 233 on the turret to remember the King Tiger which destroy his own Sherman at end of war. Colonel Aubry is the man who set up the French Tank Museum in the year 1970. He was the first Director of museum. Unlike some of the captured German Panther tanks, this Tiger II tank was never used by the French Army after WW2.It was not modified in any way and kept in the dry at AMX Satory. For a long time it was just forgotten about.
History of the King Tiger
When the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, they faced increasingly advanced German armour. The Tiger II — better known as the King Tiger — combined the thick armor of the Tiger I with the powerful 88mm KwK 43 L/71 gun, capable of punching through Allied armor at extreme range. Weighing nearly 70 tons, it wasn’t merely a tank: It was a rolling fortress.
Despite being produced in relatively small numbers—only about 490 units—the King Tiger made a brutal impression on the battlefield. It first saw combat during the Battle of Normandy and later played a central role in the Battle of the Bulge.
But this impressive piece of machinery had its weaknesses. Its massive weight made it prone to breakdowns, and fuel shortages plagued its operational use. Often, King Tigers were abandoned or destroyed by their own crews to avoid capture. Nonetheless, when deployed effectively—especially in ambush or defensive roles—it could halt entire armoured formations.
After the Second World War, surviving King Tigers were captured by Allied forces, although just a handful survive today across museums and private collections, and only one in the world which is in running condition.
--
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![The Panssarimuseo Armored Train Before Restoration - Photo Slideshow (2024) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yRWSe9KKwwc/mqdefault.jpg "The Panssarimuseo Armored Train Before Restoration - Photo Slideshow (2024) [4K]
The armoured train at the Armoured Museum has been restored and put on display in a new environment in summer 2025. Here the train is displayed in its natural state before the restoration and new station platform.
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Parolan panssarimuseo:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVrkyzq81gQlqJdffPFHhdnORP0kkjuY
Video/editing: Jukka O. Kauppinen
(C) Tankspotting / Mediapalvelut 2024
http://www.mediapalvelut.fi
During World War II, the Finnish army had two armoured trains, one of which was lost in Aunus in 1944. The other returned to Finland and is now on display in Parola.
After the museum was founded, carriages found in different parts of the country were collected here, to create a complete train. Currently, the locomotive has six carriages with it.
At the beginning of the Continuation War, both of Finlands armoured trains were converted into anti-aircraft trains, and the train on display in Parola is in its Continuation War-era railway anti-aircraft battery outfit, although the IT guns in the rear carriages are missing for the time being. The trains emblems, with their protective paint and the armoured corps swastika, also date from the same era.
Parola Armour Museum
Parola Tank Museum, Armoured Vehicle Museum is a military museum located 110 kilometres north of Helsinki in Parola, near Hämeenlinna, Finland, a few kilometres from the Finnish Army Armoured Brigade training unit. It displays various tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-tank guns used by the Finnish Defence Forces throughout their history. A rare exhibit is an armoured train used in World War II. The museum was opened on June 18, 1961, when there were 19 tanks and 12 anti-tank guns on display.
Panssarimuseo
Panssarimuseo on perustettu vuonna 1961 ja siihen tutustuu vuosittain yli 30 000 kävijää. Museon kokoelmiin kuuluu noin 70 panssariajoneuvoa, 40 panssarintorjunta-asetta ja panssarijuna. Pienesineistön ja arkistomateriaalin määrä on mittava. Siihen kuuluu runsaasti panssariveteraanien jälkipolvien nähtäväksi luovuttamaa aineistoa.
Panssarimuseon kokoelmat ovat ainutlaatuiset. Esimerkiksi neuvostoliittolaisista panssarivaunuista ei ole Venäjän ulkopuolella yhtä kattavaa kokoelmaa. Harvinaisuudet houkuttelevat vierailijoita Panssarimuseolle ympäri maailmaa.
#tankspotting #panssarimuseo #parolaarmourmuseum
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