Commanders!
Taking over the Tank Museum in Bovington from Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29, TANKFEST 2025 will bring history roaring to life in a way you won't forget. After years of anticipation and for the first time ever, the legendary King Tiger will roll onto the arena grounds! It is an event of historic magnitude: One of the most iconic armored vehicles of WWII is finally crossing the Channel—not as an invader but as a guest of honor.
The den of the only running King Tiger in existence is the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France, where it was carefully reassembled and restored to full running condition. World of Tanks has worked tirelessly in cooperation with the Musée des Blindés and The Tank Museum to bring the steel beast to British soil for TANKFEST, navigating the logistical labyrinth required to transport a 70-ton vehicle across borders and water.
So what makes the King Tiger so iconic? Let's take a look at the history of this tank and the long journey of the fine specimen from Saumur to TANKFEST 2025!
Before we begin, take advantage of the chance to rent the
VII
King Tiger (Captured)
—whether you are familiar with the big feline's gameplay or not!
King Tiger: The Apex Predator of WWII
The King Tiger's protection, together with the armor penetration and the effective firing range of its 8.8 cm Kw.K. 43 L/71 gun, made it one of the best armored vehicles of WWII by kill/loss ratio (roughly 6:1). This was despite the King Tiger's limited operational range, low top road speed (38 km/h), and proneness to mechanical failures due to its overall design complexity.
The mere sight of these behemoths (3.09 meters tall and weighing 70 tons) had many an Allied tanker furling their brow. We can easily explain just how uneven engagements with King Tigers were in World of Tanks terms. The King Tiger's representation in the game (the
VIII
Tiger II
) is a Tier VIII vehicle due to balance considerations; even the 1942 prototype concept, the
VII
VK 45.03
, is Tier VII. The King Tiger’s historical adversaries from 1944—the
VI
M4A3E8 Sherman
(which it first encountered during the Battle of Normandy) and the
VI
T-34-85
(engaged a month later on the Eastern front)—are both Tier VI. No wonder that several of Germany's top tank aces earned a significant share of their battlefield victories as King Tiger commanders.
Despite their impressive performance, King Tigers were not able to turn the tide in WWII. They were extremely expensive to build (compared to the aforementioned Allied vehicles: think the kill/loss ratio reversed for the cost, or worse), so only about 487 of these tanks were delivered, with the last ones shipped in March 1945. All in all, the King Tiger remains a remarkable piece of technology and a staple of debates about armored warfare.
The Adventures of the King Tiger From Saumur
It is currently unknown how many enemy vehicles the Saumur King Tiger destroyed. As the tank was assembled from parts of two vehicles, attribution would be problematic.
The turret and the engine are from the King Tiger "300" of the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, which saw intense action in the Vexin Normand region between August 21 and August 28, 1944. It participated in the battle of Fontenay Saint Père, which left several marks on its glacis plate, and suffered a mechanical failure just outside the village of Oinville-sur-Montcient. The field repair of the left driving sprocket and track could not be performed, and the crew abandoned the vehicle; the two crewmen tasked with destroying the tank had to retreat before they could connect the detonators to the charges, as U.S. soldiers appeared in large numbers.
The chassis, tracks, and gearbox of the Saumur tank come from the King Tiger "123" of the 101st Heavy SS Panzer Battalion. The "123" was abandoned by its crew on August 27, 1944, near the village of Sailly after the battles of Brueil-en-Vexin and Montalet. The vehicle was heavily damaged after surviving 10 direct hits and could not move on its own.
In late 1944, both King Tigers were appropriated by the French Resistance, but unlike other German vehicles captured in Normandy, they did not take part in clearing up the last pockets defended by the German forces. Post-war, a single running machine was assembled for testing purposes, and in 1975, this vehicle became part of the Musée des Blindés collection (the photo shows its arrival in Saumur). The King Tiger was given the number "223" and a 1945 camouflage from the Eastern Front. Only in 2024 did it regain its original "300" designation and summer 1944 Normandy camo.
Hear the King Tiger Roar!
Witnessing the King Tiger in motion will be unforgettable. TANKFEST 2025 will showcase live tank demonstrations, historical reenactments, and a rare chance to see this steel legend alongside other iconic machines. Celebrate tank history, pay respects to the efforts of the awesome crew from The Tank Museum.
Tune into our Twitch channel on June 29 for the Tankfest Online Historical Stream and witness the coming of the King Tiger. More info on the stream and other TANKFEST-related activities to follow!
About The Tank Museum
The Tank Museum brings the story of tanks and their crews to life, with the world's finest collection of tanks displayed in awe-inspiring modern exhibitions. The museum houses 300 tanks, representing key battles from every major conflict since the First World War, including the first working prototype, Little Willie, the Tiger 131, and the modern Challenger 2. The exhibitions tell the story of this British invention—the tank—through moving accounts from the soldiers who fought in its many incarnations.
About the Musée des Blindés
The Musée des Blindés in Saumur, France, houses one of the world's largest collections of armor with over 800 tanks and military vehicles, including 220 on display. Covering conflicts from World War I to the present day, it offers a unique journey through military history. Visitors can explore rare and legendary tanks, making it a must-visit for history and tank enthusiasts worldwide.
Roll Out!
