FURY - How a Museum with a Sherman Made a Movie

If you enjoyed the 2014 movie FURY, watch this and get the inside scoop behind The Tank Museum’s role in David Ayer’s Hollywood production.
Ten years on from its release, David Willey describes how one of The Tank Museum’s Shermans and Tiger 131 took starring roles alongside Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal.
From initial discussions to the red carpet, David reveals every inch of the process, the lessons learned and the impact it has had on The Tank Museum.
Let us know what you thought of FURY and our tank’s performance in it in the comments below… What else would you like to know?
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00:00 | Intro
00:50 | Fury - The Beginning
02:48 | Tiger Inquiries
05:00 | Insurance & Contracts
08:06 | Hollywood in Dorset
09:51 | On Set & Filming
14:55 | Was it worth it?
16:34 | Fury's Longevity
This video features archive footage courtesy of British Pathé.
#tankmuseum #fury #bradpitt #davidwilley #hollywood #behindthescenes #shialebouf #loganlerman #michaelpeña #jonbernthal #tiger131 #sherman

[@jackiemortes]

Before anyone starts, yes, we know the Tiger scene is not entirely accurate, thank you for your insights, you're all very smart indeed.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I honestly don't know why this film comes under such scrutiny. No one criticises Kelly's Heroes for being inaccurate, or Saving Private Ryan for that matter. Fury is a work of fiction and should be regarded as such. It's not a f*cking documentary!

[@jamesmccann531]

Did you know that the Tiger scene is not entirely accurate? Also, thank you for the compliment.

[@Subcomandante73]

That was far from the only problem with the movie.

[@saltzkruber732]

​​@@AWMJoeyjoejoeYeah. Especially Saving Private Ryan has so many inaccuraies that gets ignored but everyone goes crazy over fury

[@2KOOLURATOOLGaming]

The only thing that ever irked me with that sequence was how the editing cut it into the wrong order (continuity errors). There are shots where they've clearly gone backwards in time. For example, one moment you can see the tiger commander out of hatch, next not. When they're flanking, the tiger's gun almost has them, next it's nowhere near. The bird's eye view CGI is a bit weird as well.

[@headshot6959]

The Tank Museum is the only museum in the world involved in making a movie that in exchange for using it's star exhibit, in this case Tiger 131, _demanded the head_ of the lead actor and keeps it in a glass box. I hope you're all proud of yourselves..

[@bebo4807]

I was curious about the severed head in the plexiglass box….

[@headshot6959]

@@bebo4807 This was a joke that got out of hand, they said "the day we let you use Tiger 131 is the day you give us Brad Pitt's head on a stick." Unfortunately the studio took it literally (language barrier) and now they have his head what do they do with it? Put it in a glass box and show it to the public I guess. 🤷‍♂

[@aaronleverton4221]

Alas, poor Brad, I knew him, Horatio...

[@brolohalflemming7042]

What's in the box.. whats in the BOX! I enjoyed Fury, and it was appropriate that Fury was the 'hero tank', along with the real Tiger. Also having been an extra in a couple of movies, it's amazing to see behind the scenes before all the movie magic is applied and we see them at the cinema.

[@Skorpychan]

Plastic box, but yes.

[@jeffreyholdeman3042]

Can’t express how interesting the ‘reservations’ of the museum were to hear about. I think I speak for everyone who has seen the film by saying, thank you.

[@cwg73160]

It was very interesting to hear the reservations of the museum. Was that difficult?

[@Doc_Tar]

The inclusion of real tanks from the era makes "Fury" so much better than other WWII movies like "Battle of the Bulge."

[@demonbre]

Umm, even the inclusion of the tanks didn't stop the movie from being awful. The tanks are the only thing that makes it watchable.

[@Juntasification]

@@demonbreGood movie completely ruined by the ending, like so many others.

[@AndrewMitchell123]

that was the one where they used M60s as Shermans right? god, right as I noticed that I was like what they were smoking? surely they could build replica tanks If they couldnt get their hands on real Shermans... was unwatchable to me

[@HandyMan657]

That's some serious war paint you have on there, your sister wife do that for you? A little overly patriotic, don't you think, almost as if you're not sure of yourself. I'm willing to bet you support a traitor. Yeah, I know you do.

[@rcrawford42]

@@AndrewMitchell123 Still better than the "Tiger" in Saving Private Ryan.

[@swancman]

As a curator of a museum in the USA, I appreciate this short documentary being told from the perspective of the museum. Brought up a lot of points about museums using collection items and the risks-and-benefits of it. I'll be sharing this video with some of the museum groups I'm in. Fury is an awesome movie and I'm proud to have it in my physical media collection at home!

[@railgap]

"Fury is an awesome movie?!?" You are clearly non-military and bereft of any clue. Shush.

[@vaultboye]

@@railgap People can like movies for various reasons. Don't have to be military personnel to enjoy or dislike an inaccurate WW2 movie.

[@captin3149]

@@railgap You're clearly a gatekeeper and have no right making such comments. Shush.

[@UnwrittenSpade]

@@railgapI’m military and extremely proud to be and I enjoy the film. I get that it isn’t “totally real” but I enjoy it for what it is and the more movies about military and war the better I say

[@conner6417]

@@railgapgate keeping dork

[@thetankmuseum]

Hey Tank-Nuts! We hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at our role in the film Fury. Let us know what you thought in the comments.

[@pyeitme508]

RAD!

[@shize9ine]

Amazing. Was 10 mins late to work so I could finish watching 😂

[@markfryer9880]

I enjoyed watching this behind the scenes look at Fury! I can understand the concerns for Tiger 131 and to a lesser extent Fury, as well as the image of the Tank Museum, but I think that it made for a unique opportunity for the Museum to secure vital funds as well as priceless and ongoing publicity from the association with the movie. It was probably a one off situation that presented some risks but that fortunately resulted in great rewards. Just think about how every time someone plays the movie Fury, they get to see Fury and Tiger 131 strutting their stuff and Bovington gets a mention in the credits and the bonus film clips. I am glad that you finally made this Tank Chat because I feel that it is long overdue and history waits for no man. Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@somenobody1638]

Was Fury(the tank) dressed up before the movie or for the movie?

[@tfodthogtmfof7644]

This was an amazing look at not only the film, and the tanks from the museum, but just how much care and dedication the tank museum puts into its role in preserving and presenting this important history.

[@Floodric1991]

Seeing Tiger 131 in Fury is what made me visit the museum from ireland. I imagine i wasnt the only one brought to Bovington because of it.

[@johnb2696]

Me too, although I had to come from Australia to see it

[@UnholyDeath100]

Watching the amazing tanks in Fury was a motivating factor for me to make the nearly 5,000 mile journey from the Western USA to the Tank Museum in England to see Fury and Tiger 131. I can now say I have touched both Tiger 131 and Fury! :D

[@thetankmuseum]

Wow! Thank you for your support.

[@BeatRoot14]

This film was elevated by the tank museum being apart of it. I do enjoy the film for what it is, a film, made with passion by everyone involved.

[@Neklar]

Tiger 131 is a national treasure & it was only right that it be molly coddled to preserve it for future generations to enjoy. It'd be wonderful to think I'll appear in films in centuries to come.

[@JazzyJustin]

Not just national in my opinion, global

[@dystopik32]

Give it another 100 years and the super AI will be able to print an exact replica!

[@SCP--fj2jr]

@@dystopik32 *Until then, we have the real thing. That alone is priceless.*

[@Neklar]

@@dystopik32 If anything printed parts will 131 running & resurrect many other vintage machines.

[@strikex2032]

​@@dystopik32 I wish I'm still alive at that time, imagine all the vintage vehicle that lost in time that we can remake

[@bensmiling]

I wish my Dad could have watched this video. His father was a Sherman crew member in WW2, my Dad worked on Chieftains when he was in REME. I have been a regular visitor to the museum since I was 5 (now 42). My Dad once bought clipboards and made a quiz for me and my sister to complete as we went round. Last visited with Dad in 2021 shortly before he passed away. He would have loved this insight. Thank you all.

[@podfuk]

I'm applauding both The Tank Museum and The Fury film crew for all the hard work and effort to present us the real deal equipment on the silver screen!

[@viandengalacticspaceyards5135]

Having worked 33 years in film, this warms my heart. Actually, when I saw the movie, I had no idea the Museum was involved, but was impressed by the real feeling. That's a bit hard to do. We can make very good fakes of all things, but it's still not all that easy for actors to act real around fakes ,let alone using them. As an understatement, I'll say "Good job, all around."

[@markstott6689]

I watched the film a 2-3 years ago on a whim. I knew nothing about the film. I still don't know when it was released. My one thought at the time was " finally a film where the tanks look real." It now makes sense. 😊😊❤❤❤😊😊

[@johndc2998]

Like 2014

[@jacovanjaarsveld3835]

I visited my cousin in the UK. I live in South africa, and I must say it was one of the best things we did in the U.K. I now work with T6 Havards, and you guys are a role model for us to bring history alive to people

[@maddog46]

I thought you did a first rate job. I was very pleased and honored to see what our grandfathers had to go thru to win. I value my freedoms even more after seeing your work. Thank you very much.

[@saltzkruber732]

​@@whoslisteningKZbin and the Internet for starters

[@toytacambery9427]

​@@whoslisteningthe freedom that keeps you in your "evil Western free markets" instead of packing up and emigrating somewhere you feel is more "free," apparently.

[@spm36]

The freedom for you to ask that question now bore off​@whoslistening

[@whoslistening]

@@spm36 London is now minority white. They died for nothing.

[@EddietheBastard]

A wonderful example sensitivity from hollywood and cooperation from a museum and armed forces. Hopefully the payments and publicity will help ensure the futures of Fury, Tiger131 and the musuem, enabling them to continue their roles as memorials, educational resources, and living history. Thanks so much for this video.

[@antonionunes9525]

Fury and the tiger collection are the main reference for me to go to your museum for the first time. Not in a good day because Tiger 1 it's in cleaning mode outside the exposition but the museum personnel are so professional that they call us to see and photograph the tank in the cleaning station. Love your personal and the professionalism they put in the Job. Many thanks from Portugal. António

[@goheen1701]

I had a beloved poster of a Sherman M4A3 on my wall as a child back in '78 when my dad taught at West Point. 'Always had a soft spot for Shermans- Thanks for the feelings this video brought back!

[@peterose3390]

Insanely cool, i understand all the resistance some must have felt. Mike looks like he's genuinly concerned for his Tiger at 11:20 for example. The movie in the end was splendid and respect to the movie-crew for being helpful and respectfull to the Tank Museums wishes.

[@Nerezza1]

I think calling Fury "splendid" is a bit like calling WW2 a friendly sparring match.

[@Joshs1k]

The film would not have had the same level of depth and authenticity without the tank museums help. History people such as myself greatly appreciate it. The Sherman and the Tiger couldn’t be more different but they’re both beautiful machines. Thanks for taking care of them for everyone to see.

[@cameron5802]

You are literally not kidding about that picture of the sherman crew looking like it might be from the movie set. That looked remarkably like the cast, and I can see how it influenced them. I also really enjoy the black and white photography taken of the set pieces, like the Tiger with its barrel pointing at the photographer, really reminisicent of old war photography. I would want to say, I genuinely do think that the effort you guys have put into Fury and the sort of recognition is has gained you is very much comparable to your dedicated presence to social media like KZbin. There is really no understating how many eyes may view The Tank Musuem by what you put up here, content such as this giving people who may never get the chance to have insight into this secret world, it's enlightening and entertaining. Our views may not equivocally turn into the same monetary value but the overal charitable presentation and preservation of history is vastly more welll covered and shared between the masses.

[@jamesbarca7229]

I noticed "Fury" painted on the barrel of their Easy 8, but I didn't realize until now that it actually was Fury. And I had no idea their Tiger was in the film. How freaking cool.

[@michaelbevan3285]

I like the way he mentioned that certain people were trying to insert themselves into the search process for tanks and claim a finder's fee.

[@kzrlgo]

Life if full of middlemen. They are very much required to get things done. So as long as they really do add value or connect people let’s not insinuate they are merely inserting themselves. The problem is crooks, not middlemen.

[@kevinnagel68]

Personally, as a student of history, I’m absolutely overjoyed that the museum would get involved in such monumental program and production. I never looked into the ownership of the tanks, used in Fury but I will say as a Canadian that I am very happy to know that I can visit your museum now that I do know that these tanks are still out there and that they were actual World War II relics. What a fantastic museum you have I can’t wait to go there

[@dynamo1796]

I went to Bovington last year and it was amazing seeing all the displays and the history of it all. Amazing conservation work that undoubtedly makes this the world’s foremost heavy armour museum. I was nodding my head furiously at everything the presenter said at the beginning of the video. How right they are to think about the importance of optics, the men (both British and German) who fought and died in action with 131. The protection of such a precious historical artifact, the only working Tiger in the world, is clearly much more important than any one movie is. That said, they clearly found a way to mesh their stewardship of the vehicle with the aims of the film production and its paid dividends for them in terms of publicity and support. Bravo the Tank Museum, what amazing work!

[@SuiLagadema]

Ignoring the scene we all know to be completely incorrect (Tiger vs Fury), I was so surprised when I saw the Tiger and just couldn't believe it looked real, like a real behemoth moving on caterpillars tracks, it was amazing. I really enjoyed and liked the movie for what it was: a depiction of a group of professionals who formed a bond inside of what, at any time, could be their grave, as we saw multiple times in the movie. Imaging that your threat range goes from a kid with a panzerfaust to a 60 ton iron beast, and everything in between. Great movie, you can nitpick it all you want, but is a really good movie, and seeing real tanks, it doesn't give you the illusion of a tank, it's a real tank moving on it's own.

[@shaggyrebel8737]

You might like T-34. It's the Russian knock off of fury but it's actually a pretty good movie with an honestly more interesting story, a lot of practical effects and a touch of (obvious) CGI to make it look decent. Highly recommend it.

[@thesolersystemofgames841]

​@@shaggyrebel8737 it reminds me of world of tanks, fun watch if you don't take it seriously.

[@Djamonja]

@@thesolersystemofgames841 Why would anyone take World of Tanks seriously? Or a movie?

[@frederickvondinkerberg7721]

Fury was crap... bloody awful movie

[@user-ew3fp7mz9n]

Wow, this is a fantastic story and a great success for the Tank Museum. I agree with David that the museum simply could not pass up an opportunity to work with a major Hollywood production to enhance the profile of the Tank Museum. I think it would have been very costly for the museum to engage in a different marketing campaign to promote itself and achieve the same level and reach of publicity that it got from the involvement in the film. This is a wonderful way of ensuring the legacy of the museum as a curator of history, the tanks and most importantly, the efforts of all those in the museum that were involved in the film production. I will be coming to the UK in late May and early June and plan to visit the museum at that time. Really looking to it!

[@NINEWALKING]

Making this movie is a service for new generations. Preserving the tank for the time even after the original will be gone.

[@keolath1343]

Fun fact-According to WW2 Armor, A private florida reenacting group with working armor (T26E3, Sd.kfz 7 + flak 36 and recently added “tiger” from saving private ryan and band of brothers) states that their M4A1 Grizzly (the same one that was used in band of brothers towards the end of the series the one in a convoy with the cromwell) was planned to be used by Brad Pitt as FURY before they found the FURY we know of today

[@denismourenas4876]

Amazing work to show us such transparency in the intricate relationship between the museum, the vehicle and the movie production! Very interesting! Thank you!

[@brumbarz398]

My daughter and I just visited London and Bovington last week from the 🇺🇸. The museum and the Tiger, Sherman and all the displays are wonderful. Thank you for your work on the Fury film and taking a risk on allowing use of your extremely rare vehicles. 👍👍👍

[@harrisonrawlinson5650]

Thankyou for allowing the Tiger to be used, but also Thankyou for doing your due diligence in making sure it was well looked after. I’ve often heard that allowing a vintage vehicle to be used on a film set is often a bad idea, but you’ve done a great job.

[@MrTylerStricker]

When I first saw Fury, I knew nothing about the museum's involvement but I quickly realized how excellent the movie is, not to mention the overall feeling that there was something different/genuine/authentic about what I was watching. Most of all, I was impressed with the fact that they appeared to be using real, working & running practical vehicles which really lends a fantastic, visceral sense of realism to the film & constantly made me think: this isn't far off from how it actually must've been for these men.

[@criggie]

David - you've successfully avoided the hazard of "gatekeeping" which is the unstated attitude of "you're not worthy of using/touching our stuff" and it's an insidious thing. Well done balancing the positives with the risks. Example of the opposite - when the local Soccer club who padlock their new goals together so kids can't play real soccer in the real nets.

[@999torino]

This was one of my favorite Tank Museum videos. I really appreciate knowing what was going on behind the scenes, and why.

[@nolanohana]

Thank you for supporting this project. Fury was the last movie my father attended. He trained on a Sherman and was a tank commander after being drafted into the Korean War. He thoroughly enjoyed the film and it brought back many memories of him and his crew.

[@murilovitale3135]

Those tanks are the living history of our race as a civilization, thank you guys at the Tank Museum for taking care of them. This video really shows how much care is put to keep these vehicles in good shape

[@kiwihame]

I'm so glad you agreed to this; a superb, lasting PR exercise. An effort for authenticity is crucial to a war film being successful. If they'd used a T-72, I wouldn't have bothered watching it. Great work.

[@Natale_Luca_98]

I love this museum and I loved the movie. Seeing and hearing more in depth about it years later is still very appreciated ! Great video

[@Franky46Boy]

So great that you were willing to cooperate and lend your precious Tiger and Sherman tank. This movie would not have been the same without them...

[@fordfan3179]

I saw the movie. Great war flick! The vehicles were as much the stars as the people. Ya gotta have a bad guy, and the tiger is a bonafide bad guy! I served in the infantry in 2nd armored Division in Germany! (In the 70s, not the 40s) I've ridden on armored personnel carriers in convoy from Hoensfell to Graph and back. I've walked some battlefields and seen first hand what tanks on both sides had done to the countryside and the cities. Keep in mind, even though it was 30 years after the war, they were still cleaning up and a lot of people were still there who had lived through the war. I was fortunate enough to have had dinner with a former German infantry soldier who fought and surrendered. I had been invited to dinner by his son. At first the old man was really not interested in engaging with me and I was ok with that. But as soon as he found out my dad had been in WW2, he became very interested in speaking to me, even though my dad served in the Pacific. He had a lot of questions about my dad. Mostly questions about how his life was after the war. He was very surprised to discover that his life was not much different then his own. Hard work, a family, a home, all pretty much the same. I'm not sure what he expected, but he seemed surprised my dad was not wealthy or living in a big house. I always thought he may have had a skewed impression of the "spoils of war", But the was just my observation. Before I left he pressed something into my hand while we shook hands. It was a round badge with an eagle with a swastika in its claws and a rifle on it. He asked me to give it to my dad for some reason. I looked it up, it had been an infantry action badge. I did give it to my dad when I returned home and related the story to him. My dad had no idea what the badge was, he just knew what the swastika was. All my dad wanted to know was "did he treat you like a gentleman? Was he hospitable?" To both I said yes. After my dad passed at 92, I received his war medals in an old cigar box. The usual stuff for a guy in a chemical warfare company in the South Pacific. But he had that German infantry badge and my expert infantry badge wrapped up in a small tattered piece of kakis cloth. I've since had it all mounted in a nice shadow box including both infantry badges on the kakis background. It hangs in my office.

[@markfryer9880]

Chemical Warfare Company, now that piques my interest. Do you know where abouts in the Pacific he served? Speaking of a box of medals, when my Maternal Grandfather passed, my Maternal Uncle brought out his little box and one of the items was his award for winning the shooting competition at the Williamstown Rifle Range here in Melbourne as a part of his Civil Defence training. I don't know quite when they had time for it as they were working 6 full days per week during the War. It was just down the road from the factory where my Grandfather was working doing vital War Production making various sheet metal forming and stamping machines and presses, as well as Artillery shells. The company he worked for was started by his Grandfather W.G.Goetz and Son's (my Great Great Grandfather) here in West Melbourne in 1875. It was a going concern until the early 2000s when the then Owner fiddled the books and broke the Company. He put about 125 people out of work and ended 125 plus years of family history. There is a website about the history of the business run by a former Goetz employee. Goetz's was a 'family business' and known for quality work and professional people. Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 Former Australian Army Reservist '88 to '94.

[@fordfan3179]

@@markfryer9880 my dad served in the Solomon islands. His job was servicing (repair and refill) flame throwers among other things. I have his uniform patch and his rank patches. His uniform patch is a blue circle with a white arrow pointing at the North Star. His rank was technical sergeant (3 stripes with a T)

[@bruceinoz8002]

@markfryer9880 Chemical warfare in the Pacific region? Not sure where "flame-throwers", both man-pack and vehicle mounted fit int definitions. Napalm and white phosphorus were widely employed by US tactical air assets, with a fair bit of it recorded on film. There is an interesting tale about Australia's involvement in Mustard gas trials / training in North Queensland in WW2. There was a "shock / Horror" docco made a few decades ago.. The Japanese had all manner of interesting chemical and biological warfare projects running in occupied China / Manchuria. This was known during the war and the allies probably figured that a "suitable response" had to be prepared. (NOBODY, apart from the participants and the soviet spies had any real idea about the "Manhattan Project").

[@fordfan3179]

@@bruceinoz8002 my dad said even though it was never used, there was gas there and when his unit demobilized they took it with them on the boat home. He swears they rolled barrels of the stuff off the back of the boat. I have his collar devices from his uniform. The enlisted Chemical Corps insignia is two gold disks, one with the Chemical Corps insignia and the other disk with the superimposed 'U.S.' The insignia displays a benzene ring superimposed in the center of two crossed retorts.

[@jamiefernandez7760]

I think it goes to show how good the Sherman was that there wasn't the same level of doubt if it could handle those conditions for long periods. It would be interesting to hear if the Sherman had any special preparations for the movie (If they haven't already covered that in another video)

[@Mag_Aoidh]

Goes along with having many spares in case of parts breakage, for the Tiger not so much. That, and it was finicky from the beginning.

[@hazzardalsohazzard2624]

One of the tests for the Sherman was seeing if it could drive a distance equivalent to John o' Groats to Land End, four times without any repairs. It was arguably the most reliable tank of the war.

[@markfryer9880]

​@@hazzardalsohazzard2624Are you referring to the prototype Sherman tanks clocking up laps of the Detroit Tank Arsenal test track that features in a video about the M3 Lee/Grant? Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

[@spm36]

The tiger 1 as we know had mech problems even when they were brand new, the sherman..well, like a trusty spanner

[@Ganiscol]

Simple and mass produced. Thats why.

[@travis1143]

This is by far one of the coolest videos you guys at the museum have ever done. So glad everything worked out.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

I have had a love for tanks since grade school when I started building tank models all the way into college, and just restarted a couple years ago. My favorite war movie was Kelley’s Heroes because they tried to get everything as accurate as possible for 1973. Seeing three Tiger tanks was so thrilling, even though the under carriages were Russian T-34 tanks. It was the fact that they wanted as much authenticity as possible, and a great script, that made the move so amazing. Then comes Fury and I just had to see it. What a fantastic chance to see a real Tiger on the screen and see the guts of a Sherman with great actors! Thank you so much for making this possible. If I lived in the UK I’d be at the Tank Museum every month! Getting to visit it is on my bucket list for sure. Carry on!!

[@mehaven4374]

the tiger scene from Fury was what first piqued my interest in tanks, I'm so glad everything worked out the way it did, hats off to the caretakers of the tanks as well as the dedicated film crew

[@gaoxiaen1]

*piqued

[@ODST_Parker]

As is always the case for films like this, the inclusion of as much real history as possible elevates it to a new level. Personally, I just think Fury is a great movie, a good story with memorable characters and events, and a beautiful work of historical authenticity. Beyond that, having the real tanks and the passion of the museum's staff really made a difference. I love the idea that filmmakers and storytellers reach out to you guys to learn more about the history of these vehicles, and I imagine once they're gripped by what they're seeing and hearing, it's hard to not want to roll out the entire inventory.

[@paulisemonger280]

Ultimate professionalism. Al the right things considered and addressed. Balanced approach and absolutely essential to have one man there that thought this shouldn’t be happening. A pleasure to watch. Great job gentlemen.

[@Nick-rs5if]

Amazing to see you guys keeping the tanks at the Tank Museum in such an great condition! Thank you so much for your phenomenal work! 😃

[@hiddentruth1982]

Fury was a great movie. I think the addition of the tiger tank added a lot to it. It was something they would have had a chance of facing.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

There were indeed some ad hoc German units with small numbers of Tiger Is, mostly from training schools, encountered in North Central Germany in April 1945.

[@synshenron798]

Indeed theyd have a chance but if I am not mistaken there were only about 3 instances where American units encountered Tigers. I do recall seeing a thing somewhere that said the Germans would often times try to disguise a Panzer 4 to look like a tiger, kinda like how the Americans would disguise 76mm Shermans as 75mm Shermans. Personally while I do think the Tigers and Panthers were cool, I dont really have any sort of fondness or feeling of awe towards them. Primarily due to mechanical issues they often had. The Maybach engine was NOTORIOUS for having issues and the transmissions were known to grenade gears if it wasnt shifted correctly. Which honestly, is a very poor design choice. When your in an extremely tense battle situation and you need to move and GTFO you need a gear box that can be beat on and can take some abuse. The Tigers and Panthers didnt posses that. And sure, they could be primarily defense tanks instead of offense but at that point you pretty much become a mobile artilery piece. I like the Shermans much more due to their versitility and simplicity. The M4A2 and A3 variants being my absolute favorite. Ive worked on old Detroit Diesel 2 stroke engines and they are as simple as it comes. You can spin em backwards or forwards and they will not care. Theyll also burn a variety of fuels. Sure the Sherman wasnt as armored or as armed as the Tiger but there were less than 1,600 Tigers and less than 5,000 Panthers made. There were around 55,000 Shermans made. And that was just Shermans and not the other destroyers that the allies had. At the end of the day it was still a fantastic movie, I loved it and I love that they used real authentic tanks. It made the vibe just so much cooler and more captivating

[@coltsfoot9926]

​@lyndoncmp5751 there were also the German battlegroups that were put together with whatever was available. After the Normandy breakout, the commanders were often given freedom to press gang any units, or part units they found. They often had a handful of tigers that they had taken command of. I read about one battle group that gave the British some problems. It had 6 Tigers on day one of the fighting, and three days later all had been disabled. The British encountered 3 of the Tigers on day 1, and subsequently pushed every available Firefly into the Vanguard. Eventually, the British bypassed the battlegroup and let the follow on units deal with it. It faded away through attrition, but its last action was documented about a month after its first action.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@synshenron798 I'm afraid that a myth regarding only 3 Tiger engagements, first postulated by Steve Zaloga and then perpetuated by the Chieftain. It was supposed to be referring only to Tiger I encounters with American forces in NW Europe from D-Day to the end of the war. Not including Africa or Italy where there were two Tiger I battalions, or King Tigers, which were more common after Normandy. Its still a myth because there were actually two units with Tiger Is that fought against the Americans on many occasions from November 1944 to April 1945. Kompanie Hummel and Abteilung (Fkl) 301. These two units with Tiger Is fought in the battles around Aachen, the Ardennes, Rhine and the Ruhr Pocket. I found FIVE separate engagements between American forces and Tiger Is in just one week of November 1944 alone near Aachen by Abteilung (Fkl) 301 on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd November in the Putzlohn/Merzenhausen areas, with multiple Shermans being knocked out These 2 units with Tiger Is were repeatedly in action against US forces up to April 1945 with over 100 knock outs between them, seeing extensive action. Kompanie Hummel's remaining Tiger Is were still engaging US forces around Altena (south of Iserlohn) in April 1945 at the south eastern edge of the Ruhr Pocket. The last 3 Tiger Is of Fkl 301 were also engaging US forces on 10th April 1945 at Witten-Bormmern, south-east of Bochum, again in the Ruhr Pocket. These last 3 Tiger Is were self destroyed at Sprockhovel on the 16th April 1945. US enemy tank identification was notoriously poor. Bizarrely, just to illustrate incorrect US tank identification, which was actually quite prevalent, the US 4th Cavalry Group even marked down the 2 Tiger Is that Kompanie Hummel lost at Dormagen, Germany on 25th Feb 1945 as 'Panthers'. The Germans kept very good records and details of their deployments and engagements. There were way more than just 3 engagements. Zaloga didn't source German combat records. Source: Tigers in Combat Volume 1 and Tigers In Combat Volume 2 by Wolfgang Schneider.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@coltsfoot9926 Yes, a lone Tiger I of Panzer 'division' (which barely had any tanks) Clausewitz stopped the advance of the British 3rd Royal Tank Regiment at Sassendorf Germany on 19th April 1945. The same lone Tiger did the same at Schwarzenbek on 1st May and destroyed 2 British tanks before it was knocked out. Are you thinking of Tiger Gruppe Fehrmann with its 6 Tiger Is, which fought both British and American units in April 1945 near the Hannover area? One of its Tigers knocked out two of the new Comets.

[@mbryson2899]

Thank you for sharing this, Mr. Willey. I missed the original buzz, so I didn't realize how involved the Tank Museum was. Well done!

[@stevephillips8719]

Definitely! I was absolutely determined to visit the tank museum from Australia and seeing 'Fury' tanking around the paddock was one of the highlights.

[@SandorSoptei]

fury is easily one of my favourite films, and it actually got me into looking into tankers, and different types of tanks from ww2. I love tanks now, everything to do with them. So it looks like you guys achieved your goal with me

[@desert_iron_123]

I don’t care if the movie isn’t historically accurate, I think it’s still a great movie.

[@Juntasification]

But the end is abhorrent.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

​@@JuntasificationWhat is wrong with the end?

[@Juntasification]

@@papaaaaaaa2625 If you need to ask what's wrong with it, I guess you take your reliaties from marvel comics.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

@@Juntasification No, but from historical events. I guess you're talking about the scene at the crossroad with the front attacking infantry, right?!

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

@@Juntasification What if I tell you that a more or less similar situation happened in late 44, 500 German Paratroopers were confronted by 22 US Soldiers in fixed positions. In THREE frontal attacks tried the Paratroopers to take the position but failed...only at evening they realized they could outflank them!

[@Omnihil777]

There is the accident of the very rare 150 year old original Martin guitar that was trashed on the set of "Hateful Eight" by Jennifer Jason Leigh, it was on loan from the Martin Museum (Kurt Russel's reaction in the movie was genuine btw) - it's a bit more difficult to trash a Tiger, but as David said, it has many parts that can fail horribly. The Martin Museum will never lending anything to a film production again, as I understand it.

[@richardcrowe3091]

She doesn't break it. Kurt Russel does. She's playing it, he breaks it.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I'm convinced Tarantino knew it was the original and he let Russel smash it to get Jennifer Jason Leigh's reaction on film.

[@gustough]

Thank you for your involvement in this amazing movie! One of my friends was tank crew and later tank commander on a German Leopard; we watched "Fury" on the silver screen. And he - usually a very hard movie critique - was quite full of praise for Fury and how much this movie was (and still is) able to display the action within a tank; so he simply ignored the "World of Tanks" scenes in the flick genereously. :)

[@germandingo66]

great to see a production done right with all respect given to the vehicles and soldiers that fought in and against them, thanks for the great work and keep it up

[@Slayer_Jesse]

As much as I didn't like the final result of the film, it did its job in alerting me to the existence of the tank museum. So in that way, it was very successful. And regardless of the quality of the film, the real tank scenes are amazing, especially when the first impulse of hollywood nowadays is to CGI first, practical a distant third.

[@lpd1snipe]

Thank you for preserving history, and allowing these machines to be displayed and used in the film.

[@hanscarlsson6583]

Thank you for sharing this story! I enjoyed the movie Fury and am very happy that you could lend your tanks to the production.

[@murrayscott9546]

Despite initial, legitimate concerns it turned out well for all involved, wouldn't you say ?

[@andrewreynolds912]

Fury was a master piece showing the horrible reality and the harsh conditions the crews could go threw and such

[@dylanv.4970]

I'm one of those people who discovered your museum through the Fury movie and the tanks used within it. And I'm so glad I did.

[@corvanphoenix]

Outstanding work Tank Museum! Thanks so much for your dedication & commitment.

[@benlubbers4943]

12:42 "The tiger ran out of it's hide and up the hill-" Look I know it's a machine but it's almost like the thing is happy to be out and about again.

[@SmedleyDouwright]

Sherman tanks had no, or little, worries. Tiger tank lots of worries. This fits their respective reputations.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

As does the 3 Shermans lost for 1 Tiger.

[@SmedleyDouwright]

@@lyndoncmp5751 No tanks were lost filming the movie "Fury".

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@SmedleyDouwright I'm talking about the film. It was a joke.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@SmedleyDouwright Anyway, the Tiger performed well and didnt have any problems. They literally said so. The reputation for problems and unreliability is exaggerated.

[@SmedleyDouwright]

@@lyndoncmp5751 Did you watch the video? The movie crew had to build a concrete road and remove excess soil from on top of the concrete so the tiger could operate on set. They negotiated limitations on what it could do and for how long. The museum crew operated the tiger. None of that applied to the shermans. I'm pretty sure the actors operated the "Fury" tank at least for a few shots. To top that off, in WW2 the sherman tanks won the war.

[@paulbfields8284]

Man o man.. I needed this. Fury has nudged its way up my ladder of favorites. I saw “the making” of Fury years ago. This video is the cherry on top.

[@Twangstarr]

Amazing story! Love the collaboration and professionalism on display by the staff of the tank museum.

[@bigal3055]

Looking forward to the British version with a Churchill called Bloody Annoyed.

[@adventussaxonum448]

A bit miffed!

[@basilmcdonnell9807]

Alongside "Stiff Upper Lip" and "Mind The Gap"

[@Jauffre-innit]

How do you guys feel about the historical accuracies and inaccuracies in the film? The main scene I know caused a bit of a ruckus in the history KZbin scene was the Tiger ambush.

[@pete1942]

One day, someone will make a 100% accurate WW2 blockbuster and we’ll all hate it because there’s nothing to argue over 😀

[@stewartellinson8846]

@@pete1942 people argue because they get their "knowledge" from recycled internet drivel, prejudices and myths. The idea that something can be "accurate" isn't even tenable because everyone in a situation has their own perspective. People argue because they like to argue.

[@pete1942]

@@stewartellinson8846 I think that’s a little unfair. Some people get their knowledge from reading history books and following channels like the tank museum. But I certainly agree that people argue because they like to argue.

[@swancman]

As it was shown in the documentary the museum had eyes on the script from the very beginning. They would not have allowed the use of their vehicles if they felt the script was going to damage their reputation. They probably understood that the film was a fictional action drama and gave some leeway on some of the accuracy.

[@Jauffre-innit]

@@swancman is this an AI comment? It's just regurgitating talking points from the video which we all watched.

[@mistersmith3368]

The main reason I wanted to see the movie was to see Tiger 131. I wanted to see and hear it in action, thanks to your staff for all the work it took for the world to enjoy such a rare beast. It's how I came about learning about your museum.

[@realityaskew]

This was a very fascinating story itself and I'm glad the museum was able to both help out and benefit, while mitigating the risks through proper guardianship of the tanks.

[@brudnick39]

I am very curious about the other communications about the making of Fury...specifically regarding the way that the film perpetuates myths about the Sherman tank. There are some real issues of historical accuracy in Ayer's movie, not the least of which is that it spreads the falsehood that the Sherman armed with a 76mm gun has to get around to the rear to take out the Tiger I, when that gun could have killed that Tiger from the front at at least 800 meters. I would like to know how many times Ayer's team was told that what they were doing is wrong.

[@pete1942]

Probably lots, but he’s making a dramatic action movie so he needs a bit of dramatic action, rather than a shirt scene if the Tiger shooting heroic US fish in a barrel. Or the scary monster tank getting knocked out in the first 30 seconds of the scene.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Without the rare HVAP, a 76mm isn't going through the front of a Tiger much beyond 300 or 400 yards. It's nickel steel of 265 Brinell Hardness, plus it's angling (24 degrees on the lower glacis) gave it a considerably greater effective thickness than its paper thickness.

[@brudnick39]

@@pete1942 Solution to the whole issue is to make "Fury" a Sherman model with the regular 75mm gun...then it would need to get around to the side or back. But also, don't have the Tiger drive forward out of cover...it is much more of a threat that way. A few relatively small changes would have made the film much more accurate, and more dramatic as well.👍

[@pete1942]

@@brudnick39 They’re not going to go to the bother of having the only running Tiger in the world in the film and then leave it hiding in a bush. And a realistic scenario would have been for the concealed Tiger to take out Fury first, as the lead tank, not to mention the 76mm. Then the rear tank, while the crews are still wondering what just happened. Then as the middle Sherman’s panic and struggle to manoeuvre out of the kill zone, pick them off too. But that wouldn’t fly with an American audience. And most people who see the film don’t know any different. It’s only people on internet comment threads, like you and me, who debate this stuff.

[@brudnick39]

@@pete1942 Thye realistic thing would be to have the Tiger try to back up to break contact...there are plenty of ways they could have filmed the Tiger moving without having it do the dumbest thing that it could do in that situation.

[@dougstubbs9637]

Willey’s Heroes….A Restoration Too Far….Saving Willey’s Privates…finally, overspray ‘Fury’ on the Sherman barrel, replace with FLETCHER…

[@chorizojoe8282]

Great stuff! Just watched the film and I’ve loved learning about the tanks from you. Looking forward to visit the museum in the future.

[@olo101olo]

Definitely the correct decision and sensible precautions put in place, definitely helped by the production team being respectful of the Museums concerns

[@TheREALWillemDafoe]

Hello Mr T. Museum, I am again asking for pretty please 🥺, one tank, for myself to own, for free.

[@bigblue6917]

Interesting idea but you know how it is. If you get one then the rest of us get one. And then all the Tank Museum has is a very large empty hanger. So you'll just have to share with the rest of us.

[@MichalKaczorowski]

The movie would be great if it weren't for the script. But what can you expect from a guy who wrote the equally weak "U-571"?

[@bobskool]

A film so offensively inaccurate it was denounced in the House of Commons

[@randyp-do4po]

Wow! I love how you guys take such good care of these valuable historical pieces. Kudos to yhe movie production company to cater to your concerns!

[@Skorpychan]

I'd say it was defimitely worth it. I saw the movie in a cinema because of the Tank Museum's involvement, and you've been trading on your involvement in it for nearly 10 years now. And the Tiger is still running fine. The film stands up and looks real, and anything that promotes the museum that much can't be bad. Plus, you've got a neat little display about it.

[@user-dy6rt5sk1k]

In a real battle, the Tiger would not move towards the Sherman group, closing the distance. On the contrary, he would have backed up just to avoid being outflanked and would have shot the Shermans one by one. The tiger has a powerful cannon. He didn't need to close the distance to get through to Sherman. Brad Pitt just had to beat Tiger. The USA should have won in his person. This is Hollywood.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

Villers-Bocage, Michael Wittmann moved his Tiger 1 RIGHT INTO a British Tank and APC Column, destroyed the a Cromwell and AFTER that a Firefly that was ahead of the Cromwell, turned his Tiger 1 around and drove RIGHT INTO A VILLAGE WITH UNKNOWN ENEMY FORCES. A lot of Wehraboos claimed this movie scene nonsense and said a Tiger Crew wouldn't do that...and cheer for Wittmann for EXACTLY that same scene🤣 Never say never!

[@user-dy6rt5sk1k]

@@papaaaaaaa2625 Not in this situation.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

@@user-dy6rt5sk1k Oh wow, a meaningless oneliner as answer? Where is the difference?

[@user-dy6rt5sk1k]

@@papaaaaaaa2625 It was a different battle. And in the field, not in the city. Why should the Tiger go ahead here? The commander sees that a group of Shermans is advancing on him and gives the order to move towards them. Why? Is he an idiot?

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

@@user-dy6rt5sk1k Wittmanns attack at Villers-Bocage didn't started inside the village. He left his cover beside the street to attack the column. At this point Wittmann wasn't aware of the real strength of the forces he was facing. After he destroyed the nearby tanks he drove OVER ONE MILE on a straight street right into the village...without any information about size and strength of the enemy. You claim that a German Tiger Commander never would have done such a move because... I show you a famous incident that shows they did.

[@tomsenior7405]

Such a pity the film was so very, very bad. The Tiger engagement was especially poor. When the Tiger broke cover there were shouts of "Why!" from the audience.

[@issacfoster1113]

Cringe

[@clamcrewcarclub6017]

Imagine being this autistic lmao the movie was set in the last weeks of WW2, all good and competent soldiers were dead. Hence why there are many child soldiers in the movie. Get over it, the movie is entertaining as hell

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

Mhhh, what a claim. Let's take a look at Villers-Bocage...Michael Wittmann BROKE COVER, destroyed two tanks (by the way the following Cromwell first, then the leading Firefly!), drove right into a Tank and AFV Column AND drove then into a hostile Village with unknown enemy forces...sounds like a pretty similar situation.

[@tomsenior7405]

@@papaaaaaaa2625 I think it is a tragedy that you were not in the cinema on that day. You could have shared your expertise with the audience, I bet those guys would have been red-faced after your wonderful educative speech. I think you may be missing the point. The audience seemed to be on the side of the Tiger, such was the dislike for Mr. Pitt and his cronies. The War-Crime committing North Americans were unpopular with viewers. The action was bland. The story was dull. The film was boring and bad, Such a terrible waste of so much potential. On an entirely unrelated note Michael Wittman was killed in Action advancing toward the British lines on the 8th August 1944, unaware that the Northamptonshire Yeomanry were hidden in orchards to his Northeast. Just saying. If I had the foresight to collect the names of the jeering audience members, I would have shared them with you freely. Happy New Year and very best wishes. Please never stop studying history. It is a lifelong passion.

[@papaaaaaaa2625]

@@tomsenior7405 Happy new year to you too. I don't like the movie, but more because of the bad scribt, not because of some historical inaccuracies. I couldn't watch this movie in one piece until today, funny enough. But I don't like this ongoing "germans didn't make such mistakes" thing that is ongoing with the discussion of this scene. Did you know that the US Tank forces kept the biggest distance between their tanks of all fighting nations! At least 60 Meters (compare to the German standard of 25 Meters). That is the reason why this tactic "shot first tank, than last, than all in between" didn't worked so well with US Tank columns. Compare it to the scene in the Movie...the distance between the Shermans is maybe around 10 to 15 Meters...on a road in a open field in possible hostile territory. But nobody says this scene is unrealistic because of that. Or the smoke round Fury fires at the Tigers Position...THIS IS unrealistic! Not because they wouldn't but because they couldn't! A smoke shell for the M1 76mm wasn't introduced to the troops until the war was over. But this is a Hollywood Movie not a documentary. But as a movie it is just not well written and directed...

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

A Sherman, and...a Tiger. A modern classic that felt like a true classic from start to finish.

[@khorgor]

Some years ago i had the chance to help you prepare 131 for Tiger Day by winning "second" place in a raffle, but for me this Spa day with the Tiger including a nice talk of Mike regarding Fury was the main price, an incredible day created by a great team. I will certainly return and thank you once again for another video.

[@Subcomandante73]

Great tank. Bad movie.

[@saltzkruber732]

No it was very fun

[@issacfoster1113]

Cringed

[@michaelhorning6014]

I tried to watch Fury. I could scarcely get 20 minutes into it. It's an execrable film. Wrongheaded, poorly researched, badly written. I found it offensive as a soldier, as a student of history, and as an American.

[@outlando]

Love the movie - and your part in making it authentic is an amazing story! Totally the right call to use the Sherman and Tiger in the film. That's how I found your channel.

[@Socrates21stCentury]

Great movie, I am so glad you could work out all the issues to help make the movie so REAL !!!

[@johnlant1730]

We need more tank movies like Fury that the museum can be involved in. There are so many great stories that can be told about these majestic beasts and the men that operated them still!

[@looneyirish007]

Thank you so much for allowing this film to happen, probably one of the best movie Ive seen in a very long time. I absolutely believe this movie helped the museum, and I will be certainly visiting this museum because of their efforts. Take a bow, gents.

[@CoolHand273]

This was a great short documentary. Props to everyone involved and how professional everything was handled.

[@stoicissistisizedstoicassi812]

Thank you, Bovington Tank Museum. For the awesome presentation of behind the scenes. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I'm hoping to make it out there sometime in the future.. (On my definite to do bucket list.) To see both of the armored vehicles up close. Meanwhile, until then, I look forward to every newly released video content ! Thank you again for all that everyone in the museum does and shares on your wonderful channel. Best regards from a devoted Bovington Tank Museum fan from Seattle Washington State USA.

[@bgdavenport]

Cheers to Mr Willey and the Museum staff for its participation! It's this Yank's next mission to see 131 in person!

[@shannonoshea644]

Just truly amazing with all that you and the museum do... I've at least watched this movie 4 times by now ❤

[@extraordinary_ordinary]

This is a fantastic video. Working in the film industry I know how things like this can sometimes go and so it is interesting to see the approach the Tank Museum used to ensure the safety of their assets.

[@mcfontaine]

Well done to everyone involved. People do not realise how hard it is to run a museum and opportunities like this are so rare. Bletchley Park had a similar thing with The Imitation Game.

[@Beniah107]

What a bloody great outcome for both parties. Glad Tank Museum made the positive decision. Good to know the back story too, David.

[@akmzd6938]

An incredibly interesting deep dive into what it takes to produce such a film - field expertise, technical aspects, legal considerations, scheduling etc. abound. And I haven't even seen the movie yet! Plus a wealth of catching footage of the tanks in question being handled and undergoing manoeuvres.

[@IMeanMachine101]

amazing work from the museum and everyone involved and I completely agree with the logic behind the decisions mades

[@1Rab]

I love people that can get something done quickly that prevents conflict.

[@wazwulf2698]

You have done us proud, all the people that worked and helped THANK YOU