Jagdtiger "331" Hauled Across Ft. Benning to New NACC Tank Facility

This 70+ ton tank destroyer was knocked out in 1945 by the 10th Armored Division and has been in US Army historic collection ever since. Today it gets moved to a new climate controlled facility and will be preserved at the Training Support Facility in NACC care.
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[@kiowhatta1]

Considering only about 80 of these were ever produced this is a rare gem. I’m sure I speak for most enthusiasts when I say these machines need to be ‘FULLY’ restored-that means not just restoring it to the point where once a year it gets driven around a little dirt track for a few hours and then mothballed. Everyone wants to see this beast fire it’s main gun - even if they’re blanks, as even the WW2 footage hardly reveals any of these firing. Everyone is disappointed at watching vehicles only being restored to simply drive around in a circle: The U.S army could easily oversee the management of restoration of the gun. Give up thumbs up if you want to see these AFV’s fully restored and not just driven around in a boring circle.

[@ifuckedyourmomandsis]

I would love to see this beast driving around myself. However considering how unreliable the engine and transmission were, it's probably best to not run it at all. Why dump tons of money into it only to have the engine take a shit and not be repairable. Then what? Tiger 131 is driven but not very often for such reasons. They risk losing the engine and transmission every time they drive it. No matter how well it's maintained.

[@coolroy4300]

👎

[@coolroy4300]

@@ifuckedyourmomandsis Indeed, I don't know why people waste so much time and money stuck in the past .Its not a gem its a POJ .

[@christianjunghanel6724]

There are only three in existience today ! This and the one in Kubinkna(Russia) are late product versions with the Henschel undercarrige ! The one in Bovington (England) has the early Porsche one!

[@barbararice6650]

The gun will burst under anything like the pressure a live fire would create 😑

[@kevinadams1822]

Jagdtiger 331 was abandoned by it's crew along with Jagdtiger 323 in Neustadt, Germany in March of 1945 after both vehicles suffered damage to their final drives. The recoil cylinder was drained and a final round was fired to jam the 128 mm gun in full recoil and renderer it inoperable. It will be very good to see the 331 restored cosmetically and protected from the elements after 70+ years of sitting outside.

[@pat36a]

Thanks, love hearing the History....

[@catlee8064]

Why only cosmetically? Not a full restore then ? Im sure there are enough ppl around the world who would donate to a full restoration.

[@balintsimon6641]

Is that why the gun seems so short?

[@kevinadams1822]

@@catlee8064 I would love to see a full restoration, but she came to the USA with significant final drive damage and then sat outside fully exposed to the elements at Aberdeen for the last 77 years, so the engine and transmission are likely beyond repair at this point.

[@kevinadams1822]

@@balintsimon6641 Exactly right.

[@HarborLockRoad]

I saw all these outside at the Aberdeen proving grounds back in the 90s, what a crime, to leave them to rot on outside storage all those years. Every one deserves a full running restoration as history belongs to all of us!

[@RichardDCook]

I visited Aberdeen in the 1970s and yes it was a shame to see these beautiful and extremely rare machines sitting around rusting in the grass. But what an experience to be able to see and touch them! Seeing films of them doesn't convey just how massive they are.

[@oldgoat142]

This was great to watch. The Tiger tank has always been one of my favorite vehicles, along with the Panther and Pershing. As an engineer, I enjoyed watching the big toys do their thing. This was terrific. Thank you, Sofi.

[@TSAR_CANNON]

The main role following the results of the Second World War was played by Russian ground combat vehicles T-34, BM-13, as well as Soviet soldiers! Eternal memory to the victors over fascism! 😇 (Americans, as usual, warmed their hands)

[@canuck600A]

Thanks for interviewing the people involved with the logistics of the move + the specs on the equipment used for the move.

[@crosbonit]

What do Germans think of this?

[@nicholasperry2380]

Good to hear from the guys doing the work too. HGV Driving generally is a tricky job and everybody thinks we can see everything - we can't. That's one very impressive rig and good work by all involved. Everything you own comes on a truck so please give us all a little thought and room at junctions. All those years outside will mean a lot of work to restore it. Good fortune and respect for tackling it.

[@dertechniker8867]

@@crosbonit also the crane is German.

[@nonamesplease6288]

I've seen Jagdtiger 331 several times while she was at APG and I built a model of this beast. I used to think she was immense, but she seems rather small next to the moving equipment, especially the M88. Anyway, it's good to see her inside and out of the weather and ready for some love.

[@kiowhatta1]

Would you like to see her fire on and in a controlled range to experience the power of that 12.8 cm gun rather than just driving it round in circles?

[@Rosenrot774]

She is the same size as M88. And lets not forget that M88 is the beast on its own, one of the largest if not the largest recovery vehicles in the world. Also both vehicles weight 70 tons, its still more than modern tanks

[@coling3957]

when you consider the tanks of the era were mainly Sherman/T34/Cromwell etc.. it was a beast of its time. ideally tank-destroyers should be more low profile and smaller. so the Jagdpanther and Hetzer etc which were pretty successful vehicles whereas the JT was essentially a failure. they destroyed very few vehicles and were mostly abandoned after mechanical problems.

[@chipmunkhunt]

When I first saw the front, I knew it was the one from APG. Got to see it in 1981 there.

[@nickbouras1201]

P

[@Shfrfam11]

Great Job VNG and to my husband the driver, he truly takes a lot of pride in what he does. Great Video.

[@desertmandan123]

He certainly made a point of letting us all know just how good he was.....lol...

[@georgeh.7238]

Hats off to you Charles and your crew at VNG Trucking. When you say your best of the best you truly are. And thank you for your service. I saw this beast back in 1984 at APG. Sophie thank you for these videos. Always great to see how these precious pieces of history are now being better preserved and restored.

[@vanguardactual1]

Thank you Sophie for All your coverage of the new NACC, it's vehicles, it's people & everything. You & your channel has been a blessing to this overall group of military history enthusiast, armor enthusiast, our Nations history & in fact many of the Worlds historical designs & achievements. Sincerely do appreciate all you have covered & hopefully will continue to way into the future. You are one Cool Chick!

[@bted72]

Great video and thanks again for highlighting the transport company that made the move happen. Thanks to VNG trucking for giving the move the precission and TLC that the Jagdtiger needed. Each section and group defined professionalism to execute this challenging move. Thanks again Sofi for documenting this piece of history making history yet again.

[@jasonpuckett3112]

I just want to echo a lot of these comments and say thank you for this. You and your channel are a blessing to anyone even remotely interested in armored vehicles.

[@SPSteve]

Good to see the old beast getting some love. These historic fighting vehicles need to be preserved.

[@JasperJokerII]

While it looks small compared to other modern vehicles, back in its day it was a beast to be reckoned with

[@Mfields4517]

Its heavier and taller than any modern tank…

[@user-fp9lq9by4q]

The m88 is a huge vehicle. However, the jagdtiger, where the suspension system has fallen, looks bigger.

[@user-fp9lq9by4q]

The jagdtiger is larger than the modern m1 in bigger of body length, height, and weight. The vehicle in the video looks lower than the actual silhouette due to the collapse of the suspension system. In fact, panther have a similar volume to modern vehicle.

[@TescoVee]

So awesome! Glad to see the Jagdtiger in a climate controled bay able to be truly preserved for the future!!

[@bluedawg2641]

Thanks for the video. I saw this Jagdtiger when it was back at Aberdeen. Very impressive machine. Glad to see they are trying to take better care of it now.

[@marcanglin7127]

On a dark, dreary and rainy day back in 1982, I toured the tank museum and outdoor display at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. I have well over 200 color slides of the armored vehicles that were on display at that time, and 331 is amongst those photos. I have always felt honored to have been able to see, film and touch 1 of only 3 existing examples of these tremendous machines, and I am smiling now, knowing that 331 will be lovingly taken care of in her new home.

[@pierQRzt180]

what impresses me is that the hauling points on the hull still works after all this time. No cracks or such things despite the 80 years of sitting around.

[@hansgruber6455]

Great video! Every Tiger Tank needs a loving home!

[@zizkazenit7885]

I’m mostly just impressed that the original lifting lugs are still trustworthy. Thanks for this video Sofilein!

[@shadovanish7435]

I visited the Aberdeen armor museum in the summer of 1974, with my Dad (who had worked at Aberdeen Proving Grounds on weapons development during or after WW2). It was the largest, most impressive, & interesting display of tanks, artillery & other weapons I have seen. My Dad was quite knowledgeable of many of the tanks, artillery pieces, railway gun, V-2 rocket (he did research on the V-2 rockets in the 1950's), & much of the other items at the museum. I was about 10 years old at the time, & the museum was probably the most fascinating place I'd been to. As I remember, most of the museum items were stored outside when I visited, & the road leading to the museum had tanks displayed on both sides. I wanted to see them all, & Dad stopped the car & took pictures of several of the tanks along side the road, but time was limited, & there was much to see, so we spent most of the time walking around the large field where most of tanks & artillery were displayed. I remember seeing a Tiger 2 tank, which had been shot in the front lower hull (where the armor was thickest, I believe), & it looked like an oversize ice cream scoop had been used to remove some of the armor from 1 or 2 areas on the front lower hull, but did not go through the armor. The tanks were fascinating, but the most interesting pieces were probably the German railway gun & V-2 rocket. I remember my Dad explaining to me that the rocket engine's thrust was directed (vectored) using moveable carbon vanes (to withstand the rocket's exhaust heat) located in the rocket's exhaust, & that the vanes were controled using gyroscopes & a feedback principle. The railway gun (called "Leopold", I believe, was written on the side of the gun carriage) was collosal & looked like it might could have still worked, but I doubt it could have. I'm pretty sure I didn't want to leave that museum, even after a full day there-lol! I understand that some or all of the displayed tanks, etc. have since been dispersed to other museums.

[@chrispearce9486]

Very interesting. Do you still have the photos your Dad took back then? They would be fascinating to look at now.

[@shadovanish7435]

@@chrispearce9486 Yes. Dad made slides of the pictures, so the pictures could be viewed using a carousel projector & a screen. Dad took hundreds of pictures, & spent many hours creating slides from the pictures he had taken, & then created carousel categories of the slides. Each carousel is stored in its factory box, with the picture negative images. Naturally, this was years before digital (camera) image technology allowed for much simpler picture creation & viewing. I suppose a lot of the museum items my Dad took pictures of could be easily viewed on the internet, today, so I don't know that the pictures my Dad took would be particularly novel, compared with what's available on the internet, but possibly some of the pictures he took would be.

[@cudathehawgjetfixer7520]

I remember that this Hunting Tiger was at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD Tank Museum for years now it's there. Hope they restore her back to her glory.

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you Sofilein et al for the video and commentary. Good job. Great to see another 1940s heavyweight armoured vehicle saved for posterity. Some heavyweights from the 1940s and 1950s survived purely because they were retained for NATO transport tests in Europe.

[@oskar6661]

Crazy to see this finally end up in a much more suitable location. I saw this as a kid at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the mid-90's...and it's cool to see it all these years later.

[@scottwillie9914]

That was really AWESOME to see this Jagdtiger 331 being moved inside. Thank you soo much for sharing this video, your terrific Sophie! I hope someday I can go there to see that great tank destroyer!

[@JimWarford1]

Great video Sofi! These "move" videos are providing a one of a kind history...thanks for doing this.

[@abbeyhall4624]

Amazing work everybody, thank you for taking care of this tank.

[@paoloviti6156]

Moving around a 70,700 metric is no mean feat! Now we can hope that it will be properly restored after being so long outside! I was a bit surprised that the Super duper Liebherr could handle this beast around! Thanks Sophie for sharing this very interesting video 👍 👍👍

[@calpilot7]

Irreplaceable extremely rare priceless relic. Please give this beauty some TLC. Awesome beast.

[@petercliff4023]

Great to see "331" moving again after all these years - even with a bit of help from her friends! Great video.

[@Sofilein]

We all need some help from our friends now and again 🤗

[@docbrown6550]

Love all of your videos, you have one of the best channels on here. Thank you for allowing us the enjoy it with you. ❤

[@billmurray29]

Wow what a huge undertaking! A lot of really cool equipment! Thanks for sharing.

[@Chuckles..]

Any ww2 game heads or militaria fans who randomly happened to see this beast traveling down the highway had an interesting day 😱

[@infoscholar5221]

Amazing. I had wondered whatever happened to 331. There's even a Mark Felton video on its capture.

[@Hoo9Ha]

Great to see the Jagtiger gets some love. I hope it gets well restored and then being put on display in museum building. This thing is too rare to rust under open sky. Sadly none of the 3 existing tanks is in running condition. Greetings from germany.

[@paulmcwilliams1709]

I agree. This tank is a rare gem and not too many of them survived the War.

[@glencochrane901]

Nice war trophy. Thanks for doing this Sofilein, great to see you again!!

[@reginaldmcnab3265]

Even from more than 70 years ago the the German Jagdtiger is still a formidable opponent

[@dougretter]

M88 is a mind blower. In Germany, the mechanics would come in at night to do some work or move a vehicle. I fondly remember the ground shaking and the blue flame blowing out the rear end, as they calmly did their jobs. An incredible piece of equipment.

[@CRAZYHORSE19682003]

I NEVER would have believed that crane could have lifted the Jagdtiger......seeing that alone made watching the video worth it.

[@imadequate3376]

That's gotta be that crane operators highlight of his career. "I moved a 70 ton tank".

[@raymondswarmer1433]

Such a gorgeous piece of WW2 military history! She deserves a prominent place to be displayed indoors where everyone can enjoy her. Good luck on the restoration!!!!

[@maverickd.t.l.9749]

Truly one of favorite tanks in all of armored history. Great video it’s amazing to see these videos.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

Not really a tank is it.

[@maverickd.t.l.9749]

@@burlatsdemontaigne6147 Yes and no. By definition of a , ( Tank ) it is. But the true place and name is a tank destroyer or SNIPER if you will. Outfitted with a massive 128 cm main armament.

[@T.R.75]

lol "oversized load" is an understatement. what a beast.

[@KRAMPUS_G60_16V]

Can't decide who is more beautiful; Sofi or Jagdtiger...

[@MsJoao101]

I had so much fun playing it in WoT, that it hurts to see it suffering like that. I hope they can eventually put it back together... Poor "little" wreck!

[@Dontwlookatthis]

To the Marilyn Monroe only more beautiful Sofilein tank girl, I love the way your refer to the facility as being the Jagtiger's Forever Home, as though it was a rescue pet!

[@memonk11]

Every single aspect of this is impressive. Especially love the dragon wagon at the end.

[@EricWild]

Thanks for posting! Your video has added to the history of this vehicle from the photo of it in 1945 until now.

[@cohenworrior898]

Oh man, this is the best: ATS2 AND WOT thrown together. Plus my oldest brother drives a Liebherr crane just like that one. Yeah, he's the black sheep of the family, for obvious reasons. Good stuff Sofi, thanks.

[@kristoffermangila]

Hell yeah!

[@ChamaeleonMustermann]

wow.... awesome footage and brilliant Video quality. Thx Soffi.

[@vrod665]

Another of my childhood play toys being relocated … hopefully in a permanent location that will allow it to be as preserved as a large hunk of metal can be. APG was my home and the museum was my playground. To say I have an affinity for each piece of armor and artillery that was there might be an understatement.

[@mikedunajew6122]

Thanks so much for showing us this, Sofi!!

[@k31owner46]

Just look at those battle scars. That old girl saw some shit before her crew abandoned her. I didn’t get a clear look, but counted at least five non-pens, most looked like they hardly scratched the surface. What a beast.

[@keithscott9571]

Awesome video. Keep 'em coming. So cool to see these vehicles being restored. You all stay safe.

[@robtankbuster5215]

Love to see this gem restored!

[@EvilPhoenix007]

Was watching a replay of the Obj. 703 v2 from Lacho WOT Replays and then shows up in my feed. Welp back to Blitz then.

[@GUNGHO402]

Great video, god, just the sounds alone are amazing just listening to it as I drive.

[@sixfiveoutfitters1201]

Cool. And I thought it was nice of you to allow the transporter to put in a plug for their company.

[@BrutallyFrankShannon]

Got a photo from 1998, when my youngest daughter was two and 331 was at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, of my baby girl sitting on the tracks on the port side. One of my favorite photos.

[@N_Wheeler]

6:36 the crane operator could've told you how heavy it is ... which isn't 80 tons.

[@opoxious1592]

When it's fully loaded with ammo and fuel (Combat load) then it weight is about 85 tons.

[@robbyvansambeek]

Cool video Sofilein. Especially the interviews at the end with some of the crew.

[@leopardone2386]

If i win the lottery I'm rebuilding an close as possible jagtiger replica. I may or may not also put googly eyes on it.... Awesome vid!

[@Tom-pu1xh]

Very well done!! Please keep em coming!

[@fivex4756]

Interesting seeing how it was moved back in 1945. Looks much more dangerous for sure. Thanks for adding that. d8^)

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

Wow that jagtigee has not moved from that spot in like 10 years since I last saw it.. wtf. They even removed a track ?? Why ?? And it also had a tarp on the roof too... now it doesnt.. Great job dragging it on it road wheels too.. love it..

[@Davito2000]

I see this feat at Wal-Mart sometimes. It amazes me how much those scooters can move.

[@Hellspijker]

Most important question ever....... How much WD 40 was used in the making of this video.

[@Jurflip2]

Beautiful, magnificent machines! Both the trucks and the tracked vehicles.

[@simonrooney7942]

Well done Sofi, Rob and team

[@mike393000]

The things we do for history!! I love it!!!

[@edstanislaw2273]

Outstanding thanks

[@Vincentschneider007]

It would be awesome to get this vehicle operational again. Expensive, but I well worth it for sure.

[@dougiedrever7168]

bit of a testament to the german welding that each lug held 20t after that time

[@gascan1201]

It was great meeting you, I had a BLAST all day yesterday.

[@Jesse_de_jong]

Why did they tow it so fast??? Was it jeremy clarkson with his SPEED AND POWER!!!!?

[@alfredofernandez823]

No conocía ese Jagtiger, imagino que le harán una restauración. Buen vídeo Sofi, saludos desde Chile (aunque veo el video desde Barcelona por vacaciones).

[@Gamer_1745]

Thanks for posting this!

[@parker1ray]

Otto Carius commanded one of these in the final days of the war and in his book told stories of crews abandoning these beasts in the field due to their immobility. He utterly hated these monsters because they were slow unreliable and had no turret! I do agree that this treasure needs to be fully restored, and if it is I will be one of the first to see it. I have seen it twice in my life. Both times at Fort Knox. I was stationed there in 1980 and saw it then and took my two grown boys to see it before it was moved.

[@walthanas]

It's so sad to see it in that state. I saw the Jagdtiger as it was still stuck outside at Aberdeen proving ground, but the intervening years haven't done it much good. At least now it will get a better place! I look forward to hearing about when the NACC will allow foreign civilians to have a look at their impressive collection!

[@rickv1007]

@@colbeausabre8842 That is the tragedy of this. You used to be able to see this stuff at Aberdeen, then after 9/11 it was only after clearance. Now the collection is finally being preserved and the public who is funding it does not get access to see it. The army museum at Carlise PA is outside the base so the public can visit. I also can see this is in a cycle where there is money being spent. Probably about another 50 years until it is funded again. The Aberdeen museum displays were stuck in the 1960s and rarely changed.

[@Bryan-cs9to]

Now thats a thicc tank! Thanks for sharing Sofi

[@OlSgtLove]

Sofi , Really enjoy your videos . Great to see these historical vehicles being brought inside to be saved and restored the best we can . Love the American Flag on the lowboy leading the way .

[@henriknilsson7851]

Amazing video! Impressive machinery all the way around. The M88 has a cool sound!

[@williamdthompson9062]

Among the best of your best videos. Hopefully, you can give us some footage of the belly of this beast in future, just to show the challenge it would be to restore her.

[@MililaniJag]

Great vid!! As always! Cheers!

[@philinnc]

Got a picture of my kids standing in front of that piece during a visit to Aberdeen Proving Ground in 2006. Amazing collection well worth preserving.

[@jamiesworkshop3198]

Glad to see this! I was at Aberdeen back before the original Star Wars movie came out and got to see this bad boy and so many other German tanks. There were some summer interns painting a Panzer IV with a gallon of paint and a brush. My Dad asked them what they were painting. "A tank" they said. So probably many layers of paint on the Aberdeen survivors.

[@tannerjones9687]

Thank you 👍

[@vincentcondron588]

What can I say but it is outstanding with what you have done

[@DavidDragonhammer]

All due respect to Canada and there tours with World of Tanks, I believe we in USA need to have something with Ft Benning to show off all there wares on these fine historical vehicles.

[@janstan8407]

That was a great video, thanks!! If you can ever afford it, try to make it to Bovington Tank Museum in Britain. Maybe they'll let you get into, and do a story on the Jagdpanther they have, it's BEAUTIFUL!!

[@LoosMoose]

I wonder how many "near wrecks" happened when drivers passing by saw this thing going by.

[@sumpterino]

You had me at "Volvo"

[@Sofilein]

I knew I would

[@ericcorse]

Awesome move The first hauler has a SS, PH and CIB badge,

[@carmelootto5523]

Awesome work! Congratulations!! I will love to see it someday..

[@desmosoldier]

Great video. The Jagdtiger deserves restoration.

[@copee2960]

A very rare gem indeed...great work ..well done.

[@RickJZ1973]

Awesome video! I saw this Jagdtiger at Aberdeen Proving Grounds many years. Hopefully, it will undergo a worthy restoration. Would definitely like to see the gun barrel and mantle restored.

[@TheGrace020]

Incredible

[@indydurtdigger2867]

I've actually touched that one. Have pictures of it when it was at Aberdeen from my MOS school days.

[@peter6782]

You would love bovington tank museum over here in the uk, good work well done!

[@stunick1573]

Driven by this beauty many times wish I knew they were moving it. Would have loved to come hang out with you.