It was built in Kassel, southern Germany; the hull was constructed by Henschel, while the turret was made by Wegmann AG.

The largely-intact vehicle had been immobilised after the Afrika Korps launched a spoiling attack on the night of 20/21 April 1943 while the Allies were preparing a major push toward Tunis.

[3] The Germans attacked four points simultaneously, including a pass on the north side of a hill called Djebel Djaffa.

A solid shot hit a Tiger's gun barrel and ricocheted into its turret ring, jamming its traverse ability, wounding the driver and front gunner and destroying the radio.

The German crew bailed out, taking their wounded with them and leaving the knocked-out but still driveable and largely intact tank behind.

[6] The official story changed in April 2019 when Dale Oscroft visited the Tank Museum.

He was struck by the similarity between Tiger 131 and a story his father, John Oscroft, told him when he was part of 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters who captured a position called "Point 174" (Gueriat el Atach) without promised tank support.

In 1990 the tank was removed from display for a joint restoration effort by the staff and the Army Base Repair Organisation, which involved its almost complete disassembly.