WINSTON Churchill would have turned in his grave ... a German tank rolling ashore in Hampshire unopposed.

Seventy-two years after it fell into Allied hands, one of the largest combat vehicles to see action in the Second World War arrived in Southampton.

The 70-ton Panzerjäger Tiger (P), commonly known as Elefant, came from from the US - bound for The Tank Museum in Dorset.

It was captured near Anzio, Italy, by US troops in June 1944 – and quickly shipped stateside for military evaluation.

Tank Museum curator David Willey said: “Tiger tanks like this one have a powerful reputation which was underpinned with Nazi propaganda at the time.

“This reputation has persisted beyond the war itself into books, films and video games.”

The tank is being loaned from the Ordnance Museum at Fort Lee, Virginia, by The United States Army Centre of Military History and is one of just two surviving examples of the 91 Elefants that saw service with German forces. It will be the first time that an Elefant has ever been seen in the UK.

Designed by famed auto-engineer Ferdinand Porsche, the Elefant was a self-propelled anti-tank gun and member of the ‘Tiger family’ of Second World War German tanks.

Before serving in Italy, it took part in the Battle of Kursk, on the Russian front, which remains the biggest tank battle in history.

It will feature in ‘The Tiger Collection – the Tanks, the Terror & the Truth’ exhibition sponsored by World of Tanks at the Bovington museum.

“Tigers are large and impressive by contemporary standards – but there is a moral responsibility to remember what they were used for and the regime who created them,” said David.

“Representing less than seven per cent of their wartime tank production, Tiger tanks failed to have a real impact and our exhibition will be presenting a more balanced account of these vehicles, along with views of veterans.”

Set to open in April 2017, the exhibit will bring every member of the Tiger tank family together for the first time in history. However, one example that has eluded the Museum will be appearing virtually, courtesy of exhibition sponsors World of Tanks.

Using the latest digital technology, visitors will be able to see a full-sized Surmtiger, a German assault gun built on the Tiger I chassis and armed with a large rocket launcher.