1. Copying kits is a crime that hurts original artists & producers. Help support your favorite artists by buying their original works. PlanetFigure will not tolerate any activities related to recasting, and will report recasters to authorities. Thank you for your support!

WWII Tank Found after 62 Years

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by Tommi, Dec 21, 2011.

  1. Tommi A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Just got this story sent to me by Carl Barton and thought it would be nice and intersting to share. Please take a look at the photos at the end of the text.

    1.jpg


    WW II Russian tank with German markings uncovered after 62 years. WW II Buffs will find This interesting. Even after 62 years (and a little tinkering), they were able to fire up the Diesel engine!

    A Komatsu D375A-2 bulldozer pulled the abandoned tank from its tomb under the boggy Bank Of a lake near Johvi , Estonia . The Soviet-built T34/76A tank had been resting at The bottom Of the lake for 56 years. According to its specifications, it's a 27-ton machine With a top speed of 53km/hr.

    From February to September 1944, heavy battles were fought in the narrow, 50 km-wide, Narva Front in the north-eastern part of Estonia . Over 100,000 men were killed and 300,000 Men were wounded there. During battles in the summer of 1944, the tank was captured from The Soviet army and used by the German army. (This is the reason that there are German Markings painted on the tank's exterior.) On 19th September, 1944, German troops began an Organized retreat along the Narva front. It is suspected that the tank was then purposefully Driven into the lake to conceal it when its captors left the area.

    At that time, a local boy walking by the lake, Kurtna Matasjarv, noticed tank tracks leading Into the lake but not coming out anywhere. For two months he saw air bubbles emerging From the lake. This gave him reason to believe that there must be an armoured vehicle at the Lake's' bottom. A few years ago, he told the story to the leader of the local war history club 'Otsing'. Together with other club members, Mr. Igor Shedunov initiated diving expeditions to The bottom of the lake about a year ago. At the depth of 7 metres they discovered the tank Resting under a 3 metre layer of peat.

    Enthusiasts from the club, under Mr Shedunov's leadership, decided to pull the tank out. In September of 2000 they turned to Mr. Aleksander Borovkovthe, manager of the Narva open Pit company AS Eesti Polevkivi, to rent the company's Komatsu D375A-2 bulldozer. (Currently Used at the pit, the Komatsu dozer was manufactured in 1995, and has recorded 19,000 Operating hours without major repairs.)

    The pulling operation began at 09:00 and was concluded at 15:00, with several technical breaks. The weight of the tank, combined with the travel incline, made for a pulling operation that required significant muscle. The D375A-2 handled the operation with power and style. The weight of the Fully-armed tank was around 30 tons, so the active force required to retrieve it was similar. A main requirement for the 68-ton dozer was to have enough weight to prevent slippage while Moving up the hill.

    After the tank surfaced, it turned out to be a 'trophy tank' that had been captured by the German Army in the course of the battle at Sinimaed (Blue Hills) about six weeks before it was sunk in The lake. Altogether, 116 shells were found on board. Remarkably, the tank was in good Condition, with NO RUST, and all systems (except the engine) in working condition. This is a Very rare machine, especially considering that it fought both on the Russian and the German Sides. Plans are underway to fully restore the tank. It will be displayed at a war history museum in the Gorodenko village on the left bank of the River Narv.




    2.jpg 3.jpg

    4.jpg 5.jpg

    6.jpg 7.jpg

    8.jpg 9.jpg

    10.jpg 11.jpg

    12.jpg 13.jpg


    Cheers
    Tommi
  2. billyturnip A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Very interesting, I remember a similar story appearing in Military Modelling mag a few years ago.

    Roger.
  3. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Got to wonder about this one :cautious:

    Re the Moroccan Ash Roger, gave that up at the end of flower power :lol:
    billyturnip likes this.
  4. kaz6120 A Fixture

    Country:
    Japan
  5. DEL A Fixture

    Country:
    Scotland
    Where are Time Team when they'e needed. Oh yes they're digging up another wall that might or might not be Roman/Saxon/Norman/bit of M6 rubble or a big stone.
    I really hope they had the sense to get a film team in.
    Cheers
    Derek
  6. housecarl Moderator

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
  7. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Gotta question something here as one who frequents rivers and lochs, thats lakes to you guys down south.
    I have seen many bubbles coming up but have never thought "cribbens there must be a tank down there, and tracks still visible in soft mud after sixty odd years ( Roger Moor eyebrow) :awesome:
    But maybe Im just a cynic .
    Carl are you to blame for this:lol::lol: and a Russian tank with German markings too boot, well I'll be b.........
  8. DEL A Fixture

    Country:
    Scotland
    Ron
    I read it differently, I'm pretty sure the bubbles and tracks were seen in 1944 by the old guy as a young boy.
    D
  9. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Del have you any idea how much a river changes year to year let alone 62
    it just ain't the same place. but I am sceptic and it may be all true.

    One question though would you stand next to those wire ropes under tension
    fixed to something that has been attached under water all that time. :lol:
    and the hatches are open so would be filled to the brim with silt also.
    Cut in two comes to mind.

    Sorry Del its a lake so all true
  10. billyturnip A Fixture

    Country:
    England
  11. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
  12. billyturnip A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    Ron, they could be tanks!! :D
  13. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Christ! all that scrap metal and at todays prices,

    Once got dragged across the length Cypress to se Aphrodite's baths
    I always thought bath water came above one's ankles.

    PS did you know Robert the Bruce was an estate agent. "according to the amount of caves he had here" o_O
    billyturnip likes this.
  14. theBaron A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Maybe the same one, Roger. I think I saw it in 2004 or thereabouts.

    If I remember correctly, it was a tank captured by the Germans, and it was driven into the bog, as they were being driven out by the Russians. It reminds me of other bog finds, things from Bronze and Iron Age Germany, for example, and well the environment preserves things.

    It's a great subject for a build!
  15. Don Well-Known Member

    I thought Ronnie would have been very quiet about this one as the Russians want their tank back and said his driving was p*sh.

    Loch Morars monster is called Morag strangely enough. At least they did find an unexplained fish/creature/monster just at the small river which forms the lochs exit.

    Don
  16. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    How do you know about my driving Don, its just some of that italian connection that I inherited " if you pass me you have insulted my honour stuff" :rolleyes:

Share This Page

planetFigure Links

Reviews & Open Box
Buy. Sell & trade
Articles
Link Directory
Events
Advertising

Popular Sections

Figure & Minis News
vBench - Works in Progress
Painting Talk
Sculpting Talk
Digital Sculpting Talk
The Lounge
Report Piracy

Who we are

planetFigure is a community built around miniature painters, sculptors and collectors, We are here to exchange support, Information & Resources.

© planetFigure 2003 - 2022.