Another WW2 Russian tank from bog

Only thing that I can guess at is that if the cases were weakened by deteriorating powder combined with water pressure if the tank was 40 or 50 feet below the surface. Countering that statement is that I don't recall seeing collapses like that in shell casings in ship wrecks at much greater depth (seen on documentary tv). Remote possibility would be a grenade exploding once the tank was underwater.

cheers mooncoon
 
If it flipped into the bog, all of those rounds (which are held in place usually by gravity) would have rolled around and bashed into each other. Also depending on how they lay for 60+ years......

Cheers
 
The one found in Finland two years ago actually fired up and ran after a flush of the engine and fuel system. It had gone into a peat bog and was absolutely perfect. It had German markings as it was a capture tank.
 
A German capture Russian tank would be much more desirable than a Russian capture. The Russians probably would have removed all unnecessary screws, soaked it in cosmolene, and covered it in shellac.
 
There was also a third tank - a smallish T26 unearthed around Leningrad I believe. It was badly pitted but restorable. I saw it in a magazine 'Military Vehilcles' (last month's issue at Chapters). It was restored cosmetically and now resides in a Russian museum. I don't think it was restored to running order though.
 
skirsons said:
Finally! Some more surplus 7.62x54R!
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+1000 points to you sir, for beating me to that comment :p

I looked at the pictures, and was all ready to say that when I read the rest of the thread!

Anyways, here is a translation of the Russian. It's more or less correct...

Rise of tank T-34 (40 photos)

On June 17-18th, 2008, Youth public organization (Kiev Club, the Red Star) together with concern " Київпідземшляхбуд " have organized and lead the rise of tank T-34-76 in the Cherkassk area. The raising of the tank was preceded by long and strenuous work for several months on legal registration and technical training.

The local goverment institutions have rendered us huge help and support at all times.

Cherkassk
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mooncoon said:
Only thing that I can guess at is that if the cases were weakened by deteriorating powder combined with water pressure if the tank was 40 or 50 feet below the surface. Countering that statement is that I don't recall seeing collapses like that in shell casings in ship wrecks at much greater depth (seen on documentary tv). Remote possibility would be a grenade exploding once the tank was underwater.

cheers mooncoon
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If you look at the underside the bottom of the tank is cracked. Explosion??

tank_13.jpg



I agree, the shell casing were most likely imploded by an indirect explosion. It's got damage to the skirting which is sheet metal and could have been done in the extraction. Where is the drivers door?
 
I think that is why the ammo necks are folded....there was an explosion in the tank.... take a close look at the heavy gun ammo necks.
 
I don't think there was an explosion in the tank. There's no evidence of one in the interior pics. An explosion and subsequent fire would have cooked off most, if not all of the mg and main gun ammo.

My guess would be ice.
 
That T-34 is in excellent condition as a result of being in the bog. Look at the interior picture; the seat is still intact and lots of rubber everywhere.

The under-side hull crack is most likely not the result of an AT mine or the track/wheels would have been blown off when it made contact with the mine (how else would it have detonated a mine). I suppose it is always possible mines were placed on ice, but I doubt it. And that "hole" on the under-side of the hull - isn't that a hatch?

Look how some of the photos have the cables attacked to the front recovery rings and in other photos the cable is run through the top hull hatch down to the under-side hull hatch and is attaced to a rod. Considering the tank was full of mud to begin with there must have been incredible strain due to all that weight. I wonder if the under side hull didn't crack as a result of the cable location during extraction.

I think that T-34 is most likely a casualty of thin ice in late spring or early winter then being hit.

Now those main gun rounds are interesting...

Cheers,

O'Kelly's Boys
 
I wouldna thunk it'd have been very deep in the mud.

My bet would be on freeze and thaw cycles pounding the crap out of the main gun cases and the hull.

Neat!

Cheers
Trev
 
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