dont see dis everyday 1944 tank found

[johnjzjz]

Here's the full story:



> 14 September 2000, a Komatsu D375A-2 pulled an abandoned tank from its archival tomb under the bottom 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-tonne machine with a top speed of 53km/h.
>
> 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 19 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, abandoning 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 armored 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 2000 they turned to Mr Aleksander Borovkovthe, manager of the Narva open pit of the stock 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 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 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-tonne dozer was to have enough weight to prevent shoe-slip 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 under way to fully restore the tank. It will be displayed at a war history museum, that will be founded at the Gorodenko village on the left bank of the River Narv.

[maroman88]

thats ****in coool

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by maroman88

thats ****in coool

more pictures

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by maroman88

thats ****in coool

x10.

Freakin' sweet!

[Blacdout96]

Dude, I want more, thats a sweet story, thats the kind of s*** im into. please tell me theres more pics. Whered you find that?

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by Blacdout96

Dude, I want more, thats a sweet story, thats the kind of s*** im into. please tell me theres more pics. Whered you find that?

i had 14 pictures and the site only allows 3 at a time

[johnjzjz]

a few more

[BonzoHansen]

Ah, there is probably one in Tim's backyard.

[Jersey_TA]

WOW

[unstable bob gable]

Dayum, that thing is in good condition, considering it was under water for 56 years.

[Blacdout96]

to be honest, im not suprised i a way. when I was little I had hot wheels cars that i played wiht outside and buried them. three years ago i was cleaning up the yard and I came across them in the dirt, in as good of condition as the day i put them there!!! I believe the sediment played a key factor in keeping it in such good condition. Theres not as much oxygen to get to it and bacteria to eat away at it and such. not only that the area where it was at is pretty far inland, and everyone knows the farther away fro mthe ocean, the better things last lol.

[Knipps]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

x10.

Freakin' sweet!

[chrisfrom nj]

was there any dead bodies in the tank or did the fish take care of it

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by chrisfrom nj

was there any dead bodies in the tank or did the fish take care of it

my guess is the Germans did not want to get caught with the tank they captured probly was maned buy locals -- so they set it in gear and let it go -- the lakes peet kept it like new -- what else is out there -- hahahahahaah

[bad64chevelle]

that is really a find! It does make ya wonder whats out there. hmmm...time to get the metal detector out and see what this farm has burried around it.

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by bad64chevelle

that is really a find! It does make ya wonder whats out there. hmmm...time to get the metal detector out and see what this farm has burried around it.

two hundred year old coins - musket power fillers made from horns small metal cap on ends - wagon wheels braces - tools all things not worth anything after collecting all of it give me a call i will come a get that junk hahahahhahahahahahah -- ya think -- jz

[Ian]

I'll have to go take a picture of the tank by my house. its on the second floor of an abandoned warehouse

[DieselKickYoAss4Sure]

Originally Posted by Ian

I'll have to go take a picture of the tank by my house. its on the second floor of an abandoned warehouse

Second florr howd it get there?

[Tsar]

Originally Posted by bad64chevelle

that is really a find! It does make ya wonder whats out there. hmmm...time to get the metal detector out and see what this farm has burried around it.

yea get a metal detector and go to some russian forests, you'll find plenty of bombs i've seen a few, but thats after they've been dug up.

[DieselKickYoAss4Sure]

There are airplane Molds from WW2 under the parking lots of what used to be a GM plant by us! actually right across the street from the firkin tavern were the january meet is held!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by DieselKickYoAss4Sure

Second florr howd it get there?

I have no idea. from what I remember none of the doors were big enough to fit it through either.

[alamantia]

Huh... looks like someone finally found & dug up my grandmothers old Pontiac Grand Ville...

[bad64chevelle]

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

two hundred year old coins - musket power fillers made from horns small metal cap on ends - wagon wheels braces - tools all things not worth anything after collecting all of it give me a call i will come a get that junk hahahahhahahahahahah -- ya think -- jz

Ive already found an old old refridgerator, lots of old bottles, parts for a tractor, and all kinds of other goodies just above the ground, and not looking too hard. I believe this part of the area (sub divided farm of a MUCH larger farm) was originally where they tossed alot of their junk, so lets hope their junk is my treasure . I found an OLD model corvette too!

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by bad64chevelle

Ive already found an old old refridgerator, lots of old bottles, parts for a tractor, and all kinds of other goodies just above the ground, and not looking too hard. I believe this part of the area (sub divided farm of a MUCH larger farm) was originally where they tossed alot of their junk, so lets hope their junk is my treasure . I found an OLD model corvette too!

wow : i wish you good luck , i have a pal that goes all over and maps the areas he searches so he does not do over and has found all kinds of cool stuff -- high end metal thing my next toy i think hahahaha -- jz

[Brando56894]

thats pretty cool, my dad has a White (co.) metal detector but the thing took a **** a few weeks after he bought it i think and that was like 10 or 15 years ago idk where it is now. we used to search the beach in ocean city and find like $5 or $10 worth of change