News etc.
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This News etc. section is intended for items of general interest. The items will be posted in chronological order with the most current item listed first. Please submit your News etc. items to Bill Sheavly Jr.
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Soviet tank recovered from an Estonian lake after 50 yearsJohvi, Estonia (September 14, 2000) — A Soviet-built T34/76A tank was pulled from its archival tomb under the bottom of a lake near Johvi, Estonia. The 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/h. From February to September 1944, heavy battles were fought in the narrow, 50 km-wide, Narva front in the northeastern 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 organised 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. 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 Narva. More Source: Komatsu Times (Quarterly News Magazine for Construction Equipment Users), Volume 3 No 1. |
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