[jim]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Jim,
I have to say that your museum is a treasure. All those beasts look like you could hop in a fire them up.

I used to live up the road from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. They have a great selection of tanks, but they are all outside and heavily painted to prevent rust and other outdoors nastiness. While you can poke and prod the tanks all you want, you can tell they are beaten down hulks. (At least they were preserved that way 10 years ago the last time I was there.)

The tanks at your place are pristeen and my mouth has been watering over all your pictures. Thanks again so much so takingthe time to post all the pictures.

If I could ask a small favor? Could you list the tanks in each picture? While I recognize most of them, there are a few I couldn't place. Again, thanks, your pictures are AWESOME!

At the last count they had over 300 AFVs there. and yes you can jump in and fire most of them up. The Tiger mk1 has just had an engine recondition so that will be a sight when the new Tank proving ground is finished.

Oh dear , djjeffhall you got me, I have forgotten myself what some of them are. However if you tell me which ones you want know about i will try to remember if I cannot then I know a man thats an expert. Some of the pictures are of very rare examples like the TOG.

Before I forget, they have cut a main battle tank in half length ways would you believe. you can walk between the two halves and see all the workings, very clever I thought .I wonder how they did that?

[Folgore]

Originally Posted by jim

Before I forget, they have cut a main battle tank in half length ways would you believe. you can walk between the two halves and see all the workings, very clever I thought .I wonder how they did that?

Ninjas, jim. Ninja swords.

[jim]

Originally Posted by Folgore

Ninjas, jim. Ninja swords.

[djjeffhall]

Jim,
Hey there sir.

RE: Spliced Tanks - They have the front have of some tank inside the museum at Aberdeen as well. I don't recall what type of tanks, just that it is really cramped.

RE: Pictures - Okay young man, you asked for it. The tanks I couldn't place were in pictures 26, 27, 30 and 47. 26 and 27 look like early war Russian tanks, but I know next to nothing about that period of tanks. I was also wondering what the item in the front of picture 31 is? Looks like some mobile artillery peice, but I can't make it out.

Thanks again just for posting these pictures. This is one of the most exciting threads on the forum in a long time, at least for me. (Okay, I'm a complete sucker for good pictures. )

[FormerViperDriver]

Jim,

Superb pictures. I need to go visit that museum some day. It looks like it might even be better that the Saumur (France) armor museum, and that's saying a lot (they also parade a few of their tanks for the public, including the King Tiger, every year in July).

Fantastic, thanks for sharing.

FVD

[jim]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Jim,
Hey there sir.

RE: Spliced Tanks - They have the front have of some tank inside the museum at Aberdeen as well. I don't recall what type of tanks, just that it is really cramped.

RE: Pictures - Okay young man, you asked for it. The tanks I couldn't place were in pictures 26, 27, 30 and 47. 26 and 27 look like early war Russian tanks, but I know next to nothing about that period of tanks. I was also wondering what the item in the front of picture 31 is? Looks like some mobile artillery peice, but I can't make it out.

Thanks again just for posting these pictures. This is one of the most exciting threads on the forum in a long time, at least for me. (Okay, I'm a complete sucker for good pictures. )

Oh dear, well here goes, Number 26 is a Russian T28, Number 30 is a SKz 222 with a short barrel 75, Number 47 is a Buffalo with a Weasel coming down the ramp.
Now the one I cant remember is number 27. I remember the description , it said it was not really a tank but a mobile pill box.
The idea was that it would act as a strong point at vital places in a defensive line and could cover 360 degrees with its numerous machine guns etc.
Now was it French? I think so , I will try to remember and let you know.

Number 31 ??????? I will try to find out. I shall ask a man that knows!!

[jim]

Re number 31,

Hi there djjeffhall,
I have consulted a man that has a wide knowledge of AVFs and his best guess is that it is a Marder 111.
Self propelled gun , a captured Russain 76.2mm anti tank gun on a mark 111 chassis.
These were used in Normandy by the Germans .
Evidently they were used in the making of the film Private Ryan and can be seen during the last 45 minutes of the film.
I shall have to watch the film again and check that out.

I wish I had logged each tank as I took the photos it would have made things a lot easier.
If I get chance to go there again I will be more organised and when I take photos.

I hope this info is of some help.

[djjeffhall]

Jim sir.

You have already gone above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks again.

[jim]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Jim sir.

You have already gone above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks again.

You are very welcome.