[Copland]

I thought it would be interesting to see what info could be received from our well-read forum members, particularly concerning little known facts of warfare. I thought I would start with armor, then we could do another thread concerning planes, battles, etc. Anyway, I was reading about the Sturmtiger and found out that the mortar that was mounted on a Tiger I chassis was originally designed for U-Boats. The U-Boats would surface and bombard coastal targets. The Navy decided against this, so, it was used on the Tiger I. It appears that only about 18 of these were ever made. Just something interesting.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Copland

I thought it would be interesting to see what info could be received from our well-read forum members,
I thought I would start with armor,

Anyway, I was reading about the Sturmtiger and found out that the mortar that was mounted on a Tiger I chassis was originally designed for U-Boats.
It appears that only about 18 of these were ever made.

At the risk of being "verbally assinated" (again) by some of the "all-knowing" armour enthusiast 'newbies' on this site (not you Cope' !),

I figured that I'd venture out with a little known W.W.II German Armour (museum piece)/'Gem', that RARELY gets seen, (or even known about), by many current armour enthusiasts !

We only found out about this vehicle (& it's location), by chance !!!!!!!!

My mate on the C.B.900 Honda (it's pictured in my 1st 'Red Panther' post) was chatting to a senior German Police Officer as we were going back to our bikes.
He was an interesting guy, whose Father had been a serving S.S. Officer, in the Dec '44 Ardennes campaign.

Chatting to the 3 of us (in Luxembourg), he told us of a 'Morser', in Germany itself !!!!!!!

The other two (keen armour enthusiasts) didn't know what he meant, but I did, & nearly passed out in disbelief !!!!!!!!

So an extra day was 'reserved' for the ride into Germany, from neighbouring Luxembourg

A very dull, dismal day, added to the 'Dark' & moody interior of the 'storehouse'

You were "strictly Verboten" (inside) to use a flash, so, with the only ASA 200 film in our 35mm, I took it down (two stops)


So, please forgive the poor & dismal results of this rare beast (stuck in-between post/supports & other vehicles) they didn't 'place' it to be photography 'friendly'.........

I've posted 'em for the 'Rarity' factor (plus Copeland mentioned 'em)

Here's one of the 18 , taken in May '93 (& P.S. - NO, that ugly-Git is NOT yours truly !!!!!

[Shawn 507]

The SturmTiger and Tiger I at Sinsheim are on loan from Aberdeen. Its a shame we (the US) cut open the Tiger I and King Tiger at the Patton museum. There is also a Panther ausf A, JadgPanther, several StuGs and Hetzer/G13s, and other armor relics in the Sinsheim museum southwest of Heidelburg. Well worth the trip.
- Shawn

[Cavtanker]

An Abrams tank engine burns about 12-15 gallons of fuel during start-up sequence.

[Shawn 507]

Cpt. Kirk's Enterprise shields were developed by WW2 German (Armor) scientists, but stolen by Hellboy as a wee teenager. Only to reappear on when all nations on earth were one big UN happy family, led by Hillary Clinton / Al Gore clones. I read it on Wikipedia, honest!! BTW, Al's clone claims he invented the shields and warp drive. He grew dilithium crystals in his green house.

[Copland]

Hornchurch,

What a great find! I bet it was cool to see this up close.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Copland

Hornchurch,

What a great find! I bet it was cool to see this up close.

Yeah guy, a real unexpected gem - If my mate on the C.B.900 wasn't so 'outgoing', & chatting to that German Polizei, then we would never have known about this rare beast !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There were some other rare one's there too........... I've included some pix

Like a Pzkfpw III Flammenwerfer !!!!!!!! (Red 124) next to the Mk.IV.H (Black 123)

...... & an Armoured Cab 'Flak-Vierling' A.A. Half-Track (plus 'Erika' , my Fave Panther !!!!!!!! Black 801 )


B.T.W this is NOT Sinsheim, so don't get confused !


(I've include one of Sinsheim's Panther, 'Red 224' with my mate's son in front, to show how different each museum's Panther is !)

Once again, it's the subject matter, rather than the 'poor-photography' !!!!!!!!!!!
It's such a shame that these exhibits are always either bunched together, or crowde by railings (sigh)

[Copland]

I want to get in one of these things! I am hoping to go to the Armor Museum at Ft. Knox. It's about 8 hours from where I am. I want to see these giants close up.

[Shamrock]

Spent a day last year in the Tank Museum at Bovington. Heaven for 'heavy metal' enthusiasts. Didn't have a digi camera then mores the pity otherwise I could bore you all senseless!!

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by Shamrock

Spent a day last year in the Tank Museum at Bovington. Heaven for 'heavy metal' enthusiasts. Didn't have a digi camera then mores the pity otherwise I could bore you all senseless!!

Wouldn't bore me. If I ever win the lottery its on my list of places to visit.