Found after 62 Years.
WWII Russian tank with German markings uncovered after 62 years. WWII Buffs will find this interesting.
Even after 62 years (and a little tinkering), they were able to fire up the Diesel engine!
A Komatsu D375A-2 bulldozer pulled the abandoned tank from its tomb under the boggy bank 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-ton machine, with a top speed of 53km/hr.
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.
On 19th 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 to conceal 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 armoured 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.
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 in working condition.
Incredibly, after a few minor repairs, they were able to start its diesel engine.
Pretty amazing...
WWII Russian tank with German markings uncovered after 62 years. WWII Buffs will find this interesting.
Even after 62 years (and a little tinkering), they were able to fire up the Diesel engine!
A Komatsu D375A-2 bulldozer pulled the abandoned tank from its tomb under the boggy bank 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-ton machine, with a top speed of 53km/hr.
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.
On 19th 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 to conceal 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 armoured 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.
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 in working condition.
Incredibly, after a few minor repairs, they were able to start its diesel engine.
Pretty amazing...
.
