GERMAN T-34 TANK unearthed in ESTONIA after being buried for 56 years!

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[BuoyJumper]

I did not see this story posted anywhere and thought everyone might enjoy it.

GERMAN T-34 TANK unearthed in ESTONIA after being buried for 56 years! 

Story Background:  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 in this story was captured from the Soviet army and used by the German army and then ditched in a lake when the German Army retreated.  In September 2006 this Russian made T-34 with German markings was discovered, unearthed and recovered in Estonia.

                                      

Considered the finest tank of World War II, the T-34 remained in production long after the war. It has been exported to many third world countries and has seen action in Korea, Vietnam, Middle East, Angola, Cyprus and Afghanistan. During design, emphasis was placed on simplicity of manufacture and ease of mantenance. The T-34 was a perfect balance of mobility (wide tracks, excellent speed), firepower (76mm or 85mm cannon) and protection (low profile and sloped armour). With these attributes, the T-34 had no equal in World War II.

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[mrgreenfatigues]

Watched a program on the Hellcat. According to the German tankers it's what they feared most on the Western Front. Got to agree with you about the T-34, though all those things you mentioned plus shear numbers had to be terrifying

[Purplesuiter]

Watched a program on the Hellcat. According to the German tankers it's what they feared most on the Western Front. Got to agree with you about the T-34, though all those things you mentioned plus shear numbers had to be terrifying

The M-18 Hellcat had a top speed of 55 mph.  Although lightly armored, its speed and the high velocity 76mm gun allowed it to shoot and scoot causing the german tanks crews headaches galore.  The driver would stop the gunner would line up his shot and as soon as the driver heard the main gun fire he punched down hard on the gas pedal getting the tank hauling ass away from return fire - they would repeat the process until the initial target was dead.

Hell, you put enough of them running like that on the battle field, German tank crews got damned scared.

[DragonSoldier]

Point-of-order:  The Hellcat wasn't a tank, it was a Tank Destroyer...  And the open top of the turret made life kinda hard when arty was doin' air-bursts...

[LineDoggie]

Point-of-order:  The Hellcat wasn't a tank, it was a Tank Destroyer...  And the open top of the turret made life kinda hard when arty was doin' air-bursts...

-Not to mention Steihlhangranate from upper windows........

[mrgreenfatigues]

You weigh the good, you weigh the bad, you weigh it all and then you have...

[Purplesuiter]

All good points about the M-18.

It was rarely ever used in urban combat because of the open top, but they were fast and maneuverable enouigh to make life tough on the germans in open terrain.

The M-10 and M-36 were also tank destroyers.  I believe both of them were armed with a modified 90mm AA gun.

[LineDoggie]

76mm, M1A1 Gun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_mm_gun_M1

Specs Here:

http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m18hellcat.html

I believe your thinking about the M36 Jackson(or "Slugger") which had a 90mm tube.