Tanks for the Memories !!!

[Scout26]

http://defensetech.org/2012/06/05/tanks-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see


Abandoned Russian tank repair facility near Kharkov....

Ironic that the site of the largest tank battle in WWII is now home to 5000+ abandon Soviet era tanks...

[Perd Hapley]

The land of misfit tanks?

[MicroBalrog]

What tank battle do you refer to?

I believe Kursk is quite far to the East.

What is with the Ukrainians? CAn't they pay to get all this stuff melted down, or sold for scrap, or whatnot?

[RoadKingLarry]

I wonder if and how many could be made operational. If nothing else they could be a source of engines for industrial applications.

[MicroBalrog]

I wonder if and how many could be made operational. If nothing else they could be a source of engines for industrial applications.

1. Don't tank engines have a very limited operational lifespan?

2. I would expect many sensitive parts, like tracks, turret gear, etc. would have rusted beyond use.

[lee n. field]

http://defensetech.org/2012/06/05/tanks-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see


Abandoned Russian tank repair facility near Kharkov....

Ironic that the site of the largest tank battle in WWII is now home to 5000+ abandon Soviet era tanks...

Are those C&R eligible?

[Jamisjockey]

If that was Texas, some tweakers would have already sold them for scrap.

[MechAg94]

Screw the tweekers.  At something like 20 or 30 cents a pound, anyone with the capability of moving them would be hauling them off assuming they wouldn't get caught. 

For me, I'd like to pick up some of the machine guns that appear to still be there.  Also, wouldn't it be cool to set up a bunker at your house with a tank turret?   

[Jamisjockey]

Screw the tweekers.  At something like 20 or 30 cents a pound, anyone with the capability of moving them would be hauling them off assuming they wouldn't get caught. 

For me, I'd like to pick up some of the machine guns that appear to still be there.  Also, wouldn't it be cool to set up a bunker at your house with a tank turret?   

Gives a new meaning to "get off my lawn!"

[RoadKingLarry]

If that was Texas, some tweakers would have already sold them for scrap.

In the last several days we've had 2 long sections of airel cable stolen for the copper, the fiber optic lines they took down with were just collateral damage.  1st one was in the wee hours of the morning, the last one was at 2:00 pm. It was in a remote area.

[brimic]

In Soviet Russia, Tank park you.

[brimic]

If that was Texas, some tweakers would have already sold them for scrap.

Isn't every town in Texas just like every other town in middle America with an old tank already parked in the town square/park or in front of the local VFW building?

[Tallpine]

I wonder if and how many could be made operational. If nothing else they could be a source of engines for industrial applications.

They used to use tanks minus the turret as platforms for big log loaders and yarders (hi-lead) in the Pacific Northwest.

I always wanted to get a tank to use as a base for a home-built log loader, but I suppose that the turret bearing aren't designed to handle that much leveraged stress ?   

[Perd Hapley]

Isn't every town in Texas just like every other town in middle America with an old tank already parked in the town square/park or in front of the local VFW building?

Our local VFW has a cobra heli-chopper.

[rcnixon]

Aren't those blocks of reactive armor explosive?

Tank rebuilders do amazing things to get a whole vehicle out of several.  There are Sherman resto's out there with the hull made of two or more salvaged tanks.  Why would tank engines be any different than any other vehicle or industrial engine?  If 65 year-old Maybachers can be made to run, why not Russian engines.  They are most likely adapted truck or tractor engines.

Many years ago, when the Interstate highway system was first being built, a section of I-80 was going through Paterson, NJ.  The route was to go through the old silk mill district.  One local demolition contractor had the bright idea of using a Sherman with the turret removed and a piece of plate welded over the hole.  He was going to run the tank through the buildings to knock them down.  The first building he ran the tank through had a couple of levels of sub-basement and when he drove out onto the wooden floor, the thing crashed into the sub-basement.  It took quite a while to get him and his broken back extracted and the tank is probably still there, buried under the interstate.  If I recall correctly, the demolition contractor was Vinnie Ottillio.

Russ

[brimic]

Our local VFW has a cobra heli-chopper.

Reminds me... In the neighboring town, theirs a Civil Air Patrol unit that has a few operational Hueys. They fly over occasionally, gives me goosebumps.

[Boomhauer]

1. Don't tank engines have a very limited operational lifespan?

2. I would expect many sensitive parts, like tracks, turret gear, etc. would have rusted beyond use.

As far as the first goes, depends on the hours. High hours? Not so good. Barely cranked, when from the factory to storage and then that place? Then it's gonna be fine, assuming no internal corrosion issues.

As far as to the second, older *expletive deleted* was build STOUT. You can take a 70 y.o. Cat D7 that hasn't run in 20 years and often get it running without too much trouble, for example. There's a lot you can do with older stuff that you can't pull off with newer.

[MicroBalrog]

As far as the first goes, depends on the hours. High hours? Not so good. Barely cranked, when from the factory to storage and then that place? Then it's gonna be fine, assuming no internal corrosion issues.

What I mean is, I've read that a tank engine can be run for something like 250-500 hours, and then you need a rebuild. This doesn't sound like something you want to do with an industrial machine.

Although on the other hand, the Russians do have some impressive firefighting gear built out of T-55 tanks.