Patton Museum Trivia

[SC Cheesehead]

Hey folks, those of you that were on the tour with the retired tank commander may recall him pointing out the mud-covered tank on display in the back room of the museum. It was a Russian T-34 that had been captured by the Germans in the late days of WWII, and it ended up sinking in a bog.

When recovered, it was in excellent condition, and apparently ended up in the Patton Museum.

In any event, here are a couple URLs to info on that tank:

http://www.mil.hiiumaa.ee/2000_09_14_kurtna_T-34-36/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kKLbKHNquE&feature=related

SCCH

[Haggis]

I don't remember the T-34 being in the mud. I thought that the German Tank Destroyer that was there was found in the mud?

[Bluerauder]

I don't remember the T-34 being in the mud. I thought that the German Tank Destroyer that was there was found in the mud?
Yes, it was a German Tank Destroyer. Medium gun (probably 75MM) and big flash suppressor on the end of the barrel. Might have been a Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun.

You can see it here in the Virtual Tour >>>> http://www.generalpatton.org/qtvr/qtvr.asp


Go to the upper left room and "click" on the dot in front of the yellow icon. You will be standing right in front of the Tank Destroyer. That's the one with mud and grime. Also recall that they pressure washed the front glacis and blasted it down to the reddish primer paint.

[Haggis]

Yes, it was a German Tank Destroyer. Medium gun (probably 75MM) and big flash suppressor on the end of the barrel. Might have been a Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun.

You can see it here in the Virtual Tour >>>> http://www.generalpatton.org/qtvr/qtvr.asp


Go to the upper right room and "click" on the dot in front of the yellow icon. You will be standing right in front of the Tank Destroyer. That's the one with mud and grime. Also recall that they pressure washed the front glacis and blasted it down to the reddish primer paint.

Thanks for the link, but I do believe they had an 88mm gun. #1 tank killing gun of WWII.

[SC Cheesehead]

Yes, it was a German Tank Destroyer. Medium gun (probably 75MM) and big flash suppressor on the end of the barrel. Might have been a Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault gun.

You can see it here in the Virtual Tour >>>> http://www.generalpatton.org/qtvr/qtvr.asp


Go to the upper right room and "click" on the dot in front of the yellow icon. You will be standing right in front of the Tank Destroyer. That's the one with mud and grime. Also recall that they pressure washed the front glacis and blasted it down to the reddish primer paint.


Thanks for the link, but I do believe they had an 88mm gun. #1 tank killing gun of WWII.


Oh wow, my bad! During the tour I was talking to our guide about recovered tanks, and we got our communications crossed. I mentioned the T34 I referenced in my original post, and I think he or I mistook what I was talking about for the STUG. (SORRY!):o

Anyway, I called the Patton Museum Curator today and asked about the history of the STUG; it was recovered from a bog near Lennigrad. Little else is known about it, although the musuem does have some archival film of the recovery, but its not available on line. The Curator did mention that some future expansion plans include relocation of the STUG that will include installation of a video monitor that will show the recovery film.

SCCH

[Bluerauder]

Thanks for the link, but I do believe they had an 88mm gun. #1 tank killing gun of WWII.
Yes, probably an 88 MM. :o I knew it wasn't as big as a 105 MM or 120 MM.