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this poor old girl seems to have gone under the surgeons knife???

dennis


click for full view

I can't see the full view right now (D%#$d firewall at work) but assume this shows the cover plate tackwelded on the side of the turret (or lack thereof depending on when the picture was taken)

Many of the tanks at Aberdeen are the residue of the technical intelligence testing that they were brought here for. Some had armor plate cut out so the plate could be tested, some were cut open to be used as training exhibits, etc. The care taken when closing them up varies as does the material used (some use sheet steel, some use expanded steel wire mesh some are just open) When the vehicle is protected (like the T34/76 in the warehouse or the King Tiger at Ft Knox) the openings allow vistors to see the interior. When the vehicles are sitting outside it is less than desirable

- bsmart

I can't see the full view right now (D%#$d firewall at work) but assume this shows the cover plate tackwelded on the side of the turret (or lack thereof depending on when the picture was taken)

Yup, this is the sheet metal variety. On turret and left sponson side. When were these "cover-ups" made? Is the "Hetzer" still open to the elements (wire mesh)?

Rik

I'm home now and able to look at the full size picture. I believe that photo is at least 21 years old. The concrete pads were put in in 1985 or 86 and there is no sogn of them in that photo. I don't recall that bad of a patch job on the hull side but opening the hull side and turret side was common. The sheet metal was recently off the turret but was finally closed up again in the last few months. I think most of the cutting was done back in the 40's but that is only a guess

The Hetzer is still open as is the Pz IV

I have shots of most if not all of the wwii vehicles at aberdeen, including the panther etc. If I get a chance I will ask Monty to upload them to my site so you can see what they look like now.

If I recall, the hetzer was "open" on the side wire mesh way.

-Dave

Here's another one that has been cut open a Shinhoto Chi-ha

Funny thing I can't remember when I was on that side of the Chi Ha. It is located on the end of the first row of tanks and I always approach it and give tours from the other side. I know it has been closd up but I'll have to look closely at it on my next trip

The Panther G still has the sheet metal covering over the side of its turret (seen here in April 2005):



The Hetzer still has the wire mesh screen (photo from August 2003):



And here's a photo of the Chi Ha - its been closed up but at least its been painted over (at one time a while back anyway...):



Chris Neel

- jcneel

The Panther G still has the sheet metal covering over the side of its turret (seen here in April 2005):



Chris Neel

Thanks Chris. I'll nit pick and say that on the panther the sheet metal isn't 'still covering' That was the sheet metal that had been removed for some time. It sat open for a while and somehow the turret got cranked. Then before the turret got straightened out the sheet metal was replaced!

I didn't realize it had been over a year since it had been done. (But this summer was just a blur for my hobby stuff)