ATGs and AA gunsin russia

Beware, some pictures are blurry.



























This gun is actually quite special, as was one of 4 or 5 guns that destroyed 10 german tanks in total. Anyways, three different gun crews manned this particular gun, and were all killed, the fourth crew only had 2 or 3 guys left alive. They built a mural around it. Or at least our tour guide said so.











85mm AAA, mural is the defence of Leningrad.







We had a Russian Tank Colonel with us for a few days. Awsome guy, didnt serve in the war but was a tank commander before rising through the ranks. Anyways, he brought us to this area at Kursk, a preserved tank defensive belt. He made us put on these russian hats, assigned several of us (including me) to the gun, and made us go through all the motions.






I am the loader, the guy with the glasses is the gunner, the guy running is the ammo carrier, and the guy at the back is at the ammunition storage area handing the shells to the ammo carrier. THe Women is the commander, and the Colonel is making everything happen.

Not exactly WWII vintiage, but the worlds largest calibler gun. 890mm





And thats it for Arty and ATGs

 

Awesome photos.I love the armored train.What is the photo just after the train?

 

I'm still jealous.

Typical...

 

I'm still jealous.

second that nice pics again

 

If you mean the Earth works, it was a preserved earth works defense at Kursk. That part is the only bit reconstructed, the rest is just depressions in the ground.

And the big gun at the end is the 890mm Tsar Cannon.

 

Excellent photos!When at Kursk, have you seen Prokhorovka?
By the way,I like that idea with the wall paintings.

 

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
My favorite is the first one... that monstrous gun mount on tracks. I've seen film of them firing... rearing-up on their tracks, and swaying back and forth like a large steel beast. As ominous a piece of artillery as was ever bolted together.

Tim

 

I have several threads from russia spread throughout the forum, each under an appropriate heading. For example I have all the planes fromm Russia in the air war topic, and I just added a large collection of monuments and battlefields in the WWII in general topic.

 

Excellent photos, thanks for sharing!

The wall art in this museum is excellent by the way, very atmospheric. I've seen far worse when out and about.

Regarding the Tsar gun, has it ever been fired?
Do homeless people sleep in it at night?

 

Wiki says it has never been fired, was meant for short range defense, was to fire a giant canister round or grape shot.

 

IIRC a similar sized cannon was used by the Turks at constantinople in 1453... It could only be fired 4 times a day

 

The Russians sure know how to keep old weapons.

 

And, finally it blew up killing all of its crew and its constructor. More of intimidation rather than usefulness...

 

The Turks used them also at the invasion/siege of Malta in 1565

So called great screw cannon (i've seen this one, a replica, last year in Malta)



Or maybe this thing is the real deal

 

thats a big A$$ gun