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Armor at Fort Benning, Georgia

Discussion in 'Armor and Armored Fighting Vehicles' started by Slipdigit, Apr 17, 2016.

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  1. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Well, the trip to Fort Benning made by Dave55, A-58, me, and other interested parties was a qualified success. We visited the Infantry Museum and it was fantastic. While there, at the gentle prodding of Dave 55, we located and drove over the Armor Restoration Center.

    I am going to post photos of Armor first.

    It was locked up when we go there so there was no way we could gain direct access to the vehicles as we had hoped. We did do a full circumferential search of the fence, just to see what we could find. I'll attach a few of the photos we made. Bear in mind, the photos are as good as we could get, since I was having to mostly shoot through a chain-link fence.

    We did, however, find out how to gain access to the facility, so as to actually touch the aforementioned machines and will, at some point, be making a return trip after first contacting the appropriate party and scheduling a weekday visit.

    An MP stopped to talk with us and gave us more information, since he volunteers in his spare time helping to refurbish the vehicles. Apparently in the shop area there are several vehicles undergoing extensive restoration, including a Tiger II. They do not plan on getting the vehicles back to full running condition, but rather get them back to wartime appearance to be displayed inside a museum setting. He gave as a reason for not get them moving under their own power being the dearth of Maybach engines these days.

    Anyway, to start with, a US T-28 and some other experimental heavy tanks, such as the T-29 and T-30.
    View attachment 24095
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    View attachment 24100
     

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    Slipdigit, Apr 17, 2016
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  2. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Slipdigit, Apr 17, 2016
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  3. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    German AFVs

    They were under a long shed, mixed with US and British AFVs.

    Jadgtiger
    View attachment 24109

    Panthers
    View attachment 24110 View attachment 24111
    View attachment 24111 View attachment 24113

    We thought this to be a STG-4 Give your best guess.

    View attachment 24114

    Hertzer
    View attachment 24115
    View attachment 24116

    We thought this was a Marder II
    View attachment 24117

    More photos tomorrow night, maybe

    We figured to be a PzKw III or at least the chassis of one
    View attachment 24118
     

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    Slipdigit, Apr 17, 2016
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  4. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    Think your STG 4 is a Jagdpanzer iv, mate. (On phone - will stare more later.)

    You may feel the visit wasn't all you hoped, but I promise that these images are rather reassuring. It's so good to see many of these vehicles under cover and receiving a bit of tlc after decades rotting in the open.
     
    von Poop, Apr 18, 2016
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  5. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Could very well be IV. We debated. All IDs are subject to discussion.
     
    Slipdigit, Apr 18, 2016
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  6. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    OpanaPointer, Apr 18, 2016
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  7. YugoslavPartisan

    YugoslavPartisan Drug

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    Awesome photos!
     
    YugoslavPartisan, Apr 18, 2016
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  8. gtblackwell

    gtblackwell Member Emeritus

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    Wow, I wish I could have made it, 40 miles away!! But things are better here so that was more important . Great photos and promises for the future.

    Gaines
     
    gtblackwell, Apr 18, 2016
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  9. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    I suspect those photos will be the best you get for many years. The US Army has little or no interest in its past and is only focused on promises for the future.
     
    RichTO90, Apr 18, 2016
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  10. von Poop

    von Poop Waspish

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    So many times I hear that said, and the material evidence, at least regarding a fine collection of 'heritage' vehicles, proves it so.
    On the bright side though, at least permission and maybe a few quid was finally given for people to get Aberdeen's and other vehicles under cover and slap some paint on.
    The fact that paint may have faded again by the time a building's secured is less encouraging...
     
    von Poop, Apr 18, 2016
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  11. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    AFAIK, it is a JagdPanzer IV/70. It was originally part of the Shrivenham Study Collection, then went to Fort Knox, before winding up at Benning.
     
    Takao, Apr 18, 2016
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  12. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Slipdigit, Apr 19, 2016
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  13. Dave55

    Dave55 Member

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    That last one is an IDF M-51 Super Sherman, I think.

    Bobby suggested that on Saturday and Google seems to confirm
     
    Dave55, Apr 19, 2016
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  14. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    View attachment 24150
    Comet and Churchill Crocodile, minus the fuel trailer
    View attachment 24151
    You tell me?
    View attachment 24152
    Comet and Croc
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    Grant/Stuart
    View attachment 24154
    You tell me
    View attachment 24155
    Pershing from Fort Knox with artwork on the bow
    View attachment 24156
    Backside of shed. Of note is the M3 Gun Motor Carriage, fourth vehicle from the left.
    View attachment 24157
    No Idea
    View attachment 24158
    Nor this vehicle. Looks like the suspension is past its prime.

    We also saw a Swedish STRV 103, but neglected to get a photo.

    This is just a small portion of what they had.

    We will be going back.
     

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    Slipdigit, Apr 19, 2016
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  15. Dave55

    Dave55 Member

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    The tan one is a Staghound. No idea what the one with the auto cannon is.
     
    Dave55, Apr 19, 2016
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  16. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    T95 test chassis w/ hydropneumatic suspension fitted with an M60A2 turret
    [​IMG]
     
    Takao, Apr 19, 2016
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  17. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    M578 Light Recovery Vehicle
    [​IMG]
     
    Takao, Apr 19, 2016
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  18. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    FV721 Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance(Wheeled)
     
    Takao, Apr 19, 2016
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  19. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Yes, you are correct. AFAIK, it was in outside storage from sometime.
     
    Takao, Apr 19, 2016
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  20. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Yeah, now that you mention it, I remember him saying that.
     
    Slipdigit, Apr 19, 2016
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