German army fights underground Nazi war machine hidden in Kiel pensioner's cellar

[steve2470]

(yes original headline)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/03/german_army_battles_1943_panzer_hidden_kiel_pensioner_cellar/

The German rozzers raided a villa in a wealthy suburb of Kiel on Wednesday (July 2), and found a Nazi tank from 1943 hidden in the cellar, alongside a torpedo and "other weaponry".

The Local reported that the raid took place under the orders of the town's prosecutors, who suspect the villa's owner held the Nazi-era weaponry illegally, due to a law controlling the possession of instruments of war.

Kiel's prosecutors were apparently alerted to the presence of the military hardware by Berlin prosecutors, who had searched the property about a month earlier for stolen Nazi art.

The villa owner's lawyer has claimed that, as the tank could no longer fire its weapons, he was therefore not in breach of any law, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The newspaper also sourced a complaint from Alexander Orth, mayor of the nearby Keikendorf municipality, who said: "He was chugging around in that thing during the snow catastrophe in 1978."

[Fred Sanders]

1. Zero tolerance for all relics of failed racist states; off to the museum for you so we will remember

how a great and peaceful nation could be kidnapped by creeping fascism undetected.

[oneshooter]

8. I would guess then that incudes the 6 versions of the KaR98 in my safe? n/t

[linuxman]

2. Seems like that took excellent care of it.

Why not let him keep it? I seriously doubt that 88mm Kanonnen shells even exist anymore. Essentially he has a really heavy tractor. Based on its appearance and reports of it running still, I think he's earned the right to keep it and maintain it as he has for all of this time. Maybe open the basement to tourists and use the proceeds as a nice side income. Very cool piece of history. I wonder how many more are out there?

[Igel]

3. Unreasoned fear.

After all, he's old enough to be a fascist Nazi.

Just the words alone decalcify bones, strip the enamel off teeth, and convert gasoline in vehicles into silly putty.

We're past the point that actions are what bother us, or even thoughts. The mere sounds stop hearts and provoke strokes for some. Regardless of the meaning associated with the sounds. (If we get any more thin-skinned, we're all going to spontaneous bleed out.)

[slor]

17. The article says it was a Panther...

So it would use 75 mm rounds.

On edit: just saw that they found an 88 AA gun too, which is what you were probably referring to, my apologies.

[pinboy3niner]

4. "Police who found it were only following orders, they say"

Cute subhead, lol.

[DustyJoe]

6. "Befehl ist Befehl" defense ? /nt

[L0oniX]

5. If we could only do that here.

[Renew Deal]

7. He drove it around during a snowstorm in 1978?

That had to be a sight to see for the locals.

[DetlefK]

9. IIRC to count as deweaponized in Germany, a tank must have the turret removed completely.

[dembotoz]

10. I have always wanted a tank...no legitimate reason for it, but I have always wanted one

Think it would b cool


There r several movie stars I would like to sleep with 2

Also about as likely as me getting a tank

[oneshooter]

11. Here is a small one for sale

"small" meaning it only weighs 18 tons. Hope you have a really good fuel card.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-M5A1-Stuart-Late-seco-tank-/161743958128?forcerrptr=true&hash=item25a8b0f070&item=161743958128

[1939]

12. The M5A1 Light Tank

I know a guy in Kentucky with two of them. A lot were given to other countries post WWII and have come available for purchase. It has two Cadillac automotive engines with Hydromatic transmissions so parts are available. Because it only weighs 18 tons, it can be transported (at a cost) by low boy semis without special highway permits. If you are in to playing with tanks, it is a reasonable way to go.

[oneshooter]

14. Some were also built using the 650bhp radial engine.

One of my clients has one with a fully functional 37mm main gun. Took him two years to get the permits.

[1939]

15. Must be a M3 series Stuart

The M3, M3A1, and M3A3 Stuarts were built with a Continental W-670-9A 7-cylinder radial gas engine of 262hp. Because of competition with the Air Corps for radials, some of the M3 production was fitted with a Guiberson T1020 9-cylinder radial diesel engine. The Guiberson required cartridge starting (ports on the cylinders were fitted for blank shotgun shells to give the starting kick.

As the tankers despaired of getting a reliable supply radial engines, they looked to the auto industry. Auto production was shut down for the duration and the Cadillac engine plant had production capacity available. Twin Cadillac V-8 automotive engines (148hp each) would be fitted into the M3 hull. Because of the modifications and many improvement based on combat experience, the Army dicided that the end product should be the M5 rather than calling it the M3A4.

[oneshooter]

16. There were only about 150 built with the 650bhp engine. The AAF wanted them for trainers.

Very cool to drive , the top speed is nearly 60mph. However it did tend to throw tracks at that speed. Most were regulated to 45mph. The advantage of the larger engine was in climbing inclines, they did not even slow down!


Are you familiar with the Chrysler engine for the Sherman?

[1939]

18. Yes

Air Corps wanted the Wright radials for planes.

Navy wanted the GM diesels for landing craft.

Chrysler auto engine plant production was available ergo the Chrysler multi-bank with five engines. The lower two all ran cherry red hot.

Fortunately, the Air corps rejected the Ford V-12 aircraft engine leaving that production capability available. Ford cut it down to a V-8 and a lot of Shermans were built with the Ford GAA V-8 engine.

The Brits got most of the Chrysler multi-bank Shermans.

Go over to www.tank-net.com for some good discussions.

[Motown_Johnny]

13. apparently, it is good in the snow.

So if you live in an area where you sometimes get snowed in, it could be useful.