Source: http://englishrussia.com/2014/07/20/tank-lifted-from-the-bottom-of-the-barents-sea/
Thanks to Urzum for sending me this one first (as well as 4 other guys who I noticed later sent me the same piece of news – I am glad you all remember FTR when you see such stuff)
This news was reposted a bit earlier by Yuri Pasholok and I kinda forgot about it. The Russians managed to find and lift a very rare Sherman variant from the bottom of Barents Sea – it’s the M4A2 tank (intended as lend-lease) with a 76mm M1A2 gun (M4A2(76)W). Until now, it was thought that no M4A2 survived the war (only M4A2E8 did).
“survived” well., more like a zombie.
lets see if they can fix this little one
It’s not that badly damaged. Actually it’s in pretty good condition in comparison to other tanks that are found in lakes and seas (like the KV-1 the Russian’s found earlier).
It just needs a good scrub and spraying down, then it’ll be clean :)
‘Zombie’, my ass! That tank is in superb condition for how long it’s been sitting underwater. Hell, I’ve seen newer tanks in much worse condition, and they weren’t even sitting in saltwater for the greater half of a century.
That’s one of the good Shermans, too. Maybe WG could sponsor the restoration on this one.
wow.
You can fix everything if you have enough money :)
I belive it needs a wash
Nice to see people invest time in such things.
Such a rare tank is as findin gold
It’s in a much better shape than that KV they dragged out of a swamp.
Was just about to say that. I would even go as far as saying that it looks like it’s in better condition than some vehicles that you see at “museums”.
well, after falling into the swamp, that kv-1 got blown up, so the germans couldnt use it if the find and lift it ;)
Don’t you just hate it when a tanker goes to drown his tank
This. If I could like this, I’d like it.
This time it most propably was some u-boot captain, or a plane commander ;)
as sherman lover, this is a good news. Hope them can restore it.
“trust in the rust”
isn’t it “In rust we trust”?
this is a beta gift sherman, right?
Well… minus the 76 mm gun. The beta Sherman is an M4E2E4 which (at least ingame) mounts the original 75 mm gun.
no
Nope. It’s almost the same as M4A1(76)W, except that “A2″ says it has diesel engine (and there are different hulls) – big numbers of those M4A2 and M4A2(76)W Shermans were used by Soviets (they were intended as LL tanks, just as mentioned in article) – and by Marines in Pacific Theatre. US Army in Europe wanted to unify the fuel logistics and resigned from diesel engines.
“In the afternoon on 20 March 1945, U-968 attacked the convoy JW-65 and reported a destroyer and a Liberty sunk and another Liberty ship torpedoed. In fact, the sloop HMS Lapwing (U 62) of the 7th Escort Group and the Liberty ship Thomas Donaldson were sunk.
The Thomas Donaldon (Master Robert Headden) was the twentieth ship as the convoy formed into one column to enter Kola Inlet and was hit at 13.15 hours on the starboard side by one torpedo about 20 miles from the mouth of Kola Inlet. The torpedo struck the engine room, killed one officer and two crewmen on watch below and destroyed the engines. Due to her dangerous cargo the master ordered the crew of eight officers, 34 crewmen and 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) to abandon ship after 10 minutes. The most left in the two port lifeboats and a raft and were picked up by HMS Bamborough Castle (K 412) (T/Lt M.S. Work, DSC and Bar, RNR), while others jumped overboard and were picked up by HMS Oxlip (K 123) (T/Lt J.K. Craig, RNVR). One man died after being rescued. The master and eight crew members remained aboard and were later taken off by HMS Honeysuckle (K 27) (T/Lt J.A. Wright, RNR), which took the ship in tow toward Kola Inlet. At 16.30 hours, a Soviet tug took over the tow but the Thomas Donaldson sank stern first at 17.45 hours, one-half mile from Kilden Island in 68°26´30N/33°44´20E”
Amazing how at least two of the connecting pins on the tracks rusted enough to break…
This may sound overly philosophical, but it’s simply incredible how saltwater and an oceanic current can just eat away at a man-made machine of war, built to withstand our most destructive weapons.
No, I am not high nor am I drunk, although I understand your reasons for thinking so.
I’m not really surprised. It actually looks kind of decent for 70 years in seawater. I live in a seaside town, and everything corrodes so fast it’s not even funny, and that’s just from the salt in the air. Even stainless steel rusts here if it’s not a marine grade alloy.
Did anyone else notice that the turret still traverses?
well it still in good shape and condition,, a little bit brush in here and there with high pressure water,, a new paintjob,, some lubrication in here and there,, a brand new similar engine,, new track,, a little bit brushing on the gun,, and it ready to roll out again
Is that a live shell hanging out of the breech? Incredible that the tank is in that good a shape, and it shouldn’t be TOO hard a restoration (not like the aforementioned KV-scrap they yanked out of that river).
I thought it was an empty casing used to keep the breech open during transport.
It’s a tube impregnated with a heavy wax, similar to the cardboard tubes mortar rounds are shipped in. A dessigant bag would be inside the tube and bore.
At one time that breech area was likely slimed with cosmolene, and wax impregnated cloth or paper.
well this sherman just need a little scrubs on it’s body and high pressure water,, a new engine,, and some little “Iron Work” to fill the hole,, and taadaahhh a brand new sherman for museum use
Does it start up?
Guess not since it’s not Russian. huehuehuehuehue
Considering this has been underwater for some 70 odd years this is magnificently preserved, hope they do it justice and fix it up nicely.
They made almost 3,000 M4A2(76)Ws.
How could this possibly be the last one in existence?
Also, now it REALLY has wet ammo racks. Hue hue hue…
Seems like an U-boot shoot another score:)
That’s strange, what’s in the breech? I thought this tank was sunk during LL delivery?