Pz.III ausf.N recovered in Norway

[Simon O.]

Just released from it's earthy tomb yesterday. Here's the first of 3 Pzkpfw.III ausf.N buried at the North Norwegian air base of Bardufoss.

These photos were taken by my good friend and fellow forum member Tor-Helge who lives in the area. It was recovered by the Norwegian army and has now been safely delivered to the local museum there where it will be restored to static display condition.

As you can see it's been painted in Norwegian green on the turret and upper surfaces. It was used post-war by the Norwegians for airfield defence. We're not 100% sure yet which unit they came from but it's either Pz.Abt.211 or Pz.Abt."Norwegen"

[Nick_since_1985]

mmm, they seem to be recovering alot this year, tanks, planes,German soldiers,... (see other threads) not that I mind at all.

Thx for sharing.

[Fred S]

Yes, one more great find! Thanks for sharing

[Tor-Helge Y]

Thanks for posting Simon

What I'd like to know is if anyone has got pics of pz.abt.211 PzIII Ausf N.
As of now I've never seen any of the pz III's in pz abt Norwegen with this kind of add-on armour in front of the hull-MG / driver.

There's a strong possibility that these PzIII's here at Bardufoss are from Pz.Abt.211, but we need some pics..

Cheers,

[Simon O.]

This photo came up for sale on e-bay some years ago, it's not mine so sorry for the bad resolution.
For thos that don't know. We know for a fact that Pz.abt.211 had 3 ausf.N on strength at the war's end. The unit was located at Elverg******229;rdsmoen about an 1\1.5 hours drive South of Bardufoss.

[jotuntroll]

Amazing find. For years I have heard roumors about this one...and others!

[Tor-Helge Y]

Yes, there are 2 more still dug in.
They will be recovered in the spring 2007 if all goes according to plan "A".

Cheers,

[jotuntroll]

Just see to that no private person gets it , getting help from the army and collectors for selling it later to England like a guy did earlyer!
We must take care of historic pices like this one!!!

[Juliusheide]

Why was it burried there in the first place ?

Peder

[Peter Wiking]

Great find.

Peter

[Tor-Helge Y]

Here's the story..

Back in 1946-47 the army built a defensive fort at a hill very close to the airport of Bardufoss. The purpose was to have close range heavy weapons with the range to cover all entrances to the airfield and the airfield itself in case of enemy forces trying to take over the place.
So these PzIII's were half buried in defensive positions, using wooden covers for the turret as protection for weather only.
All of the interior parts of the Pz are gone - engine, transmission and almost everything in the hull. It is also cut out a square in the bottom as it was built a tunnell for hoisting ammo straight up into the tank.

At a later stage in the 60's these guns were rendered obsolete due to limited range and a new fortified position in concrete was built next to the PzIII's. Another opening was taken into the left rear side of the Pz's so the ammo-tunnell could be used to bring ammo to the new guns. In this process the whole of the PzIII's were totally buried and so these tanks were almost forgotten about. Until a few years ago.
The whole fort was disbanded sometime probably in the 70's or 80's so therefore it wasn't a problem getting the permits to release these PzIII's.

Here's a few more pics of the whole process.

First: This is all what could be seen from the outside.

[Tor-Helge Y]

The uncovering has begun.

[Tor-Helge Y]

The entrance made in concrete from the "new" gunposition

[Tor-Helge Y]

The ammo tunnell in the floor of the PzIII

[Tor-Helge Y]

Interior, view towards the front of the tank