Stug IV uncovered in Grzegorzewo (Poland)

[Panzer Rob]

The recovered superstructure components are under restoration, and the hull will be recovered later this year. You are correct, there are only 2 known surviving StuG IV's and both are in Poland. The other StuG IV is at the Orla Bialego Museum but it's not a complete vehicle, it's a reconstruction using Pz IV and StuG III parts on a heavily damaged StuG IV hull. The Grzegorzewo StuG IV is the only complete (so far) StuG IV recovered.

Link to Orla Bialego Museum gallery:
http://www.panzer.punkt.pl/artykuly/...muzeum_s_k.htm

Thanks for the update. I'm really looking forward to seeing the hull recovered and of course the completed restoration

Rob

[MauserKar98k]

Still, it is too bad they let it deteriorate so badly.

[r_hufschmied]

Still, it is too bad they let it deteriorate so badly.

You should see the state it was in before they started to piece it together. It's lack of funds more than neglect really ... don't get me started on the Aberdeen Proving Ground issue.

[SurvivingPanzer]

... don't get me started on the Aberdeen Proving Ground issue.

Please elaborate.

[wars98]

Hi!
Photos:

















Hull will be recovered later - in this year?
Regards
wars98

[Wijtman01]

damn wish i had that in my garden

[r_hufschmied]

Please elaborate.

For decades the majority of the unique collection of armored vehicles held at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) have been left in the open. During recent years the situation has improved somewhat, a few tanks a year have been taken off the line for basic restoration, but the majority of tanks are still left outdoors. The move to new facilities is a step in the right direction as many vehicles are one of a kind, the sole surviving or one of only two left in the world. These vehicles deserve a better faith than to slowly rust away from the inside. The sad part is that none of these vehicles have been wrecks to start with, they were captured or acquired complete and in fully working order, but all are more or less wrecks (lumps o' rust) now. The reason for this tragedy? Lack of funding ... I say no more.

[panzer ace]

For decades the majority of the unique collection of armored vehicles held at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) have been left in the open. During recent years the situation has improved somewhat, a few tanks a year have been taken off the line for basic restoration, but the majority of tanks are still left outdoors. The move to new facilities is a step in the right direction as many vehicles are one of a kind, the sole surviving or one of only two left in the world. These vehicles deserve a better faith than to slowly rust away from the inside. The sad part is that none of these vehicles have been wrecks to start with, they were captured or acquired complete and in fully working order, but all are more or less wrecks (lumps o' rust) now. The reason for this tragedy? Lack of funding ... I say no more.

sadly true .hate to see the elaphant just sittin there like that.
pics of some of there collection






anzio annie

[the shadock]

For decades the majority of the unique collection of armored vehicles held at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) have been left in the open. During recent years the situation has improved somewhat, a few tanks a year have been taken off the line for basic restoration, but the majority of tanks are still left outdoors. The move to new facilities is a step in the right direction as many vehicles are one of a kind, the sole surviving or one of only two left in the world. These vehicles deserve a better faith than to slowly rust away from the inside. The sad part is that none of these vehicles have been wrecks to start with, they were captured or acquired complete and in fully working order, but all are more or less wrecks (lumps o' rust) now. The reason for this tragedy? Lack of funding ... I say no more.

It may be read seriously or ironically (you have to choose), but I think that with the armor thickness, these vehicles can continue to rust for 60 years at least before really falling into pieces..............
What is worrying me is the fact that little and thin metal pieces are or will be unrecoverable soon (I think about the hydraulic system on the Heuschrecke of which there are not existing replacement/spare parts). You will see here what I'm speaking of..



BUT I'm sure that multibillionnaires will be able in a near future to produce exact reproductions of these pieces, after all it's better than nothing (but it would have been better with the original ones, and maybe someone at the head of the USA could have taken 0.00001% of the budget devoted to the war in Irak to protect these historical vehicles, but DEMOCRACY is much more important than old and rusty vehicles....

P-O

[r_hufschmied]

It may be read seriously or ironically (you have to choose), but I think that with the armor thickness, these vehicles can continue to rust for 60 years at least before really falling into pieces ...

While this is true for the thick armor vehicles the "thinskins" don't have that advantage, I'm thinking of Italian and Japanese vehicles in particular. And even though armor is thick the interiors and some, as you mentioned, external fittings are rusting to crap fast.

[Tim G]

Well, had a look at the first part of the post with the pics, bloody good effort
for a bunch of amatures, and that is not meant to be sarcastic in any way.
They may have been limited in what kit they could get.
1 They have succesfully diverted a water course.

2 Looking at the pics, to reach upper hull level they have moved by estimate some 1800- 2000 cubic meters of material

3 They have located the vehicle succesfully and attached cables etc and have
at least one or two vehicles capable of doing the pull.

As previously posted they did not use thier imaginations, having found the vehicle and established depth they should have realised they have no chance.
It is obviosley still below water table and will remain that way regardless of diverting said water course. The rolling resistance would and was colosal.They would now have to coffer dam around the vehicle and carry on digging whilst pumping the water at all times. This would prevent a pull as the coffer dam would have to encircle the site to keep the water out. This means a lift situation and a whole load of calcs to break suction etc . Probably best to lift with two v large lift beams from under the vehicle as it has already been proven that it could be pulled apart.

Good start with a poor finish, considering the water content it must be close to 2.5 thousand tonnes of crap they shifted around the stug plus what ever they shifted to channel water. Just a shame they rushed the last bit.

tim

[r_hufschmied]

The superstructure was, to my knowledge, already dislocated by a previous failed salvage attempt in the 50's (the holes cut in the sides were from that lift attempt). As the salvage is done assisted by the Polish Army Engineers I'm sure they're aware of the problems surrounding the salvage, a pretty good exercise for both senior and novice engineer soldiers.

[Tim G]

dug out or done now ?

The superstructure was, to my knowledge, already dislocated by a previous failed salvage attempt in the 50's (the holes cut in the sides were from that lift attempt). As the salvage is done assisted by the Polish Army Engineers I'm sure they're aware of the problems surrounding the salvage, a pretty good exercise for both senior and novice engineer soldiers.

Indeed that is where my experiance comes from but it was uk service not polish Perhaps the guys were not informed of the previous lift attempt?

Had they been told i am sure they would not have attempted to move it at that stage of the dig unless they were given direct instructions to do so.

With the upper hull removed the benifit is obvious that they will now be able to hose out the silt and debris and lower the weight considerably, always makes life easier

regards
Tim

[Doug Kenwright]

Did anyone notice that in one of the stug recovery pictures (the one from Russia..) one of the two men sitting on top of the Stug is holding one of the crews weapons , an MP-38 or 40?

[r_hufschmied]

Did anyone notice that in one of the stug recovery pictures (the one from Russia..) one of the two men sitting on top of the Stug is holding one of the crews weapons , an MP-38 or 40?

Yes he is, I haven't noticed till now. That would be the MP40 kept by the loaders hatch, the crew sure left in a hurry.