The Back Room at the Patton Museum...

[Gaffken]

One of the benefits of working for the military in a previous life enabled me to get access to a lot of things that the public wouldn't ordinarily be admitted to. Back in the fall of '96, I shot some grainy wet film pics on a tour of one such facility--a storage room for excess AFVs at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox. I thought I'd share these in order to give you an idea of what they don't necessarily have room to display in the main building, though for all I know, all of the following could be out on display since I haven't really been back since (and may have been posted in the meantime?). Nevertheless, here's a rare M4A3E2 'Jumbo' for starters...hope you like them...

Gaffken

M4A3E2 Jumbo-C.jpg

[Gaffken]

Here’s a Stug III, M60A2, and M47, amongst others…

M60A2 & Stug III-C.jpg

[Gaffken]

Marder II

[Gaffken]

A rare Sdkfz 234/4 and an American M2 Medium Tank (ie, in addition to the one on display in the main building, at least at that time…)

[Gaffken]

I’m a Panzer nut (though not as nutty as some of you crazies here on this forum…?) so I naturally zoomed in on the 234/4. As you’ll see in some of the following pics, I talked my escorts in to climbing up on the thing, which was a once in a lifetime opportunity, as far as I knew. At the time, the 234/4 looked to be in original, un-refurbished condition, and according to our guide, this vehicle was supposedly captured by Patton’s Third Army…

[Gaffken]

I climbed on from the rear, and was shocked by the shoddy craftsmanship of the fenders, which I’m pretty sure are original, though lacking the sponson stowage boxes. The fenders were paper thin—thin guage sheet metal, so I assumed that this was an extremely late war production example…

[Gaffken]

The rear drivers seat looking towards the front of the vehicle…

[Gaffken]

(last one...) The breech of the 75mm…note the swing-arm for the machinegun…

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Different items from when I went back there in 1982, I stayed almost an extra month after Basic and ATI for Advance Tow Training and would visit the Patton just about everyday I was off, didn't much care for Radcliff and Louieville.

Joe

[Garry Redmon]

The "back room" you refer to is the LST building on post. Some of the vehicles you pictured are elsewhere now. The StuG III is really a StuH 42 and is in storage, along with the 234/4 at Richardson motor pool, the museum's primary storage and maintenance facility. The Marder II has been repainted and is now inside the museum. The Jumbo, M2, M47 and others are still in the LST building. Go to http://www.armorfortheages.com to see other photos.

[Greg]

Different items from when I went back there in 1982, I stayed almost an extra month after Basic and ATI for Advance Tow Training and would visit the Patton just about everyday I was off, didn't much care for Radcliff and Louieville.

Joe

You mean you didn't dig hanging out at Jerry's on 31W in Radcliff, or downtown on 2nd Street in Louavull?


Gary, do you have any photos of the LST building (exterior) to post? That's a historic building in its own right.

Best,
Greg

[Willi Z.]

Wow, I have never seen a 234/4 in the flesh! Very cool! Thanks for the photos.

How is the musem today? It is worth a visit while attending the SOS?

[Gaffken]

Sorry guys--I goofed on post #4...that's actually the rear of the Marder and not the 234/4, after looking at the gun shield again. Some of the tanks in the other photos include a Chieftain, Centurion, Leopard I and BTR-60, now that I recall.

Willi: the Patton is definitely worth a visit if you can spare the hour+ drive (?) from L-ville--it's a world class museum and free of charge, if I remember correctly. For me, it was well worth it if only to catch a glimpse of the only Panther II hull in existence:

[MaxxBrunn1938]

You mean you didn't dig hanging out at Jerry's on 31W in Radcliff, or downtown on 2nd Street in Louavull?


Gary, do you have any photos of the LST building (exterior) to post? That's a historic building in its own right.

Best,
Greg

Only place I hit in Radcliff was The Cav Store.. Also there was a bar which I dont remember but it cost me $55.00 for drink lol...

[Norman LaBarge]

The last time I was at the Patton Museum was in 1972. I was in Boot Camp (basic training) in old wooden WW2 barracks. Good old B-12-5, I am hoping to get back to the museum soon.