Visiting main Russian front battlefields?

[Gotthard Heinrici]

what is that Freebird???

[freebird]

Originally Posted by Gotthard Heinrici

what is that Freebird???

A Tortoise! A 78 ton monster designed by the British 1943-1945, but 6 pilot models only completed in '45 & too late for the war. 11" thick armour designed to withstand a direct hit from any known German antitank gun, the Tortoise had a 32 pounder (94mm) high velocity cannon that could punch though a Tiger's or Panther's frontal armour. Even with a 600 hp meteor it could only make 11 mph. (But of course if you run into anti tank guns you don't have to stop)

[Gotthard Heinrici]

LOL!! thanks for the info mate. Looks like a beaut of a tank alright!!

[freebird]

The development was on the slow track because they thought it was too slow & heavy to be effective. Just imagine how useful it would have been to push through the Jagdpanthers that were blocking the road in "Market Garden"!!

[deadb_tch]

Originally Posted by freebird

I flew on Areoflot, Vancouver-Moscow-Kiev. I think they even have Valentine tanks in Kubinka, most of the Russian ones were built here in Canada. It seems that the Russian army liked the Valentine but not the Grant tank (coffin for 7 brothers!)

Hey yo But how much it costs - a ticket from Vancouver to Moscow , i've heard that from usa its $600 to Moscow

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by freebird

Yes true, but some are worse than others... If I had to be in a tank (or AFV) I'd rather be in this one.

Yes, plenty of space to hang out your washing, you could probably even fit a full-size bathtub in there.

If anyone gets the urge to visit an A39 Tortoise there's still one at Bovington... The finest tank collection in the world.


Kubinka's been on the list for years, does sound like it's still something of a bureaucratic nightmare to get into though. There was a brief glimpse recently of a more 'developed' and friendly museum website which I'd hoped would signal some loosening up of access but then the site reverted to it's usual one so presumably it was just a test.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Kubinka would be a great place for the first WW2 talk members excursion in 2008!

[von Poop]

My brother wants our little group of tank-nerds to visit for his 40th birthday... I have some doubts we will achieve this admirable goal, and if we did I fear we would be turned away at the gate as happened to one friends brother after months of careful planning.

[deadb_tch]

Gotthard Heinrici and Von Poop, from my unprofessional point of view to visit Kubinka is not a big problem. As wrote earlier u need visa, tickets and good guide to help u move from Moscow to Kubinka and back and also help u with translations From myself it'll be great to visit Kubinka too.
If you ever need I can provide u a possible help to get to Kubinka or even in my province to see diorama

Von Poop, why one of your mates have been turned away at the gate? What happened?

BTW, have you been in Central Museum of Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 in Moscow on Poklonnaya Gora?

PS:
Unfortunely all russian museums suffering of lack of finance flows to support it's collections and pay employees. Only museums where u always can meet foreigner is well financed (like Moscow museums, St. Petersburg's) - other is trying to be alive by any possible means, but u know from economics that museum mostly is non-profit organization . As I noticed on photos Kubinka now is not well financed and not good organized (and website structure very poor any russian student will build a better site) - look like negligent painted some vehicles Don't consider my words like it's a recourse to donate money or food to that museum, no I just explained how it can be )
Plus, also bureaucracy in Russia is a hell on earth .. damn government ..

[4th wilts]

great stuff.yours very sincerely,lee.