We have a tank

[Born Hunter 17,841]

Found this, well, it wasn’t really lost as it’s sort of local knowledge, but we excavated it… and when I see we I mean my mate.

A World War Two battle tank. I believe a Covenanter.

Anyway, thought some on here might think it’s as cool as I do…

[Born Hunter 17,841]

[Daniel cain 47,069]

Tell us more Born

[chartpolski 25,820]

Am I right in assuming that it’s on its roof/turret in the first picture ? 
And are the other pics of track segments ?

Cheers.

[Born Hunter 17,841]

17 minutes ago, chartpolski said:

Am I right in assuming that it’s on its roof/turret in the first picture ? 
And are the other pics of track segments ?

Cheers.

Yep, it was found upside down with the ‘wheels’ sticking out. Can’t figure out where the rest of it is. Local legend has it being in these woods since the 50s, so probably since the war. We want to clean the gun mounting up for display. It’s amazing really, I was scooping the clay out of it to get a better understanding of it and the metal work inside feels like it was machined yesterday! Sharp and clean still, after 70 years in the mud.

[Born Hunter 17,841]

21 minutes ago, Daniel cain said:

Tell us more Born

Not really much more we know about it tbh mate. We’ve been working in these woods heavily all year, thinning, laying and clear felling to improve it ecologically and for shooting. My mate who’s coordinating this operation has lived round here all his life and used to knock about with the old keeper as a kid. He knew about this tank and when this wood fell into the ownership of the shoot and he had free reign to improve the wood the hunt for the legendary tank was on. After I saw the excavated wreckage and had ten mins on google I identified it as a ww2 Covenanter. A fatally flawed design by all accounts that ended up largely being used for training. 

[Born Hunter 17,841]

Just to be clear, these pics are what has been dug out of a boggy hole. All that was visible prior to being dug out was a single ‘wheel’. We haven’t been able to find any parts of the tracks or the gun. I assume they were removed prior to abandonment.

[Big rowie 187]

Very interesting that is mate. I'd be right in about it finding what else there is 

[king 11,984]

That is an impressive find mate..a good steam pressure wash would clean it up a treat..

It would be some ornament on the front lawn..

[chartpolski 25,820]

6 minutes ago, Born Hunter said:

Just to be clear, these pics are what has been dug out of a boggy hole. All that was visible prior to being dug out was a single ‘wheel’. We haven’t been able to find any parts of the tracks or the gun. I assume they were removed prior to abandonment.

Ah, yes, I see it know, what I mistakenly thought may have been a track is actually the gun mount !

As has been said, cleaned up and on display will be a great talking point .

Cheers.

[comanche 3,135]

A great find! Possibly dumped by Canadians after Ww2. They were known for that sort of thing ,probably saved paperwork when they were in a hurry to get home!

Or used as target practice when it became redundant and buried on site. Some obsolete army vehicles were used as flood defences , buried under dams or apparently used to fill military earthworks after training exercises .

[waltjnr 7,428]

Keep pics and updates coming Born ,this is very interesting! Very envious 

[mackem 28,727]

Is it a fixer-upper?

 

[Born Hunter 17,841]

8 minutes ago, mackem said:

Is it a fixer-upper?

 

There’s shite is Ukraine with more miles on the clock. Give us five minutes! 

[gnasher16 30,598]

Stone me what a find,fascinating......surprised someone hasnt lifted it if locals always knew it was there ,how does that work i wonder in terms of ownership could any silly berk come along and say " im having that "......as someone else said what a showpiece for the garden !