I found this T-34 outside a museum in Arnhem. Can anyone assist in identifying it?
thanks
DJ [img]http://gallery.kitmaker.net/uploads/166/Holland_031.jpg [img]

I posted other shots but I cannot seem to get them into the text, so I could use some help there also
thanks

Hi DJ

I can only see one picture of it, but it looks like one of the very late war/early post war split ventilator turrets -85s built at Kharkov, without much in the way of 50s/60s rebuilding. Though to be sure of most of this we'd need to see more of the back end. The German modifications look cosmetic rather than authentic IMHO - ex fiilm star? Love the MG-34 barrel on the bow MG.

David

David--I have about five more shots of it which I will try to post.
thanks
DJ

Here are some more photos:

Some more photos:

Sacrilege - it's got a muzzle brake

Now I've looked through T-34 Mythical Weapon, it seems like the split vent type (or Mushroom) was a product of Factory 112 at Gorki, and not Kharkov. The earliest one seen is in a photograph taken during the Red Army's invasion of Manchuria, and production continued for a while post war. They also turned up in NKPA tank units in the Korean War.

David

David-- so, what you are telling us is that this tank is a rebuild and not one utilized during WW II? Is the mushroom cap on the turret a vent?
thanks
DJ

DJ

This turret casting type only appeared at the very end of the war, the only real way though to work out when it was built is from the data stamped on the bow.

This is a similar tank, which shows the two separate vents on the turret roof better. Earlier -85s had two adjacent vents on the turret bustle. Photo 5, Row 6 shows the start of the data stamped on the hull which although it's damaged, starts with a 6 which identifies the year of production as 1946

http://legion-afv.narod.ru/T-34-85_Tolyatty.html

The Armhem tank has a few post-war mods visible like the clamps either side of the glacis for a splash board and also a stud next to the Notek light for someother fitting The Tolyatty tank above has been more extensively reworked with studs on the LHS of the hull for a fuel pump box and cable stowage.

David

This is an exhibit of a Museum on the Northern outskirts of Arnhem. I will have a look later, as can not recall the exact name. (I think its "Museum '40-'45" ) It deals with the whole of the war, rather than just Market Garden, and thus has a rather eclectic collection. I would imagine that the Hohenstauffen marking on the mudguard is a (well meant? ) reference to their involvement in the Battle of Arnhem....

possible, but I don't remember a disguised T-34 in A Bridge to Far...

Henk

Found the museum

Arnhems Oorlogsmuseum 40-45

That's the place alright.

I'll meet the owner early august. If you've got any questions, just let me know, so I can ask him.

The owner's wife passed away this week (only 55 years of age), so I think it's best not to contact him at this moment. He probably has got other things that require his attention at this moment.

If you got any questions, just let me know.

Cheers,

possible, but I don't remember a disguised T-34 in A Bridge to Far...
Henk[/quote]
The Panther tanks in a Bridge Too Far were disguised Leopard 1's. However, lots of movies shot in Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia over the years used T-34's. The dummy muzzle brake and side skirts are almost certainly a movie company addition, not a real modification.
The turret shell is one of the narrow T-34-85 variants (the turret roof with the dual ventilators fore and aft was seen on several turret types in 1945). The wider turret shell types overhung the sponson sides by another eight inches or so.

I was at the museum when she died. So, we could not visit the interior nor obviously discuss the tank with him. I'd appreciate your input once you spoke with him.
thanks
DJ