Category: World War 2
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ISU-152
Type: Self-Propelled Artillery/Tank Destroyer Nation: Soviet Union Period: World War 2 Location: Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, Germany The ISU-152 was a self-propelled assault gun based on the chassis of the IS-2 heavy tank. It looks almost identical to its predecessor SU-152, which had been built on the older KV-1’s hull. You can tell the difference by comparing…
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Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182)
Type: Heavy Tank Nation: Germany Period: World War 2 Location: December 44 Museum, La Gleize, Belgium Heavyweights The German Tiger II (also known as Tiger Ausf. B) was the heaviest mass-produced turreted tank of World War 2. Weighing over 69 metric tons, its operational combat weight was only surpassed by its derivative, the Jagdtiger tank…
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Infantry Tank Mk II A12 Matilda Mk III
Type: Infantry Tank Nation: United Kingdom Period: World War 2 Location: Bastogne Barracks, Belgium In the 1930s three different tank concepts were developed in Great Britain: Light tanks for reconnaissance, heavily armoured infantry tanks to support attacks on enemy positions and maneuverable cruiser tanks to exploit these gaps. The Matilda II was of the second…
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Cruiser Mk VIII A27L Centaur IV CS
Type: Cruiser Tank Nation: United Kingdom Period: World War 2 Location: Memorial Pegasus, Benouville, France The A27L Centaur was one of three competing designs for a successor to the rapidly ageing Cruiser Mk VI Crusader. The other two were A24 Cavalier and A27M Cromwell – the latter would eventually be chosen for production. The „L“…
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IS-2 (Model 1944)
Type: Heavy Tank Nation: Soviet Union Period: World War 2 Location: Muzeum Pamiątek 1 Armii Wojska Polskiego w Starych Łysogórkach, Siekierki, Poland The IS-2 (named after Iosif Stalin) was a direct response to the latest generation of German tanks being fielded in 1942 (Tiger) and 1943 (Panther). It was designed to replace the KV-1 heavy…
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M4A3E2 Sherman „Jumbo“
Type: Assault Tank/Heavy Tank Nation: USA Period: World War 2 Location: Bastogne Barracks, Belgium The M4A3E2 was designed as an assault tank – basically a heavily armoured infantry support vehicle for breaching fortifications such as the Siegfried Line. Since development of the T14 assault tank had been cancelled and the M26 heavy tank would not…
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T-34/85
Type: Medium Tank Nation: Soviet Union Period: World War 2 Location: Gedenkstätte Zuchthaus Brandenburg-Görden, Brandenburg a.d. Havel, Germany This monument tank is located next to the local prison which is by no means a coincidence. Between 1933 and 1945, the “Zuchthaus und Sicherungsanstalt Brandenburg-Görden” held criminals, political prisoners, jews and other “Unerwünschte” (unwanted people). Interestingly,…
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Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181, Late Production)
Type: Heavy Tank Nation: Germany Period: World War 2 Location: Vimoutiers, France The giant When the Tiger appeared on the battlefield in 1942, it represented a whole new level in terms of firepower, armour protection and weight. Despite its 57 metric tons it was fairly mobile – thanks to its 700 hp V12 Maybach engine.…
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Sturmgeschütz IV (Sd.Kfz. 163)
Type: Self-Propelled Artillery/Tank Destroyer Nation: Germany Period: World War 2 Location: Muzeum Broni Pancernej w Poznaniu, Poznań, Poland The StuGs (“Sturmgeschütz” meaning “assault gun”) were Nazi Germany’s most-produced armoured vehicles in World War 2. Designed as an infantry support weapon, they were found to make very effective tank destroyers when equipped with longer and more…