American "Heritage"

[fuzzyruttin]

American Heritage Museum
Read: War machines restored to museum quality

Definitely off topic but it was a great way to spend a rainy day. They have an impressive collection of tanks - the guide said they are all operational, which is awesome, though there is one in particular that is very unique and definitely not operational. I am personally not a tank aficionado, but what's not to like about raw heavily armored beastly things that take a beating and keep kicking ass.

First question out of the gate, and a little discouraged that they did not have a Zündapp! Oh well, the guide did not know what they were. I don't remember what these are called, but it is the closest thing to 49ccscoot fodder. How badass would it be to own:




Next order of interest, of course, is the Japanese imperial flag. (Ruckus!) This is the only Type 4 Ho-Ro in the world. It is pretty beat up and very likely does not run. Original beat-up rising sun, there is no other.




As horrible as the things the Nazi regime stands for, the surge of technology at the time always fascinates me. The first technological war. Definitely fact check this, as the following is my mental take-away from todays tour. Below is a ground tracking device for incoming enemy aircraft. It required 4 (IIRC) men to operate. One man to track azimuth, one man to track elevation, one man to track range, and a foreman (of sorts). There are three optical scopes on the horizontal "cylinder." On a separate pedestal off to the left is effectively the anti aircraft gun. They would communicate the az/el/rng to the gunner to match the coordinate and launch flak.




Notice in the top-right the "screaming" V-1. Nasty scare tactic, akin to the mid-east scud.







Was hoping to see a Messerschmitt Me 262. Nope, Messerschmitt BF 109 will do.






Relatively large for its era IMO, about the dimensions of an M1A1. Though designed for amphibious assault against the Japanese during the Pacific war. The "Salt" something or other, sorry I cannot remember the name. Very wide flat bottom.




WWII tank




Normandy landing craft




Tanks. This is the one they spent the most money (5M USD) restoring. 30-something tons, and runs. Panther V




Contemporary armament. Interesting that all the late tanks are tan, of course, = Middle East.




The only SCUD missile launcher in the U.S.




My new truck (hehe)




All this could not be complete without the infamous M1A1

[jbjhillbilly]

Very cool museum.

Those sabot rounds are a lot of technology for what is essentially a giant bullet. The other rounds that punch the armor, and the rest of the projectile turns into molten metal as it enters the interior of the tank is seriously nasty business.

And the ME109 was a legend!

[fuzzyruttin]

Splattered molten metal. The wonders of modern technology.

And just for those too lazy to google: ME109

[FrankenMech]

I like your new truck. In my neighborhood it would be useful. Even a Sherman or M-60 would be good here.

[aeroxbud]

Tanks are one of those things that are awesome. But at the same time scary, when you think of how they are used.
I have been very close to a lot of tanks. Been in quite a few different ones to. The noise is unbelievable.
There are a few tanks near me. At the D day museum, I have posted about before.

[fuzzyruttin]

Apr 18, 2021 4:16:17 GMT -5 aeroxbud said:

Tanks are one of those things that are awesome. But at the same time scary, when you think of how they are used.
I have been very close to a lot of tanks. Been in quite a few different ones to. The noise is unbelievable.
There are a few tanks near me. At the D day museum, I have posted about before.

Speaking of loud, I was eyeing the radial engines used in the earlier tanks. I did not realize it, but it makes sense - the biggest baddest engines at the time were those used in fighter planes, so that's what was used to power the tanks. One of the guides said it wasn't until 1943-44 until inline engines started to be used, Cadillac engines at that. (Take that with a grain of salt, seems he was searching for words!)

[geoffh]

Strange I have no real interest in the military,my family were in "protected jobs" during any conflict, mining and building steam engines,WW2 was never a topic of conversation as I was growing up whether it was guilt or disinterest I will never know.I do remember being on a factory tour were they made the chieftan tank and thinking that a tank would be stopped if you punctured that exposed fuel filter,but that's as close as I want to get a tank.

Geoff

[FrankenMech]

Apr 18, 2021 8:49:21 GMT -5 geoffh said:

Strange I have no real interest in the military,my family were in "protected jobs" during any conflict, mining and building steam engines,WW2 was never a topic of conversation as I was growing up whether it was guilt or disinterest I will never know.I do remember being on a factory tour were they made the chieftan tank and thinking that a tank would be stopped if you punctured that exposed fuel filter,but that's as close as I want to get a tank.

Geoff

I figure they probably had a bypass and maybe a second fuel filter on that Chieftan. Tanks are really scary machines and not easily stopped.

My grandfather made airplanes as an engineer in design and manufacturing during WW2. My father was an Army Engineer during WW2 and I did hear stories. My mother helped build airplanes in WW2.

[fuzzyruttin]

Apr 18, 2021 9:34:22 GMT -5 FrankenMech said:

Apr 18, 2021 8:49:21 GMT -5 geoffh said:

Strange I have no real interest in the military,my family were in "protected jobs" during any conflict, mining and building steam engines,WW2 was never a topic of conversation as I was growing up whether it was guilt or disinterest I will never know.I do remember being on a factory tour were they made the chieftan tank and thinking that a tank would be stopped if you punctured that exposed fuel filter,but that's as close as I want to get a tank.

Geoff

I figure they probably had a bypass and maybe a second fuel filter on that Chieftan. Tanks are really scary machines and not easily stopped.

My grandfather made airplanes as an engineer in design and manufacturing during WW2. My father was an Army Engineer during WW2 and I did hear stories. My mother helped build airplanes in WW2.

The only "grandfolk" association that I know of in my family, and not even blood at that, is my niece's late nana. She was a riveter on the B-17. The classic Rosie the Riveter, which is very cool. Otherwise my maternal grandfather was the notorious penny pincher, having lived through the great depression. Austrian/German nonetheless, very hardcore dude. His demise while in his 80s was a tree falling on him in the woods while stocking for next season firewood. No wartime duty.

[FrankenMech]

I think this is a link to the museum:

www.americanheritagemuseum.org/

[FrankenMech]

Here is another one:

apnews.com/article/wyoming-lifestyle-travel-museums-health-c91cda16d0c8b62444963c98fb44ba51