Bunkers with tank turrets!

[forttravel]

One of few PzIV dugin Berlin.

And one more picture - location: left side of street visible Kino Alhambra.
Source: https://sammlung-online.stadtmuseum.de/ ... dex/567127

[forttravel]

Continue Berlin - new vews of next dug in Panther (new for me).
Source: https://sammlung-online.stadtmuseum.de/ ... dex/569236
https://sammlung-online.stadtmuseum.de/ ... dex/569234

[Lars Bertelsen]

Thanks forttravel.
I think we have not seen any pictures of this particular dug-in Panther before.
The dug-in PzIV on photo “Kino Alhambra” had turret number “333” – please see attachment
greetings Lars

[DPK325]

I don't mean to take this thread off topic, but can anyone tell me how these emplacements/tobruks were operated? How was the turret traversed? Was there mechanical equipment inside to do so, or was it just placed on bearings and turned manually? I have to imagine some of these turrets were extremely heavy.

[ROLAND1369]

All tanks, modern and past, are equipped with a manual traverse mechanism as a backup in case of power failure. While not as fast as power traverse, it is perfectly capable of traversing even the modern very heavy turrets with one hand utilizing a hand crank. The WW II turrets were much lighter. I am , among other things, a veteran of US M48 and M60 tank Operations in the mid 70s.

[ROLAND1369]

All tanks, modern and past, are equipped with a manual traverse mechanism as a backup in case of power failure. While not as fast as power traverse, it is perfectly capable of traversing even the modern very heavy turrets with one hand utilizing a hand crank. The WW II turrets were much lighter. I am , among other things, a veteran of US M48 and M60 tank Operations in the mid 70s.

[DPK325]

Thanks - that makes sense. So I assume the manual traverse mechanisms were installed on these turrets, and they didn't retain any of the powered traverse, since there would be no power source inside the Tobruk, correct?

[ROLAND1369]

That is correct. However it is simpler than that. If you look closer at most of the tank turrets you will note that there is no concrete emplacement or Tobruk. The tank hull is simply dug into the ground with the engine and most likely at least the the tracks and portions of the suspension removed. the engine compartment would then become rudimentary quarters and additional ammunition storage for the reduced crew. It would only be necessary to retain a 3 man crew, commander, gunner, and loader. the driver and assistant driver/bow gunner become redundant.

[Andrzej Ditrich]

PzIV from Berlin:

[jopaerya]

Pz.Kpfw.II turret from Ebay , Regards Jos

[AvB]

Looks awful doesn't it. They didn't bother giving it a paintjob.

[Jose85]

Not exactly tank turret... another Soviet pillbox turret?
Photo from eBay.de

[forttravel]

From opposite part of world, if this picture is not a fake it shows Japanese bunker armed with turret used for prototype heavy tank type 4 (Tier IX) or type 5 (Tier X). Gun is 140 mm L/50 barrel. Location unknown, somewhere on areas captured by Russians: Manchuria, Sachalin, Kuril islands?

And drawing of such kind of Japanese turret bunker from Manchuria. If not exact for above gun (caption says 100 mm gun), maybe for that one: viewtopic.php?p=1817395#p1817395 post #224

[Statist]

Yes, you are right, this is not a tank turret, this is a specially designed armor turret, in which a 15-cm coastal gun type 45 is most likely installed.
The thickness of the turrets armor was 100 mm.
Four such turrets were installed in the Hutou fortified area (Koto fortress) in Manchuria on the rear slope of Mount Menghushan. It`s guns were the main of the artillery defense of this fortified area in August 1945.
Approximate coordinates of the firing position of the battery are shown here.
46°00'13.5"N 133°38'53.6"E
From August 9 to August 19, 1945, these guns fired on Soviet territory along the Ussuri River, fired on trains, bridges, firing positions of Soviet artillery, and also fired on the advancing Soviet troops. Usually the guns fired by small fire raids, 15-20 shells were fired, therefore their activity did not cause serious damage.
The artillery of the 35th Soviet Army fought the Japanese artillery. However, attempts from long distances to destroy these guns failed.
The armored turrets were destroyed August 19, 1945 by direct fire from four Soviet 203-mm B-4 howitzers (5th and 6th batteries of the 224th howitzer artillery brigade of high power) from a distance of 1800 m.
Now on the places of these guns there are ditches and fragments of concrete.

[Jose85]

Belgian one being inspected...
Photo from eBay.de