Panther Bodenturm

Big Al P · Post by **Big Al P** » 07 Sep 2005 21:34

These boxes that the turrets are on,did they set on a bigger bunker,
because they just don't seem very big for a crew of 3 or 4 men plus
ammo.

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 07 Sep 2005 22:17

What you see on the photos is just the upper part of the structure.
The bunker was a 2 piece construction with an upper and lower part, both in steel.

In some occations, a 1 meter thick layer of concrete was added around the steelbunker.

Erik E

kiwiarmour · Post by **kiwiarmour** » 09 Sep 2005 21:54

The photograph of the Panther turret posted by Latimer in NZ looks very similar to some I have of a turret in Italy. If you like to contact me directly I might be able to help you out with additional photographs.

jopaerya · Post by **jopaerya** » 09 Sep 2005 22:22

Hello Kiwiarmour

Why don't you share them with use all .
and if you are afraid that the photo's are copied
use your name on the photo's .

Regards Jos

Tommygunn · Post by **Tommygunn** » 19 Sep 2005 00:14

Does anyone have any idea where any of these panther bases are located in Italy. I know there is one (or was one) at Rimini airport, but is most likely inacessable, and the only site of another, that I'm aware of, was at the Futa Pass but was obliterated literally within a month before I arrived to make more room for crops.

Andrzej Ditrich · Post by **Andrzej Ditrich** » 19 Sep 2005 11:27

site nr 3 of this thread:

50(?)-Italy:Rimini,Santa Lucia,Pedimonte, San Germano,Monte Gridolfo,Foglia river...

Brgds
@ndrew

Tommygunn · Post by **Tommygunn** » 19 Sep 2005 11:56

Yes, but I was after a more precise location i.e. has anyone found/visited one.

Andrzej Ditrich · Post by **Andrzej Ditrich** » 19 Sep 2005 18:54

Found this in Magazine 39-45
and Rimini airfield with small but visible location of pantherturm(source unknown).

Brgds
@ndrew

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 19 Sep 2005 20:42

On the walls of the box under the turret you can very often see a triangle with a sort of inscription inside. Can anyone tell me, what was the text of the inscription?

"Vorsicht - Beim Rangieren nicht abstossen" or "Warning - During shunting do not push (the wagon) away"

A few months ago, I bought the "Panzer Tracts No21-2 Pantherturm I und II" it touches many of the questions rised here + some remarkable good drawings of the different types. There are also several reports of the distribution available inside, but it wouldn`t be right to distribute it here due to the extensive work the authors have done here.
Anyway, the answer here was kindly supplied by one of the authors.

Rgds
Erik E

herring · Post by **herring** » 20 Sep 2005 10:12

Hello Erik,

Thank you very much - it's really what I was looking for!
Is there any chance to post a picture of this inscription?

regards
herring

Tommygunn · Post by **Tommygunn** » 20 Sep 2005 11:32

@ndrew,
Cheers for that. I will go and visit shortly.

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 20 Sep 2005 15:23

Is there any chance to post a picture of this inscription?

herring · Post by **herring** » 20 Sep 2005 18:39

Erik,
THAT"S AMAZING!
If you're the person, who has "inscriptions unavailable in any other sources" , maybe you also have an inscription that was placed on the down part of front wall of Panzernest?

Tommygunn,

I've seen two:
1. Passo di Collina Pistoiese - mostly blown up, only one wall of bettung survived, no steel box inside
2. Rimini, precisely Celle di Rimini, on the parking at one of main roads, bettung survived quite well, only one wall missing, no steel inside.

I've also been in Passo di Futa , but the area where it was supposed to be is covered with new houses, maybe it survived somewhere between them?

regards
herring

jopaerya · Post by **jopaerya** » 20 Sep 2005 19:16

Hello Herring

This looks a lot like your drawing of the O.T. stand Z
the groundform is not exactly the same , but it look
like a forrunner.
This is from a German report om Dutch fortifications
from 1940 , the panzerturm is build a lot but with the
iron Bereitschafsraum only 6 were build .

Regards Jos

Tommygunn · Post by **Tommygunn** » 20 Sep 2005 19:50

Herring,
Thanks for that, just what I'm after.

Last night I wrote an email to Costantino Sestini (awaiting responce) of http://www.gothic-line.com to ask him about @ndrews French map of Tobruks, Bunkers etc above. Now, according to my visit, and his, the map is not accurate and places the Tobruks with the bunker on the right of the map. However, the map shows the Tobruks at the left close to S. Lucia. Are these map Tobruks a mistake or in addition to the actual existing Tobruks & bunker?
I personaly placed the Pantherturm, as indicated on my attachment, but when I got there 2years ago it appeared that it had been destroyed very recently by a farmer for more field space and this seemed to be confirmed by the household living within metres of the field.
What are you opinions on this and has anyone found further fortification in that area?
Cheers,
Tom.

photos courtesy of Costantino Sestini

Axis History Forum

Panther Bodenturm

Pantherturms in Italy