| PHGamer | 10 Jun 2014 5:56 a.m. PST |
A pair of Ukrainian pranksters manage to hot wire an IS-3 tank mounted as a memorial in their home town.
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| PHGamer | 10 Jun 2014 5:58 a.m. PST |
Yeah, you have to turn these beasts over once every 5 decades to keep them running, it's in the manual. |
| kabrank | 10 Jun 2014 6:48 a.m. PST |
The indication is that far from being pranksters this is "separatists" recovering the vehicle for use against Ukranian forces. JSIII Vs T64! |
| Barin1 | 10 Jun 2014 7:18 a.m. PST |
IS-3 is utilizing same shell and cartridge as D-30 howitzer, so in theory they should not have any problems with ammo…but I guess its cannon should have been damaged to prevent it from usage when the tank became museum piece… |
 Mserafin  | 10 Jun 2014 8:25 a.m. PST |
Built in 1943, retired in 1945, One can always trust the Daily Mail to get the facts wrong. They weren't even building IS-2s in 1943. |
| Lion in the Stars | 10 Jun 2014 9:20 a.m. PST |
IS-3 is utilizing same shell and cartridge as D-30 howitzer, so in theory they should not have any problems with ammo…but I guess its cannon should have been damaged to prevent it from usage when the tank became museum piece… Care to take a bet as to whether or not the gun was actually disabled before the tank was placed on the monument? |
| Frederick | 10 Jun 2014 10:22 a.m. PST |
За Родину! Now that's how to build a durable tank |
| Barin1 | 10 Jun 2014 10:29 a.m. PST |
We had this video last year I think…
YouTube link I guess if Zombie Apoc or Nuclear winter happens, we stand better chances with WWII tanks, than with expensive 21 century wonders… |
| PHGamer | 10 Jun 2014 11:10 a.m. PST |
"Built in 1943, retired in 1945, " I caught that one as well. IS-3's never saw combat in WWII, but were railed in right after the Battle of Berlin to impress the west. I think what got confused was this was a memorial for the liberation of the town, a battle that was fought in 1943, though, obviously not with IS-3's. |
| Leadgend | 10 Jun 2014 11:21 p.m. PST |
IS3s continued to be used well into the 60's and probably sat around in depots for reserve units well into the 70's. Who knows when it was put onto the monument but if it had only been there for 20 years or so then starting it up isn't unreasonable. |
| Major Mike | 11 Jun 2014 6:42 a.m. PST |
You might be surprised how many "display" vehicles are just sitting around waiting for a set of batteries and some fuel. If you want to go a little further, grease up the joints and check the oil level. |
| Dameon | 17 Jun 2014 11:17 p.m. PST |
Somethings's up: Even if they left the fuel in it, Diesel fuel only lasts about a year without additives, and even then you aren't going to get anywhere close to decades… The longest I've heard of any being stored and still useable was about 6 years and that was "stove oil" quality. Then there is fact that it has been left out in the open and little critters love to nest in and chew on wiring… Also that you'd need a battery and those don't last for decades either… So yeah, I don't think this was two guys jumping in and hot wiring it, especially given the current situation over there right now. |
| GeoffQRF | 20 Jun 2014 4:06 a.m. PST |
I don't think this was two guys jumping in and hot wiring it, especially given the current situation over there right now. Its convenient to show it now, and try to sensationise the story, especially given the current situation, but we don't reall know when this was taken and i doubt very much it was simply done 'on the fly' – as you say, they would need to spend some time swapping out the battery, checking various oil and fuel lines. |
| deleted222222222 | 20 Jun 2014 5:41 a.m. PST |
It seemed very strange to me as well, not only did I question the fuel and batteries…it takes more than one. There there are the fuel lines, seals and gaskets that would need to be replaced due to dry rot. Electrical wiring as well. So I doubt two guys just jumped in and started it up. |
| kabrank | 20 Jun 2014 7:54 a.m. PST |
Though I remember a vid of a KV1 being recovered from a lake and then with fuel and oil being started at the lake side |
| SouthernPhantom | 28 Jun 2014 6:46 p.m. PST |
Dameon, supposedly the IS-3 uses a compressed-air starter, which could conceivably have held pressure. I've seen Do 17 tires still pressurized after seventy years in the English Channel. It's also possible that it was running off of residual oil, explaining the massive cloud of white smoke. I guaran-dang-tee that it would run perfectly after a day in the shop and a drum of diesel. |
| Lion in the Stars | 28 Jun 2014 7:17 p.m. PST |
I guaran-dang-tee that it would run perfectly after a day in the shop and a drum of diesel. Yeah, gotta love Soviet design priorities. Able to keep running in the worst possible battle conditions, with little to no maintenance done. |
rebases some old soldiers.
