Niels v Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 a film from 1943 about reusing old weapons ect. to save cost of producing new weapons http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675042333_scrap_Aberdeen-Proving-Grounds_canon-balls_old-equipment_42-cm-Howitzer made me :cry: a bit...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzaw Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 I know they needed the steel from scrap and mothballed ordnance and vehicles but what a criminal shame getting rid of those used as monuments or one off trial vehicles never to be seen again gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Criminal shame now looking back but in the early war years the government and local towns would have had to take the lead in scrap drives to encourage the majority to give freely. You only have to look around old Churches and Municipal buildings to see where the railings once were and all that remains now r rusting stumps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike65 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 If it was metal they used it. Did the design for a development in Oxford about 12 years ago. Had the sewer records but nobody could find any manhole covers. Was informed by the Local Authority "Thats the older part of Oxford most of the covers went in the war" blockages are therefore fun. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 An interesting series of films. Although we may look back in horror at some of the items being cut up, one must consider that in that time how many people were interested in preserving or restoring items. The vintage movement had little following in general, let alone for military hardware. Items from the Great War were 25 to 30 years old, and was seen to have no historic value. I realise it is difficult to compare to todays values and the way how we collect things about us, however how many people collect items less than 30 years old. That seems to be a time frame associated with disposal of much, then what is left becomes desirable. Doug;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 I do wonder how much of historical value has been lost apart for a few T1-2 and 4 light tanks combat cars some of which failed to survive but were of little value in engineering training terms to be retained for future reference -which something APG were quite good at doing during and imediately after WW2. One of the guns could be classed as important was the 42cm howitzer the so called Big (fat) Bertha of which 2 were captured by the AEF in 1918 both are reputed to be returned to the USA and if the film is contemporary and by the vehicles and clothing of workers it is, this shows the "missing" big Bertha being cut up -anyone got an idea where it was? -it looks like an officer training academy. The other Big Bertha remained at APG until it was said to be scrapped in another scrap drive in the 1950s. But the 42cm BB howitzer is a nice historical example it was little value to ordnance engineers -in actuallity it was pretty poor, famous for reducing the Lieg fortresses in 1914 -fortresses that were masonary and out of date even before they were finished, it struggled to be of use during other seiges in WW1 -having a spare barrel for each piece due to its tendancy to blow barrels something common for cannons but never should happen in a Howitzer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Interestingly some of those did not end up getting cut up. It is well documented that some of the Renault tanks were declared scrap and actually ended up in Canada at the begining of the war and one is now being rebuilt as we speak by the Canadian War Museum to runner status from what I understand. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 robin craig Interestingly some of those did not end up getting cut up. It is well documented that some of the Renault tanks were declared scrap and actually ended up in Canada at the begining of the war ........ They were transfered as scrap to conform (avoid causing political interest/scrutiny) with the policy restricting transfer of US Army equipment to beligerant powers, at a time when Congress was debating whether to tighten up war purchases or allow a favoured status for the UK and Commonwealth/Empire. It would be nice to see some pics of the 6ton tank being restored -I assume it is a M1917 rather than one of the few (50 +) Renault FT used in France by AEF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 AFAIK did the original Big Berthas dissapear in Germany in/after WW1. Reputedly cut up by the Germans themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Steveo, I had heard that the "scap" status was a ruse to conform. I will enquire of the powers that be to produce some pictures and data. Its a foreign tank of early vintage so exact idetification will have to come from you or refurb shop or CWM. Its too early a machine for me to rivet count on! R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Sad indeed to see such items removed, but you can't save it all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 (edited) robin craig.........I will enquire of the powers that be to produce some pictures and data. Its a foreign tank of early vintage so exact idetification will have to come from you or refurb shop or CWM. Its too early a machine for me to rivet count on! I look forward to any photos of the refurbishment that you may be able to post. I thought all tanks -apart for a few prototypes were "foriegn" to Canada as a rivet counter the US 6tonner is fairly different from the Renault FT most obvious differences the muffler is on the left side in the US version, various structural differences such as the triangular panels either side of the drivers visor- less apparent it had a complete fire-wall screen between the motor and fight compartment Anyhow a few pics of 6tonners in Canadian service. Famous pic of tanks for Canada -in this case a 6tonner as a Wireless tank In use in training -the older officer in the turret is probably F.F. Worthington -the great man who set up the Canadian Armoured Corps Edited April 14, 2011 by steveo578 quote/attachment problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwardle Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 It wasn't just the Americans that cut up monuments, I have a photo of a WW1 tank being cut up for scrap in Trowbridge park, also in Westbury there was a Crimean war cannon that went to the scrap drive along with 2 more from Victoria park in Bath. Are there any Crimeans war cannons surviving or were they all melted down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.