Richard Farrant Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 The A7V German tank "Mephisto" captured by the Australians in WW1 has lived the rest of its life in Queensland, but a few days ago it was transported to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It will be on display there for a couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 OMG, Richard, I thought for a moment you meant the Ashford tank.... trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Never to miss a chance to hijack a thread and promote my favorite Marque: Very Rare image of a ........ Staff Car with German Sturmpanzerwagen A7V Does anyone have any info on this particular tank? Possibly Tank A7V number 540 was abandoned between October 6, 18 Wasnes-au-Bac and Bouchain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 OMG, Richard, I thought for a moment you meant the Ashford tank.... Trevor, I can see why you thought that! Actually the MkIV is now a listed monument and still in the same position it was driven to, in 1919. Now appreciated to .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 I pretty sure New Zealand was offered a German A7V Trophy tank but did not want the cost of shipping even as ballast! Also from memory a WW1 German tank went to the US only to be scrapped in WW2. I stand to be corrected on these points! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 The American's also scrapped two Big Bertha (The REAL ones) Howitzers during WW2. Point of intrest the Americans in 1914 reckoned thay had 75 years of high grade Hematite iron ore. By 1918, they had used 90 % of thier reserves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 One of the Berthas survived into the Korean War era! Nixie II was the A7V at Aberdeen. Off to the scrapman! A segment of her armour & mg position was saved, on display at the Indiana Military Museum. I wonder now that the AWM has finally got hold of "Mephisto", whether they'll ever let her go back to QL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I pretty sure New Zealand was offered a German A7V Trophy tank but did not want the cost of shipping even as ballast!Also from memory a WW1 German tank went to the US only to be scrapped in WW2. I stand to be corrected on these points! You are correct. The NZ Division captured two German tanks during the battle of Bapaume during August and Septmber 1918. Accounts of the time state the tanks had become stuck in a sunken road The two tanks were models A7V, one carrying the name Hagen while the un-armored supply tank was named Schnuck. Hagen was transported on to England and was allocated to be dispatched to New Zealand. It's size delayed getting it shipped with shipping companies not wanting to have it as deck cargo. As a result many smaller trophy guns were dispatched till funds ran out and the Hagen was passed back to War Office for their disposal. The rotating gun from Hagen was removed and shipped to NZ, however this appears to have been lost ( scrapped) during WW11. Schnuck's gun is on display at IWM North. Information from "Great Guns of New Zealand The Artillery Heritage of NewZealand"; Cooke and Maxwell; 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 One of the Berthas survived into the Korean War era!Nixie II was the A7V at Aberdeen. I wonder now that the AWM has finally got hold of "Mephisto", whether they'll ever let her go back to QL! Looks like a Schneider tank on the left of the photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Yes, it is. Now in Saumur. Their St Chamond came from the APG too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 I understand a Schneider tank has been discovered complete except for armour in a French scrapyard in recent times, it had been used with a winch on a vineyard for many years. The particular machine was never a tank but used as a carrier in WW1 and will eventually be restored as a tank. I hope to see it when I visit France next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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