Landships II

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Tanks -> The Female MkIV rotting at APG.
Post Info TOPIC: The Female MkIV rotting at APG.
PDA


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 1496
Date:
The Female MkIV rotting at APG.
Permalink   

The British tanks at APG (or formerly at APG), as I understand it, were a gift to the USA. If that is true then they have the moral and legal right to keep them. Yes they have been left outdoors, but you can find many photos that show the Mark IX and the Mark VIII left outside Bovington for many years. Bovington's Mark I is just a shell with fake guns, the floor has completely rotted away, because it was left outside until the 1970s (at least). Hagen, the A7V, was displayed on Horse Guards Parade and then scrapped. And what about all the Mark IIIs and IVs given to towns after WW1; they've all but one disappeared. Whilst the treatment the Mk IV and Whippet received at APG is very sad to see, it is as good or better than what WW1 tanks received in Britain. That being said, it would be great to see the tanks restored, or at least preserved in present condition, ie arrest the deterioration, and displayed inside some building with climate control. And I would love to see the Mark V* (which has also dropped off the radar) reunited with her contemporaries in such a museum.

Sadly, climate controlled buildings with display areas, and preservation and/or restoration costs a lot of money that no government seems to have these days. The US military is busy fighting wars all over the world, so why should it concern itself with some museum pieces, or even museums?

There are a few threads on this forum that discuss the closing of the APG museum, or the moving of its exhibits, and there are a few news items scattered over the web. As far as I know (and I think I am way out of date) a lot of exhibits have moved to Fort Lee but I don't think the WW1 tanks have moved. It may be the case that they cannot be moved because of their condition, or it may be that they have moved and I just didn't hear about it: maybe somebody knows better. I also read that after they have moved they won't be on display to the public. So it seems they have gone.

http://landships.activeboard.com/t29841228/apg-ordnace-museum-moving/

http://progress-index.com/news/op-ed/army-ordnance-museum-could-fall-to-budget-ax-1.1124675

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Ordnance_Museum

http://www.army.mil/article/25491/ordnance-tanks-artillery-arrive-at-fort-lee/

http://www.army.mil/article/28443/ordnance-museum-move-the-planners/

http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_WW1_Tanks.pdf

In that last pdf (which is a big file, so takes a while to open) it says the Mark VIII is now at Fort Benning, the Skeleton tank is at Fort Lee (not on display), the 3-ton is still at APG with the Mark IV and the Whippet. Pierre does a good job trying to keep the list up to date but, as we all know, there are some black holes in WW1 history, so the information may be out of date.

 



-- Edited by PDA on Tuesday 27th of November 2012 07:04:57 PM

__________________
RCD


Lieutenant-Colonel

Status: Offline
Posts: 185
Date:
Permalink   

The Japanese theme suggested that the mkIV might have been 'liberated' and ended up at APG. Does anyone know what has happened to the Female mkIV since the transfer of so many other tanks? Has it been moved, finally being restored from its appaulling state or is it still rotting quietly away?

What exactly is happening - its like Bovington closing shop and doing a moonlighr flit! What exactly is going to happen with all these important historical artifacts?

It has been posible for two A4 (big steam trains!) to be moved across the Atlantic why not return this poor physically abused mkIV ( like the French did with their tanks)! I am sure that Bovington would welcome an orginal WW1 tank to have ready for the centinary in 2014!

PS Can we have our Whippet back as well! I am sure the 'Dog  trust' could find it a more caring home.



__________________
Pzkpfw-e


Commander in Chief

Status: Offline
Posts: 628
Date:
Permalink   

As of the beggining of October, both the Whippet & the MkIV were still on their concrete stands at APG.

__________________
Rob


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 1329
Date:
Permalink   

APG now has it's own facebook page, so have asked on there what's happening with the Mk IV and Whippet

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roblangham
Rob


Legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 1329
Date:
Permalink   

Received a reply - apparently "All of our macro-artifacts are under cover right now as we make the transition from APG to Fort Lee.". A macro is apparently anything you can't lift up and carry, ie all vehicles and tanks

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roblangham
picnic42


Corporal

Status: Offline
Posts: 17
Date:
Permalink   

Rob wrote:

Received a reply - apparently "All of our macro-artifacts are under cover right now as we make the transition from APG to Fort Lee.". A macro is apparently anything you can't lift up and carry, ie all vehicles and tanks

 I just posted a picture of the Britannia (Liberty) that was at APG and now in Anniston, Alabama.  (as of December 2013)



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Landships II -> Landships WW1 Forum -> Tanks -> The Female MkIV rotting at APG.
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard