Tank

[Subdeacon Joe]

Look closely at the front plate of this vehicle - that is a round stuck in its armor!

 

This is a Panzer IV/70 (A), the only one of its kind left in the world.

 

Germany developed it as a fast way of getting the powerful 7.5 cm L/70 gun (essentially the same one used in the Panther) onto the chassis of a Panzer IV.

 

The result was a casemate vehicle with a relatively high silhouette.

 

The sole survivor at the Musée des Blindés was reportedly knocked out by US Shermans near Vosges or Colmar in France towards the end of 1944.

 

Its armor took some significant damage, as seen here, but the Panzer IV/70 (A) remained "semi-operational" after the engagement.

 

The round in its armor is said to be a 75 mm round from a Sherman. This may indeed be true, as from its appearance and our own measurements, it is likely a 75 mm M61 round, a type fired by Shermans during the war.

 

 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Do you suppose the round was disarmed and then put back for the exhibit? Or perhaps it’s not even the original round?

[Subdeacon Joe]

I would think it was disarmed somehow.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

The round that took out the top of the glacis plate seems to be what took out the Panzer.  It looks to be a much larger round than the 75 mm shot from a Sherman, which didn't apparently didn't penetrate.  Could have been from a 105 mm.

[The Blarney Kid]

If the round was an AP round it wouldn't need to be disarmed. It is a solid shot, no explosive.