Quote:
Originally Posted by tankbarrell
Where did the adapter come from Tim? That must be a rare part if original!
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Adrian
I understand that the cupola was recovered from a Sherman turret when the Alpine Wall between Italy and the former Yugoslavia was scrapped around 2010. Am told a significant amount of material was cut up rather than being sold into the preservation market, but fortunately this ARV cupola with the spacer ring was rescued.
This article says that many of the bunkers had Firefly turrets, so perhaps it had been on a Firefly, but cannot say for sure. On the right side of the page, under the facebook icon, you can choose to view it in English.
http://zapisnik.fortif.net/859120-no...y-tagliamento/
For future reference in the event the above link stops working... this summary is direct from the site:
"The last Italian defense line, designed to protect Italy against any attack from the east, has been Located at Tagliamento river. It was built During the Cold War, Because The older Fortifications (Alpine Wall) Were lost with the Italian eastern territories, ceded to Yugoslavia. The line consisted of strongpoints with machine gun nests (M4 Sherman rebuilt to be the MG turrets, WWII German Panzernests and large Italian armored cupolas for two MG's) and anti-tank bunkers (M4 Sherman Firefly turrets, M26 Pershing turrets and whole M26 Pershing tanks - with its engines removed). Every strongpoint has its own underground command post with observation cupola. Allmost all the bunkers Were Destroyed During 2010-2012 to the scrap metal parts. The article Describes the preserved parts of the line."
Tim