Finnish Tanks

[Neil Ashley]

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/New.../1135229098527

Attached is news of an interesting upcomimg sale in Finland.

The Finn's have clearly been selling surplus vehicles a board for many years so presumably this is only new for Finnish nationals.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Neil, thanks for the heads up!

This link works better: http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135229098527

I hope the good example to be set by the Finnish Government will one day be copied by the Netherlands Government. On second thoughts, there's no need as they no longer have any mouth-watering WW2 equipment like Comet tanks in stock anyway. . .

H.

[Ryan]

Sounds like it will be an interesting auction indeed.
How common are Comet tanks in private hands in Europe? I don't recall seeing them often in my travels across the net.

Edit: Just read on another site that the sale will involve 15 Charioteers, 4 Comet and 3 Stugs. Although the Stugs will be wrecks.

[Neil Ashley]

rynoki

Comets are the most common British war-time tank in preservation.

They obviously served the longest into the early 1960's, and at one time many were to be found on plinths round UK army bases.

Between Britsh and Finnish soured vehicles I would estimate as many as 10 to 15 in the UK in various states of preservation.

[Alex van de Wetering]

It is fascinating to see that after more than 60 years, WO2 material is still available.
The Overloon museum also brought a batch of stuff from Finland some weeks ago. I haven't seen it yet, but there was supposed to be a German 88mm Flak 36-37 among the batch, as well as some WO2 dated German mortars.

Hopefully the Charioteers will also help people with Centaurs and (ex Czech) Cromwells to get the hard-needed parts for their projects, allthough I recon the turrets will still remain a problem...


Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This was sent to me yesterday by a contact in Finland. Sounds like an exciting sale.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello my friends!

On last Thursday it was made public that Finnish Defence Forces is selling old tanks in an auction on Tuesday 25th September 2007.

The news is now also on FDF's web site, but unfortunately only in Finnish: http://www.mil.fi/laitokset/tiedotteet/3264.dsp with the detailed description in the link "Panssarivaunuhuutokauppa" (http://www.mil.fi/liite/panssarivaunuhuutokauppa.doc). There will be some photos of the vehicles on that page within a couple of days, so check it out!

The main points are:

1) For sale are
- 15 Charioteers (items 1.15)
- 4 Comets (items 16.19)
- 3 StuG III wrecks (items 20.22)

2) Auction takes place at Siikangas depot, Ollinkiventie 73, Jäminkipohja/Ruovesi (about 60 km/45 minutes northeast from Tampere) starting at 10 am. Place can be found with e.g. www.viamichelin.com.

3) Charioteer and Comet tanks can be inspected in advance at Siikakangas depot on 30th August, 5th September and 24th September at 9 am - 3 pm (09:00 - 15:00) and also on 25th September at 9 am (auction starts at 10 am).

4) StuG III Ausf G wrecks (really!) can be inspected in advance in Hämeenlinna on 30th August, 5th September and 24th September, where gathering for display tour (to a non-determined place) is at 2 pm (14:00) at the "SA-kauppa", army's surplus store, located at the Häme castle close to the city center. StuG IIIs will be auctioned at Siikakangas but not transferred there.

5) Tanks will be sold in as is condition, but guns will be deactivated after the auction according to the requirements of the import country's regulations. Loading and transportation is on buyer's expenses.

This will be once-in-a-lifetime change! If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am not in change of the auction but deeply involved. Looking forward to seeing you here! Please, pass this information on, if you have any friends who might be interested.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Richard Farrant]

Well, it looks like there was some high prices paid at the auction in Finland this week, some links here;

Video, some interviews in English, look out for some well known faces!
http://areena.yle.fi/toista?id=836095

Article in English
http://virtual.finland.fi/stt/showar...group=Business

[rob love]

Shame that other countries don't realise that they can salvage some of their taxpayers dollars instead of smelting/blowing up, or sinking into the ocean armour and howitzers.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Prices made at the auction:

Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-2 = 8.200 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-3 = 12.500 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-4 = 15.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-11 = 9.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-13 = 16.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-15 = 14.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-16 = 8.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-21 = 10.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-22 = 10.500 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-23 = 9.500 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-24 = 9.500 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-30 = 13.000 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-32 = 14.500 €
Charioteer Mk VII Model B # Ps.251-33 = 13.000 €

A34 Comet Mk I Model B # Ps.252-6 = 25.000 €
A34 Comet Mk I Model B # Ps.252-10 = 21.000 €
A34 Comet Mk I Model B # Ps.252-33 = 18.000 €
A34 Comet Mk I Model B # Ps.252-36 = 17.500 €

Sturmgeschütz 40 Ausf. G # Ps.531-27 = 125.000 €
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G # Ps.531-55 = 115.000 €
Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G # Ps.531-58 = 185.000 €

I've read only 9 out of the 22 tanks will go outside Finland.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Well, it looks like there was some high prices paid at the auction in Finland this week, some links here;

Another one here: Defence Forces sell off obsolete tanks at auction


"British dealer Mike Stallwood raises his hand to urge the auctioneer to
close the deal. As the photo shows, there was no shortage of spectators
for the auction - and no shortage of willing buyers, either. "
Photo: REIJO HIETANEN