Hero Tank

Last night I read a true story about a Russian tank in World War Two that I just had to share.

In the early days of the German invasion of Russia, a group of 20 Russian heavy battle tanks counter-attacked a German tank column of about 200 tanks. The Russian tanks had better armor and heavier guns so they decimated the German tanks.

Eventually one Russian tank made it deep into the German advance and took back a small bridge. The German advance was halted until this Russian tank could be destroyed.

For almost 4 days the Germans couldn't get around this one Russian tank. It took 50 German tanks, a team of demolition engineers, and two 88's (heavy artillery guns) to destroy this one Russian tank!

The Russian tank survived an incredible 26 direct hits from the 88's over the 4 days. The direct hits merely left bluish marks on the super-tank's armor.

Eventually the 50 German tanks were used as a diversion, they attacked the Russian tank head on, while the Krauts snuck another 88 behind the tank. That 88 blew the tank up by hitting the weaker armor on the tail section.

How cool is that? One freaking tank stalls the German advance for four days! Four days closer to the infamous Russian Winter that stalled Hitler's advance forever.

Originally posted on January 5, 2007.