|
Salvage of an old tank wreck from the old shooting range at Rullingen
From a long since disused shooting range outside Strangnas, the remains
of an old tank was salvaged a few years ago. It had been used
as a target, more than 50 years ago.
|
|
There are a few interesting places (from a military history point of view)
to explore in the vicinity of former P10, located in Strangnas from 1921 to
2005. Obviously some changes have occured during these years, and the
Regiment has left some places.
As an example, there was until the mid 50's a shooting range east of Strangnas
where you would group on the land of "Tosteron" and shoot towards the steep
cliff of "Stora Rullingen". There are pictures from those days showing
an old tank being used as target at the water's edge on "Stora Rullingen".
|
Stridsvagn m/21-29 (Lk II) used as target on Rullingen
|
Modern map of the area around Rullingen
|
The shooting range was closed down in the 50's when it was discovered
that ricochets were falling on the island behind "Stora Rullingen"
when shooting with the 75 mm cannon of strv m/42.
For many years, a rumour has circulated that there would be
a strv m/21-29 (Lk II) on the bottom of lake Malaren.
The tank would - according to the rumour - have been towed
out on the ice somewhere between "Tosteron" and "Stora Rullingen",
and there have been used as target. It is said to have remained
there until spring came and the ice melted.
That a tank was really towed out on the ice is not in doubt, living people can
testify to taking part in the activity. So far no traces had been found
of it.
But that was before we were out trying our little engineers tug...
|
Target screens administered by boat.
|
|
A beautiful spring day some years ago we made a little boat trip,
mostly to try out our newly acquired bogserbat 1,
and we took the opportunity to go ashore on the island "Stora Rullingen"
to take a closer look at the old target racks, visible on pictures from
the 50's. On our way to the racks, badly rusted steel objects were
found, but at least some of them were unmistakably from a strv m/21-29!
|
And what could this be?
|
|
The Association has among its members also those who will undertake
the most peculiar of projects - with the view that everything
is worth salvaging and saving! And, there is, naturally, the thrill
of doing something that no one has done before.
Thus, plans were made to come back and salvage everything salvagable!
It was at least somewhat difficult; we aren't exactly sea oriented,
and equipment for a salvage operation of this kind can't really be
found in our stores. But everything can be improvised if you want
to badly enough.
We received permission from the land owner to salvage the wreck,
from the commons at "Tosteron" to use their pier and from P10 to
borrow a small boat. Two divers, as enthusiastic as they were
dauntless, joined in. At the last moment we also located a
suitable raft which we rented for a symbolic sum and towed out
to "Stora Rullingen" on a lovely morning in August.
|
Expectations running high!
|
|
While the divers picked up a multitude of objects from the sea bed,
the land lubbers dug, hacked, pried and cleared...
|
The signal for "divers in the water" was up at once.
|
|
Finally, we joined in the task to get the largest remaining piece on
board the raft. As can be seen on the photo, the equipment is what
we normally use in the garage; the "crane" is a regular engine hoist,
secured to the raft with tie-downs and som lumber.
|
Not a piece of cake to get the bottom part of the chassi on board the raft.
|
|
As usual, the putting away and winding down phase took longer
than we thought, so the final tasks had to be carried out in
pitch dark with the scant illumination of fading flashlights.
The nights of August can be just as dark as the days are
dazzling. A tired, hungry and very happy salvage crew just
made it in time to enjoy pizza and kebab just before closing.
The following morning we could examine the finds in detail...
|
Cannon ball from the Wasa? No, a road wheel from strv m/21-29!
|
|
And that was that! Or? Well, first of all there is the question
of where the rest has gone! What we found was a large piece of the
lower part of the hull, and it can clearly be seen that the top structure
has ben cut away. Perhaps that one winter, everything that
was visible above the ice was cut off? And then dragged out on the
ice to let it sink when spring came? This was way before any
environmental issues were discussed, and a lot of waste was dealt
with according to the principle "if you can't see it, it doesn't exist".
(For which archeologists are and will be grateful?)
We obviously wonder if what we seek can be found somewhere in the
submerged mud?
What decidedly can be said is that what remains is not going to
be useable for anything but to pick sea shells from...
|
|
|