Dailymail:
A pair of pranksters got the shock of their lives when they climbed into a rusting old Second World War tank perched on a monument in Ukraine - and managed to get it started.
The tank was atop a memorial in Kostiantynivka, an industrial city in eastern Ukraine, when the jokers, both mechanics, clambered aboard and began poking about inside.
Built in 1943, retired in 1945, and placed on the pedestal in 1994, the mighty diesel engine stunned the mechanics when it roared into life after they bent some wires in the ignition and played around with them.
No-one was more surprised than me when she kicked into life,’ said Dimitry Koskalovin, 23, who clambered into the tank with his pal Mikhail Stakavan, 22.
‘We let it rip for a few minutes and then did a runner. We never meant to pinch it or anything.’
Local council officials said they were investigating the circumstances that left the tank in a functional state when it was put on top of the pedestal and said police had been called to try and work out whether the pair who posted a video of the action online had done anything illegal.
A police spokesman said: ‘In theory it could have been dangerous because the tank could have driven off, but other than that it's not clear what else we might charge them with.’
Wow - it still works after all those years - that thing must have been built like a - tank?
9 Comments
radxThe shape of the turret marks it as an IS-3, so the Daily Mail article got the production date wrong by at least two years.
Zawash..So it's still within its warranty period, then?
The shape of the turret marks it as an IS-3, so the Daily Mail article got the production date wrong by at least two years.
rich_magnetHoly smoke! It still runs!
FantomasWhat on earth is it running on? There is zero chance that any left over fuel in the tanks would be viable any more.
Engelssays...Smells of some sort of publicity stunt. Nevermind the fuel, just the oil required to lubricate the pistons couldn't possibly still be viable.
KrazyKat42says......And the battery would be dead too. Hmm.
charliemsays...Well they were both mechanics....so chances are they did a little more than just twist some wires.
chingaleraYou'd be surprised, there are countless examples in the annals of gearheaddom of similar mind-blowing experiences with decades-old oil and even fuel left in tanks retaining it's viability.
Smells of some sort of publicity stunt. Nevermind the fuel, just the oil required to lubricate the pistons couldn't possibly still be viable.
Engelssays...I stand corrected! Its a kick to hear a real IS3 after playing them so much in World of Tanks.
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