Rare military equipment in the open

varya-davydova (61)in #photography • 6 years ago (edited)

In the old Sofia quarter of Oborishte (center) is located the Military Academy named after G.S. Rakovski.

This academy has a huge territory, which is divided between the academy itself, its park and the military-historical museum with two exhibition grounds in the open. I will not write about the state security office adjoining all this household. Because I want to show here what is displayed on one of the museum sites and what can be seen and touched for free.

Tanks, howitzers, cannons, airplanes and other interesting military equipment that I have never seen in films have been displayed on two hectares of the museum park. After all, all my knowledge of military technology is exclusively cinematic.

I personally saw the German tanks and Russian fighters only in Bulgaria and at first in this park. That is, we go for a walk here for ten years.

Once, my son has crawled every exhibit here. Now there are signs everywhere that you cannot climb a vehicle, but before it was available and even open, and inside you could press on everything that did not rust and twist the steering wheel, and even turn the barrel of the tank.

Now the territory was cleaned, the equipment was painted, wooden plugs were inserted into the muzzles. Some exhibits, unfortunately, removed completely. Apparently they completely collapsed from old age.

Bulgaria took part in two world wars, and also led its own - Balkan wars, therefore the presence of military equipment here is not surprising. Its geography is amazing: on this small piece of land there is a collection of equipment made by the warring states

Tank "Skoda" 1935. Produced in Czechoslovakia. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1940-1950. Weight 10500kg.

Back view

Tank "Hotchkiss", model 1939. Produced in France. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1943-1947. Weight 12000kg.

Tank T-IV, option J model 1943. Produced in Germany. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1943-1947. Weight 23600kg.

150-mm Howitzer D-30 "Croup", model 1939. Made in Germany. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1939-1943.

Tank T-34-85, model 1944. Produced in the USSR. He was in service in the Bulgarian army: 1945-1982. Weight 32,000 kg.

Trabant

Assault gun T-III version G 1943 year. Made in Germany. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1943-1947. Weight 23,400 kg.

Assault gun T-IV, 1943. Made in Germany. In service in the Bulgarian army: 1943-1947.

PTS floating conveyor. Produced in the USSR. In service in the Bulgarian army since 1965. Weight 22700 kg.

BMP - 1 PC, 1973. Produced in the USSR. In service in the Bulgarian army since 1983.

Trailed mine layer PMZ-4, 1956. Produced in the USSR. In service in the Bulgarian army since 1962.

Aircraft MiG-23. Multipurpose interceptor fighter with a changing geometry of the wing. Produced in the USSR. In service in the Bulgarian army since 1978.