Reassembling a captured AFRIKA KORPS Pak 38!

Daz and Jess managed to squeeze in a little side-project before proceeding with the Grant Tank resto...
This PaK 38 was captured by 2/15 Battalion, 20 BDE, 9th Division AIF during the battle at El Alamain 28th-29th October 1942. It was taken back to Australia where it was used for proofing trials until being used as a gate guard at the Officers Mess at of the School of Artillery.
After some tender love and care, this incredible exhibit now really looks the part and is proudly on display in the Wehrmacht Hall.

[@ausarmour]

*El Alamein -Kurt from AusArmour 🤭

[@johnwolf2829]

Looks great, really amazing how something like that can be brought back to something looking like "new" condition. And best of all, no need to worry about de-militarizing. There is not the slightest chance that anyone in the world will ever find any ammo for that old beast.

[@USM247]

I believe the thing that impresses me most is the immense cooperation and comradeship between all the various workers and other entities at Australian Armour & Artillery Museum. I think it is fantastic and a major reason for the wonderful and incredible work ethic. Well done all!!

[@Wally-H]

The collection of German hardware you've got in that hall is truly unbelievable.

[@gusgone4527]

Antitank guns have always morbidly fascinated me, ever since I first met the Charlie G while serving. But I never fired at a tank in anger. Taking on a formation of enemy tanks in the open spaces of North Africa. Must have required superior testicular fortitude accompanied by a significant pucker factor. Not just to keep the sand out!

[@alexadamson9959]

Yep. Bigger problem with AT guns. They may be lighter, cheaper, easier to move, easier to maintain and easier to ship. But they are also easier to kill. You get more bang for your buck, but one bang of any size will do you in. Also “testicular fortitude”. Im putting that into my vocabulary.

[@gusgone4527]

@@alexadamson9959 You do that Alex. Like all infantry anti-armour weapons, they are easily concealed. What the enemy cannot see, he cannot kill. At least in theory. However, ... Funny how there is always one of those and this time it's a big fella. Being so low and close to the ground. The resultant flash and dust plume from the first round, means the game of hide and seek is over. Time for the killing and the screaming as every remaining turret swings your way. Anyone familiar with the recoilless rifle WOMBAT in dusty environments will recognise the dilemma. Should I fire, reveal myself and the squad or should I keep my head down, report the sighting and spot the artillery rounds to the targets. You choose! There's a reason why those bloody things are called VC guns. The Victoria Cross is generally awarded posthumously. 🤕

[@iatsd]

You can (all other things being equal) see the tank at a far greater range than they can see you. You remain smaller. You destroy the lead vehicle and the ones behind become quite enthusiastic about avoiding it's fate. In the context of a lot of the desert battles, you can see the lead vehicles and nothing behind them as they're covered by dust clouds, and by the same token, they *can't* see you. Outside of the desert, you fire from cover and try to remain hidden in that cover. It's no more or less dangerous than any other role on the battlefield really. All the dickwaving and celebration of things WW2 German is really..... pretty sickening.

[@gusgone4527]

@@iatsd You are correct about visibility and battlefield awareness being better for the infantry. All things being equal but that is rarely the case. Tanks never advance to contact in column formation, unless they are traversing a minefield. They come at you in a chevron or line abreast, particularly in the desert. With good spacing and every possible eye looking for threats/targets. They tend to live longer that way! Modern image intensifying/thermal sighting equipment, is rather good at finding targets day or night. Although I've never seen an old school antitank gun through them. I imagine the barrel will glow like a beacon after the first and subsequent shots. Man portable ATGM's are a different matter and the weapon of choice. It was MILAN in my day. In theory, armour travelling along a straight road, has already used dismounted mechanised infantry to scout the route and identify potential ambushes. Clearing them beforehand or indicating for direct fire missions. Tanks hardly ever fight alone and therein lies the problem or the solution, depending what side you are on. If you are wondering where all this comes from. Veterans of my generation spent the best years of our lives training to fight WWIII in Europe. Against the heavily mechanised massed armies of the Warsaw Pact. The fact that the war we fought was in the deserts of the middle east. Is just one of life's little ironies sent to test us. The fact I'm still here and not feasting in Valhalla must mean something. I wish you well.

[@iatsd]

@@gusgone4527 BAOR. KRH, B Sqdn, Kuwait & Bosnia.

[@jamesroseby3823]

What a neat piece of kit that Pak38 is. A lovely restoration.

[@shanemossmoss]

Amazing I had uncle in the 9th div at al alamien during both battles

[@stephenparkes626]

2 doses in one week ,love it. Great looking anti tank gun looks brand new .Great repair job guys .

[@andywarrington4738]

never knew they were double skinned , you learn something new everyday , nice job lads

[@paulmanson253]

Ian over at Forgotten Weapons has an episode on actually firing a PAK 42. Also double skinned. With tonight's episode,this gives an indication as to the precision required to shape armour grade steel so that the reassembly here went as straightforwardly as it did. Certainly not much protection with someone shooting at you with rifle or anything heavier,but way better than nothing at all. Imagine say 10 such guns spread out,facing many tanks on the horizon,North Africa or somewhere in the USSR. Took big cojones to remain,aim and fire knowing the tow equipment could not stand getting shot at. Succeed or die. Took big cojones to go in and capture such a battery as well. Sure is a pristine example of something captured in combat. I hope at least some of the original stories were preserved.

[@cristiancruz5079]

@@paulmanson253 Indeed requires a lot of "courage" to stay in that position and aim to targets under fire only using that small armor around you. Yes, in forgotten weapons (kzbin.info/www/bejne/imjJmXWjZtSoibc&ab_channel=ForgottenWeapons) and even on youtube you can find a lot of videos of the only still in working condition PAK 40 firing. Is located here in US. Btw I think is a little out of line to say bad words in spanish on the comments. The Australian Armor Museum is doing great restauration projects came alive. Thanks guys for sharing this content.

[@0Turbox]

@@paulmanson253 It's designed to stop rifle bullets.

[@paulmanson253]

@@cristiancruz5079 Sigh. One comment here. Rather than use English words such as testicles or balls,it has been for decades,the usage of the Spanish word cojones. Call it a cultural artifact. In no way intended to be insulting,I say to you it is a common usage. Get used to it. Spanish courage is legendary. Through the various eras of history. The Spanish themselves describe themselves as,and I quote,"Absolute bastards to govern". That also takes courage as well as strength of character. Right or wrong. Think of it as a left handed compliment that is offered.

[@Charon-5582]

@@paulmanson253 the gun shield is meant to stop bullets and shell fragments. It isn't that big but it works. Also the bolts heads on the shield have a cone shape to them so if they get hit with a bullet it won't deform them and they can still be removed.

[@DavidDragonhammer]

I love how ,each and everyone of you take so much time to get it right.

[@bigmac60]

Excellent work. Nice surprise an extra episode 👍

[@williamschlenger1518]

Great job.Thats quite a collection.

[@nicflatterie7772]

It is probably better looking now than it ever has!

[@PabloEugenioSiostrzonek]

How I envy you guys!!! What a wonderful job you have!!! Greetings from Argentina from a retired Merchant Navy Engineer!!!

[@danielprose5878]

This museum is unique onnat planet. Greez from Germany.

[@Panzerjäger_SdKfz.164_Nashorn]

The M3 in the background😍 Love the PaK 38, keep up the good work y'all.

[@grantchandler8294]

You guys have the best job! I'm a boilermaker and I can only dream of doing what you guys are

[@Vicforvictory]

We own the bunkerbrother here in the museum. Ours is still in place after 80+years. We are currently collecting the ammo cases for the bunker. 7 and counting

[@Javdoc]

Nice bonus content. Very cool. Like how you guys leave some original markings untouched - like the numbers on this PaK, the kill rings on the Tiger gun barrel. Nice touch.

[@fredferd965]

A thoroughly modern looking piece of artillery - streamlined, flowing with purpose, everything pared away except for the brutal essentials, totally practical split trail weapon. It would give lots of confidence to whoever was behind it. They would know they had a weapon, a true weapon.

[@billbarton9046]

When I was a kid, I had a die cast Dinky toy of either the Pak 38 or 40.Any how great video as usual.👍

[@jumpferjoy1st]

Lovely to see a Pak38, the better looking "sister" to the Pak40.

[@garycharland3018]

Beautiful little gun. Deadly little gun.

[@Andrea-ry5cj]

peace of beauty

[@guidor.4161]

Awesome, what an incredible piece of history!

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Thanks once more for posting yet another excellent video from you. As usual, another excellent restoration done by the workers at The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum! You all did a fantastic job restoring and the Afrika Korps Pak 38 cannon too!

[@johngardner7024]

To me, the German PaK guns are the sleekest looking AT guns of the war. Nice job on fixing this one up.

[@georgedistel1203]

Great restoration, but it helps when you are working on such an interesting piece of engineering and history.

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you. Looks like a nice job. I had forgotten about the spaced armour on the gun shield although I had read about it in one of Mr Hogg’s books (which I should probably grab off one of my bookshelves and reread).

[@pablofernandez57]

Excellent job as usual!

[@fatcat3211]

Such an impressive collection there.

[@davej5800]

That seemed simple compared to some of the tank build. Experience really pays off

[@VenturiLife]

My grandfather pulled a man from a burning allied tank in Tobruk... maybe it was the same gun that took it out. He would have been with the South African Army Queen's Own / Cape Town Highlanders regiment which joined the South African 1st Infantry Division in the Western desert, who saw every major action there against Rommel. He was from Scottish / English roots originally, which would have been why he volunteered in the war and the SAA. To my knowledge he was never mentioned in dispatches or received any medal in that action, which was strange. He was a wonderful, caring man, who later struggled with alcoholism and severe depression (possibly PTSD as we'd call it today) later in life. He passed his love of gardening onto my mother.

[@TacticalGaming_]

did he fight against the 15th panzer? in NA

[@roycarter6235]

They always do a fantastic job. I love watching the posts.

[@divarachelenvy]

Fantastic work 👏

[@ai-d2121]

Really cute deadly kit

[@kurtovesen2975]

Just beautiful this 5 cm pak 38 .this gun could knock out the t 34 with the new arrow head tungsten projectiles.

[@americanpatriot2422]

Great video. I would like to see more of these.

[@sixstringedthing]

At first glance of the title card I was very confused... I could have sworn that "38" designated the calibre in millimeters (e.g. Flak 88) so the "5cm" bit had me scratching my head. It took a few minutes of pondering and a quick search to be reminded that it's a Panzerabwehrkanone, 5cm, _Model of 1938_ , as per many small arms/MGs. So cheers for that, relearned something today. Great job on the resto, I'd love to get up there and see the whole collection in person but the ~2000km journey presents something of a logistical challenge. I'll make it one day!

[@ianwilliams9068]

Great work you blokes...well done.

[@markbeaumont3292]

Excellent work as always...such a shame the museums on the otherside of the world from me 😪

[@markfryer9880]

Now, you begin to understand how Australians feel about all of the other great things to see in the world being far away!

[@gerhard6105]

Good job. Nice gun. I also like the PaK 43. One of these ist standing in nearby Troisvierges, along the road. (Luxemburg).

[@stevebrooks1304]

I know you always do a great job but that was stunning.

[@hacheyp]

Your channel is amazing!!

[@timothywood4402]

Awesome work as always

[@willierants5880]

That's a sweet sweet collection of German anti-tank guns right there.

[@forgivemenot1]

Thanks for the video it was interesting to learn that the shield was multiple of layers I just thought it was just one piece not three distinct layers.

[@boozepainter3818]

Bautiful hard work process

[@HappyDuude]

This video length is also bang on

[@monicabello3527]

Now they need a sdkfz 10 to tow it full of jerrycans on both sides. Love DAK vehicles

[@davidorama6690]

I’m definitely planning to drive up and visit in 2023.

[@stuka97]

Beautiful gun nice job.

[@w.p.958]

Very nice acquisition! The fella's did a great job on cleaning it up. Now you NEED a PAK 40! lol

[@kristoffermangila]

Or better yet, an 88mm...

[@treadheadpete4770]

Fantastic gun, great work restoring it!

[@kiwifruit27]

2 videos in one week, Christmas has come early 🎉

[@earlt.7573]

Fantastic job, as always.

[@vonJaerschky]

Love your wheel wrench (spanner)!

[@---rz5th]

Good recovery men.

[@stevenslavicek9711]

Fantastic.

[@mhh7544]

I served in anti tanks, and 2 of those badboys were at my companys doors. 🇫🇮

[@laurisikio]

Suomi mainittu, torilla tavataan

[@mhh7544]

@@laurisikio 😅

[@majorblood8132]

you are the best!!! amazing!!!!

[@shed66215]

Good to know my observation skills are still there from the last Grant tank video

[@alangordon3283]

Powerful gun

[@HK94]

Another video this week, Nice.

[@markwilliams2620]

Thank you. I needed this dose of geek juice after surviving Ian.

[@ludachris6086]

Its Wednesday again! 😄 Thanks for the new Vid Kurt

[@tommytaylor4458]

Alright guys!!! Nice job!!!!

[@fireabend_1226]

very nice - good work

[@fw1421]

Nice restoration guys. Must have been good to do one that doesn’t take ten years and have to assemble it from 10,000 pieces.

[@jamesdash1906]

Cool ,,,but does it fire ?????? LOL !!!!! Great work guys

[@jeffreypurcell4681]

So when you you be showing the repair of the 88 Flak that the Chieftain ran over 😂

[@jhooah8639]

Love the work, would like someone to explain how the third wheel (trail wheel assembly not shown in video) was secured atop the closed trails (locked down) while being towed. I picked up a dug piece from Europe for my Pak-38 and a set of extra wheels, but can see no way it can be stowed (safely) when being towed. The two flip up braces do not lock it in place and photos don't seem to show any strap or lock. Finding a copy of the manual would seem impossible. W. Winget, Virginia USA.

[@larrythorn4715]

Interesting to see the way the gun shield attaches. Seems rather complicated for something with such a simple job?

[@johnberryhill8106]

As a retired U.S. tanker, I could just imagine these rascals all dug in and you just funneled into the "Kill Zone "....... ouch !

[@Vlaid65]

Excellent.

[@evilfingers4302]

Would be more awesome if it could fire a Live Round like the YT video of a Pak 40 firing a live round many years ago in a desert somewhere in the US.

[@jonprince3237]

Definite evil look from the Lee/Grant. for that particular workshop visitor.

[@markfryer9880]

Without a doubt and for good reason having seen some brothers taken out on the battlefield.

[@alexandermccarthy]

Absolutely amazing work! Is it active or has it been de-milled?

[@mustafaselimibis3186]

engineering breakthrough

[@guidor.4161]

We can see what "it can be man-handled into position" really means even for such a relatively small gun. Imagine doing that in sand or mud or heavy terrain...😅😅😅

[@MillwalltheCat]

'hhg' = Rheinmetall-Borsig A.-G., Werk Tegel, Berlin Tegel.

[@dnbeckmann]

Super!

[@scroggins100]

Well interesting guys. A little grease here and there?

[@tekis0]

If I ever make it to Australia...

[@ericcorse]

I never realized these had spaced armor.

[@dougstubbs9637]

And towed by a Linde forklift, kinda German thing going on….. Family and health reasons so couldn’t make it to tankfest this year. Kicking myself, missed out on meeting The Chieftain.

[@shades360]

I bet when that forklift was made it didn’t know it would be doing that

[@markdavis2475]

Ok this really confused me....is it Wednesday.... again 🙂 Great vid thanks!

[@50ShadesOfBeige]

Can you get a trailer licence for it and tow it behind the Ute down the highway? Would certainly turn heads as you go past.

[@okkox4336]

keep it up

[@TheSonicfrog]

Off to the front!

[@Clintreid75]

Damn! I want a job there ❤👍

[@drcornelius8275]

Oh, come now, you have to fire it a few times for us.

[@gitfoad8032]

Tragedy that so much of this gear's been repainted.

[@stevepringle2295]

A+++

[@alsatful]

If only we could hear it roar

[@kirkstinson7316]

So, was this a restoration? No before pics. Or just a disassemble, repaint, and reassemble?

[@tuckero23]

bonus video this week

[@conceptalfa]

👍👍👍

[@matthewitt2276]

I wish I spoke that mans language.

[@kristoffermangila]

BTW, doess the breech of this gun work?