Where there’s smoke

Two mechanics in the Ukraine recently took a close interest in a rusty old Russian tank sitting on a plinth, a memorial to the Red Army’s offensive in WWII. The two crawled into the JS-2 tank and after poking around in the engine for a period, managed to fire it up. As the diesel started, a thick black cloud of smoke spewed from the exhausts and the engine then settled to a steady tickover.
September 29, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

Two mechanics in the Ukraine recently took a close interest in a rusty old Russian tank sitting on a plinth, a memorial to the Red Army’s offensive in WWII. The two crawled into the JS-2 tank and after poking around in the engine for a period, managed to fire it up. As the diesel started, a thick black cloud of smoke spewed from the exhausts and the engine then settled to a steady tickover. The diesel engines used in Russia’s WWII tanks were noted for their longevity and simplicity but being able to start following a long period of neglect highlights this rather effectively. Luckily the daring duo decided not to take the tank for a quick spin around their neighbourhood, switching it off instead and quickly walking away. The tank had been previously rusting peacefully while used as a memorial in the city of Kostiantynivka, in the east of Ukraine and local officials are now looking into why it had been left with its engine still capable of being started. Police are meanwhile considering if charges should be brought against the pair for tampering with the tank although it is not clear whether the two broke any laws. It is worth noting that Russian tanks were designed to be able to lay down smokescreens using the exhaust from their engines, although in this case it seems that the dirty emissions were due to a lack of use.

Related Content

  • Dual layer, hot to hot paving at German airport
    August 18, 2015
    An airport in Germany has seen the use of very innovative asphalt paving techniques, with the use of dual-layer, hot-to-hot working. The method was used to meet a very tight schedule for the runway rebuilding work, while also delivering the high quality required. Two InLine Pave trains from Vögele were used at Rostock-Laage Airport to lay a new surface and binder course. The operation was innovative as the process used both hot-to-hot, echelon paving as well as dual layer, hot-on-hot working. Using this
    Read More
  • Flyover collapses in Indian city Kolkata
    March 31, 2016
    A flyover has collapsed in the Indian city of Kolkata. Reports from the local press suggest 14 fatalities and upwards of 150 people being trapped in the wreckage. The Times of India reports that the flyover was under construction at the time of its collapse and the reason for the structural failure has yet to be determined. The flyover is located in a densely populated area in the north of the city and the death toll looks likely to climb.
    Read More
  • Golden opportunities in the MINT - Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey
    May 21, 2015
    Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey – Global Report offers up some food for thought about where smart money might be headed within the next several years – David Arminas writes China’s rate of growth may be slowing down, but other South East Asian companies are being quick to offer alternate investment opportunities, notably Indonesia. Nigeria, too, has had issues with security of investment. But there are signs that the government may be getting serious at last about tightening up rules and regulation
    Read More
  • Machine control technology round table discussion with Leica Geosystems, Topcon and Trimble
    January 4, 2022
    In this, the first in a series of top-level roundtable discussions led by World Highways, editor Mike Woof and editorial director Geoff Hadwick talk machine control technology with three world-class experts from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, Topcon and Trimble. Find out what these key opinion leaders are thinking on six vitally important topics. Let them help you stay ahead of the game.
    Read More

Highlighted Content