Kubinka Tank Museum
The Kubinka Tank Museum is a museum of armoured fighting vehicles in Kubinka, Odintsovsky District, Moscow Oblast, Russia. The museum consists of open and covered exhibition of many famous tanks and armored vehicles throughout the 20th century. It is also known to house and display many unique vehicles, such as the German super-heavy tank prototype Panzer VIII Maus, the Troyanov heavy tank and a Karl-Gerät self-propelled artillery, among other single or limited production prototypes from the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
About
The Kubinka Tank Museum is located on a historically "classified" Red Army armor testing facility. Most of its displays in the museum were derived from the research collection of the still-functioning Kubinka armour testing and proofing ground. Most Cold War-era Western tanks were war trophies from Middle East, Africa, Vietnam and Latin America, sent to the armor test facility to test for weaknesses. Due to its secretive history as well as its close relationship with the army, the museum is still staffed entirely by Russian army personnel today.
Admission and visitor restrictions
Despite the end of the Cold War, and even though all the vehicles are antiques with none still being used by the Russian military, access for foreigners remains heavily controlled and regulated. Some websites have noted that "the museum administration cannot guarantee access to foreign visitors".[1] Potential visitors should submit an enquiry with the museum before visiting.
As of 2013, admission for foreigners is generally possible without prior registration or permit. A photocopy of the passport and visa however must be presented over at the ticket office for registration purposes. Admission ticket for non-Russian national costs 600 rubles each, with an extra 600 rubles for photography and videography permission.[2] Organised tours are also available at a price, but most are organized by third parties and are often unreliable.
Exhibits
The museum hosts a wide varieties of tanks and armored vehicles developed and used throughout the 20th century by the Soviets, Germans and many other nations. Around 60% of the exhibits are Soviet-era vehicles, with the most recent display being the Object 172, the prototype of the T-72 MBT. Apart from that, the only remaining Panzer VIII Maus and a captured English WW1 tank, along with several different Hungarian, Polish, Japanese, etc. and western vehicles are on permanent display as well.
Access
Located in the outskirt of Moscow, Kubinka is easily accessible by suburban train from Belorussky railway station, Moscow. The Kubinka Tank Museum, however, is located on the other side of the M1 Belarus Highway, and while it is possible to walk across the highway, it is advisable to catch a taxi from Kubinka station to the museum.
See also
- Tank museums
- Deutsches Panzermuseum - Germany
- Musée des Blindés - France
- Bovington Tank Museum - United Kingdom
- Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor - United States
- Yad La-Shiryon - Israel
- Parola Tank Museum - Finland
- Military museum Lešany - Czech Republic
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tank Museum, Kubinka. |
- Tank museum, Kubinka, Russia at the Test Range of NII BT; old website with outdated informations
- Official museum website with working phone numbers
Coordinates: 55°33′54″N 36°42′56″E / 55.56500°N 36.71556°E