Museum of the armoured tanks of Kubinka

The Museum of the armoured tanks of Kubinka or Koubinka is a museum of armored vehicles located at Kubinka (in Russian: Ку́бинка) to 63 km in the west of Moscow beside an air base and space, open in 1978.

This museum contains the largest collection of tanks in the world.

One of course finds there the totality of the armoured vehicles of the Soviet armed with 1917 to our days, but also, a house presenting the material captured German, as well as houses containing the material of the others billégérants (American, French, Japanese, Italian, etc…) Second world war.

Obviously, such a site in Soviet Union presenting of the military material remained secret lasting of the decades. Initially, the polygon of Kubinka was useful, dice 1944 of center of test on the new materials but also on the captured German armoured tanks. This role of center of test continued in the Fifties but with beginning of the year 60, it was decided to keep only one third of the armoured tanks (1 vehicle by type).

Completely unknown to the Westerners and reserved, in Russia, to the military personnel, the fall of the Soviet Union and the thaw which was followed from there brought many rumors on this " musée".

During an exchange between the Museum of Bovington and the central museum of Moscow, the British representatives were the first to bring back information of them on its existence.

Incredible information for the time, of the rumors that machines like the Maus, Emil or Thor would have survived the conflict!! What seems an obviousness today, at one time when information diffuses at the speed of the Internet, was still 15 years ago, a completely inconceivable thing…

And they are 3 Australian which in January 1992, brings back the first photographs of this museum and confirms all information of the " découvreurs" British. However, it is still formally interdict to photograph the largest armoured tanks.

It is possible to visit this museum nowadays, but an authorization is always necessary.

From August at October 2007, the Web site of the Museum indicated that the Museum was closed with the foreign visitors by order of the army.

See too

Museum of the armoured tanks of Saumur in France
Museum of the armoured tanks of Munster in Germany (Deutsches Panzermuseum)
Museum of the armoured tanks of Bovington in Great Britain (Bovington Tank Museum)
Museum of the armoured tanks of Strong Knox in Kentucky in the United States (Patton Museum off Cavalry and Armor)

External bonds

official site
a personal site

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