Another big cat.

[CINDERS]

This was alongside the trio of the Tiger 1 & Panther at the Arms & Armor Museum in Qld.

Followed the progress of them refurbing it as a static display only and it will probably not be a runner given the difficulties of spare parts as only 400 were ever built.
The bits were discovered at a construction site in Germany some of the major panels that had never been assembled.

Fact;
In July '44 a troop of I think Sherwood Forrester's Churchills had parked up for whatever reason and unknown to them 3 Jagdpanthers were about to descend on them.
The Jagdpanther was unknown to the allies so a bit of confusion but the lethality of them was soon to be dished out.
From memory in the space of 3 minutes they knocked out 11 Churchill's including the troop commanders tank who's turret was blown off.
The 3 Jagdpanthers retreated 2 were recovered as they suffered track damage from the Churchills, one was blown up by the crew the other was intact so a boon for the allies.

[browningautorifle]

Nice piece, and you're going to make them an offer on the whole works?

When you said another big cat, I thought you got another cat...

[CINDERS]

Whoa! thats a big moggy a Maine Coon no doubt.

Sorry 'bout that Jim.
Oh lordy no way! this one "Biscuits" is plenty for the wife & I mind you we were in the dog box so to speak after being away me for 2 weeks and my wife 3 weeks even though we had our son & girlfriend stay here for five nights mid holiday.
He would not go near my son even though he knows him but took 3 nights to let his girlfriend pat him at which point he caved in and begrudgingly sat on her lap at night (Traitor) !
Yeah! when we walked in even though it was 01:30am it made it's displeasure known as only a Siamese cat meowing can as they do, with a general tear around once he settled cripes it was the loudest purring, head bumps and non stop pawing for the next 3 days.
As I'm always at home now since retiring I copped the most of it between being loved to death then shown total disdain as if to say "You left me."

So this is biscuits story how he came by his name;
I have long wanted another Siamese since owning one in the mid '80's that one was a real character, went in my jacket head popped out the top whilst I rode my motorcycle, or head out the window in my car or on my shoulders as I walked around the shopping center a real character.
Sadly one day instead of parking my car then getting the mail I opted to stop at the letter box to get the mail "Bluey" came running out to greet me and I failed to see him as I drove forward I felt that sickening bump and knew straight away, he basically died in my arms as I put him in the car to race to the vets it was to late.
I was only 27 and had gone through a rather bitter divorce, he was my companion as I had moved towns whilst living alone and working long hours operating cranes so it was really another low point, I even had the vet pronounce him deceased but it was a bitter thing to come to terms with.

Anyway fast forward to 2017 and along came "Biscuits" derived from his propensity to steal the dog biscuits he would then hide, this is what the breeder told us so over the phone I gave him his name the price had gone up 10 times what I paid for my first Siamese this one set us back $800 with no papers. (They are now $1500)
We said we will pick him up a 5 hour round trip but she said nope I'll bring him to you ! ok so she rocks up the next day in this beat up old station wagon with him on her lap and 2 blue healers running loose in the car as well but that's not all.
After going through her checklist to see if we were worthy and the cat seemed reasonably relaxed (If he could be) she was satisfied that he was in a good home she did say "I have 12 other Siamese cats on the farm" then left.
After a while he was brave enough to hold to which we then discovered he came with free fleas absolutely covered in them what a great breeder she was!

So we have never been able to rid him of his skittishness he will low fly from us at times for no reason or if he hears a plastic bag rustling he scorches a track out of there which gave us a clue to perhaps as he was her last kitten and had been for a while then a plastic bag might have been his lot if you get my drift.
That along with stealing the dogs biscuits then hiding make us feel he has been traumatised as his actions at times are not true to his breed they are a very gregarious natured animal.
The wife and I 2 years ago decided to get him a companion from the same breeder but could not find her so we gathered the other 12 Siamese may have had a lead drench.

So that is the tale of "Biscuits" lord and King of our humble abode, we live to serve, all praise to the great one.
Pic # 1 as a young kitten 2017 Pic # 2 reality 2024!

Postscript ~ You may or may not know the Siamese kitten when they are born are completely all white but after a while a recessive gene causes the fur at their extremities to turn a dark shade which gets darker in the colder months of the year.
They also have striking blue eyes, "Biscuits" is a Blue seal point Siamese of the modern breed.

[Sapper740]

Great story Cinders! I and many other cat fanciers enjoy hearing about Biscuit's antics. I have an American Bombay that is quite loquacious also. Waylon, a homonym for wailin' has quite the vocabulary and is the only cat I've ever owned that can put complete sentences together with subject, predicate, verbs and adjectives! I think he had a rough childhood as he is quite skittish and runs and hides when the doorbell rings. He loves me, tolerates my wife and mother-in-law but avoids everyone else.

[browningautorifle]

I had one come here with a relationship I started... Cat was the best part of that. She decided I was her mate and this was her retirement home. She developed skin cancer which white cats here are prone to do so she ended up having to be put down, a very sad day which I remember well. She was a Norwegian forest cat.

Now, we were talking about tanks...? Once again I disrupt a thread.

[CINDERS]

Naah all good Jim & Sapper this is what makes us being able to switch & relate to each other with that I mean me I was just a civie in a high pressure job where failure was not an option or if you did fail the outcomes could total millions $'s in damage, possible death or serious injury.
But for allot of you chaps here have been in service and experienced a 2 way rifle range of which us civie types know nothing about.

I understand the regimentation and respecting the flag, country & fellow soldiers me having served in the Army cadets for 3 years I totally loved it and like I said twice got to the dotted sign up line Army then RAAF but felt I was better served riding fast motorcycles and faster women!
With dad going overseas for 3 years in WWII, my brother 20 years in the RAAF as an engine fitter and my brother in-law a VN vet the military featured hugely in my early life sadly to my detriment I never asked my father stuff, he never spoke to me about the war.
The only thing he did say once when I was building a plastic model Spitfire on the kitchen table he said "The Merlin engine is the sweetest sounding aero-engine you will ever hear." as he was an LAC engine & airframe fitter so probably worked on a spitfire or mossie.

But I like the stories from both sides and if it meanders its just all of us relating what experiences we have had that are similar by their nature, it's all good from me.

[CINDERS]

A heavy hitter the Russian ISU 152mm assault gun it's primary role was destruction of fortifications though it also doubles as an AT weapon and did pose a serious adversary to the Tiger 1 & Tiger II's.
Though the 2 piece ammunition and the weight of each round @48 kilo's for the projectile the rate of fire was pretty low that being said the Tiger II's L71/88mm gun and the Jagdtiger's 128mm guns proved a serious threat to the ISU series.
(See chart it lists the ISU 122mm)

*I understand the rendering of the weapons on the vehicles they could have at least put the hole near the breech end underneath so it's not that noticeable.

[Flying10uk]

Cinders, ref: your original post pic. On the far left of the pic there looks to be part of a turret that has taken a hit from an A.P. round. Do you know what this item is off, please?

[Bob Womack]

Can you imagine driving this thing with your head snuggled up to the breach of an 88?

The turret at left looks to be from a Tiger I.

Bob

[CINDERS]

See pics F-10.