Russia: divers recovered the wreck of a truck

Listen to this article Divers have recovered the wreck of a World War II truck from a river near Nizhny Novgorod in the Russian Federation. The excavation work lasted 3 days before the vehicle was safely transported to shore! The find was located at a depth of just 4m. After initial examination it was determined

ByMałgorzata Brykała

Published: August 21, 2014 - 14:41

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 07:52

Russia: divers recovered the wreck of a truck

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Divers have recovered the wreck of a World War II truck from a river near Nizhny Novgorod in the Russian Federation. The excavation work lasted 3 days before the vehicle was safely transported to shore!

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The find was located at a depth of just 4m. After initial examination it was determined that the vehicle found was the remains of a Soviet AMO-2 truck, which most likely ended up on the riverbed in the winter of 1944. After securing the find, it was transported to a place where it will be reconstructed.

According to the excavators, apart from the wooden part of the cab, the whole vehicle was preserved in very good condition. All because of the bottom, which is very muddy and kept the whole thing, as in a capsule, away from oxygen and light.

The frame and engine are intact, the gearbox also appears to be in working order. The 1939 Czechoslovakian-made “Varta” battery is also in great shape. According to the archeologists’ description, even the tyres look like new and were still inflated despite the years!

After being restored and thoroughly repaired, the fished-out AMO-2 will become part of a large exhibition being prepared in Nizhny Novgorod for the 70th anniversary of the “Great Victory”, as the defeat of Germany by the Allies in World War II is called in Russia.

During the preparations and exploration the remains of the driver were discovered in the cab and a 120mm mortar with 34 rounds of ammunition in the back. Unfortunately, in the pockets of the jacket that the unlucky driver was wearing, no objects could be found that could help identify the remains. Several weapons and other objects were found, suggesting that there may have been more people in the cab.

All work on the preparation and excavation of the car was carried out by a team of archaeologists led by Alexey Ivanov, supported by the Regional Demining Group, Novgorod rescue workers and wax divers from St Petersburg.