When they are no longer usable, the tanks are left as scrap, to endure decades of rain and sun.

1. Huge Tank Graveyard in Kharkov, Ukraine
In Ukraine, there is a large area known as the “tank graveyard” near the Kharkov factory, about 40 kilometers from the Russian border. It has more than 400 old war machines that the army has removed from its combat payroll.

It was home to more than 400 war machines rejected by the military.
It was home to more than 400 war machines rejected by the military.

According to the “Daily Mail” report, this “tank cemetery” used to be a large tank repair factory before, but after it went bankrupt in 1991, it was abandoned and gradually forgotten. In the early 1960s and early 1970s, the Kharkov factory repaired more than 60 tanks and 55 engines per month. Dozens of tank engines and other old machinery now lie strewn about, worn out by the elements and time.

The turrets of many tanks could no longer hold up and collapsed.

The turrets of many tanks could no longer hold up and collapsed.

There are scenes of antiquated machines sleeping side by side everywhere. The turrets of many tanks could no longer hold up and collapsed. Over time, the overgrown grass grew as tall as the turrets of many vehicles. Even the parts of the steel monsters were scattered in the workshop.

2. Sierra Army Depot – U.S. Army Archives
The Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) started as an archive and later became home to the US Army’s “Steel Monster”. Built in 1942 near the unincorporated community of Herlong, California, the Sierra Army Depot is one of several ammunition storage facilities located deep inland to keep it safe from attack.

Sierra Army Base
This is an area that rarely rains, which helps reduce the risk of mechanical rust.

According to atlasobscura, the site was described as being “close enough to a Pacific port but far enough off shore to avoid a possible attack”. It is also an area that receives little rain, helping to reduce the risk of mechanical rust. Later, this site met the requirements of drying and isolation, so it was selected as a warehouse for weapons and general supplies of the US military.

The sprawling base is estimated to house more than 26,000 armored vehicles. They became the most famous part of the 36,000-acre depot that houses many of the U.S. military’s armored vehicles, trailers, trucks and other vehicles.

The sprawling base is estimated to house more than 26,000 armored vehicles
The sprawling base is estimated to house more than 26,000 armored vehicles.

Today, the Sierra Army Depot also performs a variety of logistical and long-term maintenance tasks. Reset all fuel systems from equipment receipt, maintenance, storage to repair. SIAD has extensive experience in equipment resets, new equipment assembly operations, training operations, maintaining active item inventories and item reassignment tasks. SIAD also established scrapping centers for combat and non-combat vehicles.

3. Tank Graveyard in Rockensussra, Germany

In the depths of Germany’s Thuringian Forest, 300 kilometers southwest of Berlin, there is a vast tank graveyard. Here, thousands of old German tanks and armor are lined up neatly and orderly, quietly waiting for the day when they will be completely dismantled and scrapped.

This is the resting place of thousands of old German tanks and armor.
This is the resting place of thousands of old German tanks and armor.

The company that operates it is Battle Tank Dismantling GmbH Koch, founded in 1991, and is the only NATO licensed unit in Europe in the field of tank dismantling. The process of dismantling the “iron monster” began after the reunification of Germany. As of mid-2012, 16,000 vehicles had been successfully dismantled here, including 880 Leopard 1 tanks, 203 T-72 tanks and more than 1,000 Marders.

Most of the tank modification will be done manually by the crew
Most tank modifications will be done by hand.

Many parts are returned to the manufacturer as a source of spares and assemblies. At the same time, high-quality precious metals are collected and recycled. Most tank modifications will be done by hand.