The 3 largest tank graveyards in the world: From warriors to scrap metal

When no longer usable, the tanks will become scrap and have to endure rain and sun for decades .

1. Giant tank graveyard in Kharkiv city, Ukraine

In Ukraine, there is a large area known as the "tank graveyard", located at the Kharkiv factory, about 40 km from the Russian border. This is the gathering place of more than 400 old war machines that the army has removed from combat.

This is where more than 400 war machines that the army has discarded are gathered.

According to Dailymail, this "tank graveyard" used to be a large tank repair plant, but after going bankrupt in 1991, it was abandoned and gradually fell into oblivion. In the early 1960s and 1970s, the Kharkiv plant repaired more than 60 tanks and 55 engines per month. Now, dozens of tank engines and other old machinery lie scattered, worn out by the harsh weather and time.

The turrets of many tanks could not stand and collapsed.

Everywhere, rows of old machines lay motionless. The turrets of many tanks had collapsed and could no longer stand. Over time, weeds had grown as high as the turrets of many vehicles. Even spare parts of the iron monsters lay scattered inside the workshops.

2. Sierra Army Depot - US Army archives

Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) was originally a storage facility before it became a place to store the US Army's "iron monsters". Built in 1942 near the unincorporated community of Herlong, California, Sierra Army Depot was one of several ammunition storage facilities located deep inland to protect against attack.

This is an area with little rainfall, which helps reduce the risk of machinery rusting.

According to Atlas Obscura, the site was described as being 'close enough to Pacific ports, but far enough from the coast to avoid possible attacks.' It also had little rainfall, which reduced the risk of rusting machinery. The site later met the dry and isolated requirements, making it the site of choice for the U.S. military's general ammunition and supplies depot.

The massive base is estimated to house more than 26,000 armored vehicles, making it the most notable component of a 36,000-acre storage facility that houses many of the U.S. military's armored vehicles, tractors, trucks, and other vehicles.

It is estimated that this giant base contains more than 26,000 armored vehicles.

Today, Sierra Army Depot also performs a variety of long-term logistics and sustainment missions. From equipment reception, care, storage to repair, reset all fuel systems. SIAD has extensive experience in equipment reset, new equipment assembly operations, training operations, maintaining active project inventory and redistribution missions for items. SIAD has also established an End-of-First Life Center for combat and non-combat vehicles.

3. Tank Graveyard in Rockenssra, Germany

Deep in Germany's Thuringia forest, 300 km southwest of Berlin, lies a vast tank graveyard. This is where thousands of old German tanks and armored vehicles are lined up in neat and orderly rows, resting until the day they are completely dismantled for scrap metal.

This is where thousands of old German tanks and armored vehicles rest.

The company that operates the site is Battle Tank Dismantling GmbH Koch, founded in 1991 and the only NATO-licensed tank dismantling company in Europe. The dismantling of the "iron monsters" began after German reunification. As of mid-2012, 16,000 vehicles had been successfully dismantled there, including 880 Leopard 1 tanks, 203 T-72 tanks and more than 1,000 Marders.

. Most of the tank conversion work will be done by hand by the staff.

Many parts are returned to manufacturers for use as spare parts and components. High-quality precious metals are also collected and recycled. Much of the work on tank reconditioning is done by hand.