Southwest German I&i

[BansheeOne]

Since nothing else seems to come on for this year's general I&I, the German contingent has dusted off contingency plans for an event in the Southwest centered around visiting the Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung in Koblenz, originally conceived as complementing the 2011 Berlin I&I with the trip to Munster. This was initially meant to make use of Banshee Four's current location in Frankfurt, establishing base right next to FFM airport and thrusting south and west from there, though he will move in June; but it could also be held in July or August, a much better fit for most people.

 

This is an austere program with little touristic frills, though there are options to include some of the sites beyond the French and Luxembourgian borders which the Berlin cell toured with Ken Estes and the Texas A&M group earlier in 2011; destinations as far out as Verdun are within three car hours. Let us know if you're interested and what timeframe would fit you.

 

Suggested hotel: NH Frankfurt Airport. It's in walking distance from the terminals and right on the autobahn, obviating the trouble of wrestling into and out of town for the trips. I have an NH at the back of my building where I held my birthday party last year and several TankNetters lodged, to no complaints that I would know of.

 

Transport: Depending upon group size, Banshee Four as the current local would organize renting a van, to be supplemented by a private car brought by the Berlin cell if necessary (obviously if everybody fit into a van, we might just fly in, too). That combo worked well in 2011.

 

Possible destinations:

 

- The Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung in Koblenz of course; driving time ca. 1.30 hrs. 7,200 square meters of exhibits from all fields of military technology, from small arms to tanks, artillery and some naval and air stuff. Open daily 0930-1630 for a modest admittance fee of 3 Euros (free for serving personnel).

 

- The Technical Museums Sinsheim and Speyer; driving time ca. one hour. Two closely co-located sites holding an extensive collection of aircraft, cars, locomotives and other stuff, much of it accessible; Sinsheim has both a Concorde and Tu-144, Speyer a Buran shuttle and Type 205 submarine. Open 0900-1800 on workdays, to 1900 on weekends; admittance for each site is 14 Euros (excluding the IMAX theaters). There's a 35 Euro combination ticket which gives you full access to everything in either location.

 

- Just beyond the French border, Fort Hackenberg, the biggest work of the Maginot Line; driving time ca. 2.30 hrs. We took a tour of the extensive underground cavernes, tunnels and blockhouses in 2011 which was very good (if cold!). Admittance is 9 Euros. Regular English tours start at 1415 or 1430 daily, though the site is closed from 26 to 29 August. A dedicated group tour could probably be arranged if we manage an appropriate size.

 

- Depending upon timing, a trip to Hackenberg could possibly combined with a visit to Ramstein Air Base, which is more or less on the way; driving time ca. 1.15 hours from Frankfurt, then another 1.30 to Hackenberg. I know they are doing tours there since our district office has organized some, but would have to inquire about the peculiars.

 

- In Luxembourg, we went to the outstanding National Museum of Military History in 2011; driving time ca. 2.45 hrs. For a tiny nation which's WW II experience was basically in foreign armies stampeding through both ways, twice each, this has a surprisingly rich and above all detailed collection and also deals with some lesser-known parts of history like the Luxembourgian involvement in Korea. Open 1000-1800 daily, admittance is 5 Euros.

 

- Again, going there could be combined with stopping over in Luxembourg City, 2.30 hrs from Frankfurt, then another 45 minutes to Diekirch. The city is worth a visit by itself; impressive early modern fortifications, for example. A major US military cemetery is nearby to the south, notable for including the grave of Patton; a German cemetery is just down the road from it.

 

- Finally, Verdun; driving time is about three hours. When we were there in 2011, the memorial was uner scaffolding and looked more like a space shuttle on the launch pad; also missed the "Trench of Bayonets" where a group of soldiers was buried alive when their trench collapsed, and were just left in place as a gravesite. A good museum is close to the cemetery, open daily 0900-1900 in summer for an admittance of 7 Euros.

 

So we could fill five days, though we don't need to do it all. We will do Koblenz even if nobody else would join in, but can develop plans depending upon feedback here.

[sunday]

Leave to the Berlin cell to organize a I&I in a hurry...

 

Well done!

 

I have a complain about the NH in your backyard - no air conditioning!

[Leo Niehorster]

Sounds like a good idea.

By the way, Possibly fit in the "2nd Exhibition of Historic Military Vehicles" at Koblenz (2. Ausstellung militärhistorischer Fahrzeuge) on Saturday, 5 July 2014.
See http://https://www.facebook.com/events/1817224608416447/

For ancillary activities, assuming Summer:

A Rhein River cruise,

And for the oenophiles, there's always the Wine Street (Weinstrasse) , or for those less specialized: Sachsenhausen

 

Let me know how I may assist.

 

Leo

[sunday]

Any chances of going a bit south into Bavaria?

[BansheeOne]

By the way, Possibly fit in the "2nd Exhibition of Historic Military Vehicles" at Koblenz (2. Ausstellung militärhistorischer Fahrzeuge) on Saturday, 5 July 2014.

See http://https://www.facebook.com/events/1817224608416447/

 

Might be doable, though a little tight; I'll definitely have to work 16 June to 4 July.

 

Strictly speaking, Bavaria is a bit east of Frankfurt. There is the Deutsche Museum in Munich of course, the biggest technical/natural science museum in the world, but it would be more like a four hour drive each way, even by train; I suspect that would leave insufficient time for a worthwhile look at the vast exhibition.

 

For general touristy sights, there is really no shortage in the closer area. Besides the Rhine itself, Mainz, Worms and Speyer are significant places in German medieval history, and there's always the tourist trap of Heidelberg. But we are focussing on what TankNet core interests can be covered with minimal planning right now.

[Fritz]

I have no problem with seeing more of Germany but it's a bit early to commit. I have some ideas for a family trip to London and may be able to combine things.

[BansheeOne]

We had a preliminary vacation planning session at the office, and it looks like the earliest point for me to get off for summer is 12 July.

[Marek Tucan]

2nd half of july? Count me in!

 

EDIT: this year, though, we don't have WoT caps, even I lost my cap to a pleading player, so every participant has to ensure his head cover individually. In case sun follows me this year as well

Edited January 30, 2014 by Marek Tucan

[Harold Jones]

I lost mine somewhere, but Jami still has hers. We won't be able to attend this year since we are using the vacation budget for a week in Hawaii in the fall.

[Dave Clark]

2nd half of july? Count me in!

 

EDIT: this year, though, we don't have WoT caps, even I lost my cap to a pleading player, so every participant has to ensure his head cover individually. In case sun follows me this year as well

 

We can but hope!

 

Incidentally, do you know when the Prague events are taking place?

[Marek Tucan]

Will check. The plans should be out Soon

[BansheeOne]

With a possible group of 6-7, most semi-domestic, we're thinking of moving the base of operations away from Frankfurt Airport, since most possible targets are to the south and west. For example, setting up in Kaiserslautern would still mean the same distances to Koblenz, Speyer and Sinsheim, but shave an hour of driving time each way off activities in France and Luxembourg. I've taken a cursory look at hotels in Kaiserslautern, and there are a couple reasonably-priced ones with good access to the A 6 - including the Alcatraz, which is a former prison and advertizes as an "experience hotel"; you can even stay in a properly furnished old cell very cheaply.

 

The only problem with that approach is that there are no direct rail links from Frankfurt, but it takes two hours and a change of train in Mannheim. The best way would be for everybody to meet at the airport and travel from there with a rented van, though depending upon flight connections early arrivals might have to wait some hours for the rest, going planespotting or something in the meantime.

[Dave Clark]

No, NO "experiences"!

[Allan W]

Put me down as a possible, depending on the exact dates. Last few days of July and first couple days of August don't work for me unfortunately.

[BansheeOne]

So I sense a possible timeframe of 15-27 July, no prison stay.

 

The other hotels in downtown Kaiserslautern all seem a bit small, somewhat noisy and with critical parking situation from customer internet reports; and strangely for a city with the biggest US overseas military community, not all are easily booked in English. My favorite so far is the Barbarossahof in a suburb on the far side of the autobahn. It's certainly no more out of the way than the original idea at FFM.

[sunday]

Nice hotel. Suites seem interesting, but I doubt a 4-bed room really means 4 separate beds.

 

Put me as possible, also.

 

BTW, Banshee, you are from Pfalz, aren't you?

[BansheeOne]

No, that's just the district of my boss. Which starts directly south and west of the Kaiserslautern city limits, in fact. I'm from the Lower Saxony side of the Eichsfeld (which is rather similar though - rural Catholic conservative area, but no wine).

[CV9030FIN]

I might be interested...I was suppose to go Bovington this year as a reward for harsh spring ahead, but this doesn't sound bad as it would give me also a possibility to meet my former colleagues (German) from Mali belonging to Franco-German BDE...

[BansheeOne]

Okay, I currently have the following possibles:

 

- Allan Wotherspoon

- BansheeOne

- BansheeFour

- CV9030FIN

- Dave Clark

- Fritz

- Ken Estes

- Leo Niehorster

- Marek Tucan

- Sunday

 

That's just above the single van limit if everybody came, so we would probably bring an additional private car. Likely Dave's, since I finally managed to sell mine off on the weekend and don't plan a replacement. Suggested timeframe is still 5-6 days within 15-27 July; sound off about what fits you best. I would personally prefer the earlier week since my birthday is in the later, but that is no hard obstacle.

 

Ken has also suggested two museums on the Westwall in the general area, which are easily factored in.

[Allan W]

Any days during that peirod works for me.

[Markus Becker]

Talk about a coincidence. I was just thinking of visiting the exhibition in Koblenz, this week or the next. No idea what is up work-wise in the summer, though.

[BansheeOne]

I just talked to the liaison office at Ramstein AB, and their requirements are somewhat complicated for our needs:

 

- Tours are held on weekdays during office hours; minimum group size is ten, which we might achieve.

 

- However, groups need to be in a single vehicle of their own for the tour with their guide; unfortunately, private driver licenses cover only up to nine occupants, so we would need to rent a minibus plus driver for an otherwise free tour. They helpfully sent me a list of local companies offering such.

 

- Small groups can be attached to larger ones, obviating the above problems though English tours are in fact rather rare since most of their visitors are German.

 

- Applications are to be entered three months in advance, but only on each first of the month - 1 April for us - and are confirmed no earlier than two months in advance, though actual participants need to be only registered two weeks prior to the tour.

 

This means we have some time to decide, but need to be clear on minimum committed participants in five weeks. The tour can include a briefing on Allied Air Command Ramstein, access to an aircraft and a visit to the base fire station, which is all rather interesting but comes with some hassle. However, my personal contact at USAFE told me previously they might be able to cut some corners if we got problems due to group size, so I'm not discarding the idea outright at this point; I'll talk to them again some time before the 1 April decision date, and possibly get a price quoted for a minibus until then just in case.

[sunday]

Most excellent, Mein Herr!

 

I could ask my chilhood friend to come from Darmstadt with her husband, but they are not very much into military things.

Edited February 26, 2014 by sunday

[Harold Jones]

Put me down as a probable, looks like I overpaid Uncle Sam this year so the vacation budget has received a nice bump.

[BansheeOne]

Well, that pushes my list up to twelve.

 

- Allan Wotherspoon

- BansheeOne

- BansheeFour

- CV9030FIN

- Dave Clark

- Fritz

- Harold Jones

- Ken Estes

- Leo Niehorster

- Marek Tucan

- Markus Becker

- Sunday

 

Which makes group tours potentially easier, though we're moving away from the "lean crash program" approach to a full-blown I&I.

 

I looked at the map of our district and surrounding area today and found some possible targets in place of or addition to Ramstein. There is a former Bundeswehr maintenance depot at St. Wendel which is now run under a private-public partnership scheme, overhauling AFVs, wheeled vehicles, weapons of up to 20 mm caliber and NBC equipment, and visits seem generally possible. I'm less optimistic about Artillery School at Idar-Oberstein; we tried to include Armor School into our Munster trip during the 2011 I&I, but encountered a bureaucratic nightmare. I'll likely tour military installations in the area with my boss in late April though, and will see what could be arranged.

Edited April 25, 2014 by BansheeOne