After inspecting the underside of Cobra King, some interesting discoveries were made. Where the red arrow indicates, the bogie mounting bracket has suffered damage at some point, the bracket being discernably bent. Also, damage was observed on one of the stiffeners, indicated by the red circles.
Another view of the damage. The damaged bracket corresponds to the reversed bogie on the left side seen in the last photo on this page.
It was also found that the bogie retaining bolts on the lower hull side had also suffered damage
This magnified inset view of the retaining bolts shows how the bolt threads have been stripped, possible from an explosion that damaged the original bogie.
At some point after the Battle of the Bulge, Cobra King had Sommerfield matting applied to its hull and turret. Rebar was welded first and then the wire matting, which was used by engineers, was welded to the rebar. Here are the remains of the rebar on the transmission cover.
Another piece of rebar still attached to the hull side. There are still several pieces and weld residue on the Cobra King. The Sommerfield matting was used to hold tree brances and other foliage for camoflage.
More damage was observed on the hull front. Here it clearly shows that the final drive housing has been pulled away from the transmission cover. This is the same side where combat damage can be observed on the right glacis above the fender and lower transmission cover seen in photos on this page.
Stenciling can still be seen on the inside of one of the road wheels.
Project leader Don Moriarty sits in the loader's hatch after making an inspection of Cobra King's interior.
Patton Museum director Len Dyer looks over the exterior, contemplating the work needed to restore Cobra King.