The Tank Museum

The requirement for the FV4005 was issued in November 1950 and was to be fulfilled in two stages. Stage 1 (shown here) was described as ‘experimental only, intended to prove the suitability of this type of vehicle as a firing platform and to solve problems connected with the handling of heavy ammunition.’

One Stage 1 turret was ordered from Vickers to be fitted to a Centurion Mark 3 hull supplied by the Army.


The gun mounting fitted to the Stage 1 vehicle could traverse through 360°, but the recoil force meant that firing was only safely possible within a limited arc to the front.

According to surviving blueprints, the gun could elevate and depress between -5° and +10°.

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The Tank Museum

What are you hoping to get for Christmas this year?

If you were the Director of Military Intelligence at GHQ Middle Eastern Forces in 1942, you’d have unwrapped this newly captured Panzer IV Ausf G, a gift from 1st Armoured Division.

The tank, with Fahrgestell Number 83072, was sent to the UK for analysis. In 1960, after many years on display here at the Tank Museum, it was returned to Germany where it can now be seen at the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Munster.

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The Tank Museum

Fighting in the snow...

Here whitewashed tanks and an Armoured recovery vehicle of the US Seventh Army wait to advance north of Strasbourg.

For centuries fighting traditionally died down for the winter months as armies sought winter quarters, but in the 20th Century with the advent of mechanisation this became less prevalent.

However, in conditions such as this it was not just the enemy that was a danger but the elements too. A tank could become so cold on touch that bare skin would freeze to the metal.

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The Tank Museum

The M10 and M36 used the same hull, based on that of the M4 Sherman tank. As Tank Destroyers, they were more lightly armoured and faster than tanks, but carried heavier firepower.

When American forces encountered some of the heavier German tanks of the Second World War, they found the M10 wasn’t up to the task. This led to the development of the M36 (seen here), which used the M10’s hull but was fitted with a new turret and a powerful 90mm gun.
Unfortunately for the crew, the turret had no roof. This improved visibility and gave them more space to work in — but it left them vulnerable to artillery and made life far less pleasant during a snowstorm.

For more on Allied tank destroyers, see our Tank Chat on the Achilles here: https://youtu.be/icR4UKOLr5A

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‘Ally Oop III’ powers through the snow of north-west Europe during the winter of 1944-45.

The M24 Chaffee light tank was a replacement for the outdated M3 and M5 Stuart. It was more powerfully armed and more mobile, but its main advantage, according to James Clark of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, was that ‘unlike the Sherman it looked like a tank should look rather than the illegitimate child of a farm tractor.’

For more on the M24 Chaffee watch our Tank Chat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwrFD...

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The Tank Museum

Tune in to our new YouTube video – TOMORROW at 13:00 GMT

We're joined by David Webb – the founder, CEO and voice of ‪@Yarnhub‬ – as he picks his Top 5 Tanks from The Tank Museum’s collection.

Patreon & YouTube Members get early access, so are enjoying the video right now - JOIN THEM!

patreon.com/c/tankmuseum
youtube.com/@thetankmuseum

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The Tank Museum

Get ready for the World of Tanks festive Tankmas Historical Stream filled with exclusive interviews, tours of rare tank collections around the world, live music, and plenty of holiday surprises.

Even better—you can earn Twitch Drops just by watching it on the official World of Tanks Twitch channel! 12 December - 16:00 UTC

www.twitch.tv/worldoftanks

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The Tank Museum

Although having some level of shelter from the elements might make tank crews slightly more comfortable, they were not luxury machines.

Tank crews throughout the years have bemoaned the temperature of their tanks, too hot in summer and too cold in winter. This ‘Jumbo’ Sherman crew may have less walking to do than the infantry, but their freezing metal box is probably not much cozier.

Learn more about Shermans - tankmuseumshop.org/products/the-tank-museum-guide-…

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The Tank Museum

Simple and effective, the Bren was the premier light machine gun of the Second World War.

Built under license in the UK, its name was a combination of the location of its Czech designers, Brno, and British manufacturers, Enfield.

Canada built the Mk I(M) variant, pictured here. It was based on the British Mk I with only minor variations. Unlike the UK, who moved to the cheaper Mk II following Dunkirk, Canada kept producing these throughout the war.

The Bren remained in British service in the mounted and dismounted roles until 1992.

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The Tank Museum

Caption this!

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