T62 - Bovingdon

 T62 tank at The Tank Museum, Bovingdon.

Canadian Ram Kangaroo

The Canadian Ram tank was a development of the American M3 Medium tank, but with a much more modern design hull. Like the M4A1, the hull was cast but sat on an M3 style riveted under frame.

Unfortunately it was designed with a 60 inch turret ring, adequate for the six pounder gun but which would have made adding larger guns more difficult. The Sherman had a sixty nine inch turret ring which allowed the fitting of more powerful guns (unto and including the 17 pounder and as an M36 a 90mm gun). Theoretically the Ram could have been fitted with the ROF 75mm gun (based on a bored out six pounder) but the Sherman were going to be available in bulk.

The Canadians built a large number of them before Shermans became available and they were used extensively for training. They were also used as observation posts, which meant that they had their main gun removed and replaced with a dummy to allow more room,

After the successful conversion of M7 Priest self propelled guns into armoured personnel carries, eyes were turned upon the Ram tanks sitting in Britain.

The turrets were removed and the space used to carry a troop section.

There are two types of Ram hull, one, like the one below, was fitted with a hull sub turret fitted with a machine gun. The second had a more conventional ball mount. The British units were issued with the ones with the hull turret, the Canadians the one with the ball mount.

This is the Ram Kangaroo at Bovington. They have a Ram tank, but for some reason I did not photograph it.

Tiger IIs at The Tank Museum

The Tank Museum two Tiger II tanks, one with the original turret and one with the production turret.

This is the production turret, with the flat front plate to the turret. Interestingly, this one has Zimmerit covering on the sides of the hull and the turret.

Detail on the skirt.

This is a Tiger II with the original turret design.

It was designed to fit both the Porsche design of the Tiger II and the successful Henschel design. The design had both production and ballistic issues.

This was a prototype, hence the lack of Zimmerit.

T-72M1 - Tank Museum

The Tank Museum has an ex-East German (NVA) T-72M1 tank.

Sherman VC at Bovington

A while back I visited the Tank Museum at Bovington.

There was such a lot to see, that I neglected photographing a lot of things I really should have, and that have become important on projects.

One of them was the Sherman VC Firefly.

This is displayed as a tank of A Company/Squadron, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

Of note is the presence of the spot light on the turret. Sherman V (M4A4) had the three part transmission cover,

Tools on the right rear of the deck.  Note the fixed metal scabbard for the blade. The rest of the tools are missing, as is the fire extinguisher.

Rear storage box and first aid kit.

There are some differences in appearance compared to the Sherman V at the IWM.

British Airborne equipment

There are two major limitations on airborne assaults: your forces if deployed by parachute can be scattered wildly and they have limited heavy weapon capability.

One way of concentrating your forces is to use gliders (that adds a new vulnerability as gliders are delicate things and provide limited protection from anti-aircraft fire). The other is the development of vehicles that can either be air-dropped or glider landed in support of your forces.

The British Light Tank Mark VII Tetrach was a light tank designed as part of the losing battle of light tank design that was then used as a glider borne tank.

Normally armed with a two pound anti-tank gun (a weapon that had shown shortcomings during the early North African campaign and was obsolete by 1943) it was not a particularly useful vehicle but at least gave the impression that you were supported by a tank.

This is the Tetrach at the Tank Museum.

A requirement for a glider delivered tank was passed from the British to the Americans, the M22 Locust was the result. Armed with a 37mm gun, it had poor anti-tank capability, initial unreliability and did not really bring much to the battle.

The Welbike was a motorbike designed to fit inside the standard air-drop containers, hence the compact design with spindly seat and handlebars.

I think this is an airborne howitzer.

Airborne jeep.

I think this is an airborne anti-tank gun.

World War Two gliders were extremely lightweight, and there was no protection for the passengers or crew. The Medical Research Council designed a set of armour comprising three 1mm thick manganese steel plates. These provided some protection to the chest, lower belly and lower back.

The plates were in canvas carriers and had felt padding. Weighing just over one kilogram, they were unpopular.

Shown over a Glider Pilot battledress blouse, they were normally worn under the Denison smock.

On display at Duxford.

M24 Chaffee - Bovington

There is an M24 Chaffee light tank at the Tank Museum at Bovington.

Cromwell Tanks - Bovington and Duxford

Cromwell Tank at the Tank Museum.

A Cromwell Tank at Duxford.

Rolls Royce Armoured car

Photograph of the 1920 pattern Rolls Royce armoured car at Bovington.

Soviet tanks - Bovington

Two of the Soviet tanks in the Tank Museum Bovington.

A T62.

A T55. This has been cut away for training purposes.

Compare the T34-85 Part one

The Tank Museum has a T34/85 in the main display area.

The tank was captured during the Korean War, and was probably manufactured in 1944 in Omsk.

Identification of the particular type of T34 is difficult, there were no official designations, the tanks were assembled with whatever pieces were in stock so a tank manufactured in 1944 may have earlier features than one manufactured in 1943.

The finish of the tank is most noticeable, the elements that made up the turret are crudely welded together. With the life span of a T34 being very short, production was optimised for numbers not for parade ground quality.

This tank most resembles the Rubicon T34-85, note the horizontal line of the turret behind the mid point. See the next entry for the other turret shape.