Bovington Tank Museum Part 3

Inevitably it was time finish the museum tour with the last unvisited area and make our way to the exit.

It was getting late and we were far beyond our scheduled time to leave for the long drive back to Scotland.

In order to do so we had to go on with the few remaining thanks and exhibitions.

First of all at the back of the War World II area there is a small area with a bar and a family seating space.

Next to it was Mr Jingles favourite tanks (and the thank on which I managed to kill him ) : The TOG II.

It's the less good looking area to be honest and really resembles a depot but still we have some nice tanks.

There is Conqueror tank, a Challenger and a Chieftain tank.

The last one of them to our great surprise, was open for a visit.

We could not miss this chance so we patiently waited for tank to be opened and together with another visitor of the museum we were lead down two narrow hatches.

Once on top Homer and I were instructed to put on a solid plastic helmet and enter the right hatch (left one if watched from the front).

Homer went in first and once he set down the main seat at the bottom of the hatch he had to slide forward to an even narrower seat: the gunner one.

I went down right behind him and found myself sitting on the commander seat.

The other guy, supposedly the loader, went in the other hatch.

Standing in the tank there was a museum guide which was waiting to explain us not only how the tank operates but also shared his personal account having been himself a member of a Chieftain crew.

We were very pleased with the visit and we would have kept asking questions if it wasn't our time was up and had to leave for the next group of people to take our place.

I only managed to take a single picture with the wide angle and was not even enough to show how the tank crew is really squeezed inside there.

As you can see my left knee is against Homer left arm.

Anyway what I can share from the tank commander perspective is that is quite hard to see anything at all from the tiny armoured slots used to look outside when the hatches are closed.

A curiosity is also that the tank , as mentioned before is NBC safe (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) and in order to prevent contaminated atmosphere to enter the tank it is kept as a constant pressure for the air not to have access to the living compartment.

Once we left the tank we went for a quick visit to the Exhibition Camp Afghanistan.

Here you can view a reconstruction of a British military base based in Afghanistan. From the barracks quarters to the vehicles like Jeeps and Tracked troop carriers.

It is excellent in giving an insight in what life is in a British base and was very interesting to be able to see the damaged vehicles either half blown by mines and scarred buy heavy gunfire.

The only problem with the area is that there are many displays with video to watch scenes from the battlefield and when they all go on at the same time they generate a cacophony which to me was quite annoying.

Left the area we moved onto the First World War Exhibition.

This are is split in two.

The first part War Horse to Horse Power depicting the development of tanks into the modern machines.

Here is possible to see the first tanks from Britain and from Germany.

Also a small collection of artillery pieces is displayed here.

Next to it is the area with the reconstruction of a typical First World War trench.

I must confess both areas are nice and well detailed but personally for the second one I had mixed feelings.

I come to the tank museum to see tanks, and especially tanks I can relate to so, despite being a very nice attraction, I left with the feeling this area was due to be seen as part of the ticket rather than an area I wanted to see as it was more related to a war museum that a tank museum.

Still I could not avoid to pay my respect to Lord Kitchener on the way out!

Once out of this exhibition was time to time to leave.

We headed to the shop to take a souvenir and head home.

I got a wristband and a little fridge magnet with a few aligned Matilda tanks on the North Africa desert.

We left the museum and slowly walked to the car taking a look at the arena where the Tankfest parade takes place.

When we finally left we headed for the exit and we immediately stopped.

In fact awaiting for us was a little surprise to send us on our way home.

The massive turret and the centurion chassis leaves no space for doubt: it's the FV4005!

The tanks is definitely massive and the exposition to the outside weather is quite visible especially at the back side facing the fence which is a bit rusty.

A picture is well worth anyway.

We jumped back into car and made our way for the motorway finally heading home.

The body was tired but the mind was still quite excited for the visit.

The main topic on the way back was related to the most interesting tank we saw and we kind of agreed we were quite impressed by a tank we did not really expected and that we subsequently decided to research on WOT: The Panther.

The engineering going in these tank was quite impressive and is a testimony to the dedication of engineers that despite having to deal with material shortage tried to produce the best tanks for their country and adapt them to face a new way of doing war.

By the time we got back home we were exhausted but this very fast visit did not satisfy the desire of knowing more and I'm quite sure that before the yearly access to the museum expires we will definitely make good use of it again.

Thanks for reading the posts!

Johnbull79 & Homer_5

Special Report: Bovington Museum - Part 2

Time flies when you have so much to see and a limited amount of time.

The journey back home had cut-out a big chunk of the schedule we had for the day.

So without wasting a second we moved to the second area: Second World War and Discovery Centre.

Passing from one room to the other you need to pass the main corridor.

We were going straight for the main door when I noticed a smaller door on the left.

I took a look inside and noticed there was something unusual and we decided to deviate for a moment.

What we found was a Centurion Tank cut in half.

The peculiar exhibition left me surprised for the poor tank which looked like had a close encounter with Goemon Ishikawa XIII.

Nevertheless gave us a good insight on how crammed is the space inside the tank.

Gunner and commander are really squeezed in the tank one on top of the other.

After a little time spent watching the details of of the interior we decided to move on and finally enter the massive depot where all vehicles are stored.

Welcoming you is the first version of the Tiger II.

For the players who already played the tank they will notice the turret is the stock one.

The turret turned to aim at the entrance and the barrel aiming down is a fearful sight but is well studied to impress the visitors.

Passed the initial surprise you realize you are surrounded by tanks all parked tightly next to each other.

It's hard not to jump from one tank to another and the battle is even harder knowing you are on a tight schedule!

Next to the Tiger II you can see the Pershing...

 the Jpanther...

 and the Hetzer looking tiny next to the larger TD.

On the opposite side of the Hetzer we have finally the Tiger II as it was in it's production version with top turret.

This particular model is equipped with Zimmerit cover which allowed thanks to prevent magnetic mine to be attached at the side of the tank armour.

Homer took a picture next to it to give you the idea of the size of this steel beast.

This was achieved by having a thin layer of concrete-like substance coating the sloped sides of the tank.

In the same are we have the Matilda first version which was first used in Dunkirk by the British expedition while trying to contain the advance of the German army in north France during WWII.

Then we have Cruiser tanks...

 the famous German troop carrier SD. KFZ 251...

and the Renault TYPE UE which in the game has it's version with Anti Tank gun mounted (UE 57) ...

and next to it there is the S25.

On the left side of the Tiger II (from the front) you find the M10 Wolverine, the famous TD which converted with the British 17 pounder gives us the Achilles of the British TD line.

Next to it a beloved tank found in COH: the M8 Greyhound.

Next to it the Ram Kangaroo also a tanks in COH in the British arsenal.

But the best surprise is what is at his back.

The shape is unmistakable... it's the Tank Rally Champion: The Chaffee!

With open engine compartment and front octagonal plate removed offers a curious insight on the interior of this fantastic fast vehicle.

Also the name on this tank is nice: Trigger Happy!

Close to this section there is a selection of tanks which is quite peculiar.

It starts small and end up big.

In fact the first tanks is the small Goliath.

This for those not familiar with COH is a tiny remote controlled tracked vehicles which was packed with explosives.

It was meant to be manoeuvred toward enemy tank and be remotely detonated to blow up the target.

Behind it the Locust...

 the Russian td SU-76...

 the Luchs...

 and then the mighty KV-1!

This tanks, like the SU next to it, is very badly painted in white winter camo.

I'm not sure it this is a job badly done or rather a reconstruction of what was the original war paint like.

In fact these tanks were produces and sent to the front-line so fast that the crew receiving them was supposed to paint them themselves to save time in the delivery of the tank.

It's definitely an imposing view!

Only here you get the perception on how could be scary to see such a steel beast appearing from a forest in a cold Russian winter.

You can really see the physiological factor of intimidation.

At the back of the KV-1 there is a Japanese tank.

I was surprised to see one here but here is the HA-GO.

Next to it there is a tanks, the Australian Cruiser, with a... feature... well... how can I say it...

See for yourself and feel free to associate the shape of this possible Machine Gun port with whatever pop in your mind.

Malice apart next to it is a friendly face... an M5 Stuart tank.

Now we got back to the KV-1 and watched the massive JagdTiger next to it and we passed by a few second ago.

Covered with Zimmerit as well, the big monstrous TD has a small platform built at his back for the visitors to climb and watch inside the open crew compartment and engine deck.

From the very same deck, looking in the opposite direction you can see the a Centurion behind the JagdTiger.

Next to it there is, once more, the Comet...

Let's be honest for a moment and open a small topic.

Anybody who wants can go on the WOT website and look for my Nickname and will notice I have decent results for a player who enjoy unlocking every single tank line (even the crappy ones), does not have a premium account and is not focused on stats padding.

I never claimed I am a super player but I like to have fun and am not a total idiot on the battlefields.

Said so I really never get the hang of the Comet, never liked and found it an annoying passage between a super tank, the Cromwell, and a nice tank, the Centurion.

I know people will disagree but I never felt as confident as with the other two.

The reason of this small topic is to say that when I noticed the sign TOILETS hanging from the top of the tank I had a major laugh!.

I totally agree: this tank is a toilet!

Considering the area also included the Black Prince... well , what else can I say?

By the way next to the Black Prince you can also see the Patton.

Next to the Centurion there is an area with a few more interesting tank.

Another M5,a Stug III G...

 and a Panzer IV D/H.

The Stug in particular is battlefield ready with extra logs on the sides.

Behind the Panzer there is also an Archer, the British tier V TD you need to drive backwards (if you want speed) since it's based, like the tier VII arty, on the chassis of the Crusader tank.

Another hidden gem, once more for the fan of COH, is the Tetrarch Tank.

The small tank is in the canvass of an Hamilcar Glider which was the designated method of delivery to the battlefield.

Lightly armoured it was later upgraded with the Littlejohn adaptor to at least give it more fire-power.

Close to it we have a Sherman Crab, the famous mine flail vehicle.

With his rotating chains was used to detonate mines and make a path trough barbed wire for the infantry to advance and was especially used on the beaches of Normandy.

Behind the Tetrarch tank there was a gun piece which impresses everyone who have seen documentaries about the German tank destroyer even if the associated tank is missing.
It's the gun barrel of the Sturmmorser Tiger or simply Sturmtiger.

For those who don't know the massive tank was not properly shooting ammunitions but rather rockets out of his massive mouth of 380 mm.

It was used to demolish buildings and help infantry in urban combat.

At this point we were almost at the end of the visit to this area but still something was missing.

Where was the Tortoise we were originally meant to see in south of Scotland (see previous post).

But most important: Where is the Matilda II, my favourite tank?!?

Unfortunately we picked the wrong day to visit the museum or should I say we missed the chance to see them both as they were undergoing preparation for Tankfest.

There was a tour visiting the tank repair centre nearby where they were getting prepared but we had to make a choice and chose another activity which you will know soon about.

Sad about not being able to see my precious, I went to look for the next best thing.

What I found was the Matilda Canal Defense Light.

This unique tank was an attempt to counter night bombers with a powerful carbon-arc light beam of light blinking which in theory would have blinded/disoriented the German bomber pilots.

Next to it the Bison II, a mobile concrete pillbox intended for the defence of RAF airfields.

A strange attempt of replacing armour with concrete.

We now were almost at the end of the WWII area and the last section still included some small surprises.

The first one was a Crusader tank with desert camo.

Not a bad tank to be honest but not one of my favourite.

Still there are some quite good players that uses is in the virtual world of WOT.

Next to it a cut-out Panzer III.

Peculiar is the load of extra fuel on tanks stored on the top of the turret.

Perfect for instant barbecue!

To my surprise, next to it, there were two Italian tanks.

One is the Medium M14/41.

 Not a very successful tank and under armoured with riveted panels.

Pity they did not have the M13/40 instead this being much more famous and also the tank Luigi Arbib Pascucci commanded.

Next to it the Carro Veloce L3/33 based on the British design of the Carden Loyd tankette.

The trailer contained fuel for the flamethrower.

A look inside this tank paints a sad picture of what it meant to be a tanker inside one of these tin cans.

The visit to this area can be considered concluded even if it's not really true.

One area behind the cut in half Centurion was undergoing renovation so I too a sneaky peek placing the camera over the barriers.

There was another area which was made to advertise the movie FURY.

The cherry on top was supposed to be the Easy8 tank used for the movie on display here but guess what...

Was undergoing preparation for Tankfest as well!

Pity...

I must say I was a bit sad for missing the Matilda II but time was still ticking so we made our way to the next exhibition.

What was waiting there for us was a nice little surprise which kind of rebalance my feelings about not going to the repair centre.

Will tell you more in the next post!

Johnbull79