WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.800 many different vehicles you're looking after now. I mean I was trained on 00:02.800 --> 00:06.480 chieftain, challenger one, challenger two, so I know those tanks. But I mean 00:06.480 --> 00:10.440 something a breakdown or yeah I mean you've got here the comments done just 00:10.440 --> 00:15.040 that honest. Quite nice, we've got it all prepped earlier in the year, 00:15.040 --> 00:20.400 absolutely fine. Put it out for tanks in action and the crutch decided to seize on. 00:21.400 --> 00:26.480 We have to delay the Soviets at the inner German border for as long as possible. 00:26.480 --> 00:30.480 This is why Chieftain ends up looking like it does. 00:30.480 --> 00:36.480 A massive gun, massively thick armor, and the engine is less of a priority. 00:36.480 --> 00:44.480 It's designed to sit back in a defensive position, hit the Russian to lock range, and fall back. 00:44.480 --> 00:46.480 Keep fighting, take it. 00:46.480 --> 00:50.480 Well, until the Royal Armour Court no longer exists. 00:50.480 --> 00:57.480 We're getting that formation, you have to have reconnaissance assets. 00:57.480 --> 01:04.480 For the British in the late 1980s, that was the CVRT family. 01:04.480 --> 01:09.480 Unfortunately it was all a bit macabre there as well. 01:09.480 --> 01:13.480 If your recce screen came into contact with the enemy formation, 01:13.480 --> 01:18.480 you were probably no longer in contact with your recce screen. 01:18.480 --> 01:25.480 Aluminium armour is not holding out against the might of 3rd Guards Tank Army. 01:25.480 --> 01:32.480 But what they are there to do is identify the main axis of advance of the onrushing Soviet forces. 01:32.480 --> 01:39.480 Giving battle group, brigade to vision and core commanders time to react. 01:39.480 --> 01:43.480 That information and the speed that information can get back to them is vital. 01:43.480 --> 01:47.480 Right. Where are we positioning our defensive light? Where are we counter attacking from? 01:47.480 --> 01:52.480 If we're at that's even possible. Where are our infantry digging in? Do we need to move them? 01:52.480 --> 01:58.480 All of this is going through. Where's our artillery going? Do we have close air support? 01:58.480 --> 02:05.480 From either the Army Air Corps or the Royal Air Force. All of this is happening at the same time. 02:05.480 --> 02:08.480 You can see why fog of battle happens. 02:08.480 --> 02:14.480 For the British this does start to change. This is a monolithic period for all sides. 02:14.480 --> 02:18.760 size, we get set in our ways and continue to do the same thing over and over again. 02:18.760 --> 02:25.760 It was a bit in the 70s. 60s and 70s, a standard army exercise for the British 02:25.760 --> 02:32.760 would involve a simulated German, sorry, a simulated Soviet counter-offensive into 02:32.760 --> 02:38.360 British lines. You'd hold them back, you'd take the losses. The enemy was usually 02:38.360 --> 02:45.720 plate by the Germans, in fact, using their leopards and eventually their martyrs, the 02:45.720 --> 02:51.240 British forces would hold them as long as possible until the ammunition, fuel and equipment 02:51.240 --> 02:57.280 stocks were depleted and then a simulated nuclear warhead would go off, which would 02:57.280 --> 03:06.080 signal NX. Problem? It's pretty morbid, really. Not great for morale. So by the early 80s, 03:06.080 --> 03:12.640 This is starting to change. A chap called General Bagnell comes in. Initially as division, 03:12.640 --> 03:17.680 then corps, then army group commander, and he instills a new level of get up and go with 03:17.680 --> 03:22.760 the armed forces with the British army of the Rhine. We're not just going to sit there 03:22.760 --> 03:26.720 and take it. We're going to fall back. We're going to meet the Soviets at the inter-German 03:26.720 --> 03:32.360 border. We're going to take the hit of that initial thrust, fall back. That is going to 03:32.360 --> 03:37.920 a whole division taking that hit. We have three armoured divisions and one infantry 03:37.920 --> 03:42.280 division to play with. That is a large formation, it's not as large as the Soviets, but it is 03:42.280 --> 03:47.120 a large formation. That first division is going to take that hit. It's going to then 03:47.120 --> 03:52.520 fall back through the other two divisions. This may seem simple, it is not. That is a 03:52.520 --> 03:58.200 incredibly complex maneuver to pull off. Those two divisions are then going to draw the Soviets 03:58.200 --> 04:03.400 in. We're going to let them have ground. We're going to draw them in as long as possible, 04:03.400 --> 04:09.240 extend their supply lines, extend their confusion. Hit them all the way though, not going to 04:09.240 --> 04:12.360 let them have it all their own way. Artillery's going to be coming in, air power's going to 04:12.360 --> 04:19.080 be coming in. We're going to be tritting them until that first division reforms. They will 04:19.080 --> 04:24.640 then form that counter attack, hopefully smashing into the Soviet lines with as much force 04:24.640 --> 04:32.360 as they can muster. If that worked, that would have been highly successful. It is an optimistic 04:32.360 --> 04:39.320 plan, but when you've got mobility on your side, it is possible. See the scorpion nipping 04:39.320 --> 04:44.240 around here? It would be a miracle if any of those survived that initial engagement, 04:44.240 --> 04:48.880 but they are still going to be knocking around in a few numbers, especially with the formations 04:48.880 --> 04:57.600 that are further back. The mobility for the British really starts to change by the mid-1980s. 04:57.600 --> 05:04.220 I love Chieftain. I'm sure we all love Chieftain. However, its engine does let it down. Its 05:04.220 --> 05:09.280 mobility is not up there with the latest bits of kit coming into the battlefield in the 05:09.280 --> 05:18.840 70s and the early 80s. 432, the venerable 432. APC, the battle taxi, he's getting replaced 05:18.840 --> 05:26.200 in front line units by this, the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It's not just a battle taxi, 05:26.200 --> 05:33.560 it is there to fight alongside the infantry. You mix that with Britain's new main battle tank, 05:33.560 --> 05:39.800 the Challenger One with its new engine and new armour, you have a new entirely revitalised 05:39.800 --> 05:47.400 formation that can and was planning to take the fight to the Soviets. What the Warrior allowed 05:47.400 --> 05:55.320 to do was it didn't just directly support the infantry the knock-on effect of that was that 05:55.320 --> 06:01.800 allowed the armor to be freed up the heavy armor to go off and do its own thing it was not tied to 06:01.800 --> 06:13.000 the four three twos of the somewhat defenseless infantry it is an absolute step change in capability 06:13.000 --> 06:21.520 Our colleague Stuart is going to next, in the next display, talk in a lot more detail 06:21.520 --> 06:25.640 about Warrior, so I certainly won't steal his thunder too much in that one. 06:25.640 --> 06:28.200 So what was the plan for the Soviets? 06:28.200 --> 06:33.000 The Soviet plan was relatively simple. 06:33.000 --> 06:39.360 The Soviet plan was, as I said, to smash across the inner German border and effectively keep 06:39.360 --> 06:40.360 going. 06:40.360 --> 06:47.240 I'm going to talk a little bit more about the Soviet vehicles when they start to move 06:47.240 --> 06:50.760 off so you can get a better look at them. 06:50.760 --> 06:59.840 For the moment we have Warrior, the infantry fighting vehicle which is just heading off. 06:59.840 --> 07:13.840 And then we have Chieftain, which is the classic British heavy hitter, a real old slugger of a main battle tank. 07:13.840 --> 07:23.840 Adding on to what James said, the whole idea with British MBTs is sit there, hold on, you've got a big gun, you've got heavy armour, 07:23.840 --> 07:32.840 You knock out the first few enemy tanks coming in your direction and then you bug out backwards, back to the next prepared position. 07:32.840 --> 07:46.840 When we talk about Leopard a little bit later, that is a totally different Kephard Fish, but this is a very heavily armoured and very well-armed tank. 07:46.840 --> 07:55.340 The thing sticking out the front of it is the L11 120mm gun, very very hard hitting. 07:55.340 --> 08:00.340 It can either fire APDS, it can fire thin rounds or favourites of the British Army. 08:00.340 --> 08:04.340 It can fire HESH, high explosive squash head. 08:06.340 --> 08:15.340 So Chieftain is moving round and the next vehicle to move off will be a Challenger 1. 08:16.840 --> 08:27.840 Earlier Chris spoke about Challenger 3. This is the first generation of that armor scheme. 08:27.840 --> 08:34.840 Chopper. You still really don't know what's in it today because it is that secret. 08:34.840 --> 08:43.840 Chieftain is originally a big slab of metal. This is composite. This is why it takes the shape it does. 08:43.840 --> 08:49.040 It's angular, it's slabsided, and it works fantastically. 08:50.640 --> 08:55.640 Our Chieftain Mark X is upgraded with still group. 08:57.040 --> 09:02.440 While that is technically a composite armour, it is metal backed with rubber. 09:03.440 --> 09:05.640 Challenger is a whole different ball game. 09:06.640 --> 09:10.240 Its gun is exactly the same as a Chieftain's. 09:10.240 --> 09:17.040 its fire control system is near enough the same as a chieftain mark 11 but that mobility really 09:17.040 --> 09:23.920 gives this tank the edge all those reforms i spoke about in the mid 80s this is what allows the army 09:23.920 --> 09:30.560 the royal armor corps in particular to go out into desert storm what we call operation grand b in 09:30.560 --> 09:39.520 1991 where a full armored division and perform exceptionally well in offensive maneuver warfare 09:40.240 --> 09:48.240 It was an army prepared to fight on the northwest, on the northern plains of Germany. 09:48.240 --> 09:56.240 It ended up doing, well, basically the opposite of that in 1991, but it achieved it. 09:56.240 --> 10:01.240 That officer corps, that leadership corps, those senior non-commissioned officers, 10:01.240 --> 10:04.240 they grew up in the army of the early 80s. 10:10.240 --> 10:17.240 James was just mentioning the performance of Charlie Won in Op Granby in the first Gulf War. 10:17.240 --> 10:24.240 Having spoken to General Sabatric accordingly about this, he was the guy who had a big hand 10:24.240 --> 10:32.240 in the origination of the vehicle. 10:32.240 --> 10:39.240 But up to the point where Challenger departed for the Gulf, their maintenance record was abysmal, 10:39.240 --> 10:44.160 shorter spares, what happens is an awful lot of cannibalization to get the vehicles going, 10:44.160 --> 10:50.640 desertization and then finally following that they did perform extremely well. They moved 10:50.640 --> 10:57.440 for about 350 kilometers in four days and did a very good job. Now looking at the Warsaw 10:57.440 --> 11:06.040 Pact vehicles, here you have the BRDM2 which is an amphibious scout car, amphibious that's 11:06.040 --> 11:13.040 words that's going to occur repeatedly. BRDM-2, that's the AmpliA Scout Car. See how that 11:13.040 --> 11:17.480 and the vehicle behind it, the 1890, they're both boat shaped. They are both designed to 11:17.480 --> 11:24.000 cross bodies of water on the surface. The BRDM-2, it's a Scout Car, they're used as 11:24.000 --> 11:30.640 command variants, anti-tank guided missile variants. This one, quite a jazzy camouflage 11:30.640 --> 11:35.680 scheme there is actually a nuclear biological and chemical warfare survey 11:35.680 --> 11:41.240 vehicle. But the whole thing about Warsaw Pact reconnaissance is it was 11:41.240 --> 11:46.480 aggressive. They went and go forward, probe the enemy, look for weaknesses, and 11:46.480 --> 11:51.760 suss out the routes by which the main diversions could follow. Now behind the 11:51.760 --> 11:59.280 RDM-2 is an OT-90. Now those of you who know about tanks will be thinking well 11:59.280 --> 12:02.280 Well, that's not what that's called at all, that's a BMP. 12:02.280 --> 12:10.280 It's actually a Czechoslovak version of the soviet-designed BMP armoured personnel carrier. 12:10.280 --> 12:17.280 It's got a slightly different turret. It was actually altered in the 1990s, 12:17.280 --> 12:25.280 and originally it started off with a 75mm gromm low velocity gun in the turret. 12:25.280 --> 12:34.100 been replaced with a 14.5mm machine gun, which is actually round for round a far more effective 12:34.100 --> 12:40.240 weapon. The whole thing about it is an infantry fighting vehicle, so it can take part in combat. 12:40.240 --> 12:46.320 The main thing about it, in the back there are eight, what we call, dismounts, infantrymen. 12:46.320 --> 12:51.160 As it goes past you'll see there are rifle ports in the side, never really quite understood 12:51.160 --> 12:57.360 what they're all about. The whole thing is that infantry and tanks work together. 12:57.360 --> 13:05.720 Now, classic T-TAC, T-72, comes out as the one I've suggested in the early 1970s. To 13:05.720 --> 13:10.880 start off with, it's a budget replacement for the T-64, which is too expensive and difficult 13:10.880 --> 13:20.160 to build. But the T-72 is an absolute classic of its type. When you look at it, you think 13:20.160 --> 13:27.000 T-Tank. It's low to the ground. It has got that walk-shaped turret. They've 13:27.000 --> 13:30.960 deliberately made the thing lower and in order to do that they get rid of the 13:30.960 --> 13:34.880 only crew member who needs to stand up to do his job. That's the loader. So 13:34.880 --> 13:40.960 underneath that turret there is an auto loader of the rounds. It's 13:40.960 --> 13:45.800 also loaded by the breach and there's a carousel underneath. The gunner presses 13:45.800 --> 13:50.840 button and it puts the right round of the bleach. It's actually very efficient indeed. 13:52.360 --> 13:57.720 The gun is 125mm, very powerful, but the whole tank itself is 14:02.120 --> 14:10.280 lighter and faster than something like chieftain. The Soviet water pack wanted vehicles 14:10.280 --> 14:13.720 and would come aground, do it quickly and get the job done. 14:13.720 --> 14:17.360 We have a friend of ours, Dac Patrick. 14:17.360 --> 14:18.920 He is East German. 14:18.920 --> 14:23.920 He was actually, he served on East German T-72s. 14:23.960 --> 14:25.680 We were talking about Chieftain and he said, 14:25.680 --> 14:29.720 I can't, we couldn't imagine why you built a tank 14:29.720 --> 14:32.040 so big and so heavy. 14:32.040 --> 14:36.040 Now as that T-72 goes past, you'll notice there is a tube 14:36.040 --> 14:38.920 attached to the side of the turret. 14:38.920 --> 14:42.280 That is not what it looks like, something like a tow missile. 14:42.280 --> 14:45.200 It actually contains the component parts 14:45.200 --> 14:48.080 for a four-meter snorkel. 14:48.080 --> 14:50.960 And that can be inserted. 14:50.960 --> 14:55.160 I mentioned the fact that all wallpack armor 14:55.160 --> 14:59.280 is either amphibious or submersible. 14:59.280 --> 15:01.280 It's very difficult to make a main battle tank float. 15:01.280 --> 15:02.240 It's too heavy. 15:02.240 --> 15:04.880 So the T-72, you put that snorkel up 15:04.880 --> 15:08.080 and it crosses a river like that. 15:08.080 --> 15:15.080 That way they get around the fact that us outside NATO, we'd blow up all the bridges to stop them. 15:15.080 --> 15:23.080 Now, moving off, one of my absolute favourites. This is a Canadian Leopard 1 tank. 15:23.080 --> 15:32.080 Now, Leopard 1 is the first tank built by Christmassy for the post-war West German Bundeswehr. 15:32.080 --> 15:35.000 And it is superb. 15:35.000 --> 15:36.640 That's a Canadian one. 15:36.640 --> 15:39.160 The other one, just by me, just up on the bun, 15:39.160 --> 15:41.400 is actually Australian. 15:41.400 --> 15:44.600 The third, Leopard 2, is Dutch, 15:44.600 --> 15:46.320 because it's not only a superb tag, 15:46.320 --> 15:48.920 it's a superb export success. 15:48.920 --> 15:51.880 Everybody wanted to buy Leopard. 15:51.880 --> 15:56.440 It's got 105 millimeter gun, British designed gun, 15:56.440 --> 16:00.120 but it's built around speed rather than heavy armor. 16:02.080 --> 16:11.080 Leopard 1 is about 15 times lighter and roughly the same number of miles an hour faster than a chief. 16:12.080 --> 16:20.080 The fourth here was that tank guns were so effective, it didn't matter how much army you hit it with, it would not do any good. 16:21.080 --> 16:27.080 So the idea with Leopard, speed, mobility, speed as all or if you like. 16:27.080 --> 16:32.880 That was the idea, and they weren't going to sit there and hold out. 16:32.880 --> 16:34.680 They were going to counterattack. 16:34.680 --> 16:42.880 So as Warsaw Pact columns came across, they would manoeuvre to flank them and do the job that way. 16:42.880 --> 16:49.880 See what? Two leopards once, and then James was a leopard too, isn't there? 16:51.880 --> 16:54.880 If you can hear me over those three engines. 16:54.880 --> 17:00.800 As I said earlier in the World War Two battle, it's absolutely fantastic to see multiple 17:00.800 --> 17:05.840 vehicles of the same type or similar type in our arena. 17:05.840 --> 17:10.000 Because unless you're on a battlefield or on a training area, where else are you going 17:10.000 --> 17:12.080 to see this? 17:12.080 --> 17:13.760 This is a tank troop. 17:13.760 --> 17:18.600 This is the smallest formation that tanks are going to be moving around the battlefield. 17:18.600 --> 17:23.480 And something you may or may not have noticed, they're not subtle. 17:23.480 --> 17:29.240 on how they're stopped. This is why you need smaller quieter wrecky vehicles. These things 17:29.240 --> 17:34.200 they're going to commit and there's basically no going back once these things get into the battle. 17:34.200 --> 17:37.640 You can hear them coming. I'm sure you could all feel them coming as well. 17:40.600 --> 17:46.680 That is the upside of a tank you can pass into anything else. You can stay in a position, 17:46.680 --> 17:53.160 in an overwatch position, moving that tarry, getting your arcs properly secured. Then you can 17:53.160 --> 18:01.320 move off if you need to or fall back or engage. That 120-millimeter smoothbore main gun on 18:01.320 --> 18:09.560 the Leo 2 is an exceptional piece of kit. You saw a later variance of that earlier on the Challenger 3. 18:12.760 --> 18:18.200 The Challenger 3's one is slightly longer but it will fire the same ammunition 18:18.200 --> 18:27.280 and it is incredibly lethal ammunition. When Leppard came into service it gave the British 18:27.280 --> 18:34.080 Army of the Rhine a bit of a shock. The combination of the Marder, Germany's infantry fighting 18:34.080 --> 18:45.800 vehicle and the new Mobile Leo IIs when coming into contact with British Centurions and 432s, 18:45.800 --> 18:51.800 Well, British infantry didn't really come out on top on that one, because Chieftain has lost the firepower advantage 18:52.800 --> 19:02.800 and the infantry are totally outgunned, which is why the Charlie I warrior combo is so important for the history of the British Army. 19:04.800 --> 19:14.800 Leo II is not only an export success, as Chris said, it's not only in service today like Leo I, it is in production today. 19:15.800 --> 19:26.600 Leo 2A7 is being fielded, Leo 2A8 is in production and the order books are full. 19:26.600 --> 19:32.600 If anybody tells you that tanks are obsolete, just look at who is buying tanks in how much numbers. 19:32.600 --> 19:40.600 It is staggering. If we wanted to buy Leo 2 for our daily driver, we'd be waiting about five years for the first one. 19:40.600 --> 19:48.860 There we are, ladies and gents. That's what's called a neutral term. If you do that on 19:48.860 --> 19:52.360 a tarmac road, the council are going to be pretty act off because you've just handed 19:52.360 --> 19:57.760 them a big pile of tarmac and the curb stones from both sides. It is something we do slightly 19:57.760 --> 20:03.000 frown upon. But when you look at those three leopards, you are seeing a considerable amount 20:03.000 --> 20:08.560 of tank development. From the early, Leopard 1, the Canadian, which has been improved in 20:08.560 --> 20:17.640 in some ways it's got secondary armour through to the Australian, the last in the queue. 20:17.640 --> 20:21.520 That has had quite a bit more development, it's been up armoured, it's got better fire 20:21.520 --> 20:30.160 control system. Still the same L7 gun, but then you have got Leopard 2 and that is still 20:30.160 --> 20:36.560 very much a current main battle tank. It is in service, that particular example, with 20:36.560 --> 20:54.560 the Royal Netherlands Army and we are very grateful to them for bringing it here today. 20:54.560 --> 20:59.320 So as the Leopards make their way off, don't go anywhere, you have got the British Army 20:59.320 --> 21:07.120 display to come but we hope you have enjoyed this look at post-war NATO 21:07.120 --> 21:15.320 Cold War armour. And did we say the Leopard 2 had great mobility? 21:16.600 --> 21:20.960 That's the Royal Netherlands Army just show what it can really do. That's 21:20.960 --> 21:23.560 impressive. 21:29.320 --> 21:36.320 Victory Lap 2, bloody marvellous. 21:36.320 --> 21:44.320 Thank you everybody and we are going to hand back to Steve Bulley. 21:44.320 --> 21:48.320 Thank you so much James and Chris and well. 21:48.320 --> 21:51.320 And welcome back to Tankfest Online 2026. 21:51.320 --> 21:56.320 Unfortunately we did have some unavoidable, unforeseeable and very unfortunate technical issues. 21:56.320 --> 22:02.560 It should be back. It doesn't affect the drops, and I hope the YouTube stream is back up and running and all smooth 22:04.400 --> 22:09.240 Yeah, yeah, that's if it happens it's not it's like a thousand degrees out here this yeah 22:09.280 --> 22:12.840 So I did want to announce that we do have a brand new giveaway 22:12.840 --> 22:18.500 And it will be coming from one of our community managers called Dwight many of you will be familiar with Chris 22:18.920 --> 22:22.080 But before then I believe you have a little bit of news to share 22:22.080 --> 22:30.040 about the next segment. I do well I'm very excited to say that the model we're 22:30.040 --> 22:35.520 about to see is based on our very own King Tiger V2 with a unique 22:35.520 --> 22:40.080 pre-production turret. Yeah sorry it's very windy. Okay if we can have a quick 22:40.080 --> 22:44.880 look at that video now hopefully it's gonna be very quick. 22:52.080 --> 22:58.920 Hey there tankers, the museum is currently restoring this King Tiger V2 behind me, but 22:58.920 --> 23:04.000 you, if you're lucky enough, were able to win this little one if you follow the green 23:04.000 --> 23:05.600 link available in the chat. 23:05.600 --> 23:09.440 Good luck and see you around. 23:09.440 --> 23:14.280 Looks so good that model. 23:14.280 --> 23:15.920 You've got to enter right now. 23:15.920 --> 23:18.200 We'll look up for Nick on the entry list. 23:18.200 --> 23:20.360 I'd love one myself. 23:20.360 --> 23:23.240 Now, both at the Tank Museum and in World of Tanks, 23:23.240 --> 23:26.040 it's always those weird and wonderful vehicles 23:26.040 --> 23:27.960 that get the most attention. 23:27.960 --> 23:31.120 Now, our next video features James Donaldson, 23:31.120 --> 23:33.040 who has been doing some of the commentary here 23:33.040 --> 23:35.560 this afternoon, asking what it is 23:35.560 --> 23:38.040 that makes a tank design weird. 23:40.080 --> 23:42.160 What makes a tank weird? 23:42.160 --> 23:43.800 We know what makes a tank bad. 23:43.800 --> 23:45.360 We know what makes a tank good. 23:45.360 --> 23:48.560 And maybe even what makes a tank ugly. 23:48.560 --> 23:54.160 What makes a tank weird? When I was first posed this question, I thought it would be an easy 23:54.160 --> 23:59.280 answer, but the more you look into it, the more difficult it becomes to pin down. But I'm going 23:59.280 --> 24:05.760 to give it a go anyway. First things first, being weird does not mean being bad. A weird 24:05.760 --> 24:12.880 tank doesn't have to be bad, but a bad tank can absolutely be weird. There are plenty of weird 24:12.880 --> 24:18.640 tanks that are terrible, like the Valiant. And there are plenty of terrible tanks that 24:18.640 --> 24:23.840 aren't necessarily that weird at all, like the Covenanta. And there are tanks that are 24:23.840 --> 24:29.120 weird and good, like the S tank. And there's also tanks that are weird for the sake of 24:29.120 --> 24:34.080 being weird. But what I didn't want to do with this video was just list a bunch of weird 24:34.080 --> 24:39.640 tanks we have in the collection. Instead, I conducted a highly scientific study. I sent 24:39.640 --> 24:44.060 a questionnaire out to all staff members of the Tank Museum asking what their weirdest 24:44.060 --> 24:50.660 tank is and why. The main results of this show that the Tank Museum staff know far too much 24:50.660 --> 24:57.540 about tanks to come to any sort of consensus, but it did show that a few patterns were emerging. 24:57.540 --> 25:02.900 Turretless tanks, not tank destroyers, actual turretless tanks. These immediately raised 25:02.900 --> 25:09.140 Eyebrows. Multi-turreted tanks. A whole category of what were they thinking? 25:09.140 --> 25:15.900 Normal tanks with weird bits stuck on. These aren't necessarily weird tanks, but they've had weirdness added to them. 25:15.900 --> 25:23.700 Experimental designs. This is where true weirdness thrives. When designers are allowed to go wild, they really do. 25:23.700 --> 25:31.940 And the French. A category of their own. French tanks are often weird not because they need to be, but because they simply are. 25:31.940 --> 25:36.180 Take the AMX 13 for example, it may look like just a light tank, 25:36.180 --> 25:38.820 but it was one of the main tanks of the French army. 25:38.820 --> 25:44.020 They could have built it like a normal light tank, but no, they decided to put the engine at the front 25:44.020 --> 25:49.140 and the ortho-loading oscillating turret at the rear, but because they could. 25:49.780 --> 25:54.100 But if we had to pick one tank that would truly answer the question, 25:54.100 --> 25:58.980 what makes a tank weird, it would have to be the MBT-70. 25:58.980 --> 26:04.980 Now, I would like to make an honourable mention to this, the EBR. Yes, I know it's not a tank, 26:04.980 --> 26:10.260 but it is really weird. Look, so we've got oscillating, also loading turret in the middle. 26:10.260 --> 26:14.500 You've got two road wheels in the centre that drop down that are only made of steel for a bit 26:14.500 --> 26:19.380 of extra traction. You've got a driver at the front and at the back, and they're really small 26:19.380 --> 26:24.660 compartments anyway, and the most confusing hatch system my colleagues have ever come across. 26:24.660 --> 26:31.820 The MBT-70 has all the hallmarks of weirdness and then some. The gun, 152 26:31.820 --> 26:36.840 millimeters and not really a gun, it's a gun launcher, primarily for firing the 26:36.840 --> 26:42.580 Shaleili ATGW but by this point the US Army had already worked out it was just 26:42.580 --> 26:48.180 kind of bad. The turret, it may look normal but it has a sub turret and it's 26:48.180 --> 26:52.260 not even for the commander like the Conqueror, it's for the driver. The idea 26:52.260 --> 26:57.540 was to make the hull as small as possible, but that didn't really work because the engine 26:57.540 --> 27:03.860 still had to go somewhere. The suspension is actively controlled, so while in theory a good idea, 27:03.860 --> 27:09.620 it was very complicated and does just make the thing look really goofy. Plus the whole project 27:09.620 --> 27:15.780 was a US-German collaboration for a new generation of main battle tanks, but by this point everyone 27:15.780 --> 27:20.500 had kind of worked out that conventional tanks worked best, and this wasn't a single oddity 27:20.500 --> 27:26.180 of an experiment. They ended up building 22 prototypes and the whole project cost both 27:26.180 --> 27:34.820 nations just $3.5 billion in today's money. In the end, I do think it just comes down to vibes 27:34.820 --> 27:45.700 and some tanks just have weird vibes. Well, weird vibes. Richard, what tank do you think has the 27:45.700 --> 27:49.820 the weird is fire will do that's a good question and I have to say I mean you 27:49.820 --> 27:54.660 know the oscillating turrets the French I not so long ago drove an AMX 13 and I 27:54.660 --> 27:57.420 wouldn't say it was weird but it was just unusual obviously for me as a 27:57.420 --> 28:01.340 British tank you to do it incredibly small I find it you know actually quite 28:01.340 --> 28:06.020 quite difficult to get into certainly the commander's capola and I'm not a 28:06.020 --> 28:10.420 particularly big chap yeah and you know the French have got a history of very 28:10.420 --> 28:17.860 much doing their own thing. Think about the Schneider, the Shah B1, the ARL 44 and the 28:17.860 --> 28:23.060 AMX 50, which also I think has an oscillating turret, doesn't it? It does. It does. Now of 28:23.060 --> 28:27.860 course we're talking a bit about French tanks now. Now a few weeks ago I was incredibly fortunate 28:27.860 --> 28:33.460 we traveled across to the Maizière de Blondet, the French tank museum in Samur and I caught up 28:33.460 --> 28:38.500 with Adrien and some of the staff just to have a look at some of the refreshes that they've done 28:38.500 --> 28:45.700 on the museum and also of course the big news is the Tiger 1 restoration. 28:45.700 --> 28:49.900 So we're very pleased to be back here at the Musée de Blonde, the French Tank Museum 28:49.900 --> 28:54.140 in Saint-Mure. Now I believe that since we were last year there have been some pretty 28:54.140 --> 28:59.100 major changes to the museum so I'm very pleased to be joined by Adrian. 28:59.100 --> 29:05.540 Thank you, thank you for coming. Glad to welcome you. Yes, there has been a lot of work. Shall 29:05.540 --> 29:06.540 we begin? 29:06.540 --> 29:14.620 Absolutely. This is the very beginning. This is the First World War All, with the very first 29:14.620 --> 29:25.420 French tank, the Schneider, on the Saint-Chamo. Originally, our museum is only on the countryside. 29:25.420 --> 29:34.740 We have the German All, the French All, etc. We changed all in January. Our museum is now 29:34.740 --> 29:37.060 in chronological order. 29:37.060 --> 29:40.620 So this is really, really simpler. 29:40.620 --> 29:42.580 So it's a lot of movement of vehicles 29:42.580 --> 29:44.940 and quite hard work, I'd imagine. 29:44.940 --> 29:52.500 Yes, it was, because now in here we have 170 vehicles. 29:52.500 --> 29:58.340 All of them, for about, still in running condition 29:58.340 --> 30:01.900 or complete in mechanical parts. 30:01.900 --> 30:04.260 This is quite something. 30:04.260 --> 30:07.260 Here we are at the beginning of World War II. 30:08.420 --> 30:15.420 You can see really simply the bad guys in dark gray, 30:15.420 --> 30:19.060 and the good guys with colors. 30:19.060 --> 30:20.900 Those are French tanks. 30:20.900 --> 30:24.140 This is the only museum you can see them, 30:24.140 --> 30:26.740 because, well, we have a French tank museum. 30:26.740 --> 30:29.260 Absolutely. The camouflage, fantastic. 30:29.260 --> 30:33.300 Yes. This is camouflage from the beginning of the war. 30:33.300 --> 30:39.780 We were very, very colorful, but then, then we lacked of time. 30:39.780 --> 30:44.340 So we do it simpler, only with two colors. 30:46.340 --> 30:48.540 We are still at the beginning of the war. 30:48.540 --> 30:53.540 This is the biggest tank, the biggest French tank, the B1 beast. 30:54.740 --> 31:00.220 Only a few exemplaries nowadays, still in museums. 31:00.220 --> 31:14.220 Of course, we put just at the front its enemy, the 88, the only gun which can take down the B1s at the time. 31:14.220 --> 31:22.220 Then, of course, at the France, we'll enter USSR. 31:22.220 --> 31:32.220 And USSR was, as you know, a very, very, very bad news for German tank, 31:32.220 --> 31:40.220 because the T-34 and KV-1 were just tough monsters at the time. 31:40.220 --> 31:42.220 Yeah, absolutely. Of course. 31:42.220 --> 31:47.980 Of course, I think it's important to add as well that the museum at the moment is closed, which is great for us for filming. 31:47.980 --> 31:57.580 Absolutely. The museum is closed. We are just before the entry of the visitors. So this is a museum just for yourself. 31:57.580 --> 32:01.820 And I believe there's still quite a lot of work to do as far as the behind the scenes. 32:01.820 --> 32:08.220 Yes, absolutely. There is only the vehicles ready to be discovered. 32:08.220 --> 32:18.940 all the elements to understand the history will be put on time this year or next year. 32:18.940 --> 32:23.540 Oh wow, okay, so a lot of work to be done. Yes, a very, very big chunk of work. 32:23.540 --> 32:35.060 We are in the desert part. British tanks on your left, Italians and Germans on the right. 32:35.060 --> 32:42.060 We are so happy, so lucky to have Italian tanks. This is quite rare vehicles. 32:42.060 --> 32:47.060 Now would you say the majority of the collection here is, was it found in France? 32:47.060 --> 32:53.060 You haven't got stuff that's been bought across from other countries or the majority of the collection was actually here? 32:53.060 --> 33:04.060 This is a long story short. Most of them for the Second World War, where, well, just took in France. 33:04.060 --> 33:10.140 took in France, because we were one of the major battlefields of World War II. 33:11.980 --> 33:21.260 We French recovered a lot of tanks just for studies. We wanted to rebuild our industrial 33:21.260 --> 33:30.780 capacities to build tanks, so we just get Germans, Americans, British tanks to study what was a good 33:30.780 --> 33:35.900 tank, what was a good idea to get them on built bitter tanks? 33:38.540 --> 33:42.100 Well, of course, we still have our Tiger II. 33:43.540 --> 33:48.420 For now, only one still in running condition, which I'm sure many people 33:48.420 --> 33:50.700 will remember, of course, from Tankfest last year. 33:50.780 --> 33:51.980 Absolutely. 33:52.380 --> 33:57.940 And we are really, really lucky because we do know for sure, at last, 33:58.300 --> 34:00.380 majority office, it's a history. 34:00.780 --> 34:20.780 It was deployed in Normandy in 1944, but its own crew had to blow it up, because of course this is not the enemy that can destroy a big vehicle like that, it's just lack of fuel, lack of mechanical parts and breakdowns. 34:20.780 --> 34:29.020 I said that we are lucky, we are lucky also because we are friends out there, this is 34:29.020 --> 34:39.680 a gift, this is a Sherman Firefly from our friends in Belgium, Baston-Barax, send it 34:39.680 --> 34:41.180 to us. 34:41.180 --> 34:54.780 We are in 1944, German's vehicle on your right, British one on the left, and maybe, maybe 34:54.780 --> 35:00.820 this peculiar center was on the beaches on D-Day. 35:00.820 --> 35:04.780 This is possible, Churchill, of course. 35:04.780 --> 35:06.780 One of my favourites. 35:06.780 --> 35:08.780 Yes. 35:08.780 --> 35:21.780 We do not know for now its own history because sadly we got those vehicles but paper doesn't do the same thing. 35:21.780 --> 35:31.780 We only add at the time the idea to get a vehicle, not its peculiarity. 35:31.780 --> 35:40.480 This is a really interesting part, because everybody talk about big German tanks, 35:40.480 --> 35:45.780 that allies were building also big vehicles. 35:45.780 --> 35:53.280 But, those things are the biggest tanks of World War II. 35:53.280 --> 36:03.440 Jagdpanther, of course, Panther on the Tiger II. 36:03.440 --> 36:07.000 This very panther is unique. 36:07.000 --> 36:17.920 It was took to the Germans by the 2nd French Armored Division, which is here in representation 36:17.920 --> 36:21.040 Louise's, this map of France on the cross. 36:24.920 --> 36:27.960 There are some Second World War vehicles, 36:27.960 --> 36:32.400 but this peculiar hole is not about Second World War, 36:32.400 --> 36:34.680 but about colonial wars. 36:34.680 --> 36:40.680 OK, the main idea is to show all the periods 36:40.680 --> 36:45.680 when tanks are not vehicle, obviously, where used. 36:45.680 --> 36:51.260 And to understand those kind of vehicles, 36:51.260 --> 36:58.720 this will be a special area to see what is an armor. 36:58.720 --> 37:01.640 As you can see, this is a good example. 37:01.640 --> 37:03.080 We'll talk about that. 37:03.080 --> 37:10.120 What is power, but on the portal view of firepower. 37:10.120 --> 37:13.360 So this is the gun from IMX-17B. 37:15.680 --> 37:27.580 And then we enter Cold War, authentic piece of Berlin Wall and then here Soviet 37:27.580 --> 37:37.800 vehicle on your right, on your left, a light. Yes of course, you saw that. My 37:37.800 --> 37:42.760 favorite, the cheek. Yes of course. Makes me feel old the thing that I served on that. 37:42.760 --> 37:44.760 No, no, don't say that. 37:48.760 --> 37:53.760 You were asking where those tanks come from. 37:53.760 --> 37:54.760 Yeah, yeah. 37:54.760 --> 38:00.760 For a part now, those vehicles weren't on a battlefield entrance, of course. 38:00.760 --> 38:01.760 Of course. 38:01.760 --> 38:08.760 But we are here, some vehicles took by French forces around the world. 38:08.760 --> 38:23.400 because with the United Nations giving us areas to maintain peace, we had some 38:23.400 --> 38:31.920 fights to do and we took some vehicles from our enemies and those vehicles are 38:31.920 --> 38:36.920 but in display here at the museum. 38:36.920 --> 38:42.920 But while all the vehicles were in took with the United Nations, 38:42.920 --> 38:51.920 this very vehicle here was took on Egyptian access in 1956. 38:51.920 --> 38:57.920 And most of the vehicle from the Cold War era are gifts, 38:57.920 --> 39:01.920 like those two vehicles from Sweden, 39:01.920 --> 39:06.920 and we even have a Swiss tank. 39:06.920 --> 39:11.920 This is a neutral corner. 39:11.920 --> 39:18.920 Of course, this is the Vietnam War corner 39:18.920 --> 39:26.920 with American tank M41 and PT-76. 39:26.920 --> 39:30.920 Do enemies at the time? 39:30.920 --> 39:34.920 Have you got a particular favourite in the whole collection or 39:34.920 --> 39:38.920 in the whole collection? Yes. 39:38.920 --> 39:42.920 I must admit I am a big fan of 39:42.920 --> 39:46.920 the S tank. Oh, okay. 39:46.920 --> 39:50.920 I think this is really, really interesting. 39:50.920 --> 39:54.920 Why do a tank without a turret? 39:54.920 --> 39:58.920 This is not a tank with a turret. It is a turret with tracks. 39:58.920 --> 39:59.920 Exactly, yes. 39:59.920 --> 40:00.920 This is fascinating. 40:00.920 --> 40:06.920 And it's so specifically designed for this, you know, just hiding and waiting and sandwiching. 40:06.920 --> 40:07.920 Yes, absolutely. 40:07.920 --> 40:11.920 Here we are in the Gulf War. 40:11.920 --> 40:20.920 Those two very vehicles were took on the Salam troops in 1991. 40:20.920 --> 40:36.520 There's a IMX 10 ERC, IMX 30, those two tanks were on the French side, Americans still had 40:36.520 --> 40:47.440 the time, the Marines had still M-60, had a fantastic vehicle there, of course, a Challenger. 40:47.440 --> 40:55.960 This is another part of the story, this is a whole to conclude the story. 40:55.960 --> 41:05.040 We begin here at the Gulf War, 1991, and we finish this very last war with the Leclerc. 41:05.040 --> 41:13.120 But in between, you have Yugoslavia, this is a Yugoslavian vehicle, you have, I said 41:13.120 --> 41:22.120 and it's NATO and the United Nations operations in white, with UN. 41:22.120 --> 41:27.120 This vehicle was in Lebanon in 2006. 41:32.120 --> 41:38.120 Last but not least, the Boclairek, of course, 41:38.120 --> 41:49.000 and some other armor from France, an XLT-B2 Brenniss, just before the Leclerc took over. 41:50.600 --> 42:00.200 A Leopold II prototype, quite unusual, and a Mercadar-Mercadar-1, a gift from Israel. 42:01.720 --> 42:07.560 Brilliant. Adrian, thank you so much for this quick wish of Stott's all around here. 42:07.560 --> 42:11.240 all I can say is obviously anybody that's in the area got to pop in and got to see you. 42:11.960 --> 42:16.440 And obviously the work doesn't end there. Restorations and your fantastic workshop staff. 42:17.000 --> 42:21.400 And we are going to have a look later at the very exciting project that you're working on at the moment. 42:21.400 --> 42:23.320 Absolutely. I go one. 42:25.080 --> 42:31.640 One of our greatest pride here in Somere is our mechanical workshop. Four mechanics, 42:31.640 --> 42:40.600 and volunteers are able to make running 100 historical vehicles from the first French tank 42:40.600 --> 42:54.680 1917 to nowadays tanks. There is two French tanks 30 years past Renault Air 35 and Inix 30 B2. 42:54.680 --> 43:05.560 The little one on my left is a vehicle which I've fought in the 40s at the beginning of the Second World War. 43:05.560 --> 43:14.680 This is a quite colorful vehicle, but it is the colors used at the beginning of the Air Certified production. 43:14.680 --> 43:25.800 This is normal but quickly after some years there was only two colors used green and brown. 43:28.120 --> 43:37.320 On my right, 30 years later, iMix 30B, which entered production in the 60s and this version 43:37.320 --> 43:46.760 is an IMX30B2 production at the beginning of the 80s. This is a very much potent material. 43:47.400 --> 43:54.280 It is an MBT main battle tank and this was our tank during Cold War. 43:56.760 --> 44:03.400 You can see them on historical display running here in Somere twice a year. 44:03.400 --> 44:10.640 While not freeing, it's an international model competition, and a second time in July the 44:10.640 --> 44:13.640 weekend on the 14th of July. 44:13.640 --> 44:15.640 Now, a little stick-tick. 44:33.400 --> 44:43.800 So, Richard, come in. 44:43.800 --> 44:45.520 Thank you very much. 44:45.520 --> 44:50.920 Welcome to the workshop, too, as a museum de blandet of Somnir. 44:50.920 --> 44:51.920 Thank you. 44:51.920 --> 44:53.120 The beating heart of any museum. 44:53.120 --> 44:55.960 Yes, of course. 44:55.960 --> 45:04.880 Now we have four mechanicals to work on the big project to the Tiger I. 45:04.880 --> 45:08.880 It's for many years where we work too. 45:08.880 --> 45:19.480 We have different partners, the Panzer Form, to work with us to make this tank work again. 45:19.480 --> 45:22.720 And I can imagine, so how many years has this been now? 45:22.720 --> 45:23.720 Is it the second year? 45:23.720 --> 45:25.720 No, up to three years. 45:25.720 --> 45:33.120 It will drive again at the end of this summer. 45:33.120 --> 45:40.720 And we mean that it's work with the four mechanikers. 45:40.720 --> 45:47.720 We volunteer three years to make this project to end it. 45:47.720 --> 45:50.720 Fantastic. And what would you say the work so far? 45:50.720 --> 45:53.720 What's been the hardest thing, do you think, the most difficult part of the whole project? 45:53.720 --> 46:07.160 We have all the parts we have put out to check everything that will be completed in the second 46:07.160 --> 46:10.600 World War II was. 46:10.600 --> 46:15.880 I've always thought, I mean, when you talk about parts and everything, I mean, the technology, 46:15.880 --> 46:18.640 everybody says the technology for the Tiger was quite complicated. 46:18.640 --> 46:20.720 The gearbox is going complicated. 46:20.720 --> 46:31.520 The engine was complicated, all is completed, but it's a very great experience to work to this, 46:31.520 --> 46:45.920 with the mechanicals, with the volunteers, and with the partners to give us the help. 46:45.920 --> 46:50.000 Wow, it's fantastic and of course it will mean that your museum is 46:50.000 --> 46:52.560 it's only the second Tiger one that will be running in the world? 46:52.560 --> 47:01.120 Yes, of course, of course and it was a great experience to see the 47:01.120 --> 47:09.600 bus tanks drive under perhaps next year or later on the running year of the Tankfest. 47:09.600 --> 47:14.480 Oh brilliant, I mean for us it's fantastic and thank you and all of your team so much for 47:14.480 --> 47:17.920 for all the hard work that goes into keeping the history alive. 47:17.920 --> 47:18.520 Yes. 47:18.520 --> 47:19.640 Thank you very much. 47:19.640 --> 47:21.760 Yes, thank you, Richard. 47:21.760 --> 47:25.920 We are incredibly lucky here in the Muse de Blondie 47:25.920 --> 47:32.200 because we do know the story of our Peculia Tiger I tank. 47:32.200 --> 47:36.960 This vehicle, hair is in pieces. 47:36.960 --> 47:43.680 The other gun, the famous 88 millimeter gun, fearsome. 47:43.680 --> 47:53.680 We have here the piece, the toughest piece of its armor, 12 centimeters. 47:53.680 --> 47:59.720 It's incredibly thick for the beginning of EV tanks. 47:59.720 --> 48:08.160 But this Pequeria Tiger was engaged in Normandy in 1944. 48:08.160 --> 48:20.080 It was sent to the 102nd SS AV Tank Battalion in May 1944. 48:20.080 --> 48:25.240 It was deployed then in Normandy and it fought. 48:25.240 --> 48:34.400 We do not know which vehicles, which troops it killed or it was battling against. 48:34.400 --> 48:45.080 But what we do know for sure, at the end of its story, this vehicle was trying to flee 48:45.080 --> 48:55.840 from the last pocket at the end of the Normandy fighting in late August in the night of the 48:55.840 --> 49:01.280 80th to the 90th. It tried with two other 49:01.280 --> 49:04.960 Tigers to break through the British lines. 49:06.960 --> 49:16.240 It was night, black night, no headlights. The three vehicles in line tried to break through. 49:16.240 --> 49:22.480 The first can pass through, but the second was stopped by the British. 49:22.480 --> 49:31.440 anti-tank fire break its tracks and the second tiger is stopped right there and the third one 49:32.640 --> 49:44.080 this one smash into the second stopped immediately and the crew was forced to abandon the vehicle. 49:44.080 --> 49:54.480 vehicle. The vehicle is then retrieved, some time later, by three French fighters that 49:54.480 --> 50:07.000 reused it against Germans. This is the story we want to tell. This vehicle, once an oppressive 50:07.000 --> 50:19.520 vehicle, then be a liberation tool in France, and after a tool to occupy Germany. 50:19.520 --> 50:26.860 Because this Peculia tank, at first named Bretagne by the Free French, was renamed 50:26.860 --> 50:33.520 Colmar at the time it went to occupation of Germany. 50:33.520 --> 50:41.920 to one man, which was Michel Obris, the father-founder of our museum. This tiger was retrieved 50:41.920 --> 50:49.760 from a storage unit of the French army and in the 70s it was put for the first time on display 50:49.760 --> 50:52.760 Asonur, in the Musée des Blindés. 50:53.760 --> 50:57.760 Bonjour, je suis Franck, du Musée des Blindés, donc je suis mécanicien. 50:57.760 --> 51:02.760 Donc j'ai eu la grande chance de travailler sur le titre qui est derrière moi. 51:02.760 --> 51:05.760 Donc ma spécialité a été un peu de tout. 51:05.760 --> 51:09.760 C'est-à-dire que j'ai fait la partie surtout avant, 51:09.760 --> 51:11.760 c'est-à-dire tout ce qui est réducteur. 51:11.760 --> 51:14.760 Donc toute la partie derrière le Barbotin. 51:14.760 --> 51:20.160 So the biggest difficulties we had was that, as it did not run for about 70 years, 51:20.160 --> 51:24.280 so a lot of grip, a lot of ballon broke. 51:24.280 --> 51:28.880 So in the assembly, we realized that there were a lot of things that were leaking too. 51:28.880 --> 51:31.080 So we had to redo the joints. 51:31.080 --> 51:38.480 Then we did all the mask part, so we made it mobile because it was gripped. 51:38.480 --> 51:43.880 After, we did the entire internal greasing system. 51:43.880 --> 51:46.440 So we have greased all the arm parts. 51:46.440 --> 51:48.240 So the arms have been removed, 51:48.240 --> 51:51.120 all the arm part has been checked, 51:51.120 --> 51:56.000 and every grease pipe has been cleaned to be able to return. 51:56.000 --> 52:00.840 So that's all the parts we've done until today. 52:00.840 --> 52:04.680 So here we are on new elements to redo. 52:07.480 --> 52:09.040 Hello, I'm Alexandre, 52:09.040 --> 52:10.480 I'm the workshop of the museum of the blind. 52:10.480 --> 52:12.640 So here we are on the Tyron 1. 52:12.640 --> 52:16.480 We are in the second phase of the restoration of the car. 52:16.920 --> 52:22.000 We have put in place the whole part of the gearbox and connected the gearbox. 52:22.560 --> 52:25.120 Yesterday, we put the engine in place. 52:25.920 --> 52:29.840 We are connecting this one and checking that there is no more leak. 52:30.560 --> 52:33.880 And then we will go back to a second phase, which is the deceleration of the vehicle. 52:34.480 --> 52:39.240 And once the vehicle is validated, we will be able to put the turret, 52:39.240 --> 52:43.240 to make the cannon and to make its way to China. 53:01.240 --> 53:05.240 A massive thank you of course to the staff at the Misére de Blonday in Saint-Mer, France. 53:05.240 --> 53:07.240 I'm absolutely incredible to catch up with them. 53:07.240 --> 53:11.540 them. The restoration project as well is going incredibly well. I feel absolutely 53:11.540 --> 53:14.740 honoured because when we were visiting was the first startup as you saw in the 53:14.740 --> 53:19.420 video there, the very first start of the engine. So amazing and of course we will 53:19.420 --> 53:23.940 keep you updated on how that restoration is going and ultimately it looks like 53:23.940 --> 53:28.540 there could be another Tiger I. Absolutely and we wish them the very best of luck. 53:28.540 --> 53:33.660 You know the Musee de Blonde is easily the second best Tank Museum in the 53:33.660 --> 53:38.780 entire world and hopefully you know one day we'd love to see that tiger perhaps over here at a 53:38.780 --> 53:45.340 future tank first but now speaking of restorations we're of course working on the King Tiger V2 of 53:45.340 --> 53:52.300 course at the moment but we've also decided to put the band back together and work on another 53:52.300 --> 53:59.900 big British beast. The Tank Museum and Mr Hughes are partnering once again this time 53:59.900 --> 54:02.900 to bring the Conqueror Heavy tank back to life. 54:02.900 --> 54:08.900 I just abused and but I'm here with a giant piece of metal which is in fact a Conqueror tank. 54:08.900 --> 54:12.900 We're going to try and restore it with the tank museum. 54:12.900 --> 54:17.900 You might remember us from a few years ago, we had a small party in helping them restore 54:17.900 --> 54:21.900 one of the biggest tanks ever made, the FE's Order of the World 5, 54:21.900 --> 54:25.900 and brought it back tonight and displayed it at Tankfest. 54:25.900 --> 54:32.700 we plan to do a very similar thing with this. Now for those of you who don't know there aren't actually 54:32.700 --> 54:40.300 any running concrete gun tanks left in the world. So our plan will be to bring this toy back alive 54:40.300 --> 54:47.260 now we're not going to shoot it but it will be toyed around as a working display to be seen at the tanker. 54:47.260 --> 54:53.820 The vehicle chosen for the project Conqueror 40 BAA1 has recently returned to the tank museum 54:53.820 --> 54:58.780 from IWM Duxford, where it's been on loan since the 1990s. 54:58.780 --> 55:04.340 Having been built near Glasgow, it entered service in March 1955, and was sent to serve 55:04.340 --> 55:08.220 with the British Army of the Rhine as a troop trial vehicle. 55:08.220 --> 55:12.180 It's thought it may have been the second production vehicle off the line, but its service life 55:12.180 --> 55:13.460 was short. 55:13.460 --> 55:19.360 By 1966, the Conqueror was effectively obsolete, and it was sent back to the British Army Storage 55:19.360 --> 55:26.360 facility at Luggishaw, where its original tire was removed. By 1975 it was being used 55:26.360 --> 55:33.480 as a tug at an M.O.D. establishment and ten years later it was donated to the Tank Museum. 55:33.480 --> 55:40.640 This is its current state now, no idea what that is. That seat doesn't look like the 55:40.640 --> 55:47.760 most comfortable thing to sit on, but the dashboard and all the controls are present, 55:47.760 --> 55:48.960 The war is present. 55:48.960 --> 55:52.040 One thing you might be wondering is, what is this? 55:52.040 --> 55:53.760 This is a Windsor turret. 55:53.760 --> 55:56.320 It's a relic of the Conqueror Development Programme. 55:56.320 --> 55:57.960 They have been designed to match the weight 55:57.960 --> 56:00.920 of the then unfinished Conqueror gun turrets, 56:00.920 --> 56:03.800 so trials of the new chassis could proceed. 56:03.800 --> 56:05.240 This will be coming up, 56:05.240 --> 56:10.240 and we will be putting a proper genuine turret for it. 56:10.960 --> 56:12.720 And that's gonna be very handy. 56:12.720 --> 56:15.000 Researchers at the town museum have identified 56:15.000 --> 56:19.760 an original 120mm gun turret on an MOD range 56:19.760 --> 56:21.760 and are in negotiations to recover it 56:21.760 --> 56:23.200 to complete the vehicle. 56:23.200 --> 56:26.480 So there is, I think there's too much going to be done. 56:26.480 --> 56:28.880 But on all these pretty things, 56:28.880 --> 56:32.640 quite common, the boxes are a little bit rotten. 56:32.640 --> 56:35.000 But let's take a look inside. 56:45.000 --> 56:51.560 Oh, yes it's mingling there, that's what people don't probably realise is there. 56:51.560 --> 56:57.720 Just how hot it is today and the smell of old stale peckle coming out of there is really 56:57.720 --> 56:58.720 nice. 56:58.720 --> 57:02.160 Shall we show them a little bit, a bit of a closer look inside. 57:02.160 --> 57:06.720 Now it may look terrible, don't get me wrong, it is terrible, but it isn't that bad that 57:06.720 --> 57:07.720 we can fix them. 57:07.720 --> 57:17.720 This is it's current state. No one's touched it. This is how it came. 57:17.720 --> 57:27.720 There's the back of the nuclear engine. Everything is in place. 57:27.720 --> 57:33.720 There's a lot of room in here. A lot of room for parking. 57:33.720 --> 57:37.720 Well, I've been a threat since very smelly. 57:39.720 --> 57:45.720 Well, I say you might be wondering what is probably going to be the biggest challenge with this project. 57:45.720 --> 57:49.720 And, of course, I've never worked on a conqueror before. 57:49.720 --> 57:57.720 So I'm going to go with many things, will be, but my main concern is actually Watson-Deneke here. 57:57.720 --> 58:05.200 here and that is a M120 and for those that don't know, essentially it's a meter engine 58:05.200 --> 58:09.640 out of the Centurion tank, you know, someone has took the carburetors off, thrown them 58:09.640 --> 58:15.640 in the bin and put a fuel injection system on, bringing in what was a 600 horsepower engine, 58:15.640 --> 58:21.680 all the way up to an 810 horsepower engine, which in fairness is quite impressive, but 58:21.680 --> 58:25.920 they weren't very reliable when they were new, so that worries me. 58:25.920 --> 58:30.560 If you would like to help support this project, please visit our website and help us raise 58:30.560 --> 58:34.600 the £50,000 we need to finish the job. 58:34.600 --> 58:38.840 Donating is easy and we're able to accept donations from around the world. 58:38.840 --> 58:43.920 And I want to say, huge thanks to the Tech Museum for trusting us with this project and 58:43.920 --> 58:44.920 the 4.05. 58:44.920 --> 58:48.440 We can't wait to see the Amazon. 58:48.440 --> 58:50.440 The Tech Museum, Mr Hughes. 58:50.440 --> 58:53.920 We came, we restored, we conqueror, good. 58:55.920 --> 59:04.820 Thank you for your time Mr. Hughes, another exciting project and fantastic from him and 59:04.820 --> 59:06.920 of course the Tate Museum for getting off the ground. 59:06.920 --> 59:13.120 I have to say the video that made me laugh the most was we conquer a road. 59:13.120 --> 59:14.320 That's what I believe your idea is. 59:14.320 --> 59:16.120 So well done for that Nick of course as well. 59:16.120 --> 59:21.120 Don't forget to check out Mr Hughes YouTube channel of course and we went with Baited 59:21.120 --> 59:24.280 Breath to get updates about the restoration of the conqueror. 59:24.280 --> 59:29.800 fest 2028 that's when we're expecting to have that vehicle here so make your travel plans now book 59:29.800 --> 59:37.000 your hotels and get your spending money ready because the Tank Museum is a registered charity and 59:37.000 --> 59:43.720 it's supported by people like you enthusiast like you at home and we really appreciate every penny 59:43.720 --> 59:47.640 of that support there are many ways you can support the Tank Museum supporting us in our 59:47.640 --> 59:53.400 Conqueror project is just one of those ways. Now for a little bit brand new news from us and 59:53.400 --> 59:56.520 Wargaming has released a new title called World of Tanks Heat. 59:56.520 --> 01:00:01.400 Here's a short video where our co-hosts spent a little bit of time there, touring, playing, enjoying. 01:00:03.960 --> 01:00:07.160 We're now in the Vehicle Conservation Centre where I've bumped into Luke. 01:00:07.160 --> 01:00:11.160 It's the coolest place in the Tank Museum and I'm not just talking about the temperature. 01:00:11.880 --> 01:00:14.200 Luke, tell us what's going on in here today. 01:00:14.760 --> 01:00:18.600 Well, nice to meet you all. I am Luke. I'm Head of Community for World of Tanks Heat, 01:00:18.600 --> 01:00:23.000 which is our brand new game, newest entry into the World of Tanks franchise. 01:00:23.000 --> 01:00:26.200 And it's actually marked, well, for you guys, two days extra, 01:00:26.200 --> 01:00:29.800 but it's marked exactly one month today since we launched the game. 01:00:29.800 --> 01:00:32.000 Fantastic. So tell us a little bit about this game. 01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:33.800 It's part of the World of Tanks family, 01:00:33.800 --> 01:00:37.000 but it's slightly different to the World of Tanks game. 01:00:37.000 --> 01:00:41.000 Yes. Well, World of Tanks is quite a historical game, right? 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:42.800 It's very focused on historical accuracy. 01:00:42.800 --> 01:00:46.600 We are living in an alternate history in World of Tanks seed. 01:00:46.600 --> 01:00:48.400 So we follow like a 70-30 principle. 01:00:48.400 --> 01:00:52.200 70% reality, basing our tanks on real prototypes and real tanks, 01:00:52.200 --> 01:00:54.600 and then we add 30% of extra heat magic on top. 01:00:54.600 --> 01:00:58.040 And the vehicles are a little bit more modern than they do in the World of Tanks. 01:00:58.040 --> 01:01:02.120 Absolutely. We're settled in kind of what would be the Cold War era, right? 01:01:02.120 --> 01:01:06.520 But as opposed to traditional World of Tanks, we have hero shooter elements in our game. 01:01:06.520 --> 01:01:10.360 So for us, the agents that control the tanks are big focus. 01:01:10.360 --> 01:01:12.920 You know, they come with ultimate abilities, the tanks have abilities, 01:01:12.920 --> 01:01:16.120 and it makes for a very aggressive and dynamic gameplay. 01:01:16.120 --> 01:01:19.880 How is it different from World of Tanks apart from the vehicles themselves? 01:01:19.880 --> 01:01:26.080 Well, we lean a little bit more into some of the traditional kind of shooter game modes, for example. 01:01:26.080 --> 01:01:29.280 Right, we have things like Conquest and Kill Confirm. 01:01:29.280 --> 01:01:34.480 We have Respawns, we have, like I said, we have the Hero abilities and the Tanks have abilities. 01:01:34.480 --> 01:01:40.080 So, it's very fast, based on dynamic, and it's a lot less punishing than World of Tanks. 01:01:40.080 --> 01:01:42.980 Well, you know, you make a little mistake, you're back in the garage. 01:01:42.980 --> 01:01:45.780 And that's something I can tell you a lot about, it has to be said. 01:01:45.780 --> 01:01:46.480 Yeah, same. 01:01:46.480 --> 01:01:49.780 So, I can see it's very busy, it's clearly being well received. 01:01:49.780 --> 01:01:52.980 And what formats is it available on right now? 01:01:52.980 --> 01:01:57.700 So we're actually launched fully cross-platform both on Xbox Series X and S, 01:01:57.700 --> 01:02:02.740 PlayStation 5, as well as Steam and of course our Wargaming Game Center on PC. 01:02:02.740 --> 01:02:06.580 And it's fully cross-platform and cross-progression. 01:02:06.580 --> 01:02:08.820 You can play on one device, keep playing on the other device, 01:02:08.820 --> 01:02:10.260 play with your friends, wherever they are. 01:02:10.260 --> 01:02:14.020 So that's really been great to see and people have been receiving it very well. 01:02:14.020 --> 01:02:16.740 Well, I haven't tried it yet myself, but I'm looking forward to doing it. 01:02:16.740 --> 01:02:22.020 Just one more thing, are there any vehicles in the game which are based on vehicles that you can see in the museum? 01:02:22.020 --> 01:02:27.620 Yeah, we've got quite a few. I think the coolest example is because we are launching our season one next week, 01:02:27.620 --> 01:02:33.380 which is going to be coming with two new tanks and both of them are variants of the Leopard 2, 01:02:33.380 --> 01:02:37.300 which I've been looking at in the vehicle park this morning, which are amazing. 01:02:37.300 --> 01:02:40.500 But there's quite a few examples that are around the museum. 01:02:40.500 --> 01:02:43.060 Fantastic. Well, Luke, thank you very much for joining us. 01:02:43.060 --> 01:02:46.340 If we want to play Heats right now, what do we need to do? 01:02:46.340 --> 01:02:50.740 Well, just head to our website, it's whatheat.com, so wotheat.com, 01:02:50.740 --> 01:02:53.540 and you can play for free on whatever platform you want. 01:02:53.540 --> 01:02:54.740 Luke, thank you very much. 01:02:54.740 --> 01:02:56.740 You're very welcome. 01:03:46.340 --> 01:04:03.140 I know Nick, you have been spending every spare second this weekend playing the Tanksheed. 01:04:03.140 --> 01:04:05.900 I hope you've been making some time for PC still. 01:04:05.900 --> 01:04:06.900 Do you know what? 01:04:06.900 --> 01:04:08.700 I haven't had a chance to try it yet. 01:04:08.700 --> 01:04:13.140 And as for my skills in World of Tanks, well you can probably imagine, it's resulted in 01:04:13.140 --> 01:04:15.460 many smashed keyboards. 01:04:15.460 --> 01:04:19.120 said I know it's something that my son Edison and his mate Kit who are here 01:04:19.120 --> 01:04:23.920 today enjoying their very first Tankfest will enjoy so I hope you've had a great 01:04:23.920 --> 01:04:29.200 day lads. I think I'll have to say a moment then too I did promise my girls at 01:04:29.200 --> 01:04:32.880 home can I give a shout out please. Why the heck not? Yeah my twins Lauren and Amber, 01:04:32.880 --> 01:04:38.560 hi girls. Anyone you want to say? I just promised all these years you've been doing it. 01:04:38.560 --> 01:04:43.120 Hello Marquette and Marquette's mum. I hope you're enjoying the show. So what's your 01:04:43.120 --> 01:04:48.840 highlights of Tankfest been so far. So far all I think about is the heat it has 01:04:48.840 --> 01:04:54.760 been so swelteringly hot this Tankfest it has been unreal you. Well you know I 01:04:54.760 --> 01:04:58.000 think you've got a good point there about the heat we always managed to 01:04:58.000 --> 01:05:01.960 have a mini heatwave over Tankfest. Come on guys challenge a three we've seen 01:05:01.960 --> 01:05:06.320 challenge a three year. It was our first time ever in public. Highlights you're absolutely right. 01:05:06.320 --> 01:05:10.240 Challenge a three was incredible meeting Johnson Bahari and seeing him open the 01:05:10.240 --> 01:05:14.120 show on Friday was a really interesting moment for me. 01:05:14.120 --> 01:05:14.960 Sherman Jumbo. 01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:17.000 Fantastic guests, the challenge, sorry, 01:05:17.000 --> 01:05:18.720 the Leopard 2 from the Netherlands. 01:05:18.720 --> 01:05:20.120 Fantastic. 01:05:20.120 --> 01:05:23.320 You know, the Stug 3, the Sherman Jumbo. 01:05:23.320 --> 01:05:24.960 The Nasshorn. 01:05:24.960 --> 01:05:26.840 I know you've been very excited about that, Richard, 01:05:26.840 --> 01:05:29.720 just dying to see it because it's been a long time coming. 01:05:29.720 --> 01:05:31.000 It has been a long time coming. 01:05:31.000 --> 01:05:32.560 Long time. 01:05:32.560 --> 01:05:34.360 I think it's a good opportune moment, really, 01:05:34.360 --> 01:05:37.720 to thank all of the huge amount of people, of course, 01:05:37.720 --> 01:05:40.000 that take the time out to get a tank first, 01:05:40.000 --> 01:05:45.880 bring these vehicles and their passion is apparent when they come here. As David said, 01:05:45.880 --> 01:05:49.600 as all of you know, it's been very hot over the last few days. A lot of them are camping 01:05:49.600 --> 01:05:55.240 out as well. They are. Yep. And looking around, there's lots of happy people in the audience, 01:05:55.240 --> 01:06:00.720 albeit slightly sunburned. But you know, here we are at the Tang Museum in rural England, 01:06:00.720 --> 01:06:06.440 but occasionally with the same temperature as Arizona. Always during Tangfest, anyway. 01:06:06.440 --> 01:06:11.560 I know we're waiting for the British tanks to get roaring so before then I think now's a good time for 01:06:11.560 --> 01:06:16.760 me to remind everybody about Twitch drops which are going on right now. It is still a valid and 01:06:16.760 --> 01:06:21.320 happening on Twitch where after 60 minutes you would have had a chance of crew books, 01:06:21.320 --> 01:06:25.400 beaks, I don't know where a beaker is, tier 10 Badger, 3D Star called the moderate, 01:06:25.400 --> 01:06:31.640 the tier 8 premium tank, the ST66. After 120 minutes you have the two tank fest token store 01:06:31.640 --> 01:06:36.200 tokens where you can get yourself a Richard commander and put him in charge of all your 01:06:36.200 --> 01:06:41.480 tanks and you will win every battle. After 180 minutes you will have a chance of credit 01:06:41.480 --> 01:06:48.360 personal reserves, the tier 10 IS-4 Granite 3D style, or the tier 9 French premium tank, 01:06:48.360 --> 01:06:53.960 the Char MLE. Now for those that haven't tuned in since last year, we had some big changes 01:06:53.960 --> 01:06:58.920 in World of Tanks PC. We launched 2.0 where we introduced a lot of tier 11 tanks which was 01:06:58.920 --> 01:07:03.480 pretty big. We had a lot of in-game updates, mechanics, matchmaking changes and everything else. 01:07:03.480 --> 01:07:06.680 So I'm hoping, Nick, you will be able to check all of those out soon. 01:07:06.680 --> 01:07:14.600 Let's see if I've improved any. Now we are about to enjoy the last live display of Tankfest 2026, 01:07:14.600 --> 01:07:19.320 which will be the modern display from the British Army. And the vehicles we're going to see among 01:07:19.320 --> 01:07:24.040 them will be something quite interesting, the Boxer, which is one of the new British Army vehicles. 01:07:24.040 --> 01:07:26.360 And I don't know if it's something you're all that familiar with. 01:07:26.360 --> 01:07:31.000 No, I'm afraid it's a bit new for me, but of course it is the first time it's been here. 01:07:31.000 --> 01:07:34.520 It is the first time we've seen it here at Tank First in British Army service. 01:07:34.520 --> 01:07:36.920 In British Army service, of course, yes, absolutely. 01:07:36.920 --> 01:07:39.960 So I think judging by the crowd at the moment, we are... 01:07:39.960 --> 01:07:41.320 Big round of applause. 01:07:41.320 --> 01:07:42.440 Big round of applause. 01:07:42.440 --> 01:07:43.240 I think we are... 01:07:43.240 --> 01:07:45.200 We don't see any movement from here. 01:07:45.200 --> 01:07:51.000 Almost ready to go across, back, live to the arena, to catch up with the British Army. 01:07:56.360 --> 01:08:00.680 Explain what my actual job role is. 01:08:00.680 --> 01:08:05.640 Seeing everybody here, of their own volition, supporting everything that we do is probably 01:08:05.640 --> 01:08:06.640 the highlight of the year. 01:08:06.640 --> 01:08:10.720 I think it's fair to say there's quite a lot of noise about our armed forces at the 01:08:10.720 --> 01:08:11.720 minute. 01:08:11.720 --> 01:08:12.840 Not all of it is always positive. 01:08:12.840 --> 01:08:16.960 So when we get the chance to come to an event like this where people have paid government 01:08:16.960 --> 01:08:20.920 in to come and see us, the conversation we have, the questions we have, the debates 01:08:20.920 --> 01:08:24.800 we have at the ammo stand and the support that you could perpetually show us, it really 01:08:24.800 --> 01:08:26.160 means a lot for all of us. 01:08:26.160 --> 01:08:28.080 So once again, thank you. 01:08:28.080 --> 01:08:31.080 As been touched on, today's, we've got the chance 01:08:31.080 --> 01:08:33.600 to have a lot of the families of the soldiers 01:08:33.600 --> 01:08:34.960 that you're gonna see coming around here. 01:08:34.960 --> 01:08:38.120 So today, where I can, I'm gonna drop the names 01:08:38.120 --> 01:08:40.820 of the crews of the vehicles that we're gonna see. 01:08:40.820 --> 01:08:42.220 The family members out there, 01:08:42.220 --> 01:08:43.920 I do expect that you're gonna make some noise, 01:08:43.920 --> 01:08:45.320 but if you could support that, 01:08:45.320 --> 01:08:48.040 recognize the fact that they're out there doing this for you. 01:08:48.040 --> 01:08:49.720 It's gonna make our day, 01:08:49.720 --> 01:08:51.200 well, it's gonna make our day fantastic. 01:08:51.200 --> 01:08:53.800 It's gonna be a highlight to the end of our weekend. 01:08:53.800 --> 01:08:59.160 So, tell us then, thanks so much for that, Corporal Wright. Tell us then, what's your 01:08:59.160 --> 01:09:03.200 job here up the road at what I used to call the Armoured Trials Development Unit, it's 01:09:03.200 --> 01:09:08.920 now Armoured Trials Unit. I always jokingly say they're there to try and break the kit. 01:09:08.920 --> 01:09:15.840 Absolutely, we call it checking for ruggedisation, squaddy proofing it. Ideas come to us whilst 01:09:15.840 --> 01:09:19.960 yes we've dropped the armoured from our title, we are still very much the home of Mounted 01:09:19.960 --> 01:09:24.400 close combat at bovington so whatever it may be it could be some form of drone 01:09:24.400 --> 01:09:28.800 detection it could be some form of new cabinet new headset helmets anything 01:09:28.800 --> 01:09:32.440 like that once the boffins have created it for us we're going to take it we're 01:09:32.440 --> 01:09:35.280 going to run it through the field and we're going to check to see if it works 01:09:35.280 --> 01:09:40.840 it's a fantastic job okay the army is a big organization and I'm very happy and 01:09:40.840 --> 01:09:44.280 very lucky to have the chance to work down there because we're seeing future 01:09:44.280 --> 01:09:48.240 kit before it gets to us before it gets to our soldiers and our input as the 01:09:48.240 --> 01:09:53.880 experts on that, is truly appreciated. I've spent a slightly nostalgic story for you. 01:09:53.880 --> 01:09:58.240 The last Christmas card I got from my grandfather before he passed away had a very good line 01:09:58.240 --> 01:10:02.560 on it. It says something along the lines of, find a job that you love and you never work 01:10:02.560 --> 01:10:07.600 it down your life. I get to do that whilst working over here. It's not always great but 01:10:07.600 --> 01:10:09.600 I definitely love it. 01:10:09.600 --> 01:10:13.440 And it's a really interesting time for you guys as well at the moment isn't it for the 01:10:13.440 --> 01:10:18.080 Army because there's new kit coming in, old kit going out, you've got to work out 01:10:18.080 --> 01:10:21.680 what works together and we're going to see some of that lovely kit as well aren't we? 01:10:21.680 --> 01:10:26.960 Yeah we are, it's an excited time. We've talked about the new stuff that we've got, 01:10:26.960 --> 01:10:30.080 we're talking about re-rolling the old stuff, how do we make it work, 01:10:30.080 --> 01:10:35.440 fresh change constantly, we all see that and what we do at Army Charles unit is to take ideas, 01:10:35.440 --> 01:10:40.480 make plans with them and make them work. I think we're probably about time to see some vehicles. 01:10:40.480 --> 01:10:44.160 Let's give them a wave and see if anyone was paying attention over there, we'll wave again, 01:10:44.160 --> 01:10:49.680 go on there and say there you go. We'll wake them up so it's been a whole day. So let's see what's 01:10:49.680 --> 01:10:53.840 that first vehicle we're going to bring on because again I imagine a lot of people here think it's 01:10:53.840 --> 01:10:58.880 got to be a tank or something. Hang on what's this one? Really important though. So this is the 01:10:58.880 --> 01:11:04.800 MAN SVR okay so part of the MAN SV or support vehicle range this is the recovery variant. 01:11:04.800 --> 01:11:09.920 This is what we use to drag things out of trouble okay anything up to including about the size of 01:11:09.920 --> 01:11:14.120 of a warrior. You'll see the large crane on the back there. That is a recovery crane. 01:11:14.120 --> 01:11:18.920 That's able to lift things. You're looking at about a 15-ton limit on there. At the rear, 01:11:18.920 --> 01:11:22.680 once it drives around, you'll be able to see winching mechanism, pulleys. That's able to 01:11:22.680 --> 01:11:28.240 drag stuff up to 35 or 50 tons, depending on how it's done. This vehicle is crewed by 01:11:28.240 --> 01:11:32.560 the Rini, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Okay, most specifically, you're 01:11:32.560 --> 01:11:36.720 always going to have a wrecky mech on there. Today, we've got Corporal Glasgow and Lance 01:11:36.720 --> 01:11:42.000 Corporal Metcalf at Midford. Excuse me. There we go. I've got his name wrong and we still cheered. 01:11:43.120 --> 01:11:46.800 On-camp, Recce-Mex are responsible for checking our lifting equipment, 01:11:46.800 --> 01:11:51.600 ensuring it's all in date, making sure we can do things safely. When we get out of camp, 01:11:51.600 --> 01:11:55.600 these are some of the busiest guys and girls you know, because we don't get many vehicles 01:11:55.600 --> 01:11:59.680 caught in ditches on the tank park, but it happens when we're out there. So if you want a job where 01:11:59.680 --> 01:12:04.880 you're quiet for 20% of the time and busy 80% of the time, this isn't for you. If you want to be 01:12:04.880 --> 01:12:12.800 quiet 80% of the time and very busy 20% of the time, take this job. 01:12:12.800 --> 01:12:17.320 A few points on the SVR itself, it is a big vehicle. 01:12:17.320 --> 01:12:21.800 In that configuration it can weigh up to 38 tonnes and it needs to be that way because 01:12:21.800 --> 01:12:25.640 it needs to be able to pull the vehicles. 01:12:25.640 --> 01:12:31.080 Interestingly it can be used as a multi-purpose tool so it's not just limited to recovery. 01:12:31.080 --> 01:12:35.040 The crane on the top, if used in conjunction with another vehicle, and I've seen this happen, 01:12:35.040 --> 01:12:39.240 it is a pretty impressive sight, two of those put together, are able to lift the turret 01:12:39.240 --> 01:12:41.560 off of a Challenger 2. 01:12:41.560 --> 01:12:44.800 We said before, how many roughly we've got, you know, because again, scale, we're seeing 01:12:44.800 --> 01:12:48.520 one of everything here, but of course, for the military, we're actually talking lots 01:12:48.520 --> 01:12:50.400 most of the time. 01:12:50.400 --> 01:12:55.120 The MAN SV range, you've got about 6,000 vehicles, but that includes all what we generally term 01:12:55.120 --> 01:12:56.520 as army trucks. 01:12:56.520 --> 01:12:58.960 SVRs, you look at in the hundreds. 01:12:58.960 --> 01:13:02.960 Most of them are going to be attached to regiments that you've got the warriors, the vehicles 01:13:02.960 --> 01:13:04.840 that require that kind of recovery. 01:13:04.840 --> 01:13:08.600 As an armoured soldier, I'm probably going to see one per squadron for me because it's 01:13:08.600 --> 01:13:11.240 not there to pull challenges out of trouble. 01:13:11.240 --> 01:13:13.520 We're going to see a vehicle like that coming up shortly. 01:13:13.520 --> 01:13:18.120 And again, in the background, so obviously, serving army, trialling it here, but you've 01:13:18.120 --> 01:13:19.440 seen the stands out here. 01:13:19.440 --> 01:13:23.460 We've got things like the Yeomanry, the people in the background as well, because part-time 01:13:23.460 --> 01:13:24.960 soldiering as well. 01:13:24.960 --> 01:13:30.160 I imagine there's people here in the audience with the skills, recovery, roadstuff, they'd 01:13:30.160 --> 01:13:32.160 be perfect for this, wouldn't they? 01:13:32.160 --> 01:13:36.200 And of course that's the thing, we often talk about the armour giving you transferable skills. 01:13:36.200 --> 01:13:41.400 Remy is very definitely one of those, it's a technical trade. 01:13:41.400 --> 01:13:44.920 Being a technical trade, some of their skills are on a higher pay band, especially if you 01:13:44.920 --> 01:13:51.040 enjoy electronics, join as a technician, you start off as a Lance Corporal, more money 01:13:51.040 --> 01:13:54.760 and you've got that ability to then go and work elsewhere. 01:13:54.760 --> 01:13:59.640 So obviously it's come on, something big and noisy behind, hiding behind the mound there. 01:13:59.640 --> 01:14:06.440 Now another one of these classic vehicles that is essential for an armoured force, wherever 01:14:06.440 --> 01:14:09.360 it's going, but sometimes we don't look at so much down here. 01:14:09.360 --> 01:14:14.600 We only like the real big battle tanks and here we're talking about something that recovers 01:14:14.600 --> 01:14:15.600 them. 01:14:15.600 --> 01:14:16.600 Absolutely. 01:14:16.600 --> 01:14:22.040 So we've got the craft here, Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle. 01:14:22.040 --> 01:14:29.640 the name suggests it's armored it's there to repair and recover challenges. In its OES 01:14:29.640 --> 01:14:35.160 configuration we've got the extra armor on she's a real brute about 68 tons you're looking 01:14:35.160 --> 01:14:40.040 well over 70 with that she needs to be heavy because she needs to recover the extra tanks. 01:14:40.040 --> 01:14:46.200 Again crew today by the Remy we've got Corporal Wood driving today big shout out to her and 01:14:46.200 --> 01:14:50.200 his girlfriend who's present here and then at the top we've got Corporal Tucker. Hi Ali 01:14:50.200 --> 01:14:54.700 you're out there in the crowd I know somewhere and Bob who we mentioned yesterday let's give 01:14:54.700 --> 01:15:17.560 him a round of applause again for being ginger in this heat. 01:15:17.560 --> 01:15:21.560 Now that we've got the personalities out of the way, I should probably tell you what it actually does. 01:15:21.560 --> 01:15:25.560 The crane that you see on the top of there, okay, that is not a recovery crane. 01:15:25.560 --> 01:15:28.560 Unlike the SVR, that's not used for getting vehicles out of trouble. 01:15:28.560 --> 01:15:33.560 That's there primarily to take the pack, the engine, out of challenges. 01:15:33.560 --> 01:15:37.560 It is theoretically possible to take its own pack out as well, although in practice highly difficult. 01:15:37.560 --> 01:15:40.560 At the back there, that's where you see the draw bars. 01:15:40.560 --> 01:15:43.560 Once they've got us out of trouble with a winch that you see on the front, 01:15:43.560 --> 01:15:46.560 the draw bars are then attached to form an A-frame. 01:15:46.560 --> 01:15:51.440 That can pull a fully uploaded Challenger 2 tank out of most situations. 01:15:51.440 --> 01:15:58.760 And this phrase may sometimes use it wrongly, but theatre entry standard, it's got the extra armour on the outside, 01:15:58.760 --> 01:16:05.560 bar armour at the back and some of the electronic gadgetry that if it's going off on combat situations. 01:16:05.560 --> 01:16:12.560 Yeah, high threat environment. As ever, vehicles like this are combat support, they're not supposed to be frontline fighting vehicles, 01:16:12.560 --> 01:16:16.960 but they go where the front line fighting is, so it needs to have that additional armour. 01:16:18.160 --> 01:16:23.280 It brings to the memory the famous incident in Iraq, we've got Staff Sergeant Lindhurst of the 01:16:23.280 --> 01:16:28.480 Remy, Recky Meck, he received the military cross for successfully recovering challengers. 01:16:36.480 --> 01:16:40.560 Over the course of the day his crew recovered a stricken challenger. 01:16:40.560 --> 01:16:45.240 This is the famous one with a challenge you got hit by so many RPGs. The numbers 01:16:45.240 --> 01:16:50.020 are inflated regardless of that staff linters and the constant small arms RPG 01:16:50.020 --> 01:16:54.300 and mortified recovered it. So whilst not frontline fighting soldiers they've 01:16:54.300 --> 01:16:58.020 definitely got the courage to get in there and help receive those assets. 01:16:58.020 --> 01:17:02.940 And you have to say if you like your vehicles that's it looks perfect for 01:17:02.940 --> 01:17:07.740 its role doesn't it. Dozer blade on the front, big and butch, perfect, so perfect 01:17:07.740 --> 01:17:11.420 tonkatoi. Now another one that's pretty obvious I imagine most of us could work 01:17:11.420 --> 01:17:16.500 this one out it's a bridge layer. We've got it the bridge layer today Titan so 01:17:16.500 --> 01:17:21.460 Challenger 2 Titan armored vehicle launch bridge as its full name we just 01:17:21.460 --> 01:17:26.900 refer to it as Titan. Those with any form of insignia identification will see 01:17:26.900 --> 01:17:31.860 this is crewed by the Royal Engineers okay today driven by Sergeant Smith and 01:17:31.860 --> 01:17:37.980 commanded by Staff Sergeant Ansel. The engineers, okay, very very specialized in 01:17:37.980 --> 01:17:42.320 what they do, and the Titan personifies that. Whilst we've had the SVR and the 01:17:42.320 --> 01:17:46.740 craft that carry out multiple purposes well, the Titan is there to do one thing. 01:17:46.740 --> 01:17:51.100 It's to bridge gaps for us, whether that be a river, whether that be some form of 01:17:51.100 --> 01:17:56.580 small ravine, this is highly specialized and as such is vital to our ability to 01:17:56.580 --> 01:17:59.700 fight manoeuvre warfare. 01:18:01.860 --> 01:18:16.260 Now it's an obvious thing to say but we have to remember this, you imagine all your tanks 01:18:16.260 --> 01:18:20.740 going forward, you've got an armoured force, you come to as the military would call it 01:18:20.740 --> 01:18:26.180 gap crossing, you come to a river, something like that, if you're all held up, it's a 01:18:26.180 --> 01:18:31.140 real problem, you absolutely need these assets if you're going to continue in advance. 01:18:31.140 --> 01:18:34.300 So for the army they're really precious assets aren't they? 01:18:34.300 --> 01:18:39.220 Key. And the same goes vice versa. If we see an enemy one of these it is instantly a high 01:18:39.220 --> 01:18:43.860 value target because we can deny that same ability for them. Most modern war fighters 01:18:43.860 --> 01:18:48.480 based upon combined arms manoeuvre. The key element of that is manoeuvre warfare. You 01:18:48.480 --> 01:18:52.900 want every element moving together in unison with one element can't move. If you can't 01:18:52.900 --> 01:18:57.780 advance it comes to a halt and you become an easy target. 01:18:57.780 --> 01:19:01.580 So we're going to see the vehicle if he finds an appropriate spot, see if he's going to 01:19:01.580 --> 01:19:04.820 actually try and drop that bridge for us. 01:19:04.820 --> 01:19:09.180 But seeing him move around there, one of the issues of course, is now you've got new kit 01:19:09.180 --> 01:19:13.780 coming in, of course you've got to make sure the older kit is still going to be compatible 01:19:13.780 --> 01:19:18.380 and we saw this morning, Challenger 3, is still going to be able to use this bridge? 01:19:18.380 --> 01:19:21.940 Challenger 3 I believe so, don't quote me because we haven't got these prototypes. 01:19:21.940 --> 01:19:28.060 I can talk to Challenger 3 Recovery, we've been out on Crab recovery trials, Challenger 01:19:28.060 --> 01:19:31.140 3 can be recovered by Crab so that's a tick in the box. 01:19:31.140 --> 01:19:35.780 Similarly, SBR has been tested with Boxer, that's a current one that they're trying to 01:19:35.780 --> 01:19:47.180 work out if it is feasible. 01:19:47.180 --> 01:19:54.180 So back to that key role of the trials unit is making sure the compatibility between the vehicles. 01:19:54.180 --> 01:20:02.180 No one wants to go on a campaign or service anywhere and find that something's not working with something else. 01:20:02.180 --> 01:20:06.180 And again, and you're doing that at the moment, not just with the vehicles, but kit, aren't you? 01:20:06.180 --> 01:20:08.180 Like new crew clothing helmets? 01:20:08.180 --> 01:20:10.180 New helmets, new body armour, rocket boys to death. 01:20:10.180 --> 01:20:14.180 I've been deeply involved in looking at new army boots, but talking and working together, 01:20:14.180 --> 01:20:17.500 We'll draw attention a little bit and we're going to explain what's going to be going 01:20:17.500 --> 01:20:21.300 on in the background whilst this bridge is being laid. 01:20:21.300 --> 01:20:26.220 Today we're laying the number 10 bridge, 24.5 metres, quite an impressive length that we 01:20:26.220 --> 01:20:28.340 can cover with that there. 01:20:28.340 --> 01:20:32.220 Before any of this has happened, with reconnaissance the suitable spot, that could have been done 01:20:32.220 --> 01:20:36.240 by our own reconnaissance, so a light cavalry regiment. 01:20:36.240 --> 01:20:40.620 More than likely we're going to have ID'd where we think we can go and an armoured wrecky. 01:20:40.620 --> 01:20:45.040 have their special reconnaissance, all kinds of measuring sticks, gauges, they're 01:20:45.040 --> 01:20:48.120 going to tell if it's correct or not. Traditionally they would have been on a 01:20:48.120 --> 01:20:53.160 CVRT platform, a Spartan perhaps, now more than likely to be one of the Ajax 01:20:53.160 --> 01:20:57.640 variants or indeed a warrior. As we've touched on and we've gone on about this 01:20:57.640 --> 01:21:01.720 as a high-value target, we are not going to let that go to any form of crossing by 01:21:01.720 --> 01:21:05.920 itself. Before it's moved we're going to have a trooper tanks if we were an armoured 01:21:05.920 --> 01:21:09.920 battle group watching this spot, looking out in depth to make sure there's no 01:21:09.920 --> 01:21:13.960 enemy over there. Move into the crossing, it's going to be protected. It could be 01:21:13.960 --> 01:21:18.240 four warriors, it could be two tanks, it depends what we've got on hand. Reinforce 01:21:18.240 --> 01:21:23.160 in the fact that this is vital. We would rather lose another armoured asset than 01:21:23.160 --> 01:21:28.400 lose one of these because we don't have that many of them. And again we always 01:21:28.400 --> 01:21:33.520 and again part of the history, the museum still teaches that idea of what 01:21:33.520 --> 01:21:38.040 can we learn from the past. The classic situation is always with we never think 01:21:38.040 --> 01:21:41.680 we've got enough tanks but we certainly never have enough armored engineering 01:21:41.680 --> 01:21:45.600 variants do we sort of think so over time this is something that we have to 01:21:45.600 --> 01:21:49.480 learn again we saw the crave it's over there with a dozer blade you know if 01:21:49.480 --> 01:21:53.760 you're going in an urban setting you're going to be needing that dozer blade for 01:21:53.760 --> 01:21:57.600 so many different reasons now so the factor challenger we can fit a dozer 01:21:57.600 --> 01:22:02.800 blade on the front all this sort of engineering assets and can be vital or 01:22:02.800 --> 01:22:07.360 will be vital wherever we're going to find. I'm very glad you mentioned the 01:22:07.360 --> 01:22:11.360 those a blade because I was actually part of a wasn't really a trial because we 01:22:11.360 --> 01:22:14.200 successfully did it this was whilst we're out in Estonia for the first time 01:22:14.200 --> 01:22:19.040 since I believe chieftain we actually fit a track width mine plow onto a 01:22:19.040 --> 01:22:23.260 Challenger 2 so normally you'd see that on the Trojan the other T2 variant the 01:22:23.260 --> 01:22:27.040 big angry one that clashes up we managed to put that on a Challenger 2 and have 01:22:27.040 --> 01:22:31.840 the similar effect your point on urban war fighting most of the world is going 01:22:31.840 --> 01:22:35.280 to be living in urban environment soon whether we like it or not we have to be 01:22:35.280 --> 01:22:39.280 able to fight in that environment and the craft can do that with its blade. 01:22:39.280 --> 01:22:44.280 Spying over there with my recce eyes, we can see a recce vehicle coming to the fore. 01:22:44.280 --> 01:22:48.280 This is very much something that's not really used for the urban environment. 01:22:48.280 --> 01:22:50.280 What we've got here is Jackal 3. 01:22:50.280 --> 01:22:55.280 Jackal 3, this is the latest incarnation of the Jackal and I believe it's the first time it's appeared 01:22:55.280 --> 01:22:58.280 with the British Army here at Tankfest. 01:22:58.280 --> 01:23:01.280 Crewed by the light cavalry regiments, what is it? 01:23:01.280 --> 01:23:04.780 It's a deep reconnaissance and fire support vehicle. 01:23:06.480 --> 01:23:09.680 Today on there, we have, up the top there, 01:23:09.680 --> 01:23:12.380 we've got Lance Corporal Watson from the Scots DG. 01:23:12.380 --> 01:23:14.680 Driving it today, we've got Lance Corporal Ron 01:23:14.680 --> 01:23:16.280 from the Queen's Diderune Guards. 01:23:16.280 --> 01:23:18.180 And the biggest round of applause I want 01:23:18.180 --> 01:23:19.980 is for Mr. Wayne Dennis, 01:23:19.980 --> 01:23:22.980 the Army's most important civil servant, commanding it. 01:23:22.980 --> 01:23:25.880 He has been with ATU for over 20 years. 01:23:25.880 --> 01:23:28.780 I can guarantee you that man has put more kit 01:23:28.780 --> 01:23:31.900 and equipment into the hands of our soldiers than any other. 01:23:31.900 --> 01:23:33.860 He deserves his recognition there. 01:23:33.860 --> 01:23:36.620 Anyway, what does the vehicle do? 01:23:36.620 --> 01:23:39.860 It travels at road speeds when it's on the road, 100 kilometers an hour. 01:23:39.860 --> 01:23:42.900 It can go 50, 60 cross country if you're brave enough. 01:23:42.900 --> 01:23:45.740 The key things that you notice in with the Jackal 3 there, 01:23:45.740 --> 01:23:47.180 it's got a windscreen. 01:23:47.180 --> 01:23:49.940 It's got a windscreen and it's got the enhanced roll over protection, 01:23:49.940 --> 01:23:53.740 or ROPS as we call it on the top, which allows it to actually have a roof. 01:23:53.740 --> 01:23:56.980 It's slightly boxier, slightly heavier than the Jackal 2, 01:23:56.980 --> 01:24:01.660 therefore the engine's been upgraded, gives it better protection as well and it's still 01:24:01.660 --> 01:24:06.900 got that classic V-shaped hole underneath. Designed to operate at length, its last being 01:24:06.900 --> 01:24:11.700 used was Opmucum in Mali, where a troop of these were able to go out for a week at a 01:24:11.700 --> 01:24:17.660 time being resupplied by the supply variant, which we call the Coyote, the six wheel varicant, 01:24:17.660 --> 01:24:20.220 that the troop sergeant would drive. 01:24:20.220 --> 01:24:25.420 I mentioned this before but it's interesting to note we are now not always painting them 01:24:25.420 --> 01:24:29.020 in this what we would consider a Middle Eastern sand sort of colour isn't it? 01:24:29.020 --> 01:24:32.860 Because we've now got urban ops, so we've got urban camouflage and of course 01:24:32.860 --> 01:24:37.840 you mentioned we're out in Estonia so very different camouflage schemes now 01:24:37.840 --> 01:24:40.380 coming back on vehicles. 01:24:40.380 --> 01:24:44.760 Having enjoyed some of your videos on personal camouflage patterns I think it's a 01:24:44.760 --> 01:24:47.860 really interesting time for armored vehicles as well because there is work 01:24:47.860 --> 01:24:51.160 being done. What is the new camouflage pattern going to be? We all remember 01:24:51.160 --> 01:24:55.360 Berlin Camo. Is it going to be digital? Are we going to be going for some kind of 01:24:55.360 --> 01:25:00.200 disruptive camouflage pattern. It's quite exciting in that time. Yeah, that is a vehicle 01:25:00.200 --> 01:25:04.080 that is more than likely being used in a sandy condition, so we've still got that colour. 01:25:04.080 --> 01:25:08.200 But watch this space, because who knows what we're going to be doing. We do a lot on work 01:25:08.200 --> 01:25:13.280 of disruption, trying to break up the outlines of vehicles. That can be achieved with add-on 01:25:13.280 --> 01:25:16.800 camouflage, it can be achieved with simple paint. 01:25:16.800 --> 01:25:20.960 And one thing that perhaps many people hear, you can obviously see that vehicle. We're 01:25:20.960 --> 01:25:24.760 looking through our eyes, it might be that you're going to be looking through binoculars 01:25:24.760 --> 01:25:28.920 if it's again out there on campaign. Don't forget a lot of systems now are looking at 01:25:28.920 --> 01:25:32.800 vehicles through thermal so you're trying to protect against that so you see a thermal 01:25:32.800 --> 01:25:37.480 image of the vehicle and of course the other thing is this word electronic signature. It's 01:25:37.480 --> 01:25:42.000 pumping out another set of signals isn't it that you want to detect if it's the enemy 01:25:42.000 --> 01:25:46.800 or hide if it's yours. The biggest thing for that is radio transmission and being part 01:25:46.800 --> 01:25:51.040 of an armored regiment if anybody's got any experience in tanks you know we like to waffle 01:25:51.040 --> 01:25:55.440 nonsense over the net. So that is a real training thing. We need to really minimise that when 01:25:55.440 --> 01:25:59.040 we're moving into position. We need to be able to do that without transmitting, because 01:25:59.040 --> 01:26:02.520 when we're transmitting we're given our location away. 01:26:02.520 --> 01:26:06.440 And when you see these vehicles, by the way, it's not just out in the middle of light as 01:26:06.440 --> 01:26:12.280 we were used to before with the earlier versions, Iraq, Afghanistan, but the idea of those, 01:26:12.280 --> 01:26:17.280 they did the exercise where they send them across Poland to the Baltic and they are very 01:26:17.280 --> 01:26:22.180 speedy and impressive. You've got a fair old lump there with a 50 calibre that can turn 01:26:22.180 --> 01:26:27.500 up and do some damage. Yeah, five, six hundred kilometres, road mileage you're able to do, 01:26:27.500 --> 01:26:30.540 the whole purpose of the wheel vehicle that we'll touch on, it doesn't have that massive 01:26:30.540 --> 01:26:37.300 logistic chain, we are able to move it by the road, not dependent on rail systems. 01:26:37.300 --> 01:26:41.060 And here's another one of these vehicles. So what we've got here, the Foxarm today, 01:26:41.060 --> 01:26:46.340 crewed by Sergeant Duncan driving it, excuse me, Sergeant Jackson driving it and W02 Duncan 01:26:46.340 --> 01:26:52.900 of the King's Rule Hazards. This is a light protected patrol vehicle, okay, designed to 01:26:52.900 --> 01:26:58.340 operate at length. Unlike a protected mobility vehicle, which tend to be a little bit larger, 01:26:58.340 --> 01:27:03.900 this isn't going to go into high-threat environments. This was paired with jackals on Op Newcombe. 01:27:03.900 --> 01:27:08.060 A direct replacement for the snatch land drivers. We learned our lesson on the Herics that they 01:27:08.060 --> 01:27:13.940 weren't suitable. Classic giveaways, the V-shape hole that lets the blast kind of go up either 01:27:13.940 --> 01:27:18.060 side of it you've only got one door you can't see it but the inside the driver 01:27:18.060 --> 01:27:21.940 side doesn't have a door that's auto-maintain rigidity and another word 01:27:21.940 --> 01:27:26.180 that we're going to touch on recent soon modular okay the modular elements of it 01:27:26.180 --> 01:27:29.940 mean that you can add bits and pieces on the wheels for example are all 01:27:29.940 --> 01:27:36.380 individual drive meaning it does sound nice as well 01:27:38.860 --> 01:27:43.620 this vehicle is capable of driving on three wheels I've not seen it tested but 01:27:43.620 --> 01:27:46.100 But in theory, that's what it can do. 01:27:46.100 --> 01:27:48.660 And that idea is also about, there's another word, 01:27:48.660 --> 01:27:49.540 sacrificial. 01:27:49.540 --> 01:27:52.780 Sometimes you'll see vehicles with that classic V shape. 01:27:52.780 --> 01:27:54.820 It doesn't matter if it loses a wheel. 01:27:54.820 --> 01:27:57.540 It doesn't matter if it loses a bin on the side, 01:27:57.540 --> 01:28:00.340 as long as that central proportion that's in the middle 01:28:00.340 --> 01:28:02.700 there is actually keeping the crew safe. 01:28:02.700 --> 01:28:05.020 And also, amazingly, they're able to repair some of these 01:28:05.020 --> 01:28:05.860 quite quickly, aren't they? 01:28:05.860 --> 01:28:07.460 Things like mastiff and everything. 01:28:07.460 --> 01:28:09.500 Bolt on another wheel station. 01:28:09.500 --> 01:28:10.580 And this is the classic thing. 01:28:10.580 --> 01:28:12.620 Again, I've talked at length with people who visit us 01:28:12.620 --> 01:28:18.860 over there. The NATO, yes it is more of a tank thing, the survivability mobility. NATO 01:28:18.860 --> 01:28:24.340 and all that allies, we always price survivability over manoeuvrability, which is why some of 01:28:24.340 --> 01:28:28.220 our vehicles might be a little bit bigger, but when they do get hit we want to make sure 01:28:28.220 --> 01:28:31.620 our men and women are getting out of it and we can repair it afterwards. 01:28:31.620 --> 01:28:35.860 And that in turn gives soldiers confidence who are in those vehicles because they know, 01:28:35.860 --> 01:28:39.940 and I always thought here when we were handing, we were helping with the Ukrainians getting 01:28:39.940 --> 01:28:46.420 stuff. I was amazed at how the Ukrainian soldiers when they got in British kit they all said oh my 01:28:46.420 --> 01:28:51.540 goodness someone's actually thought about us having been used to old Soviet kit before you know so 01:28:51.540 --> 01:28:56.580 that idea of someone is trying to protect you as a primary asset not just a vehicle. 01:28:59.380 --> 01:29:02.740 And you can see there that speed of those vehicles I'm always fascinated they're 01:29:02.740 --> 01:29:08.020 torsion bars down the side aren't they so you can actually see the springing mechanism 01:29:08.020 --> 01:29:13.220 are those funny rods going down the side of the hull there and they're being twisted every time 01:29:13.220 --> 01:29:18.180 a vehicle goes over a bump. That's how a torsion bar works. Normally they're across the hull of 01:29:18.180 --> 01:29:22.660 a tank, there they are on the outside laterally along the side of the vehicle. 01:29:27.780 --> 01:29:33.060 They're talking about modular, future-proofing, wheeled vehicles. What we've got here is Boxer, 01:29:33.060 --> 01:29:36.180 OK, MIV, Mechanized Infantry Vehicle. 01:29:36.180 --> 01:29:37.860 We'll get the good stuff out of the way first. 01:29:37.860 --> 01:29:41.740 Crew today, we have got Lance Corporal Smith driving it, 01:29:41.740 --> 01:29:44.220 and we've got Staff Sergeant Smith at the Royal Regiment 01:29:44.220 --> 01:29:48.540 of Fusiliers commanding it. 01:29:48.540 --> 01:29:51.060 Unfortunately, a big friend of mine, Sergeant Major Latham, 01:29:51.060 --> 01:29:53.580 refused to go on in here because he didn't want to be mentioned, 01:29:53.580 --> 01:29:55.020 but I've done it anyway. 01:29:55.020 --> 01:29:56.020 What is Boxer? 01:29:56.020 --> 01:29:58.660 OK, Boxer is the future, the backbone 01:29:58.660 --> 01:30:00.860 of our heavy mechanized infantry brigades, OK, 01:30:00.860 --> 01:30:03.420 and indeed some of the armoured ones. 01:30:03.420 --> 01:30:04.440 What is Boxer Knot? 01:30:04.440 --> 01:30:07.080 Some people think this is given as a replacement to Warrior. 01:30:07.080 --> 01:30:08.080 It's not going to be that. 01:30:08.080 --> 01:30:09.720 It's not designed to be that. 01:30:09.720 --> 01:30:12.280 Multiple variants have already been in use. 01:30:12.280 --> 01:30:15.520 This vehicle has been in use in Germany, in the Netherlands, 01:30:15.520 --> 01:30:17.560 in Lithuania, in Australia. 01:30:17.560 --> 01:30:19.120 It is a successful vehicle. 01:30:19.120 --> 01:30:20.440 We know it's good. 01:30:20.440 --> 01:30:22.400 We're going to be getting about 600 of these. 01:30:22.400 --> 01:30:24.560 The initial tranche is going to be built in Germany. 01:30:24.560 --> 01:30:27.200 The remaining going to be brought over here to the UK, 01:30:27.200 --> 01:30:29.480 providing around 1,000 British jobs. 01:30:30.860 --> 01:30:39.140 Now, one of the first things you see about this is scale, isn't it? 01:30:39.140 --> 01:30:43.180 It is a big looking vehicle, but it's very mobile and very fast. 01:30:43.180 --> 01:30:47.500 And we also say in the past, you know, tracks would go places, wheels can't. 01:30:47.500 --> 01:30:49.540 Wheels have caught up in many areas, haven't they? 01:30:49.540 --> 01:30:54.820 There's still actually speed, cheaper, mobile, faster. 01:30:54.820 --> 01:30:57.380 So obviously for the military, any easier to maintain. 01:30:57.380 --> 01:31:01.620 So obviously, militaries like wheel vehicles, don't they? 01:31:01.620 --> 01:31:03.500 I'll recoil at the term cheaper. 01:31:03.500 --> 01:31:05.220 It's a cost-effective version of it. 01:31:05.220 --> 01:31:06.900 The logistical chain is much smaller, 01:31:06.900 --> 01:31:08.220 but you're absolutely right. 01:31:08.220 --> 01:31:10.060 The box is a big vehicle. 01:31:10.060 --> 01:31:12.500 32 to 38 tons. 01:31:12.500 --> 01:31:14.220 The variants we're going to be getting. 01:31:14.220 --> 01:31:15.740 This is actually the engineer variant. 01:31:15.740 --> 01:31:17.420 It's very hard to tell from the outside, 01:31:17.420 --> 01:31:19.740 but inside you sacrifice half of the seats 01:31:19.740 --> 01:31:21.820 that you would have a section of infantry in 01:31:21.820 --> 01:31:23.820 to be replaced, in effect, with a box 01:31:23.820 --> 01:31:27.580 that you can put, deck cord, charges, all of that in there. 01:31:27.580 --> 01:31:29.940 Medical one is going to be slightly higher, 01:31:29.940 --> 01:31:31.380 and having been in the medical variant, 01:31:31.380 --> 01:31:33.620 the equipment in there is second to none. 01:31:33.620 --> 01:31:36.300 Currently going around in the old battlefield ambulances, 01:31:36.300 --> 01:31:38.660 we've got very much of that time. 01:31:38.660 --> 01:31:40.780 This along with other vehicles, such as Ajax, 01:31:40.780 --> 01:31:43.860 is the cornerstone of us moving forward. 01:31:43.860 --> 01:31:46.220 And when you look at this, so we said that word modular. 01:31:46.220 --> 01:31:47.620 For most people here, if you remember, 01:31:47.620 --> 01:31:50.300 go back, I'm a Thunderbirds generation person. 01:31:50.300 --> 01:31:53.060 So the pod on the back can be lifted off. 01:31:53.060 --> 01:31:55.800 So if you look at that vehicle, from almost about what is it, 01:31:55.800 --> 01:31:59.900 halfway down, that rear section can be lifted off 01:31:59.900 --> 01:32:03.100 and a different pod put on for a different role 01:32:03.100 --> 01:32:04.420 should you need it. 01:32:04.420 --> 01:32:06.740 And there's going to be a range of those sort 01:32:06.740 --> 01:32:08.100 of different roles we know they're 01:32:08.100 --> 01:32:09.980 going to be used for, so different pods. 01:32:09.980 --> 01:32:11.580 And they're developing it further on there. 01:32:11.580 --> 01:32:15.380 It may well be that the new 155 artillery system 01:32:15.380 --> 01:32:17.460 goes basically on the back of a boxer. 01:32:17.460 --> 01:32:19.260 And that looks like a very exciting prospect. 01:32:19.260 --> 01:32:21.460 Having read a little bit about that, 01:32:21.460 --> 01:32:25.340 The thing with Modular as well, not only does it allow it to change its battlefield role 01:32:25.340 --> 01:32:29.900 but we can keep it current and competent. We can swap it out, we can upgrade it. Something 01:32:29.900 --> 01:32:34.800 that possibly British armoured fighting vehicles have been guilty of not doing in the past. 01:32:34.800 --> 01:32:39.760 It future-proofs it and it allows it room to develop, to keep up to pace with developing 01:32:39.760 --> 01:32:40.760 threats. 01:32:40.760 --> 01:32:44.540 All the time we'll be talking about this is first generation, second generation, newer 01:32:44.540 --> 01:32:49.140 things coming along the lines as well and especially now all these, I don't even talk 01:32:49.140 --> 01:32:53.820 about digital stuff, infrastructure, all this way that new things can be plugged in. 01:32:53.820 --> 01:32:57.940 So what else have we got coming around here? So another old favourite, we've seen it 01:32:57.940 --> 01:33:03.380 already this afternoon but still in service, there's a tendency to already say it's gone, 01:33:03.380 --> 01:33:06.720 it isn't, it's still around. No it's not gone and whilst the Regiments 01:33:06.720 --> 01:33:11.780 traditionally using this are moving on to Boxer, Warrior has found a new lease of life. 01:33:11.780 --> 01:33:16.220 Now before we get technical we've got very very important people on this vehicle today. 01:33:16.220 --> 01:33:20.380 all important but we've got Sergeant with a J because he's a rifleman Sergeant 01:33:20.380 --> 01:33:24.740 Coalville gunning we've got Colour Sergeant Gifford commanding and the 01:33:24.740 --> 01:33:27.980 round of applause that I want to hear today driving we've got warrant officer 01:33:27.980 --> 01:33:32.780 to Mikey Dutton this is his last thing he's been doing he's going to be leaving 01:33:32.780 --> 01:33:38.700 the Army in three months or so after 25 years of service originally starting 01:33:38.700 --> 01:33:44.260 with the PWRR he joined the fuselage because he loved the warrior that much 01:33:44.260 --> 01:33:49.260 I was going to say, pretty much everyone who's served in a warrior, they do like it. 01:33:49.260 --> 01:33:51.260 They think it's a great bit of care, don't they? 01:33:51.260 --> 01:33:57.260 It is. Movement, relative reliability, the ability to stop on its nose. 01:33:57.260 --> 01:34:00.260 It really can stop on a six-pence. 01:34:00.260 --> 01:34:03.260 What we've started using them for now is reconnaissance. 01:34:03.260 --> 01:34:06.260 I know you may think reconnaissance is a big noisy vehicle, 01:34:06.260 --> 01:34:08.260 but we can change the way we do reconnaissance with drones. 01:34:08.260 --> 01:34:11.260 It allows you to increase recce standoff. 01:34:11.260 --> 01:34:14.880 What would have had a crew of three if we got here, and seven in the back? 01:34:14.880 --> 01:34:27.880 Well we used to use CVRTs, now we're using Warrior, you've got all that room in the back. 01:34:27.880 --> 01:34:31.700 And even though it's getting an older weapon, that's 30mm rather than count, it's still 01:34:31.700 --> 01:34:34.780 a pretty punchy piece to take with you. 01:34:34.780 --> 01:34:39.780 When you look at what it was used for originally, laying fire down as infantry with dismounting, 01:34:39.780 --> 01:34:44.720 closing in and destroying his Majesty's enemies, 30mm rather than cannon, rapid fire, high 01:34:44.720 --> 01:34:48.900 explosive going overhead, it was perfect for what it was there for. 01:34:48.900 --> 01:34:53.680 Still massively in use, what you see here is the 510, the infantry carrying version. 01:34:53.680 --> 01:34:57.740 We've still got the 511s, the 512s, the 513s, the Recky, the engineer, and then going on 01:34:57.740 --> 01:35:00.300 to your 14s, 15s, the artillery variants. 01:35:00.300 --> 01:35:07.220 So whilst our doctrine may be changing in terms of armored infantry, it's not with the 01:35:07.220 --> 01:35:08.220 other things. 01:35:08.220 --> 01:35:11.840 specialist vehicles and they're still very much in use and very much in demand. 01:35:11.840 --> 01:35:16.900 And behind of course any fleet of vehicles, there's the training remit, there's spares, 01:35:16.900 --> 01:35:20.860 there's all those things and again as we were saying these staying in service for that much 01:35:20.860 --> 01:35:25.180 longer again you've still got to keep an eye on them because if there's a new little bit 01:35:25.180 --> 01:35:29.860 they had what was it a few years ago new cameras put over the rear doors, things like that. 01:35:29.860 --> 01:35:34.380 Again you're still having to have these in the stable up the road because if they're 01:35:34.380 --> 01:35:39.500 in service there might well be something that this is you're going to have to look at a new add-on 01:35:39.500 --> 01:35:43.180 whatever's the next generation. I'm glad you mentioned the camera because that is actually 01:35:43.180 --> 01:35:48.700 something that we did over the road at ATU, came down added it and simple fixes like that that 01:35:48.700 --> 01:35:55.260 have gone missing so long it's a massive difference maker all the vehicles now are getting not 360 01:35:55.260 --> 01:36:00.700 cameras but with that high prep that possibly dare I say drones are creating you want to be able to 01:36:00.700 --> 01:36:22.180 to have full visibility 360 degrees without having to be exposed above the turret. 01:36:22.180 --> 01:36:27.700 We've mentioned it yesterday that one of the great defensive mechanisms on its own is speed. 01:36:27.700 --> 01:36:32.380 fact it is so fast you're hoping basically the enemy gunners aren't going to get charged 01:36:32.380 --> 01:36:36.340 to actually lay their guns on you before you've even got there dropped off the infantry and 01:36:36.340 --> 01:36:40.260 your bag for tea and biscuits. You know it's that quick isn't it? 01:36:40.260 --> 01:36:47.380 As the adage goes speed is the best armour. And bear in mind when that's being used properly 01:36:47.380 --> 01:36:54.300 it's going to be used in conjunction with this. Challenger 2, as we see here, up armoured, 01:36:54.300 --> 01:37:03.900 think we can do, this is the infamous Megatron, our favourite tank from over the road at ATU. 01:37:03.900 --> 01:37:09.420 This is pretty much what we can do with a Challenger 2, top end, a combination of OES 01:37:09.420 --> 01:37:13.580 and TES, if you want to get into a technical debate about what the difference is, Staff 01:37:13.580 --> 01:37:17.620 Sergeant Anthony Charity of the KRH is your guy to do that, he told me he'd love to do 01:37:17.620 --> 01:37:22.340 that. We've got the remote weapons system, we've got the ECM suite at the top, we've 01:37:22.340 --> 01:37:27.240 got the add-on armour. This is the pinnacle. If we're going to go into a high-threat environment, 01:37:27.240 --> 01:37:33.160 this is what we're doing it in. Third-generation main battle tank. We've got composite armour. 01:37:33.160 --> 01:37:37.680 We've got the fully automated electronic far control system, meaning irrespective of what 01:37:37.680 --> 01:37:43.100 speed we're travelling, we can use that weapon system from a fully stabilised position. 01:37:43.100 --> 01:37:46.760 A quick shout-out to those on board and the ones that you can't see. Driving today, we've 01:37:46.760 --> 01:37:52.640 We've got Trooper Thompson from the RTR, we've got Lars Korparima from the RTR and commanding 01:37:52.640 --> 01:37:57.640 we have our Canadian Tuy C from ATU Major Ben Mitchell. 01:37:57.640 --> 01:38:15.140 So in many ways Megatron's become a bit of a star hasn't it because it's always the 01:38:15.140 --> 01:38:19.540 one that comes down here gets photographed is always the one with the extras on and this 01:38:19.540 --> 01:38:23.860 is a plea because of course when Challenger 3 comes into service we want you to leave 01:38:23.860 --> 01:38:27.900 Megatron here so it can become a collection piece. I'm sure you can sign that off you've 01:38:27.900 --> 01:38:32.180 got the right pay grade haven't you? I mean above my pay grade but I'm all for it. Okay 01:38:32.180 --> 01:38:37.780 so it is that and I keep coming back to that's the point you look at all those other bits 01:38:37.780 --> 01:38:43.140 of kit there just the idea someone's got a great idea we added to the vehicle it may 01:38:43.140 --> 01:38:49.140 may be very positive, but what if it interferes with something else? You can see it physically 01:38:49.140 --> 01:38:55.020 there with things like bar armour, why it needs to be mobile, why it can rock at the 01:38:55.020 --> 01:38:59.660 back as you've got all those things, but also other bits of electronics if they're interfering 01:38:59.660 --> 01:39:03.180 with each other, we've done no one any favours. 01:39:03.180 --> 01:39:06.940 That's why we trial it, that's why we test it, you're absolutely right. I can think of 01:39:06.940 --> 01:39:12.620 only a couple of trials where some really good piece of kit has been on it, but integration 01:39:12.620 --> 01:39:16.860 being the drama and unfortunately with the older platforms that's something that you learn to live 01:39:16.860 --> 01:39:21.900 with. Thankfully for most lessons learned we try and stop those issues becoming apparent on the 01:39:21.900 --> 01:39:27.740 newer vehicles. And this idea that there's so many modern plug-in systems that idea we've got an 01:39:27.740 --> 01:39:32.220 infrastructure now that again in the past electronics almost separate for everything 01:39:32.220 --> 01:39:36.060 and we can take one thing out plug something in all that's the idea one hopes isn't it. 01:39:36.700 --> 01:39:41.660 Modularity as we've said buzzword but it's all about that future proofing and modularity. 01:39:42.620 --> 01:39:50.620 So one other thing when the Challenger 2's, obviously some of those Challenger 2 hulls being used in Challenger 3's, they're being upgraded of course. 01:39:50.620 --> 01:39:59.620 What we're looking at here as well, the Hunter Killer system, and he's going to use his smoke, so be warned as we go around, 01:39:59.620 --> 01:40:09.620 he's doing that just by putting diesel on the hot exhaust and it's a way of creating and it's also actually again thermal as well to a degree doesn't it? 01:40:09.620 --> 01:40:15.940 It does, so we're fortunate because at the front you'll see we do have the normal multi-barrel smoke grenade discharges. 01:40:15.940 --> 01:40:20.340 Much more of a defensive thing, we really need to get out of trouble, let's pop it. 01:40:20.340 --> 01:40:23.860 But the ability to blast smoke by simply delt and the diesel on 01:40:28.740 --> 01:40:32.340 can create confusion and it can mask our movement. 01:40:32.340 --> 01:40:35.380 But what you've got to remember with smoke is it works both ways. 01:40:35.380 --> 01:40:39.140 We can't magically see through our own smoke, so it needs to be used liberally. 01:40:39.620 --> 01:40:43.620 and again it's a simple thing but the fact you're hiding your bridge layer 01:40:43.620 --> 01:40:48.180 etc if that's all going on the fact that smoke is confusing the enemy maybe 01:40:48.180 --> 01:40:52.180 we're there maybe whatever and again as an army we've got to get better at that 01:40:52.180 --> 01:40:57.260 all the time isn't it the Russians are very very good at deception you don't 01:40:57.260 --> 01:41:01.580 just dig one tank hide and put a challenger in it you do five and hope 01:41:01.580 --> 01:41:06.260 they waste all their ammunition on the empty one sort of thing that way now 01:41:06.260 --> 01:41:11.060 it's backing off in there. What we're going to do in just a moment, few ladies and gentlemen, 01:41:11.060 --> 01:41:14.260 we're going to bring those vehicles back out, they're going to parade around so you've got a 01:41:14.260 --> 01:41:19.460 chance taking a photograph. They'll stop briefly so with any luck you'd be able to give a wave and 01:41:19.460 --> 01:41:24.820 if the families are here they'll be able to see their hubbies or partners there in a bit more of 01:41:24.820 --> 01:41:30.260 a close-up for a photo moment and before they all, and then they're going to be heading off from the 01:41:30.260 --> 01:41:36.180 but before they all do go, I repeat what I was saying earlier, they are your army, 01:41:36.180 --> 01:41:40.100 if you're British here, they're the people that can defend you, we do need to own them more 01:41:40.100 --> 01:41:45.380 and we do need to care and make sure we do the right thing by them, so please give them a round 01:41:45.380 --> 01:41:50.980 of applause so we can show our support to them and their families who've come here with them today. 01:41:50.980 --> 01:41:52.980 Thank you so much. 01:45:50.980 --> 01:45:58.420 David Willey and also to Corporal Lucas Wright for talking us through these amazing armored 01:45:58.420 --> 01:46:02.720 vehicles that are currently part of the Army fleets. 01:46:02.720 --> 01:46:05.420 They're not going to be staying around for long, they've all got to get off, I think 01:46:05.420 --> 01:46:09.860 they're on a promise of fish and chips tonight, so if you want to get any pictures now's the 01:46:09.860 --> 01:46:13.220 time to do it while their parts are up. 01:46:13.220 --> 01:46:16.820 And once again, please give them a great big round of applause. 01:46:16.820 --> 01:46:29.500 As David said, these are our army and really important, of course, on Forces Week. 01:46:29.500 --> 01:46:33.300 As I mentioned earlier, not that anyone ever listens to anything I say, don't dash off. 01:46:33.300 --> 01:46:38.460 The Tank Museum sites open until six o'clock this evening, so you've got plenty of time 01:46:38.460 --> 01:46:42.940 to go into the Tank Museum if you've not been in it, go into the Vehicle Conservation Center 01:46:42.940 --> 01:46:48.940 if you've not been in there, or popped down to see the Tank Park or even the Babcock 01:46:48.940 --> 01:46:54.500 Activity Zone. Of course they're proud partners of Tankfest this year, which leaves me only 01:46:54.500 --> 01:47:00.660 to say thank you very much indeed to you for coming. Don't forget your 2027 tickets at 01:47:00.660 --> 01:47:11.180 2026 prices at tankfest.org when you get home. And for myself, a big thank you for all of 01:47:11.180 --> 01:47:16.920 the staff, all of the volunteers, the directors, the speakers today and of course as well, 01:47:16.920 --> 01:47:21.040 big thanks to everyone who's done the audio visual. Hopefully you've enjoyed Tankfest. 01:47:21.040 --> 01:47:25.920 Make sure you put in the feedback form and have a very safe journey home. 01:48:11.180 --> 01:48:18.020 Another fantastic display from the British Army, of course, and no better way to round 01:48:18.020 --> 01:48:23.780 off the live arena show at Tankfest 2026, but please stay with us because we've got a few 01:48:23.780 --> 01:48:26.380 more things to show you before we wrap it up. 01:48:26.380 --> 01:48:27.380 That's all right. 01:48:27.380 --> 01:48:28.380 It's been absolutely fantastic. 01:48:28.380 --> 01:48:32.700 Plenty of noise, plenty of dust and plenty of sunshine. 01:48:32.700 --> 01:48:40.740 Tickets are available for Tankfest 2027 right now, so please go to our website, tankmuseum.org, 01:48:40.740 --> 01:48:47.700 have a look at your travel plans. And travel plans. Travel plans. Sorry, Nick, go on. 01:48:47.700 --> 01:48:53.060 Oh, sorry, yes, I was not done yet. So there are many ways you can support the Town Museum, 01:48:53.060 --> 01:48:56.740 and I've said before, the Town Museum is a registered charity, and we couldn't exist 01:48:56.740 --> 01:49:01.220 if it wasn't for your support. People out there, people who are enthusiastic about the 01:49:01.220 --> 01:49:07.700 story of Armored Warfare. So if you've appreciated what we've done today, and if you'd like to 01:49:07.700 --> 01:49:11.780 support us please go to our website there are many different ways that you can support us we've 01:49:11.780 --> 01:49:18.820 got our king tiger v2 appeal we've got our brand new conqueror appeal and of course you can go 01:49:18.820 --> 01:49:24.500 along to our online shop and find something as a souvenir for tank first that you never knew you 01:49:24.500 --> 01:49:32.340 need it now i'm done i have something richard oh yeah yeah yeah so i need to read the names 01:49:32.340 --> 01:49:37.860 properly you do have the winners of the RC Tank giveaway so for the top two the 01:49:37.860 --> 01:49:44.340 winner is my laptop, love the name, eat my laptop, that's the name they chose and then 01:49:44.340 --> 01:49:48.540 for the King Tiger which unfortunately we have to send for some minor repairs 01:49:48.540 --> 01:49:55.020 before we ship it out, is going to grigo underscore gr so congratulations to 01:49:55.020 --> 01:49:58.340 those two people thank you very much, were you playing with it is that what 01:49:58.340 --> 01:50:03.140 happen? Yes, we tried to drive it in the arena and then that didn't go so well. 01:50:03.140 --> 01:50:06.140 Oh, I'm actually congratulating you on a great prize this one. 01:50:06.140 --> 01:50:08.780 I'm sorry, we had to cross your name out. 01:50:08.780 --> 01:50:11.580 Somebody might say something that's like, Richard on this? 01:50:11.580 --> 01:50:13.700 Now, keeping on the theme of the modern British Army, 01:50:13.700 --> 01:50:19.540 FAM was extremely fortunate to be invited to the B&M Driver and Maintenance School 01:50:19.540 --> 01:50:21.580 in Bovington Camp recently. 01:50:21.580 --> 01:50:22.860 And this is what he got up to. 01:50:28.340 --> 01:50:33.620 I can guarantee you you've never seen a classroom quite as amazing as what we're about to show 01:50:33.620 --> 01:50:34.620 you. 01:50:34.620 --> 01:50:39.060 I'm down here at the DNM School, the Driving and Maintenance School on Bovington Camp. 01:50:39.060 --> 01:50:43.140 And this is where the guys learn everything all the way leading up to them driving Challenger 01:50:43.140 --> 01:50:44.140 2. 01:50:44.140 --> 01:50:46.860 Everything from learning about different bits on the vehicle to getting in the simulator 01:50:46.860 --> 01:50:49.380 and then driving the real deal on the roads. 01:50:49.380 --> 01:50:52.660 So let's get in there and have a look at the kit that's behind me. 01:50:58.340 --> 01:51:03.620 I'm joined here by Lance Corporal Scott Eustace, who is part of the Royal Tank Regiment and is 01:51:03.620 --> 01:51:07.700 here in what has to be regarded as one of the coolest classrooms I've ever been in. 01:51:07.700 --> 01:51:11.620 Scott, when you finished your Phase 1 training and you started Phase 2 and walked through those 01:51:11.620 --> 01:51:15.460 doors for the first time, can you tell us a little bit about how you felt? I imagine it was 01:51:15.460 --> 01:51:20.180 probably quite overwhelming. Yeah, I was a little bit overwhelmed, scared as well I think, because 01:51:20.180 --> 01:51:25.460 as this is big, killing machine's actually in front of me. Yeah, there's just so much on the 01:51:25.460 --> 01:51:27.820 on the vehicle, like I guess sort of the common eye, 01:51:27.820 --> 01:51:30.500 there's like all these different, you know, lids 01:51:30.500 --> 01:51:32.620 and certain things and bolts and stuff. 01:51:32.620 --> 01:51:33.820 And it's very confusing. 01:51:33.820 --> 01:51:36.260 And it's like, you're curious as well. 01:51:36.260 --> 01:51:37.700 You can like, exactly, 01:51:37.700 --> 01:51:40.940 it's just a wild and fresh spot and sort of thing. 01:51:40.940 --> 01:51:43.220 Yeah, it's definitely quite a bit scary at first. 01:51:43.220 --> 01:51:45.980 Obviously now, you know, I'm really trained on it. 01:51:45.980 --> 01:51:48.900 So it's not as terrifying to look at, 01:51:48.900 --> 01:51:50.820 but yeah, I was definitely confused, 01:51:50.820 --> 01:51:52.820 but also quite curious as well. 01:51:52.820 --> 01:51:54.860 What's the first step in actually becoming a driver 01:51:54.860 --> 01:51:58.300 for a challenge or two because I highly doubt they would just let you hop straight in and 01:51:58.300 --> 01:51:59.900 get driving around the camp. 01:51:59.900 --> 01:52:04.140 So you start off doing the theory work, you'll learn the maintenance, everything works, ins 01:52:04.140 --> 01:52:09.100 and outs, that sort of stuff. Then you go with the simulation bit, you let you hop into 01:52:09.100 --> 01:52:12.620 more or less a one-on-one remake, or actually isn't the vehicle, minus the armor, turret 01:52:12.620 --> 01:52:17.900 and engine as well of course. And you'll learn literally from, again, moving a few 01:52:17.900 --> 01:52:22.700 meters to go around a certain corner to reversing, doing bridge crossings, that sort of stuff. 01:52:22.700 --> 01:52:23.700 Everything you do in real life, 01:52:23.700 --> 01:52:24.920 you do in the simulations first. 01:52:24.920 --> 01:52:25.760 Okay. 01:52:25.760 --> 01:52:26.600 Because, have a safety. 01:52:26.600 --> 01:52:27.920 Yeah. 01:52:27.920 --> 01:52:28.840 And yes, you'll start off with that, 01:52:28.840 --> 01:52:29.760 and eventually you'll progress. 01:52:29.760 --> 01:52:30.960 You'll have to go on with the vehicle itself 01:52:30.960 --> 01:52:32.000 and do it in real life. 01:52:32.000 --> 01:52:34.200 Which is whatever I look forward to the moment. 01:52:34.200 --> 01:52:35.120 Shall we have a look at it then? 01:52:35.120 --> 01:52:35.960 Yes, let's go. 01:52:35.960 --> 01:52:36.800 Let's do it. 01:52:36.800 --> 01:52:37.640 Let's do it. 01:52:37.640 --> 01:52:38.480 Let's do it. 01:52:40.360 --> 01:52:42.880 So you'll put your feet first on the seat. 01:52:42.880 --> 01:52:43.720 Yeah. 01:52:43.720 --> 01:52:44.960 And then kind of like, wiggle yourself in. 01:52:44.960 --> 01:52:45.920 It's a bit uncomfortable, 01:52:45.920 --> 01:52:46.920 but it's a bit confusing, 01:52:46.920 --> 01:52:48.760 but if you just give it a go to anyone. 01:52:48.760 --> 01:52:49.600 Give it a go, yeah. 01:52:49.600 --> 01:52:52.040 But, just don't hit anything else, of course. 01:52:52.040 --> 01:53:02.660 do my best. Yeah, so you can then try and get your head up into this little, this round 01:53:02.660 --> 01:53:08.000 my crumb as well. Yeah, again, it's very confusing at first. It's supposed to be smaller. 01:53:08.000 --> 01:53:12.840 Yeah, yeah, and all the better end tools. Cool, yeah. So, what you work for is your 01:53:12.840 --> 01:53:16.320 celerator and then brake power is that first. When you brake and you want to put two feet 01:53:16.320 --> 01:53:22.000 on because it's a big vehicle and you get more pressure out of it as well yeah 01:53:22.000 --> 01:53:25.880 it's kind of richly arranged you want to see you've got your gear selector to 01:53:25.880 --> 01:53:29.280 right as well essentially it's not like a normal manual where you put into gear 01:53:29.280 --> 01:53:33.000 you kind of put into like a selection it'll go to one to two or one to six or 01:53:33.000 --> 01:53:36.360 whatnot I've got a pre-selector yeah essentially yeah and you've got your 01:53:36.360 --> 01:53:40.680 handbrake there you've got a crank it it's on a chain so it's not just like yeah 01:53:40.680 --> 01:53:44.360 I've got a crank a few times so and then it'll see your tillers as well where you 01:53:44.360 --> 01:53:51.560 left and right. In reverse, so it's the opposite way around. Yeah, then you should be able to start driving. 01:53:55.960 --> 01:53:59.560 Oh wow, that's so weird. It's got feedback as well. 01:54:14.360 --> 01:54:25.720 Wow, well, that's an experience. I've never been in a simulator quite like this. Incredibly 01:54:25.720 --> 01:54:34.800 detailed. I mean, I've got the entire cluster to my left. It's just, yeah, it's very, it 01:54:34.800 --> 01:54:39.800 feels very surreal. I'm not sure I'd be able to fit one of these in my room at home, but 01:54:39.800 --> 01:54:43.480 absolutely brilliant experience. This has been really, really cool. And thank you so 01:54:43.480 --> 01:54:46.480 So much, it's absolutely fantastic. Thank you. 01:58:13.480 --> 01:58:27.000 Well, finally, that is the end of our live stream for Tankfest 2026. 01:58:27.000 --> 01:58:28.480 Have you all had a great time this weekend? 01:58:28.480 --> 01:58:29.480 I made it. 01:58:29.480 --> 01:58:30.480 Marvelous. 01:58:30.480 --> 01:58:31.480 Will you come back again next year? 01:58:31.480 --> 01:58:32.480 Absolutely. 01:58:32.480 --> 01:58:33.480 Hopefully. 01:58:33.480 --> 01:58:34.480 Fantastic. 01:58:34.480 --> 01:58:36.480 As I said earlier, tickets are available now at tankmuseum.org. 01:58:36.480 --> 01:58:39.240 But I've got a few thank yous I'd like to say. 01:58:39.240 --> 01:58:44.180 First of all, thank you to all of you for watching and for your continued support. 01:58:44.180 --> 01:58:47.700 It really is so important to us and we really, really appreciate it. 01:58:47.700 --> 01:58:51.700 Want to thank all of our visitors, all of our staff and our volunteers who make this 01:58:51.700 --> 01:58:53.500 incredible event happen. 01:58:53.500 --> 01:58:58.060 There are months and months of work going on behind the scenes here to bring you such 01:58:58.060 --> 01:58:59.780 a special event. 01:58:59.780 --> 01:59:04.740 And also, I'd like to thank our partners and friends at World of Tanks for all of their 01:59:04.740 --> 01:59:06.340 support for the Tank Museum. 01:59:06.340 --> 01:59:10.300 now and over the years and all the team behind the cameras as well. 01:59:10.300 --> 01:59:11.860 So thank you all very much. 01:59:11.860 --> 01:59:16.620 And of course all it really needs for us is again to thank Nick, our co-host here. 01:59:16.620 --> 01:59:21.660 It's a fair few years now and also everybody of course, all of you at home, all of the 01:59:21.660 --> 01:59:24.700 community, all of the world, the tanks players and everybody else. 01:59:24.700 --> 01:59:27.820 So thank you once again for joining us. 01:59:27.820 --> 01:59:28.820 And thank you. 01:59:28.820 --> 01:59:32.300 I want to reiterate again, thank you Nick and to the museum for great hospitality, the 01:59:32.300 --> 01:59:34.100 amazing ice cream in this heat. 01:59:34.100 --> 01:59:35.600 It's been a pleasure. 01:59:35.600 --> 01:59:40.240 to all of you viewers at home. I hope you enjoyed the show and claiming all your goodies. 01:59:40.240 --> 01:59:44.320 Congratulations to the winners. Check out the Tank Museum and worldoftanks.eu 01:59:44.320 --> 02:00:00.720 websites for the latest news and information and we'll see you next time. See you next year. 02:01:35.600 --> 02:01:40.600 ... 02:01:40.600 --> 02:01:45.600 ... 02:01:45.600 --> 02:01:50.600 ... 02:01:50.600 --> 02:01:55.600 ... 02:01:55.600 --> 02:02:00.600 ... 02:02:00.600 --> 02:02:02.600 I