tankfest 2009

[wibblywobbly]

Is anyone from anywhere near Bristol going to Bovvy. I am going to try and get there, but I am already triple booked! There is an outside chance that someone whom I am negotiating with for a tank will be able to take it there, but if I can't make it, then I am wondering if any kind soul would be able to bring it back to this area and I will collect it from them?

Just a long shot!! (excuse the awful pun).

Rob G

[wibblywobbly]

Well I have just got home. What a brilliant day! Two things made it complete, one was being stood next to the Tiger when they fired it up, and the other was sitting in the gunners seat of the Challenger while a loader ran me through what takes place in there.

A couple of things I learnt. I always thought that the US had never lost an Abrams. I was enlightened by the news that they have actually lost 67!, but only 2 Challengers have ever been lost. One was after being hit by another Challenger, and the other was a road mine that blew up under the front of the tank.

The other was that nearly all modern tanks are now almost useless. Modern warfare does not consist of epic tank battles, and small, fast tanks are what is required.

Oh, and I asked how long it takes to get the crew out of a tank (it is tiny in there) and was told 'seconds'. I was struggling to get back up out to the turret and I wasn't wearing body armour. The loader told me that he had seen a gunner get out of the tank before the commander who sits above him..as it is amazing how fast you can move when you are scared shi**ess''!

I learnt a great deal more about tanks too, and dispelled plenty of myths, but in the interests of international diplomacy my lips are sealed.

Oh..and the Tiger has everything that a modern tank has, the only difference is that it is not computerised.

Like I said, a fantastic day out, and the museum closed before I got to see everything.

Note to Pete..I missed your voicemail. I took so many pictures on my phone that not only did I overwrite the once in a lifetime vids of the Tiger rumbling past me, I filled all of the memory so that I couldn't take any more, drained the battery, and stuck the phone in my pocket till I got home. Sorry mate!!

[fleshpedler]

Rob G sorry we missed you ,but i am glad that you to had a great day out , yep  man it was fun and very hot , wibbly you missed septon, myself ,mattdragon , grompix ,hope you saw the one sixth boys and that fab radial engine in the staurt, if anybody is keen to see more sixth running then  there off to dunkerswell next weekend the home of armortek.
Fleshy,..........................

[Rivetcounter]

actually there have been over 200 M1's lost according to an RSM from one of the tank regiments and the most dangerous thing to an M1 is a rag head with a blanket.

I asked the same question about bailing out of a tank the RSM I was talking to said if it's modern tank on tank warfare and your tank gets hit you don't get out not with modern inertia rounds penetrating molten metal into the tank

Glad you all had a nice day/weekend I have spent the weekend packing for our fourth coming move next week