When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Another of Hobart's Funnies was the Churchill VII AVRE (Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers).
This Churchill tank was fitted with a mortar instead of a main gun and it had a ramp fitted to the front. There was a "Fascine" mounted on the ramp which was held in place with quick release cables.
The Fascine is a bundle of logs or pipes that are used to fill wide trenches or ditches so that tanks can cross them easier. The tank would pull up to the ditch, the cables were released and the bundle would roll of of the ramp and into the ditch. Then the tank would drive across to make sure that it was good to go for the other combat tanks. The mortar could be used to deter enemy infantry.
A Churchill VII AVRE crosses a ditch filled with a previous tank's Fascine previously placed in the ditch. A view of the release cables holding the fascine in place.
New Zealand's first tank was built by one of it's own. In fact it was built by the Minister of War himself, Robert Semple.
Originally New Zealand was trying to get tanks from Britain, but this was now impossible as Britain was spread out over multiple countries. New Zealand then tried to get armored plating from the United States, but recovering from the attack on Pearl Harbor and building it's armor force, the U.S. could not spare anything. Mr. Semple then decided that they could use the many tractors across New Zealand and convert them into tanks. At the time New Zealand was worried about being invaded by the Japanese, which was valid threat. Mr. Semple's tank was built using existing materials and weapons available at the time. Hi first tank was armed with 5 Bren light machine guns, ran on a 167hp 6 cylinder diesel engine and had a top speed of 15 mph/24km/h. The armor was only around 1/2 inch/12mm thick and would only stop small arms fire. Many people berate Mr. Semple's tank, but I give him credit for building what he could out of what was available.
The Semple tank during testing. Another view of the Semple tank. An illustration of the tank.
The Soviet Объект 279 (Object 279) Super Heavy Tank. Produced in 1959 and only 1 built.
One of the unique tanks that were meant to be massed produced, but only one was made. The Object 279 was built for the Cold War and was meant to withstand a nuclear blast.
The tank weighed in at 66.14 tons (60 Metric Tons) and had four tracks. It's armor was 12.6 inches/319mm at it's thickest point. Height - 8 feet 8 Inches, Width - 11 feet 2 inches, Length - 22 feet 3 inches (36 feet 4 inches with gun forward).
Engine 1000hp diesel, operating range 190 miles, max speed 34 mph. Main gun 130mm M65 rifled barrel with semi-automatic loading system.
They only built one because the tank was too heavy per Nikita Khrushchev who was also leaning towards guided missile tanks that were lighter and easier to resupply.
The French AMX 30 Main Battle Tank. (AMX - Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux) (AMX, English translation: construction workshops of Issy-les-Moulineaux).
Produced from 1966 - 1994, still in service with various countries. The main gun is a 105mm Model F1, operational range is 370 miles/ 600 kilometers. Max imum speed is 40mph/65km/h.
Four man crew (Commander, Gunner, Driver and Loader).
and You didn't think i knew there was a tank with the name AMX well I had forgotten and you sparked a memory
i forgot i had. I remember when the car, AMX came out in Jan. 1968 the dealer in Waco Texas, had a toy Tank on
every desk in the showroom with the letters AMX on them.,.... again M60 You sparked a memory that i would have
never remembered thanks jim
I am in Blairsville Ga for the next 3 weeks or so ,,I am planning to go to tank-town about 5 miles or so down 515
and see if he will give us a discount. They reopen Friday.
and You didn't think i knew there was a tank with the name AMX well I had forgotten and you sparked a memory
i forgot i had. I remember when the car, AMX came out in Jan. 1968 the dealer in Waco Texas, had a toy Tank on
every desk in the showroom with the letters AMX on them.,.... again M60 You sparked a memory that i would have
never remembered thanks jim
I am in Blairsville Ga for the next 3 weeks or so ,,I am planning to go to tank-town about 5 miles or so down 515
and see if he will give us a discount. They reopen Friday.
Hi Jim,
I was inspired by your forum name to post the AMX 30.
Have a great time at tank town! I'm hoping I can make it down there one day.
John
The United States M3 Stuart Light Tank. Produced in 1941 -1944. In service from 1941 - present with various nations.
The M3 Stuart was made at the Cadillac division of General Motors in Detroit Michigan.
The main gun was a 37mm M6. Top speed was 36 mph/ 58 km/h. Operational range was about 100 miles.
A fully restored M3 Stuart tank. M3 Stuart in Tunisia in 1943.
The German Anti-Aircraft tank - Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" (Whirlwind in English).
Produced in 1944-1945. Main armament was quad Flak 38 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
The open turret was mounted on a panzerkampfwagen IV hull. It had a crew of 5 (commander/gunner, two loaders, driver, radio operator).
Operational range was 124 miles/ 200km. Maximum speed was 25mph/40km/h.
The United States M60A2 "Starship" tank.
This tank was based on an M60 series hull and a modified turret that could fire 152mm tank rounds or a Shillelagh missiles.
Ultimately it was a failure because the space age style turret was plagued with issues. Mostly electronic issues, but the shell casing system was also prone to catastrophic detonations.
The program was cancelled in 1971.
The M60A2 "Starship". M60A2s near the Fulda Gap in Germany. M60A2 unloading from an amphibious transport.
The British Crusader III Mark II Ant-Aircraft Tank.
Produced in late 1943. It was armed with twin Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and had a maximum speed of 26 mph/42km/h.
It had a crew of four (Commander/gunner, 2 loaders, and driver).
The Soviet Ob'yekt 165 "T-62A" Main Battle Tank.
Produced from 1961 - 1975 (USSR) and in the 1980s in North Korea. It is still in service with some nations.
The main gun is U-5TS 115mm smooth bore. Top speed is 31mph/50km/h. It has a crew of 4 (Commander, gunner, driver and loader).
There are many variants of this tank, which change many of the specifications as it was upgraded over time.
The German Jagdpanzer 38, Sonderkraftfahrzeug 138/2 ( Tank Destroyer 38, Special Motor Vehicle 138/2) also known post WWII as the "Hetzer" (Chaser).
This was a small but effective tank destroyer with a crew of four. Produced in March of 1944, it was in service with various nations until 1945.
It was based on a modified Czechoslovak Panzer 38 t and was built at the Škoda Works in German occupied Czechoslovakia.
The main gun was a 75mm Pak 39/L48. The top speed was 26 mph/42 km/h.
The United States M42 "Duster" anti-aircraft tank. Produced from 1952 to 1960 and was in service with multiple countries until 1988.
Main armament was twin M2A1 40mm Bofors cannons. Maximum speed was 45 mph/72 km/h. It had a crew of 6.
The Duster saw combat in the Vietnam Conflict.
M42 Duster in Vietnam M42 Duster used by the West German Army during the "Cold War" era. M42 Duster in Vietnam
The British FV4201 "Chieftain" Main Battle Tank.
Introduced in 1967, in service with various nations as of this writing. Main gun is an L11A5 120mm rifled gun. Maximum speed is 25mph /40km/h.
Crew of 4 (Commander, Gunner, Driver and Loader).
The Imperial Japanese San-shiki chū-sensha Chi-nu (Imperial Year 2603 Medium tank Model 10) Type 3 Chi - Nu Medium Tank.
Produced from 1944-1945. This tank never saw combat during WWII. The Chi-Nu was built strictly for defense of the Japanese homeland in preparation for the allied invasion of Japan.
The main gun was a 75mm Type 3 L38. Maximum speed was 24 mph/39 km/h. Operational range was 130 miles/210 km/h.
Re: For those who like tanks...
