bovington tank museum Archives - Page 8 of 20

Luchs

The Panzer II Ausf L (Luchs) is a German light tank from the Second World War, developed between 1940 and 1942 by Daimler-Benz and MAN. The Luchs was the only Panzer II design with the Schachtellaufwerk overlapping/interleaved road wheels and “slack track” configuration to enter series production, with 100 being built from September 1943 to January 1944.

Of the original 100 Panzer II Luchs, there are only 2 surviving today, one of which was at Bovington.

Here is the Panzer II Ausf L next to the huge Tiger II.

PzKpfw IV

The Panzer IV was a German medium tank that played a pivotal role in World War II. It was the most numerous German tank of the war, with over 8,500 produced between 1939 and 1945. The Panzer IV was a versatile tank that was used in a variety of roles, including infantry support, tank-versus-tank combat, and reconnaissance.

The Panzer IV was originally designed as a close-support tank to work alongside the Panzer III medium tank. It was armed with a short, stubby 75mm gun that fired high-explosive and smoke rounds. The Panzer IV was also relatively well-armoured for its time, with up to 80mm of armour on the front of the hull.

The Panzer IV was produced in a number of variants throughout the war. The most common variant was the Ausf.G, which was produced from 1942 to 1945. The Ausf.G featured a number of improvements over earlier variants, including a longer 75mm gun, thicker armour, and a more powerful engine.

The Panzer IV was a very effective tank in the early stages of the war. Its combination of firepower, armor, and mobility made it a formidable opponent for Allied tanks.However, as the war progressed, the Panzer IV became increasingly outmatched by newer Allied tanks, such as the Soviet T-34 and the British Cromwell.

The Panzer IV was one of the most important tanks of World War II. It was a versatile and reliable tank that played a key role in the German war effort. The Panzer IV is still remembered today as a symbol of German military power. The Panzer IV was the basis for a number of other armoured fighting vehicles, including the Sturmpanzer IV and the Jagdpanzer IV.

The Panzer IV at Bovington was completed as an Ausf D, with 30mm extra armour on the superstructure front and 20mm armour on the hull and superstructure sides before it even left the factory. In 1943 additional armour was put on the front and the original 75mm KwK L/24 replaced with the KwK 40 L/43 and this may well have been as part of the development of these various changes.

Churchill AVRE

The Churchill AVRE was armed with a 230 mm petard spigot mortar.

The Churchill AVRE was one of the so-called ‘funnies’ designed by Percy Hobart specifically for use on the D-Day beaches to break through the German fortified defences.

The AVRE was the most successful ‘funny’ type and AVRE vehicles remain in service with the British Army today.

This Churchill AVRE was on display at the Tank Museum at Bovington.

There was also a Churchill AVRE at Duxford.

General Aircraft Hamilcar and Light Tank Mk VII Tetrarch

This General Aircraft Limited Hamilcar and Light Tank Tetrarch combination were on display at the Tank Museum. Though only a section of the Hamilcar fuselage remains and was on display.

The Tetrarch light tank was a British tank produced in the late 1930s and used during World War II. It was the latest in a line of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army and featured a 2-pounder gun, an improvement over its predecessor, the Light Tank Mk VIC.

The Tetrarch was a relatively small and lightweight tank, making it ideal for airborne operations. In June 1942, the Tetrarch was attached to the 1st Airborne Division as an air-portable light tank to support British airborne forces. The tanks were transported and landed in General Aircraft Hamilcar gliders, which were specially designed for the task.

The Tetrarch played an important role in several airborne operations during World War II. In June 1944, approximately twenty Tetrarchs were used during Operation Tonga, the British airborne landings in Normandy. The Tetrarchs provided valuable fire support to the British paratroopers as they landed and fought their way inland.

The General Aircraft Limited Hamilcar was a large British military glider produced during World War II to carry heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank. It was used only three times, all in support of British airborne forces.

The Hamilcar first saw action in June 1944, when approximately thirty were used to carry Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank guns, transport vehicles, and Tetrarch light tanks into Normandy during Operation Tonga. In September 1944, a similar number of Hamilcars were used to transport anti-tank guns, transport vehicles, and supplies for airborne troops during Operation Market Garden. They were used a third and final time in March 1945 during Operation Varsity when they transported M22 Locust light tanks and other supplies.

The Hamilcar was successful in all three operations, although its slow speed and large size made it an easy target for anti-aircraft fire, resulting in a number of gliders being damaged or destroyed.

Valentine Bridgelayer

This Valentine Bridgelayer was on display at the Tank Museum at Bovington.

The Valentine Bridgelayer was a British armoured bridgelayer tank based on the Valentine Infantry Tank MK II. It was turretless and fitted with a 10-meter (33 ft) long, 2.90-meter (9 ft 6 in) wide Class 30 (capable of bearing 30 long tons (34 short tons)) scissors bridge. The bridge could be deployed in 2.5 minutes and could carry a wide range of vehicles, including tanks, trucks, and artillery.

The Valentine Bridgelayer was first produced in 1942 and saw action in North-West Europe, Italy, Burma, and Manchuria. It was a valuable asset to Allied forces, allowing them to quickly and safely cross rivers, streams, and other obstacles.

The Valentine Bridgelayer was a well-designed and reliable vehicle. It was based on the proven Valentine tank chassis, which was known for its durability and ease of maintenance. The scissors bridge was also a very effective design, and it was able to withstand a great deal of weight.

The Valentine Bridgelayer was a vital piece of equipment for Allied forces during World War II. It helped them to overcome a variety of obstacles and to achieve victory.

Here are some additional facts about the Valentine Bridgelayer:

- It was the first British armoured bridgelayer to be produced in large numbers.
- It was used by a variety of Allied forces, including the British, Canadians, Americans, and Soviets.
- The Valentine Bridgelayer was a very versatile vehicle. It could be used to cross a variety of obstacles, including rivers, streams, ditches, and craters.
- It was also used to support infantry operations and to provide cover for engineers.

The Valentine Bridgelayer was a highly successful vehicle, and it played an important role in Allied victory during World War II.

Universal Carrier

The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong.

More photographs of the Universal Carrier.

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

The Type 95 Ha-Gō was a light tank used by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry but, like other light tanks, was not designed to combat other tanks.

This one was on display at Bovington.

The French Fourth Republic used leftover Japanese military equipment from the Japanese invasion of French Indochina. An ad-hoc unit of French and Japanese armour including the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank called the ‘Commando Blindé du Cambodge’ was created and this unit participated in the early stages of the First Indochina War

Cruiser Tank Mk IIA CS (A10)

The Tank, Cruiser, Mk II (A10), was a cruiser tank developed alongside the A9 cruiser tank, and was intended to be a heavier, infantry tank version of that type. In practice, it was not deemed suitable for the infantry tank role and was classified as a “heavy cruiser”.

This A10 Close Support version was on display at the Tank Museum in Bovington. Rear view of the tank.

Another post on the A10 from a previous visit to Bovington.

Infantry (A22) Churchill Mk II

The Tank, Infantry (A22) Churchill was a British heavy infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, its ability to climb steep slopes, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war.

This Mark II was on display at The Tank Museum.

Looking back at photographs from my previous visits to The Tank Museum I had taken a photograph of the tank when it was outside (and I identified it as a Mark I).

The origins of the design lay in the expectation that war in Europe might be fought under similar conditions to those of the First World War, and emphasised the ability to cross difficult ground. The Churchill was rushed into production to build up British defences against a possible German invasion. The first vehicles had flaws that had to be overcome before the Churchill was accepted for wide use.

After several Marks had been built, a better armoured version, the Mark VII, entered service.

The Churchill was used by British and Commonwealth forces in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. In addition, a few hundred were supplied to the USSR and used on the Eastern Front.

M3 Grant Tank

The M3 Lee was an American medium tank used during World War II. It was a stopgap design that was quickly developed in response to the need for a more powerful tank than the M2 Medium Tank. The M3 had a unique design with a main gun in a sponson on the hull side, and a smaller machine gun turret in the center. This design was not ideal, as it made the tank’s silhouette very high and made it difficult to aim the main gun.

This M3 Grant Medium Tank was on display at Bovington.

Despite its flaws, the M3 was a reliable and sturdy tank. It was also well-armed, with a 75mm main gun and a .30-caliber machine gun in the turret. The M3 was also relatively easy to produce, which was important for the United States, which was not yet fully mobilized for war.

The British Army received a large number of M3 tanks under the Lend-Lease program. The British were not happy with the M3’s design, and they insisted on modifications, including a different turret. The British-modified M3s were called “Grants,” while the original American-designed tanks were called “Lees.”

The main asset of the tank, from the British point of view, was the 75mm gun which could fire high explosive and armour piercing ammunition. The former was the perfect answer to Rommel’s imaginative use of anti-tank guns and there is no doubt that Grant tanks were largely responsible for halting Rommel’s attack during the key battle of Alam Halfa.

For all that the Grant was a difficult tank to fight in. The low position of the main gun meant that it was impossible to conceal and the tank often had to swing round in order to bring this gun to bear. Riveted construction was also a serious liability by 1942 while the 37mm gun, in the turret, was all but useless.

Both the Lee and Grant tanks saw extensive service with British forces in North Africa, Italy, and the Far East. The tanks were not the best in the world, but they were reliable and sturdy, and they played an important role in the Allied victory.

M3A5 General Grant II (Monty’s) at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.