Knackered old army tanks

Coal Cutter · Dec 31, 2011

Hello folks, my friend and i recently went above ground and found these tanks. I do not know anything about tanks so sorry I cannot give info even though I tried reseacrh. Goggle was not being my pal that day

Anyway.. these are used as targets as they are on a live MOD bombing range but it was a bank holiday and all the nice soldiers must have been having a lie in or down the pub that day. So here is some pictures. Sorry if this is not an appropriate report, I know they are not buildings or places but I think some of you people like things like this...

I think this is what they used in Northern Ireland

I do not know what this is, someone told me it was something called a Self-propelled Gun:

Looks like they had a nasty accident with this one!

Close up details of big holes, I assume they are from gun bullets:

And the last one:

I bet someone knows what these things are, thanks for looking and best wishes

Black Shuck · Dec 31, 2011

Nice work there mate.. good to see you out and about again.

WinchItIn · Dec 31, 2011

The first pic is a PIG' APC. 1953 Humber 1 Ton Armoured Personnel Carrier.

outkast · Dec 31, 2011

second one is a Abbot self propelled gun

Coal Cutter · Dec 31, 2011

Hey thanks guys, I knew some of you would know what these were! Brilliant cheers

Any idea what that big tank is in the last pic?

godzilla73 · Dec 31, 2011

I think that last one might be an old chieftain. Its pretty mashed so its hard to tell, but the back end looks like it might be. Someone else on here will know for definite though!

Faing · Dec 31, 2011

I seem to recall what hapen to the gun in piic4 as i see it on telly,yhe tank belonged to mr.wily Coyote and was banana'd when roadrunner blocked it with an acme watermelon. good find, thanks

TeeJF · Dec 31, 2011

I thought Chieften had a different turret shape to that but it's hard to tell isn't it. I even wondered if it was Soviet or or 60s American. Quite enigmatic! Loved the pix.

smiffy · Dec 31, 2011

the last 2 are def Chieftains but what Mk I haven't a clue...good stuff anyways! where's the range?

Andymacg · Dec 31, 2011

nice pics,that takes me back to my last 3 years in the armed forces stripping stuff down ready to go on the ranges at Sennybridge

Coal Cutter · Dec 31, 2011

smiffy said:
the last 2 are def Chieftains but what Mk I haven't a clue...good stuff anyways! where's the range?

It is the range up in Northumberland near to Otterburn. Thanks for the info

night crawler · Dec 31, 2011

Glad I'm not in one when they are firing at them. Nice one my man.

Marauder · Jan 1, 2012

smiffy said:
the last 2 are def Chieftains but what Mk I haven't a clue...good stuff anyways! where's the range?

Looks to have hinges both sides of the commander's cupola, which would suggest a split hatch, which was only found on MK 1 Chieftains. Also it appears to only have one periscope for the commander which also suggests a very early model, and I can't see a lighting box either.

Marauder · Jan 1, 2012

Coal Cutter said:
Close up details of big holes, I assume they are from gun bullets:

Looks more like damage from either 66mm or 84mm HEAT rounds, the holes are too big and in areas where the metal is too think to be bullet holes.

jools · Jan 1, 2012

They should have used water-melons,,,,,,,,much more effective and quite cheap

Thanks for the pics

Krypton · Jan 2, 2012

I want a tank

I like the last pic

4201Chieftain · Feb 10, 2012

Bit sad seeing the chieftains so destroyed, I work on a great example of this vehicle and it has made quite an impression on me! They are both early marks, older versions have extra armour attached to the front of the turret.
Looks like the thermal wrap is missing from the barrel too, I don't think they built a chieftain without it so I'm guessing they took it off. Do they still have their engines?

jonney · Feb 11, 2012

Krypton said:
I want a tank

I like the last pic

There you go mate have a look at these

http://www.milweb.net/classifieds.php?type=1

http://tanksforsale.co.uk/Tanks_Trucks_Jeeps_for_sale_page.html

Cruachan · Feb 11, 2012

The vehicle in the first picture is a Humber 1 Ton (Armoured), universally known as "The Pig" - a nickname that I have to say was very well deserved.

They were originally produced in the 1950s as a stop-gap until the Saracen came into full production. They used the chassis and drive train from a standard Humber 1 ton truck and had a (very lightly) armoured body added. The armour was barely bullet proof but, because of its weight, it caused endless problems with knackered gear boxes, broken half-shafts, burnt out clutches etc etc etc. Most of them had been put into storage by the time the Northern Ireland troubles kicked off in the late 60s but they were the requirement for some kind of armoured protection meant that large numbers were dragged out, dusted off and put back into service. The list of modifications to these things is almost endless and they were used for every task under the sun.

Here's yours truly waiting to go out on patrol in one in Dungannon in 1972.

J

Curious Dragon · Feb 11, 2012

I love old military vehicles, especially the ww2 ones (surprise surprise) seeing images like this really put a smile on my face and make me wish I had been there too!

Have any of you ever caught the tv program "Tank Restoration"?
It was watching that which made me realise how much I would love to own and restore a few, any war wounds would be kept though unless it hampered the vehicle's operation.
Alas, this is just a lottery win dream unless I become rich and famous so I will just have to enjoy examples such as this or those at shows, owned by some one else (lucky sod!)

Anywho... thank you for sharing

Knackered old army tanks

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