Review and all photography by Simon Fenwick

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Tankfest at the Tank Museum in Dorset has become the best place to see Armour In Action. Whilst most of the vehicles that display in the now enlarged Kuwait Arena are from the Museum’s own collection, some are specially invited and usually comprise tanks and armoured vehicles that would not be seen otherwise.

Although the weather on the first day had forced the cancellation of some items, including the Parachute drop, the Sunday brought beautifully sunny weather.

The events in the arena started with a bang with the museum’s Challenger I main battle tank. This particular tank, named ‘Churchill’ was the mount of General (then Colonel) A Denaro who commanded it during the Gulf War in 1991. The Challenger hold the record for the longest tank kill. A T62 tank was destroyed with a single shell at a distance of 5.1km. The Challenger introduced the first segment of the Tank Evolution display looking at ‘Form & Function’.

Following the Challenger was an example of the famous Churchill from WWII. This was Nigel Montgomery’s Churchill Mk.IV which is part of his project to restore at least three of these memorable machines that gave such a good account of themselves during the land battles particularly in Europe. For this reviewer it was a delight to see and just as a tank should sound with plenty of clanking and squeaking. There was a further opportunity to see the Churchill in action during the afternoon. Also out at the same time was an example of the famous US Halftrack which were made by White and International among others. This particular machine had an armament of four AA guns mounted in the rear. Up next was something considerably smaller, though still an armoured vehicle. This was the Daimler Ferret Mk.2.

Then it was back to the heavy armour and the Chieftain main battle tank. This was Britain’s main tank for over 20 years and was considered to be the most advanced tank of its time. It had the most powerful main gun and armour of any tank in the world right up until the late ‘70s. Over 900 served with the British Army and many more were exported to Iran, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.

Following the Chieftain was an example of the FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier, an updated version of which – named Bulldog – is still in service with the British Army today and has a new engine and braking system, air conditioning, enhanced reactive armour and electronic IED jamming system.

The Army wouldn’t survive if it didn’t have its Engineer Vehicles, whether they be for recovery purposes or providing means for vehicles to get across excessively awkward terrain. This is where the AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) came in and to demonstrate such a vehicle, a Chieftain version was next into the arena complete with ‘facine’ roll. This particular machine was named ‘SPR Archibald VC’. This was followed by another Engineer’s version of the Chieftain in the shape of the ARRV (Armoured Repair & Recovery Vehicle). This was basically the AA Van of the armoured Army and could repair or recover main battle tanks in theatre.

Kicking off the second demonstration, this time by the Modern British Army, was the Spartan which is part of the CVR(T) family of reconnaissance vehicles. Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle was introduced as a replacement for the FV432 APC and carries a turret mounted 30mm cannon for infantry protection. Up armoured versions are currently in action in Afghanistan. The IVECO Panther Command & Liaison Vehicle started to be received by the British Army in 2009 and replaces some of the CVR(T)s, Saxon and FV432 vehicles.

Although to may it might look like a tank, due to its size, the fact that it has a big gun and tracks, the formidable AS90 from Vickers, is actually a self-propelled howitzer type gun. With an incredible elevation, its 155mm gun can propel an unassisted round a distance of 30km and long-range ERA ammunition 60 to 80km. It is service with the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery. The 660hp engine gives the machine a top speed of 33mph over harsh terrain.

Having previously mentioned the Engineer vehicles, we were then brought right up to date with the impressively ugly current version. This is Trojan which is based upon Challenger MBT chassis and is able to open routes through complex battlefield arenas and clear a path through minefields. Like the earlier Chieftain, this too carries a ‘facine’ which is dropped into ditches to create a path. Also equipped with its own multi-purpose excavator and multiple dozers and diggers, this is the equivalent of several of the famous ‘Hobart Funnies’ from WWII all combined in the one vehicle.

For many years the British Army has operated a fully amphibious armoured tracked vehicle. The line started with the Volvo BV206 which was then replaced by the much larger Viking which was displayed at Tankfest 2010. Now the Viking is itself being replaced by the new and hugely improved Warthog. Again a much larger vehicle and one by all accounts is making an excellent account of itself in Battlefield Afghanistan. Certainly the crew on board during this demonstration relished the fact that unlike all other vehicles which took to the mound in normal fashion, the Warthog thought nothing about using the much steeper side approach!

Finally in this section the latest version of the Challenger II MBT was demonstrated. This was indeed a rare opportunity to see a fully kitted ‘fitted for battle’ version of this mighty tank. With all this kit added, the weight is now a hefty 65 tons. Explanations of the kit are well nigh impossible as most of its specification is on the ‘Top Secret’ list. It is expected to serve until 2020 and there are rumours that Challenger II is likely to be the very last in a long line of British Heavy Main Battle Tanks.

The final vehicle demonstration in the morning session was by the Bovington Export Support Team and gave a glance at some of the new and ‘Futuristic Vehicles’ which are now coming into service with the British Army. These are very rarely seen in public, however it was an excellent opportunity to see at first hand what our guys are using in the dust and heat of Afghanistan. Going through their paces were the Supacat Jackal 2, ‘Grizzly’ Quad bike, Springer All Terrain Light Load Carrier and the Whippet. Also shown was an example of one of the remotely operated anti-IED clearance robots. This tiny tracked vehicle was carried in the trailer attached to the Quad and set to work on top of the mound where after a suitable count down, the suspect ‘device’ was exploded with a very visible shock wave.

Finally, before the lunchbreak there was a demonstration of a modern Counter Insurgency Operation. Today, the Royal Armoured Corps has to fight ‘dismounted’ as well as in their vehicles and with Warthogs and Scimitars supporting, the members of the RAC Training Regt gave a good display and succeeded in ‘taking out’ the Insurgent’s encampment on the bank to one side of the arena.

During the decent lunchbreak there was ample opportunity to browse the trade stalls, take a close up look at the tanks and vehicles that would be demonstrating in the afternoon and wander through the many and varied Living History Displays. All theatres and eras from WWI onwards seemed to be covered as well as the Home Front. Of course there was also plenty of time to grab a bite to eat and it was so good to find some different food instead of the normal burger and fries, especially the exceptionally tasty genuine Spanish Paella and Chorizo. It made a real change and was so enthusiastically served by the Spanish guys. A lesson to be learned by other show organisers!

Lunch over, it was back to the arena. Launching the afternoon displays was the parachute display from the Royal Armoured Corps and REME soldiers. Unlike many displays, they are not actually a team as such but parachute for fun. Flying in from their Netheravon base, they dropped freefall before releasing their chutes and landing in the Kuwait Arena

The vehicles demonstrated in the arena during the afternoon were grouped under the theme of Evolution – The Tank Family Tree and opened with the Matilda or to give it its correct title the Infantry Tank Mk.I A11. Designed on the basis that no tank should cost more than £5000 it entered service before the outbreak of WWII and only ever saw service at the Battle of Arras. It was generally thought that the Matilda was pretty useless for its purpose and only 130 were built and they were virtually obsolete from the moment that war broke out. Next we saw the Morris Mk.I Light Reconnaisance Car despite their seemingly flimsy construction, they were equipped with a Bren Gun and saw service all over the world. The Infantry Tank Mk.IX Valentine was greatly successful in the North African Campaign. Much more reliable than the Matilda over 8000 were built, a figure which amounted to a quarter of British tank production during WWII.

Representing the Axis Forces were a Panzer III and Panzer IV. The former, an Ausf L version, was from the Museum’s own collection and was captured at the Battle of Alam Halfa in 1942. It became renowned for the fact that it could be constantly developed in terms of armour and gun power as the war went on. The Panzer IV formed the backbone of the German tank forces, despite being overshadowed by the Panther and Tiger. Over 8500 gun tanks were made between 1937 and 1945 across 10 variants. The example on display – actual title SD Kfz Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf II – will eventually be going on display at the Royal Jordanian Tank Museum. It was discovered on the Finnish/Russian border and has been fully restored to working order from a total wreck.

Next into the arena was a return run by the Churchill Mk.IV. Named after the wartime Prime Minister, the Churchill was a very successful design and proved to be just as tough as the PM himself! Though it was relatively slow with a maximum speed of 15mph, it could climb very difficult terrain and obstacles and could take enormous punishment thanks to its thick frontal armour. This particular tank was originally a Mk.I or II and was one of the earliest to produce. It was then upgraded to a Mk.IV configuration. Converted after the war to a ‘Twin Ark’, a most unusual vehicle that permitted the mighty Conqueror tank to cross obstacles, due to a bridging superstructure being added in place of the turret. Restored for Nigel Montgomery by the Isle Of Wight Military History Museum, the restoration was so fresh that you could still smell the paint!

Following on was the Sherman. Surely one of the most successful tank designs ever produced, the Sherman served with many forces, including notably the British Army, as well as US Forces and during the advance from the Normandy beaches to Berlin, gained a great reputation. However, it did also have its faults and many became living infernos when they came up against the much bigger gunned Tigers.

For a long time during the war, British tank commanders had been crying out for a strong reliable Cruiser tank. Finally, in 1945, it arrived in the shape of the A34 Comet. It was the first indigenously designed British tank which could hold its own against the German Tigers. With power coming from the Rolls-Royce Meteor (which used the block from the famous Merlin) it had an impressive top speed, had a powerful 17pdr gun and, for the time was very well armoured.

Following the end of WWII, there were all sorts of designs for British tanks, some successful and some not. It is from the latter that the next machine came. With its engine running – and coughing – for the first time in over 60 years, the massive Tortoise made a single, very slow, circuit once it had been coaxed into action. The Tortoise weighs over 60 tons and was built in 1947. With the fear that British tanks might be outgunned it was built around a 32pdr gun but never entered service. Much more practical designs such as Conqueror were in the pipeline. However, it was a treat to see this lumbering monster run!

A measure of the success of the Centurion must be the fact that the BARV (Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle) version was still serving with the British Forces in Iraq in 2003, some 58 years after the tank entered service. It is certainly one of the most important tanks in the history of the British Armoured Fighting Vehicle. This was followed by the T-59, a Chinese version of the famous Russian T-54.

The Alvis Saladin Armoured Car introduced an array of British vehicles, followed by the Alvis Stalwart Mk.II. I well remember many years ago not only watching these around Aldershot, but also seeing them compete in competitions on a Saturday afternoon on Grandstand! Next was the return of the Ferret Reconnaisance Car which usually has no problem negotiating the arena. However, on this occasion, there was a bit of a misjudgement and it slipped off the ‘bridge’ ending up with two wheels well and truly stuck, fortunately without injury to the crew. It remained where it was until the end of the afternoon, making for an unusual backdrop. Having seen and example of the CVR(T) family earlier in the day, the Scorpion was next demonstrated. The CVR(T) has been a hugely successful series of vehicles and the Scimitar, with heavier armament and weapon ability is still in service. 

Next was the M548 All-terrain Tracked Cargo Carrier, examples of which are used by the Museum to provide rides to the public. Followed by the M113.5 Command & Reconnaisance Vehicle Lynx.

When is a tank not a tank? Answer: when it looks like a tank but is actually a self-propelled gun! Well almost! Next into the arena was the Jagdpanzer Kanone 90mm which is the latter. Usually, the basic description of an SPG is that instead of having a turret, the machine itself is turned in the direction of fire. However…the Stridsvagn 103S 'S Tank', which looks like an SPG is actually a tank! The main gun is aimed by either turning on the tracks for horizontal aiming, or compressing the suspension for vertical. Built in Sweden, the ‘S Tank’ was designed for fighting in confined spaces such as forests and has the advantage of a very low silhouette. It can also dig itself in with its built in dozer blade.

Having earlier mentioned the Centurion BARV, we then saw the Chieftain version together with the Chieftain Bridgelayer. The actual bridging section was in use in the arena as an obstacle and it was here that the Ferret had come to grief!

The Leopard is the result of a Franco-German tank development programme which started in 1957 but ended in 1962, when each country went it’s own way on construction. The French produced the AMX-30 and Germany the Leopard. The example on display was the C2 version of this massively successful design and is the Canadian version of the tank. The following AMX-30 gave a rare chance to see the two tanks in action together, allowing a direct comparison. Introduced into service in 1960, it was developed into the B2 in 1981 and has now been replaced by the new French MBT the Leclerc. The Panzer 61 was designed and built in Switzerland, entering production in 1961. It mounted a British 105mm gun and the last or 150 was produced in 1966. Many of its features were specially developed. It’s shape was to fit the Swiss road tunnels and its steering system was specially designed to cope with the winding mountain roads. These were followed by the M113 APC and the Canadian six-wheeled Armoured Car with Scimitar Turret.

Last of the Main Battle Tanks to enter the arena was the Khalid. Designed for sale to Jordan, the Khalid is a heavily revised and improved version of the British Chieftain and uses the engine from the Challenger. This was followed by a tank which goes under the unusual description of ‘The Plastic Tank’. Developed by QinetiQ, this was a development vehicle to trial the use of composite materials in tank manufacture.

From the large tanks to a much smaller and unarmoured vehicle. The Land Rover Multi-role Half-track Centaur, was a trial for developing a modern half-track and used Series III shell with the rear axle replaced with a shortened Scorpion track system.

The final event in the arena was the Mock Battle which took the audience back to WWII and in particular Tunisia in 1942, with mortars and explosions, grenades and machine guns, it brought Tankfest 2011 to a noisy conclusion.

For those interested in Armoured Fighting Vehicles, as opposed to simply Historic Military Vehicles, there is no other show that can match Tankfest for its heavy armour. With the arena events, Living History and Trade Stalls, there is little available time to actually spend wandering around the incredible collection of vehicles in the museum itself. However, what makes the event such a bargain is that the entry fee, gives you free entry to the museum for a whole year (on non-event days) so there is no excuse for not making another visit to spend a day wandering around the exhibition halls.

Tankfest 2012 is on Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July.