Shrivenham collection / Royal Military College of Science.

The military have lots of very nice collections of equipment fit for any museum but not open to the General Public. They are usually located at training establishments and go by the name of "The Army School of......", "The Joint Services School of......" etc

But don't worry Owen, they are not likely to start shooting if you take out a camera. If you nip into the guardroom and voice your interest in taking photos of the exhibits, the Guard Commander may be able to get the okay for you to take some...... he may of course not be bothered. I doubt if a Chally 1 or a BMP are sensitive enough to warant not being photographed, but some like to 'big up' their security standing..... even at a school.

 

DefAc does have some very nice WW2 armour inside it from memory, had a private guided tour a while back - which was wonderful but they are hens teeth to get.

 

Back in the "good old days" (the late 80s and early 90s) the "Friends of the Tank Museum" organised visits to the Shrivenham collection.
The vast majority of the collection was 'Cold War' or more modern, from WW2 kit there was the "Henschel turreted King Tiger" (though owned by the TM), which was painted in Deep Bronze Green with a silver interior. The engine had been removed at some point and the lack of weight compensated for by concrete in the engine bay. Having said that, the rest was pretty well preserved.
Incidentally there was an Open Day after the 'King Tiger' was repainted in more realistic colours, the finish it bears today. The think the KT was retained in the collection to show students an example of "what not to do".
The only other WW2 tank was a T-34/85, though I think that actually came back from Korea.

As might be expected at a education establishment there were also examples of parts of vehicles, I remember a Panther wheel and torsion bar and parts of a WW2 German truck. On the Allied side there was section of a 'Harry Hopkins' tank demonstrating it's (unique?) steering arrangement.
The 'Artillery' wing was a separate building and again included mostly more modern equipment.
When I last visited (92 I think) there was a lot of ex-Iraqi kit, which has occasionally appeared in collections since.

The JgPzr.IV was mysteriously sold onto the open market in the 80s (certainly before I ever visited) and subsequently appeared at Beltring prior to export to the US. The collection also had a Kugelblitz (sp?) turret, which was returned to Germany.

One vehicle in the collection was a Leopard 1 tank that had been sectioned in half, though was still declared under the Conventional Forces in Europe arms control agreement.

So it's a long post, but I hope this helps.

jch

 

I might add that as well as the armoured vehicles, they have an Ammunition Hall with some rare items and an excellent small arms collection - which is even more highly restricted than the rest of it.

 

An interesting item I saw there 15-20 years ago was a prototype SP70 (Self propelled gun). FH70 barrel on a tank chassis which never went into production. It had to have a lifting system to get rounds into the turret - not very practical!

Richard

 

I know this thread is a bit old, but -
I'm trying to get a better image of this Alvis Stalwart Instruction hull. I've been advised that it was given to RCMS Shrivenham. I've contacted the what is now called The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and they say that they do not have it.

If anyone does have any photos of Alvis Instructional Hulls, I'd really appreciate copies please. Thanks



The Saracen Instructional hull was at ASMT Leconfield when I was there on my HMLC course in 1981

 

No, I haven't got Mr Munro's book. I prefer to deal with fact rather than belief

I'd really appreciate a look at the image.
I'm sure that I've got Mr Munro's address here somewhere. I have John Rue's research notes here from the 1990s, or most of it

 

Well that's a better image, isn't it. My email is public on my website anyway
My email is mark365ellis@gmail.com
My website is Alvis Stalwart & Bedford Files

Thanks for this