1A5, which is plastered with the absolutely unavoidable Kontakt-1 The apparent net at the rear of the turret is a folding cope cage
If in doubt whether it a 1 or 2. Look for the louvres on the rear. Leopard 1s have angled louvres. Leopard 2 don't have any & are straight sided.
I have numerous photos of what I believe are Canadian Leopard C2s, which are equivalent. Such as this one from a mock battle at the Canadian Tank Museum.
I just came back from Japan and noticed on the news that the last Comets and Charioteers of the Finnish army have been auctioned, so I didn't have time to warn those interested about the unique opportunity. These tanks were perhaps in better condition than the tanks sold during the previous auction, because these were chosen as trade tanks for our War Museum. When the desired swaps were done, the remaining ones were now auctioned off. The highest price paid for a Charioteer Mk VII Model B was 108 000 € and for Comet Mk I Model B 143 000 €. A link to the news, with some photoes. Tampereella käydään poikkeuksellinen Puolustusvoimien huutokauppa – katso kuvat kaupattavista panssarivaunuista | Pirkanmaa | Yle
Didn't post this before the sale was due. Was concerned Adam would do something he'd regret later Kind regards, bidding has ended, always, Jim. P.S. Juha, do you have new transport perchance?
Unfortunately no, I just missed one chance. A Charioteer in the backyard would have been a nice reminder of old times. Although, it would certainly have caused a schism with the wife. And it would hardly have been registered as a road vehicle. How could one even get a driver's license for that? At least it would have good off-road mobility, as long as I could get it off-road in an area where the landowner wouldn't mind minor damage to trees and soil. We have freedom to roam here, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't include driving an AFV.
"France - Men of U.S. Army 9th Air Force Service Command Ordnance Section built this baby tank from German, French, and American parts. The four-ton vehicle creeps behind hedgerows, dives into craters, or does an about-face with equal ease." National Archives NextGen Catalog
Spot on methinks with the tankette Chris; the French part accounted for. Looks like MG-15; the German part. For the American "parts"? The plate/gun shield maybe? Definitely the GIs Kind regards, and parts, always, Jim.
Germany absorbed so many Chenilettes & didn't think them worth much 'official' adaptation, so the impression given (real sourcing is pretty much non-existent) is that they were offered to Infantry divisions to do what they like with. A fair amount of munitionschleppers out there in images(as per largely original usage), but also reasonably common (in as much as you can trust the visual record) as extemporised or 'just handy' heavy weapons carriers. MG, PaK-towing, Raketenwerfer etc. Presumably just run until the parts ran out, but not all that uncommon in the Ost. Have a dig about for 'Beutepanzer UE630' or similar, and the range of 'that'll do' adaptations is pretty wide. Maybe the more interesting part of papiermache's pic is how those corn-fed American boys don't quite fit in the thing. Plenty of shots of Frenchie seemingly well within the very tight quarters. There was a lovely UE that cropped up on the UK show circuit years back. They're bleedin' tiny. I did not fancy it. No idea where it went. I imagine bought up by Mr Littlefield or Lowden, as per for many interesting/rare machines...
According to an article in "The Herald" published in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday 11th November 1935, the truck used to deliver a 5 ton Renault "Whippet" tank ran on gas produced by the combustion of charcoal. CHARCOAL AS A FUEL - Special Renault Truck Model - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 11 Nov 1935 The page also has a picture of an Austin 7 cut in half.
A few Chenillettes got to Britain, possibly from Norway, and were used for training by the Free Poles. Others fell into Australian hands in Syria and saw a little Aussie use, or maybe just joyriding. I saw a youtube clip of a wonderful tankfest in France. They had a UE, and it could certainly scuttle around.
Said Marines putting same to use. Don McCullin won't have been too far away. Kind regards, the tall tree standing all by itself, come left, always, Jim.
Wonder if anyone tried/if it was advisable to let rip with all barrels at once? They were recoiless after all?
Maybe? M50A1 Ontos Tank Destroyer Not a vehicle I would want to be stood in front of, or behind! Kind regards, always, Jim.
Hmmm.... a tiny tracked vehicle witha bundle of 6 recoilless anti-tank weapons Where have I seen that before? Oh yes: Borgward IV Panzerjäger "Wanze"
Also, we Canadians experimented with PIATs on a universal carrier as a sort of bombardment weapon. Experimental PIAT Universal Carrier