Tanks

Here is a odd tank, does any one know what it's job was

Paras2005062.jpg
 
This was an under water tank for clearing beaches. The tank would drive around underwater and push submerged tanks and landing craft up on to the beach so that they could be recovered. Hence the big block of wood in the front of the tank covered in rope and the life belts. You will also notice that the driver has a nice glass window to look out off
 
and why is she called that? :)

Wikipedia is your friend:

The heavy armor of the Matilda's cast turret became legendary; for a time in 1940-41 the Matilda earned the nickname "Queen of the Desert".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_tank

Essentially for a while this tank was invulnerable to all but the largest German AT guns.

It would have been interesting to see how it would have rated had it been a fraction faster as it seemed to have the firepower and the armour early on.

MightyMacbeth said:
lol Venom PL, thats a monster :p

Hehe that thing is only a baby compared to what the Germans had on the drawing board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratte_(tank)
 
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Wow I've never heard about this design.

But I have found some pictures that will help us imagine how big this tank would have been comparing to other WWII tanks

08-25-2003-rattecomparison.gif


ratte8006va.jpg


p1000panther0gh.jpg

Panzer V and "Ratte"
 
The problem is just where could they use it and how would they get it to any battlefield. It would be to big for the railways, there would not be a bridge strong enough for it to cross and even though that it has a load of AAA guns on it it would still be vulnerable to air attack
 
Very interesting museum you went to, LeEnfield. Nice pics. Heh...if the german made that monster tank during World War 2. We're doomed. heh
 
A Chinese APC going through it's paces, this thing can cross rivers if they are not flowing to fast. The whole thing was crude and simple but did most of what was asked of it


Paras2005074.jpg
 
It was quite nippy across country but suspension was crap. Also when it was in the water it is driven by the tracks at about 4 mph, so if the tide or river flow is more than that you got with the flow
 
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