So, last Saturday I had the privilege of going to the Tank Museum in Bovington for “Tiger Day” where they showcase the last operational Panzerkampfwagen VI “Tiger” Ausf E. It was a near religious experience. Watching that massive, sexy, fortress of a tank do its thing was incredible but, then again I’ve had a major crush on the Tiger I for a long time.
In addition to the Tiger, the Tank Museum is chock-full of… well… tanks. While there, I made a few new discoveries. For starters, turns out scout cars are freaking adorable, angular armor and rugged girthy tires, who couldn’t love that. My favorite they had was the Coventry Mark. I Armored Car. Somehow this (relatively) small armored vehicle really checked all the right boxes for me, making it one of many vehicles there I’d have loved to get some private time with. Look at that butt!
Next revelation came in the form of the my newest MBT crush, the Challenger II. I can’t believe I never came across this beauty before. The sloped turret face and angular bow armor and there’s something oddly attractive about the supplemental fuel canisters on the back.  It was an all around good looking tank. Maybe a Challenger II will be my next story, she’s certainly deserving of one.
Even surrounded by an abundance of attractive armor, nothing came anywhere near the highlight of the event, Tiger 131. I got to watch them start up 131 and drive her out of the building, roaring, screeching and clanking as she moved. They don’t make tanks like that anymore. After that, 131 made her way around the Kuwait field outside the museum along with a few other WWII counterparts and the Tiger’s successor, Leopard I.
Apart from the above, there were no shortage these steel warriors. From wall to wall of the massive museum there were tanks of all ages, The Great War to Afghanistan. This is a place I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the heavier end of military vehicles.
Here, have some more. Especially that incredible Panther ass, Grrr!
Wow,Very cool place to visit. 🙂
Take it slow, Ratbat! There’s only so much tank exposure a person can take! You’ll overheat and self-destruct with tank levels of that magnitude!
I’m actually jellous to the point of being mad. Being stuck in California for the duration of school has been a huge pain in the ass. I’ll be missing Rimpac this year and to say that I’ll be attempting to make tank fest next year will be a tall order. I need this .. All of this in my life. Dude put in some movies. Upload that shit to YouTube.
Wish I could have been there. Looks like a memorable experience. the only museums I have been was the big aerospace museum outside of DC over a decade ago, the Evergreen and Tillamook air museums. and the USS Turner Joy up in Bremerton. Next year I am planning to head down to California to hit up the museum ships there, Queen Mary, because Mauretania just isn’t available anymore, USS Iowa, and whatever other ships I can check out.
I’ll say one thing right now: that Tiger A looks really, REALLY clean for how old the model is. Still, I’m really fucking jealous. The closest I can compare to that is passing by fort Benning, stopping alongside the road and touching the georgeous Patton 48 and 60 and a Sherman E8, and sitting in a M113 APC. I did go to the Smithsoanion (y’all know which one ;)) so I guess that compares but not at all on that level.
Well I did walk all over the Yorktown, Laffey, and the BB North Carolina (If any of you are history buffs go to BB North Carolina! OMG that was the best museum ever!) so I guess I’ve been around, too.
Still jealous.