The AFV discussion board is home to several tank and AFV enthusiasts with impressive photo collections of tanks and AFVs. We have spotlighted some of these galleries in previous posts (here, here, here and here). Today we present a truly impressive collection belonging to Pierre-Olivier B, known online as “the_shadock.” His flickr gallery contains an incredible assortment of tank pictures from all over Europe, which a particular emphasis on the M4 Sherman. “Shadock” also maintains several websites, including the Surviving Panzers site, Tanks in France, and the Sherman Minutia Website.
Awesome flickr gallery by “the_shadock”
May 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
1919 tank tests disguised as tourist ride
May 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Mashable has posted a gallery of pictures which they claim depict secret military vehicle tests performed by General Jean Baptiste Eugene Estienne. Taken in 1919, the photos show a crawler style tractor transporting tourists up the slopes of Mont d”Arbois in Megeve, France. Several of the photos include a uniformed officer said to be General Estienne, who was using the tourists as a way to disguise the true nature of the vehicle tests, which were to evaluate the vehicles for military purposes. The vehicles tested were built by the well know French auto companies Renault and Peugeot.
US Army comic book on “How to destroy a tank”
May 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The War is Boring blog has posted an article presenting a comic book printed by the US Army from 1972 on infantry anti-tank tactic. War is Boring state that they obtained the comic through the Freedom of Information Act and have posted the comic, titled “To Catch a Tank – “Big Game” Hunting Made Easy” in PDF format. The comic was originally published by the Army’s Infantry School. Of course, this is not the only example of the US Army using the comic book format as a training aid. For over 60 years the US Army has published PS magazine, a comic about equipment maintenance featuring some of the most well known comic book artists in the field.
Recent articles from “Armored Warfare” website
May 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The website for the video game Armored Warfare has been regularly posting articles about the history of tanks and armored vehicles. Below is a list of some of the recent non-gaming related articles they have posted that may be of interest to tank and AFV enthusiasts.
FRENCH ARMOR HISTORY – RENAULT FT
PIERRE BILLOTTE – HERO OF FRANCE
WORST POST-WAR ARMORED VEHICLES
Tank Chats #5 Lanchester Armored Car
May 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Tank Museum has released the fifth video in their series of “Tank Chat” videos featuring tank expert David Fletcher. This episode features the Lanchester Armored Car.
AAF Tank Museum In Danville Virginia may consider staying in current location
May 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The local ABC affiliate in Danville Virginia is reporting that the American Armored Foundation (AAF) Tank Museum is reconsidering their announcement from last November that they would relocate to Ohio. Local government commissioned a study to find out if the tank museum could remain viable in it’s current location. The study recommended that the primary problem facing the museum is a lack of marketing. Museum Director Daniel Gasser said they spend the little money they get from admissions on fixing up the warehouse which leaves nothing for advertising. “It’s all on a budget,” Gasser said. “We’re putting out as much as we can right now. If we stay open longer hours, it’s going to cost me more than what is going to come through the door, and I can’t make that money back.” The 330,000-square-foot facility on U.S. 29 in Blairs. According to the AAF website, the museum has 120 tank and military pieces, 150 machine guns, mortars, and flame throwers, more than 65 small arms, more than 340 international tank and cavalry generals’ uniforms, more than 2,200 hats and helmets, more than 350 tank and artillery optical instruments and more than 400 tank and AVF toys and other items.
Video of T-70M light tank restoration
May 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Russia Beyond the Headlines has posted a video of a restored WW2 era Soviet T-70M light tank. The video is in Russian, but English subtitles are provided. This particular vehicle resides in Pskov, Russia.
The Tank-Infantry Battle of Munoz, Philippines by Harry Yeide
May 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Chieftain’s Hatch section of the World of Tanks website has posted an article on the Tank-Infantry Battle of Munoz, Philippines by guest writer Harry Yeide. Mr. Yeide is the author of several books on US armored forces in WW2, including The Infantry’s Armor, The Tank Killers, and Steeds of Steel. Earlier this year we published an interview with Mr. Yeide.
Excerpt:
General Douglas MacArthur intended to invade Luzon, the Philippine Islands, right where the Japanese had conducted their main landings in 1941, and for the same reason: The Lingayen Gulf provided direct access to the central plains and Manila. He gave the task to Lieutenant General Krueger and his Sixth Army, supported by the air and naval forces of the Southwest Pacific Area. Once ashore, Sixth Army’s I Corps was to protect the beachhead’s left flank while XIV Corps drove south to Clark Field and then Manila.
General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Japanese commanding general, did not intend to defend the central plains-Manila Bay area with his 260,000 troops because American superiority in armor and mobility would have its greatest advantage there. He sought only to pin down MacArthur’s forces in order to delay Allied progress toward Japan.
WoT History Articles translated to English
May 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
At the Russian language World of Tanks website, they frequently publish articles on the history of various tanks and vehicles written by their staff of researchers. Fortunately for English language readers, the Archive Awareness blog regularly translates and posts these articles. April saw a good number of these translated articles posted online. Here are some links to the most recent ones.
World of Tanks History Section: SOMUA S35
World of Tanks History Section: Infantry’s Fangs (anti-tank rifles)
World of Tanks History Section: Tanks in the Far East
Schwarzenegger releases another tank themed video for charity
April 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Last year celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger released a video of himself crushing various objects with his own M47 tank. This week he has released another tank themed video, this one showing him crushing things with a Centurion tank. The video is part of the Omaze charity program. The video does not identify the owner of the Centurion tank used in the filming.
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