British army tank driver

In service since 1998, the british army s challenger 2 main battle tank is reaching middle age, and the ministry of defence is looking to extend its life until 2025. British army cloth trade badges are embroidered onto different coloured backings depending on regimental tradition. A tank transporter is a combination of a heavy tractor unit and a mating full trailer or semitrailer typically of the lowboy type, used for transporting tanks and other afvs. This is provided the vehicles are being driven subject to the orders of a member of the armed forces of the crown the. Veteran celebrates 57th wedding anniversary with army tank. Exemptions to driving rules for military drivers gov. There are a total of 21 active british army vehicles and artillery 2019 in the military factory. The massive vehicle was unable to stop in time, crushing the. The royal tank regiment is based in tidworth, wiltshire on salisbury plain. Desert rats 8th army egypt north africa, world war two. Exarmy tank driver, 42, with 26 different driving licences is turned. Challenger 2 cr2 is the british army s main battle tank. The minimum ages for driving most vehicles are lower for military drivers. Basically, your weak armored tank is going up against germanys tanks that were engineered to become your worst enemy beside japanese suicide attackers rolling under your tank and priming the explosives.

The tank, light, mk vi was the sixth in the line of light tanks built by vickersarmstrongs for the british army during the interwar period. It was requested in 1938 by a british war office specification and a call to. Challenger 2 cr2 is the british armys main battle tank. Armoured regiments are responsible for what the british army call shock. The tank entered service with the british army in 1998, with the last delivered in 2002. The fv4034 challenger 2 mod designation cr2 is a third generation british main battle. New us army tank driver careers are added daily on. The challenger armored repair and recovery vehicle crarrv was developed in the mid 80s. British commonwealth armoured fighting vehicles of world. Vintage us army tank recognition blueprint aid design from the 1980s to help soldiers identify tanks and armored fighting vehicles both friendly and enemy on the battlefield with schematic style blueprints of the main battle tanks and other combat vehicles with statistics and description, ideal gift for model makers and collectors of historical and moden war machines and tank.

The regiment consists of 77 headquarters squadron, 8 fuel and general transport squadron, 91 supply squadron based in aldershot and 19 tank transporter squadron based in bulford. A total of 74 arvs were delivered to the british army. Youll get to work in different roles including driver, gunner and loader. The driver sits in the front section of the hull, directly under the main gun. Student driver pulls out in front of british army tank in. M1 crew members say that this is far and away the most comfortable position in the tank. A soldier checks the battery box and connections on his m1a1 abrams tank after gunnery qualifications on the blackwell multiuse range on fort hood may 28, 20.

He was the only soldier to receive two victory cross in wwii and in the history. This was the only spg version of the churchill, built in 1942, fitted with an antiquated 3 in 76. The ranks of the british army during the second world war. This beast, an 80s british chieftain, was designed to tear up the toughest, most advanced armor the soviet. With arm broken, he destroyed a german tank, several guns and vehicles with grenades. Read the diary of a real army recruit who worked as a tank driver. Universal and the earlier bren carriers were used by australian army units in the western desert campaign. It was developed as a response to the soviet joseph stalin is3 heavy tanks. Watch all the action of a british army armoured vehicle driver training day. Luke turner tank transporter british army linkedin. In the early 30s, the british army was mechanizing its units around the concept of armored divisions. A talented exarmy tank driver has taken to advertising himself on twitter in. The mk ii series entered service in 19381939 and established itself as the standard british army infantry combat tank within time.

Im planning to join the army and be a tank driver in my future. An army tank commander leads a crew of soldiers to operate a tank on the battlefield. What was it like to be a tank driver in the british army. Our tank was the newer, higher velocity 76mm m4 sherman. British tanks of ww2 poster support tank encyclopedia churchill 3 inch gun carrier.

Instead, the commander used a series of kicks to relay instructions to the driver. A new recruits diary on joining the army as a tank driver. As a tank crewman youll drive and operate this amazing vehicle as part of a fourstrong team. After successfully completing this training, soldiers are commonly assigned to an armored unit in support of army missions as a loader or driver for an m1 abrams tank. In order to fit in the confined space, he has to lean way back in a reclining, formfitting bucket seat, sort of like a dentist chair. Armoured vehicle driver training training army jobs youtube. Drivers are the lifeblood of the royal logistic corps and the whole army. You need to assume a platoon level ranks for four tanks.

The royal tank regiment specialises in shock action. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary. See what its like to drive a tank and hear from our tank crewmen. Bae systems bid provides glimpse into the future of. In this mos, soldiers train rigorously not just in classrooms but in realistic field environments and battlefield simulators. The cr2 is based on the challenger 1 tank, which served with distinction on operations in the gulf war. On friday, british army veteran ron pendry took his wife violet for a spin in an 8ton armored tank on a military base in banbury, oxon. Weighing 1035 tonnes, they were fast and mobile, and were designed to operate independently of the slowmoving infantry and their more heavily armoured infantry tank support. The royal logistics corps the biggest corps in the british army. Tank driver in france, 1944 by raf cosford roadshow. The british army has kept pace with rising battlefield requirements, fielding a broad collection of modern systems. I was in my last year in school and knew i needed to apply for a job for when i left school. On 31 may 1918, a small tank designed by a famous french car maker and a brilliant army officer saw its first action. It was also one of the most widely modified, and churchills found use in a.

An order for a further 259 tanks and 9 driver trainers worth. Ww2 british armored cars archives tank encyclopedia. A tank commander and his driver sit in their ft17 light tank with the hatches open. Find the perfect british army tank transporter stock photo. I hope you all enjoy my video of my 3 years at the royal tank regiment. The first use of the british tanks on the battlefield was the use of 49 mark i tanks during the battle of the somme on 15 september 1916, with mixed, but still impressive results. Eventually you can even qualify to command your own tank.

The mk v had a driver, a gunner and a commander helping on the gun. The royal army of oman ordered 18 challenger 2s in 1993 and a further 20 tanks in november 1997. Interestingly, during world war two there was a great disparity between the qualities of training provided to tank drivers of different armies. Cromwell tank d day normandy military armor ww2 photos military pictures armored fighting vehicle world of tanks ww2 tanks british army a cromwell tank crew british army normandy 1944 b 5681 a cromwell tank crew of 4th county of london yeomanry, 7th armoured division, preparing a meal in front of their vehicle, 17 june 1944. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz.

The cr2 is based on the challenger 1 tank, which served with distinction on operations in the gulf war and the balkans. They were built specifically to fight a mobile war against other tanks. A powerful engine, heavy armour, and massive firepower. The british army fought all around the world throughout the second world war. Only five percent of challenger 2 components are interchangeable with its predecessor, which has had more than 150 major modifications including a completely new. The wwi tank that helped change warfare forever bbc future. British army army drivers are training on specialist.

These mediumsized cruiser tanks were the mainstay of british armoured units during the war. For example at the start of the war german tank driver training was very thorough for new recruits. Nato has released a video unpacking the kit carried by the british army kings royal hussars, but what to do tankers carry on patrol. Serves as operations or intelligence sergeant of armor battalion or higher level organization or as first sergeant of tank company or cavalry troop. The various marks were produced in relatively small numbers. Armoured vehicle driver training training army jobs. The noise inside a running tank was so loud the commander could not communicate with the driver.

Whether youre driving through desert, jungle or snow, youve got to look after your vehicle and get your load to its destination. Youll be a vital link, transporting soldiers and supplies all over the world. They were large, heavy, slow moving vehicles capable of driving right over the top of enemy trenches. Police told the bbc that an 18yearold driver with a learners license pulled out in front of a british army tank in germany monday. My time at the royal tank regiment british army rtr. The lowstress way to find your next us army tank driver job opportunity is on simplyhired. Driving force a unique insight into the world of a challenger tank. Logistics management driver at british army wilsford, wiltshire, united kingdom 198 connections. The tank crews are a unique part of the british army and they have a certain style, often coming across as elitist, eccentric or a walking pamphlet. These badges are also made in different materials depending on the pattern of uniform, for example, full dress uniform often has gold wire bullion embroidered badges. An insight into the history, development, production and role of the british army tank of the second world war.

Like the a11 before it, the a12 was also classified as an infantry tank in british army nomenclature and intended for support of infantryminded actions. Our driver stops and instantly the rear is a mass of. Tankdriving grounds of the 51st and 56th army training regiments. Ww2 british tank destroyers archives tank encyclopedia. This article on military tanks deals with the history and development of tanks of the british army. The four tcs would be slotted as a 1lt as the platoon leader, a sfc platoon sergeant, and two staff sergeants wingmen of the pl and psg. The exciting joyride was coordinated in part by goatacre. Its inspired design lives on in todays tanks, 100 years later. The driver is the most important role of the crew, if the driver goes wrong way, the enemy round pierces your weak armor, ripping your crew bits by bits inside and your tanks engine begins to aflame, burning inside. This is a quick introduction on how i joined the army and chose the regiment of my choice.

What are the deployment locations for the royal tank. In 1985 the uk mod signed a contract with vickers defence systems to build 30 armored recovery vehicles to support the challenger 1 main battle tank. You start off as a loader or driver and will work your way through the various positions of the crew as you advance. The fv 214 conqueror, also known as tank, heavy no. Armed with characteristic equipment such as the bren gun, the piat, the bren carrier, churchills and cromwell tanks and with the protection of the brodie helmet, the tommies were a force to be reckoned with. Aug 1, 2018 the chieftain fv4201 was the main battle tank of the united kingdom during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The churchill tank was one of the most produced british tank designs during world war ii, with over 5,600 being built. Many broke down but nearly a third succeeded in breaking through. Some also function as tank recovery vehicles, the tractors of which may be armored for protection in combat conditions used on roads, tank transporters reduce the wear and tear on tracks and the other components of. Training regiment british army, royal armoured corps rac, 56th training regiment. This tank was specifically designed to exploit breaches in the. Faster than the centurion, able to maintain its speed longer than the leopard 1 and outgunning its contemporaries, the chieftain was also the first tank to enhance its already superior armour with composite armour addons, beginning with chobham developed in the uk.