Tank Day 2009

[Marek_Tucan]

Have a bit of Tank Porn(tm) for you :)
The Tank Day is a traditional event in our Milit'ry museum, this year it was really cool as there were three new tanks to be driven around -M60A1, M48A5 and a Leo 1, all given to us by Greek army (thanks to all Greeks here, btw ;)). Moreover, there was Pandur II APC, plus some definite news - the first batch will be received next month, so our army will have something to play with at last (now just let's hope it will not discard tanks, as was suggested by some politicians).
Last but not least, various Afghan-oriented vehicles were presented as well - Toyota Hilux and Iveco LMV for light armored cars, RG-31 Mk.5 and Dingo 2 for the MRV category.

http://tuccy.rajce.idnes.cz/Tank_Day_20009/

And here are some teasers:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9964/tankden2k9275.th.jpg (http://img223.imageshack.us/i/tankden2k9275.jpg/)
T-72M4

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/9871/tankden2k9068.th.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/tankden2k9068.jpg/)
M60A1, M48A5 and Leo 1

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1579/tankden2k9071.th.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/tankden2k9071.jpg/)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3993/tankden2k9074.th.jpg (http://img243.imageshack.us/i/tankden2k9074.jpg/)

Enjoy!

[Wdll]

So, the three tanks were given to you for the festivities or for good?

Anyway, thanks for the photos. :)

[Marek_Tucan]

For good, they'll be placed in the new "Modern era" part of the exposition (along with the Merk I) - I hope they'll kick the M48A5 back in order, its propulsion sounded pretty bad yesterday and it was unable to negotiate anything but the shallowest slope. Same with the Centurion they have there - also engine trouble.
Anyway, when the T-72M4 and those three tanks were in the arena all at once, it was pretty impressive and the ground really trembled a bit under them. And then, in a final solo, the T-72 driver got a bit "wild" - kicked up really lots of dust.

By the way, here is a link to gallery from an earlier event I forgot to report here - this spring, Anti-Aircraft day.
http://tuccy.rajce.idnes.cz/2009_05_23_Lesany/

And here are the pics from the Demarcation Line museum in Rokycany:
http://tuccy.rajce.idnes.cz/6.7.2009_-_Muzeum_na_demarkacni_linii_a_okoli/

If you want to see any of the locations (can recommend both, but esp. the tank museum where the initial pics were taken), come over here during the summer and let me kow, may act as a guide ;)

[Wdll]

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to visit Czech, part because of the history, but mostly because you have amazing women there, but money wise I don't see it happening any time soon. Of course by next summer, who knows! :)
Thank you.

I was a bit surprised that we gave you a Leo 1. Yes, we still have 500 or so of them, but they are operational. Same for the M48A5MOLF, but I am more curious about the engine trouble you mention. Of course that would explain why we gave it, but anyway. :)

As for the M60, good, over this summer I think we gave away/mothballed the final pieces of M60s. :)
I am all for giving to museums, just that not of anything that we currently use while we still face threats.

I was a bit surprised to how short in relation to the others, the T-72 is.

[Marek_Tucan]

Relax, if you have still 500 leos, one would not sink you. Now Czech Army, OTOH, has 31+10 tanks only (T-72M4 plus T-72M1) ;)

[Anthony_Scott]

Hey fellas, can I just enjoy the pictures and thank the poster at the same time? It's like a Jane's Armour and Artillery spread for heaven's sake!!!!

[Marek_Tucan]

Some more pics from a different action yesterday. Hope you'll like Mi-24 in the field :)

http://tuccy.rajce.idnes.cz/5._9._2009%2C_Chynov_a_Temelin/

[iCaMpWiThAWP]

Nice, was it helicopter day?

[Marek_Tucan]

Nope, it was a relatively small regional "Army presentation" day - but with pretty interesting thingies in action and on display (Bozena-5 remote operated mineclearing vehicle or VERA passive radar system) :)

[Jack_Dionne]

Very nice pictures, thanks for posting.

[PlasmaKrab]

Great pics as always!
Just curious: are the Greek tanks going to keep their Greek colors once in the museum?

[Marek_Tucan]

I believe so.
From other nwes, the director of Military Institute of History was part of a recent delegation to the Kingdom of Jordan and negotiated there an interesting exchange - we give T-54B, they give a Chieftain. Now let's hope that the paperwork will fill less than the four years needed in this case (paperwork mostly on our side... Sigh) :)