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Neil_Baumgardner

I am working on the UK AFV Register right now... I am currently going through the Bovington collection, which is obviously considerable.

This "mystery tank" was previously on display outside the museum, where I think the Churchill Mk II is displayed now... It was VISMODed to look like a T-72, complete with wooden blocks to look like ERA.

I believe it was previously identified to be some form of a Vickers MBT, perhaps a Mk 4???

Can anyone help with this one?

Neil

JimWeb

Thats the Centurion MMWR Target vehicle...

Neil_Baumgardner

Thanks Jim.

Any idea what happened to the Vickers MBT prototypes? I found one discussion on the British Army Rumour Service that appeared to indicate the Mk 7 wound up on the Lulworth range...

Neil

JimWeb

As far as I am aware its still in storage at Bovington. I'll check next time I'm down there...

JimWeb

As far as I am aware its still in storage at Bovington. I'll check next time I'm down there...

Neil_Baumgardner

Well, thats probably more reliable than what I read. I had never heard of the Vickers Mk 7 being in the Bovington collection.

BTW, I didnt see "Chieftain 1000" listed on your site?:
www.yorkshireairmuseum....asp?id=21

Neil

Dubliner · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 94

Neil,

I spoke with David Fletcher about this VISMOD 4-5 years ago. Its just a mock-up built of a mix of available pieces and parts. It was used for testing radars and other types of sensors. There is nothing inside. I believe it was intended to represent a T-80, or what NATO experts at the time believed the T-80 was going to look like.

Chris.

JimWeb

- Neil_Baumgardner

BTW, I didnt see "Chieftain 1000" listed on your site?:
www.yorkshireairmuseum....asp?id=21

Lets just say its provenance is 'suspect' - even more so when nobody is actually allowed to examine it...

Neil_Baumgardner

Any idea what to call it then? Wink

Neil

jch_in_uk · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 29

- JimWeb

Thats the Centurion MMWR Target vehicle...

I'm afraid it's no Centurion, the "mystery tank" has seven road wheels for a start.

Further to previous posts, I understand it was designed to test vehicle ID systems, before things like real T-72s became readily available.

The British also fitted dummy ERA blocks to a T-62, which was shown in public at least once.

According to rumours the British have a real T-80 in a defence establishment these days.

JimWeb

- jch_in_uk

- JimWeb

Thats the Centurion MMWR Target vehicle...

I'm afraid it's no Centurion, the "mystery tank" has seven road wheels for a start.

Further to previous posts, I understand it was designed to test vehicle ID systems, before things like real T-72s became readily available.

Look - as its made from Centurion parts as far as the rest of the armoured world is concerned its a Centurion. And it was actually made as a target to test a millimetre-wave-radar targeting system.

jch_in_uk · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 29

- JimWeb

- jch_in_uk

- JimWeb

Thats the Centurion MMWR Target vehicle...

I'm afraid it's no Centurion, the "mystery tank" has seven road wheels for a start.

Further to previous posts, I understand it was designed to test vehicle ID systems, before things like real T-72s became readily available.

Look - as its made from Centurion parts as far as the rest of the armoured world is concerned its a Centurion. And it was actually made as a target to test a millimetre-wave-radar targeting system.

Mmm, an odd logic.

And quite who is or are "the rest of the armoured world"?

You? Rolling Eyes

JimWeb

Hmmm - perhaps you should stick to Tardis and Volkswagen Golf identification John?

Neil_Baumgardner

Guys, I'm not a moderator, but can we please keep it civil? Agree to disagree, whatever... There's a lot of people on here with good knowledge & information (sometimes with differing views), and I'd like to keep it that way. Just my $0.02...

Neil

Doug_Kibbey

- Neil_Baumgardner

Guys, I'm not a moderator, but can we please keep it civil? Agree to disagree, whatever... There's a lot of people on here with good knowledge & information (sometimes with differing views), and I'd like to keep it that way. Just my $0.02...

Neil

You are, nonetheless, quite right, Neil and I thank you for your comments, which I completely support.

D.