Home 

   TANKS IN TEWKESBURY 2011  
 

 

    
 

If there is one thing I have learned about model railway exhibitions over the past five years it is the need to be flexible and improvise when necessary - and it turns out that the same is true of model tents at shows more orientated to larger scale vehicles! Although the 2011 Model Steam Road Vehicle Society Rally was blessed with a traditional marquee rather than the party tents deployed in 2010, the sheer size of the more highly cost-effective Scout-owned tensile structure meant that exhibitors were encouraged to spread out rather than make their displays more compact.
 

 

    


If there is one thing I have learned about model railway exhibitions over the past five years it is the need to be flexible and improvise when necessary - and it turns out that the same is true of model tents at shows more orientated to larger scale vehicles!  Although the 2011 Model Steam Road Vehicle Society Rally was blessed with a traditional marquee rather than the party tents deployed in 2010, the sheer size of the more cost-effective Scout-owned tensile structure meant that exhibitors were encouraged to spread out rather than make their displays more compact.

My first thought in that situation was to go home and fetch the Joint Harrier Strike Force, but as certain key elements were relatively inaccessible late on the night of Friday 1 July and I had an American flag and the concrete apron section from the Airfield Embankment handy my mind turned towards some models never before shown in public.

The result was a simple diorama I called "Black Hawk Special Operations" with the eponymous Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk posed between examples of American light and heavy tracked combat vehicles originally built by Ron Brooks. Or as I put it in the caption:

"From a captured airbase, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter of the United States Army prepares to leave its armoured escort and insert a Special Forces team deep into enemy territory..."

Having been selected by the US Army as its Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft in 1976 - ahead of a Boeing Vertol design - the UH-60 entered service in 1979 as a replacement for the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, the "Huey" of Vietnam War fame.  Since then the UH-60 has been adopted by the US Navy and USAF and has seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 1/72 scale model is part of the Jet Age Reserve Collection


Having been selected by the US Army as its Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft in 1976 - ahead of a Boeing Vertol design - the UH-60 entered service in 1979 as a replacement for the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, the "Huey" of Vietnam War fame. Since then the UH-60 has been adopted by the US Navy and USAF and has seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.


 

Built by Chrysler's Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant up to 1967, the high tech M60 A2 Starship combined a new low profile turret with a tall commander's cupola. Its 152mm main gun was similar to that of the M551 Sheridan which fired conventional rounds as well as the Shillelagh anti-tank missile, in service until 1981. Most M60 A2 hulls were then upgraded to M60 A3 specification or converted to bridging vehicles.

  


Built by Chrysler's Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant up to 1967, the high tech M60 A2 Starship combined a new low profile turret with a tall commander's cupola.  Its 152mm main gun was similar to that of the M551 Sheridan which fired conventional rounds as well as the Shillelagh anti-tank missile, in service until 1981.  Most M60 A2 hulls were then upgraded to M60 A3 specification or converted to bridging vehicles.


 

Built by Chrysler's Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant up to 1967, the high tech M60 A2 Starship combined a new low profile turret with a tall commander's cupola. Its 152mm main gun was similar to that of the M551 Sheridan which fired conventional rounds as well as the Shillelagh anti-tank missile, in service until 1981. Most M60 A2 hulls were then upgraded to M60 A3 specification or converted to bridging vehicles.

  
 

 

    
 

The diesel engined M60 A3 variant began service in 1978 and incorporated smoke dischargers, new rangefinder, M21 ballistic computer and turret stabilisation. Remaining in US service until 1997, it was cheaper to maintain and more fuel efficient than the gas turbine Abrams M1 main battle tank that replaced it. The M60 A3 also featured an escape hatch under the hull and a telephone for infantry to talk to the crew.

  
 

 

    
  The diesel engined M60 A3 variant began service in 1978 and incorporated smoke dischargers, new rangefinder, M21 ballistic computer and turret stabilisation.  Remaining in US service until 1997, it was cheaper to maintain and more fuel efficient than the gas turbine Abrams M1 main battle tank that replaced it.  The M60 A3 also featured an escape hatch under the hull and a telephone for infantry to talk to the crew.  
 

 

    

The diesel engined M60 A3 variant began service in 1978 and incorporated smoke dischargers, new rangefinder, M21 ballistic computer and turret stabilisation. Remaining in US service until 1997, it was cheaper to maintain and more fuel efficient than the gas turbine Abrams M1 main battle tank that replaced it. The M60 A3 also featured an escape hatch under the hull and a telephone for infantry to talk to the crew.

 

Introduced in 1980 and named after General Creighton Adams, Commander of US forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, the M1 Abrams' Lycoming engine burns JP8 jet fuel inside a composite armour hull mounting a British designed L7 120mm smoothbore gun. Despite weighing 62 tonnes, the Abrams is still one of the most powerful and highly mobile tanks in the World although it has proved vulnerable to rocket propelled grenades in urban warfare.

 



Introduced in 1980 and named after General Creighton Adams, Commander of US forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, the M1 Abrams' Lycoming engine burns JP8 jet fuel inside a composite armour hull mounting a British designed L7 120mm smoothbore gun.  Despite weighing 62 tonnes, the Abrams is still one of the most powerful and highly mobile tanks in the World although it has proved vulnerable to rocket propelled grenades in urban warfare.
 

 

  
 

Introduced in 1980 and named after General Creighton Adams, Commander of US forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, the M1 Abrams' Lycoming engine burns JP8 jet fuel inside a composite armour hull mounting a British designed L7 120mm smoothbore gun. Despite weighing 62 tonnes, the Abrams is still one of the most powerful and highly mobile tanks in the World although it has proved vulnerable to rocket propelled grenades in urban warfare.

 
 

 

  
 

Entering service in 1960 as standard squad transport for ten infantry men, the amphibious M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier is built of aluminium alloy and armed with a .50" Browning machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola. Its General Motors 6V53 diesel engine develops 215 bhp at 2 800 rpm.

 
 

 

Entering service in 1960 as standard squad transport for ten infantry men, the amphibious M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier is built of aluminium alloy and armed with a .50" Browning machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola.  Its General Motors 6V53 diesel engine develops 215 bhp at 2 800 rpm.

 

 

  
 

Entering service in 1960 as standard squad transport for ten infantry men, the amphibious M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier is built of aluminium alloy and armed with a .50" Browning machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola. Its General Motors 6V53 diesel engine develops 215 bhp at 2 800 rpm.

 
 


 

Based on the San Jose, California built M113 APC, the M113 Armoured Cavalry Assault Vehicle was developed as a result of combat experience in Vietnam and features hatch armour and gunshields around the commander's Browning as well as two M60 weapons mounted either side of the rear hatch.

 

 

 

 

Based on the San Jose, California built M113 APC, the M113 Armoured Cavalry Assault Vehicle was developed as a result of combat experience in Vietnam and features hatch armour and gunshields around the commander's Browning as well as two M60 weapons mounted either side of the rear hatch.

 
 

 

Based on the San Jose, California built M113 APC, the M113 Armoured Cavalry Assault Vehicle was developed as a result of combat experience in Vietnam and features hatch armour and gunshields around the commander's Browning as well as two M60 weapons mounted either side of the rear hatch.

 

 

Also based on the proven M113 was the M901 Improved TOW Vehicle, designed to fire two M220 Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command data link missiles. The Hammerhead turret - based on an M27 tank cupola - can traverse 360 degrees and engage enemy tanks day or night and can tilt up to allow new TOW rounds to be inserted upwards from the hull through roof hatches. However, the ITV is difficult to move in the firing position and the turret cannot fire in the low-profile stowed position. The four-crew vehicle thus often travels in the loading position and the ten internally stored TOW rounds can also be fired from an external ground-standing tripod.


Also based on the proven M113 was the M901 Improved TOW Vehicle, designed to fire two M220 Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command data link missiles.  The Hammerhead turret - based on an M27 tank cupola - can traverse 360 degrees and engage enemy tanks day or night and can tilt up to allow new TOW rounds to be inserted upwards from the hull through roof hatches.  However, the ITV is difficult to move in the firing position and the turret cannot fire in the low-profile stowed position.  The four-crew vehicle thus often travels in the loading position and the ten internally stored TOW rounds can also be fired from an external ground-standing tripod.



Also based on the proven M113 was the M901 Improved TOW Vehicle, designed to fire two M220 Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command data link missiles. The Hammerhead turret - based on an M27 tank cupola - can traverse 360 degrees and engage enemy tanks day or night and can tilt up to allow new TOW rounds to be inserted upwards from the hull through roof hatches. However, the ITV is difficult to move in the firing position and the turret cannot fire in the low-profile stowed position. The four-crew vehicle thus often travels in the loading position and the ten internally stored TOW rounds can also be fired from an external ground-standing tripod.