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Five great tank museums
OK, I'll admit it, inside I'm still twelve years old. I love big lumbering metal monsters that crash through brick walls and blast away with cannons and machine guns. Tanks rock. So with no further justification, here are five of the best tank museums in the world.The Tank Museum, Bovington, United Kingdom
The British invented the tank in an attempt to break the deadlock of trench warfare during World War One, so it's only appropriate that they boast the biggest tank museum in the world. Located in Dorset, this museum has the best collection of First World War tanks I've ever seen, including some one-of-a-kind models. The collections for other periods are excellent too, including the Interwar period, World War Two, and the Cold War. In all they have almost 300 armored vehicles from 26 countries.
Several of the tanks are in working order and there's a track where they're driven during the summer. This is the only place in the world where you can see the famous German Tiger I tank of WWII in full running order. There's also an American M4 Sherman so you can see what the good guys were driving. Check the website for the next live demonstration.
The General George Patton Museum, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA
A military genius, Patton realized that many old cavalry tactics could actually be used with modern armored vehicles. The results are history. This museum is dedicated to his memory and the development of the American tank. Not surprisingly, the WWII section is the best, but there are good collections for other periods as well. Some tanks have their sides cut away so you can see the cross-section and get an idea what it was like to be in one. There's also an excellent exhibition on the man himself.
Gallery: Tanks
Deutsches Panzermuseum, Munster, Germany
I know someone is going to give me grief about this, but it's undeniable that the Third Reich had one of the most advanced armies the world has ever seen, and the Panzers were its backbone. There are more than a hundred tanks and armored vehicles here, including some rare examples from World War One, the more familiar Panzers and Tigers of World War Two, and East German tanks dating to the Cold War. There's also an exhibition exploring the career of the "Desert Fox", General Erwin Rommel, and a massive collection of German firearms from both world wars.
Kubinka Tank Museum, Kubinka, Russian Federation
The Third Reich may have had a great military, but the Red Army crushed it, thanks in no small part to its huge number of mass-produced tanks. This museum in Kubinka, near Moscow, tells of their proud history. The main displays are of World War Two, including the famous T-34 that did so well against the Germans, and the tanks of the Soviet Union. Like the museum in Bovington, they claim to have the biggest collection in the world with more than 300 vehicles. I guess I'll just have to go count them!
Le Musée des Blindés, Saumur, France
The French get a lot of unfair ribbing about their military. It's often forgotten how well they fought in World War One and how they're fighting the Taliban right now. An U.S. Army Ranger I met who served in Afghanistan says the French fight very well and we should appreciate what they're doing. The history of French tanks is on display here in the historic town of Saumur, which also has a nice castle if you're into more old-school militaria. More than 200 of their tanks and armored vehicles are in full operating condition and conduct an annual parade. Be sure to check out the curiosity room with its collection of experimental and unusual vehicles, like the Killer Vespa shown in the photo gallery.
Of course most national military museums have tank collections. The Imperial War Museum in London has some good ones, but it's beaten by the excellent collection at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
Trivia question: How did tanks get their name? Tell us in the comments section. No prize, just bragging rights.
I know someone is going to give me grief about this, but it's undeniable that the Third Reich had one of the most advanced armies the world has ever seen, and the Panzers were its backbone. There are more than a hundred tanks and armored vehicles here, including some rare examples from World War One, the more familiar Panzers and Tigers of World War Two, and East German tanks dating to the Cold War. There's also an exhibition exploring the career of the "Desert Fox", General Erwin Rommel, and a massive collection of German firearms from both world wars.
Kubinka Tank Museum, Kubinka, Russian Federation
The Third Reich may have had a great military, but the Red Army crushed it, thanks in no small part to its huge number of mass-produced tanks. This museum in Kubinka, near Moscow, tells of their proud history. The main displays are of World War Two, including the famous T-34 that did so well against the Germans, and the tanks of the Soviet Union. Like the museum in Bovington, they claim to have the biggest collection in the world with more than 300 vehicles. I guess I'll just have to go count them!
Le Musée des Blindés, Saumur, France
The French get a lot of unfair ribbing about their military. It's often forgotten how well they fought in World War One and how they're fighting the Taliban right now. An U.S. Army Ranger I met who served in Afghanistan says the French fight very well and we should appreciate what they're doing. The history of French tanks is on display here in the historic town of Saumur, which also has a nice castle if you're into more old-school militaria. More than 200 of their tanks and armored vehicles are in full operating condition and conduct an annual parade. Be sure to check out the curiosity room with its collection of experimental and unusual vehicles, like the Killer Vespa shown in the photo gallery.
Of course most national military museums have tank collections. The Imperial War Museum in London has some good ones, but it's beaten by the excellent collection at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
Trivia question: How did tanks get their name? Tell us in the comments section. No prize, just bragging rights.
Filed under: History, Learning, Europe, North America, Russian Federation, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frenchholiday Jan 12th 2010 6:38PM
Apparently Le Musée des Blindés, Saumur, is excellent but we have yet to find out! There are folks who come here to France to visit it every year! It's a good day out for men and boys, whilst the rest of the family shop. The bonus is that afterwards you can then visit Louis de Grenelle for a tasting of their excellent fizz, tour their caves which run under Saumur and hear how the wine is made.
BobJ Jan 12th 2010 4:11PM
Around 1914, the British were designing a lumbering motor vehicle with a mounted gun to smash through enemy defenses. Somewhat logically, they called it a 'land-ship'. But to keep their intentions secret, the Brits labeled the drawings 'Water Carriers for Russia'. Winston Churchill, upon hearing the code name, was afraid that would lead to an abbreviation of 'WCs for Russia' and so had it changed to 'Water Tanks for Russia', subsequently shortened to just 'tanks'.
Sean McLachlan Jan 12th 2010 6:38PM
Correct!
Chuck Jan 13th 2010 4:31AM
As a tanker, I have been to four of the five listed. They are all excellent in the history they present about the combat vehicles of the world. If you are interested in history or vehicles, not even necessarily tanks each would be a great trip.
Sean McLachlan Jan 13th 2010 12:33PM
What kind of tank did you work with?
BobJ Jan 14th 2010 1:34PM
For those of you on the east coast, consider a visit to the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles:
http://www.vmmv.org/index.htm
philippe Apr 19th 2010 3:25PM
Hi,
I visited Saumur in France (easy for a french anyway) but my preference is for Parola in Finland: lots of german panzer of WWII and russian tanks too (WWII to today). Some unexpected tanks for that country (some Renault for example) and even an armoured train.
It is located close to Helsinki on the road to Tampere.
philippe
RS Dec 18th 2011 1:04PM
Sadly, the US Army Patton Museum of Armor in Ft. Knox KY has closed, a victim of the base closing act which relocated the armor school.
A small museum about General George Patton remains in the old site, as do a handful of lackluster armored vehicles along the road in front of the museum.
The collection has moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia, however, funds to build a museum there have been cancelled due to the US Federal budget crisis.
The same is true for the Aberdeen Maryland armor museum. The collection was moved to Ft. Lee in Petersburg VA however, funding to build the museum was zero'd out.
The US is left with NO national armor museums at the moment.
frankj Apr 3rd 2012 3:40PM
For all those worried about the armor collection from Ft. Knox it is being kept up and more project are underway. Old tanks never die they live on forever
Brian May 24th 2012 1:27PM
I have a free weekend coming up but was disappointed to find the Ft Lee tanks are only in storage. So I look up the Ft Knox visitor info only to find it's closed too!
It's called tourism folks. These museums should be open so people like me can spend our money in these areas....
M.D. Jul 1st 2012 4:29AM
Incorrect.
From the book 'Tanks 1914-1918' by Albert Stern, who was a part of the development.
Mr. Macnamara then suggested for secrecy's sake, to change the title of the landships committee. mr. d'eyncourt agreed that it was very desirable to retain secrecy by all means, and proposed to refer to the vessel as a "water carrier." In Government offices, committees and departments are always known by their initials. For this reason, I, as secretary, considered the proposed title totally unacceptable. in our search for a synonymous term, we changed the word "water carrier" to "tank," and became the "tank supply," or "T.S." committee. This is how these weapons came to be called "tanks," and the name has been adopted by all countries in the world.