Sunday 13 May 2012

Big Pictures - Churchill AVLB

This weeks Big Picture was taken at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, Kent. Outside the museum building there are several examples of Royal Engineer Armoured Vehicles and this is one of my favorites. The Churchill Tank, along with the Sherman, was one of those tanks that lent itself especially well to a variety of specialist vehicles. As well as Flame Throwing and Petard Mortar versions the Churchill could also be adapted to lay bridges.

This Churchill AVLB carries (and is driving over) a No 3 tank bridge. This bridge was designed to
be capable of carrying tanks with wider tracks. It was launched using a hydraulically operated launching arm, lowering its rollers onto the ground for a horizontal launch. The Bridge could be deployed in a little as 90 seconds, vital when operating in forward positions.

Churchill AVLB

Churchill AVLB

7 comments:

  1. awesome this Churcill AVLB is, must plan a trip to this museum once...

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  2. Yes, awesome it is. Agree do I.

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  3. Wow.. impressive indeed! Great shots of it also!

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  4. I have driven directly past that place a few times and past the roads to it 50+ times but never when it was open or when I would have had time. I used to have a shop at Chatham Dockside so was visiting a lot. Really wish I made the time

    Ian

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