The Australian Armour And Artillery Museum

 Sort of following on from meeting Steve in my last post, I had a whole day off in Cairns the other day. The no brainer decision was to finally go check out the Australian Armour And Artillery museum located a short way from Cairns, at Smithfield.

I hadn't really planned ahead so I messaged Steve as I arrived.

Where is Steve?

My neighbour, Dan, also got onto him so within ten minutes of arriving I was standing on top of a Russian BMP troop carrier! Having one of the main men leading me made it a-ok as all the signage everywhere was "please do not climb on the tanks".

Having watched some of the action from the Russian-Ukraine conflict over the last two years, like everyone else I was surprised with how small looking explosions seemed to destroy the Russian BMPs. I can tell you that even though the experts say the BMP is a soft target I was very surprised at how solid the skin/armour felt to the touch! They are made of decently thick steel.  Obviously, the explosives used are far more effective than they appear on video when they give a little puff of smoke, yet destroy the BMP!

T-72

Steve also let me sit in the driver's seat of the Russian T-72 tank (can't believe this museum has an operational version of this currently operational Russian tank!!) and can I just say it was an extremely confined space barely suited to a twenty year old,  let alone my 50+ frame! It was a bit of a struggle to climb in and back out. He offered a climb into the turret but I declined as it looked like even more gymnastic moves would be required.

Steve then took me for a look through the workshop which is a staff only afair, so I felt suitably privileged.  The boys were working on straightening the side of a Panzer II (I think) as we looked on. Hot work in this very humid climate!

Steve showed me the transmission of the Panzer II Wespe which he had only just opened up (with much effort) and we marvelled at how clean it was inside as it hadn't been opened since it was made in 1943! I asked about some stamps and engravings inside the cases and Steve said they were from the technicians who built the transmission in 1943. While this was a transmission in a German tank, who were our enemy, it really made me think about the man (or woman) who had stamped their mark on this part ~82 years ago. With all of the forced labour the German regime used during the war, intentional sabotage was rife and there was a need to tie workers efforts the material that they produced, hence the identifying stamps. (Watch Steve's YouTube videos for more on this). Was this particular worker a German patriot doing his best or a forced labourer trying to stay alive? 😐

Bidding Steve farewell and thanking him for the awesome personal tour I headed back into the main museum.  It was pissing down with rain now which was welcome as it cooled the horrible north Queensland heat that had been building this morning. (remember that while these guys are heating steel red hot to bend and straighten it or loosen bolts etc with heat, the climate is already uncomfortably hot at 30°+ and 90% humidity, so they are working in a verg challenging environment).

I spent over three hours after leaving Steve looking around the museum and pretty much all I did was take a photo of a tank and its story board then move on, to look at later.  You WILL need a few days to take this museum in properly so, luckily the museum entry fee gives you three days entry to the museum! Seriously, there is SO much to see here!

I am going to do a photo dump of some of the exhibits with the story board below each photo with the details.  I'll comment occasionally where I think I need to make a point. 

STRAP IN!

As I was coming back from the workshops, the first section that you pass through is the German section. Growing up reading Commando comics there was a fascination with German military vehicles and this section was like being surrounded by accurate models - but only they weren't  - they were the real deal and almost all of them are running examples!

Starting with the ultimate fear inducing German tank of WWII, The Tiger I...this thing is massive! 

Battle damage sustained on the eastern front.

The basic hull is taller than I am. A very imposing tank!

The Tiger I restoration Super Cut is here if you want to watch.

This Zundap sidecar outfit was very interesting and an iconic vehicle that makes an appearance is almost every WWII movie that features German troops.

Interesting two wheel drive setup.

The Stug III restoration ran for quite some time and there were detailed videos made all through the process. The finished example is very impressive and Kurt has just released a mega compilation of the complete rebuild, all in the one video. I have posted it below if you are interested.

The ubiquitous 88mm cannon.

The Panzer I was the tank Germany used to begin the war as they rolled across Poland in 1939. I was surprised at how small they were. Not much bigger than a British Bren Gun Carrier really.

A selfie to compare the height of the Panzer I to that of the Tiger I further above.

T-34 driver's seat.

They have an interesting video of the story of this Grant tank.

And this is what one looks like restored.

Next to the Grant tanks was an Amtrax. They were the amphibious landing vehicle used by the US Marines during the Pacific campaign of WWII. I was blown away by how big they are! Jumping over the sides would lead to a large drop!

Me again for a bit of scale. I'm 178cm.

And here is a standard troop carrying Amtrax.

Aussie inginuity from the North African campaign. Australian troops took a very unfortunate German general and his staff car out at the beginning of the Siege of Tobruk with a similar "bush artillery" setup.

This next tank is a very rare example and was recently acquired by the museum. It is awaiting restoration.

This Panhard is also a very unusual vehicle. This one was rebuilt from two hulls that they acquired from a French army testing range.

These rockets were tested against the tyres on the Panhard. I had always wondered what the internal construction of rubber wheels was on rubber tyred military vehicles. Now I could clearly see!

The full restoration of the Panhard is below.

This unusual looking exhibit is the mock-up of a Sherman tank turret that was used for the filming of the movie "Fury" which starred Brad Pitt as a tank commander in WWII. The mock up is 30% larger than the original tank so that they could get the cameras in there with the actors.

I'll finish up with a couple of photos of an Aussie Leopard tank. I have a vivid memory these rolling past my school classroom on the back of trucks (which was right next to the highway) when I was in Year 2 - so probably in 1977. They would have been brand new then!

The engine/transmission package can be changed out in twenty minutes apparently. Serviceability is a feature of western tanks that apparently is not seen in Eastern tanks or German WWII stuff.

A quick look downstairs and the air conditioning down there was very welcome! The museum has a large collection of WWII small arms on display. They also have a shooting range down there where you can pay a fee to fire a range of those WWII rifles.

I have a heap more photos but this has been a photo overload post as it is! For more information check out the Australian Armour and Artillry Museum's website or their excellent YouTube channel. They also have AusArmourFest each August where for one long weekend they get most of their operational vehicles out and drive them around their grounds. A must see for any WWII history enthusiast.

Cheers.