Which tank to get?

[LightningCato]

Well,

I made my first trip over to the UK and Europe in November 2012. I've been aiming to get a tank for several years now. I've done my research, I have a building and space to keep and operate it in here in the USA where I live. I also have a group of people that are supporting me on this. Master mechanics, master welders, retired tank commanders, etc. I have the space and support to do this and I'm dead set on getting myself a tank.

I'm set to go to the UK for two weeks in March to make my decision. An Abbot or a BMP-1 (I know, not exactly a "tank" but I love these IFV's!)

So, I'm looking for advice on which would be the smarter decision. Yes, I'll be looking the two over very carefully to see what kind of mechanical shape their in first. However a main factor in my decision will be - how easy are parts to get and maintenance levels. So I'm looking for recommendations on the smarter choice on which to get between these two vehicles.


Thanks,

-Lee

 

[maddawg308]

Chieftain, or M48/60 series. Go big or go home. You don't need a wife anyways...

 

[clinto]

Chieftain, or M48/60 series. Go big or go home. You don't need a wife anyways...

That sort of thing isn't legal in South Carolina.

 

[bikeman]

That sort of thing isn't legal in South Carolina.

your wife is illegal?

between those two, I'd say an abbot, but neither of them really give me the "tank" feel. the BMP is "too short/small" and the Abbot looks like it's driving backwards or is a miniature Paladin...

 

[B3.3T]

As with EVERYTHING, both have advantages and disadvantages. If you fancy driving around, there is nothing exciting about an Abbot. Heavy, slow, like an artillery peice it is. The BMP on the otherhand is designed to be quick and manuverable, and it is.

 

[Austringer]

I wished I had the money back in the late 1990s to pick up a PT-76 when they were selling in the 20s and 30s. Really cool little light tank, plus you could pull an intertube behind it at the lake.

 

[LightningCato]

your wife is illegal?

between those two, I'd say an abbot, but neither of them really give me the "tank" feel. the BMP is "too short/small" and the Abbot looks like it's driving backwards or is a miniature Paladin...

I think it's a joke off the fact, that unknown to most, I'm female. Lol!

 

[M813A1]

You could always look into a V-100 here in the states somewhere or a M3 Halftrack that are still around ?? The shipping costs would be alot lower if you found something here in North America

 

[panzerwillie]

There was a OT-65 for sale in MA a few months back not tank but is a wheel vehicle can be driving down the road, i saw it needed work inside but outside was in good shape CAN TRY TO FIND HIS EMAIL OF PHONE # IF INTERESTED, may also think about the FERRET family even that is not a tank is good option i being working on a M5A1 for 2 years hope to have it at least running this year it takes time to work on armour good luck.....

 

[Hooper]

Well,

I made my first trip over to the UK and Europe in November 2012. I've been aiming to get a tank for several years now. I've done my research, I have a building and space to keep and operate it in here in the USA where I live. I also have a group of people that are supporting me on this. Master mechanics, master welders, retired tank commanders, etc. I have the space and support to do this and I'm dead set on getting myself a tank.

I'm set to go to the UK for two weeks in March to make my decision. An Abbot or a BMP-1 (I know, not exactly a "tank" but I love these IFV's!)

So, I'm looking for advice on which would be the smarter decision. Yes, I'll be looking the two over very carefully to see what kind of mechanical shape their in first. However a main factor in my decision will be - how easy are parts to get and maintenance levels. So I'm looking for recommendations on the smarter choice on which to get between these two vehicles.


Thanks,

-Lee

I have always like Tiger tanks, they were way ahead of their time. Are they available?

 

[smashcrashy]

I have always like Tiger tanks, they were way ahead of their time. Are they available?

Ive only seen a Repro Tiger for sale, there is a company that makes repro panthers, tigers, etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPdr6ekO9oU

Northeast Vehicle Service has bought a few things from them for sale over here so if you were ever interested in something like that, contact them.

 

[Hooper]

Ive only seen a Repro Tiger for sale, there is a company that makes repro panthers, tigers, etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPdr6ekO9oU

Northeast Vehicle Service has bought a few things from them for sale over here so if you were ever interested in something like that, contact them.

Thanms for the info.

 

[jdknech]

I think it's a joke off the fact, that unknown to most, I'm female. Lol!

um, married? if so, you have a sister? lol




totally kidding! lol

 

[Augdog1964]

I have always like Tiger tanks, they were way ahead of their time. Are they available?

Tigers are as rare as anything... and there is only one running Tiger in the world that we know of... and it has had the engine blow once, maybe 2x... its at the Bovington museum in the UK. I have no way to estimate what one would cost... millions....

I know I'll start a storm... but the Tiger was not advanced, just COMPLICATED. The two are not synonymous... although often confused. Overweight, power was low, road gear was inefficient, engine was overly complicated and impossible to work on in the field. It did have the best gun of the war without a doubt, it had range, penetration, and precision. It was as close to a one shot kill tank seen in WWII.

IMHO if they had stayed with Stug IIIs, and Panthers, they would have been more successful. Stugs had a great gun, could defeat anything on the battlefield (even late in the war) and were impossible to see. Panthers we not as complicated (although still WAY more than T-34/85 and Sherman) and could also destroy anything we fielded.

You have to give it to the humble Sherman and the incredible (albiet I'm terribly biased) T-34 in 76 or 85... the '34 was the shape of future armor advances and demonstrated that a medium tank in numbers would negate the heavy tank concept... my .02 anyway.

 

[BiffJ]

In my opinion given the choice of the Abbot or the BMP 1 I'd say the BMP 1 is the more fun of the 2. They are a hoot to drive, maintainence isn't easy on any of them but the BMP is mostly accessible, it has a lot of room ( if you're not tall) so you can take a goodly crew on rides and its diesel which is nice. The abbot is diesel too or at least most are....I think. The Abbot drivers compartment is small and the turret has very little room. while it does steer well and drives ok its not a fun thing to drive, at least in the sense of sports tanks. The T55 is cool but you don't really go hotrodding in it. The BMP on the other hand is indeed a sports tank. Its quick, fast (45MPH or more) easy to drive, it will float and propel itself in the water ( we haven't done that yet...) and it does have a turret with a decent sized gun in it. For the cash outlay I would think the BMP would be more bang for the buck. We looked at the Abbots thinking they would be a great addition to the collection but after really looking them over I think the BMP makes more sense. The Abbot wasn't what we had thought it was on first glance. Talk to Augdog about his thoughts on the matter as he did a lot of research and has imported some of armor from england. As you may have seen the T54 just came in a week or so back from there....


Frank

 

[SCSG-G4]

Numbers beat great concepts. The Germans had at most 10,000 tanks during WWII, the USA produced 44,000 M4 Shermans, plus a number of other designs and a few thousand other vehicles on the M-4 chassis, plus what the Brits built. And the T-34's - over 75,000 were built during the "Great Patriotic War". With more than 10 to one odds against them, the Germans put up quite a fight, but simpler machines and more of them would have more of a difference.