UK Trip December 2015 - Part 05 - Visiting the Imperial War Museum in London

Continuation from:

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 04 - Walking along the Thames river and Tower Bridge

After Tower Bridge we went back to a Tube station and headed towards Lambert North Tube station. From there we headed towards the Imperial War Museum on Lambeth Road, London SE1 6H. 

While walking towards the museum we happen to stumble upon the house of William Bligh, the Commander of the 'Bounty' (1754 - 1817). Wow, a house that is more than 200 years old. Looks just like any typical house in London.

The museum is situated next to a park. We went through the park and I saw this giant sundial. Unfortunately, it was a downcast day and we can't see any shadows.

The first thing that greeted us at the entrance of the museum was a pair of 16 inch naval guns. Massive.

The front of the museum.

The shell is more than a tonne in weight.

The breach of the massive guns.

The entrance of the museum. The museum is housed in part of the former Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam), built in 1811 and relocated in 1930, with the museum arriving from South Kensington in 1936.

The main hall of the museum has a number of major exhibits like old WW2 aircraft and modern jets like the Harrier Jump Jet pictured below.

There is also the famous Spitfire as well as the V1 and V2 weapons from Nazi Germany.

I particularly like the WW1 exhibition. Here is an advert asking people to invest in War Bonds.

A T34 tank.

A German 88 mm anti-aircraft cannon.

The German sidecar recon BMW bike.

A replica of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

The Supermarine Spitfire.

The highest floor of the museum.

Selfie.

Had a wonderful time at the museum, the kids enjoyed it.

 To be continued.

Posing with Malaysia's military hardware at the National Museum parking area

A day before Merdeka, I went with my family to the parking lot of National Museum to see all the Malaysian military vehicles that will be used for the national day parade.

Below is an old Scorpion tank.

Number 1 & 3.

Cool pose.

A 25-pounder howitzer.

An armored personnel carrier.

More modern APCs.

Very vintage Ferret scout car.

A PT-91M main battle tank.

I didn't imagine it to be that small.

Ferret scout car.

Assault bridge-laying system.

Back of the PT-91M tank.

My son making the military pose.

Armored recovery vehicle.

A multi-terrain vehicle.

Front end of the of the armored recovery vehicle.

Armored recovery vehicle of a different model.

Newer wheeled APCs.

Note the smoke launchers.

Salute three.

Salute one.

A selfie.

Hisdustan movie pose.

Type 59

The Type 59 was nothing more than a Chinese copy of the Soviet T-54 main
battle tank.

Designation: Type 59
Classification Type: Main Battle Tank
Contractor: NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) - China
Country of Origin: China
Initial Year of Service: 1959

The NORINCO-produced Type 59 was actually based on the purchase and
subsequent local licensed production of the Soviet T-54 main battle tank
(just redesignated as the Type 59 in Chinese service). The system, at least
externally, was identical to the Soviet-era design though the inner workings
were customized to Chinese specifications.

The Type 59 was fielded with a 100mm main gun with later models being seen
with a laser rangefinder mounted atop the gun. Both commander and loader
were given cupola positions with the loader operating the heavy caliber
12.7mm anti-aircraft gun mounted in the turret. The commander was also given
a smaller caliber 7.62mm machine gun for anti-personnel use. Still another
7.62mm machine gun was mounted in a fixed forward coaxial position, this one
operated by the gunner. The driver sat front left and some ready-to-use
ammunition was sported to his right. Smoke could be generated by introducing
raw diesel fuel into the exhaust, thusly no smoke grenades are mounted.

The Type 59 chassis produced a series of variants, showing off the
versatility of the base system. Variants included improved Type 59 models,
armored recovery vehicles and models featuring explosive reactive armor for
added crew protection. The system has seen extensive export service to many
countries in the Middle East and the periphery.

Variants:
Type 59 - Original production model of Soviet T-54 MBT. Also available in
105mm main gun upgrade.
T-72Z / Safir 74 - Iranian variant
Type 59 - Air defense vehicle with twin-35mm guns.
Type 59-I - Late production model designation; laser-range finder; revised
fire control system.
Type 59-II - Upgunned 105mm main gun variant; 58hp diesel engine; two-axis
gun stabilization.
Type 59 ARV - Armored Recovery Vehicle

Specifications: Type 59
Dimensions:
Length: 29.53ft (9.00m)
Width:10.73ft (3.27m)
Height: 8.50ft (2.59m)
Performance:
Speed: 28mph (45km/h)
Range: 267miles (430km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 39.7 US Short Tons (36,000kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: Yes - Infra-red for driver, gunner and commander
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x Model 12150L V-12 Liguid-cooled diesel generating 520 hp at
2,000rpm.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 100mm main gun
1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun

Ammunition:
34 x 100mm projectiles
200 x 12.7mm ammunition
3,500 x 7.62mm ammunition

T-10 / IS-10 (Iosif Stalin / Josef Stalin)

The T-10 was the last of the Josef Stalin heavy-caliber, heavy-armor tank
designs dating back to the Second World War.

Designation: T-10 / IS-10 (Iosif Stalin / Josef Stalin)
Classification Type: Heavy Tank
Contractor: State Factories - USSR
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1953
Number Built: 8,000

The T-10 can be considered the pinnacle "Josef Stalin" tank design as it is
the tank that superseded previous forms and became the final product of the
series. It sported an all new main gun, redesigned body and turret and put
upon itself all of the lessons learned through armored conflict in World War
2. The tank was of a heavy classification and was such an outstanding and
well-regarded design that the last known operational usage of the T-10 was
reported in 1996.

Outwardly, the T-10 was similar to the preceding IS (Josef Stalin) tank
series with a rounded turret placed forward of the hull design and had more
in common with the IS-3 than other previous forms. The T-10 featured an all
new turret and main gun armament along with a redesigned hull and improved
engine performance. A crew of four personnel operated the machine with the
drive in the front hull and the commander, loader and gunner in the turret
in traditional Soviet tank design fashion (commander and gunner on left and
the loader on the right inside the turret - contrasting Western design
placement). Power was derived from a single 12 cylinder diesel generating
around 700 horsepower. Armor protection was excellent, reach some 10 inches
at its thickest.

The T-10 appeared in two supplementary forms with subtle modifications as
the T-10A and the T-10B. The final version in the series would be the T-10M,
which fitted a longer M-62-T2 (L/43) main gun. This particular version also
featured a new muzzle brake, NBC protection for the crew and infra-red
nightvision. Additionally, self-defense machine gun protection was improved
allowing for an optional 12.7mm anti-aircraft DShK machine gun to be
installed.

The T-10 performed as expected and was well-regarded. It saw action with
Egyptian forces against Israel in the Six Day War, losing many examples to
Israeli control - to which the very same systems were used to guard the Suez
Canal from Egyptian encroachment. Production of the T-10 ended in 1966, to
which some 2,500 examples appeared overall, and were the last of the Soviet
heavy tanks when that classification type fell out of favor with Red Army
needs.

Variants:
IS-9 - Josef Stalin Heavy Tank Prototype following the IS-1 through IS-8
models; accepted into production as the T-10.
IS-10 - Initial Designation based on the similar "IS - Josef Stalin"
designations preceding it until Stalin fell out of favor.
T-10 - Base Production Model Series Designation.
T-10A - Fitted with two-axis main gun stabilizer.
T-10B - Improved gun stabilization system and sighting equipment.
T-10M - Fitted with longer M-62-T2 (L/43) main gun; redesigned muzzle brake;
two-axis gun stabilizer; NBC protection; improved self-defense machine guns.

Specifications: T-10 / IS-10 (Iosif Stalin / Josef Stalin)
Dimensions:
Length: 32.41ft (9.88m)
Width:11.71ft (3.57m)
Height: 7.38ft (2.25m)
Performance:
Speed: 26mph (42km/h)
Range: 155miles (250km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 57.3 US Short Tons (52,000kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: Yes (T-10M model)
Nightvision: Infra-red (T-10M model)
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x V2 -IS 12-cylinder diesel engine delivering 690hp.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 122mm D-74 main gun
2 x 14.5mm KPV machine guns

OPTIONAL:
1 x 12.7 DShK anti-aircraft machine gun

M48 Patton

The M48 Patton MBT was utilized to good effect in Vietnam, though it was far
from the perfect jungle tank.

Designation: M48 Patton
Classification Type: Main Battle Tank
Contractor: Chrysler / Ford / General Motors / Alco Prods - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 1952
Number Built: 12,000

The M48 Patton Main Battle Tank was effectively the first tank engineering
design in post-war America. The M46 and M47 Patton versions were merely
developments of the World War Two M26 Pershing, which in itself, was a
development of the M4 Sherman chassis.

The M48 Pattons underwent a modernization program in the 1970's and became
known as the M48A5 featuring the more powerful 105mm main gun. The weapon
system saw limited action in the Korean War and extensive action in the
Vietnam War. The M48 Patton was the first tank to arrive in Vietnam with the
1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in 1965.

The M48 is named after famed World War Two US General George S. Patton, Jr.,
and is in the family of the Patton series of tanks that include the
aforementioned M46 Patton and M47 Patton along with the M60 Patton Main
Battle Tank.

The M48 is no longer in a frontline service role for the US Army.

Variants:
T48 - Developmental Designation
M48 - Base production model designation
M48C - Trainer
M48A1 - 90mm main gun; Commander's internally mounted 12.7mm machine gun.
M48A2 - 90mm main gun; Continental Gasoline Fuel-injection air-cooled V-12
engine; 5 x track return rollers.
M48A2C - Same as M48A2.
M48A3 - Continental AVDS-1790 V-12 air-cooled diesel engine; 90mm main gun.
M48A4 - Cancelled variant
M48A5 - Updated with 105mm main gun, commander's cupola and upgraded engine.
M48 - Israeli modified variant with explosive reactive armor.
M48 - South Korean variant with side skirts and M48A5 standard features.
M48A5E2 - Spain variant
M48H - Taiwanese variant with M48 Patton turret on M60 Patton chassis.
M48A2GA2 - Modernized standard used by Germany and Turkey.
M48 AVLB - Bridgelayer
M48 - Mine Clearing Vehicle (Germany)

Specifications: M48A5 Patton
Dimensions:
Length: 30.48ft (9.29m)
Width:11.88ft (3.62m)
Height: 10.66ft (3.25m)
Performance:
Speed: 30mph (48km/h)
Range: 310miles (499km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 54.0 US Short Tons (48,987kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: Yes
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x Continental AVDS-1790-2D water-cooled disel engine generating
750hp.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 105mm M41 main gun
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
2 x 7.62mm machine gun
2 x 6 smoke dischargers

Ammunition:
54 x 105mm projectiles
10,000 x 7.62mm ammunition

FV214 Conqueror

The FV214 Conqueror proved to be too large, heavy and difficult to maintain
for its own good.

Designation: FV214 Conqueror
Classification Type: Heavy Tank
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Initial Year of Service: 1955

The British-produced Conqueror was designed to be fielded in conjunction
with the hugely successful Centurion Main Battle Tank (still in service in
many parts of the world today) in post-war Europe. The system was classified
as a heavy tank and charged with long-range fire support on the battlefield,
wielding it's large-caliber 120mm rifled main gun.

As heavy tanks go, the Conqueror (from the official designation of FV214),
was derived from a series of universal chassis design that was to make up
the future of British armored forces. To go along with the mammoth chassis,
the base Centurion turret - in full - was mounted to make the Conqueror in
essence, a heavy gun tank version of the Centurion itself. With production
covering a mere three years, few Conqueror forces were fielded in any
quantitative value alongside Centurion groups.

The Conqueror maintained several benefits over the Centurion as a whole, but
was sorely lacking in other areas of major importance. The Conqueror's long
range main armament of 120mm pattern, along with 39 projectiles, was a
definitive advantage over the 105mm Centurion tank. A coaxial 7.62mm and a
commander's mounted 7.62mm machine gun complimented the Conqueror's main
gun. Additionally, as with most heavy tanks, armor was another inherent
benefit and the Conqueror did not disappoint in that area. Unfortunately,
the system's sheer size, lack of mobility cost/troubles of maintaining the
complex system would limit both production and fielding of the Conqueror.

In all, just about 200 Conquerors were ever produced. With the vision of a
universal family of chassis being unfulfilled, the design produced just two
notable additions in the form of an Armored Recovery Vehicle and a heavy
self-propelled anti-tank weapon system. The Conqueror would not see the
production successes of its predecessor, the Chieftain, but it would
nevertheless find a footnote in the history of British armored warfare.

Variants:
FV214 "Conqueror" - Official Production Model Series
FV219 ARV Mk 1 - Armored Recovery Vehicle based on the FV200 chassis.
FV215b - Heavy Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun based on the FV200 chassis.

Specifications:
Dimensions:
Length: 37.99ft (11.58m)
Width:13.09ft (3.99m)
Height: 10.99ft (3.35m)
Performance:
Speed: 21mph (34km/h)
Range: 96miles (155km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 71.7 US Short Tons (65,000kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x 12-cylinder pertrol engine generating 810bhp.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 120mm main gun
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun (commander's cupola)

Ammunition:
35 x projectiles

T-55

The T-55 Main Battle Tank.

Designation: T-55
Classification Type: Main Battle Tank
Contractor: State Factories - Soviet Union
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1958

The T-55 Medium Tank is probably the most internationally prolific piece of
tracked armor as it can be found in dozens of military inventories across
the globe. It has seen military frontline service from the invasion of
Hungary in 1956 to the Arab wars with Israel of the late 1960's and early
1970's.

The T-55 features a 100mm D-10 rifled main gun. Two 7.62mm defensive machine
guns are provided, one coaxially and one in the bow front-hull. A 12.7mm air
defense machine gun is provided in later models of the T-55.

Development of the T-55 stems from the base T-54 Main Battle Tank design,
which itself can trace it's roots back to the World War Two-inspired T-34
tank design. The T-55 was superceeded by the T-62 detailed elsewhere on this
website.

In all essence, the T-55 shares many common features, components and systems
with the T-54, thus many sources may group their histories together as such
(sometimes shown as T-54/T-55).

Variants:
T-55 - Base production model. Basic T-54 with new turret and 12.7mm
anti-aircraft machine gun.
T-55A - Added radiation protection and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
T-55M - New 580hp engine sans cupola for loader; Ability to fire AT-10
Stabber ATGW missiles through main gun.
T-55M-1 - Passive armor protection
T-55MV - Explosive reactive armor protection
T-55AM-1 - Standardized to T-55A specifications with passive armor
protection and AT-10 firing ability.
T-55K - Command Vehicle
T-55AK - Command Vehicle
T-55MK - Command Vehicle
T-55MVK - Command Vehicle
T-55AM2B - Czech-produced variant
T-55AM2P - Polish-produced variant
T-55AM2PB - Russian-produced variant
T-55AD - T-55M standardized specifications with specialized countermeasures
system installed.
T-55AD-1 - Upgraded engine; Laser-rangefinder.

Specifications:
Dimensions:
Length: 20.34ft (6.20m)
Width:11.81ft (3.60m)
Height: 7.61ft (2.32m)
Performance:
Speed: 22mph (35km/h)
Range: 242miles (390km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 44.6 US Short Tons (40,500kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: Yes - Infrared
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x 462-516 kW 675 hp diesel engine.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 100mm D-10 rifled main gun
1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
1 x 7.76mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun in bow

Ammunition:
34 x 100mm projectiles
500 x 12.7mm ammunition
3,000 x 7.62mm ammunition

M50 Ontos

The impressive-looking M50 Ontos had to be reloaded from outside of the
vehicle.

Designation: M50 Ontos
Classification Type: Tank Destroyer
Contractor: Allis Chalmers - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 1955
Number Built: 294

The impressive-looking M50 Ontos (in the Greek meaning "The Thing") was
built to a United States Marine Corps tank destroyer specification. With
five prototypes built, and each fitted with differing calibers of recoilless
rifles, the T156 design was born. No fewer than 24 of the type were ordered
for further trials, each armed with six of the powerful 106mm recoilless
rifle type. From the T156 trials emerged the T156E2 which gave rise to the
production M50 - each slightly modified from the predecessor. A switch to a
Chrysler-based petrol engine produced 294 models of the M50A1 series, which
in itself included evermore modifications to the system.

At it's core, the M56 was fitted with a common turret mounting six of the
M40A1C recoilless rifles. Additionally, the top four 106mm mounts were
fitted with 4 x 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns to act as spotters
when aligning the main guns. The use of the spotting machine guns was
directly after optical sighting was completed. The spotter machine guns were
then fired to accurize contact. Shortly thereafter, the recoilless rifles
could be fired with some degree of accuracy.

All weapon systems on the M50 were limited in ammunition-carrying
capacities. The 106mm recoilless rifles were limited to just 18 projectiles
spread across the six guns. The 12.7mm spotting machine guns were limited to
just 80 rounds of ammunition. Not to be left high and dry against advancing
enemy infantrymen, an additional 7.62mm machine gun was mounted to the top
of the turret for self-defense.

Besides the limited ammunition situation, crew quarters once inside the
machine were cramped at best. Additionally the weapon systems could only be
reloaded from outside the vehicle, exposing the crew to dangerous enemy
fire. The system saw action in South Vietnam and in the hands of the United
States Marines. No longer in service with the Marine Corps, no replacement
vehicle was selected to succeed the M50 Ontos on the modern battlefield, the
assumption being that other weapon systems are more likely up to the task of
tank destroyer than a similar self-propelled recoilless rifle design like
the Ontos.

Variants:
T165 - Trial Vehicles of which 24 were produced; fitted with 6 x 106mm
recoilless rifles.
T165E2 - Modified and improved T165 models.
M50 - Production Model Designation
M50A1 - Modified M50 Variant; fitted with Chrysler petrol engine over the
original General Motors.

Specifications: M50 Ontos
Dimensions:
Length: 12.53ft (3.82m)
Width:8.53ft (2.60m)
Height: 6.99ft (2.13m)
Performance:
Speed: 30mph (48km/h)
Range: 149miles (240km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 3
Weight: 9.5 US Short Tons (8,618kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x General Motors Corporation Model 302 petrol engine generating
145hp.

Armament & Ammunition:

6 x 106mm Recoiless Rifles
4 x 12.7mm Machine Guns

Ammunition:
18 x 106mm projectiles
80 x 12.7mm machine gun rounds.

AMX-13

The AMX-13 is classified as a light tank and was developed shortly after
WW2.

Designation: AMX-13
Classification Type: Light Tank
Contractor: GIAT Industries, Roanne, France
Country of Origin: France
Initial Year of Service: 1952
Number Built: 3,000

Started just at the end of World War II, development of the AMX-13 reached
full production in 1952 with over 3,000 units built. An automatic loader
negates the need for a fourth man in the turret, though manual loading is
required after the 12th round is fired. Earlier (Model 51) models were
produced with the smaller 75mm main gun, then upgraded to the 90mm main gun
with thermal sleeve, with a further 'up-gunned' 105mm main gun produced
solely for export.

Variants:
AMX-13 SM1 - Updated engine, transmission and cooling system
AMX-13 ARV - Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle
AMX-13 AVLB - Bridgelayer

Specifications: AMX-13
Dimensions:
Length: 20.87ft (6.36m)
Width:8.23ft (2.51m)
Height: 7.55ft (2.30m)
Performance:
Speed: 37mph (60km/h)
Range: 233miles (375km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 3
Weight: 16.5 US Short Tons (15,000kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: Optional
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x SOFAM Model 8Gxb 8-cylinder water-cooled petrol generating
250hp @ 3,200 rpm.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 90mm main gun
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm AA machine gun (optional)
2 x 2 smoke dischargers

Ammunition:
32 x 90mm projectiles
3,600 x 7.62mm ammunition