T30 prototype heavy tank towed by M88 at NACC Ft. Benning

Herc to the rescue! This massive 70+ ton tank with 155mm gun is moved to a permanent home on display
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[@lllFeanorlll]

I'm just glad it's being preserved indoors.

[@caesarerelmacahilig2611]

Same

[@KentuckyFriedChildren]

Too bad they’re not letting the public in

[@republicf-105thunderchief8]

I’m just glad it’s still exists

[@thedungeondelver]

T30 "I had jello today." M88 "Sounds nice, grandpa. Come along." T30 "it's nice outside." M88 "Sure is. Do you want to go sit in the shade?" T30 "Can I shoot through a Panther tank?" M88 "Maybe later, grandad. Let's get you settled."

[@pig1114]

Kinda wholesome ngl

[@randomperson2207]

You say as the m88 Hercules has its track getting teeth skipped while trying to tow it

[@coochie6094]

:)

[@McNubbys]

T30...(hic)...What...(explosion ) M88...(begins clean up)...Still love you grandpa

[@cojones8518]

6:04 You're dreamin' bud, you're not getting that pad out. lol

[@MikeT-TheRetiredColonel]

lol, I was thinking the same thing - lol

[@mr.2083]

The amount of man- and horsepower required to simply move and guide the T30 really helps put the forces at play during war, exercises or even normal maintenance with such massive tanks into perspective.

[@mikepette4422]

Damn it would be fun to be the M88 driver

[@fireabend_1226]

and the staff is not always the same

[@Stuka87]

You know a tank is heavy when the M88 struggles to move it.

[@spyreal7628]

When we are going downhill an M-1 will sometimes push us off the road or jackknife.

[@fouzaialaa7962]

M88 was pushing it on idle at 4:50 .... i think he is revving just to not stress out the engine ....tanks these days have alot of power and torque

[@Stuka87]

@@fouzaialaa7962 The T30 is heavier than any tank the M88 was designed to move. And going straight forwards or backwards wasn't too tough, its trying to turn it where it was having to work for it.

[@roguelead72]

@@Stuka87 70 tons isn't that much bigger than an M1A2.

[@Stuka87]

@@roguelead72 The M88 was developed for tanks like the M48 and M60. The M1 didn't come around until far later. And the M88 does struggle with an M1 as well.

[@Zajuts149]

M88: "Come on! You have to go inside!" T30: "I don't want to go! Look! The sun is out!"

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Like a twenty something retirement home nurse to a 80yo stubborn old east german lady who used to be an olympic sledge thrower XD

[@Leatherface123.]

The T95 had to hide for 30 years before it was caught

[@KentuckyFriedChildren]

This could be a Thomas the tank engine episode

[@curious5887]

Very funny

[@panzeraufblitz5192]

@@curious5887 no humor eh?

[@nonamesplease6288]

The T30 is a monster tank. I saw one as a kid at APG in the 70's on the mile of tanks and it blew my mind. It still dwarfs the M88. Good to see her indoors with fresh paint.

[@KentuckyFriedChildren]

I’ve been wondering about that, whatever happened to the mile of tanks?

[@MisterApol]

Fascinating. The T30 looks like a Pershing on steroids.

[@mikepette4422]

looks like the t-29 on steroids.... oh wait it is

[@zchen27]

T30 is a variant of the T29, which is a Pershing hull stretched out to accommodate larger caliber guns.

[@fouzaialaa7962]

its a T29 that go fat !!

[@That_Guy5575]

The T32 looks even more so like a Pershing on steroids. Shame none of them exist anymore...

[@khahinmetameta7826]

155mm cannon

[@gwilymmorgan5115]

That was a real feat of driving, manoeuvring seventy tons of uncooperative tank, backwards. Congratulations to everyone involved, but especially the driver of the M88.

[@bumblebeebob]

I was going to say the same thing! Expert driving skills! Well done!

[@thedungeondelver]

"Say, how much can the M88 tow, and lift?" "Yes."

[@kalicom2937]

well, it's not that good at tugging an Abrams....

[@Thekilleroftanks]

@@kalicom2937 that doesnt make any sense. because the t30 weighs 86 tons and the m1a2c weighs 66 tons. with the more common m1a2 sep2 weighs 64 tons.

[@kalicom2937]

@@Thekilleroftanks The T30 was on flat concrete. Totally typical battlefield conditions.

[@luvr381]

I've watched an M88 struggle to recover another M88 from the mud.

[@a.t6066]

@@Thekilleroftanks both the m1a2c and m1a2 sep v2 are over 70 tons. M1a2c closer to 80

[@trojohn7032]

"Transport me human where freedom needs me"

[@Hybris51129]

After the T28/T95 the T95 is one of my favorite American tanks. There aren't many tanks with a bigger gun running around and while didn't have the AP performance of the smaller 105mm gun of the T29 a 155mm of HE will still be as The Chieftain says a "significant emotional event".

[@clacoca1807]

Whats interesting about the 155mm AP shell if you look at the ballistic tests on captured King Tigers , even on a non pen the kinetic energy would break apart all the frontal welds and split the hull . What makes the T30 a even more extreme tank is when you consider the possibility if it was loaded with the M455(W48) atomic shell about 7 times the blast force of a Moab .

[@khahinmetameta7826]

T95 medium?

[@Hybris51129]

@@khahinmetameta7826 No that was a type I ment T30.

[@KrisKringle2]

Well, SU/ISU152s could simply blow the turrets of Panthers and Tigers off the hull by the sheer power of the HE Shell, so I would expect this to do so as well, and even better as it would have a flatter trajectory since it's longer barrelled/high velocitied than the 152 on the Soviet SPG.

[@16killjoy99]

I remember seeing that T30 when I went through OSUT there at Ft. Benning. Being a 19K, I've always thought tanks were awesome, but going to that restoration yard and walking around seeing Sheridans, an M103, Jagtiger, MBT 70, m60s, a Tiger 1 and King Tiger and so many others was by far the coolest part of my training. I don't think anyone else was as enthusiastic as I was. Listening to our guide talk about the stories surrounding many of them was great. I wish I could go back there again.

[@erikverstrepen3373]

The image was so clear ! I could almost smell the fumes. To see all these rare beauties well preserved, and tucked in against the elements, brings a smile to my face. Those people are doing an amazing job. Your soft spot, the T 30 ! 😉

[@southronjr1570]

I hate to hear it's not going to be restored to running condition, I hope they are at least preserving it Ina way that it would at least be therotically possible to have her run. She is a beast and absolutly beautiful at the same time. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Orinslayer]

Some of the other T-29-T30-T34 series prototypes were completely destroyed by rust, its a wonder it still even rolls.

[@juliancate7089]

Sofilein: everyone's favorite tanker. The T-30, T-29, T-34 all have a modernity that's hard to put into words. They give this impression that if you put in a modern drivetrain, added all the black boxes and gizmos, and slapped on some modular armor to the surface, you could go to war in them tomorrow. Something that you can't say about the appearance of too many other tanks of that era.

[@justyouraveragehuman4069]

10:33 definitely need to see more tanks with googly eyes, looking like that😂

[@deadeyeglen]

the curve on the forward facing armor makes it look happy

[@feedingravens]

What is the first purchase of a tank museum? A working recovery tank.

[@Sleepy.Time.]

i am so glad they are preserving these pieces of history

[@tpatcher63]

Why is watching big equipment move around so satisfying 🤣

[@scottleidenberger4007]

The driver did an awesome job at backing the tank through an opening and into position.

[@maxmessenger175]

Both the T30 and the M88 are both beasts and awesome bits of kit

[@TescoVee]

Damb! Makes me sad I missed this one. But glad it's comfortable inside and that I got to help with the T28

[@greatcanadianbacon]

Definitely the coolest looking of the "T series" American heavy's IMO

[@yoda5565]

Sofilein, when are one the tank guru's in the group going to do a video about the M88. That recovery vehicle has been doing the dirty work since Vietnam. She always gets asked to do chores but never gets asked to the dance. It can lift Sherman tank completely off the ground with it's boom crane, in the jungles of Southeast Asia (Vietnam) it was used to clear jungle by just plowing it down. It is easy to maintain and never complains, I'd marry it.

[@whpruitt1]

These behind the scenes videos are great! Thanks, Sofi!

[@tomdillistone1828]

Another good/ez2watch bit young lady! Thank you again for galabanting around to get this footage and making it available for the rest of us! The %200 fits well and saves time. Cheers!

[@mikewysko2268]

The M88 driver knows his stuff. Well done!

[@paoloviti6156]

What a beast being pushed/pulled around by another beast! I had a quickie look on Wikipedia as I didn't remember the weight and I was surprised that it is around 190,000 lb (86 t) yet this M88 handled pretty well by having around 50.8 t (112,000 Ib). Lot of kudos to the driver 👏! Thanks for sharing this video 👍👍

[@bradoconnor9868]

The T30 is amazing, but that M88 is a real unsung hero!

[@ExoVyper]

i thought that M88 was going to throw its track off so many times xD

[@janstan8407]

Was anyone inside it? I can picture someone screaming, "Keep it in neutral!!"

[@Red_Four]

The final drives are always disconnected on towed track vehicles, so they don't have to keep anyone inside.

[@janstan8407]

@@Red_Four Yeah, I know. Humor is always hit and miss with comments.

[@knallpistolen]

@@janstan8407 hehe, I liked the joke

[@janstan8407]

@@knallpistolen Thanks! Well, that's one person, yes?

[@knallpistolen]

@@janstan8407 Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger were discussing who they were going to play in their new Hollywood blockbuster The Great Composers! “I wanna be Beethoven,” said Stallone. “I gotta be Mozart,” added Willis. “What about you, Arnie?” they asked…

[@JohnTaylorB737]

Thanks Sofie

[@Gelbwurst]

Official remark: No wooden plate was harmed in the making of this video.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

On the contrary, I bet THEY ALL were damaged...😊

[@MililaniJag]

Another GREAT vid!! I'd prefer real-time playback speed. I can speed up in youtube playback settings if I EVER want LESS Sofilein. Cheers!!

[@WYbison]

I am glad that this and other historic vehicles are being preserved under shelter. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@cherrypoptart2001]

I cant tell whats more beautiful. The M88's engine noise or the overall condition of the T30 after all those decades

[@frankieblue1945]

That was awesome; I love when you show the tanks & tracked vehicles. Thaaaanks.

[@Kafkodesu]

I remember seeing this in that motorpool back when I was in basic training lol. We were on a ruck march and saw all the cool stuff they had down there and had to contain my excitement.

[@tfodthogtmfof7644]

Awesome seeing how precisely they maneuvered it in alongside the T29 and that steel post.

[@shawnkelley9942]

Thank you. As always I love your channel. Keep up the great job. And just for the nerds out there. I just finished up a T29 model and starting on a T30.

[@SatelliteYL]

What a beautiful tank, looks so good with a fresh coat of paint. And holy crap is it big, I didn’t realize how massive it was until I saw all the shots of people next to it for scale... wow. Impressive as hell

[@brianfitzgerald6142]

Thanks for vid, Sofi! Great stuff!

[@yellowshanks]

Cool tank and Yes it was fine to speed it up. I think most know it in real time being around the heavy's. I also enjoyed the retriever, snakes can't stand the vibration and they move away from the area. Thank You for the video.

[@steveperuski5547]

Holy smokes, I never realized how big it actually was, great video, ty for posting ❤️❤️

[@lifeontheX]

That is some highly trained and expert tank maneuvering/recovering

[@Bochi42]

Fantastic video! And going for the 200% sped up was an excellent decision. Doesn't take away from the video at all and gives a sense of what it would be like moving under it's own power. Really nice videography as well. Lots of views of the old girl and always stable even when accelerated.

[@messageinthebottle1673]

I'm glad such a relic from the past is still well preserve. This tank could have been a nightmare for the German troops.

[@Jan_372]

Though I think the guys with the freight cranes would also have a nightmare due to the weight.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@@Jan_372 >>> I was just thinking: Under the WRONG CONDITIONS, that tank might have been a NIGHTMARE for the Americans as well...😊

[@georgebottarini1788]

Talk about precision driving these guys are amazing

[@Sofilein]

Like surgeons!

[@Vince_A_Bull]

I love the sound on this video, really captures the grunt it must take to move these beasts.

[@Godzilla691138MW3]

To see a T30 move is pretty cool.

[@dukwhunter1]

Beautiful Tank !!! My Fav in World Of Tanks !!! Raw Power From That Gun !!! Thanks for posting this Sofilein !!!

[@chestercallahan8856]

Thanks again Sofi this tonk is a rare treat!

[@soulessshadow5356]

You know she's a heavy gal when even the mighty Hercules is having a bit of trouble moving her around haha! Absolutely gorgeous Sofi, thank you for sharing! I can't wait until COVID is chilled out, I have plans to go to Georgia hopefully this year to see the entire exhibit once it's opened back up! T30 is my second favorite real life tank(T95 "Doom Turtle" is number one ofc) and I can't wait to see her in person! I wish they had my third favorite tank here, that being the T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage but the only known existing T92 HMC is in Detroit Arsenal and I've already seen it and got pictures of it when I lived in Warren, MI where it resides.

[@DIVeltro]

I have seen both on person as well as the T29. They are truly massive.

[@soulessshadow5356]

@@DIVeltro I've stood next to the only known surviving DoomTurtle and it was just..awesome. There's really no way to describe being around monsters like the T95 or the T30. What really caught me off guard is that from a size perspective, the T95 HMC is actually just as big as the T30 looks to be. Not quite as long as the T95, but it also has quite a bit more height to it, as you'd expect haha. Granted one is a Assault Tank and the other is a Self Propelled Gun

[@ygorschuma3059]

I wish we had videos on the T29/T30/T34 tanks running on their own engine, i would love to hear that Ford GAC sound

[@alanniederlitz6950]

Love your passion for U.S. and other countries military history. You are a amazing young lady

[@imdeadinside]

I remember rucking past this place all the time and seeing the T28 and T30 sitting outside I am very happy to see these tank being moved indoor so they wont rot in the rain anymore

[@araynortassadore3056]

My the rumble of the 88...used to love loading those on HETT's

[@viktormark4250]

I love playing with this tank they are fun and powerful 😍

[@jacksonocker4953]

Got to see this beauty in the motor pool at basic training. Was a sight to behold

[@robertf3479]

Awesome! When I was on staff at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center I became wargaming buddies with a SSGT who was on staff with the nearby National Guard Armory in Skokie. His MOS was in Armor. I was a Navy E-6 coming up on my 12 year mark and reenlistment. He tried to get me to cross over to Army. I looked at it but would have had to drop a paygrade. I opted to go to sea instead, had been on shore duty to this point. Sea duty turned out to be a challenge (in a good way) and I never looked back. To each his own Sofi. Instead of a 60 ton armored behemoth I got to learn how to drive an 8,000 ton thoroughbred destroyer. Last I heard my friend was able to get back into Armor at 1ST Tank Division, where he wanted to be, a TC.

[@p.d.hutton1090]

Another fascinating video. The variety of vehicles never ceases to amaze me. A bit like your knowledge. It’s too late for me but having a sister like you would have been wild. My three sisters were very traditional. Thank God for you.

[@indycustommade3568]

The M88 is a beast. I remember when I was stationed in Germany in the '80s and '90s these were used to tow our Howitzers and other tanks. I remember being at a live-fire exercise and watching an M88 hauling ass down a slope into what seemed to be a large water hole. When it hit the water all you saw was water everywhere. The T30 is my favorite tank in WOT. Good stuff.

[@henriknilsson7851]

Just imagine how squeaky the T30 would have been if it went inside on its own power... you could rule the world with that squeak

[@DaGoodmanYT]

I wish there was more of this on the west coast.. congrats on recording this all

[@safn1949]

I would love to see the new museum some day, alas it will never happen. Thanks for sharing this.

[@alanocarlossur9440]

Way back in the day, I was a platoon leader with four M113s. We got a call on the radio from the Company Commander that an M88 was coming down the tank trail. It was thick woods, and we pulled all the 113s as far off the road as we could hoping there was enough room for the M88 to pass us. Around the corner drives a Dodge CUCV, aka an M880. To this day I don't know if the CO was having a little fun with us, or if he didn't know the difference. Also, really like your videos Sofilein. Please keep making them.

[@catalin9174]

What an amazing badass looking tank.

[@kiky2232]

Omg.it is my favorite tank inside world of tanks game! I am super happy to see it live.thx sofi.

[@charlesinglin]

Really skilled driver in the M88. Impressive job.

[@sibhuskyguy]

Odd to think these videos in 30-50 years will become historical/archival footage of these tanks.....

[@SilvaDreams]

The sad part is so many of these tanks are only remembered BECAUSE of games like War Thunder and World of Tanks and many are only being recovered and repaired to some functioning order because they thankfully brought interest back to them... And that interest can only last so long and most government agencies will just want to scrap them (again)

[@DivineUkrainian]

T30 is one of my favorites!

[@hampz8981]

Two very impressive UNITS! 🦾

[@TwinklesTheChinchilla]

"That's no moon..." It's beautiful thicc Americana!

[@bhess1212]

That was some serious backing skills! Damn!

[@racingraptor4758]

What a Giant! Thanks good they want to keep it indors to preserve it:) For me the most intimidating thing about this tank is the gun!

[@jonesclantd]

Nothing like getting tow bar feedback on the turns! Herc driver was having to focus that day; T30 is a one heavy girl

[@mikenorthside5013]

Not sure if I enjoyed seeing the tanks more, or Sofi !

[@nercksrule]

The trail of sawdust from the tracks chewing up the particle board just goes to show how much shearing force is applied by the chevron-shapes of the track teeth.

[@haroldwilkerson2026]

The m88 recovery vehicle was like I was built to haul medium too kind of heavy tanks not super heavy tanks jeez huff huff puff phew😓 I think I pulled a hammy 🤣🤣

[@theeaselrider4032]

Very cool. I would have spent all day watching that.

[@twothreebravo]

You are going have to get an in depth video on the M88, I had a few run ins with them when I was in the Army they are amazing beats in and of themselves

[@jimjonrs3932]

Nice facility. Lots of room.

[@davidmeek8017]

Aloha; love the opening graphics!

[@vgovger4373]

What a beast this tank was.

[@johnmichels270]

Ft. Benning my home 197th infantry brigade, 72nd engineers mechanized. The M88 is awesome.

[@GugsGunny]

Watching a tank move by itself is impressive enough. But it's something else watching a recovery vehicle move that tank.

[@michaeldillon3022]

M88s are huuuuuuuge, biggest interior ive ever seen on an armored vehicle

[@josefkrakel9136]

Sofi yanks my heart around in a similar manner ... Ouch!!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Oh wow, that T30 is just monster beefy steel goodness.

[@MikeT-TheRetiredColonel]

Sofi, some of us would have understood that you sped it up to "Double tiiiiiime, MARCH" ;)

[@ralphliu34]

Huh, Fort Benning! I really want to visit and see the T30 in its full glory!

[@moebiusmichel7270]

This tank is looking so much more smexy with a Sofilein on top :-P

[@speckledjim_]

To quote Jeremy Clarkson - "Power!"

[@knallpistolen]

MORE POWER !!!

[@speckledjim_]

Right foot slammed to the floor -"Power"!!!

[@od1452]

This is the third time I've watched this. Its great. Ft Benning used to have a number of M4s around the post kinda Gate Guards. I wonder if they are still there.

[@scrubsrc4084]

One of the most amazing things is thinking a tank is big, be it tiger, challenger or the t29/30/32/34... then a recce vehicle turns up. They are monsters

[@briandamage5677]

What a beast!

[@DanKonev]

One of the favorites tanks on 9 tier😁

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

The US was really reluctant to produce heavy tanks in WWII. T28 - 2 built T29 - 8 built T30 - 2 built T32 - 4 built T34 - 2 built

[@feedingravens]

Refer to The Chieftain's "Why the Sherman was how it was." The US had to cross oceans to reach their battleground. So any spare parts (and a heavy tank is apt to break down more often) have to be transported for weeks. So a rugged, reliable tank occupies much less logistics, and is more efficient overall, even when it is not so efficient on the battleground. Today, the issue is "solved" (better: alleviated). You can transport an M1 Abrams by plane within a few hours. Chances that it is sunk on the way are low. In the same way, you can supply spares in shortest time.

[@justinrogers1630]

excellent! you should get a drone and film some of these moves from above