Tank Chats

Join The Tank Museum's Historian David Fletcher has he discusses the A34 Comet, widely regarded as the best tank Britain produced during the Second World War.
SUBSCRIBE to The Tank Museum KZbin channel: ► / @thetankmuseum
Support the work of The Tank Museum on Patreon: ► / tankmuseum
Visit The Tank Museum SHOP & become a Friend: ►tankmuseumshop...
Press the little bell above to enable NOTIFICATIONS so you don’t miss the latest Tank Museum videos.
Follow The Tank Museum on FACEBOOK: ► / tankmuseum
Twitter: ► / tankmuseum
Instagram: ► / tankmuseum
The Tank Museum E-Newsletter sign-up: mailchi.mp/e6f...
#tankmuseum #tanks

[@alanhynd7886]

David Fletcher's technical expertise can sometimes flummox a lay-person like myself. Technical terms like 'pointy-bit' should be reserved for others that are specialists in this field.

[@JericoLionhearth]

Adding flummox to my vocabulary.

[@evo5dave]

I'm still not sure which end is the pointy bit

[@evo5dave]

@Dave Ad I thought the pointy bit went bang when it hit something. This is all beyond me. I'm just going watch Rick Astley videos

[@alanhynd7886]

I've found something that helps here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

"Alright boys, pointy bits forward!"

[@longone844]

The ability to speak to in simple terms without being patronising is a huge skill. No arrogance and only passion.

[@NetTopsey]

"That's not saying much, but it's saying something." Thank you for bringing a smile to my face on this frosty, bright Ottawa, Canada morning Mr. Fletcher.

[@babaganoush6106]

Frosty bright welsh afternoon here

[@Dockhead]

facking freezing up here in the north of uk.

[@ultrablue2]

It’s not exactly toasty down here in Georgia!

[@kenbrown2808]

now think how much your downstairs neighbors need this.

[@samuelvimes5770]

Don´t care about the cold but really needed a smile... Greetings from Germany

[@alexdobma4694]

"The 17-pounder pointy bit" This is why I love these.

[@santaboy4818]

Its typically known as a shell but if HE said it then yes I agree its "The 17-pounder pointy bit".

[@erwin669]

This is why David Fletcher is a British national treasure

[@kenbrown2808]

it's always good to have the presenter use the proper terminology.

[@CharlesStearman]

@@santaboy4818 Strictly speaking, the term 'shell' was usually only used to refer to an explosive projectile. Solid armour-piercing projectiles were called 'shot'.

[@maxkronader5225]

@@CharlesStearman And in small arms, "shot", of course, refers to a charge of multiple lead balls of a caliber smaller than the bore of a smoothbore shotgun all discharged at once from a single powder charge. Gotta love the complexities of firearms nomenclature.😁

[@AsbestosMuffins]

"There's no riveting, it shows progress in tank construction." perfectly understated as usual

[@azgarogly]

Considering how late in the war that happened, it is indeed understated.

[@jimtaylor294]

Debatable. Efforts toward Welded Construction had started with A13 E3, but it wasn't until A27M Cromwell that the infrastructure was there. Retraining & retooling takes time after all; time that was in short supply post-1940.

[@azgarogly]

@@jimtaylor294 It is a bit amazing how one of the most advanced industrial nations of the time did fall behind with such an important technology as is welding. Especially compared to runner-ups like Soviets and Germans.

[@jimtaylor294]

@@azgarogly Not really. Welding was still a new technology at the time, and far from perfected. Case in point: the Germans went heavily into its use in the 1930's... only to find out that weld defects in many of their warships' construction had rendered them more frangible in action than should've been the case. (the Bismarck's stern literally breaking off before she sank being the most well known) The USA had a similar issue, for Liberty ships were well known for structural faults - as bad as coming apart in heavy seas - as a result of relatively green welders being the task of mass producing ships. Fortunately such issues were ironed out over time, but there's a reason so few of them lasted into modern times. Being a trained welder myself; I can attest that it's difficult enough when working with civi' grade metal. When Gas or ARC Welding inches thick military grade steel - such as RHA Steel - the slightest mistake can cost a fortune, or worse if not caught by quality control. As such to fully re-equip entire factories to produce Tanks - for example - isn't just swapping equipment, but training up personnel, and halting production whilst both are achieved. Its much harder to do this when a large established industry (as most of the UK's were), than when starting from scratch; as various US facilities essentially were, and basically everything the Germans had post-WWI. (except in design terms; for the Germans were behind the British in various aspects of warship design) As such to achieve industry wide change-over in Tank construction from all riveted in 1940, to all welded by 1943/44, is no small feat; especially for a country who's prime focus was always the Navy. The Russians are a bit of a convoluted one. In shipbuilding they tried to build four modern Battleships in the mid' '30's, only to have to largely dismantle one of them upon the discovery of thousands of defective rivets (their quality control being abysmal). The advent of war in 1941 ensured none of them were completed, and indeed until the 1970's Russia had no modern Capital Ships.

[@azgarogly]

@@jimtaylor294 My primary focus here is a tank building industry. Russians completely phased out riveting tanks somewhere by 1935. Germans welded tanks from the very beginning. Both nations where in a very bad shape economically in 1930s compared to British Empire. So it must be failure to recognise welding as a way to go with tanks for brits.

[@Dave_tda18]

Fletcher is the best comedian we tank nerds will ever have. CHANGE MY MIND

[@isaiahcampbell488]

The Chieftain did go into great detail explaining how much wood a woodchuck could chuck in a Q and A.

[@badcornflakes6374]

Don't call me a nerd

[@maxkronader5225]

Challenge denied. I know an unwinnable bet when I see one.😋

[@luisnunes2010]

Not gonna try...

[@martiniv8924]

My Dad loved the Comet, used to take my two brothers (RIP) on joyrides at weekends when the war had finished , around an old quarry next to the barracks

[@joeevans2365]

Sounds like they would’ve had a great time! Thanks for sharing👍

[@cozduntow9346]

My Grandad drove one in the army, albeit after the war for conscription

[@pottierkurt1702]

I never had a father let alone a grand father. But sometimes when i dream of having one he is as cool as Sir David.

[@pottierkurt1702]

@Dumisani Nkosi thanks brother, but honestly don't be, just learn something from it.

[@isaiahcampbell488]

@@pottierkurt1702 My family life was complicated growing up, I really like and appreciate your mindset!

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Cloned, were ye ; or was it a feat of Parthenogenesis, perhaps ? Spontaneous Germination..., or possibly Immaculate Conception...; or was y'r Mutha-Figure a Radical Feminist with a Turkey-Baster & a Secret Admirer stuck in Friend-Zone...? Perhaps it might sow less confusion if you said that your Father & Grandfather were not around to contribute any Parental Input towards your upbringing - for whatever the reason was..., rather than claiming that they never existed...? Just(ifiably ?) a suggestion... Such is Life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

[@bunky8077]

@@WarblesOnALot Really? You think people might be confused by what he said? When people say "I never had a childhood" does that mean they were born an adult?

[@howardchambers9679]

@@bunky8077 it probably does mean that

[@jackdee6324]

My Grandfather was a Comet Commander in the 14/20 Hussars. He spoke very fondly of his A34. Great to watch the video.

[@blakebaker830]

I became a friend of the museum, just for the videos. I'll probably never make it to see the collection in person, but I enjoy these chats.

[@Masada1911]

I hope you get a chance to see it

[@Dockhead]

never say never blake

[@blakebaker830]

@@Dockhead I sincerely hope I do get to see it, and lots of places in Europe, but it's a long and expensive trip across the pond to see.

[@blakebaker830]

@@Masada1911 I do as well

[@Dockhead]

@@blakebaker830 ah right yeah its a tough time for all, id love to get to some places in the US to see, it seems a whole different scale in some aspects to what we can achieve in the uk.

[@pexxajohannes1506]

"Best tank Britain produced, not saying much"...lovely british humor.

[@Angrybogan]

Best tank Britain produced in WW2 = The American Sherman

[@galahad-history]

@@Angrybogan Lovely American humor haha

[@jimtaylor294]

@@galahad-history I didn't think the yank's did sarcasm XD. Comet crews unilatterally preferred the latter's performance over the Shernan.

[@gilde915]

@@jimtaylor294 probably enough room in there for a tea pot...

[@jimtaylor294]

Centurion technically was the first to come with a BV, but yes there was ;-) .

[@danielcox1988]

"it's not saying much, but it's saying something" Mr. Fletcher: you sir are a National Treasure

[@uha6477]

Good stuff! I've always liked the Comet since I made the Matchbox kit as a kid.

[@Anlushac11]

That was my introduction to British cruiser tanks.

[@brucelamberton8819]

Same here

[@michellebrown4903]

Ah... Happy days ,as l recall the Match Box Comet came mounted on a shell crater?

[@mbr5742]

Ah yes, the old 1:76 scale kits with added vignette. Build quite a few as a youngster.

[@peteroneill5426]

We still have a couple of Comets kicking about in Ireland, in the Curragh. They're all in a most brilliant blueish grey, and are pride of place in the Curragh Military Museum 😁

[@foxtrotromeo25]

The Tank Museum's running Comet is ex Irish Army, hence its name "Spud".

[@howardchambers9679]

There's a dead comet on a beach, Lincolnshire I think. It had broken down during exercises and couldn't be recovered before the tide came in. And there it still lies, slowly rusting away.

[@JakeTheTankmaster]

One day we'll get centurions.... or chieftains as hand me downs.... maybe...

[@jimtaylor294]

The S-Irish Army liked the A34 so much they kept her in service into the late-1970's, a fair bit over a decade after the UK had ceased operating them. (from 1966 a wide range of Tanks were retired / sold off, to try & standardize the Tank fleet with the new Chieftain) @@howardchambers9679 Better fate than the breakers though. Tanks being the invention of the Navy after all.

[@fiasco348]

A lot of them went to Finland, and served until recently.

[@martingardener90]

So - they used the same pointy bit with a smaller bangy bit so it would fit into the goroundy bit. Nearly 40 years since I left the Army and I only now getting to grips with the technical terms!

[@wideyxyz2271]

As long as it had a brewing bit we were happy lol.....

[@martingardener90]

@@wideyxyz2271 Yes - so, Lads this is your new tank - Oh great Sarge - does it have a boiling vessel?

[@umt1cardiff]

were you QDG?

[@martingardener90]

@@umt1cardiff REME but attached to QDG's 80-81 in Omagh with Fox. Also with SEE, 2 Tanks & 1WFR

[@umt1cardiff]

@@martingardener90 I was 73to 79 . Different Martin Gardiner 🙂

[@drbedlam9786]

I noticed in that first clip of old video there is an A30 Challenger in the background. Does the tank museum have any more footage of the A30 Challenger? There's so little info on its service history etc online. As a tank that was fighting in 1944 and packing a 17 pounder, it really deserves more love.

[@karlmuller4067]

I'd noticed that too.I used to garden for a old Gentleman who told me that he had been a driver on a A30 and fought around Cleve's.

[@drbedlam9786]

Oh that must of been fascinating. Accounts of them fighting other tanks etc would make for great reading.

[@douglasparkinson4123]

i want the tank museum to make this tank chat

[@karlmuller4067]

@@drbedlam9786 He told me that his unit had halted at a bridge.When the order to advance came he couldn't start the engine, much to the commanders annoyance, he had to wave the tank behind him to go first.That tank went across the bridge took a left off the road across some rough ground and it ran over an anti tank mine,it killed one of the crew and injured one other.He told me that if his tank had gone first, that they'd probably would've ran over that mine.

[@MaxTSanches]

My dad served in Hong Kong with the 3rd RTR in the early 50's and they had Comets because the bridges would not hold the Centurions. He told us that the first thing an infantry sergent would do is grab those trianglular exhausts while telling his troops to get on board. This was followed by the medic being called. :)

[@stevenbreach2561]

Ouch!!!!!I,ve seen the same on a Cent glow cherry red!

[@beyondfubar]

Can't get enough Mr. Fletcher, that guy is hilarious, he cannot help to throw some humor into the talks and I love it.

[@blade5896]

Nice profile picture 👍

[@beyondfubar]

@@blade5896 Yep that's my girl. She's an excellent Chicken herd and buddy. For whatever reason she is incredibly photogenic too. Had dogs indifferent to me growing up, but now I have nothing but fantastic dogs that would have absolutely fit as sidekicks in a coming of age novel material. The one thing I'd not skip a beat to send myself if I could gift my younger self the best thing for me.

[@themaster408]

It's been a while since KZbin reminded me about the tank museum, I see Mr. Fletcher and know I must watch it. 45 seconds in "best British tank ever produced, not saying much but saying something". You never disappoint Mr. Fletcher.

[@BlairMaynard]

I can just hear the German gunners: Fritz: "Hans, just shoot off the return rollers and the Comet will be useless". Hans: "I just shot them off and it is still going!!" Fritz: "Mein Gott! Those clever Tommies, they intentionally put return rollers that werent needed on a tank!! What next? Painted-on phony vision slits?"

[@builder396]

Ironically Germans did that on some variants of the Panzer II, specifically Ausf. F and L. Then again, German AT guns could just shoot the Comet in the face and get through the normal way.

[@umt1cardiff]

@@builder396 depends what size AT gun of course

[@builder396]

@@umt1cardiff And the variant of Comet. A later one with 102mm frontal armor could mean trouble for an older Pak 38, but I doubt too many of them were in service at that point, and even if, crews would know better than to expect the gun to damage a tank from the front.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

If only this tank had come a little earlier, like a year earlier. I doubt that it would have changed the war that much, but I doubt that at least British tankers would have developed Tiger psychosis as much they did at the time. At the very least Michael Wittman would have become a forgotten footnote in history as his Tiger gets blown up by a Comet very soon at Villiers Bocage.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@@rayjennings3637 I'm honored that you think I'm British but I'm not. 🙃

[@thewomble1509]

@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 How about a little grace and politeness then? He's only pointing out that we British call a tank crew person a Tankie, not a Tanker.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@John Cornell Yeah, but there was like 1 Firefly per tank platoon, if EVERY tank had a gun like that I imagine things could have gone different.

[@sean640307]

@John Cornell although in that one engagement with the Cromwell that was "head to head", if the Cromwell had been fitted with the 6pdr instead of the QF75, it may have been a different result for Wittman as his own tank was disabled by a towed 6pdr so it's not like the 6pdr couldn't hurt a Tiger........

[@sean640307]

@John Cornell I certainly have no issues with ANY of what you said. Wittman's bold move certainly caught the lead elements of 7th Armd with their pants down, that's for sure (in the case of one crew, quite literally, as the gunner had gone to "spend a penny" according to the commander of the tank!!) BTW, I have FINALLY managed to order Vol1 of Market-Garden Then & Now, as it has come back into print. Hopefully, it arrives early next week. Now to get my hands of The Desert War Then & Now, but alas, it's out of print with no date for reprinting at this stage!

[@the51project]

4:34 -- This was the original tank driven by Adam Ant in the Prince Charming music video. A true piece of British history!

[@ziggy8190]

Don’t you ever, don’t you ever, stop being dandy, showing me you’re handsome...

[@Cervando]

Wrong song. He used it for 'Stand and Deliver', why else do you think he was such a successful highwayman?

[@Imagenation08]

The Comet's a very handsome vehicle - the design has got some of the DNA of what future main battle tanks would eventually look like. Too bad the British couldn't field it in time - would've loved to have known how this could've faired in the Bulge at least.

[@Karibanu]

IIRC the Ardennes offensive was what stopped the Comet's entry into action, ironically. The Centurion was already well in development by the time this rolled out, that is very much the proto MBT - Comet was really what the Cromwell should have been from the start & a bit of a stop-gap. Always did like the Comet, shows what could have been.They're good enough to still be in service now, too! ( there's some in Myanmar ).

[@JohnyG29]

The comet did see action.

[@stevenbreach2561]

It all stems back to the fact we left most of our kit behind at Dunkirk..We had to rebuild with the stuff we had at the time,which put us 2 years behind with develpoment

[@paddy864]

Actually the British armoured units who were involved in the Bulge had only just handed over their Shermans and were about to be issued with Comet and begin training on them over the Xmas and New Year period. When the battle started they were ordered to collect their old Shermans once more and head south to assist the Americans.

[@jameswebb4593]

@@paddy864 Montgomery said after the battle , that if the Germans had had British tanks they would have reached the sea . Meaning that the German Tanks were not suitable for the task , too big , too heavy.

[@Tobys-Glue-Bomber-Circus]

With the way the war progressed, the Comet seems like the logical outcome of the cruiser tank line up. Sure it had some issues, but it looks "cracking" and had a good tank killing gun!

[@jimtaylor294]

Indeed. Had an engine as good as the RR Meteor been available a few years prior, which it nearly was with the Napier Lion (curse you Lord Morris of Nuffield!!), a Tank like Comet might have resulted sooner.

[@sean640307]

@@jimtaylor294 Nuffield should have been incarcerated for crimes against the nation, IMHO.......

[@jimtaylor294]

@@sean640307 Amen. I mean Lord Nuffield was Offered the license to build RR Meteor engines... and said no... -_- . Thankfully *Rover* of Coventry had more sense. (the latter even had a Jet Engine devision by wars end)

[@halfcantan1208]

My next trip to England please god I'm going to your museum and while I don't do this online money craic I will there show my appreciation Thank you tank museum

[@jarink1]

0:36 "Probably the best tank Britain produced. That's not saying much, but it's saying something." This is why I watch these videos!

[@davidlange3418]

Good to see David in good health and good form.

[@Maclabhruinn]

I sure hope Mr Fletcher knows how much interest and delight he's given us, here on the Tank Museum's KZbin channel. An unparalleled knowledge of AFVs, delivered in a clear, easy-to-follow manner, with all the key engineering decisions explained. He's truly a National Treasure!

[@chrisgibson5267]

Leyland Motors! Gone the way of so many of the factories and workshops that used to play such a huge role in the lives of the communities in the North West.

[@minuteman4199]

That's why all my family left. Originally from Manchester, we're now spread out around the globe.

[@colobossable]

They've done a lot better than many, the plant is still producing, DAF branded lorries these days.

[@brucelamberton8819]

It's a pity their cars weren't as reliable and as well built as their tanks were

[@davidjones332]

@@brucelamberton8819 You are confusing Leyland Motors with the ramshackle BMC operation which they took over to create British Leyland. There was never much wrong with Leyland's buses and trucks until they became a virtual monopoly and started trying to dictate to their customers instead of listening.

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

You can thank the EEC for that one... prevented the government from helping bail them out in the 1970's and 80's...

[@martentrudeau6948]

Good looking tank, and it has David Fletcher's approval, and says a lot!

[@alt7488]

'it could take out a tiger ,,, and there weren't many British tanks that could do that' there weren't many American tanks that could either

[@jimtaylor294]

Exactly. Even the Russians had relatively few that could 1 shot one, at least head on. That said the *A22 Churchill VII* had thicker frontal armour than a Tiger I, and a smaller frontal hull profile overall that made her slightly harder to hit.

[@builder396]

Forgetting about 76mm M4 Shermans and the M26 Pershing with its 90mm gun? If you include TDs you can even include M10, M18 and M36.

[@jimtaylor294]

^ The Pershing didn't make it to Normandy in any relevant quantity, thus counts barely more than the Centurion MK-1. The US's 76mm's effectiveness against the heavier German armour remains debatable. The UK also never used it.

[@thorinth3079]

Russian guns had good pen on paper but were hugely inaccurate and unreliable, Americans had good reliable guns but their tanks were as big as a barn, and British had too few and far in between good guns at the time

[@builder396]

@@jimtaylor294 Pershing did make it to front lines though and did square off against heavy German armor though, just not right on the beaches of Normany (and neither did 76 Shermans).

[@johnashley-smith4987]

I always liked the look of this tank. It's a pity it didn't enter service in time for the Normandy assault. Thanks for this video. Excellent and entertaining as always! Now I have the urge to find tat old Matchbox 1/76 th scale model of this.......

[@Twirlyhead]

Certainly Villers Bocage could have gone very differently and Operation Goodwood with these zigzagging toward German AT line at 30mph+ could have been a game changer. What-ifs hey ...

[@Twirlyhead]

@John Cornell Cromwells hit the Tigers at Villers Bocage *many* times yet you are saying that had they been Comets it would have made no difference. The deluded ramblings of a German fanboy.

[@michaelmcclay7749]

"pointy bit" Made me chuckle.

[@stevesullivan9752]

Mr. Fletcher... I'd love to see you do a Tank Chat for EVERY vehicle in the museum. Even if others have already covered the T34, the Tiger, etc... I'd like nothing better than to get your cheeky take on each of them. Cheers from Ireland to all. Its tea time fellows! ;)

[@Slabby101]

A video on one of my favourite tanks on my birthday, what a treat! Thank you Fletcher for brightening up my day!

[@richjames1595]

I purchased a 1000 piece ww2 tanks puzzle for my 8yr daughter from you guys. She now knows the important characteristics of firepower, mobility and manoeuvre thanks guys.

[@Emtbtoday]

I'm building Tamiyas new Comet kit now I got mine yesterday it's going together no problem it's nearly finished it's been such a fast clean build! Hardly any clean up on part's coupe things I'm needing to check up on before attaching but it's a great looking tank! I got this and the afv club centurion Avre with pipe fascine so that'll be next! How I love armour!

[@ardesh007]

Very nice indeed when this lock down ends I hope to visit the tank museum.

[@barftrooper102]

When that British stash says pointy bit! 🤣 This yank loves y'all stuff.

[@Szalami]

"Oh bugger the tank is on fire" PTSD intensifies.

[@catified2081]

Not again!

[@TheAmazingCowpig]

I can never not think of the Comet as the tank that the Chieftain would procure for Elbonia, as "something that looks attractive post-WWII, but was actually hardly fit for the post-war era."

[@jimtaylor294]

Better to be in a Comet that's on fire, than a Panther, Tiger or M3 Medium :P . The German duo in particular, as they never had any form of wet stowage, packed in ammo' everywhere it'd fit, and sometimes set Themselves on fire XD.

[@reubensandwich9249]

There are many "what ifs" in history. Like Fletcher said, I always felt the biggest one was if Standard guage was ditched for something broader, like Brunel wanted. How many handicaps are there simply because of designing things for 4'-8.5".

[@andrewclayton4181]

It's not just the track gauge, but also the tunnel width, clearness on platform edges. That sort of thing are very tight on Britain's railways. Due to the early Victoria start when trains were quite small.

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

Brunel wanted a 7' gauge..the standard 4'8" was based upon the Roman chariot axle width!

[@fuzzyhead878]

In the US and Canada our trains tend to be pretty large by comparison, likely because we had a fresh start and didn’t have to contend with old infrastructure.

[@reubensandwich9249]

@@fuzzyhead878 we also had a different problem. In the 40s there were few railcars that could move even the pershing tanks.

[@jasonrichards6398]

@@fuzzyhead878 russian trains are huge ! Very wide , when i return to blighty i carnt get over how small our trains and stations are !! Still love em thou !

[@jacksoni349]

Glad to see you back David! And what a great tank to start 2021 with!

[@jimleffler7976]

Would love to hear more about this tank and it's combat experiences

[@buckshot6481]

Loved the Christmas special, especially the girls singing !

[@MegaStara]

It was also operated after the war by Finnish army. Many thanks these videos!

[@JessWLStuart]

Sir David Fletcher, please never change! You are a treasure! David Fletcherisms: "It's probably the best tank Brittain produced. That's not saying much, but it's saying something!" "...used the 17 pounder Pointy Bit..."

[@mplewp]

there is a lovely comet parked in Antwerp, actually you can fund lots of British equipment still as outside museum pieces / monuments in Belgium

[@petermalich3171]

My favorite KZbin channel for a reason! Another great video

[@conradealie9304]

Great Tank Chat by David Fletcher. Gave some pros, cons and some history on the Comet. He’s the best.

[@tomtomed1]

Deffo recommend people buy from the tank shop! Models are very cheap

[@Deltaguy447]

Pleasure as always, David.

[@argyle1812]

I was happy to purchase a book from you guys. Keep up the awesome work

[@simotheirishwolf9560]

I know a few were given to Ireland and I believe there is one of them still and The Curragh Army Base in Co. Kildare

[@tommeakin1732]

If you look carefully you can see the muscles in his neck rupture when he has to say that a British is even vaguely decent

[@kippamip]

2 good designs in Cromwell and comet, only quick fixes but did the job.

[@Nightdare]

Bit like the spitfires, where the stopgaps actually turned out to be the answer for the superior threats they suddenly had to deal with "necessity is the mother,...."

[@colin5064]

Were these still used in Hong Kong in 1953? my father was serving in the Royal Corp of Transport moving tanks back and forth to the New Territories. I remember him talking about driving Diamond T tank transporters,in order to get dead tanks repaired and serviced

[@larry4789]

Yes.I think they were still being used into the early 60's

[@peepgames4985]

This man means a lot to many .I included

[@klenner]

Thank you for the effort Mr.Fletcher(&team)!

[@garyhill2740]

I have always liked the Comet. It deserves more love. For a long time it was not easy to find a model of the A34, particularly a prebuilt in 1/72. I found one several years ago, and let me just say they weren't giving it away. But I was pleased to find it. A fast, mobile, good looking tank with decent armor and a potent gun. I love Zaloga's "Pershing vs Tiger" book, I wish he, or someone, would do a "Comet vs Tiger" in similar fashion.

[@steve1315]

Always a good chat from Mr Tank himself, liked the factory photos very much.

[@Dragonblaster1]

There was also a Type 1A with two mini Normandy Cowls so the gun could be stowed for travel without removing the cowls. Also, the Type 1 did not have the triple smoke dischargers on the turret.

[@vaclavholek4497]

2:03 a Carlton Radial Arm Drill 😁 so many Carltons are still in service today, punching holes in metal. 👍

[@larry4789]

Most of the radial arm drills in Comet shop, Leyland Motors, were made in Yorkshire.

[@adamg7984]

Great British comedy as always. I love the Comet so I was looking forward to this, thank you!

[@Colinpark]

I climbed in and out of the one at Littlefields, the driver hatch is surprising hard to get in and out of.

[@simonthesultan2159]

The comet was a really nice ride during tankfest.

[@Whiteshell204]

*David Fletcher...one VERY knowledgeable MAN!* *I just drove one of these in Forgotten Hope 2...no luck vs the Tiger though...he saw me first ha!*

[@derekmills1080]

Another excellent chat about a superb British tank, albeit with some problems. Well done David!

[@stevenbreach2561]

I love the subtitles,"crispy suspension🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂,priceless!!!

[@thegreatjacinto]

ive started watching this series and im really into it, great job tank museum!

[@illtemperedcur9798]

I have it on good authority that the Elbonian Army was quite happy with their Comets. At least until they had to replace them all a few years later when they realized that their Defense Minister was a traitor who saddled them with a tank that was on the verge of obsolescence.

[@tomdamoose2461]

If we'd have had the Comet two years earlier in the war... but such is the nature of warfare and weapons development. Awesome video and thanks again BTM :)

[@paulkirkland3263]

Informative, interesting and of course the usual dash of self-deprecating "British tank designs" humour. Great video as always. Stay safe, David - we need you.

[@SahnigReingeloetet]

Turret of the Cromwell: is too small Me: *have they tried fitting it in sideways?*

[@Theogenerang]

Always interesting to see how engineers come up with simple solutions to nagging problems of fit and space. Wonder how long it took for someone to say 'why not just make the round shorter'?

[@MikaelKKarlsson]

It's a British tank corps Pocket Tiger to the Kriegsmarine pocket battleships.

[@jimtaylor294]

"Pocket Battleships": >exist< WWI Battlecruisers: *Pathetic* Seriously though: the Graf Spee scuttled itself; as soon as it got wind of *HMS Renown* being on-route, a ship they could neither fight nor even hope to outrun.

[@barbarybar]

You look at that vertical front plate with MG, and think Why?

[@MyDogmatix]

Fantastic! I love all these chats. And the swag. Are there any chats where you guys talk about the books? I don’t like wasting time on bad books. So a few chats about what the books are about and minor criticisms would be appreciated.

[@TacoSallust]

I'm a simple man. I see David Fletcher, I click play. And Like. And confirm I'm still subscribed. And leave a comment. And share the video.

[@robw7786]

My father who served with distinction in B squadron, 23rd Hussars, 11th Armoured Division spoke very highly of the Comet and said it proved much more popular and was considerably more capable than the tank it mostly replaced in his regiment - the American Sherman with it's 75mm gun. When he spoke about the war (which like many veterans was not often) he would often say the 'buggers' (meaning Germans) always new we were coming well in advance, because they could see us for miles!. He was relating to the height of the Sherman, which was far from ideal, and then there was the main gun...........

[@nigelevans7146]

A little remembered novel 'Warriors for the working day' by Peter Elstob features a tank unit fighting in France and their transition from Sherman to Comet.

[@calthepeacelovingclover5935]

After the Second World War eight were given to Ireland along with four Churchills. It was the first time our country had medium and heavy tanks and was quite a good experience for the future of the Cavalry Corps, they had smoke dispensers and Normandy cowling. There was one point a fire burned the interior of a turret of an A34 and instead of throwing it out a man decided to get creative and turn it into a Tank Destroyer by removing the turret and place a Swedish 90mm Recoilless gun (Pansarvärnspjäs 1110 I believe.). It was nicknamed "The headless coachman" and was used to tow tar barrels for target practice to the Glen of Imaal on shoots. Its Recoilless Gun was crude but it was fairly similar to any British bodge job on armored vehicles that decided to break down at the wrong time, great minds think alike eh? haha!

[@michaelbevan3285]

they were paid for,not given. the Headless coachman was built by an engineering officer who had no budget to work with so he had little or materials except scrap to try and make a viable tank with. It was a good idea, but in the Irish Army of the time, it was going nowhere.

[@calthepeacelovingclover5935]

Pansarvärnspjäs 1110 's can penetrate a Centurion. It was up to date in terms of weaponry, maybe the tank body wasn't but for moving it would have been alright and in an engagement it would just need to lay low. The Cubans, South Africa and even the Finns used the Comet until they couldn't like the Irish. Because spare parts weren't much available at the time.

[@Isen502]

He is the Valium Lorax. Love this channel.

[@lesliestevenson5261]

2.39 “shell” out for one of these from the museum shop. I’ve got mine!

[@Jabberstax]

This must be the world's coolest museum. 😎

[@Masada1911]

It’s a very good looking tank, the paint really suits it

[@henrykissinger3151]

love playing the a34 comet in warthunder

[@rheinmoses29]

Series production did not begin until September 1944, but Leyland Motors still built around 1200 units by the end of the war. The Comet was considered one of the best multi-purpose tanks. Since it was made available to the troops very late, it was only used occasionally in Europe during the Second World War.

[@theshapeexists]

Did Mr Fletcher retire? He's one of my favorite people to listen to probably of all time

[@ricardodavidson3813]

A very minor point, the cartridge case for the 77 mm could not have come from a howitzer as these have very short cases with low propellant power, unless I'm mistaken, the case came or was modified from the case of the obsolescent 3" anti-aircraft gun (3" 20 cwt). In turn this case came from the 3.3" field gun of WWI necked down to 3" and lobbing a 16 lb shell, this was the first purpose designed British AA gun. By WW2 it was being replaced by the 3.7" gun and found use as an emergency anti-tank gun in anti-invasion defences, as an anti-tank gun on a monstrous box-like casemate on a Churchill chassis (100 made, never used) and by the RN on Steam Gun Boats and other small craft. Shell cases are made by stamping and extrusion, this requires a lot of expensive dies made from high-grade tool steel, so it always makes sense to try to use an existing design or modify slightly such a design rather than re-design a new case and make new dies. The 40 mm anti-tank Vickers S gun fitted to Hurricane Can Openers also used an existing shell case from another Vickers 2 lb gun designed for a completely different purpose. The same goes for calibers, if you are making a 3.7" anti-aircraft gun it makes perfect sense to use the same caliber for something else, not that you are necessarily going to use bits of one to make the other (like on the small numbers of 95 mm tank howitzers), but because all your drilling and boring tools are already extant, as well as the gauges etc. Also projectiles are made on automatic lathes, these will already have been set up and calibrated for that size. This is why you get a proliferation of 75 mm and 88 mm in German service and 3", 3.7" etc. in British service. It's all about economy of scale.

[@stevemercer952]

Units to be issued with them had already handed back their Shermans when the Battle of the Bulge kicked off. They had to grab their Shermans back in a hurry. Another fne talk by David Fletcher. I can really recommend the book mentioned by David Render. a really good read.

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

Sorry to point out it was made at Leyland Motors not British Leyland. The factory went on to produce the Centurion. The main road into the plant was called Centurion Way. The plant was in Leyland and stretched to Farington. There is a Centurion displayed half way along Flensburgh Way

[@mikereger1186]

The last cruiser tank and one of my favourites. There’s a functional example local to me over in Muckleburgh in the UK. An absolutely smashing tank that would have been much more helpful had it been available for D-Day...

[@blockheadgreen_]

Gorgeous tank, and very capable in its day too.

[@lcflcf1]

I hope visit the museum again

[@sergarlantyrell7847]

I've never understood the argument for sloped armour giving you less space in the case of the A34, I'd have thought if you got rid of the upper glacis and vertical armour piece and had a plate going straight from the lower glacis/bumper to the hull roof, you'd get more internal volume and a simpler construction too. Running the numbers, for the same weight of armour they could have had a 55.4mm plate at a 55 degree angle, equating to about 97mm of effective thickness (compared to the 76mm or 89mm of the actual A34) which is not bad for a cruiser tank, in fact slightly better than both the M4 Sherman and T34. They would have had to change the driver's seat to stick his head out the top and change or even omit the hull machine gun mounting, but they should have more space to work with.

[@shanechapman3567]

I just got a model the tank I have always been a big fan of this tank

[@robertmarsh3588]

Lovely looking and sounding tank. Well armed, well armoured, reliable and powerful. Would surely have forced a change in German tactics re their Tiger, Panzer IV etc use had it appeared earlier. The slightly later Centurion would have totally turned those tables had the war continued for a short time longer. Comet and the Centurion remain my favourite British tanks.

[@lamwen03]

I was just thinking that I miss the backyard episodes, and then realized. Oh, yeah, England in January.

[@MagiciansApprentice1]

the best thing about Friday during lockdown

[@ThatAussieBloke1]

one of the best looking tanks