Tank Chats

[@thetankmuseum]

Hey tank nuts! Did you enjoy David Fletcher's thoughts on the Striker? Let us know your thoughts below.

[@babaganoush6106]

Yes excellent

[@richieb7692]

David Fletcher is a joy and a delight. His tank chats are so entertaining that you just don't realise how much information you are soaking up. I just wish I had teachers like him at school.

[@jimbaird8976]

Very, very informative. Any tank museum talk from David is a must see for me

[@hoilst]

Of course! Who wouldn't?

[@yaragi]

I'm sure you know our answer to your question? He's awesome. I've yet to meet or even talk to anyone who didn't like him. From when & where he started his career and went on to become the most beloved 'tank/armour' expert of the modern world, and being able to make tanks interesting even to people who aren't nuts (far from it) on tanks is a very special quality of it's own. That said, I'm sure he'd make lawn mowers interesting. [The Hobbit(y) kind of personality and the feeling of his genuine openness, even on a video is admirable!]

[@markedwards158]

The first vehicle i learnt to drive at the age of 17. Ended up as a commander Best time of my life. Great vehicle, great job.

[@Jay-zk7uw]

The only thing I'm more jealous of is that Mr Fletcher is talking about it. The final honour.

[@atomicshadowman9143]

I had the Dinky toy one😁

[@Demun1649]

How many years to do that?

[@samholdsworth420]

How many people did you murder?

[@johnhughes8016]

I loved commanding those things, great vehicle......

[@mathewkelly9968]

The idea of dismounting the gunner and firing from cover was the smartest thing about this vehicle

[@dogsnads5634]

Making it look like an ordinary Spartan was also brilliant. Something the South African's did with the Valkiri MRL, making it look like an ordinary truck.

[@jimmydesouza4375]

That's pretty normal for ATGMs.

[@dogsnads5634]

@@jimmydesouza4375 Its really not...there aren't many/any Western ATGM platforms that did it..

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@dogsnads5634 Did you really just try to claim there aren't any western platforms that do it, on the comments to a video about a western platform that did it? The asteroid can't come soon enough.

[@dogsnads5634]

@@jimmydesouza4375 Please tell me about all the western ATGM platforms apart from Stormer that aimed to be visually identical to another vehicle...

[@chaswalker2038]

These chats by David Fletcher are pure gold.

[@Jay-zk7uw]

This is why I love tank chats. Seeing the links to other projects (like the Ferret in this case) really lends additional perspective.

[@georgedalgleish6384]

I wonder how many miles of swing fire wire is still on the Canadian landscape after all these years. I loved Medman.

[@gusgone4527]

Probably enough to reach Europe! There must be several thousand of them on Suffield.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Shush you, there are recyclers that would invade the place and you'd have to start to understand whatever the heck they speak at home. That said foreign swear words are always useful.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Reason I had a cutter var mounted on my vehicles. The guidance wire is thin but very strong. Since it's small, it's hard to see and if it is hanging between two trees, it can decapitate you. I pictured a Europe absolutely covered with guidance wires - why risk it? So all my platoon's and later company's vehicles had them whipped up and installed by Maintenance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4LFpmeBgt-NgqM

[@georgedalgleish6384]

I only ever came across the miles of wire while I was on range clearing in BATUS so no trees but a fair bit of tripping up in all that long grass.

[@sam1812seal]

“The Royal Artillery who see things rather differently” - would that be from 10 miles away and behind a hill if possible? 😂

[@JamesAlexander14]

So long as they kill the enemy, who cares? Anyway, my grandfather was in the Royal Horse Artillery during the First World War as RSM and he didn’t ever speak about it afterwards. You just don’t get over that kind of inhumane horror.

[@ronhall9394]

In WW2 the RA took on the heavier anti-tank equipment, probably all due to the interservice politics. As the war progressed the lighter a/t assets trickled down to the infantry battalions as heavier guns came on line eg the 6lber was initially RA, but eventually were passed on to the infantry as the 17lber became available. All sp anti-tank guns (Archer, Achilles etc) were RA. Obviously the crew of the direct fire weapons had a different modus operandi to that of the indirect fire weapons.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@ronhall9394 Took the words out of my mouth

[@brianbyrne4443]

THE MAN IS A BLOOMING LEGEND !!! Describes the flotation of the system as TOTALLY 👍🏻 USELESS AND IT JUST FLOATED ALONG WITH THE CURRENT OF THE WATER 💦. LOL ….. EXCELLENT

[@PassportToPimlico]

I once spoke to an ex Army guy and his experience of Swingfire was when they were old stock used for training. They had an annoying habit of not responding to commands and looping back to return to the firer, causing some consternation.

[@bigblue6917]

Should have sent them to the Soviets.

[@oseansoldier]

Alright, who let the US Bureau of Ordinance on the project?

[@SteveSmith-wk9dx]

"significant emotional event"

[@johnhughes8016]

Yup, can confirm that.... spent years as a controller then commander of one of these vehicles before they withdrawn. The training missiles if they were treated roughly, had a habit of going ‘rogue’. Had one turn nearly 180 degrees before the safety staff command detonated it, also had some ‘hang up’ in the launcher ( rocket motor fired, but failed to exit the launcher), that was emotional. When they worked, they worked well. 4000m range and a large warhead. The later systems made tracking the target a lot easier....

[@bobskool]

Highlights on the drawings is a nice touch, think about advancing this concept

[@ianlacey6588]

The first set of wargames rules I learned was Challenger. Death by table. The sporting table distinguished several levels of difficulty for spotting. If you were looking at a Challenger tank side on you had to roll rather less than if you were trying to spot an individual spotter. Striker played into that beautifully. The spotter could be as far away (in scale) as 160m from the vehicle which could be in full defilade. You could still try to spot where the missile had emerged from but the odds remained poor. Hitting a target was difficult but swingfire had a good range and quite a good warhead.

[@alangordon3283]

Watched plenty of these while getting ready for the short trip to the sandy place 1990 .

[@tommeakin1732]

This vehicle has always struck me as being kind of terrifying. Even with all crew in the vehicle, from the right hull down position (pretty much any ridge or hill will do), this thing can fire five missiles while presenting a truly tiny profile. And even if what's visible is hit, I think it's pretty unlikely that it'll actually knock the vehicle out - unless perhaps someone manages to land a high explosive round right onto the launcher. And on top of that, they're pretty quick vehicles

[@SlavicCelery]

Unless you have a tragic munition detonation with all remaining ammo torching off at once. I don't know how much that hull is going to stop pure concussive effect. Much less if a hatch is open.

[@johnhughes8016]

You would hide the complete vehicle and use the ‘sep site’.... out of direct fire.....

[@tommeakin1732]

@@johnhughes8016 I know, I was just posing a scenario where it was operating like a "normal vehicle", hence I said "Even with all crew in the vehicle" to imply that I know it can fire while being in total cover

[@SlavicCelery]

@@tommeakin1732 I did read the whole comment! I was responding to the crew inside. Also in the video footage of the vehicles on the firing range, there's a lot of open hatches. Not saying it would happen in combat, but, historical evidence is evidence.

[@jetgold]

Your content is educational and entertaining sir. 👍

[@indyrock8148]

Pretty awesome the wire-line guidance system. Simple idea. Mr Fletcher mentioned you could use it to trace back to the launcher, yes I guess eventually yes. Doubt it was painted safety yellow though.

[@russwoodward8251]

Thanks again.

[@bigblue6917]

An updated version of this type of vehicle but carrying the Brimstone missile would be a great idea. sit out the way somewhere and let the missile find the target.

[@andrewallason4530]

I’d go as far as to say twenty vertical launchers in the back of the vehicle, with a mix of 10 long range Javelin or M-LAW, for short to medium range, and 10 Brimstone for long range, and a remote turret with a Mk44 Bushmaster 30mm gun.

[@sidwainhouse]

Boxer Overwatch has just been announced with Brimstones.

[@Pyrotec_nick]

RBSL and MBDA have just displayed Boxer Overwatch with a brimstone missile rack 😊

[@SeanSoraghan]

​@andrewallason4530 That vechile would very huge, better to spread capability across several vechiles

[@karlwelsh1923]

My uncle Danny "Dapper"Jones 16/5th Queens Royal Lancers commanded one of these about 1990

[@guylelanglois6642]

Lost the stash? At least you kept the eyebrows. You are the best sir Fletcher

[@stephenbromley2302]

Always enjoyed firing swing fire ,firing at Castlemartin 3 missiles a year so it was a real downer if you missed one target,also hang fires were good to watch and missiles plonking on the front decks

[@MrCripsy]

Great information. I just wish they’d take the time to dust the vehicles before the shoot.

[@chestercallahan8856]

Good morning Bovington!

[@AtheistOrphan]

I remember the Dinky version with ‘working’ missiles.

[@richweiley3587]

Yes, I had that toy as well.

[@Anarcho420ism]

my friends (chris and john) are coming to visit all of your tanks next month they are so excited

[@jameslewis2635]

Sounds like quite a capabal vehicle. I would expect that something like this would be very useful in Ukraine round about now. I would have thought that a modernised version based on something like a Javelin missile would be a good idea. In fact I would expect that with the man-portable nature of the Javelin missiles you would be able to carry upscaled version in a vehicle like this making it more of a threat for heavier armed threats or being capable of holding more rounds in tubes at once allowing the crew to take on more targets in an engagement.

[@IvanTre]

The missiles are antiquated and don't have a tandem warhead, so not really...

[@comentedonakeyboard]

A striking resemblance with the Spartan

[@misolgit69]

not as weird as early Bradleys every time I see one of those setting up it's TOW all I can think of is Johnny Five Alive

[@herby4215]

Amazing tanks

[@ponchoremerize5508]

I think the Wire-Guided concept is still relevant because it cannot be jammed. And in this age of electronics I think we will see more of them, not less.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@lukemaney645 Yes. There has been some thought to giving them either the Javelin or a Javelin derived guidance system to give them fire and forget capability

[@ianbell5611]

Similar to the now obsolete naval surface to air seacat missile that was also guided by a crew member with a joystick.

[@bigblue6917]

That must have been exciting in a heavy sea.

[@dogsnads5634]

Swingfire was upgrade not long after it was introduced with SWIG (Swingfire Improved Guidance) which changed it from MCLOS guidance to SACLOS. All you had to do then was hold the sight on the target. Basically the same as TOW. But far more survivable in practice than TOW.

[@toomanyuserids]

The Seacat that proved completely useless in service?

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@dogsnads5634 BS, see M901 and Bradley, IFV

[@dogsnads5634]

@@colbeausabre8842 M901 couldn't stow its launcher away... And a Bradley is a Bradley so everyone knows it has TOW missiles...

[@Guhonter]

Please do a video on that vehicle behind Mr FLetcher, I'm very curious!

[@jammiedodger7040]

We really do need a new series of vehicles to replace the CVRT series

[@sealove79able]

A striking chat by Mr. Fletcher. Is this vehicle the UK's Weasel from Germany?

[@AtheistOrphan]

No it’s an all-British vehicle, part of the CVT range.

[@sealove79able]

@@AtheistOrphan Thank you. I meant if the Striker was in the same category as the Weasel.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Brimstoner more like. I hear they are sticking them on anything and everything. Martlet too. Cheers David and co.

[@matthewkendall8592]

Brimstone on a Toyota Hilux

[@bigblue6917]

@@matthewkendall8592 Why not. Everything else gets stuck on one.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

@@bigblue6917 That's too Technical....

[@jep77ray]

Woot!

[@dr.strangelove6118]

Pretty effective in WARNO

[@Twirlyhead]

I've posted this before but there is footage somewhere on one of these knocking out an Iraqi T55. Anyone have a link ?

[@duanemarshall1889]

Always get rid oldest ammo first for training makes sense 🤔ex operational goes to training

[@colbeausabre8842]

When my platoon was about to convert from the M40A1 recoilless Rifle to the M220 TOW system, when we did our annual service practice we got several five tons trucks from the Ammunition Supply Point with every round they had. "Shoot them all, we don''t want to do the paperwork to turn it in". We shot day and night (under illumination from the Heavy Mortar Platoon's M30 4.2 inch mortars - we promised they could come to our range and help us get rid of 106 rounds the next day) for two days. Ordnance must not have believed their eyes when they saw the logbooks when we turned the guns in.

[@Paco1037]

Feels like a larger, british ozelot

[@andy1514-g1q]

is this the version with the special "dusty terrain" camo?

[@Dogbertious]

Oooo, first! I wonder if such a vehicle, fitted with modern non-wire guided missiles, could fulfill a similar role on the modern battlefield? It could certainly reduce the requirements on the missile operator, but would it be any better than investing in some drones carrying the same missiles?

[@mitchverr9330]

There have been multiple vehicles of a similar role proposed using the brimstone missile system on Ajax, BMPs (for Poland/possible Ukraine), unmanned vehicles, so on. Drones have to watch out for enemy air def systems, a vehicle version can roll up, aim up, fire and forward observers have the targets already painted.

[@bigblue6917]

@@slovencleta Brimstone would be ideal

[@MGMan-ce7sf]

Fabulous vehicle! Jaguar engine? Could that have anything to do with it leaking oil? I can say that having owned 3 myself and loving them to death! 🙂

[@Calum_S]

David Fletcher setting up the KZbin comments section for an argument about the merits of wire guided ATGMs.

[@Del_S]

Wonder if we won't see a "modern" equivalent of this with Javelin type missiles or even controlling loitering drones in the near future.

[@stephengraham1430]

For eagle-eyed viewers, the Vehicle at 3m35s is actually an FV432 swingfire vehicle and not a striker

[@Initial_Gopnik]

This is the last tank chat with David Fletcher. :(

[@timsweet3224]

i want my dinky one back yup!. lost the missiles the day i got it ,and i think they should have took them to the falklands war .

[@AtheistOrphan]

EVERYONE lost the missiles! (As we also did with the missile from the SHADO 2 Mobile).

[@timsweet3224]

@@AtheistOrphan haha and my track off the tank apc and missile off the interceptor from ufo still got strakers car unless some council boiler installer nicked em out of attic !knew i shouldve gottem down .

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@timsweet3224 - You can buy replacement missiles and tracks on eBay, (and even the ‘SHADO’ decals). Straker’s car goes for big bucks on there too!

[@timsweet3224]

@@AtheistOrphan hey now there should be two stakers cars up there but friggin work men were up there once and i havent checked yet better get in ther lol.

[@terrynewsome6698]

The Ukrainians seem to like the stormer, scimitar, and spartan version. Maybe this would be a good fit as well

[@toldyouso5588]

Alright you're to charge those MBTs. Sorry were on strike.

[@kaj9245]

I think this is the 5th vehicle I’ve seen today with a jaguar engine haha

[@simonwood5147]

Very useful against fixed fortified positions because unlike a tank they can't run away! 👍 (would be handy in Ukraine 🇺🇦)......

[@MrDeancoote]

Not seen one of these before. Still seems a good idea for modern warfare. Could they be used against aircraft ?

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

No. For a start they’re wire-guided and limited by the length of the wire. Also, most AA ammunition is fitted with a proximity fuze. Swingfire is a shaped charge and requires a direct hit.

[@MrDeancoote]

Thanks Bob, Just thought it would have been effective against the low and slow Hinds.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@bob_the_bomb4508 When I was at Bening for AT MIssile School we were shown film of Tow's being used against drone helicopters, Obviously not a common mission but it showed we had some self defense capability

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@colbeausabre8842 I can see it as a last ditch anti helicopter weapon but TOW still requires a direct hit. It doesn’t have a proximity fuze as far as I know.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@bob_the_bomb4508 That's right, BUT an incoming attack helicopter is close to a zero deflection shot. You claimed it couldn''t be done (A flat :no:) I pointed out it could - certainly could be done, not routine practice, but was possible - anyway if what do you have to lose by trying it?

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

Those Swingfire missiles would make a mockery of the T-55 or the T-60. *Looks at Ukraine*

[@colbeausabre8842]

T-62

[@mikearmstrong8483]

The problem with wire guided ATGMs is that they fly a lot slower than shells, which means if the bad guys are on their toes, the return fire can be arriving before the missile gets there, and that is likely to cause some distraction to the poor schmuck trying to guide it.

[@GorgeDawes]

Hence why firing from cover with the operator dismounted would be a good idea, no?

[@mikearmstrong8483]

@@GorgeDawes Not sure about that. I think I'd rather be inside an AFV and maybe miss, than outside when things fly in and go kaboomy and little sharp pieces get tossed around.

[@colbeausabre8842]

@@mikearmstrong8483 See m901 Improved TOW Vehicle

[@mikearmstrong8483]

@@colbeausabre8842 Well aware of it. Is there something specific you are bringing to my attention? Even if you are looking through the sight on top of the hammerhead, incoming rounds can still be a distraction. But since we now use the fire-and-forget Javelin, that is no longer an issue. Which is why I mentioned it as a problem with wire guided ATGMS, which are still in use by some other nations.

[@tombakabones274]

I must apologize I listened to the whole video but I spent more time trying to figure out what that one is with the stripes painted on it to his back right but as always I love his commentary and excellent video 👍🤘

[@dylanmilne6683]

M74 recovery vehicle. Basically a post war conversion of Sherman into a recovery vehicle capable of recovering M26

[@loddude5706]

Vehicle needed far better 'Fletching' for visual protection, a four foot, bright orange moustache clamped in the now redundant 'skirt' mount would alert the enemy to being totally on the wrong side & they'd all stick their hands up fairly pronto.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

The same vehicle with a modern missiles system would have been the ultimate tank killer Just imagine it firing NLAWS or javelins from a prepared position

[@echomande4395]

Alvis, now BAE Systems, seems to have designed a family of vehicles around the Stormer chassis. I think only the Stormer HVM and mine thrower actually got fielded but an ATGM carrier built on that chassis seems quite possible. Perhaps Stormer HVM could be modified to fire NLAWS, Javelin, Brimstone or Hellfire.

[@SlavicCelery]

Why would it downgrade missile types to NLAW? That's not the range or capability of the OG system. Honestly, it'd probably end up with a TOW. Wire guided missiles still have a lot of advantages in modern combat.

[@johnhughes8016]

TOW and Jav have quite short range compared to the 4k’s Swingfire had, they just have better (tandem) warheads, where Swingfire had just one big warhead

[@SlavicCelery]

@@johnhughes8016 Sorry, wrong missile - JAGM - would replace it. Significantly more range and easier control as it combines both laser and radar in a single unit, with extended range. Swingfire is old. TOW has more modern variants and would still replace it given the unit in use today. That said, JAGM would absolutely replace it and blow it clean out of the water in capability.

[@johnhughes8016]

@@SlavicCelery i dont know why they did not look at adapting it for ‘Brimstone’ as that pairing would have been an outstanding battlefield platform.... it looks like they are attempting to fit it to wheeled vehicles or trailers instead...

[@briancurran2988]

Wonder who the 16/5th queens royal lancer is at 6.53 mins?

[@sealove79able]

Was the remote firing achieved via a cable or wirelessly?

[@markedwards158]

cable from a drum on the back of the vehicle. It enabled you to go vertical as well as horizontal so you could hide the vehicle behind a building and fire from within the building. The missile would exit the launcher and automatically fly into the controllers line of sight. Very handy indeed.

[@sealove79able]

@@markedwards158 Thank you.

[@Gorbyrev]

The Ukrainians appear to have had some success with the the wire guided Stugna.

[@forcea1454]

Stugna is laser-beam-riding.

[@Gorbyrev]

@@forcea1454 That makes sense.

[@jammiedodger7040]

I know the scorpion and scimitar were amphibious but I did not think the spartan was amphibious

[@jammiedodger7040]

@@aaronleverton4221 I didn’t spell it auto spell did

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

Yes. By the 1980’s though amphibious capacity was discontinued for all British military vehicles except for the M2 bridging rigs and the Combat Engineer Tractor (CET). I’ve swum both of those and it’s a very maintenance-heavy requirement, which is why it was dropped for everything else.

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@jammiedodger7040 Well, I can delete now.

[@jammiedodger7040]

@@bob_the_bomb4508 Wasn’t the warthog also amphibious

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@jammiedodger7040 it was called the BV 206 in my day. Only used by the Marines then.

[@wor53lg50]

Makes me laugh when people giggle and say"ha ha, look at the stormer, its like a lickle babies toy"!!!!,well you try spotting one when your 500 to 1000ft up in a helo or jet going gods knows how many miles an hour!!!!!!...

[@drewlawrence696]

32 Guided Weapons...before it went to the RAC.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Closest thing the US Army had was the M901 Improved TOW Vehicle - a modified M113. As the M2 IFV/M# CFV has a TOW missile launcher, there was no need for a specialized vehicle, they were withdrawn as the M2/M3 came into service. kzbin.info/www/bejne/boGmh2h9ncihp80, As an old AT Platoon Leader, Ilurve the BGM71. This what a TOW 2b does to a combat loaded (fuel, ammo,, etc) T-72. It takes all the fun out of being a Russian tanker. BTW, the whining sound you hear in the video is the spinning gyroscope in the guidance system. "TOW - On the WAY!""

[@thomasembleton1467]

Also big lack of soviet tank hordes now so kind of superfluous to requirements.

[@kyleroth1025]

I'm first viewer & commenter. Do I win a prize?

[@PhantomVoid]

You do! You get to be the first one to watch the video.

[@colbeausabre8842]

You get to police the area after the video ends

[@sqike001ton]

I don't know about wire gilded missiles being not used anymore. i know the US was using the TOW missiles in Afghanistan in the mid teens. the "finger of god" wasting terrorist fighters at range still .now for AT work I'm certain there done/.

[@JTA1961]

Cable TV vrs satellite

[@salty4496]

:)

[@depresjawykalaczki6252]

Hey tank museum :) when russian tanks ???

[@richragenj]

Tank shat

[@PhilippBrandAkatosh]

i bet you have a lot of vehicles that Ukraine could use and perhaps needs.

[@bullettube9863]

What am I seeing here? Is that David Fletcher or is it an old man with short hair pretending to be David?

[@colbeausabre8842]

It looks like he has been ill