WORKSHOP CHRISTMAS: Panzer IV vs T-34 Driving Experience!

[@davidwarren9204]

From "never driven tank", to driving a T-34 and a Panzer! That's a day to remember :)

[@anderoo9260]

I mean it's an 80 or so year old tank that was originally expected to work for 700 or so kilometers before failure and was not meant to be mended like something reusable. They do not have access to spare parts and it had steering issues and loose tracks. My grand grand father was a t34 driver in the Polish peoples Army. He fought in Pomerania and at Berlin. He was a thin, small dude, 168cm tall. 17 years old when he enlisted. Which was part of the reason they chose him to crew a t34. And he said that the t34 sometimes had trouble getting into gear but usually it didn't require yanking on the shifter, they went into gear quite easily. And steering did require manhandling but nothing like full force. If that started to happen, they immediately reported it, the tank was recalled into the battalion's rear repair depot and the whole transmission and linkage was replaced. They didn't bother with repairing it, just installed a new one. This happened twice or trice over his time during the war. He ended up with the rank of Chorąży (mix of OR-09 and OF-01) by the end of the war, and was a platoon leader at 18-19 years of age. After the war he stayed in the army and was an instructor for t55 drivers, and was designated by the command for higher education so he was allowed to become an actual officer/ Ultimately he reached a rank of Major.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I sense Chieftain hovering around whispering “see, track tension”.

[@keithhaycraft3765]

When Kurt said he would "dive" in, I pictured head first. I was both disappointed and happy that he didn't dive in the way I pictured. A very Merry Christmas to you, your families & subscribers.

[@micemb2570]

I was thinking the exact same thing haha almost pleading "oh no this will end badly"

[@damiandighton5199]

Workshop Wednesday on a Tuesday! Christmas has come early

[@cadjs]

I have driven a few armoured vehicles including a chieftain and it is something never to be forgotten!

[@Ghostmaxi1337]

He certainly looked more relaxed driving the Pz IV. Lol.

[@Radbot776]

Yes because t34 driver supposed to drink his and the commanders ration of vodka

[@anderoo9260]

Less winded, perhaps. relaxed? I don't know, he kept checking gages nervously and was really baby handling the tank, which he said so himself. With the t34 he had to use a lot of strength, but was much more happy about the feeling he got for the experience. also keep in mind that the t34 he was driving had steering issues which explain the excessive force needed to steer it. Especially right. And also it had loose tracks which ended with that little issue they had- not his fault.

[@obi-wlankenobi]

​@@anderoo9260 for the tank crew the t34 were really uncomfortable. Still effektiv but hell for the crew.

[@skyd8726]

If you see a Panzer or T-34 with L or P plates on the rear, you know who's driving! What an awesome experience Kurt.

[@thomasherbig]

I couldn’t stop laughing when Kurt tried to get into 1st gear on the T-34. It’s exactly the way it was always described: use full strength and it’s still not enough. Can you imagine driving this thing for hours, in the heat of the battle?

[@matthewgillies7509]

There's a reason why its designer died after completing it, after driving it across country, eh?

[@65cj55]

It needs fixing, it shouldn't be that hard.

[@idiotidiot4522]

Ehhhhhhhh while this is true to the extent and OG T-34 had pneumatic servos to lighten the load (which had issues with air density changing during the winter thus having different parameters) russian museum ones are seemingly easier to drive. From engineering standpoint this was caused by them using a dry multidisc steel on steel clutch packs (more than 18! discs BTW) which are historically always had been a nightmare to properly calibrate.

[@CatEatsDogs]

@@matthewgillies7509 Of course not. he died of pneumonia

[@TheLtVoss]

​@65cj55 well if the complete tank would have been built too the specs of the design YES but the Soviet industrial complex especially in the WWII era was known too not really give a damm f about so NO it is historically accurate the saying that the tank driver is identified by the slag hammer for the gear lever didn't just pup out of no way

[@user-jl7hx1zz6d]

I could only imagine what soldiers felt as they heard those tracks coming their way. Just a reminder that this equipment had a purpose. Very surreal experience.

[@blueduck9409]

Rolling thunder.

[@CaptainSeato]

"I'm Kurt from Aus Armor... ...and I broke one of our tanks."

[@blueblur6447]

Im amazed as long as he has been there and all he has done this is first time he has driven the metal.... Awesome

[@maycontainhyjinks2347]

Merry Christmas! thanks for taking us on the tank drive!

[@NSYresearch]

What a Christmas present to us all.. Thank you for another year of great content.

[@quentinstacy35]

I can never see too much footage of these classic tanks roaring around.

[@xoxo2008oxox]

Kurt- the Aussie Tank Destroyer!

[@tm5123]

16:22 Doing that in a combat situation where you'd want to control the tank precisely looks like it would be a form of hell for any tank driver.

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

How wonderful to see Kurt out there catching some rays. 🌞 Recon he'll get a Tan ? What an amazing perk of the job to get a chance at driving these iconic Tanks. Have a good one.🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@johnanon6938]

Best video ever! Thanks Steve for teaching us how to drive these classic WW2 tanks, er I mean teaching Kurt, yes teaching Kurt to drive em'. Hope there's more like this.

[@nickturner7812]

Excellent video! Thanks to all for giving us this driving experience. From initial nervousness, through the grinning Steve to the final elation! Very informative to see the 2 tanks compared.

[@xacoupeguy]

love steve's "not one step backwards" HAHA and love the temp counter hahaha brilliant stuff kurt!

[@Wien1938]

What a treat! :)

[@MauserMatt]

I've been the driver lately for the Saving Private Ryan "Tiger" tank that is built off a T34/85. It's good to see that T34s are just inherantly a beast to drive and it's not just ours haha! I can definitely see why Soviet tankers loved our American Lend Lease Shermans! Great video!

[@JimWattsHereNow]

Well done Comrade Kurt! Good on you Steve. Merry Christmas guys

[@RichardOtten-md6kb]

Wish You all A very Merry Christmas and a Happy NewJear an the best Health. Please be safe.👍👍

[@thurin84]

"hi im kurt from oz armor and welcome to my tanker initiation!" well don kurt! reminds me of learning to drive a stick shift combined with learning to operate a bobcat.

[@NoPegs]

Happy Seasonal Thingy, Kurt! =3

[@dankorolyk5917]

Well done Kurt,and Merry Christmas to everyone involved.

[@roberthocking9138]

Well done Kurt, long overdue. 😁👍

[@jasonbelgrave2831]

I go on leave for 2 weeks and Kurt steals the keys from my vehicle cabinet.... can't leave him alone whilst I'm not there..

[@itchy108]

The T34 looks like a ergonomic nightmare 😂

[@disophisis]

On the bright side, if you survived the war, your core strength would be 10/10

[@itchy108]

@ 😂😂

[@mattmopar440]

It's almost like they intentionally made the ergonomics bad lol

[@itchy108]

@@mattmopar440I can see why Russian tankers wear those padded helmets

[@YuriWhite2251]

Эргономика у т34 не очень ты тут прав, однако немецкий т4 он делал как стоячего, а т34-85 выходили победителями даже с Пантерами и Королевскими Тиграми.

[@davidashworth5740]

What a fantastic experience! hopefully we'll get more ride guide videos in the future, this one was a blast. A Merry Christmas to all at Aus Armour!

[@janbyrdal645]

This was fun, and it was clear that you both did to, awesome, happy 🎄🎅🏻☃️

[@geofschofield7963]

Excellent video thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute 😁👍🇬🇧🌹 Merry Christmas everyone ♥️

[@BlueaxeReproductions]

Bloody Hell, that's a first go that sits at the top of the bucket list for some of us! Wow! Nice one mate; hope you enjoyed it, and Merry Christmas to all you fine folks at Aus Armour!

[@chase_with_jase]

It's about time Kurt got to drive some tanks as a reward for his great efforts, at making the weekly workshop Wednesday videos. Merry Christmas guys and hope to get up to Cairns this winter to see the collection.

[@Grom_the_Paunch]

I'm jealous and this is a good demonstration of the importance of correct track tension.

[@jiversteve]

What a Christmas Prezzie!

[@mr.adamski6431]

What a great Christmas present for you Kurt. You did a great job! So interesting to see how it all works as a driver.

[@delzworld2007]

Takes big boys toys into a completely new region. Well done guys, one of your best uploads yet. Merry Christmas to everyone there at AusArmour

[@APilotsHome]

This must be my favourite video so far! Loved it! Incredible how difficult to drive a tank is. Keep them coming! Merry Christmas!

[@bigdog4173]

Happy Xmas Fellows Thanks for all the entertainment..

[@musclecarbear4704]

This is so well done…I feel as if I’m the guy driving these things and having the experience. Thank you!

[@musclecarbear4704]

It’s 11.30am and 100,000deg! Global warming must be real then. 😂

[@bassplayersayer]

Happy Holidays to You!!! Driving those tanks would be a dream come true for me!!!!! Enjoy your videos!!!! Rock on!!!!!

[@styxasaurus]

Merry Christmas Team. Well done Kurt! What an awesome way to end the year.

[@barrysharp9792]

Kurt is better at disabling Soviet armor than the German army. 😂

[@busterdee8228]

I hope camera work doesn't suffer from Kurts new swagger. Merry Christmas, and thanks for the early content that just made mine.

[@BarbosaUral]

Excellent job, Kurt!

[@blueduck9409]

I would love to have a panzer 4. If i ever win the lotto, im going to buy one!

[@timovilkki5209]

Hyvät Joulut kaikille.

[@fredfarnackle5455]

Well done, Kurt!👍 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the lads there.🍺

[@garybaughman7099]

Another great video! Merry Christmas to all of you!

[@steveyountz9184]

What a treat, and on a Tuesday in my part of the world. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Really looking forward to watching fireworks from what I assume is the Sydney bridge.

[@SteveMichaels]

Happy Holidays to all you Aussies down under ! Kurt keep up the good work, You should do a second channel with edited content that didnt make it in the episodes .. Id watch it and many others would too. Ty for sharing as always God Bless

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Having watched these since more or less the start Kurt has gone from being very green about these things to now understanding how they work and now drive. And seems to enjoy it all. And makes good content. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all the crew.

[@bennielovejoy1305]

Thanks for the video. Merry Christmas to all of you. Good Job Kurt.

[@josephkerley363]

Well Curt, it was almost a lump of coal in your stocking for Christmas ... LOL ... what an experience, but that it the most fun of any restoration, playing with it! May you all have a Blessed Christmas and joyful New Year.

[@Curlyween]

I was lucky enough to drive an Australian Army Leopard 1 at Monegeetta Proving Ground back in 1992. Amazing experience! I would give my eye teeth to drive a WW2-era armoured vehicle.

[@TheSlugstoppa]

I am so envious right now - Merry Christmas guys.

[@RuthlessMojo]

Merry Christmas guys. My grandfather was an Alpino who fought with the Italian partisans in WWII. He conducted intelligence, counterintelligence and espionage operations behind enemy lines. I grew up without a father so he was my whole world. It was because of him I developed an interest in militaria, particularly WWII. I even joined the Australian Army in the infantry because of him. I lost him quite a few years ago but I still miss him. Particularly at Christmas. I feel closest to him when I’m watching stuff related to WWII. Thanks for helping to bring back so many great memories.

[@jarheads88]

Super video ! Cheers and Merry Christmas tank all who support here

[@ididthat1st]

That T34 armour looks so much thinner than I was expecting. Amazing these things won a war. Imaging the balls of steel those tankers had!

[@timcope6685]

Awesome work Kurt!! and a Very Merry Christmas to you and all the guy's from here in the US!!

[@robinlecomte1242]

One small step for mankind (Kurt) and another trip to the workshop, for the tanks. Keep in mind Kurt, with the T-34, the young men of Russia, then, would not have driven a tank before and would have learnt the same way, but me thinks due to the constraints of war, a lot quicker and probably from Trainers with a brutal streak. Thanks for the videos across the Year, has been educational, from everyone at The Museum.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

What fun! Very cool that you got to drive those iconic WWII tanks.

[@tj37475]

Good job Kurt, you're so lucky to work at a job like this and get to drive these classics. I've driven the current M113AS4's which are a doddle, but these old things are a completely different game, well done, a great lifetime experience.

[@50ShadesOfBeige]

One session of Kurt driving is equal to all of wear and tear of an AusArmourFest.

[@frenchroast1355]

That was freaking awesome. Good job Kurt!

[@andrewd666]

Kurt, you lucky, lucky, man; what an experience!😊

[@mikeyroodbol3121]

Amazing fun video to watch! And what a dream to drive those vehicles! Funny thing to see the difference of the smoothly running german panzer vs the rough Sovjet T34

[@TheKRU251]

That was amazing to watch. The superb coverage we get from you 'ladz' means it is like watching a distant 'family'. This 'insider newbie' view was very interesting/enlightening and amusing. Steve. You've spent too long working on German front sprocket driven tanks; calling the T-34 rear drive sprocket 'an idler'. 😊. Such great content. Have a great x'mas and we ALL look forward to more. All the best from the UK !

[@paoloviti6156]

I'm really glad that Kurt has managed to drive both T-34/85 and the early Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf F !! Honestly I'm quite envious that you have managed to drive two iconic tanks but I'm really glad that you have enjoyed it. But I can see that to drive the T-34/85 require brute strength to drive it with the infamous gearbox that you have to literally crash-in to engage the gears often with the help of the helper. Kurt was quite relaxed when driving the Pz.Kpfw IV but was more careful and didn't drive it very much. Nevertheless I would consider it a real X-Mas gift being able to drive it! Merry X-Mas to you all Santa 🎅...

[@gaben_WT]

This is T-34/76 mod.1941 (cast turret) 😉

[@Stefan_Van_pellicom]

Imagine having to drive that while everything surrounding you shoots at you, and you know your average life expectancy is about an hour …

[@ManiacRacing]

Not a bad day at work, eh? You're one lucky dude getting to drive such iconic machines!

[@forgozsamoly]

GJ Kurt! I love these raw brutal and noisy machines

[@bruceinoz8002]

Great Seasonal video! If "Die Hard" can be a Christmas movie, ........? Loved the "temperature reports as the session progressed; good-old North Queensland! Beautiful one day: Torn apart by floods and cyclones, the next! Track stretch or running gear needs adjustment? Maybe one for the New Year.

[@Nick-kn5lb]

Well done Kurt, good to see you getting a sweat up!

[@Darkmult]

Merry Chrismas And Happy New Years too al the staff AusArmour🤟🎅

[@jimaltergott9326]

WOW! What a great time that would be! What fun is driving a WW2 tank in temps less than 33°c?!! 😂

[@Vtarngpb]

-33c? 🌨🥶☃ 😂

[@michaelweigel2466]

Nice video. A friendly guy (ethnic German from Hungary) who tiled the cellar in our house in the late eighties was in the Waffen SS during the war. I had a long chat with him about the war. He always said that the T-34 was a “modern” tank that he was jealous of. But you could easily destroy it by firing at the fuel tank.

[@QALibrary]

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you and thank you for all of the videos

[@kelvingravel8699]

What a awesome video thanks for sharing, hope you all have a fantastic Christmas.

[@williammaxwell1919]

Kurt. You are a consumate story tell ~ never loose sight of this. I wouldn't be surprised if you have multiple ideas for children's stories and adult fiction, science fiction, fanasty et al. Make your dreams real!

[@paulsilva3346]

Kurt broke a tank... 0:38. LOL.. So easily remedied... 14:36

[@rustandmagic]

Hmmm, I think the tanks almost broke Kurt ;)

[@billyponsonby]

Merry Christmas and thanks for the excellent videos!

[@paulsilva3346]

Kurt, a T-34 driver hops up and hugs the 75mm barrel, then twists around to properly orient to his seat and slides down in..? 17:52 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

[@stephenyoud6125]

Great workout. Stick to the Camera Kurt !! See you all next year. Thanks for all the videos.

[@mickypd1]

Don't give up your day job. See you next year and happy Christmas.

[@briandarnell5966]

Great work guys and a great video. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New year.😊

[@davepriddy9263]

Great video, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@markhodge7]

That was great. Merry Christmas lads!

[@simonnorburn3518]

One off the few nice things about the T34 and subsequent vehicles was that the oil sprayed on to the exhaust system for a smoke screen was funamentally an optional extra. If it was moving it was making smoke.

[@MGB-learning]

Great Inside the Tank driving video!

[@ericjohnson6802]

My uncle John was a British tanker who never spoke much about his Ww2 experiences, cept to say it was hell. Now I understand why he was quite deaf!

[@tygoarnold9434]

you can see he really liked it awsome collection and mary christmas!

[@richardwirt3193]

Merry Christmas to all of you

[@PaulRhB]

Merry Christmas 🎄 to all the team and their families. Great episode too, interesting to hear a novice experience we can only dream of getting 👍🏻

[@StevenG222]

Starting on a T34 now every other tank you drive will feel like driving a luxury car! Congrats on a first lifetime experience Kurt! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE..unless you're jewish, then HAPPY HANUKKAH!!

[@mylesdobinson1534]

Steve looked like your favourite hound with its head out the wind with a big grin on his face in the Panzer IV 😅

[@bobbroadhurst1648]

Some people have all the fun ...... lucky bastard Kurt lol Haha drive it like you stole it