The inside of a Tank.

How did it looked like? Did they had any comfort there? Were personal touches allowed or could personal stuff been taking into a tank?

I can recall a piece I once read in a book I've lent from a friend a few months ago saying that in the desert the tommies had little cettles (cans) and little fires in they're tanks to brew tea when they had a break off some kind.

Could you guys help me with this one?

Many thanks, Arneken.

 

It depended on the tank. Most were cramped with only enough space to perform the task at hand. Some were roomier like the Tiger. Others were just poor designs like the Hetzer. Of all the crew positions, I would think that the Gunner's position would be the worst. Also would be depend on the size of the man.


YouTube - Inside a german Tiger I tank

YouTube - A ride inside a Stuart M3A1 WWII tank

Here towards the end a vet describes life in a Sherman
YouTube - November 4, 2006: Tank Musuem

 

Found was I was looking for. Inside a StuG. A view of the Driver, Gunner and Commander. Radio operator/MG Gunner and Loader are on the other side.

 

Rather a snug fit inside. In the case of a quick bail-out, you'd think the commander would be stepping all over the driver to exit.

 

your not wrong about a snug fit inside the tank just looking at the photo
is enuff to frighten you
think of being hit by a artillary shell

 

That is actually the gunner in front of the commander. Talk about snug, take a look at the driver's position further towards the front. You can just make out his left arm

 

I take back my wish on a previous thread about wanting to be a tanker on the East Front. I never realized how cramped it was inside those tanks. I can't imagine being stuck inside with the thing on fire...

 

Mudt been hell. Thanks PzJgr for the nice movies. They gave me a better view for how it must have been in a tank.

Still remains my question if personal touches were allowed?

 

Ask Gerry Chester on ww2talk, he was a Wireless Operator in North Irish Horse, they had Churchills.

He's a member here too.
http://www.ww2f.com/members/gerry-chester.html

 

Tiger 131 being started up from inside:
YouTube - Driving a Tiger 1 Tank

On the restoration DVD for this vehicle one of the people involved in her capture (possibly Peter Gudgin, memory fails) comments on how impressed they were at how roomy the Tiger was compared to their Churchills... and how much easier sleeping must have been with 'all that space to stretch out in' .

There've certainly been little boilers for tea-making fitted inside many British vehicles, both officially & unofficially since the war, but memory fails on whether they were about during, I'll have to double check but I think the petrol/sand/earth stove remained the standard choice.
I can understand your fascination with interiors completely, easy for us who never served to observe the outside but very hard to visualise what it's really like within. From the vehicles I've been inside, right up to modern ones, I'd say; not nice.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

I spent a day with the Royal Hampshires messing about with their Saxons, we all felt bloody awful and travel sick once we'd finished.
I'd still rather be outside of an AFV, even if I did see my mate nearly get run over by a Cheiftain.

 

Closest cutaway of a sherman I could find

 

You are welcome. As far as personal touches, just by looking, I would say very minimal could be done. I do know my grandfather stowed some personal gear on the outside of his.

 

Well actualy I've never seen a tank in real life. I mean in Belgium whe've got in some villages a few shermans who are fixed and completely closed so it's impossible to take a look inside.

Vehicles do fascinate me.

Pzjgr fine print of that sherman and indeed if I take a quick look you can see clearly the difference between a tiger and other tanks. Makes oyu ownder how the Russians had it with theire T-34's

Friendly greetings Arne

 

Arne, ever considered 'Tanks in Town' in Mons? :
CHAR
I've been meaning to go for years.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

Thanks for the tip.

I recieved this back from him:

Inside our Churchills I recall that photographs and/or good luck charms were permitted.

Outside, as far as the North Irish Horse is concerned, we were allowed to mount empty ammo (metal) boxes on the sides. On my tank 'Ballyrashane' was one in which we kept books on loan from our Rover Crew collection.

@Von poop: I didn't know that. A shame it is Mons you say that's like 30 kilometers from my town. Well I certainly will go then if I'm not away on a camp.

thanks for the tip.

 

Did you see the 'tank riding' section on there?
Book a trip in a Stuart, Sherman, Patton, Pz.68 or M113 for 6-50 Euros, If the Stuart is actually Mons's very own 'Fish & Chips' (A gift on liberation, from the 3rd AD) I'd very much like to have a go in that .

 

I can imagine that. Well i'm interested now. 6-50 euros. I'll go for the 6 euro ride (poor student, you know)

 

I was thinking about the poor crews in North Africa stuck inside in the desert heat ! I know it gets cold at night but all that steel mass would still stay hot for many hours. Plus you have the heat from the engine and the dark paint which makes it ever hotter inside from the sun.