Commanders!
Tankfest 2022, from June 24 through June 26, is the annual armored vehicle event at The Tank Museum in Bovington, presented by World of Tanks. The three-day-long festival of historic moving armor will feature living history encampments, expert lectures, live displays of over 60 tanks dating from the 1940s to the present day, and many other activities.
The spectacle in Bovington is almost sold out, so get your ticket now. If you can't make it in person, tune in to our exciting Tankfest Online 2022 livestream on Twitch on Sunday, June 26, featuring valuable Twitch Drops with in-game rewards! Check the announcement for early details, and keep an eye on the portal for more information soon.
The arena shows are fantastic opportunities to see famous historic vehicles from all over the world in action. In addition to exhibits from The Tank Museum’s collection, the shows will feature several guest vehicles provided by tank enthusiasts, collectors, and other tank museums. Let’s take a look at some of the additional tanks and vehicles you can expect to see at the event this year. You might already know some of them from the game!
M18 Hellcat
Developed by the U.S.A. during the Second World War, the M18 tank destroyer was lighter and faster than most other armor, making it a formidable ambush vehicle.
The 1944 Buick M18 tank destroyer, which will attend Tankfest for the first time this year, saw service during WWII and in the former Yugoslavia. Nicknamed the “Bronx Bruiser,” this M18 Hellcat is part of the private collection of Mike and Chris Phelps. It recently took part in the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the city of Mons, Belgium.
T-34/85
The Soviet T-34 was the most produced tank of the Second World War and was widely exported after. Equipped with a larger gun, it is the direct successor of the T-34/76.
The particular vehicle on display at Tankfest was brought from Poland to the U.K. with the support of the Sandstone Heritage Trust, a private preservation initiative established on a commercial farm in the Eastern Free State in South Africa.
Jagdpanzer G13 Hetzer
The Jagdpanzer 38, known after the war as "Hetzer," was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. Armed with a StuK 40 gun, it received the designated "G13" and was used in service by the Swiss Armed Forces.
The vehicle at Tankfest was produced in Czechoslovakia after the Second World War and sold to Switzerland in 1947. Today, it is part of the private David Carson Military Vehicle Collection and has been rebuilt to resemble a German Hetzer. However, it is armed with a PaK 39 instead of a StuK 40.
Lynx Scout Car I Mark III*
When the demand for the British Daimler Dingo Scout Car—a small armored car for general liaison and reconnaissance duties—exceeded the capabilities of Daimler, the British War Department invited Ford Canada to build their own copy. The result was the Ford Lynx Scout Car, and a total of 3,255 units were produced in Windsor, Ontario.
This Scout Car that found its way to Bovington was used by the Australian 1st Armoured Division and clearly saw some action, as it sports a repaired bullet hole. It is the only known roadworthy example of a Lynx Mark III* in the U.K. and was restored from a wreck by Mike Ebeling.
Sherman M-51
Sometimes referred to as the Super Sherman, the Sherman M-51 was an upgrade to the M4A1 Sherman with a modified M4 (76) turret and French 105 mm gun. 180 of these tanks were produced for use by the Israeli Defence Force during the 1960s.
Valentine DD
The Valentine DD was one of the first tanks to be fitted with a flotation screen in the run-up to D-Day. It was used to train crews who would eventually land on the shores of Normandy in Sherman DDs.
The version on display at Tankfest is the only existing Valentine Mark IX Duplex Drive in running order. It was restored over several years by John Pearson.
M4A1 Sherman
The M4 Sherman was the most widely used medium tank by the U.S. forces and their Allies during the Second World War. Thousands of vehicles were distributed through the lend-lease program to the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union. It was also the basis of several variations, including SPGs, tank destroyers, and other specialized vehicles.
The M4A1 Sherman Havoc that will make its rounds in Bovington was produced by Lima Locamotive in 1943. Since its restoration, it has been driven over 500 road miles as part of Operation Market Garden commemorations. Operation Market Garden was a military operation fought in the Netherlands to create a corridor for Allied troops into northern Germany.
M16B Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
The M16 was introduced as a mobile anti-aircraft weapon in 1944. However, at this point in the war, there were few enemy aircraft to engage, so the high firepower system was mainly used against ground targets. The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage was a combination of the M3 half-track and the M45 Quadmount, a weapon mounting consisting of four .50 caliber M2 machine guns.
AMX-13
The AMX-13 is a French light tank, produced from the 1950s through the 1980s and exported to over 25 nations. Counting prototypes and export versions, over a hundred variants exist, including one with a larger 105 mm CN-105 L/57 gun in an FL-12 turret.
The AMX-13 105 on display during Tankfest has been fully restored, serviced, and painted green with decals to represent its French heritage by the French Army Reenactment Group. FARG is a fast-growing group of reenactors committed to the authentic portrayal of the French Armed Forces from 1945 onward.
Panhard AML-90
The Panhard AML is a French light armored car with excellent reconnaissance capabilities. It has exceptional mobility and, like the Tankfest version, could be equipped with a 90 mm gun.
The Panhard AML-90 is also part of the French Army Reenactment Group’s collection.
Type 95 Ha-Go
Development of a new Japanese light tank began in 1933, following the request by the Japanese military for a vehicle with good mobility and sufficient firepower capable of supporting infantry and cavalry units. After two years of research and development, production of the Type 95 Ha-Go began. With over 2,000 units produced, it was one of the most prolific Japanese armored fighting vehicles.
Private collector Oliver Barnham spent over 10 years restoring this Ha-Go to running condition, and nearly all the original features have been retained. It is one of only two operational Type 95 Ha-Go tanks left in the world.
Are some of your favorite vehicles from the game at Tankfest? Which of the guests are you most excited to see? Let us know in the forum, and make sure to tune in to Tankfest Online on Sunday, June 26 live on Twitch!
Our hosts—Richard Smith, Richard Cutland, David Willey, and David Baggley (eekeeboo)—will be bringing you exclusive historical content, live action-packed demonstrations, and insight from expert historians. You'll also have the chance to earn Premium vehicles, days of Premium Account, and 3D styles from Twitch Drops.
Roll Out!
