FURY - m4a3e8 Bovington Walkaround

I have took these photos from the vehicle back in 2011 in tankfest. It was in this condition:

 The nameplate has been removed for the movie version , and several decoration been added like : logs as additional armor , german gasmask etc...

brest44.forumprod.com

a few photos from Silentstalker (http://ftr.wot-news.com/2014/06/12/photos-from-normandy/):

two videos :

 

 

Please note that this vehicle is a postwar version in general , so if you want to build this vehicle you should use the korean version from the tasca kit.

ex-Iraqi Norinco Type 69-II Bovington

Type 69-II: This is the most common version of the Type 69 family. The Type 69-II is equipped with the a 100 mm rifled gun derived from the 100 mm gun of the Type 59. This tank incorporates a new fire control system, which includes the TSFC 2-axis gun stabilization, a new Type 70 gunner's sight, laser rangefinder, and ballistic computer.
The Type 69-II can be distinguished from the earlier Type 59 by the rear engine plate that has a small elliptical bulge for the cooling fan. This version also has the driver's headlights mounted in two pairs on the fenders, not on the hull glacis. Some of these tanks were also outfitted with "Boom Shield" stand-off armor baskets on the turret.

DESIGN FEATURES 

The Type 69 is similar to the Type 59 in appearance and general performance. Cast turret with conventional four-crewmember hull layout. Five large road wheels on each side. It is a relatively inexpensive and easy to operate tank but it is of an outdated design by modern standards. The interior is cramped and can be difficult to operate in.

ARMAMENT 

The early version of the Type 69 is fitted with a Type 69 100 mm smoothbore gun. The gun could carry 44 rounds, with a maximum fire range of 1,000 m. Ammunitions include high explosive, high explosive fragmentation, and armour piercing discarding sabot. The gun was proven to be unsuccessful and was replaced by the 105 mm rifled gun on later variants.
The Type 69-II is fitted with a Type 69-II 105 mm rifled gun, with a simplified fire-control/night observation equipment.
The Type 69-III/79 is fitted with a modified Type 83-I 105 mm rifled gun. The gun is derived from the L7/Type-81 and capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT, and HEAT-FRAG.
Auxiliary weapons include one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the command cupola.
The Type 69-II's fire control system includes a TLRLA laser rangefinder, BCLA ballistic computer, TGSA gunner sight, and dual way stabilisation.

PROTECTION 

Wheels and tracks are protected by rubber hull skirts. The armour protection of the turret and hull has been proven to be inadequate during the 1991 Gulf War, as the Allies 120 mm tank gun can easily penetrate its front armour. No smoke grenade launcher fitted. Smoke can be generated by injecting diesel fuel in to the engine's exhaust.

PROPULSION 

The Type 69's combat weight is 36.5 tons (Type 79 is 37.5 tons). Early variants is powered by a liquid cooled, turbocharged 580 hp diesel, while Type 79 is powered by a liquid cooled 730 hp 12150L-7BW diesel engine.

This vehicle has been captured in iraq during the war.
Enjoy !

Iraqi Enigma Bovington Walkaround

Iraq's T-54/55 Tanks

Iraq was a major operator of T-54/55 series tanks and ordered their first 250 T-54s from the former Soviet Union in 1958, followed by 50 more in 1965. Many of these were lost during the Yom Kippur War so 300 T-55s were ordered in 1973. Other purchases followed: 50 and 400 T-55s from the surplus stocks of East Germany and Poland respectively in 1980; 250 T-55s and 150 TR-580s (Romanian version of the T-55) from Egypt and Romania respectively in 1981; another 400 T-55s, including some Czech-built examples, from the former Soviet Union in 1981; and about 1,500 Type 59 and Type 69 tanks were bought from China during the 1980s.

Iraq 'Enigma"

Since the T-54/55s were introduced ill the period after WWII, the basic design was becoming obsolete by the 1980s. Many countries thus developed upgrades in order to modernize the T-55 and Iraq was no exception. Although the official Iraqi designation is not known, their upgraded variant was called T-55 "Enigma" by Coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf War. This Iraqi variant focused on armor upgrades and was likely modeled after the T-55AM, which featured extra armor blocks on the glacis and turret. The Enigma expanded on this to also include armor blocks on the sides of the hull and the rear of the turret. These blocks were made up of armor plates welded into boxes to create a sort of spaced armor and they were then attached to the hull and turret. Two large blocks with holes to allow access to the tow hooks were bolted to the glacis, with the left block positioned lower to aid the driver's field of vision. A smaller armor block was installed on the front section of each mudguard and eight other blocks were mounted along each side of the hull. Two sets of four armor blocks curved along the front and sides of the turret, with the forward left-side block hinged to facilitate driver ingress/egress. Two long arms extended from the rear of the turret, onto which four armor blocks were installed to serve as a counterweight. Although the armor blocks on the Enigma looked similar, poor construction meant they each differed slightly in size.

T-55 "Enigma" in Combat

The exact number of T-55s which were modified to the Enigma standard is unknown, although there appeared to be enough for them to be assigned as command vehicles for regular T-55 units. It was confirmed that T-55 "Enigma" tanks were encountered by Coalition forces during the Iraqi Army's sole offensive action during the 1991 Gulf War, the Battle of Khafji. On January 29, 1991, two weeks after the Coalition forces' aerial campaign began, the Iraqi Army launched an attack into Saudi Arabia from Kuwait. The Iraqi 1st Mechanized, 3rd Armored, and 5th Mechanized Divisions attacked Coalition positions along the Kuwaiti-Saudi border and this last unit managed to occupy the town of Khafji. However, the advances of other Iraqi units were halted by the U.S. 1st and 2nd Marine regiments and intense Coalition air attack. The Iraqi 5th Mechanized Division became isolated, suffered heavy losses to Coalition counterattacks, and eventually withdrew from Khafji by noon of the 31st.

After the 1991 Gulf War, many T-55 "Enigma" tanks were confiscated by Coalition forces and several examples were sent to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. One of these has been put on display at the Tank Museum ill Bovington. This example features the Iraqi Army's standard overall Sand paint scheme but lacks unit and vehicle number markings.

I had a chance to see in person this unique vehicle in the reserve collection in bovington in 2014.