Australian Armour and Artillery Museum
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum is a museum dedicated to tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery from the second World war period and post war. It was officially opened in 2014, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.[1]
The museum has purchased a number of vehicles and items for display from overseas, including some items from the Littlefield collection when it was downsized. It is the largest private collection of military vehicles in Australia, and the only major collection of vehicles in Australia, apart from the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal.
It is the largest private collection of armoured vehicles and artillery in the southern hemisphere. The museums houses vehicles from a number of overseas manufacture, including vehicles from Russia, German, Japan, the UK, the US and Czechoslovakia.
The Collection
The museum houses artillery and vehicles, from WW2 and post WW2. All up, it is currently home to over 100 exhibits with another 20 in various stages of restoration and transit. The Collection features a range of armoured vehicles especially, German, US, Australian, Birtish and Russian.
US vehicles
Both an early model and later model Stuart, M48 Patton, M110 SPG, M3 Grant, M3 Lee, Patton M47, White half track, M113A1, Staghound, M52 105mm SPG, LVT4, M114 Command and Reconnaissance vehicle, M577A1 Command Vehicle (Ex Australian Army), Staghound Anti-Aircraft variant
Australian vehicles
The collection house two rare Sentinel tanks, AC1 and AC4, dingo scout car, Yeramba 25 pdr
British vehicles
Saladin, Chieftain, Matilda II, WWII British artillery tractor, Sherman Firefly, Churchill Mk VII, Centurion, Churchill Flail, Churchill AVRE, Valentine tank, Saracen, Ferret Mk 2, Fox, Abbott FV433, CVRT Sabre, Bar Mine Layer
Russian vehicles
Soviet artillery tractor, T55, T34/85, T72, BTR152, SU100, Pion 2S7 203mm SPG, BTR60 Command version, ATL Artillery Tractor, SA-2 (Surface to Air Missile)
German vehicles
Jagdpanzer 38(t), Tiger 1(replica from the film "Fury), Hetzer, Jagpanther Kannone, Panzer IV Ausf D, Kettelgrad, Panther, Sd.kfz 251/1 Ausf D and a Sd.Kfz. 250B, Stug III, Beobachtungpanzer Artillery Observation Vehicle
Other countries
Other vehicles form other countries include a Ram Kangaroo, OT810, Lynx, Panhard AML60, Ford Gun Tractor with Australian Limber and British 25 pdr, Praga with 30mm AA gun
Donation of Australian Tank From Wargaming Inc
The museum hosts two rare Australian Cruiser tanks (two of six left in the world), an AC1 Sentinel and a hybrid AC1 with an AC3 turret, presented as an AC4. The AC1 Sentinel was purchased and given to the museum by Wargaming (company), producer of the World of Tanks tank simulator. The Sentinel was in the United States at the Littlefield Collection when that collection sold off many of its vehicles, and Wargaming Inc desired to purchase it and return it to its original home.[2] As part of the purchase, it allowed access to the tank by Wargaming, so that they could study it and replicate it accurately for their game.
Shooting Gallery and Workshop
The Museum site also includes a 50-metre shooting gallery and a repair/restoration workshop where the vehicles which are in a state of deterioration can be restored. The workshop has a number of staff and can modify and build vehicles. As of 2015, the site has expanded to house more vehicles.
References
- ↑ Michael Serenc (September 3, 2014). "Cairns' Australian Armour and Artillery Museum ready to open with a bang". Cairns Post. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ↑ Salsone, Kieran. "Resurrected Australian Sentinel Tank Hits World", 28 March 2016
External links
- Australian Armour and Artillery Museum – official site
- New Tank Museum Opens – media report. Includes images
Coordinates: 16°51′01″S 145°41′42″E / 16.8503°S 145.6951°E