Visit to the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns

[Bikebear]

On Saturday myself the missus and her son decided to visit the recently opened Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Smithfield north of Cairns.  The museum is housed in a massive shed which is already being expanded to accommodate another 20 tanks/guns.

I quite enjoyed looking over the displays and learning a bit more about the history and capabilities of these amazing pieces of machinery and if anyone plans on visiting here I would recommend spending a few hours in there having a look.

I don't know if we have any old gunners or tankies in here but here are the photos I took.

http://s93.photobucket.com/user/Bikebear/library/Armour%20and%20Artillery%20Museum%20Cairns

[tj189]

looks like a pretty big display they have there.

[Bikebear]

I tried to take a piccie of everything along with the corresponding information boards. I missed the information board for the halftrack bike so I guess I'll get it next time. I plan on going back again once the new exhibits go in.

[Diesel]

Nice one Bear.

A huge collection... and only getting bigger!

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Diesel

[zevk]

WOW bikebear, thanks for the photos, I have never seen a Centurion or BTR so clean OR intact!
We used to use the Centurions (captured from Syria + Eygpt) for target practice and the Russian BTRs were rotting away in storage hangars

thanks for sharing,

Zev
2nd Lt. (Ret)
MBT Cmd.
Armoured Corp
I.D.F.     

[Bikebear]

Glad you enjoyed the photos Zev.  I'm looking forward to going back when they get the new exhibits, in fact I've just bought a wider angle lens for my camera so I can get better pictures inside and outside the vehicles. It's difficult to get good photos when you have to stand quite a distance away.

[JuST Peter]

That was great Craig.
I sent your photo link to a couple of cousins who served in Armoured, and got the following reply from one (his name's Peter too  ):

Thanks PC. Much appreciated. I even saw a few vehicles that I commanded as a Sgt in 4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse. Now II Cav. I still prefer the former name as it has more ‘dash’.

The museum is really great and by the looks of it they are expanding. Are many of the vehicles mobile? Visited Bovington in the UK a few years ago  and many of the vehicles were taken out for a run on a regular basis. Much better for them instead of just sitting still .