Tanks in Town, Mons, 2006

Hanno Spoelstra · #1 28-08-06, 22:48

I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in this year's "Tanks in town" event in Mons, Belgium: http://www.tanksintown.be/

I got to ride on the Sexton II of the Royal Netherlands Army, which performed flawlessly, thanks to the combined efforts of both military personnel and civilian volunteers.

It was in one word: FANTASTIC. If you ever get to chance to participate, go for it! Imagine a drive of some 35 km. with dozens of tanks and other vehicles through towns, country lanes and fields. With appropriate stops, this takes a whole day, to end on the town square of Mons.

Pictures are courtesy of Erik van Turennout.

Enjoy!
Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #2 28-08-06, 23:40

Tank drives through the wood "Bois Brulé" on Saturday.

Hanno Spoelstra · #3 28-08-06, 23:42

Stuart M5A1 USA 3047787 "Fish 'n Chips", actually used in the liberation of Mons in 1944. It served as a memorial from 1945-1983, and was then made running again by the Royal Mons Auto Moto Club. This tank was taken back to the USA in 2000 to have it's wartime commander John Tucker ride it again(!).

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 28-08-06, 23:44

Forming up the column in the Bois Brulé on Sunday morning (09:00 hrs).

Hanno Spoelstra · #5 28-08-06, 23:46

Some of the roads were quite narrow...

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 28-08-06, 23:47

Entering one of the towns.

Hanno Spoelstra · #7 28-08-06, 23:49

Stop over to get the all the vehicles together again.

Hanno Spoelstra · #8 28-08-06, 23:50

Mock battle.

Hanno Spoelstra · #9 28-08-06, 23:52

Arrival on the town square (18:00 hrs).

phoenix · #10 29-08-06, 04:07

how many vehicles were involved ?

Looks like a great day out

Hanno Spoelstra · #11 29-08-06, 10:05

Quote:

Originally posted by phoenix
how many vehicles were involved ?

This is the list of registered vehicles:

Quote:

1 Locust
7 Stuarts
6 Hellcat
2 Chaffee
2 High Speed Tractor
11 Halftrack
3 Scout Car
11 Sherman ( Sexton, M10, Firefly, 75, 76,105, M4)
1 Pershing
1 Demag
1 Hetzer
1 SPA
Bren carrier, M-8, M20, Weasel, Diamont;……..

Motos for the Guinnes Book Record
1 1914 w/side Harley Davidson
80 WLA / WLC
OTHERS
BMW, Kenntenkrad, Ural , BSA……

Plane
1 North American Trojan T28C

Keith Webb · #12 29-08-06, 10:18

What an experience!

Quote:

North American Trojan T28C

The Trojan would have covered the trip pretty quickly!

I especially like the entering town pic - very WW2.

Hanno Spoelstra · #13 29-08-06, 10:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith Webb
The Trojan would have covered the trip pretty quickly!

The Trojan - together with a biplane - made a couple of low passes over the field where the mock battle was held. Not very WW2, but great for effect.

Spending a day crewing a Sexton was an unforgettable experience for me. It was a bit like the real thing. Not really knowing where you are going. Hurry, hurry, then stop for who knows how long. Eat and drink when it's available. Dust, heat, grime, exitement, boredom, and the sense of relief when being welcomed by the locals. I had a short chat with an elderly woman during one of the stops. She had been dreaming this event would pass by her door one year, as it reminded her so much of the liberation in 1944. The street she lives in is called "Rue des Americains" so we were actually following the route the Americans had used. We made her day and that's what it is all about.

H.

Max Hedges · #14 29-08-06, 11:30

I am sitting here looking at your photos Hanno and drooling over all that green grass I'll nbe over with a mob of sheep next week.
Looks like a fun day mate.

max

Keith Webb · #15 29-08-06, 11:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Max Hedges
I am sitting here looking at your photos Hanno and drooling over all that green grass I'll nbe over with a mob of sheep next week.
Looks like a fun day mate.

With a carrier and all those tanks they need something to chase, don't they Max.

Hanno Spoelstra · #16 29-08-06, 14:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Max Hedges
I am sitting here looking at your photos Hanno and drooling over all that green grass I'll nbe over with a mob of sheep next week.

Max, make sure to bring lots of sheep. All we did was scare some horses and set off some house and car alarms with the thundering sound of the radial engines. Would be fun to see a sheep stampede in Belgium

Quote:

Motos for the Guinnes Book Record
1 1914 w/side Harley Davidson
80 WLA / WLC
OTHERS
BMW, Kenntenkrad, Ural , BSA……

I just heard the Harley Liberator meet during Tanks in Town was accredited by the Guiness Book of Records with the title "most Harley Liberator motorcycles during one event". There's a record to beat for Corowa!

Hanno Spoelstra · #17 29-08-06, 21:41

Here is a picture of Stuart V CT-237625 "BABY ROSE". Reportedly, this Stuart came from Portugal and served in the Canadian Army before that. Not sure if it served with the Canadian Army during WW2, or only after WW2 in Canada. Does anybody have a detailed insight in the Canadian use of Stuart tanks?

H.

Spurrat · #18 29-08-06, 22:07

Wow!

Thanks for sharing the pictures. It looks like a dream trip. You are very lucky to get to share in it.

I can only imagine the time and effort required to restore the vehicles and keep them in such great shape.

<S>

Jason

#19 29-08-06, 22:10

You people in here get to do and experience the most AMAZING things! ... and it's so wonderful that you all share them in here.

Karmen

Barry Read · #20 24-09-06, 18:45

some pictures of Tanks in Town 06
every year the city of Mons in Belgium welcomes the tanks.
Hanno knows all about this he was lucky to be able to travel the 35km route.

alleramilitaria · #21 24-09-06, 21:36

i drove it one year (03) in a friends bedford MW. i was behind a sherman that had top be pull started by another sherman every time we stopped. it was great!!!! i think the biggest problem was trying to stay sober for the entire rout. the people of MONS kept trying to give me beer and stronger stuff

Hanno Spoelstra · #22 10-10-06, 22:15

video clip: http://www.afneurope.net/Shape/Artic...+USE&id=273529

Hanno Spoelstra · #23 19-02-08, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Stuart M5A1 USA 3047787 "Fish 'n Chips", actually used in the liberation of Mons in 1944. It served as a memorial from 1945-1983, and was then made running again by the Royal Mons Auto Moto Club. This tank was taken back to the USA in 2000 to have it's wartime commander John Tucker ride it again(!).

Here's a period picture of this Stuart while it was still a static memorial (source: http://www.cegesoma.be)

Quote:

Tank léger américain offert par le SHAEF à la ville de Mons comme ayant atteint le premier cette ville à la Place de flandre le 2.9.1944 à 18h30.

zemsi · #24 04-05-08, 19:54

... you can find here a detailed story about the 2007 event (just click on the pics). It's from the Classic Military Vehicle magazine, December 2007.