night at the royal engineers museum - Series one
Night at the Royal Engineers Museum - Series One is the first part of an ongoing series with Kent’s largest military museum. Illuminated in a way never seen before, four of the vehicles from the collection have been brought to life through light.
Trojan AVRE
A multipurpose engineering tank, designed to clear routes through battlefield obstacles and minefields. It entered service in 2006 and has seen action in Afghanistan. The tank can be used to move earth and large objects using its excavator arm and dozer blade. Using a plough, it can clear minefields or by towing a ‘Python’ rocket-propelled mine clearing system. Its engine is a Perkins CV12 diesel and has a top speed of 36 mph. The tank weighs 61 tons and houses 3 crew members as well as a 7.62 mm machine gun.
Bedford QL Office Truck
At the start of the second world war, Bedford was contacted by the British War Office to produce a general service vehicle. What they produced was a three-ton, 4x4 truck which could be modified for various purposes. These included fire engines, petrol tankers, machinery, kitchens, signals vehicles and troop carriers. The truck displayed in the museum has been modified into an office, most likely for postal purposes.
Allis Chalmers MWT
This barricade clearance vehicle was introduced in the late 1960s to replace the Corps Gainsboroughs. It has great manoeuvrability and a versatile bucket. The operator is protected by an armoured cab and could be in contact with the supporting infantry by tank telephones.
Combat Engineer Tractor Prototype
This tractor was the third prototype of its kind, and was manufactured in 1973. It was used in trials and tests until 1979 when it was retired. The CET is a versatile tracked armoured fighting vehicle. Its purpose included clearing obstacles, digging pits, repairing roads and recovering damaged or stuck vehicles. Interestingly, this vehicle has amphibious capabilities and on the water is propelled by two water jets. This CET has a 100-metre winch cable propelled by a rocket, useful for helping the vehicle up steep rocky slopes. The tractor requires a crew of two, a driver and an engineer. At the rear of the vehicle is a large earthmoving bucket capable of lifting four tonnes. The vehicle is armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun for self-defence and has a twin-skin aluminium alloy armour hull, protecting against small arms fire.