American Heritage Museum, Hudson, Massachusetts

 The other museum I visited was the American Heritage Museum, Hudson, Massachusetts.

This is also known as the Collings collection and today houses the military vehicle collection of the late Jacques Littlefield. Currently the entry fee is $20

The collection is made up of fully restored (mostly running) AFVs and aircraft, all displayed in what I'd describe as a "Diorama" style. The vehicles all have personal kit attached to them and are surrounded by things like AT Guns, mortars, MGs and other small arms and military paraphernalia. 

The display uses dramatic audio/visual displays to tell the story of the various wars depicted, which is great for the uninitiated but does wear a bit thin for geeks like me as every time they start, the lights are dimmed and you have no choice but to stop and watch!

The collection, however, is truly awesome! For a Brit like me, this is my first chance to see both the M1 Abrams & Sheridan in the flesh.

In addition there is an example of a Sherman Jumbo that actually took part in the Battle of the Bulge.

Access is excellent, and whist you cannot climb on vehicle, you can get up very close and there is ample space to ensure photography is successful.

T34-76 - only one in the USA

M4A3E8 from the Korean War

Apart from the audio/visual shows, my only tiny criticism would be the lack of a café!

A fantastic way to spend a few hours.....though I did point out to the friendly volunteer staff that Bovington is better😁

Springfield Armoury Museum

 Thanks to being on a business trip that ran over a weekend I had the opportunity to visit a couple of museums in the Boston area of Massachusetts. 

One was the original Springfield Armoury Museum.

This is the original site of smalls arm manufacturing for the US Government since Washington's times. The museum is all on one floor, with good access for wheelchairs etc. and is split into two.

1. The history of small arms manufacture on the site and the methods used.
2. The history of small arms in general

As a Manufacturing Operational Excellence Manager, coming somewhere like this - the home of mass production, long before Ford staked his claim - was a doubly exciting opportunity.

Stock Turning Lathe

The original machinery for manufacturing stocks & barrels was absolutely fascinating as were the breakdowns of the manufacturing process for things like the Garand rear sight and Colt 1911a1 pistol frame.

How the site looked at the time of the ACW. Today it is a college campus

The small arms collection is unprecedented. They have examples of weapons from matchlocks through to M4 Carbines, with everything in between.

Part of the collection from the machine gun room

The "Organ of Muskets" is a double musket rack proudly standing as a showpiece display at Springfield Armory as it has since the museum opened in 1871.

High-lights included the nickel plated 1,000,000th commemorative Liberator pistol and the value engineered Colt .45" made entirely from stampings.

The volunteer staff couldn't have been more helpful and were extremely knowledgeable. I even got to handle a Garand rifle - which incidentally was much lighter in weight than I'd imagined it would be!

US Small arms of WW2 including the Garand rifle

John Garand himself - responsible for so many of the weapons produced here in the 20th Century

There were examples of weapons that I have only ever seen in a book (i.e. the Pedersen Device) a magical couple of hours, and entirely free to enter.

Vietnam era - service weapons and prototypes

Bovington Tank Museum

Whilst on holiday, I had the opportunity to visit once again the Tank Museum at Bovington.

The Story of the Tank Hall - viewed from the excellent restaurant

It's probably 5 years since I last went, and a lot had changed in the meantime.

There are a few exhibits outside still - like this Infantry Tank MkI that had seen use as a range target :-(

Whilst the core collection remains the same, the biggest single change was to opening of the restoration centre where all the spare exhibits (together with those runners that routinely entertain the crowds through the summer months) are stored under cover.

The Tank Restoration Centre - viewed from the gallery

You cannot walk around this area due to EH&S considerations, but there is a viewing gallery that allows you to take a look at whet the museum has in its collection, that may appear at a later date.

A Panther Recce vehicle after an IED strike

Another new exhibition covered the UK's involvement in the Afghanistan conflict with some nice exhibits (and very informative videos) of some of the AFVs used. I particularly liked the idea that the viking has a hand throttle fitted so the driver doesn't have to keep his feet on the accelerator (and risk injury) if the vehicle were to be driven over an IED or mine.

A MkV tank that actually fought at Amiens

The WW1 gallery has had a re-vamp for the centenary commemorations and looked very good. There is  great deal in here to educate younger visitors which has to be commended.

Experimental "Plastic" armoured AFV

There was also another new gallery - the Tank Factory. This explained something about the evolution of modern afvs and how they are manufactured.

Beautiful example of the revolutionary Swedish S Tank

Then of course the "Piece de Resistance" the Tiger Collection!

All five beasts together

REME School's Tiger II

Five members of the this AFV family all under one roof. The museums own Tiger II (Porche Turret), Sturmtiger and Tiger I together with the REME School's Tiger II (Henschel turret) and the Elephant/Ferdinand on loan from the Aberdeen Proving Ground Museum in the USA. Marvellous!

The world famous Tiger 131 - captured in Tunisia and now restored to full running condition

Altogether a fantastic day out (I spent 7 hours there and could have stayed longer!). Your ticket (£13) allows unlimited entry for 12 months so if you're living nearby you could go everyday!!!

The best time to go is in the summer months when every day there is a driving exhibition at lunchtime, or better still on one of the special events (i.e. Tankfest)

Below are a few random pictures that may be of interest to modellers or wargamers.

Panther - completed post-war for evaluation by British Army

A very nice example of a Sherman Firefly

T72 with its wading snorkel erected

Close up for the Team Yankee players showing the black rubber side skirts!

The mighty Jagdpanther - also completed post-war for evaluation purposes

The Ram Kangeroo - a vehicle that has always interested me. This example was once a range target!

Very few books seem to show the interior of the vehicle

So I've added these pictures in case they are of interest

Whether it would have had bench seats fitted I am unsure

Le Musée des Blindés de Saumur

The Le Musée des Blindés de Saumur (http://www.museedesblindes.fr/) was easy to find, being well sign posted from the local roads. There’s lots of free parking within the museum’s grounds and it’s reasonably accessible for wheelchairs/buggies etc.

Entry fee was 8.50 Euro with an additional 5 Euro charge to take photographs (how old-fashioned!). There was also an option to buy a combined ticket for the nearby Museum of French Cavalry for 12 Euro.

Cutaway Chaffee at the Museum entrance

The Museum was split into 12 Galleries and, on entry, you are provided with a printed colour leaflet which gives the museum’s history and a map. Signage throughout is in French, English & German and whilst brief, is probably sufficient for the casual visitor.

The 12 Galleries consisted of; -

The Great War (Examples of St Chamond, Schneider, FT17 Command etc.)

Germany in WW2 (2 x Panthers, Tiger 1 & 2, Pzkfw II-IVs, Jagdpanther, Bergpanther, Jagdpanzer IV, Hetzer, Hummel, Wespe, Marder I-III etc…)

The WW2 German Gallery

Tiger II

One of 3 Panthers

Jagdpanther

Brummbar

Damaged Hummel

88mm Anti-Tank Gun

WW2 German Gallery - rear view of Tiger I, Panther etc.

Pak40 75mm Anti-Tank Gun

Italy WW2 (M11/39, Autoblinda armoured car & Sermovente)

M11/39

France WW2 (Char B, Hotchkiss H35, Renault AMR35 etc..)

H35

Char B

Warsaw Pact 1945-present (T54, T55, T72 cutaway, BMP1, SU122, BTR70, MTLB BRDM 2 etc…)

Warsaw Pact Gallery

Iraqi T55

An immaculate SU122 "Carnation" SPG

Allied Armour WW2 - Primarily British & USA (M3 Lee, M4 Sherman, M10, Stuart, M8 etc.. Comet, Cromwell, Churchill, Matilda, Valentine etc..)

Comet

Staghound Armoured Car

M10 Tank Destroyer with interesting damage to hull side!

Allies WW2 Gallery

France 1945-present (Indo-China vehicles – DUKW, Buffalo, M3 Half-tracks, AMR, AML & AMX10 Armoured cars, AMX 30, AMX 30B2, LeClerc, AMX 13, AMX50, AML 44 etc..)

Leclerc Mock Up

French Para Vespa with Recoilless Rifle!

EBR 75 Armoured Car

Interesting list of vehicles used in Indo-China by the French Forces in the 1950's

Selection of more modern armoured cars

AML44

AMX50

 “Celebrity Corner” – Waxwork military Celebrities displayed on appropriate vehicles! Monty, Rommel, LeClerc, De Gaulle etc)

Monty in his Bren Carrier!

Engines & Transmissions – from Tiger 2, LeClerc etc.)

The ultra slim engine (13" height I believe) from a EBR75 Armoured Car

Rest of the World 1945-present (Merkava Mk1, Conqueror, Centurion, Chieftain, M47, M48, M60, Leopard 1, Leopard 2 prototype, and many APCs…)

An incredible example of a MkI Merkava

Modern Rest of the World Gallery

Viewed from elevated viewing gallery, which also housed the model collection

Scale model cabinets and viewing gallery.

Outside – various individual AFVs (Easy 8 Sherman, Roland Missiles on AMX 30) scrap/spares area ( Sherman DD for restoration and another Panther) & AMX collection (Every variant of the AMX13 + some Gulf War exhibits)

Iraqi T72

A DD Sherman with incorrect 76mm Turret

As well as all the AFVs there were a few soft skins and many towed artillery/anti-tank guns. Additionally, there are random displays of cutaway munitions explaining things like the Monroe (hollow-charge) effect and how Anti-tank wire guided missiles work.

Many of the vehicles are in running condition and appear regularly at military shows (St Chamond, Tiger 2, Panther & Char B for example).

Whilst there was a large, well-stocked shop (Large selection of Heller Models, paints etc.) there is no café. There was, however several vending machines that all needed Euro coins to buy anything from them.

There is also a kid’s play area with a DAF APC that they can climb on. Also there are several APCs in the Rest of the World 1945-present area that can be entered.

This is a fantastic museum for the AFV enthusiast. Visibility and accessibility is good. The exhibits are in good order and painted in authentic schemes. There are so many unique exhibits (AMX50, ARL 44, Merkava Mk1 etc.) you won’t know what to do with yourself!!

Allow at least 3 hours to get the most from it, longer if you can afford it. If you’re like me you’ll find yourself back in the German WW2 armour gallery again, and again…….it’s amazing.

Really can’t recommend it enough if you find yourself in the area.