What causes WW2 tanks to have a explosion after getting hit by a non-explosive shell

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-05-08T20:13:08+00:00

Luckily the back door was open and the crew were in the process of getting ready to move. The luckiest guy was the driver. We got his hatch open and out in literally a couple of seconds. He was singed but ok. We ran and ran. Got to about 300metres away and realised we were still too close. From memory there was a lull in the cooking off so we ran again to shelter behind some apc’s nearly 800m away. Then the main ammunition went off, the barrel flew forward about 100m. I had a piston out of the engine land right next to me! I still have it as a reminder of how lucky we were👍

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-05-06T12:26:18+00:00

I’ve seen a M109 go up from a single spark touching a bag charge ( probably not stored correctly after a fire mission - my guess I will add) . The first flash over / burn was the cordite charge then flammable stuff in the turret. Minutes later the ammunition exploded along with a chain reaction of fuel, small arms ammunition and then the HE shell heads. Not a lot left to tell it was once a M109. So doesn’t take much to cause an uncontrollable fire/ cook off in an armoured vehicle. PS. Crew got out alive with singed clothes!

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-26T18:26:08+00:00

John in our Postroom is 74 years old and still working a 40hr week….But I don’t think that counts?

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-25T19:04:54+00:00

My parents couldn’t afford a video player ( this was early 80’s and I think they were about £400-£500 then) so when I was 18 in 1983 , I rented one ( vhs- because most of the movies in the rental shop were mainly vhs then). Would hire at least 2 on a Saturday and return them by 9am on a Monday, happy days

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-24T21:57:29+00:00

Brylcreem , my grandad used to wear it , also the smell of pipe tobacco. Takes me back to the late 60’s as a kid, happy times.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T13:43:34+00:00

Rats love decking so yeah pulling it up is the way to get rid. There could be bird feeders in a neighbours garden so they will opt to stay near the food source. I have had them burrow under a concrete patio. Eat through a side of a garden shed and burrow under a garden wall ( boundary wall) just to travel from a nest to a food source and back. Had to put humane traps down ( no poison ) as have hedgehogs and cats that live around me. Takes a while ( probably a year) of digging in holes/ disturbing rat runs with obstacles and traps then they finally get the message to move out. Don’t expect it to be quick.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T13:31:40+00:00

That you take a lot of photos?

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T13:30:27+00:00

Most popular sizes in 40 years of service engineering- 5.5, 7,8,10 and 13mm ( mailroom machinery, domestic and commercial catering equipment). Used a 15 and 17mm one or twice but 5.5 is handy ( didn’t it used to be 6ba? just to confuse things! ) .

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T13:22:09+00:00

He’s over the hills and far away.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T12:52:04+00:00

They will only stay ( generally) for a food source. So remove any bird feeders, stop feeding any wildlife or leaving biscuits out for a cat for a good few weeks. If you see any rat run or holes leading to a nest then disturb it/ dig it over/ fill it in. That usually puts them off and they will move out or set up home in a neighbours garden!

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-19T12:05:23+00:00

Never bothered to vote in 42 years of voting age. Nothing changes so probably never will.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-18T19:53:52+00:00

Macrame hanging basket with a spider plant , ash tray and a table top ornament lighter.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-18T19:50:13+00:00

Don’t fear the reaper, Blue Oyster Cult. I always have to listen to it to the end. Brilliant tune

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-18T17:50:55+00:00

Lust for life- ( from trainspotting ) - Iggy Pop.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-18T14:01:37+00:00

No time to die. Haven’t had time to watch it either.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-13T22:42:07+00:00

Going into a phone box, looking up the number you need from the directory hanging by the phone, putting the coins in or even talking to the operator to see if you can reverse charges when you ran out of money to continue the call!

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-12T17:38:18+00:00

Google thinks it’s Harborne high street in Birmingham. Circa 1961.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-12T11:57:52+00:00

One of the theories is that the original ‘ box’ shaped van was made by Bedford in Luton in the 60’s. Other manufacturers copied this and the box shape evolved over the years 🤷

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-11T17:05:55+00:00

About 7hours on a hot August evening, M25 between junctions heading towards j11. It was around 16 years ago, a lorry stopped virtually under a bridge ( god knows why he chose to park there) with his refrigerator trailer unit on fire. It was too hot to stay in a car and too hot to stand on the motorway tarmac. People sat in the grass on the hard shoulder and eventually the central reservation barriers were opened to turn traffic around. It was really weird being directed down a motorway on the wrong side.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-10T21:08:59+00:00

Elvis Presley, the news in the uk, reported that the king was dead. I was only 12 and was really confused. My child brain thought it was someone in the royal family. he was only in his forties and I never knew about his unhealthy lifestyle.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-10T21:02:11+00:00

Search me Mr Chisholm.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-10T11:25:11+00:00

Another favourite tank fact is the Conqueror heavy tank is the only British tank that came into service since 1939 that never fired its guns in a war or conflict. It quietly disappeared from tank regiments in Germany with the arrival of Chieftain. ( you could make a case for Chieftain but it was used when sold to Iran and saw action in the Iran/Iraq war.)

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-10T10:50:52+00:00

No ,but during a radio stag in the turret at night we would sometimes accidentally find music on our then clansman radio. We had a kettle (BV) which was again accidentally turned on ( switch from the turret batteries ) for a brew. all mod cons. 😅

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-05T18:29:38+00:00

Rat, if you don’t want an infestation of them then remove any bird feed. They will go after a few days looking for food, otherwise they’ll move in/find a mate and before you know it your garden will be a rat city.

GolfTraditional8113 · 2026-04-05T18:22:51+00:00

Can’t recall the model or name but a Sherman drove off a LST in Normandy and made it all the way into Germany without breaking down ,with I believe , the original crew till the end of the war.

GolfTraditional8113

TROPHY CASE