Can you own your own tank?

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Jul 31, 2017, 12:11 PM
Jon

Can you own your own tank?

After posting the photo of the Panzer tank hull being quenched, like all reasonable people, I wondered: Can you own your own tank?

Yes you can. It's expensive ($250,000+ purchase price), heavily regulated, and not exactly convenient (about 1 mile per gallon). But, at least in the USA, perfectly legal. So much so that an estimated 1,000 Americans are private tank owners.

Here's a decent 2-minute Wall Street Journal video in which WWII Chaffee tank owner Bill Bauer of Port Lavaca, Texas is interviewed. Bauer rigged his tank with a modified .50 cal gun that uses propane to simulate the muzzle flash and noise of gunfire.

Bauer presents well: he's chairman of a local bank, he's sporting a Military Vehicle Preservation Association shirt, and (until his wife dishes the truth!) he conveys his reason for tank ownership as the noble and selfless act of "preserving history" for "grandkids and great grandkids".

As the video closes, Bauer demonstrates the simulated .50 cal in an abandoned parking lot, and the cops show up. The police officer's first words: "You know why we're here, right?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky0BA4mowOg

This video is a good example of why the Wall Street Journal largely survived The Great Fake News Wars of 2016. It's interesting, reasonably presented, and not overproduced.

Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...2504#post96473
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/tank-silencer-51317
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...ed-tanks-51854
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...-rat-rod-56081
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...jet-tank-57085
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...-clearer-59694
Jul 31, 2017, 07:52 PM
Dr Stan

So he owns a tank. Big whoop. Wonder what he's compensating for?
Aug 1, 2017, 10:38 AM
Jon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Stan

So he owns a tank. Big whoop. Wonder what he's compensating for?

Lack of a tank?
Nov 10, 2018, 10:22 AM
Jon

Driving a tank is available as a paid recreational activity in Minnesota: DriveATank.com.

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...ertisement.jpg
Nov 10, 2018, 10:39 AM
mklotz

Why I'm dubious about private tank ownership...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnUoUKEIGoo
Nov 10, 2018, 11:44 AM
Jon

But if tanks are outlawed, then only outlaws will own tanks! :cool:

Seriously though, I think you're probably right. It isn't even the gun part of the tank that's dangerous, it's the rest of it. I do like the model of tank driving as a recreational activity. It's like the Las Vegas "Heavy Equipment Playground" where you can drive bulldozers and excavators and such: https://digthisvegas.com
Nov 10, 2018, 12:17 PM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

I do like the model of tank driving as a recreational activity. It's like the Las Vegas "Heavy Equipment Playground" where you can drive bulldozers and excavators and such: https://digthisvegas.com

Or the full auto shooting "experiences"...

https://machinegunsvegas.com/product...to-experience/

I understand that they're very popular with the Japanese tourists.
Nov 10, 2018, 12:34 PM
Jon

Interesting. I do like shooting unusual guns at the range (Desert Eagle!), but I think the whole "full auto/semi-auto" dichotomy is just feature-itis, and dangerously close to a False dilemma logical fallacy. The people I know with modern-day combat experience say that they never even really use full auto on their military M4s. Plus all those YT vids with people shooting semi-autos faster than full autos anyway. Also seems like too much margin for error when catering to tourists who are probably doing "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" activities.

It's been a while since I was in Vegas, but if I go back, I do plan on checking out that heavy equipment driving place. I want to try out some of the moves we've seen in GIFs.
Nov 10, 2018, 05:35 PM
mklotz

I've been told that a lot of their customers are tourists from countries where firearms of any sort are unavailable to the public.
Nov 20, 2018, 04:18 PM
Dr Stan

When you've seen the real thing these want a be Rambo's just don't impress me much (apologizes to Shania Twain).
Dec 5, 2018, 11:22 AM
Jon

Earlier version of owning your own tank.

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...or_sale_ad.jpg

This looks like the USS Hazard, a 1944 minesweeper which was sold for private oceanographic work, and then sold to be turned into a museum ship.

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hazard_(AM-240)
Dec 5, 2018, 08:47 PM
Toolmaker51

Many minesweepers were wood hulled. Capable offshore and transoceanic vessels. Some went into commercial duty, foreign navy's, and private hands. Remainder broken up for propulsion units, gensets and fittings.
A few serious yachts were born this way, including John Wayne's "Wild Goose". Another was "Toluca", refit by [for] owner of a Southern California construction company. It shipwrecked in waters off Mexico due heavy fog. All guests and crew rescued.
Same owner didn't go long without replacement; 81' all aluminum Detroit powered Berger. Originally ported in Great Lakes, made way over St. Lawrence seaway down northeast seaboard, through Caribbean and Panama to Newport Beach, CA. Reduced size made it more readily accessed than a 187 footer.

We all should have such problems...
Dec 6, 2018, 08:10 AM
mklotz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Many minesweepers were wood hulled.
A few serious yachts were born this way, including John Wayne's "Wild Goose".

The Wild Goose is still in service. Hornblower Cruises...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbl...Notable_yachts

operates it out of Newport Beach, CA as a dinner cruiser.

The yacht is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dec 6, 2018, 08:58 AM
Jon

Good one. I too went searching on the Wild Goose after Toolmaker51's post, but I couldn't find that it was still in service.

I guess you could say I went on a wild goose chase. :rimshot:
Dec 6, 2018, 09:46 AM
mklotz

Bad jokes aside, I wonder why Marion chose that name. I can't see how it connects with the tough guy persona he cultivated.
Dec 8, 2018, 05:46 PM
bruce.desertrat

Thanks for the link, It confirmed my recollection that Jaques Cousteau's "Calypso" was also one of these, in fact it was from the same class as "WIld Goose"
Apr 18, 2019, 11:49 AM
Jon

Private tank ownership throughout history.

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</video>
Apr 18, 2019, 11:51 AM
bruce.desertrat

Just'a good ol' boys
Never meanin' no harm.
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born

Dukes of Hazzard: The War Years...
Apr 19, 2019, 03:47 AM
hemmjo

I score that a 9.5!!!!
Apr 19, 2019, 11:21 AM
Scotsman Hosie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Private tank ownership throughout history.

Wow! Most of us don't need a tank — to step on our own crank. :clapping:
Apr 21, 2019, 08:49 PM
Big Sexy

He heard the A-10 was in the area and wanted a submarine for safety reasons.
Apr 21, 2019, 11:57 PM
Paul Alciatore

I was an Ordnance Corps officer and would prefer to have one of these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M88_Recovery_Vehicle
Apr 22, 2019, 03:23 PM
Jon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Alciatore

I was an Ordnance Corps officer and would prefer to have one of these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M88_Recovery_Vehicle

A tank-crane! 3:45 video of an M88A2 using a dual-line technique to recover a flipped tank:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgRyG4V63hw
Apr 22, 2019, 03:55 PM
Toolmaker51

1 Attachment(s)

FINDERS KEEPERS:
Attachment 29342
LIKELY BRONZE, AMPCO OR COPPER. UNSURE WHY NON-MARRING OR NON-SPARKING HAMMER WOULD BE IN USE.

https://www.ampcosafetytools.com/about-ampco/