TANKFEST Programme

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The site opens at 8:30 for you to browse The Tank Museum, trade stalls and living history encampments. The site closes at 18:00.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see the main action in the arena, with unique displays of historic and modern armour from The Tank Museum’s collection, British Army, and very special guests.

There will also be living history encampments, lectures from tank experts and demonstrations, traders and caterers throughout the site, and of course The Tank Museum to explore.

TIME
ACTIVITY
VEHICLES
10:45

Official opening of TANKFEST 2025

Modern vehicles show their paces to mark the opening of TANKFEST.

Leopard 1, Bergepanzer, Warrior
10:55

World War One: Breaking the Stalemate

Why fast tanks were developed, illustrated in battle re-enactment scenarios. 

Mark IV Replica and Whippet Replica
11:20

From Defeat to Victory

From the Matilda I to the Comet, watch the transformation of British Second World War tanks, from Dunkirk to Normandy.

Matilda I, Matilda II, Valentine Mark IX, Churchill Mark III, A27(L) Centaur, and Comet A34
12:00

World War 2: Developing Tactics

An unrivalled display of Second World War tanks used by British, US, Soviet and German forces.

M5A1 Stuart, M4A1 Sherman, M4A2 Sherman 'Fury', M24 Chaffee, T34/85, Panzer III, and King Tiger
12:30

Lunch Break

An opportunity to refuel and explore the site!

Tank Park open 12:45-13:45
14:00

NW Europe 1945: WW2 Re-Enactment Battle

An explosive illustration of the battlefield tactics.

King Tiger, M8 Greyhound, Daimler Armoured Car, M4A2 Sherman 'Fury', M24 Chaffee, and Anti-Tank Gun, Sd.Kfz. 222 (Replica), Sd.Kfz. 251 (OT-810), Hotchkiss Jeep, and Staff Car
14:35

We’re Going to Need a Bigger Gun

The tanks developed after the Second World War, to challenge new threats.

FV4005, Charioteer, and M103
15:00

The Arrival of the Main Battle Tank

Armour from both sides of the Iron Curtain tell a story of a Cold War arms race that accelerated tank development.  

T-55A, Centurion Mk 13, M47, M60, T-72M, Chieftain Mark 10, Leopard 1, AMX-13, and Challenger 1
15:45

Meeting Post War Threats

How British armour has developed in the last 40 years.  

CVR(T) Scorpion, CVR(T) Scimitar 1, Desert Warrior, Piranha, and Warthog ATV
16:15

The British Army Display

A display of in-service vehicles used by The British Army’s Royal Armoured Corps and a demonstration of their battle tactics.  

Warrior 510 IFV, MWMIK Jackal 2 / 3, Foxhound / PCLV, Titan, Trojan, AJAX, Boxer, Challenger 2 TES (Megatron), CRARRV TES and SV(R)
16:45

Display Ends

But the site is open until 18:00 – so there is still time to explore.

TIME
NAME
DESCRIPTION
10:15 - 11:00

Bovington Academy Dandelion Kids

Makaton Signing Choir and poetry performances
– We’ll Meet Again
– Fight Song
– Proud
– Poems written and read by the children”

Stage
11:15 - 12:00

Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story

There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.

Stage
12:15 - 13:15

Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy

On D-Day, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars spearheaded the assault on Sword Beach in their amphibious DD Sherman tanks. Andrew May’s book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, recounts the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, and their fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland. Part two of the presentation will consider the armour supporting the 24th Guards Brigade in Tunisia and Italy, in particular elements of the Royal Armoured Corps and the 6th South African Armoured Division.

Stage
13:30 - 14:15

Top Trumps: Battle Tanks

We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.

Stage
14:30 - 14:15

Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?

In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.

Stage
15:30 - 16:15

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question

Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.

Stage
TIME
ACTIVITY
LOCATION
09:15 - 10:00

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question

Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.

Stage
10:15 - 11:00

Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story

There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.

Stage
12:15 - 13:00

Top Trumps: Battle Tanks

We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.

Stage
13:15 - 14:15

Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy

On D-Day, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars spearheaded the assault on Sword Beach in their amphibious DD Sherman tanks. Andrew May’s book, DD Sherman Tank Warriors, recounts the regiment’s significant contribution on D-Day, and their fight up through Western Europe into the Fatherland. Part two of the presentation will consider the armour supporting the 24th Guards Brigade in Tunisia and Italy, in particular elements of the Royal Armoured Corps and the 6th South African Armoured Division.

Stage
14:30 - 15:15

Sgt Anthony “Chez” Cherrett – Operation Mother, Lets find the Mother of all Tanks

Brief History of Mother, Project highlights and our future plans to search for her.

Stage
15:30 - 16:15

Mark Urban – The Greatest Ever Tanks

Join best-selling historian and former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment Mark Urban as he discusses how you can distinguish between so many different designs and what they represent.
His new book TANK: The 10 War Machines That Changed the World and the Remarkable Men Behind Them draws on wide-ranging accounts from soldiers, designers, and politicians, from Winston Churchill to Volodymyr Zelensky, to tell the remarkable story of one of the most important developments in military history including the Mark IV, the T-34, Tiger and M1 Abrams.

Stage
16:30 - 17:15

Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?

In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.

Stage
TIME
ACTIVITY
LOCATION
09:15 - 10:00

Sgt Anthony “Chez” Cherrett – Operation Mother, Lets find the Mother of all Tanks

Brief History of Mother, Project highlights and our future plans to search for her.

Stage
10:15 - 11:00

Mark Urban – The Greatest Ever Tanks

Join best-selling historian and former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment Mark Urban as he discusses how you can distinguish between so many different designs and what they represent.
His new book TANK: The 10 War Machines That Changed the World and the Remarkable Men Behind Them draws on wide-ranging accounts from soldiers, designers, and politicians, from Winston Churchill to Volodymyr Zelensky, to tell the remarkable story of one of the most important developments in military history including the Mark IV, the T-34, Tiger and M1 Abrams.

Stage
12:30 - 13:15

Lance Geiger – Guriat el Atach: The forgotten part of the Tiger 131 story

There has been quite a lot of discussion of where and how Tiger 131 was captured. Less remembered is the desperate battle for the hill on which perhaps the single most famous tank of World War II was disabled. The allied imperative to capture and inspect the terrifying new Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E has overshadowed the gripping story of sacrifice and heroism made on a lonely hill in Tunisia.

Stage
13:30 - 14:15

Top Trumps: Battle Tanks

We’ll be playing a mega life-sized version of everyone’s favourite card game, Top Trumps. Featuring tanks from the Museums very own packs, you can come over and try your hand at battling the best of this year’s festivals tanks.

Stage
14:30 - 15:15

Mike Nicholas – Blitzkrieg – Evolution or Revolution?

In this talk, Mike will focus on the stunning German victories from 1939 to 1941.
Were these victories the result of a pre-conceived doctrine, or the result of propaganda and myth.
Find out whether Blitzkrieg was an evolution or revolution of military tactics.

Stage
15:30 - 16:15

Andrew May – DD Shermans, Battle for Tunis & Armoured Springboks in Italy

Matthew ‘Sticky’ Whitchurch will share his 37 years experience of leading armoured vehicles on the battlefield for the Army and NATO, and discuss his compelling study of battlefields in the Baltics and Ukraine. This talk will signpost good to knows on Tanks in Normandy, Italy and the Eastern Front as seen 80 years ago.

Stage
16:30 - 17:15

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Whitchurch MBE – To Turret or Not to Turret that is the Question

Considering the pros and cons of the turretless tank against the turreted version.

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A Charioteer and Czech-built T-55A are making their TANKFEST debuts in 2025....

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TANKFEST 2025 Star Vehicles

Discover more about the stars of the collection running at TANKFEST 2025....

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TANKFEST 2025 Guest Vehicles

Find out which guest vehicles will be appearing at TANKFEST 2025....

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TANKFEST Speakers 2025

Find out which guest speakers will be appearing on the Lecture Stage at TANKFEST 2025....

Tickets & Prices

Choose the best tickets for your TANKFEST visit.

TANKFEST 2025

Everything you need to know for TANKFEST 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries about TANKFEST.

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