Man who found tank in UK bush fires up Rolls-Royce V12 engine
- This tank has its Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 engine fired up for the first time
- The UK-based YouTuber who discovered it previously found a different model in a bush
- Without exhausts – it gets pretty loud, and it even breathes fire
Published on Aug 07, 2024 at 7:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Aug 08, 2024 at 7:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
After discovering a tank in a bush in the UK countryside, this YouTuber is now collaborating with The Tank Museum and World of Tanks to start the Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 engine of an FV4005.
The engine is being fired up for the first time in a very long time, and it’s going to be quite something.
The team also changed the final drive oils and topped up the suspension oils ready for fitting its tracks, but yet to have exhaust pipes fitted, this is going to get loud – and firey.
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The FV4005 tank
Originating in the late 1940s, the FV4005 featured what is almost certainly the largest gun ever fitted to a tank.
According to information from museum, this engine ‘marks the high point of the race throughout the history of armoured [sic] warfare to build bigger and bigger guns that could defeat thicker and thicker armour [sic] at longer and longer range.
“After this point, the advent of guided missiles and more advanced gun ammunition would allow this improvement to continue, but at far lower size and weight.”
YouTuber, Mr Hewes, has shared his career of working with tanks on his channel – he even found one in a bush, before rescuing it.
Want more military-vehicle content? Supercar Blondie’s Gabby Downing went storm chasing in a $750,000 tornado-proof tank.
Starting the Rolls-Royce meteor V12 engine
A military vehicle of this heft requires a lot of care, so the team begins by fitting a new water temperature sensor, filling the Rolls-Royce meteor V12 engine, gearbox, and air cleaners with oil – and it’s a lot of oil – and ensuring all gauges are functional.
Then for the moment of truth, as the team successfully starts the Rolls-Royce meteor V12 engine, albeit without exhaust pipes.
Without exhausts, it’s a lot louder than anyone bargained for – plus its smooth and easy start takes everyone by surprise as a very non-Centurian tank thing to do.
Next on the list is to fill the tank with water and antifreeze, run it to temperature, and check for leaks.
Temporary fuel systems are in place for these initial tests, and they plan to ensure the engine runs smoothly with the proper fuel tank later.
The final drive oils are then drained and refilled, with the team checking for metal filings and ensuring the gearbox and steering mechanisms are working correctly.
Work on the turret and elevation gearbox is ongoing.
It includes cleaning and repairing certain components, sourcing missing parts, and installing a Centurion traverse gearbox.
So what’s Mr Hewes going to do with it when it’s finished?
He could drive it around the streets of London like this guy to avoid congestion charges.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
