Here in the U.S., we tend to only see large armored vehicles like tanks parked at local National Guard installations. They resemble large metal works of art, rather than the mighty war machines they truly are. Even if you happen to spot a tank scooting around the Motor T lot, the chances you’ll see one firing its main gun are about the same as winning the lottery while getting struck by lightning. As a result, it’s sometimes hard to really appreciate the sheer power of these vehicles.
We’ve watched footage of tank-on-tank action in the deserts of the Middle East, and we’ve seen shots of modern tanks firing at static targets on test ranges. But it’s not every day you get to see a tank decimate your aunt’s Land Rover. Watching a tank shoot a tank may offer important insight into how armored platforms stack up, but it’s only after seeing a video like this that you understand just how destructive even old, outdated tank platforms really are when stacked up against things normal folks cruise around in every day.
Enter the YouTube channel FullMag, which got a hold of a M60 Patton tank, and a Land Rover LR3 that was a bit long in the tooth. FullMag let these two vehicles–both renown for their off-road capabilities–work out differences the old-fashioned way: with a 105mm tank round.
The shot hits the Land Rover’s passenger side fender and creates an explosion of parts and debris that’s eerily reminiscent of a person taking a round to the head: the fender remains largely intact while the engine, along with wheel and suspension components, is blown out the other side.
These guys may have destroyed the front end of the SUV, but there was still plenty of truck left. So they rolled in a recoilless rifle, pointed it at the rear side of the poor vehicle, and let ‘er rip.
In the end, you could argue that FullMag gave us some important insight into how even long-dated weapons of war stack up against the daily drivers we traverse our urban jungles with, but let’s be honest: any philosophical discoveries we may be able to glean likely won’t set in until after you tire of just watching an SUV get blown to pieces.
Watch the full video below:
Feature image captured from included YouTube video
