SMOKE billowed across the 'battlefield' as tanks roared into action for this year’s Tankfest.
This year saw the annual event at Bovington Tank Museum sold out for both days, with 9,500 people there on each day. This year’s event also coincided with the national Armed Forces Day on the Saturday and a special flag was flown from the lead tank during the midday display and parade.
See all of our pictures in a gallery here.
The crowds were kept entertained on Saturday with a range of displays including from an original Second World War Douglas C-47 Dakota from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and an original Second World War Spitfire which did a fly past.
Engines roared as the Challenger Two main battle tank roared across the display arena during the midday battle, together with other vehicles including the Jackal, Terrier, Mastiff and Scimitar 2.
During the mock battle three enemy fighters entered the arena on a small armoured vehicle, but were taken out by land and vehicle-based forces supported by a Royal Navy helicopter.
Bovington’s Army Reserve unit the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and soldiers from the Royal Tank Regiment took part in the parade.
Trooper Kieran Sherring, from Bridport, said: “It’s brilliant. We get to show off the kit we have. Especially for us it shows we have the capability as a reserve regiment to crew a tank.”
Trooper Toby Davison, from Wimborne, said it had been good to be part of the vehicle display and to give the public a chance to see the vehicles in action.
The event continues tomorrow but all tickets are sold out.
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