Surely the largest downside to the inflatable tank is no track tension to discuss.

@danieltaylor5231

4 ай бұрын

But you could tension the tie downs!

@LokisChaos

4 ай бұрын

@danieltaylor5231 true, wonder if there's an FM for that

@SonsOfLorgar

4 ай бұрын

​@@LokisChaos you can bet there is at least one per inflatable vehicle type and version...

@rotwang2000

4 ай бұрын

The one in the background on the right seems to be a very careless one when it comes to tension ...

@ssgtmole8610

4 ай бұрын

How high does a quarter bounce off of it for a proper inflation test. 😁

Poor tank is depressed, youd think being able to meet the Chieftain would cheer him up

@shaunpatterson9148

4 ай бұрын

Needs some viagra...

@devil5cry

4 ай бұрын

Cheftaine join war thunder event vehicles confirm?!?!😂😂😂😂

@naamadossantossilva4736

4 ай бұрын

It is a cold day.

@marcusott2973

4 ай бұрын

He's sad because his track can't be tensioned.

@markfryer9880

4 ай бұрын

Maybe he didn't get excited because he didn't want the Chieftain getting a strike against his channel for showing off erect gun barrels? After all this is not an age restricted channel? Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

I played this tank in War Thunder. It shot whole carrots and potatoes and was powered by 4 men on bicycles connected to an internal frame... It seems the real ones lack this functionality but the mock cannon barrels are just as floppy as I remember.

@jeffthebaptist3602

4 ай бұрын

I mean no armor is best armor...

@devil5cry

4 ай бұрын

​@@jeffthebaptist3602 M56 stronk!!!!🎉

@LeftCoastStephen

4 ай бұрын

They may be floppy but the angle of depression is pretty impressive.

@FokkerBoombass

4 ай бұрын

One of the greatest April Fools events we had. And the best thing about it was that it was all a jab at WoT with the way the tanks handled and the health bars.

@gummonster1

4 ай бұрын

@@FokkerBoombass ayo FACTS

0:40 I'm pretty sure they make a pill for that now. You should call your maintenance and supply depot if the gun stays up for more than four hours though.

@johnhughes2653

4 ай бұрын

Projectile dysfunction is no laughing matter!

@arthurreis1906

4 ай бұрын

Sadly, the pills for depression have the side effect of making your gun depressed.

@yowie0889

4 ай бұрын

Be wary that the pills claiming to increase the calibre are a scam.

There is one advantage of the inflatable tank that nobody seems to talk about: Its fully amphibious.

@mandowarrior123

4 ай бұрын

Its more than that, a true land-sea-air vehicle.

So now we also get "how to check air pressure on your tank" :)

I always wanted one of these. Perfect for parties, holiday decorations, or tricking your neighbor into thinking your invasion will come in the front yard when you’re really coming in via the backyard!

@SonsOfLorgar

4 ай бұрын

Those special glaze ribs shall be mine this time, Smith! *Muahahahahahaha!!!!!* 🤣

@robotbjorn4952

4 ай бұрын

No one _ever_ expects it from the rear!

Okay, if an Army inflatable tank blows away in a storm and you find it, no, you didn't. I don't know what you're talking about, no you can't look in my shed.

@straybullitt

4 ай бұрын

I know that if I find an inflatable tank in my garden... I'm keeping it!!! 🤠

@Skorpychan

4 ай бұрын

That would depend on if I can wangle a ride in a REAL tank as a reward for finding their fake one.

Just imagining some random brit look out their window to see a tank floating through the sky. As for modern dummy inflatable tanks I have seen some photos of an inflatable Abrams and some articles referencing the Army having some although I'm not sure if the pictures were real. I don't see why they wouldn't have them though considering Russia does

@tgapmax4051

4 ай бұрын

Isn't the Tiger in Munster a fake made by the old East German dummy tank equipment?

"That one bounced."

NICK!! - I cant believe you found an actual inflatable Sherman, even a replica of the WWII version. This is amazing!

The HOA is gonna have a field day with this

@littlekong7685

4 ай бұрын

Yes, but from a distance, because they think you have a tank.

@Wrang15

4 ай бұрын

Mine would not care.... now the dirt bike, atv, and snowmobiles might slow on the roads, lol .. someone would probably blow it up with fireworks.

@timh6845

4 ай бұрын

Step one: inflate tank. Put on front lawn. Step two: receive complaint phone call from HOA. Tell you don’t have a tank and to come have a look for themselves. Step three: quickly deflate tank and hide in garage Step four: upon their arrival accuse them of being senile. Repeat

@TzunSu

4 ай бұрын

@@timh6845 "What do you mean i must have moved it? It's a goddamned tank, do you see any track marks!? Go take your medicine, grandpa."

@larrywest8046

4 ай бұрын

“Do they have something inflatable? I dunno, I haven’t seen it.” Stealth inflatables, brilliant! 😉

I see Chieftain is one of those who takes their Christmas decorations down at the end of January.

No “oh bugger the tank is on fire” Day ruined lol

@Jermster_91

4 ай бұрын

More like "Oh Bugger, the inflatable is on fire".

@konstantin.v

4 ай бұрын

Well, you can inflate it with hydrogen 🤪

I like the hull mounted cannon, I'm sure the Sherman would've been far more effective if the driver got to fiddle with a fixed 37mm cannon.

@DeuZerre

4 ай бұрын

B1 bis gang

@ssgtmole8610

4 ай бұрын

I think it might be an attempt to simulate a long barrel 76 at maximum depression. I'm guessing they had a hard time producing a long enough inflatable tube to match the real gun. It would likely look more convincing in aerial photographs. 🤔

@janslavik5284

4 ай бұрын

you've basically described an M3 Lee

@DeuZerre

4 ай бұрын

@@janslavik5284 reverse m3 lee

@janslavik5284

4 ай бұрын

@@DeuZerre yeah

"Radio Battalion Field Maintenance if your gun barrel remains elevated for more than 4 hours."

There was an inflatable boy, and he goes to an inflatable school. Bored with the lesson, he gets up and walks out of the inflatable classroom but, while walking down the corridor, he sees the inflatable headmaster approaching him. The inflatable boy pulls out a pin and punctures the inflatable headmaster before running out of the inflatable school gates. Just as he gets past the gates, he thinks again, "I hate school", and once more pulls out his pin and pokes it into the inflatable school. He then runs as fast as his inflatable legs allow, all the way home and races into his inflatable bedroom. A couple of hours later, his inflatable mother is knocking at his bedroom door and with her are the inflatable Police. Panicking, our inflatable boy yet again pulls out the pin and jabs it into himself. Later on that evening, he wakes up in an inflatable hospital and, in the bed next to him, he sees the inflatable headmaster. Shaking his deflated head - more in sorrow than in anger - the Headmaster gravely intones: "You've let me down; you've let the school down, but worst of all, you've let yourself down."

@markfryer9880

4 ай бұрын

This whole story was a let down! Now who is going to pack it up and put it away? Mark from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺

@tgapmax4051

4 ай бұрын

We don't need no (inflatable) education, We don't need no (inflatable) thought control

@JovianLoop

17 күн бұрын

Coming to this late - but this is a seriously underrated comment. It made my day - thank you sir.

Very funny but it also made me appreciate for the first time just how dangerous that deception job must have been. Imagine deliberately provoking artillery fire on your location.

@alexturnbackthearmy1907

4 ай бұрын

Finally a place where GTFO skills are job requirement.

@fluffly3606

4 ай бұрын

@@alexturnbackthearmy1907, To be fair, GTFO skills are job requirement for most special forces.

"Secret Soldiers" by Philip Gerard tells the story of the 23d Headquarters Special Troops who were in charge of deception operations for the US Army in Europe during WW2. It's a great story with an amazing cast of characters.

The fact the sergeant major who lost the tank name was Pratt doesn't help him one bit 😂

Best jumping castle evar!

"And you can't take it shopping" Someone will Nick, this is the internet.

Put a heater on the air pump and it would probably fool IR sensors, especially if the inlet was where the exhaust should be. Maybe impregnate the fabric with something radar-reflective, like an anti-stealth paint.

@allangibson8494

4 ай бұрын

Or just order one with the IR generator and road wheels from the German manufacturer… (They make live fire targets for ranges that fully emulate real tanks).

Your observation at 0:42 is quite normal, just happens with age. Of the tank. 😀

Speaking of jeeps, I saw around the Christmas 2023 season, a fellow churchgoer at my town's parish (I'm from the Philippines btw, the province of Pangasinan in particular where General Douglas MacArthur landed to begin his push towards Manila) who brought an actual, driving condition, refurbished Willy's Jeep with a roof on it. Even still had markings on it. No weapons unfortunately xD

would be cool to see an inflatable Abrams tank if that even exists.

@akizeta

4 ай бұрын

Just type "inflatable Abrams" into Google image search.

@tomhenry897

4 ай бұрын

Have something Been too long Had a heater to simulate the engine

@ilyan41

4 ай бұрын

i would imagine that they exist in some form, though i doubt they'd be that useful against most modern forms of air/space reconnaissance. inflatable tanks don't really have a large radar or thermal signature after all

@Chilly_Billy

4 ай бұрын

​@@ilyan41 Both can easily be simulated by radar reflective material and hot but otherwise fake powerplants.

@ilyan41

4 ай бұрын

@@Chilly_Billy powerplants are not the issue, especially for static vehicles. the issue is that they aren't made of steel. Metals don't glow the same under thermal as textiles do. Sure you could coat a tank in paint with a high metal concentration to better reflect radar waves, but the return would never match an actual vehicle. not to mention the need to maintain said paint to make sure the radar return doesn't drop because it has been out in the sun for too long

A German Wiesel should fit into your garage. But do you fit into a Wiesel ? Greetings from Germany.

Great to see someone else has a thing for inflatable toys.

I love that the Chieftain is wearing a shirt that perfectly camouflages him against the tank.

@kiwiruna9077

4 ай бұрын

All I see is the Chieftains head and some blue jeans, maybe he is trying to not be seen.

Man.. that first bit has me remembering a magazine infographic of what it would be like to own a jump jet in a suburb

Owning a real tank would be like owning a baby elephant. Really fun but really expensive.

Surprisingly, I've only considered a Hetzer [Pz38t] as a dainly driver. Obviously I'd need to swap in the short barrelled 75mm for utility. =)

I want one

Next year's hottest yard decoration for Halloween and xmas!

I remember reading in a history book these saw extensive use in the Gryps War.

@dyingearth

4 ай бұрын

Deployment of them is far faster than Chieftain describes here. With a flick of a button, some pilots can send out half a dozen inflated MS to confuse the enemy target acquisition sensors (no, radar don't work in this particular situation due to the battlefield scattering of Minovsky particle.

That tank needs a "little blue pill".

“Oh my god, the inflatable tank is on FIRE!”

How about some version of a Universal Carrier? They should fit in your garage. Or maybe you should get a M-16 GMC and try popping wheelies in one again?

This would be a sweet canvas for holiday decorations on your front yard!

Wishing you a Happy Healthy and Safe 2024 🏆🤗🙏💙

I bought one a while ago, but after blowing it up and admiring it, it was ultimately a huge letdown.

Me: "Mom, can we get a Sherman. Mom: "We have a Sherman at home" Sherman at home:

For the man who has everything!

This needs to be in your merch store for sure

I'm looking forward to seeing if the inflatable tank passes the "Oh no, the tank is on fire!" test.

The most amphibious tank of them all. With helium, it even flies! With hydrogen, finally a Sherman that actually burns as well as some think! I think they used an inflatable dude to pass as a drowned officer to confuse the Germans at some point. Floated too well, they didn't fall for it. (That was a joke, but, look up Operation Mincemeat, if you haven't. "The Man Who Never Was" is also a recommendation, about the same story.)

@whatnow9653

3 ай бұрын

They should have used these in Normandy, instead of DD Shermans.

People might enjoy "The War Magician", a biography of the magician Jasper Maskelyne who came up with a lot of these deception tactics.

Emotional support Sherman great for hugging

Great quick video TY

Nick, you should have added a warning for smokers: "Inflating this tank may be in excess of your lungs' capacity."

It's crazy how the internet has changed our perception of time, you said a couple of years ago, the article is from 2002, and I just went "oh yeah, 2002, that wasn't that long ago"

iirc, the declassified footage and pictures of the WW2 deception 'vehicles', at least those in the D-day related deceptions, tended to show painted cloth over wood frameworks. which makes sense. it would be cheaper than inflatables (at least for the time), and when you are having to pretend that whole divisions are present for an invasion of Calais that isn't going to happen, you'd want to save some funds. the ones used in the desert against Rommel seem to have been mostly food frames and cloth as well. (as were the german ones. both sides in north africa went big into deception warfare.)

@TheChieftainsHatch

4 ай бұрын

The frames in WW2 were inflatable, as it happens

Need to get one for Halloween ... and Christmas.

Oh come on! No "Oh bugger the tank is on fire!" drill, and no track tensioning! This is ridiculous, I demand a remake!

The “Oh, bugger. The tank is on fire.” drill is much different for this model.

Ahh the days of Jasper and his magic gang...Now there's a story!

A fully… inflated… Sentinel tank would be most imposing.

Are there any Crusader “Sun Shields “ preserved anywhere? Those were a great idea

What? No "Oh bugger the tanks deflating" drill?

The best part about them - no track tensioning!!! ☮

Track tension is achieved by pumping up to the correct PSI

Thanks

The Army does have distraction tank, its actually invisible and is called Ezekiel's Wheel

I thought you'd mention the inflatable tanks greatest victory in Ww2. That was Pattons "Ghost" First army group which tied up real German armor divisions in the Pas de Calais area, keeping them from counter attacking the Normandy beachhead.

Those barrels look a little limp. Can you put some viagra in the compressor?

@moosemaimer

4 ай бұрын

"I was in the pool!"

I want one for Christmas displays!

We should start a gofundme to get Chieftain a tank!

There's something scary about that picture.

But how do you tension the tracks?

@konstantin.v

4 ай бұрын

By inflating, of course 😊

well done good sir well done!

Fun fact, inflatable vehicles are still available as targets or testing aids and come in many varieties, mostly soviet. Look up i2kdefense if you are interested. While most look a little floppy up close, at a distance or through a scope, they look pretty good!

At last! A sergeant you can call pratt without being charged with insubordination.

This is amazing! With todays laser cutting technology you could make 10.000 tanks for a price of one out of plywood.Then you dig holes and assemble them in it to look like the tank is digged in and it guards position.When enemy artillery strikes you can use counter artillery radar to destroy it.All for the price of couple 5mm plywood boards and a bucket of paint ! With todays precision of laser cutting you could make copy of tank that looks identical to a real thing to a point that nobody would know the difference especially from the air.

You should get a Ferret, it's a dream of mine to own one (while the M8 LAC is my favorite, it's a lot less usable in daily life)

That looks like it would make a great waterbed.

@johnhughes2653

4 ай бұрын

What's your favourite position in bed? - Gunner?

does the Chieftain fit inside?

@johnhughes2653

4 ай бұрын

Only if you deflate him first!

Who wouldn't want one? I know I do. How about if some enterprising tent manufacturer designed a Sherman Tent? I'd want one of those too.

@markfryer9880

4 ай бұрын

Would the opening be camouflaged?

I would absolutely buy one

To adjust track tension: Inflate tank to recommended pressure. No further adjustments are necessary as long as tank remains within specified pressure range.

The flying turkey can work, maybe. A inflatable tank, well it always works.

this is a great ad for inflatable anything

Where is this exhibit? It's not the one at the Spy Museum in Washington.

New definition to 'our cover is blown'

The favorite of the 25th Armored Division which Dad was in.

Chieftain, once again another great video. Thank you. However, you forgot to provide the link to where a person can buy a 1:1 scale inflatable Sherman tank. :-( I suppose there are people out there who would want a Tiger or an IS-2 so this could be quite the cottage industry for someone.

It was more than just inflatable vehicles, they also simulated noise and radio traffic, even trash piles!

@Kumimono

4 ай бұрын

And, a dead officer. The body was real, but his rank, and the secret papers with him, were not.

That tanks gun reminded me of waking up on a Sunday morning after a wild night on the town .... you know it's like a monkeys nesting in your mouth and your body feels like a train wreck there's a traffic cone in the bathroom and your wallet is empty....

@robertsolomielke5134

4 ай бұрын

Sounds like an ill fated foray into Las Vegas ;)

Sir, you need a bigger garage. I suggest the dimensions to be at least 40 ft in length, 15 ft in width and 12 ft in heigth. This will make sure that a Chieftain will fit into said garage, if you ever happen to find someone willing to sell you such a tank. Thank you for your great content, it is much apprechiated.

With the way military procurement is nowadays it'd cost more to get a plant to manufacture inflatable M1s than it would to produce a new actual tank.

I keep one of those in my wallet for unexpected encounters...

A serious question…….how do you tension its track.🤔

I totally want to see "Oh bugger... The inflatable tank is on fire."

2 questions. 1) Where can I get one? 2) Is that a replica of an early production Sherman with the fixed machine gun?

No link to your website? I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking “I need this!!!”

I believe It's also amphibious, air portable and won't cost you your house when the marriage fails...

It make for an easy "Oh bugger, the tank's on fire" escape test

First Forgotten weapons reviews the shotgun from Halp, and now this. It's not April yet, guys.

I'll take twenty

@khoipham8303

4 ай бұрын

I'll take 20,000

can you recommend some books? i read To Fool A Glass Eye some years back and wished there was a companion textbook that went more in depth and covered recent conflicts

If they can make this in Xmas colours? I reckon I could convince my wife to let me decorate 🤣