Strange Features found on Tanks

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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script:
Narrator:

Chris Kane

[MarshFlyFightWin]

Funnily enough, the Ha-go wasn't the only tank with a "door bell", actually it is quite common on tanks or as a light inside the crew compartment to indicate to them someone pushed the button. As a means for outside infantry to work with the crews of the tanks. Some even carried phones or radios on the outside to communicate with the crew

[ODST_Parker]

When I first heard "British sipping tea inside their Challengers" I thought it was just a joke about the British. Little did I know, that stereotype exists for a reason, and they most certainly DO ensure their tankers can sip tea in peace on any battlefield.

[badgerstatebard]

When I was in middle school I was part of the Civil Air Patrol and one of the activities we did was meeting the SWAT team of out squadron's local PD and they show'd us the ex-Army MRAP (Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected) vehicle they use for standoffs involving barricaded suspects . As the SWAT officer gives us a walkaroud, explaining the vehicle's various features, he points to a small panel on the back and says "This is the most vital pieced of gear on the whole vehicle." He then opens it revealing a built in coffee maker.

[FoxySoda]

Man the Brits rly saw a massive killing machine made of steel and decided that it needs to make tea

[ISaintLoupI]

A soldier rings to speak to the tank commander, but no one answers because after having tea, the commander is on the toilet laughing while reading the operating manual.

[lucianoosorio]

“It was also here that the British first used a crazy piece of sci fi technology.”

[OneNationUnderGod.]

*British tank colony gets wiped out from making Tea outside the tanks*
British command: "You see what the problem is right?"
Tank engineers: "Yeah those soldiers lack discipline"
British Command: "No, the Tea should be able to be made from inside the tank"

[GadgetSteelmare]

To be fair, the boiling vessel in the British tanks is used for more than just tea. It's also used for preparing hot water for rations, which is also an important thing. There's the famous saying "An army marches on its stomach, " which holds true even for those driving tanks. If you're hungry, you're going to be less effective in combat. If you've had a hot meal instead of dry rations, you're going to be even more effective in combat.

[insovietrussiavodka]

Some honorable mentions, taken from my notes.

Track-wheel systems
A system of combining tracks with the function of regular wheels to endure longer marches and higher speed without wearing on tracks, this was wide spread in the 1920's and 30's as tracks weren't yet as reliable as now, or as easy to replace for that matter.
The most common users of this would be the BT-serie (USSR) the KH-serie (Czech) The polish 10TP and 14TP as well as the "Schofield" from New Zealand

Electric-drive
Instead of using an ordinary gearbox several nations would experiment with electric drive, namely the TOG-I to TOG-II* and Ferdinand Porsch with the Ferdinand, Elefant, Tiger(P) and Maus. While in theory these systems would let a smaller engine drive a large hull, they tended to always be underpowered, unreliable and expensive compared to a regular mechanical (likely with hydraulic assist) transmissions.
This is no to be confused with hydraulic-drive which was also used and still it, thought not on tanks
(as far as I'm aware)

Driver cupola
While giving your driver a view greater than straight ahead, the Tatra ”Atypicky” was a Czech project which removed the driver from the hull and all the way up in an independent cupola on the turret to give him a clear view in all directions thought on a tank that was already alarmingly tall.
NOTE - it is possible it is entirely fake and made up post-war.

Fixed MGs
When you're the United states and wish to create the moving MG-nest of doom, it becomes clear you need to have fixed guns in the hull so even the driver can have the time of his life shooting randomly at targets with no way of aiming other than looking for tracers and adjust the hull.
No ball mount, no sponsons, no remote control just an MG bolted or locked in the hull.
This was used as late as the M3 Lee and the M4A1 "Michale" (the prototype for the Sherman). This system was seen in other nations, but not as much or via american designed vehicles (and the cold War soviet designs, as stated by the comments)

Rockets
We're not just talking the classic Sherman Calliope, you got the RBT-5 which is a regular BT-5 with 250kg "Tank Torpedoes" mounted on either side of the turret. A more succesful example of this would be the british the Firefly equiped with RP-3 60lb rockets on the turret.
In an engagement, a german officer POW, would comment it was a breach of the geneva convention when his unit was forced to surrender after facing a "Tulip" as they were called.

Other things would be:
-The ability to ride traintracks
-Multi-turret tanks
-Hobart's Funnies - a collection of curious/bizar vehicles. (mentioned by a comment)
-and others I cannot remember at the top of my head

[THE_GUY_ONE]

6:30 Interesting fact: One of the british tank units did a similar thing, when they captured intact and operational Panther tank. They painted it olive green, adorned it with white stars and nicknamed the tank "Cuckoo".

[napoleonibonaparte]

Now the tea making equipment isn’t as insane as it sounds.

[tedhubertcrusio]

Tank designer: "So do you want an APC or an MBT?"

Israel: "Yes."

[johngreco]

Certain tanks do have a small microwave in them. Not official, but tank crews do install them when heating their MREs.

[galaxysmusicandstuff]

Tanks are cool, unless you're inside the tank

[finaladvance]

Regarding the doorbell.
It was first included in ww1 to allow runners/messengers/the infantry to get the tanks attention as they are ridiculously loud knocking just sounds like additional gunfire/shelling

[chillguynamedwan]

When you realize Darjeeling sipping a cup of tea inside a tank is actually historically accurate

[nicholasmontgomery]

I hope you guys do a video on weird weapon features. I was inspired when you mentioned the German tank manual because I remembered that the original M16 came with a comic book styled operations manual. Then I started remembering other unique featured firearms like:
The Galil Assault Rifle having a slot under the front handguard specifically for opening bottles and how the bipod also functions as wirecutters
WWI Lee Enfields with wirecutter mounts
The Mosin Nagant's minesweeper kit
The LeMat revolver's underbarrel shotgun
Sharps Rifles with coffee millers in the buttstock

[TheArklyte]

Wait, didn't Challenger also had a "biotoilet" under commander's seat as one of optional features? It might sound funny or disgusting, but not when you're stuck in NBC scenario...

Edit: the Ha-Go buzzer also lived on with parallel developed american "infantry phones" on the back to allow infantry to directly talk to tank commander.

[jhypyro]

Simple History and their toilet humor *NEVER* gets old.

[cantingvenus]

The animations have improved so much, I literally cannot express the beauty of details put into the tanks and such with own words