A tank loved by movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger is to be back in action at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, after a successful £50,000 fundraising campaign to get it running in time for Tankfest 2025.
The US built M47 Patton tank arrived at Bovington in 1987 after the museum bought it from the Italian army in poor condition, but it was put into long term storage and has never been on public display.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who did military service in an M47, later bought one for his charity fundraisers in the USA
An important part of the Cold War story
Time and again over the past 30 years, the M47 at Bovington was passed over for restoration projects in favour of better known and more popular tanks like the Tiger 131, the Chieftain, the Challenger, the Fury and the Panzer.
But finally, in June 2024, the museum launched a £50,000 fundraiser to revive its M47 Patton tank, and thanks to public supporters and generous private donations the target has now been reached, in time for the vehicle to make its public debut at Tankfest from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June 2025.
The M47 is an important part of the Cold War story, rushed into production by the USA at the start of the Korean War in 1950, but never used in action by them.
It does, however, have a famous fan in Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served in an M47 in the Austrian military, later buying the very tank he crewed.
Arnie now uses the vehicle, number 331, for raising funds for charities he supports by giving the public rides in it, and using it to crush cars by driving over them.
It is not known whether he has anonymously contributed to the Tank Museum’s campaign, but he has been given an open invitation to see the M47 Patton at Tankfest 2025 and ride in it.
Engineer Matthew Pyle recently completed his own M47 restoration project, which ran at Tankfest 2024
“We are deeply grateful”
Museum director, Swanage resident Chris Price said:
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the passion and commitment of our supporters. We are deeply grateful, your generosity ensures that future generations can witness history in motion.
“Our M47 has never been on public display before. It spent its service life with the Italian Army from whom it was acquired in 1987, having nearly ended up as a range target.
“Not long afterwards, museum volunteers took up the task of returning it to running condition, but that was nearly 30 years ago.
“The M47 probably isn’t the most interesting tank in history, and was quickly superseded by the M48, but it’s still an important part of the Cold War story.”
The M47 Patton was rushed into production at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950
Ready to run at Tankfest 2025
Chris Price added:
“Although it never saw action with US forces, large numbers were supplied to US allies around the world and it saw combat service with Pakistan, Jordan, Türkiye, Croatia, and Iran amongst others.
“A fully functioning M47 will be a great addition to our selection of running Cold War tanks – and because it’s complete we know it’s a viable project.
“This project has involved a full system overhaul, new engine and cosmetic restoration, and the great news is that it will be ready to run at Tankfest in June 2025.”
The M47 was stripped back to basics to begin restoration work
“We’ve got the best man for the job”
The museum’s head of collections Chris van Schaardenburgh said:
“The M47 is the only one of its type in the museum’s collection, and we’ve got the best man for the job to do the restoration – engineer Matthew Pyle, who recently completed his own M47 restoration project, which ran at Tankfest 2024.
“We announced in November 2024 that we were over halfway to our target for the campaign, but thanks to a generous donation of £15,000 from William Bannister early this year we got to within £5,000 of our target.
“We have worked closely with William Bannister for many years and are hugely grateful for his donation towards the M47 restoration project. His collection of historic vehicles and support of the museum’s workshop and restoration projects has been invaluable.
“The Bannister Collection compliments our own running fleet of significant Second World War tanks, which allows the Tank Museum to put on shows like Tankfest and Tiger Day.”
Matthew Pyle has got the M47 ready to run, taking it out for recent test drives and stopping at a drive through Starbucks
“Never been on public display before”
And membership and fundraising officer, Kevin Hygate, said:
“This Cold War era tank was acquired from the Italian army in 1987, and has never been on public display before and it will become a standout addition to our running collection.
“Probably the most famous of the many thousands of M47 crewmen over the decades is Arnold Schwarzenegger. During his year of mandatory service in the Austrian army in 1965 he crewed M47 number 331.
“Decades later, in 1994, the future Governor of California was able to purchase his old tank and ship it over to the United States, where he now uses it to help raise funds for his favourite charity, providing after school activities for underprivileged children.
“Restoration work on our M47 is now close to being finished in the workshop of engineer Matthew Pyle, and will make its public debut at Tankfest from Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th June 2025.”
A recently restored Charioteer tank will also be making a debut at Tankfest 2025
Other guest tanks to make a debut
Among other guest vehicles making their debut appearance at Tankfest 2025 are a Charioteer tank and a Czech-built T-55A, likely used in the Prague Spring of 1968, along with the Norfolk Tank Museum’s Centurion MBT Mark 12.
Lauren Child, owner of the recently restored FV4104 Charioteer, said:
“I’m really excited this Charioteer will be making its running debut at Tankfest 2025. It was developed as an upgrade of Cromwell tanks during the early Cold War, and Charioteers are an extremely rare and often misunderstood British tank.
“As newer tanks entered service, Charioteers were sold to Britain’s allies including those in the Middle East. This tank was captured during the Lebanese Civil War by Israeli forces.
“A survivor of multiple conflicts, she has been brought back to the UK and has been restored in Lebanese army colours to match her long history.”
Watch museum video of appeal launch
Further information
- All the latest information on Tankfest 2025 is on The Tank Museum website
