Eden Camp has welcomed one of Britain’s largest Cold War tanks to its display, complete with an extraordinary story behind it.
The Chieftain Mk.10 05EB53 is owned by former British Army gunner Rob Dove who bought the very tank he served in during the 1980s.
Rob Dove joined the British Army aged 17 and trained as a tank gunner before being posted to the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars. Stationed in Detmold, West Germany, he spent two years serving aboard Chieftain Mk. 10 05EB53 alongside his crew before deploying to Cyprus in 1989.
In 2023, Rob purchased 05EB53 and began working to restore it to running condition. Today it once again carries the markings it wore during its service with Rob in Detmold in 1986, faithfully restored to how he remembers it.
