Groups visiting Eden Camp in North Yorkshire can now get up close to one of Britain’s largest Cold War tanks and learn the extraordinary story behind it.
The Chieftain Mk.10 05EB53 has been loaned to the modern military museum by the former British Army gunner Rob Dove who bought the tank he served in during the 1980s.
Built using components manufactured at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Leeds, with final assembly undertaken by Vickers Defence Systems in Newcastle upon Tyne, the tank has strong links to the North of England.
“We spent years training and serving together during the Cold War, so finding it again decades later and restoring it has been an unforgettable journey.”
Rob Dove, owner of Chieftain Mk.10 05EB53
The tank entered service with the British Army in 1986. Weighing around 56 tonnes and armed with the formidable 120mm L11A5 rifled main gun, the Chieftain was regarded as one of the most heavily armed and best-protected main battle tanks of its generation.
A poignant reunion
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 restoring it to running condition. Today it again carries the markings it wore during its service with Rob in Detmold in 1986, faithfully restored to how he remembers it.
Rob Dove, owner of Chieftain Mk.10 05EB53, said: “Seeing 05EB53 at Eden Camp is incredibly special because it’s not just a tank to me - it’s part of my own story.
“We spent years training and serving together during the Cold War, so finding it again decades later and restoring it has been an unforgettable journey.
“I’m so excited for people to have the chance to see it up close and personal, with the chance to learn about the vehicle itself and the people who served in it.”
Group visits to Eden Camp
Groups can see the tank on display now and throughout 2027 as part of the collection of military vehicles in the museum’s Heritage Hall. Other vehicles on display here include a World War One Autocar Truck and a fully restored M50 Sherman tank.
Elsewhere on site, there are 22 original Prisoner of War huts that have been repurposed as immersive exhibits, each one exploring a different aspect of the wartime experience including The Blitz, Women in War and Rationing.
Discounted admission rates are offered to groups of ten or more, plus there’s coach parking and a cafe on site. Private talks are available on enquiry.
Plan a group trip by visiting: edencamp.co.uk/group-visits-to-eden-camp.
