Modified tanks, called Hobart’s Funnies, were used during World War Two, this A27L Centaur Dozer is one of only a few to survive
During World War Two, specialists from the Royal Engineers created a limited number of unusually modified tanks called Hobart’s Funnies named after the commander of the 79th Armoured Division of the British Army, Major General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart KBE, CB, DSO, MC.
The armoured bulldozer is a basic tool of combat engineering combing the earth-moving capabilities of the bulldozer with armour which protects the vehicle and its operator in or near combat. Most are civilian bulldozers, modified by the addition of vehicle armour and military equipment, but some are tanks stripped of armament and fitted with a dozer blade.
Also, some tanks have bulldozer blades while retaining their armament, but this does not make them armoured bulldozers as such, because combat remains the primary role and ‘earth and wreckage’ moving is a secondary task.
The first armoured bulldozer was developed by the British during World War Two. This was a conventional Caterpillar D8 bulldozer fitted with armour to protect the driver and the engine. The work was carried out by Jack Olding & Company Ltd of Hatfield.
