Top 5 Tanks | Chris Copson | The Tank Museum 

Hi Tank Nuts! We hope you enjoyed Chris' list, let us know what you would choose in the comments below.

I'm really enjoying Chris Copson's in-depth explanations for his choices.

I'm very pleased this chap is getting so much airtime on the channel. I could listen to him for hours!

As a British army cold war infantry soldier, I can say that we had a lot of belief in Chieftain and always thought that it could do the job asked of it. Very comforting to have a troop rumble up and deploy near you. Many tankers I talked to thought that the bad reputation for reliability and lack of power was a carry over from earlier versions - by the end of their service, with Stillbrew armour, the TOGS sights and a 'Sundance' powerpack now producing over 750bhp it was considered effective and more reliable - providing as you say, it was used hard.

Chris is an absolute natural, would love to see more from him. Looking to get into historic researching myself in future so to see Chris confidently explain in depth the details of these tanks is really encouraging.

Mr Fletcher was always going to be a hard act to follow however I think Chris is going to be a great asset - his warm and very knowledgable presentation it a Joy - Maybe the banter and dry humour will follow?

I really liked these picks because they weren't just "these tanks were cool (most of them aren't cool)" , but because of the history story the tell. And it was very well told. Thank you.

I find Chris’s videos the best to watch. You can just tell he knows his stuff and delivers it without much fluff, I appreciate that.

Chris is a very good presenter and very much enjoying the output from the museum. Keep up the good work 👍🏻

So much extra bits of history I learned during this video!

I'm glad someone put the Char B1 on their list. While tragic that the French lost early in the war, these tanks did well against anything Germany threw at them.

A friend of mine, who was a Chieftan commander for many years once told me "The Chieftan was the best tank in the world, if it broke down in a good firing position"

Chris's larger historical view is a great Top 5. Thank you Tank Museum.

I find Mr Copson to be a worthy successor to Mr Fletcher. Another great presenter of which you seem to have so many, well done.

I could listen to this guy talk about tanks and history in general for hours!

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Well delivered and reasoned selection. Always fascinating to learn more on each type. Especially where they're successful despite their relative weaknesses when handled by and knowledgeable and experienced crew. Very happy to watch more from Chris.

The longer format was very interesting. Getting the back ground really enhanced the experience.

Excellent presentation, so much background information, one of the most enjoyable Top 5's yet!

What a fantastic presenter Mr Copson is. Please, more content from this knowledgeable gentleman

Fantastic video! Loved that the first three were almost just as likely to fall into someone’s bottom five, yet Mr Copson still able to discuss their merits. Look forward to seeing him present the next tank chat revisited.

The camera crew set a brilliant scene here. I love the Char B1, in person it has a great presence. It represents so much of the learnings of the First World War, then behind you have the beautiful, sleek lines of the panther representing a relatively short period of time but largely differing design philosophies. Excellent chat. Excellent museum.

What a brilliantly done video. Very in-depth & entertaining. Time well spent. Thank you!

I rather like these more personal odd selections which always come with a cool story particularly from knowledgeable people like this gentleman. It's a good departure from T-34/Panther/Tiger/Sherman/Centurion Top 5s. And those are also nice with a good presentation.

Chris's knowledge is brilliant to follow. As an ex REME mechanic I know, all too well, the reliability of the FV4201. Sadly, more often than not, than British Army during this period of the Chieftain tank had some great vehicles but a lot of crap engines and power packs.... The bane of my life was the fuel system of the Jag engine in the CVRT series.... Hey ho... Happy memories of changing power packs in German forests.

It’s kind of amazing how much interest has been generated in WW1 and oddball early WW2 tanks by video games, such as Battlefield 1 and Post Scriptum. It’s a great thing.

Hi, this is Chris Copson. These are my top 5 tanks, and here's why they suck! I really appreciate that he didn't gloss over the weaknesses in his picks.

Thank's for a very interesting well presented Top 5 Chris, in depth and no Muppetry, Well Done Sir.

The more of these I watch the more I appreciate how brilliant your presentations are, full of concise information and interesting anecdote, and a complete absence of ear battering youf posturing and cringy comedy. I find it hard to imagine how much work you put into something that looks so easy, but as a professional myself I suppose I know really. But as someone who tried and lacked motivation to support a local museum my admiration of your dedication is beyond words.

I do wish the Tank Museum videos had more B-roll within the videos. Break up the shots a bit and show us other shots of the tanks and pictures or videos of what's being discussed. Always love these Top/Bottom 5 videos! 👍🏻

As ever, another amazing Friday video - thanks Chris!

Superbly presented and very informative. The Tank Museum content is among the very best.

Really interesting choices this video. Fascinating history and technical details.

Another fun and informative watch. Thanks for posting this. Cheers!

I thoroughly enjoyed this top 5 tank presentation. Mr. Copson (along with the other members of the Tank Museum's staff) is a very good storyteller. He knows his subject and relates it in a compelling way... you could listen to him for hours! Thank you!

Love this longer format. A really refreshing list in this one. 👍🏻

Indeed a fantastic video with lots of historical details - love it

That was excellent, really enjoyed that. More in-depth than a lot of the other Top 5s I've seen.

Excellent and Outstanding!!! Thank You!!!

Excellent. Detailed and thoughtful.

Brilliant! Informed and articulate. Thank you.

Great video Chris, especially the run down on the amazing Mk IV and the crews that fought in them.

Very interesting and varied list. Thoroughly enjoyed the in depth discussion. Many thanks.

LOVED THIS! Always learning more on this channel.

I've heard the roles of the gearsmen described before, but this is the best description of their roles I've seen in a video. Thanks for the lovely explanation Chris Copson!

Excellent choices, cracking video. Thanks

Real GOOD to see thank you.

Over the last couple of years I have enjoyed these best five and worst five. Have to say this was one of the best due to the chaps knowledge. Now lets have his worst five. ;-)

Great introduction music. Excellent content. You all put quite a bit of quality work and information as always. Good on you all. Thank you

As ever, superb video. Re the DD, 3 years ago David Willie did a 5 minute video on Hobart's "Funnies". It would be great if you could go into more depth on Percy Hobart, Funnies and the 79th Armoured Division.

So good to see another top 5! Chris Copson must have the most serious face I’ve ever seen. Gives the video a whole new depth.

I really enjoyed this top five tanks list ! Some new interesting details about each tank I had not heard before.

Love how you mention Normandy's vast coast line. I went to the area in 2017 and even with modern roadways your right it does take some time. The coast is crazy long and all the villages nearby would have been insane to handle in 1944.

Thank you, Mr. Copson, for your personal take on these tanks. Very historically informative as well.

Hi Mr. Copson, yes I did enjoy it. Great video!

Thank you for a great story of 5 tanks.👍

Wonderful video, thank you.

What a great video, well done. 😃 This man knows what he is talking about and even pronounces German words correctly 👍

First class. I enjoyed every minute.

Very informative, thank you 🙏

I love lists of favorite tanks and I will never get sick of them

This was superbly well told.

This was a bit longer than most of these top/bottom 5 lists, but the explainations were marvellous. Thanks Chris. :) .

With trousers that colour, you know you're in safe hands.

Man I love your style of presenting these machines

Fascinating thank you

A great chat, thank you

Thank you for sharing.

So happy finally seeing someone pick the Char B, which is also one of my favourite tanks, and I loved his explanation on why.

Really enjoyed Chris' video, I hope we see many more.

Great video! Nice to see the Char get some love.

Love the tank museums videos!

Very, very interesting lecture. I hope that I can visit the museum some day.

Spot on Chris!

Excellent!

I hope we see much more of you Chris!

Love that Carden Lloyd. Tankettes were just cool. And at one time probably not a bad idea. And the Universal Carrier would later prove its worth, just not as a tank! The Char B is also cool but unfortunately just not crewed properly but who knew when it was first made.. I get your POV when it comes to Chieftain. My same thoughts on the M113 and the M60A3. They were there when I was there. Love the DD and all the information and you should be proud to have the last existing! Nice nod to the MK IV.

What a great selection!

Great work sir. Well done

It's great to learn the context of these tanks from a very knowledgeble fellow.

lots of things we never knew about 👍a very interesting and informative video 💪

Great choices great video thanks

Nice to see some love for the Sherman. People who fancy themselves tank lovers tend to be be dazzled by the aesthetics of the Panzers and miss some really important aspects of what makes a tank good.

Really like chris and the way he explains things.

Enjoyed the tank history presentation.

Fabulous history.

9:15 A quick point on french nomenclature: The divisions regrouping the B1bis were the DCr. The acronym DCr does not mean "Division Cuirassée" "de Réserve" but only "Division Cuirassée". The r after the C is the r in "CuiRassée". The r in DCr is only there to not use the acronym DC which was already the acronym of the horse cavalry divisions (DC : Division de Cavalerie). The DCr were mainly a group of tank battalions (2 B1bis battalions and two Hotchkiss H 39 battalions) with an artillery regiment in support, and an infantry battalion. Not really an inter arm unit like the french DLM or the german armoured divisions.

Very much enjoying Chris’ content. Well done. Keep in if front of the camera.

Great selection, thank you for taking the time to do your top five, lots of very interesting little pieces of information, you are clearly very knowledgeable on the subject, I am pleased to have learned that the Chinese labour Corp built most of the facine, that's my fact to have learned for today. Thank you

Dare I say the new David Fletcher? Would love to hear more from you sir

Great talk, thanks.

Thanks!

The bundle of sticks on the mark 4 ww1 tank is pure art, those bundles are perfect

The B1 is just too crew-hostile. As is the Somua. I never get M4 bashers though, like is there any other WW2 tank fighting and winning in the 70s?

Gotta be honest. Chris Copson does a fantastic job on taking over from David Fletcher. That bit about the B1bis was excelent, for example.

Really enjoying Chris' videos. I have heard Chieftain's engine got better as time went by but it definitely needed to be used.

Hi Chris, Great Story, Great Story Telling. Nice summary of everything leading up to this interesting battle. I agree with your conclusions. I wonder if there is anything to see on that battlefield today. I will be driving the XIX Panzer Corps route from Sedan to Abbeville and Dunkirk this summer.

interesting choice of tanks, each one a landmark in the development of the tank

Why yes , I have discovered this channel and have been watching episodes for a good 5 hours now . Why do you ask ?

I read that the striped looking stuff that the Germans put on the outside of their tanks had to do with magnetic charges. It was supposed to make the magnets not stick.

Very appropriate to be talking about track tensioning next to a chieftain!