# Recovering a 65-Ton Tank From Swampy Field

> Restoring a 65-ton British Conqueror tank missing tracks from swampy terrain with unexploded mines.
- Title: Recovering a 65-Ton Tank From Swampy Field · The Drive
- Summary: Restoring a 65-ton British Conqueror tank missing tracks from swampy terrain with unexploded mines.
- Keywords: british conqueror tank, tank museum, military vehicle, swampy field, unexploded mines, recovery project, The Drive
- Source: The Drive — https://thedrive.com/news/recovering-a-65-ton-tank-with-no-tracks-from-a-swampy-field-is-hard-work
- Author: Stephen Edelstein
- Published: 2026-11-07T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: british conqueror tank, tank museum, military vehicle, swampy field, unexploded mines, recovery project, cars, technology
## Tank Recovery Challenge
Joe Hewes and The Tank Museum faced recovering a 65-ton British Conqueror tank missing tracks from swampy ground with unexploded mines.
## Tank's Condition
The tank was missing its turret and main gun but had replacements on a derelict Conqueror used for target practice at a U.K. Ministry of Defence gunnery range.
## Tracks Missing
The tank lacked tracks, which distribute weight to prevent sinking, making recovery dangerous in a live-fire area with unexploded munitions.
## Recovery Process
Two military-grade Foden heavy recovery trucks lifted the tank out of the swamp, and an Oshkosh M1070 winched it onto new tracks before hauling it off-site.
## Historical Significance
The British Conqueror was a missing link between the Centurion and Chieftain tanks, developed in response to Soviet IS-3 tanks after WWII.
## Recovery Outcome
The tank was successfully recovered after 58 years, with the project highlighting the challenges of restoring heavy military vehicles in hazardous conditions.
## Key takeaway

The Tank Museum recovered a 65-ton British Conqueror tank from swampy ground with unexploded mines after 58 years.