rlauferblog

Now in its tenth year, the Aquino Tank Weekend is the largest historical military show in North America. Organized by the Ontario Regiment Museum, the weekend long event features:

• Static displays from Canadian Armed Forces units, partner museums, historical re-enactors, and other related organizations
• The ORM’s Military Vehicle Conservation Centre with over 80 military vehicles and tanks on display
• A Tank Arena with live demonstrations, battle re-enactments, and one-on-one tank battles with an opportunity to ride in some of the vehicles
• An opportunity to meet veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, the Second World War and the Battle of AQUINO in 1944
• Access to the Ontario Regiment Museum that houses artifacts, medals, weapons and uniforms covering 150+ years of military history
• A militaria market

The last Aquino Tank Weekend that I attended was back in 2017 so it was high time for a re-visit.

Show-goers were greeted with what we later found out to be the staging area for the tanks to be used in the Gulf War re-enactment. Some of these vehicles and their crew actually served in the War.

May as well start “tank weekend” with the tanks!

If one big gun isn’t enough, how about a 2×5 array of 15cm surface-to-surface rockets

Self-propelled gun

Artillery cannon

Sparrow hawk (Homing All the Way Killer) missiles

As much as I like tanks, APC are just as cool. At least I could fit in one of these lol.

More modern APC

I like the gun ports on this one

Great to see Ryan from SFRC!

OMG this would be perfect for downtown Toronto!

No armor but still an effective way to say “get off me”

For sale eh? Hmmmm

Lol “Hooligan”..is that a drift stick?

I love this car!

Military motorcycles

Remote control tanks

Now on to the tank arena for live demonstrations! The two hour show featured detailed rundowns of at least a dozen tanks, including history and specs, often narrated by famous Youtubers. Many of the tanks shown were used in battle and are extremely rare in the sense that not many rolling examples still exist.

And for the grand finale, a re-enactment of a Gulf War battle complete with live fire (of blanks of course) and explosions!

The scene starts with light and heavy RECCE by Allied Forces with suppressive gunfire from both sides.

Not realizing the full extent of the Allied Forces, the Iraqi’s launch an attack

Undeterred, the Allied Forces press forward

and strike a massive blow to the Iraqi tank

Iraqi infantrymen continue to engage

As Allied Forces continue to advance

Till the Iraqis have no choice but to surrender

What a fantastic show!

All done with the big guns, we visited the Ontario Regiment Museum to look at historical small arms

The CBRN was my favourite display

Displays showing period uniforms

Engine displays

A visit to the gift shop

Morgy picked up this beautiful hat

I would have bought a tanker hat if they had one

And now for some poutine from SFRC’s awesome .38 Special food truck!

This was even better than my 2017 experience and I highly recommend Aquino Tank Weekend. Next time I might even go to the next level and book a ride in one of the vehicles!

RL