October 28, 2002

2:29 PM

One of Our Inflatable Tanks is Missing. The UK has been returning to normal operation today after our latest storm (apart from the power, oh, and the trains but a state of disruption is 'normal' for the trains). The saddest story is of Christopher Vince, who died saving his brother. The silliest is that of the army and their lost inflatable tank.
posted by anyanka (12 comments total)

Why does BBC news give the wind velocity in miles per hour instead of kilometers per hour? Does it have something to do with being in Wales?
posted by stevefromsparks at 2:46 PM on October 28, 2002

In case the last paragraph about the inflatable Ronald McDonald also missing intrigues you, here is more info.
posted by TedW at 3:01 PM on October 28, 2002

Inflatable G.I. Joe in inflatable tank attacks inflatable Ronald McDonald; claims hand of inflatable sex toy. Film at 11.
posted by stonerose at 3:14 PM on October 28, 2002

(insert "blow me" joke here)
posted by TedW at 3:18 PM on October 28, 2002

Because in the UK we have always used miles per hour.
posted by zeoslap at 3:28 PM on October 28, 2002

Why would anybody want to hump a tank?
posted by Hildago at 3:39 PM on October 28, 2002

Mention of inflatable tanks in Britain reminds me of the decoy army set up near Kent prior to D-Day to fool the Germans into thinking that the invasion was coming at Pas-de-Calais rather than at Normandy. It worked, too!
posted by mr_roboto at 6:33 PM on October 28, 2002

The Royal Navy is sure glad the British Army lost that tank; it eclipsed their own embarrassment as a ferry collided with their newest frigate, mere weeks away from being officially operational. (This on the heels of another ship hitting rocks off Australia and requiring a salvage ride home.)

As for metrification, a process which began officially in 1971 remains inconsistently applied (which may be a good idea) as resistance continues amid broad skepticism. Don't believe me? Googlefight it.
posted by dhartung at 10:17 PM on October 28, 2002

I salute Christopher Vince, or rather his memory.

This is sad indeed.
posted by azazello at 10:47 PM on October 28, 2002

Are the British Army planning on developing inflatable soldiers to go with their inflatable ordnances? This could lead to a whole new kind of warfare...
posted by H.B. Death at 2:07 AM on October 29, 2002

Dhartung, that should have been an FPP.
posted by Songdog at 6:19 AM on October 29, 2002

Uh what was this post suppose to be about; the storm that hit the UK and Europe or wind related stories?
posted by thomcatspike at 9:30 AM on October 29, 2002