Old war weapons, including tanks and cannons, manufactured as far back as the early 1800s have been set up in the museum, which itself is inside Ayub National Park, by the Army Heritage Foundation.
Inaugurated in February this year, the vintage park is an ideal spot for war history buffs. A wall outside the park details the war history of the Indian subcontinent, with facts about wars beginning with the arrival of Mohammad bin Qasim to the sultanates of Delhi and the Mughal empire.
Four cannons from British ships greet people at the entrance to the park – two of which were installed in forts and have been relocated.
Also on display is a five pound smooth bore muzzle loading brass cannon, designed in 1720 and used by the British forces during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 remained in service until 1881.
A loading howitzer cast in 1827 and used in 1857 and a muzzle loading gun joined howitzer manufactured in 1886 are also displayed.
For the world history enthusiasts, there are tanks used by the United States in World War II, and against Korea in 1942 that were given to Pakistan in the 60’s and used against India in 1965 and 1971.
Counter battery radars, designed by the US in 1940 and handed over to Pakistan 16 years later, American made armed recovery vehicles used in World War II, and Russian armed recovery vehicles and tanks can also be found at the museum.
British self-propelled guns made in 1940 – first used in Italy and then handed over to Pakistan in 1947 – are also on display. These guns were used against India in 1965 and 1971. A Chinese armoured personnel ambulance used in the Sino-Vietnamese War, the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War have also been displayed, as are Sherman tanks.
An American made M4M Sherman tank was used by Maj Khadim Hussain to destroy three Indian centurion tanks at Khem Karan Sector during the Rann of Kutch Operation.
An infantry fighting vehicle at the museum, made using iron and magnesium to prevent atomic degradation by the Soviet Union, was handed over to Pakistan under the Warsaw Pact. The museum also includes an anti-aircraft gun, made in 1939 and used by the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British forces, that was used in the 1948 war between India and Pakistan.
A Willy Jeep captured by the Pakistani forces during the 1965 war with India has also been displayed. “The basic aim of the establishment of the Vintage Park was to provide an opportunity to people to see the war weapons, as they have not seen these things,” explained Army Heritage Foundation Director Sports and Security retired Lt Col Shehzad Mehmood.
He said most of the weapons on display had been scattered around the country, and were collected and brought to one place by the foundation. He added that some of the tanks and cannons had been repaired because they had been damaged with age.
