Huntly farmer gets 18-tonne tank

An 18-tonne piece of classic American war history has arrived in New Zealand to join a private collection of military vehicles.

The LVT 4 (landing vehicle tracked) Buffalo was an amphibious tracked vehicle developed during World War 2 to bring cargo ashore during landings.

It was also used by Steven Spielberg in the The Pacific, a World War 2 television drama mini series, about the United States Marine Corps actions in the Pacific.

It has been bought from its Australian owner by Huntly farmer Des Sullivan who has a 60-tonne Chieftain tank and two Scorpion tanks, all three of them operational.

He said he was considering displaying the vehicles in a museum.

The LVT4 arrived in Auckland on a ship yesterday and was to be shipped to Huntly, probably today.

Mr Sullivan said until he had inspected the vehicle he could not say what condition it was in.

"It was used in The Pacific series and once they had finished with it, it was parked up in a field for two years.

"It is going to be a restoration project."

"All it can do is go in a staight line from what I understand, that's what is worrying me," Mr Sullivan said.

He would not reveal the purchase price, but said a sponsor was involved.

The LVT was introduced during the war as cargo carriers for ship to shore operations but rapidly evolved into assault troop and fire support vehicles. It could carry 18 fully equipped men or 2041kg of cargo.

- NZPA