STOWMARKET, SUFFOLK – Days after the SUFFOLK GAZETTE reported on the RAF refuelling a Tornado jet at a BP station in Brandon, the British Army has added to the fiasco of British military improvisation.

By Our Defence Editor: Doug Trench

This time, a column of Challenger 2 battle tanks was spotted topping up their fuel tanks at a Sainsbury’s petrol station in Stowmarket, raising eyebrows and questions about the UK government’s commitment to defence spending.

RAF Pilot Refuels Fighter Jet at Brandon Gas Station.https://t.co/M9cl7DJLaC

— Suffolk Gazette (@SuffolkGazette) July 9, 2024

The unusual scene unfolded during a routine training exercise when Major Basil Treadwell discovered that the convoy’s fuel reserves were running perilously low. With no military refuelling station in sight and faced with the prospect of stranded tanks, Major Treadwell made a strategic decision that will go down in military lore.

“I radioed HQ, and they suggested the nearest civilian option,” Treadwell recounted, barely suppressing a chuckle. “So, Sainsbury’s it was. I can’t say the staff were ready for a tank battalion, but they were jolly good sports about it.”

Full tank

Local residents gawked as the mass of tanks queued up next to compact cars and delivery vans. Store manager Clive Wiggins described the surreal moment: “Oi was just ‘anding out Nectar points when oi saw these ‘uge tanks roll in. I thaaart it were the Russians. Oi nearly shit moi paaaants. Then the Major asks if we’ve got a loyalty card for the army!”

The tanks, with their formidable presence and heavy armour, filled up one by one, causing minor traffic chaos and an impromptu photo op for customers.

In response, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement, echoing the RAF’s tone from the previous week. “Major Treadwell demonstrated exemplary leadership and adaptability. However, we remind all personnel to monitor fuel levels diligently to avoid such unconventional solutions.”

Army refuel at Gas Station

The spectacle has sparked debate about the adequacy of the UK’s defence budget. Critics argue that such incidents highlight a systemic issue, while others praise the ingenuity and quick thinking of the military personnel involved. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s has been left with a PR gift and a spike in fuel sales.