At the age of 18, people barely have the clarity of life or know how to take responsibility for things. But Arnold Schwarzenegger enrolled himself in the Austrian army, at an early age of 18. Well, certainly that very decision led him to a severe accident with a 50-ton tank.
Reminiscing about his time when he served in the Austrian army as a youngster, Arnold Schwarzenegger recalled how he got into an accident involving an army tank. Breaking buildings while puncturing gas and water pipes, Schwarzenegger got himself in great trouble while trying to warm up the engine.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Experience With Army Tanks
Before getting into physical fitness, bodybuilding, and acting, Arnold Schwarzenegger served the Austrian army as an 18-year-old. Being one of the youngest recruits in the army, the actor had to work hard to learn things and be responsible in life. But no matter what he did, it was difficult for a youngster to be sincere enough for the army.
Recalling his time when he served in the Austrian army, Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed what was the most difficult thing that he faced. Speaking with Graham Bensinger, the actor mentioned his experience and struggles with the idea of handling massive army tanks. Therefore he had to go the extra mile to learn and manage things.
“I went into the army early. I was at the age of 18. So I was an 18-year-old kid, still really not yet ripe enough I would say to take on the responsibility of a 50-ton tank. But, I was going to tank driving school and I passed easily and I was very very excited.”
Given the responsibility of warming up tanks, as a daily task, Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoyed the idea. But at the young age of 18, Schwarzenegger experienced the difficulty of maneuvering a 50-ton army tank. That’s what led the actor to get into serious trouble and an accident causing major damage to buildings.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Bulldozed Buildings With a Tank
Discussing one particular incident where Arnold Schwarzenegger managed to get himself in trouble with the tank, the actor recalled bulldozing buildings and pipes with the 50-ton tank. Despite excelling in tank driving lessons, Schwarzenegger mentioned handling a real tank was a little too hard.
“I was inside the garage and did my daily routine of warming up the tank. So you get into the tank…and you check to make sure the oil warms up, the engine warms up…that was stuff I was too busy thinking about. So I ran this engine and somehow I got into the reverse gear and the tank started shaking.”
Speaking of the particular accident that led to great damage, Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed what happened when he tried to warm up the engine. Beginning the process, the actor mentioned facing a little difficulty, unlike other days. Apparently, the actor bulldozed a building and broke water and gas pipes with his 50-ton army tank.
“All of a sudden I felt dust coming down from the top, and then all of a sudden I felt water, then smelled gas. So I literally ran with my tank through the building, through the wall, and broke the gas pipes and the water pipes…so I stopped and realized I was in deep trouble. Got out of my tank, looked around, and said, ‘Oh sh*t this is trouble’.”
Certainly, after the accident, his hierarchy was stunned to see the damage just like Graham Bensinger was shocked to hear it. But Schwarzenegger shared the story as a light-hearted memory of his fair share of accidents with the army tank.
