May 18, 2025

Visit to the Fort Irwin, California Armor Display

Here’s another one for the Armor Guys
By Mike Blohm

This trip report is on a visit to the armor displays outside of the General Robert W. Cone National Training Center (NTC) and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Heritage Center at Fort Irwin, CA. Fort Irwin is the home of the NTC, which was officially activated on 16 October 1980. The NTC is in an isolated area with over 1,000 square miles for maneuver and ranges, an uncluttered electromagnetic spectrum, and restricted airspace. The NTC is sort of the US Army’s equivalent of the Nellis Tactics and Training Range where the USAF conducts Red Flags and other training exercises. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Blackhorse Cavalry, are stationed at the base and provide the opposing force to units on training rotations at Fort Irwin. During my visit to Ft Irwin, I was able to spend time checking out the armor displays, but unfortunately tours of the Heritage Center are by appointment only and I did not have time to get that set up. In the past the post was the Mojave Anti-Aircraft Range established in 1940 (hence the M-2 AA gun in display), before it became Camp Irwin and later Fort Irwin in 1961.

The display includes 10 armored vehicles with both American and Soviet pieces. These include: M551 Sheridan light tank, M-113A2 APC with Viet Nam mods, M-60 Main Battle Tank, M-109A2 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, M551 VISMOD (simulated) T-80 Main Battle Tank, M113A2 APC and a M2 90mm Anti-Aircraft Gun. Actual Soviet vehicles include: BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and T-72 Medium Tank. The American vehicles parked in the dirt area appear to be painted in non-standard colors, likely having been used as opposition forces during training. These vehicles are in pretty rough shape. The three vehicles displayed near the Heritage Center look a lot better.

Several pictures of the overall display and each vehicle and its signage are posted below. The file names identify what they are. The signs provide good info on the history of the vehicles, so be sure to read those. I missed getting a close-up of the M60 sign.

I have also included some pictures of the vehicles and helicopters included in the “welcome sign” located on the road into NTC. Those include a M1A1 Abrams tank, a real BMP-1, an AH-1G Cobra, and a OH-58 Kiowa. There is also a UH-1 Iroquois Huey at an intersection on the post. Pictures of those are posted below.

Information on the Center can be found at:

Note that the name of the museum varies on different sites. If you want to visit the base you need to apply for a visitor pass on-line before you go to the Visitor Control Center. Phone number is 760-380-6750/4905, Hours: 6 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday – Friday.

I have additional pictures of the armor at both Fort Irwin and Fort Bliss (previous article). Let me know if you need any of those.