Tri-Service

Abandoned Tank Gets A Sun Tan On Puerto Rican Beach

When you think of visiting a tropical island, what do you think of? Beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, lush tropical surroundings? How about a couple of graffiti painted WW II tanks? Probably not!

But that’s exactly what you’ll see if you go to Puerto Rico's Culebra Island.

Rusting Tanks Serve As Rusting Mementos

More From Forces TV: The Abandoned Artefacts of War

Just before the Second World War in 1939, the island’s Flamenco Beach was used by the US Navy for training exercises, to test their soldiers and their bombs.

They continued to use the area as a training ground throughout the war and although not a huge base was created, a lot of equipment and armaments were moved to the island.

As you’d imagine, as time went on, the local residents started to complain of the activity and in the 1970’s regular protesting occurred. Four years later and the Navy evacuated the island and stopped all exercises, taking most of their gear with them, but not all of it!

More From Forces TV: Eerie Underwater Graveyard Discovered In The Deep

Some of the huge tanks were left behind to pretty much rust away on the beaches. The elements, the waves, the storms have made their mark, but it’s the locals who’ve made them the unique features that they are today.

Painted with weird, wonderful and wacky patterns, colours and graffiti, the tanks are now part of the island, part of its history and give the old war machines an complete new lease of life!