Denny Tank Museum, Dumbarton

The Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank was the world's first privately owned commercial tank and was built in 1882 using Froude's design of the 1870 Admiralty tank at Chelston Cross, Torquay. From its inception until 1963 it was owned by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton, world renowned builders of fast cross channel steamers. It was then owned by Vickers until its closure in 1983. The facility has been in the safe hands of the Scottish Maritime museum since 1986.

Visitors to the museum will be able to see the complete model making process, which has remained virtually unchanged since tank testing began.

The purpose of the tank was to test scaled down models of the proposed ships hull to find out the stability, speed, and drag in the water. With the new tank the Dumbarton firm enjoyed a tremendous advantage over their rivals. Before even the keel of a Denny boat was laid her speed had been determined.

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