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Tank, anyone? Defence chiefs are selling off millions of pounds worth of kit as the British Army shrinks to its smallest size for 200 years.

Fleets of armoured vehicles, trucks, Land Rovers and even sand buggies used on special forces missions are up for grabs in a huge military fire sale.

Some are brand new, while others date back to the 80s. Defence sources revealed thousands of items of surplus equipment from helicopters to ships will be sold in the coming months, the Sunday People reports.

One said: “Anything that can be sold will be sold. Someone will buy it.

“People will pay hard cash for everything from combat JCBs to old number plates.

(Image: Crown)

“There are plenty of bargains – some equipment has never been used.”

Chancellor George Osborne insisted in his Budget the armed forces were safe under the Tories. But senior sources said sales were necessary to balance the defence books.

Much of the surplus equipment is available following the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Vehicles are being flogged off through Witham Specialist Vehicles, a sales and marketing agent for the Ministry of Defence.

The pictures ­featured here, right, are not the actual vehicles for sale.

(Image: Crown)

A 30-year-old Scimitar light tank with a £37,500 price tag was recently sold by the company. The tank, fitted with a new diesel engine, fought in almost every conflict from the Falklands to Afghanistan.

An Avis Stormer armoured recon tank with low mileage, capable of ­carrying 17 Starstreak missiles has a guide price of just £12,500.

A reconditioned Samaritan ­armoured ambulance which has seen active ­service is on sale at a snip for £55,000. And a Spartan armoured personnel carrier will cost £19,995.

The two-seater EPS Springer ­all-terrain vehicle has a £7,500 price tag. It is a special forces favourite and came into service only in 2009. Many of those being sold are unused.

The MoD is also selling ten Foden 6X6 trucks used to recover vehicles on a battlefield. They cost £19,500 each.

One controversial vehicle up for sale is the lightly armoured Snatch Land Rover. It was used in Northern Ireland but in Iraq was vulnerable to roadside bombs and cost many lives. Troops dubbed it the “coffin on wheels”.

By 2020 the Army will comprise just 82,000 soldiers – its smallest size since the Napoleonic era.

The MoD said the sale would mean value for money for taxpayers and its ten-year plan would ensure forces have the right equipment for the times.