Chris Hall

Would you mind giving me the serial number of yours too? Both the UE and barred out number would be ideal. Did you notice the carry handle is an original BSA item? Ref. the Mk3s, I can't really add much, at least 67,000 Mk3 were produced by Enfield, the last being made in 1961, 2 years after the introduction of the L4A1. When assembley of the last Mk3 had finished there were 500 new bodies left over, these were converted to L4A2 and so have no original serial number to bar out, they will only be found with UE61A serial numbers. As about 21,000 Mk3s were converted to L4A1 to A4 spec, there was approx 46,000 Mk3s remaining in .303.

Hi Tinweasel, I can guess the serial range as I have a database of numbers I've collected over the years. The L4A3 was only made between late 1962 and possibly 1966/7, info is a bit short for these years so I have to best guess. Can you tell me the original serial number (The one barred out at the back)? These L4A3s from WWA arnt from Ireland, they have come from a continental dealer I believe and before that I'd assume they came from Africa but that is just a guess.

The front and rear Ally brake plates are the same casting but the front plate was machined for the Speedo drive, the rear brake plate was modified later by adding a steel plate to change the anchor point for the anchor away from the plate. I guess this removed the greater torque loading of the anchor point on the ally and spread the pressure over a greater area. The only reason they stopped using the ally plates was due to the aircraft industry requiring all the ally they could get.

Some interesting vids Key bird Docu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4YBwjQTds Glacier Girl Docu Clacier Girls 20mm Cannon firing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p8h43TRXwk

The L4A3 was the first conversion of the Mk2 to 7.62mm, the barrels were replaced by 2 7.62mm barrels (Although it does appear that some L4a3s were converted to A5 spec with 1 chrome lined barrel with out being marked as such). The mag well was was moved forward and deepened to accomodate the inch pattern 30 round mag. This meant the machining broke into the pocket for the barrel lock and dust cover detent spring. To overcome this a spring pin was fitted to become the new base of the hole for the spring. Because the mag was to sit lower in the body, the 303 feed ramps on the sides of the well had been machined away and so 2 inserts were riveted to each side and machined as the new lips. The .303 breech block was replaced with a new 7.62mm block to the same design as the 8mm Inglis block. The mag catch was replaced with a new mag catch/ejector block. The bipod had the sling loop removed and a dust excluder brazed in place. The Mk2 cocking handle was replaced with a Mk1/3 folding handle design. Some conversions to L4A3 retained the mk2 handle, standard Mk1 or 3 bipod without dust excluder and Mk 2 butt and lower slide. Would I be correct in thinking yours has a serial number of between UE62A1 to UE 66A7082?

Simply brilliant.

The rifle calibre Brownings used on any of the British Army armoured vehicles were the standard .30 cal 1919A4s. The .303 Browning was never fitted, they were however converted to ground roles in some African countries, South Africa being a major user. If you want a replica theres one here http://www.dandbmilitaria.com/l37a1-gpmg-SN.-REP.html If you were really set on a deac, make sure its a real L7 if its being sold as one because there are loads of Ex indian MAGs and FN MAGs with fake L7 markings. One sold on a dealer site (Not the one linked above) last week and who ever purchased it has been right royaly ripped off!

When I did my Snatch training we were told the weight was 3 ton. And it was really apparent when you wanted to use the brakes. I also remember in Iraq, my driver telling me how our Snatch didn't feal right in the corners, it was so 'odd' that as the passenger I could feal it role far to easily so I insisted he take it to the LAD, they said we were imagining it but as I insisted, a young lad would go for a drive with us to see what we were worried about. He sped off down the old runway at great speed and I could see his intension was to power around this aproaching corner so I positively warned him and he said 'agh it will be alright'. As I shouted to the guys in the back to hold on he turned the wheel and the thing rolled onto 2 wheels before he bricked it and steered it back on to all 4. He then made many comments on about the vehicle and retuned back to the LAD very slowly. It tuned out that both rear springs had somehow dislodged and was causing it to role badly. They always listened to any reports we made after that.

Not sure about the 81mm but a well known but expensive dealer has a US 60mm Brandt for £1500 and a Portugese 81mm for £750. These have very little in the way of accessories with them.

They deffinatly wash up on shore. There are dozens of reports each year of ordnance washing up on the west coast. Tons of it was dumped at sea post WW2 and some of it missed the trenchs and it washes ashore to this day. Also ordnance that was used on coastal ranges often moves ashore with sand movement. There are still 5131 BD Sqn personel located at many disused RAF ranges on the east coast to deal with this stuff.

I'll keep an eye open for you, I've seen quite a few in the past. Is it the 7.92mm or the 15mm? I'm assuming the 7.92mm.

I'm going to have to check my kit, I've got a load of pre 95 deserts from my time in Saudi.

A 202 Sqn Sea King landing. Another rescue?

Just a thought, is there or would there be a bennefit to fitting a Metorite engine in place of the Meteor? Can it be done?

They did a display together a few years ago, the Spitfire at full throttle in a dive and the Typhoon almost at stall speed but bloody good flying by both pilots.

And where are 617 Sqn at the moment? Theres no body home!

Knackered Tornado GR1 and Tornado GR4 at Lossie.

I think the MOD should take heed....STOP dumping Sxxt in the deep sea trenches. Sometimes you miss. And don't say you don't because of poloution 'cos you bxxxxy well do!

Theres nothing to say that the ACPO wont change their opinion in the future but with that letter in my opinion you are bullet proof (So to speak) against having said items fitted to vehicles. I'd like to see the CPS take that to court and think they'd win! Ref. De ac specs, if its an old spec deac and the proof marks are legible and no modifications (Read, tampering) have been found, then the proof house will issue a new cert with the current date but it will be examined to the original spec. So your SLR would be examined and if it still meets the spec of the time with no tampering, it will be passed to old spec. I've had a number of them redone which looks a little odd to see a old spec SMG with a post 95 dated cert. Oh, they also add another deac mark next to the original to show it has been re-examined.

Dont suppose you need a mills bomb box for armoured vehicles? http://battleflagmilitaria.co.uk/viewphoto.php?shoph=56528&phqu=3

Look what I found http://wdmilitaria.co.uk/viewphoto.php?x=0

if no one can help http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMS-Round-Bar-3-16-dia-3-x-approx-12-lengths-/181130690127?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item2a2c3afe4f

If it is AF Budge, he passed a few years back. His busines is still going as Ryton Arms, he may have had other business' too I guess. When I was last up there, there was a tank and some small fighting vehicles outside.

When I was using the Snatch in Iraq there wasn't really a standard fit for the radios and ECM, our bowman was mounted where you have your radio but the ariel was stored in the cab. In the centre front of the frame between the front and rear we had PMR mounted so that I could get to it. To the left and right in the rear we had some ECM, I cant remember when we got the various ECM because they kept giving us more. I think we had Chubb, Baltimore another one called batter ball or somthing like that and another I can't remebr the name of. One of them would block our GPS so if we wanted to use the Garmin we either had to switch the kit off or stop, get out and walk out of the bubble. When the guys came to put the wiring in for the ECM, they just asked us where we wanted it and they fitted it there. I dont have many photos but this one has both our Snatch, all the arials were on the roof as it was the best place to create the centre of your bubble, you can see the longish arial, the short stubby yellow arial in the centre and another at the rear, the fourth arial appeared later. We also had a spare wheel in the back with a wooden frame over the top for the top cover guys to stand on. The frame in the middle also had day sacks, camal backs and other kit on it, along with a red phos grenade so that if our vehicle was immobalised, the guys in the back could put a couple of rounds through the ECM and pop the red phos and all the kit would be destroyed. Have you got any overall shots of your Snatch?

You got a bargain at £2, the armourers making these when I was there were charging nearly £100 for one of the 125mm shells. The more engraving, the more they charged, and they were cheeting and using a computer image printed out, stuck on the shell and then etched the outline with a electric pencil.