M.Rimmer

Just out of interest does anyone know of any Packard 4M-2500 V12 marine engines as used in US MTB's in the UK? and in the unlikely event I ever get hold of one of these is it possible to "ground run" a marine engine such as this? Matt.

Cheers guys,I will get the history search done asap. The "pink" has thrown me as by how and where it;s been applied it was obviously intended as a top coat rather than a primer,in fact there are two layers of pink one over the other and each a different shade. I'm afraid it's going to end up in deep bronze green,I don't fancy driving a pink Landy! Matt.

Welcome Jan,don't worry there are some normal folks on here,or so I'm told....! Matt.(who isn't quite normal and hasn't been for some time)

Hi Nigel, Great to see someone here with an interest in military horse transport. I have in the past had a couple of British military saddles but unfortunatly sold them:-( Matt.

Hi, Can anyone tell me the size of the studs used on Jeep split rims? lenghth and thread size would be great. Thanks, Matt.

Thanks Rick. I know John has owned a lot of vehicles,I'm guessing 40. Matt.

Just a quick update on the P-38. We had hoped to be in a position to recover the aircraft during 2008 however due to a number of different factors this will not happen,however planning both the recovery and conservation of the aircraft is still on going and we have moved a great deal closer to a recovery taking place but there are still several bridges to cross before any sand gets moved!. Since December of 2007 the aircraft has remained buried. This is the ideal situation as it protects it from both people and the effects of tide and marine life all of which are a real threat,it does however complicate the recovery process. I will of course keep everyone updated as things progress. I for one am looking forward to the day when the UK will have a genuine combat vet P-38F on display in a national museum. Matt.

Hi Rick, Great pics! Do you know if John still has the Buckeye Trencher? Matt.

Is this the same type as the one on milweb? Matt.

:eek::eek::eek:

Thanks MTman! It could have been RMP,until I get the records from Deepcut,if they exist,I don't know. The strange thing is at some point early in it's service it has been painted pink! no idea why but obviously not applied as a primer. Matt.

Hi, Can anyone tell me the circumstances in which the Sterling SMG was carried by British troops during the 1965 to 75 period? was it on general issue to all troops or only carried by those with specific roles or certain units?. The reason I'm asking is the rifle brackets on the dash of my 1965 FFR Landy have been moved while in service from the positions for carrying an SLR to the centre of the dash and the spacing suggests it was so a Sterling could be carried. I have not seen this modification on other Landys of the period. Thanks, Matt.

I'm afraid rather than a European standard for deactivation a ban would be more likely. I'm being devils advocate now but I can see why the powers that rule are concerned over this. Does it really make that much difference to leave the deacts at home?? Matt.

I know the records are now held at the museum at Deepcut barracks but I don't have the address to hand at this moment,I'm sure someone on here will have it though! Matt.

LCVP=Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel. A few of these seem to have survived,too bad there are no known British LCA's but I'm sure the metalwork must exist somewhere,and probably the Ford V8's which I assume were a specific marine version? Matt.

I agree,one day he may be found.Then again if you think of how many aircrew are still missing on land in Europe it may be a long time before he is found in somewhere as vast as the Libyian desert. Matt.

Hi Kuno, Thanks for the in-situ shot,very different from the photos taken just after she was found. Rick are you thinking of the movie Sole Survivor? it was based on the LBG story but in the film they used a B-25 Mitchell. Matt.

Thanks Kuno for the reply. It's a shame to see LBG in her present state and I do wonder if she would have survived better left where she was?. In your last photo it looks like a lot more damage has been caused to the lower fuselage. Wasn't there an attempt to get LBG returned to the US several years ago? I don't really see the point in this as there are several preserved Libs in the US already. Matt.

Hi Kuno, I too read with great interest your posts on MLU. I agree these vehicles etc should be left in-situ unless they are under direct threat of destruction and I have been doing something similar to you in regard to the WW2 aircraft crash sites in the area where I live in Wales,trying to foster a better understanding of the sites and why they are important. Do you have any information on the wreck of the B-24 Liberator "Lady Be Good" since she was recovered? Cheers, Matt.

I know a few US LCVP's(aka Higgins boats) have survived but how may British LCA's have survived into preservation?. I have read they were powered by two Ford V8's,is this correct? Cheers, Matt.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story! unfortunatly this more and more seems to be the motto of the British press these days.

Certainly an interesting discovery. As I mentioned on the LRDG wrecks thread it's the conservation that would be the major part of any effort to recover these. Having been in salt water for this long they will be relatively stable in their present enviroment but as soon as they leave the water and hit air they will start to corrode very quickly. Conservation would take months or even years and would probably require submerging them in a large tank. Another factor here is did the crews get out? I assume they did/were not in the vehicles at the time?. What happened to the Sherman DD tank that was recovered and in a French museum? I am no expert in conservation but I am learning a lot from the P-38 project as these are all problems we will have to overcome prior to any recovery work. Matt.

I'd love a WLA,but the practical choice would be an M20. So Jack are you going from ten wheels to two? Matt.

If I can find it I have an article somewhere about the restoration of a Norton 16H with sidecar,it might take me awhile to find it but I can scan and email when I do. Matt.

In this day and age you would think something could be done to preserve her,but I'm afraid she's probably going to end up in China. Anyone know her history? Matt.