Tarland

Formation signs are as follows:

No.2 - One of the Canadian Divisions NW europe

No.3 - 6th Armoured Div

No.6 - 79th Armoured Div - home of "Hobarts Funnies"

There are a good set of images here for the various Formation signs for British and Commonwealth forces:

http://www.britisharmedforces.org/pages/nat_formations4_badges.htm

Taking a completely uneducated look at the photo from someone who knows nothing about tanks(!)... The two white dots could be a reflection of a lens or prism slightly set back from the aperture. Then if you stare at it for long enough the apertures could actually be convex, either covers or again, some sort of lens. Also, to the lower right of the turret there appears to be a large plate with 6 big rivets in it which looks like it would interfere with turret rotation. Sorry, that's the best I can offer.

Yes - I would agree with you. It would suggest there is an optical instrument set back from the apertures in the plate and youre seeing the reflection of the optics. That was one reason I didn't think it could be the munitons vehicle

The riveted plate is supplementary armour retrofitted to the hull. You can see the same detail around the drivers vision slit on the opposite side and the hull plates on the front. Having a quick look at the previous thread entry and the related images the plate of the gun port was fixed I dont think there would be a clash issue.

Below is an image of the same vehicle but at 1/72 scale

http://henk.fox3000.com/pz3/beob/01.jpg

As observed in a earlier entry the protective shield for the MG is either folded down or missing.

The vehicle in the original photo doesnt have the support frame for the "Schutzen" or anti AT weapon skirts that would have covered the running gear whic is included on the model.

I would be intigued to know if the same vehicle or one like it was adopted by a Royal Artillery field regiment during/after Market Garden. By this stage Shermans were being used in this role.

There are quite well known examples of German armour being adopted; The 6th Guards Armoured operated a Panther D "Cuckoo" which was captured during the Reichswald battles.

All, thanks for the various suggestions.....

Here's the product of searches based on the proposed applications:

Munition carrier:

There was a version of the regular MkIII hull adapted to the role

Stug units were equiped with a version of the 250 halftrack for ammunition re-supply

Recovery vehicle:

A Stug wasn't that large a vehicle and so in its normal configuration it was a tight fit for the 3 man crew so trying to fit a winch into the hull I think is a tall order (also another reason its probably not a munitons carrier - even if you removed the gun and gunner how much useable space is created?)

Below is a Bergepanther and the capstan winch installed in that takes up the space under the box superstructure where the turret/turret basket was installed in the regular versions. I dont think a Stug could be configured in the same manner. I also have a copy of the Panzer Tracts volume on the Bergepanzerwagens and there is no Stug equivalent vehicle

I have to think this must be the mystery Artillery OP vehicle but what optical instrument was fitted to justify the two ports in the plated over the superstructure I'm at a loss.

The scissor periscope was the standard equipment on Stug. Turned up the following:

http://www.panzeraufgd.co.uk/optics.html

An early IR application could be plausible. IR night fighting equipment was fitted to the later marks of Panther.

Continuing the theme of the thread "What is that vehicle in the background" can anyone shed any light on this.....

The original photo is the lower of the two (with a Panther in the foreground).

I believe it was taken during Operation Market Garden in the area of Veghel on what was to be termed "Hells Highway" and appears in the 2 volume book produced on Market Garden by the "After the Battle" team (although I havent confirmed that myself - images were located on line and didn't have the original source indicated but I have come across a reference to it on another forum)

Apologies the images are not of the size/quality of those in the previous thread from the IWM archive website.

Its obviously a Stug III chassis but what is it exactly?

I have come across various references to Stug's being taken on by the British Army in NW Europe but no associated photos.

One reference mentions an Artillery OP vehicle - is this what is in the photo? I havent located any other images of this vehicle but there are other examples of Stug's being used less their main armament.

Stugs were supposedly used as armoured recovery vehicles and a number were re-purposed in Denmark for mine clearance on the west coast after the war (and operated by their former owners doing the mine clearance for the Danish/British authorities).

So can anyone shed some light on this?

Yes, the seats all hang from the top. It's done that way to minimize damage to the crew from mines.

There is more room inside for both the driver and turret crew, well more room than a scorpion at least, it's basically a spartan inside.

The "Spoiler" on the turret is mostly a rollbar, the II is very top-heavy and they were found to be prone to rolling.

It also serves as someplace to mount fancy electronics like ground radar.

 

BAEsystems.com has a document called CVR(T)final.pdf that describes the changes, no good interior shots though.

Theres probably a good reason that there is a lack of internal photos available - Operational Security

Manuals for FV432's are still redacted where systems are still in operational use and could provide information to hostile parties.....

The air start system works really well, the Americans use it on trucks with a small compressor for black starts. Hydraulic start is fine too - as long as you aren't the one pumping.

 

The Zone 2 mounted equipment is a significant cost, probably a decent percentage of the power pack total, but if you keep the Zone 2 certification up you can use in on refinery, mine and processing sites where internal combustion engines are not normally allowed.

Aye, all the Zone 2 rated diesel power packs used offshore on drilling rigs and production platforms have air starts - getting air isn't normally a problem as you plug in to the platform or rig supplies Most power/hand tools used on these facilities are air operated so they come with a couple of large air compressors and recievers so starting power packs is not normally an issue.

Similarly underground theres normally a fixed/hardpiped compressed air supply. Where there isnt an explosion risk i.e. outwith coal mines (or the risk of methane) you generally find plant with diesel powerpacks. What has to be taken into account is the configuration of the ventilation system in the areas vehicles are allowed to access.

Governor,

Congratulations on the pups - looks like a fine litter. In answer to your questions - don't get hung up on how our unit painted Explorers - our paint schemes were neither definitive nor indicative of what the rest of the Army was doing. For a start, we were an RCT unit - most recovery vehicles were operated by REME. Secondly, we were a support unit and not a front line unit, so we were not expected to put on camouflage netting and hide in the hills on exercise. Our primary role was in support of 20 maritime Regiment RCT - mainly in the loading and unloading of ships on jetties and beaches using our Explorers as shunting tractors. The final iteration of our paint schemes were in an attempt to improve Health & Safety. We often operated at night time in extremely bad weather conditions where poor visibility was a hazard. In the 70's we had a horrendous safety record with a number of fatalities and severe injuries, some of the accidents being quite bizarre in nature. The paint scheme was in recognition that our vehicles were used as MHE (plant) rather than trucks whist we operated on shipping tasks. Funnily enough, this was semi-recognised due to the standard FV binnacle on the scammell housing a mechanical odometer - i.e. it would roll off miles when the vehicle was reversing. As we could operate all day running trailers down the jetty and in to the ship, then reverse back on full hand throttle, we could empty the 70 gallon tank of petrol whilst only adding a couple of miles on to the odometer! Hours runs (as recorded by plant) was a more appropriate measure of use rather than miles. As to the history of 94BD06, I have no idea - during my career I drove well over a dozen different scammells on a regular basis and probably about 20 if you include those that I drove occasionally or ferried to workshops on behalf of other uses. I used to enjoy reading the history in their record books, but that was more than 35 years ago so I have no memory of where any individual vehicle served. If you are interested, then Wally Duggen, who post regularly on this forum - he used to run the Museum of Army Transport at Beverley and he seems to still be able to access the records of individual vehicles.

I have added some pictures - the first two show 92BD03 as we got her and as we painted her. The third is 94BD06 midway through a paint job to add stripes (if memory serves me, she bit the dust before the job was completed!) and the last shows our full Hi-Vis look which was used right up to the point when the Scammells were replace on the ship loading task by Muir Hill 171's.

 

Regards - David

Dave,

Was the white hubs part of the Hi-Vis scheme?

You can never have too many loaders, the Eager Beaver and Clarke Ranger, couldn't make it to the photo shoot due to being trapped behind an dead Martian

http://british-army-in-hameln.com/the-beast-of-408-bridge-troop-re/

Link to photos of the Hybrid Smith Crane/Michagan 285 in BAOR service.....

 

Found it. That certainly could've ended with an unintended bath.

No manual handing or task risk assessment done for that job........!!! Probably not a lot of volunteers for the next job either.....

Yes very impressive.

 

BTW the next photo in the sequence is this, which might may help further with the location. The IWM caption for the photo with the three POWs mentions Route 6.

 

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205188888

Is the link working or do you have to log in? I'm getting an error message.....

I can't think you're too far off in Earthview - looking at the original image (given its taken at ground level and Google cameras are vehicle mounted) I think you may still be too close - the Abbey looks a bit too clear/large (yes the original photo has the background out of focus....)

Cassino town was the scene of bitter house to house fitting so no surprise it was pretty much flattened - virtually a blank sheet to redevelop from.....

I'm looking to buy a Bulldozer, WW2 era or post war that looks wartime that I can use with my Autocar U8144 and low loader trailer which I'm restoring. I'm looking at say a 2-6 ton vehicle and the low loader is 25 foot, 5 foot of which is the swan neck. I only have a rough idea of whats out there as its not an subject I've had much experience of.

 

In the perfect world I would have liked a bren carrier or similar tracked vehicle but they are now of course getting very expensive so my rationale is a dozer is more affordable, but any other ideas or suggestions of something that would look good on a low loader to take to shows would be most welcome.

 

Could anybody please give me their views on Caterpillar/International/Allis Chalmers etc. It would need to have a dozer blade or a loading shovel. I'm happy to consider a finished vehicle or something that needs some work and I would really value ideas or even leads on suitable vehicles that maybe out there.

 

Thanks in advance for any info :-)

Careful, we'll be starting the debate of which are better, US or British bulldozer designs

A quick search of Ebay and there are a few Cat crawler tractors up for sale just now. Dont tend to find too many configured as loaders though.....dozer blades etc. were optional add ons.

There are a couple of Machinary forums equivalent to HMVF that might be worth having a look at for a steer... "Classic Machinary Network", "British Construction Equipment Forum" etc.

There are points of similarity with a Valentine but the two arms attached to the hull either side of the long pole don't match anything on any photo of a Valentine bridgelayer that I can find. I thought maybe Covenanter as in the photo below but the same applies.

 

I'm sure somebody on this forum will solve the mystery, though.

I have to admit I hadn't looked too closely at the above photo

Only having read the rest of the page I found it on I realised my mistake getting my Covenanter and Valentines mixed up.

Also in the initial POW photo we're looking at the rear of the vehicle with the bridge and launching mechanism having collapsed forward of the hull front (furthest from the camera)

Went to Hay on wye today, Oooooops ! Spoilt for choice 😀

 

 

 

I don't think you'll be allowed back there anytime soon!

Currently reading the following courtesy of Bob Grundy of this very forum...

Not come across John Weeks before.......... if you know the book it was prompted by seeing a German training film for infantry

This film is actually available (which I came across by accident) from the National Army Museum online shop..

http://books.national-army-museum.ac.uk/men-against-tanks-dvdgerman-anti-tank-tactics-c-368-p-43-pr-44350.html

John also wrote some of the Profile publications.... which are available here

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/AFV-Profiles

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Small-Arms-Profiles

OK, not current publications but plenty of early photos of CVRT's, FV432's etc. which I thought might be of interest....

Impressed would be an understatement.............!!

I thought the details on the turret hatches was impressive.

The 2cm L55 is something else!

Whats the vehicle in the background in one of the shoots of the turret?

congratulations, this unit landed on D-day with Shermans, but presumably trained on these prior. The value of your new toy just went up substantially.

 

Wiki

 

 

now if you can just find Winston Churchill's footprints on there it would be a home run :-\

 

Is it me or is the tank commander a bit small?

Maybe he's on another vehicle behind the Turret?

Heres another Canadian Covenater found whilst researching the Valentine bridge layer for another thread....

Found here on an entry about "Exercise Spartan" in March 1943..

http://ww2today.com/9th-march-1943-exercise-spartan-tests-d-day-forces-in-britain

Given the picture has been taken focussing on the POW's the background is a bit out of focus....

I would think it probably is a Valentine....

The thing that looks like a telegraph pole does look like a part of the bridge launching mechansim. The bridge has gone off the back of the hull along with the roller mechanism that the bridge rotates from after it touches down infront of the hull during launching...

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi0zeXrza7UAhXBnRoKHXJSB5QQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fww2today.com%2F9th-march-1943-exercise-spartan-tests-d-day-forces-in-britain&psig=AFQjCNHIGWoIF8iMnpSRp2_X-w48a2ZW8g&ust=1497022867852662

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7ks2Vzq7UAhVBrRoKHf6VALEQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommons.wikimedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AValentine_Bridgelayer_pic3.JPG&psig=AFQjCNHIGWoIF8iMnpSRp2_X-w48a2ZW8g&ust=1497022867852662

Don't recognise the statue....

The Junkers is a Ju188 or 388 (the follow on from the Ju88) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_188

A complete set of windscreen covers/black out for DROPS Cab

NOS condition - 3 out of 4 covers in original bags with part numbers

Open to sensible offers

PM for further details - NSN's / Photos

No takers from HMVF they'll appear on Ebay.

Looking at the photo you've got it propped up on blocks - is there an attachment bracket/pin?

That will probably give a few pointers....

Its a spotlight/small searchlight for a CVRT or smaller AFV e.g. a CET FV180. Often advertised as ex military Land Rover.

I'm sure the learned members of the forum can be more specific

Heres one listed on the Green machine surplus website:

http://www.greenmachinesurplus.com/fvspot-lamp-3805-p.asp

Remembered this thread when I came across the following;

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/army-innovations

British Pathe news film of the former Christchurch Military Engineering Experimental Establishment (MEXE)...home of the Bailey Bridge, Mexeflote and FV180 CET.....

A couple of the forklifts mentioned in the thread get a look in as does a trenching machine.

This a great Thread - fantastic to see the everyday equipment in Deep Bronze Green

Hi all,

 

i am searching photos of 105/14 howitzers during Falkland war.

Thanks in advance

Enzo

Is there something specific you are looking for? A quick Google search turns up quite a bit........?

There are 2 switches on the left hand side of the black box, the upper one has 2 positions, up for lights and down for blackout. The lower switch has 3 positions, up for front & rear lights, centre for Infra Red off, and down for rear lights only.

Running down the centre right of the box is the daily check list (first parade)

T tyres & wheels

C controls & cables

L lights & electrics

O oil & fuel

C chassis & drive shafts

 

All this lettering is screen printed on to the black box in white and will be a devil of a job to replicate.

Hope this helps. John

John, All,

Thanks for the suggestions/info...........

Switches as described. I can just make out "Oil" which is what had me puzzled about the switches....... The print is obviously transferred/screen printed on to the cover of the box and as you say will be impossible to repair/replicate.

Will break out the multimeter and see whats passing through the box in the first instance. The IR lights are tiny LED units - one each side on the rear and a bank of 4 in the front grill.....

Thanks again

I have managed to acquire a Grizzly ATV that was used at Camp Bastion by the heilcopter support force.

It is fitted with IR lights etc. These appear to be operated from a box mounted on the front right mud guard. However 85% of the markings on the box have been worn off.

Can anyone shed any light (literally) on what operates through the two position and three position toggle switches in this box?

Cheers

I'd post a photo but it would just show a black JB with very faint markings.... and dont have one of those IR monoculars to see if the lights are working!

I know the thread title is Aden emergency but what is the date of the latest colour photos? Possibly a range of dates?

The first photo is a Chieftain is it not?

The halftrack would be in REME use - there was one in the muesum at Aborfield.

Having a clear out; £5 per book and £2 for P&P

Sent you a PM. Cheers