fv1609

Two possibilities I can think of. One is that it could have been to support a wire cutting attachment in an internal security situation. The other is that it was for fixing the front supports for the frame incorporating the telephone line laying installation.

Perhaps we could make some decorations with some of these?

Wayne some RM NI tours: http://britains-smallwars.com/ni/RM.html

Wayne have a look here, albeit a very brief outline: http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5952.aspx

The UDR was formed on 1 April 1970 & at its height was the largest single regiment in the British Army with a strength around 6,500.

Stewart a book well worth getting is "Calling All Arms" by Ernest Fairfax 1946. It is the story of the industrial effort during the 6 years of war. Of the various topics covered there are separate chapters each for Birmingham, Coventry & Oxford. I'll just skim through the Birmingham chapter, there is a lot of moral boosting chat & commentary. So here are some notes: SU Carburetter Co - all aero-carbs for Spits & Hurricanes made here. First company to employ blind inspectors,"jobs were found even for blind people from institutions" "Unskilled women workers were brought in". SU made 5 different types of aero-carbs for all RR Merlin, Vulture & Perigrine & Napier Sabre & Dagger engines which powered the great majority of RAF wartime planes from fighters to bombers. In 1941 production increased with a shadow factory in the Wharfe Valley, Yorkshire. Morris Commercial wide range of B vehicles. May 1944 Neptune Sister co. Nuffield Mechanisations built more than 14,000 Universal Carriers. Also Nuffield Cruiser tank Wolseley before war making 350 cars a week with 2,000 workers. Start of war half were sacked, rest worked on munitions eg machining 4" shells for Admiralty. 1940 hundreds of second hand cars were being cut up & converted into ambulances. Weekly made 150 tons of precision parts for Cruiser tanks. 2,800 tons of manufactured war materials per week. In 1941 factory suffered severe bombing one young man was killed by a bomb whilst trying to save important design drawings from a burning building. Both Monty's famous caravan were refurbished after the desert campaigns. Lots of pictures well worth a read.

Wayne fortunately the hard top I've got once had a RADHAZ kit fitted. So the riveted Velcro is still there. This leaves me will a roll of the fluff surface stuff that I've not needed, left over from the kit I have just fitted. This is the stuff that has lost its stickiness, this was for another purpose I had in mind but does not involve a hard surface.

I assume these are both WO/Army Code No.12246? I'm always on the lookout for a WO Code No.18365. Although I have a high quality photocopy, there is nothing like the real thing. A copy can never recapture the history hidden in the well thumbed page, the stain of a rusty staple, the smell of damp paper etc. I picked up a nice little example of this on Sunday: On the other book I bought, there were mercifully, few stains, overused pages or even traces of dampness - Manual of Army Sanitation 1926

Robin, given that my adhesive Velcro strip in the kit has lost its stickiness, I wonder if the kits have a short shelf live because of this? Ah you might say surely once fitted the Velcro would keep falling off, but the strip also has to be riveted on. So the initial stickiness is merely to assist with the installation, thereafter it doesn't matter, but without the stickiness it is much more of a fiddle to install. If that is the case it seems odd that replacement Velcro strip could not be a demandable item rather than ditching the whole kit, but with defence stores that often seems to be the way things are done.

Ok thanks Wayne, so it looks as if it took them 2 years to twig that the book was incomplete:D

Yes that's much the same as far as I can read it. Have you got a picture of the amendments page? Or just tell me whether it is a printed in Amendment or if annotated by hand what it says. Thanks. ..and to think ten years I had the opportunity to buy about 200 of these later books & have long since been pulped:cry::cry::cry:

Wayne, ah you have the advantage over me I don't have a copy of the copy. I didn't know anything had been entered on the Amendments page, my version of that edition has no amendments. So that's good news for those with a winch & its good news for me, otherwise there might be a trickle of requests for me to scan Section 6:D

Wayne certainly very good value & I'm glad these repros are around as it takes the burden off me where people ask me to do copies for them. I've always thought this edition of the publication is misleading (not Milweb's fault) as it claims to cover the "with winch" version. But there is no coverage of the winch! This was corrected in Amendments 1-4, these were incorporated in a reprint. This reprint was still "Issued February 1960" it changed from WO Code No.12246 to Army Code No.12246 signifying it would have been issued after the abolishment of the WO when the MOD (Army Dept) was formed in April 1964. Apart from this the newer publication states it incorporates the Amendments 1-4 & is also designated U4316/1. It has the additional Section 6 Specialised Roles giving very detailed information on the winch.

Yes a few contracts were pure 24v, but the majority of FFRs were 12/24v ie The automotive stuff was 12v but with an additional alternator to the supply 24v for the FFR installation.

Well I have just renewed with Cherished Vehicles fully comp for a Pig, a Shorland, 2 Wolves & Cipher trailer total agreed value £40,958 for £412.50 I know there is a £20 accident management fee, which is probably worth it as I am undergoing a claim at the moment. The new 110 Wolf is 4" taller than the 90 & as a result I don't see quite so much out of the rear window. As a consequence I reversed it into a car that I couldn't see, so now have twin reversing cameras!

Looking in the main index A000 of EMER COMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATIONS it gives P400-P409 as "Clansman, net installation, HLMC, Stalwart Mk 2" There would be more info in the detailed index A001 but I don't have that let alone P400 etc. Anyway that is where the definitive answer should be found.

Another way of doing it: http://www.modoracle.com/news/Christmas-Box-Campaign-Launched_21930.html?category=all

OK Declan, I wasn't quite wanting to mark stuff too exclusively because it certainly isn't my copyright. But documents I scan & circulate I now mark in a number of ways that give characteristics that I can identify, some I hope are less than obvious. But thanks, I might investigate what sort of watermarks the pdf writer can produce. The problem with documents, one shouldn't try & hog the material, but on the other hand I had to buy the publications & spend time scanning it. It is annoying when this stuff ends being either credited to someone else for doing it or finding reprints for sale that are based on my scans.

Robin I've no idea, I would have thought they should have worked. If I'm sat in the back I have to come out from under the RADHAZ to have a phone conversation:D

Steve yes in 1991-2 I would have had one, I was well into it by then as I bought my RUC Shorland in 1987 & it would have gone nicely with my RUC Pig that I now have as well. I remember being in the Tank Museum discussing the photos they had of some Commers & being told they were offered one but were not interested at all in such an awful thing. It's interesting to read RUC correspondence in the 1950s arguing the case for expanding the Commer fleet as they were considered more reliable, easier to maintain & easier to get spares for than the Humbers. In a SITREP concerning the Army use of the water cannon the writer complains that they were very badly designed & the pump operator easily becomes overcome by exhaust fumes. As a result he can only function wearing a respirator, funny that I didn't think respirators could eliminate carbon monoxide. I'm heartened that you & the RO had a sense of duty in wanting to save these extraordinary bits of our history. As I say I wish I knew at the time.

Monty that's perfectly ok, I was going to suggest that anyone else who also wants the pdf to PM. All I ask is that if you do pass it on credit me with having done it & if you print off copies to sell please cut me in! I have to say it is a very badly produced publication. At first I tried to scan it without disturbing the staples then I realised some of the pages had been inserted back to front. When scanning I found that not only were some pages of different sizes but some were cut asymmetrically.

Right got your PM. I just have to find it now! It shows up in my list of books. I've looked through the 3 main binders of Servicing Schedulkes & not there but need to rummage a bit longer I think.

It is radio frequency shielding to protect the crew from receiving RF radiation from the aerials fixed to the vehicle. It consists of thin but dense foam covered with aluminium foil which in turn is bonded to the chassis at strategic points. It is covered is green plastic & supported inside the roof by a combination of bolt fixings, straps & Velcro. 3-piece set fitted to TUM(HS) & a 2-piece set for TUL(HS) the market is flooded with them likely costs vary from £20-£80. Some dealers sell them as part of a "winterisation kit". The kit does help keep it warmer & reduces the hardtop condensation problems, deadens sound a bit & generally makes it seem a lot more cozy! I have just fitted one, surprisingly only made 3 years ago, why there are so many around for a vehicle still in service I don't know.

PM me with your email & I'll scan it for you.

Sadly there must always be an element of suspicion about gifts from unknown sources. No doubt it all has to get carefully scrutinised, which takes time & resources slowing up family mail. The anxieties are summed up in this old NI poster.