fv1609

Joris, I have just sent a PM to myself. I followed the email link back & gave me the reply form but it was addressed to "fab" rather than "fv1620" It's not a major problem I have just learnt to ignore the link & go into the forum. The other thing is that the PM content gets displayed in the email. Is there a way of me turning that off so it can only be read by going in via the forum itself?

Yes Cyclops Sqn 2RTR Yes it had to be 1964, as it was in April 1964 that Cyclops moved into Kandahar. These men are clearly wearing RTR uniforms. On 1 Feb 1965 the core of Cyclops amalgamated with a core of SRS (which then 'disbanded') to form the Parachute Squadron RAC. Then it would have been maroon berets with RAC badges. The idea of this was that it was no good having a very expensive missile system & all its backup enterage roaming around looking for targets of opportunity. An essential was armoured reconnaisance to identify & evaluate the need for a high tech destruction of a target. The new Squadron would perform both roles in an intergrated way. This is what the men were looking at. The Humber is 18 BK 91 & I am pleased to say it is still around & owned by a friend who provided the photo below. What we are still looking for is the trailer. The story goes that they ended up at Jacksons & the equipment pulled out :cry: & the trailers just sold off. The other photos were kindly provided by members of the Para Sqn RAC OCA

What this Netheravon? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/fv1620/netheravon01.jpg[/img]

Richard item "A" is the missile tray pulled out of the supply truck. Yes the most striking thing is the missile body itself. The upper (square in cross section) part is the centre body (for that is what the trailer tests) the light line is an aluminium ring that clamps the motor (round in cross section) Unit was the Royal Armoured Corps, Parachute Sqn, Nope (cap badges are not RAC) year, well another guess here 1965 Nope but close

Yes jolly decent of you Richard, I appreciate not spoiling the fun for everyone by not being too observant at the beginning. So are you going for Item "A" & the date & the Units that were responsible for Malkara or shall we see how the rest of the chaps do :whistle:

Right then, the first photo shows a glimpse of the rear of a Humber, to be precise, FV1622 Truck, 1 ton, Missile test, 4x4, Humber, then under the tent I believe, is its companion trailer, ie. FV2308® Trailer, 1/2 ton, Functional Test Unit. The truck had a HP air compressor and alternator driven from the PTO, this suppled power to the trailer, for its role in missile testing. The photo with item marked "B" is I think, the rear doors to FV1621, Truck, 1 ton, Missile Supply, 4x4, Humber Yes well done Richard I knew I could rely on you for a comprehensive response, absolutely correct. We could do with chaps like you in MI 10 attention to detail & all that sort of thing ;-)

but I was figuring on the Humber GS and RTR personnel as the link. Yes valid link, but that is not just any GS, there is something special about it that can be seen. There is another sort of specialist Humber in one of the pictures which could have given the link. Now, those items A and B, is this anything to do with a Drone? Nope Oh, and uniforms, was it in 1967 that they were introduced? Nope, there is only year it could be. There were I suppose three units that were responsible for the system at different stages. One for trials, one for troop trials & one for service.

Um not quite finished yet! Two unanswered questions! 1. What are these men looking at? 4. When was this? I think Malkara was guessed at on the basis of my tendancies rather than deduced from photographic evidence. We have got an era, but the year can be defined historically largely on the basis of uniform. Nobody identified "A" correctly although "B" does need some specialist knowledge.

Like the B60, the J60 could use Sparking Plug No.1 Mk 1 and Mk 1/1, which could be mixed. However there were reports of extensive engine damage occurring with the Plug No.1 Mk 1/1 i.e. the Champion RSN 13P. It is not clear what the actual problem was but given the difficulty of regapping them, it may have been the earth electrode weld failing. There was also an issue of piston crown burn, which may have been plug related. All these plugs were to be withdrawn and as an emergency replacement RSN 12Y plugs were fitted. The RSN 12Y was the plug fitted to FFR Land Rovers and were at least in plentiful supply. Champion RSN 12Y Although intended as a stop-gap some enthusiasts use RSN 12Y plugs in their ‘B’ Series engines on the basis that they foul up less readily than RSN 13P and although not cheap they are more readily available than RSN 13P. Note that the problems of engine damage from the RSN 13P were an issue for the J60 it did not apply to ‘B’ Series engines. Some users of B60 and J60 engines have dispensed with the screened wiring altogether and used commercial 14mm ¾ in reach plugs. They are readily available, cheaper and less prone to foul up. There can be improved reliability once the screened cables have been removed, the capacitance effect of the cable has gone, which will give should be a bigger spark. It was found that a newer version of RSN 13P, FV817225, which I take to be Sparking Plug No.1 Mk 2, was quite safe to use with the J60 engine. The newer plug is identified by diamond pattern knurling on the upper part of the body, whereas the older plug had longitudinal serrations. The earlier plug was marked “Made in England” and had a Government Property pheon (arrow). At the top is the late pattern RSN 13P, beneath is the troublesome early version

In 1976 the two RAC regiments in Tidworth were 15/19H in Aliwal and 4/7DG in Bhurtpore. Does this have any bearing? - nope

If you are using RSN13P, I don't think you can adjust the side electrode. I tried that once & it pinged off!

Yes, one member of the above Unit used to play tennis with Col Gadaffi.

Nepal? - yes well done. I was in the process of posting another picture, where you can just read N E P on the uniform. The dignitory is the Crown Prince of Nepal who I assume is now King Gyanendra although his family did suffer a tragedy for him to ascend to the throne. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Gyanendra

Some clues here for the experts on uniforms, especially look at the man in the middle.

ok lets try the new cambodian king Sihanouk - nope

Tuanku Mizan, who has just been crowned new King of Malaysia ?? - nope

He has only recently become king & assumed this position in disturbing circumstaces some might say. When he visited he was a prince & a teenage one at that.

Kandahar Barracks ? yes Richard spot on as I would expect

either tidworth - yes or Perham Down - nope

lets try salsbury plain - getting warmer but it was the name of the barracks in the photo or at least the camp I was after. BTW the dignitory was a prince, who later became a king.

Well done Richard for getting place & date. The answers are: 1. Martial Law 2. India 3. 1921 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/fv1620/MartialLaw01.jpg[/img] These 1921 Instructions for implimentation of Martial Law were drawng on existing laws & procedures laid down in: The Code of Criminal Procedure The Indian Volunteers Act 1869 The Indian Penal Code The Whipping Act 1909 Secretary of State's dispatches to the Viceroy & Governor-General of India 1920 The need to standardise instructions was no doubt to clarify procedures in trying to quel the unease generated by the shameful business of 1919: http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/india/india1919.htm

The problem is still there. Got an email notification of PM from Paul Connor followed link, wrote a reply just about to send it then saw it was already addressed to "muttguru". Its not a big deal to go into the forum, but easy to get caught out with the email link.

Swingfire - Nope

With the Humber 1 ton GS truck, RTR personnel, black coveralls on the mechanic, it has to be something to do with Malkara support equipment. - Yes Now therre was a mobile crane specially for handling guided weapons, a Thornycroft Nubianwith a Bedford engine, this could be the outrigger leg in the photo. - Nope It was used by the School of Artillery in the mid 1960's. Which brings me to the location, Larkhill ? - Nope

Rapier System - nope