recymech66

Love the M88 Hercules.

Yes you could fit a lock but it's not exactly secure just a small turn buckle. Probably best to fit a better lock, but then what's securing the main tank from theives?

 

Not sure about the logic of carrying jerry cans horizontally either, it's asking to lose some expensive stuff to leaks.

As long as you have decent seals on your jerry cans nothing should leak out. never had a drama with these, well ok just a few times but soon sorted with the help of a new seal.:cool2:

Purely from a layman's perspective, what exactly are the terms of reference for 280 extra heavy recovery vehicles costing up to £1m each? I am sure that generations of recovery mechanics have had great fun in training recovering tanks that have been thrown into muddy lakes, but does that happen in reality? I am assuming that an 8x8 HET can drop it's trailer, reach and recover most tanks and that a modern 6x6 vehicle similar to the Foden could cope with most other breakdown/recovery/workshop crane tasks.

 

In the UK I regularly see the Fodens called out to recover broken down Lend Ravers which seems to be like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut; do we not have any medium recovery vehicles such as the MJs any more?

Do Tanks and trucks get stuck in muddy lakes often? of course they do, "8x8 HET dropping it's trailer and recoverying most tanks" Hmmm no I don't think so, if your refering to the Oshkosh HET then yes it would be up to quite a lot of tasks but not all, however you don't have one attached to every tank Sqn and Armd Inf Coy thats why you have Armoured Recovery Vehicles attached to them, and yes Foden/Man SV® can cope with all wheeled heavy and light plus light Armour and has some limited capability with Heavy Armour.

The RLC tank transporter driver has some recovery knowledge but can only really cope with picking up tank casualites from ECP's and tracks, however they do undertake quite extensive recovery training, but not as much as Recovery Mechanics.

As for Fodens recovering Land Rovers, well why not? we have the assets available it's what they're for then we should use them, not sure if there are any MJ's about these day's maybe sold off as the Bedford fleet is being retired (slowly).

Why have the MoD procured these new Recovery vehicles? well the ageing Foden is just about coming to the end of it's service life as is most of the medium to heavy wheeled fleet, the MoD has procured the Man Support Vehicle and obviously we need the capability to recovery it, you obviously need to go down the route of commonality of spares etc thats why it's based on the Man chassis. These are not "Extra vehicles" these will in time replace the Foden when it gets withdrawn from service.

I'm surprised you see many Fodens being used in the UK on the public roads as there is a recovery contract in place, unless your on the exercise area.

The new Man SV® is cutting it's teeth extremely well in Afghanistan at the moment, it's turning out to be an outstanding vehicle, definately a leap forward in technology.

Paul,

It sounds like you have the best job in the world over there, can I have a job when I get out?

To answer your question about our cab, to install some sort of sleeping arrangement would be tricky given the depth of the cab but not impossible, I heard that there was to be a hammock type bed for the driver which would be suspended from hooks in the cab but I think they shelved this idea due to the MoD not liking us sleeping in our wagons anymore. Space behind the seats is very limited so I think you'll find Recy Mechs buying hammocks and throwing them up were they were going to install them in the first place.

Pics, yes I'll put some pics up hopefully tomorrow.

I'd love to be trucking around the outback picking up old trucks etc, you must love your job, damn your Government for dropping Recy Mech from the list of critical trades for emigrating.:argh:

Some of the MJs I've seen have a jerry can holder on the left side, forward of the fuel tank, like this one. Does anyone know if it locks shut, and if so has anyone got a spare one?

 

Ours never came with one as the Ptarmigan vehicles had cable drums fitted there instead, and it might come in handy! :cool2:

 

I'd make my own but why bother if someone's got one...

 

Cheers

 

Stone

Yes they do lock shut, with the help of a padlock, I have one here but I'm in Cyprus so postage would be a killer.

I'm going to Scotland for a week to study Whisky making and one day off from a rather busy schedule. Saturday 29th I'll be staying in Edinburg and was wondering what to do with the day. I probably should go to the Edinburgh Castle, but what other options do I have?

 

Could one of you scots (or other) help me with some advice?

 

Marty, Norway

Wow, you really need to ask?

http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

This is an absolute must...... enjoy, lucky you, Wish I was in Edinburgh this month.

I think the MAN SV® will P!55 all over it, it'll take a special wagon to beat it. Plus I don't really agree with the laod space for the pallets, the "can you just shove this on and take it to this location" would be a nightmare. IMO. Would love to see it go head to head though.

What can it winch? and 8 Ton max crane lift? lousy.

Apologies for no follow up on this one guy's, still serving and the Army like to send you places with little or no notice. Back now if you have any dramas I'll SCOC the numbers tomorrow and put on here.

Great pics I love Armour, and I'd give my right arm for some Jelapeno cheese spread, awesome.

Very sad indeed, RIP to both great men.

I don't mate but I'll ask the VM's when I get back to work, I'm on leave at the moment but I'll keep an eye on the thread, if your not sorted by next Monday then I'll get you the answer.

Sorry it's not a bit quicker.

Ok mate thought I knew you.

I've done it myself on a noumber of occasions in the past, Alien probably has to.

Baz, have you been to 2 RGJ, 30 Sigs?

Carried out half tracking quite a few times on Exercise and Op's with 432 and Warrior, it's an excellent quick fix that doesn't really take that long to do. It gets you back to location were a permanent repair can be effected. Not advisable to drive on public roads though. :stop:

They've been teaching this for donkey's years at SEME Bordon.

If you can wait till I'm in work tomorrow I'll post details on here.

Whats wrong with the Mack?

Looks like the Idler arm has sheared off.

Seen the Mack on a few websites nice truck, I very neary became an Aussie Recy mech, got to the interview stage but then your Government decided to drop Recovery Mechanic from the list of available jobs we Brits can transfer over to.

Gutted.

There have been teething problems with the complicated electronics but once they are sorted it'll be a good wagon, plus what better proving ground than on Operations in Afghanistan.

What improvements would I make? Not many, just a few gripes from a drivers perspective but nothing major, time will tell.

MAN SV ® definately more user friendly, the HEMTT is American and less so, and there are a lot more than "2 current in service recovery vehicles"

I was a Green Goddess driver/pump operator on Op Fresco, brings back memories. Great wagon, a bit hairy on the bends with a full load of water but great fun.

Tiger 131 at Bovington is a sight to behold.

http://www.tiger-tank.com/

Destroyed by a number of Shermans wasn't it?

We have loads here, I'll get some pics for you and post hopefully tomorrow, or would you prefer email?

Who cares what it costs, the longer the sights and sounds of these wartime icons keep flying the better, just ask those who fought during these campaigns and I reckon it'd be a hands down yes everytime.

Worth every penny.