recymech66

You've probably seen quite a lot in the last week or so with the current exercises taking place on SPTA.

I understand Cosrecs drawing and description, I've recovered many trucks like this in places like Bosnia and Kosovo on high mountain tracks with not much room to squeeze past the casualty, By positioning the wrecker as far over to the left as possible as you look at the drawing thereby allowing the winch to pull at an angle of approx 45 degrees then anchoring the end of the winch rope as low down as possible will in effect try to pull the casualty down and towards the back of the wrecker, once the slack has been taken up quite alot of downward force will be applied and will be just enough to stop the casualty from rolling, the trailer will eventually naturally follow the unit up onto the road. You may run out of room and have to reposition a number of times. And yes a Tirfor is an excellent machine for anchoring vehicles that may roll once a pull is applied, we always carry one on our wrecker.

Yep, well no dramas getting it tranlated from one of my German friends here (who is a tank mechanic so that ticks the box for "Mechanically minded") but as I said some of the text in the pics is quite hard to read, if you type it out I'll get it done for you, just be aware I'm away for the next 10 days so you have a bit of time. Send me a message when you're ready and I'll PM you my email address.

I'm serving in Germany I can get you a translation but some of the pics are quite difficult to read, if you could type out the text you want translating and email it to me I'll get it done for you.

Just to balance things up here's one of my videos of an annual Military parade in Nicosia, this was taken in Oct 2009. Something went wrong...

Only a short snippit I took of the Turkish Stars Aerobatic display team. Something went wrong...

Will look through collection after work tomorrow if I get chance and post if I have any.

I lived in Cyprus for 2 years while posted there, we went to Kyrenia many times and absolutely loved it. My wife and kids love the restuarant opposite the old church in Bellapais, lovely food. We really miss the old harbour and were lucky enough to see the Freedom celebrations when we had our last holiday in Kyrenia in 2009, the Turkish equivilent of the Red Arrows put on an excellent display over the harbour were we were having a fantasic meal on the roof of one of the restuarants. We went up to St Hilarion castle just outside Kyrenia a few times and saw the Turkish Army bases with the huge statues of Soldiers outside, tried to take pics but thought better of it in case they got a bit twitchy. Wish I'd known about these tanks and the museum, gutted. Saw quite a few Land Rovers being used by the Turkish Soldiers in Kyrenia and Nicosia which made me smile.

Ahh Manorbier, that brings back some memories. On another note I know a few REME types who were on Saif Sareea with that unit. I will have to look through my BATUS photos and see if I have any of the HVM.

Possibly used to identify individual units, as you say you've seen similar markings on kit bags. The same method is still used in todays Army ie, different colours and shapes identifying different Coy/Sqn etc. We paint these markings on our Bergans and grips and sometimes cut shapes out of wood or plastic then paint them before tying them on with string, we then write our zap numbers on them to indentify an individual within that Coy/Sqn etc.

I've seen this happen a few times it's done easier than you would think, too much speed maybe rounding a bend or junction and then sliding into the curb, it's the curb coupled with speed and momentum that flips taks onto the sides., look at the curb in the pics. Would've loved to see a video of it coming down onto it's tracks, bet that made a thump. No check pull applied to prevent further damage as it slams down onto it's tracks. Tut tut;)

I have a few of these books and can recommend them. They have some great detailed photos but it all depends on what your after from the books, they have quite a bit of info about each vehicle type, I like them because I've been to quite a few of the units and on various exercises that they have covered so like to keep them as a bit of memorabilia mainly. Probably not the review your after but they are good, bit pricey though.

Superb video, RiP Maj Dick Winters

Nice find.

VW and Maj Hirst REME. http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%26+heritage/transport/road+transport/ART309970

When I joined the site it wouldn't let me have just recymech so I added 66 which is part of another CRARRV VRN I had. (DoB 68 so not far out:-)). CRARRV = Challenger Armoured Repair Recovery Vehicle. Yes I like the Saladin, that's a project for when I get out and have more time I think.

I've built many models over the years and found AA about 10 years ago when I built their CRARRV, I was amazed to find in the decal sheet my VRN from my CRARRV when was attached to a certain tank Regt, I based the model on my own vehicle and was really happy with the results. Having only previous experience on mainstream kits I was a little daunted by what I found in the box, the individual parts took quite a bit cleaning up ie, removing excess resin etc, I found the best method was to cut most of the excess away using a model knife then finish them up with needle files to make them perfect before assembly. I did have a problem with one part in particular which snapped in half, however when I got in touch with AA they were awesome, they had a replacement sent to me straight away, no dramas. I spent around 3 months on the model all together (I know I'm slow) but this paid dividends on the finished model. In my opinion a model really comes alive when painted well, I again took my time with the spraying and weathering and was really chuffed with the results. Obviously not aimed at beginners but with a little modelling experience these kits are a joy to build and give a nice sense of achievment once finished, just wish they were cheaper:( Just had a look at the KFS kits, wow impressive.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/AgenciesOrganisations/WFM/ See link, they'll be in storage, not sold off. Storage depots in Germany and UK with controlled humidity environment ensuring they are kept in top condition.

Yes, exactly the same princple, less dramatic but no more damage caused and no thick ear from the boss.

Never, because we would use 2 wreckers, one to provide the pull and the other to provide the check tackle. (once winched over the point of balance the wrecker providing the check tackle takes over and lowers it onto it's wheels under control).

You'd have to take on extra wagons to cope with the work load:D

Can't really help Gary as it's before my time but Roger at the REME museum can maybe help, there are guy's on here I think who are friends with him.

1 Locked track increases the resistance by 1/3 weight of the vehicle, indirect pull they were asking a lot of those anchor plates in that ground, as was shown when the excavator was dragged forward, easily overcome by splitting the track.

Yep seen that one many times, glad it weren't me :D

Haha, I think they were lucky the damage was confined to just the vehicle:D The bloke standing next to the tow rope and the 2 blokes hanging onto the back were a tad fortunate not to come away with a few bruises:shocked: