Larry Hayward

"If only you could plough up a Tiger " Well the latest issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine ((June 2006) has a report of a Tiger, five Shermans, a Panther and other Soviet tanks being recoved from a bog on an abandoned tank range near Moscow in 1973, and what with the Panzer III and T-34 recoveries, I'm sure these won't be the last.

Guys, Does anyone know where you can get patches to cover very small holes in tent canvas? What do the Army use to stick then on with?

The American M3 Halftrack, and similar M5, M9 & M14s did not just fade away after WW2. The British Army used them until 1967 as Command Post vehicles and as REME Fitters vehicles, with an A frame jib on the front. Then there was the Israeli Army who used them until the 1970's. Also there we quite a few in use in South America too - probably into the 1980's. So its not too bad to think that these vehicles were still in use more than thirty years after they were designed. The reason they disappeared is that it was found that a modern 6x6 or 8x8 was just as good off road as a half track and yet less complicated. Thats the reason that the half track Land Rover- the Centaur never went in to series production.

"How much would one of those tents cost? (the one in the photo) " Well its up to £34 plus £11.65 postage so far on eBay. Shame I've go a tent already! NB - Clive was the tent in general use then in the 1970's or was it for special use?

Paul, Here is a 7x7 tent on ebay with bids starting around £31 - that the seller says is ex-British Army and dating from 1968 - though to my knowledge the British Army never had Camo tents at that time. Probably Clive will know best! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EX-BRITISH-ARMY-RIDGE-TENT-DATED-1968_W0QQitemZ6629805249QQcategoryZ36077QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Paul, You could go for a 9x9 Command Tent, if it's to be used by one or two people. They are on ebay occasionally for £250 - £300

Dear Ian, I hope you see this in time - there is 13 hours left for these on eBay! They are 750-16 but are new and may be of use at a starting bid of just 99 pence! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dunlop-SP-111-750-16-Set-of-3-tyres-Land-Rover-trailer_W0QQitemZ4637878236QQcategoryZ31348QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Andy, Have a look at the link to MLU http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1801 Larry

I wonder what members think of the growing trend in replica MV's? Do they have a place in the MV movement or does it depend on the event? Recently there has been a growing trend in modifying standard Land Rovers & Lightweights in to Recce / SAS vehicles or even building replica LRDG vehicles. Even WW2 Kubelwagens can be made from kits or a new Jeep from parts. I appreciate that we all adorn our MV's with kit and weapons that they probably never had while in service, so in a sense we all fake it a little but modifying a vehicle in to something else could upset the purists. Should replicas be banned from winning show awards? On the other had what is the difference between the Army modifying a bog standard vehicle in to a Recce vehicle and a member doing exactly the same work to the same standard to the same type of vehicle? Should we make replicas if a particular vehicle is no longer available and would you be offended if I turn up at a MV show in a fibre glass Crusader tank? Your thoughts

Thanks Neil, The results of your research will be of interest to MV owners looking to take their family members out for the day to an MV show. These are the most important sections for older vehicles:- 8. Does that mean that I may not carry children in just a seat belt until they are over 135cm? Correct - the new law (from Sept 2006) requires this for children's safety. 15. Do the rules apply in cars not fitted with seatbelts? Children under 3 must use the appropriate child restraint in all cases - there is no exemption for them in vehicles with no seatbelts in the rear, such as classic cars. However, children 3 years to 135 cm height may be carried in the rear of such vehicles without restraints but they can only go in the front if they use the correct child seat or booster. 17. What if there are no seat belts in the rear of a vehicle Children under 3 must use the correct baby seat or child seat so they would need to be travelling in the front in the correct child restraint. Children 3 and over must use child seats or boosters in the rear where seat belts are fitted. The law is not going to make people fit restraints in the rear of vehicles where the seats do not have seat belts; but it is not safe for children to ride in the rear of a vehicle without a restraint. These rules sound very much like those that Madman mentioned, that stop him from carrying passengers in the back of his Weapons Carrier

I have an idea there was a suggestion in the papers recently, saying booster seats would be compulsory for children up to a certain age - probably some kind of EU directive again but I cannot remember details. I think it suggested that children should be using them past the age when most parents have dumped them.

Try these:- http://www.505rct.org/membership.asp http://www.superengineerguide.com/world-war-ii-engineer-battalions.html http://www.bragg.army.mil/307ENG/

For US Army units involved in Market Garden, try looking up the history of 307th Airborne Engineer Bn, or the 326th Airborne Engineer Bn or even the 878th Airborne (Aviation) Engineer Bn. I will try to find some links for you too

What vehicle type are you working on?

I know that if a seatbelt is fitted and available it has to be used, so my son cannot jump about in the back of my Lightweight Land Rover (when its just me and him out for the afternoon) so he has to sit in the front. However do I need to take a booster seat for my son when he sits in the front passenger seat, as he is very tall for his age. He is age 6 and 4' 2" and is 3st 11 lb!. I have no idea where to find the rules governing when a child needs a booster seat - though my son is belted up quite well without it in the LW.

I understand that some older military vehicles are exempt MOT because of their age (pre 1941 for an MOT?) But is it according to when they were built or when they were first registered. As for Tax - is it only for vehicles registered some time before 1977? What is the exact cut off date - Is it when they were built or when they were first registered. If you had an MOT & Tax exempt vehicle, that needed a total rebuild of the body, on a good chassis would that preserve its exemptions. And what if you have a good vehicle with these exemptions but the chassis is in need of replacement, would this loose the exemption? I know this subject will probably open up a can of worms but what are the simple rules that decide what is and isn't excempt. Perhaps we can start with 'normal' wheeled MVs, rather than the exceptions like the owner who registered his DUKW as an amphibious hearse. Perhaps we can discuss the dodges (pardon the pun) later!

Matt, Was it a US Army Mixer of WW2 vintage? From the name it could be German or US but I guess that its US if it had a LeRoi engine. What does it look like? Have you any photos of one

Thanks Guys. Richard your FH70 is a good example of what I meant. I was also thinking about replica vehicles like a Sd.Kfz 222 that I saw at Military Odyssey. The driver I was speaking to said it was made with Land Rover parts but was not road legal! still I suppose a chassis number would do.

Tell me someone - if the Road Traffic Acts apply to areas where the public are admitted - even off the Queen's Highway - such as MV events, what kind of insurance do owners get for a vehicle that could never be road worthy or rather road legal - such as a Tank with metal tracks or even a vehicle thats so unique that it gets trailored by its owner to the MV events and never goes on the road but is capable of doing a circuit of the arena? If they could never get an MOT would that make them un-insurable? Is cover available just for MV shows but not for the road?

Great Photos I presume they were taken with a digital camera May I ask which photo system you use on your PC

I've been wondering where people keep there MVs if they are either too big to keep in a person's garage or safely parked on their front drive. I own a Land Rover Lightweight which is OK to park on the street where I live but I also fancy getting a Dodge WC51 / 55. As the family car is on the drive and I do not have a garage, it would not be advisable to keep a Dodge outside in all weathers or on the road! I've seen adverts for historic vehicle storage but they cost too much, so are there any other options. Do people rent barns for not much money? And what about museums like the IWM at Duxford. Do they allow people to store vehicles. No wonder the larger the MV the lower the price (unless it has tracks!) I would be interested in your ideas on this subject.

I have attached a photo showing men wearing a Khaki Green uniform of a kind I remember seeing in use with units of the British Army in the late 1960s while they were on exercise in Thetford Training Area. Can anyone say what it was called or even give it a Nato stock number or other reference? Apart from the uniforms seen in this photo, in use by the TAVR, it was also worn by the infantry, equipped with 58 webbing, 1944 style steel helmet and SLR. I also seem to remember seeing a photo of it being worn in Northern Ireland circa 1969 but can't be sure on that. However I do not believe it was just for the TAVR. As the old Wartime / 1950's style Battledress died out in the early 1960's, its likely the British Army had a khaki uniform to replace it, before DPM came into general use circa 1969. Note also that the puttees do not look like the 37 webbing canvas ones or the 1970/80's wrap around ones either.