Meteor mark 4B

Two good pictorial books for British armour and wheeled vehicle enthusiasts. Vehicles of the British Army of the Rhine 1945-1979 Vehicles of the British Army of the Rhine 1980-1994 By Tankograd Publications, with German and English text.

Looks like you and I are on the same wavelength!! A few years back a mate and I saw all the "unseen" kit at Bovington, both outside and inside. Such a lot of interesting stuff. Probably still rusting away, while they spend money on the Tiger. Brings in the punters you see......

I used to be on this site in its earlier days, but "lost" it somewhere, and then was unable to get back on. PCs eh? Back on now, I'm particularly keen on UK tracked stuff (Not the Tiger!), Centurion, Conqueror Chieftain etc. I worked on and drove Cents and Chieftains in the 1960s with my regiment, at ETW, and at FVRDE. I'm unable to actually own one, but I'm happy enough with my Land Rover.

I did an article for Windscreen* at about the time the remaining six BARVs were de-commisioned, somewhere around 2003 I think. *Or it might have been MMI magazine.

There used to be a Chieftain and a Centurion at Kirk which were fitted NCK Rapier cranes in place of turrets. These were used for lifting targets that sort of thing.See the book Chieftain by Simon Dunstan.

Of course I could be corrected on this!

Chieftain 900 at Lulworth some years ago

Forgot to mention the 900 at Lulworth had a turret on it when I saw it, I'll search out a photo.

Well, I think its very sad that a vehicle with this one's history isn't in the Bovington Tank Museum. Oh, I forgot, they're spending all their money on the Tiger.........perhaps Kevin Wheatcroft will buy it, perhaps not, he's busy with a boat at present. Some years ago, I spotted a Chieftain 900 on the range at Lulworth awaiting "the treatment" as a hard target, equally sad. You might have noticed I'm keen on BRITISH hardware, I cannot understand why there is SO much money spent on the Tiger, only that it brings in the punters, I guess. We had a tank that was unreliable, over-engineered, and cumbersome like the Tiger-the Conqueror, and they don't make a fuss about it at all. If you've never heard and seen a Conqueror on the move you might not understand, but it sounded and looked GREAT!

Anyone any idea what this is? [attachment deleted by admin]

All the early prototype Chieftains were W 1 2 3 4 5 6 etc. I was there just after this period on trials with the first production models. Equipment Trial Wing Bovington.

here it is....................... [attachment deleted by admin]

Err..on my old comrades website, it says "attach a file" a couple of clicks and its done. Why all this photobucket stuff?

Yes I have, but how do I get it on here????

Has anyone any information on the Chieftain which can be seen at the above range. It bears the number W3 on the RH trackguard. The VRN does not correspond with the mark of the vehicle. It is a prototype, I think. The relevant authorities are saying very little, it seems, even denying its presence there.

There used to be a Centurion and a Chieftain at Muckleburgh. Any sign of them when you visited?

I note all the remarks about the magazines available to us with a military vehicle interest, and the point that if you don't like the content, send an article in. I consider that I write a decent article, and have had some, generally about the Centurion tank, published in MMI, and also a couple of show reports from the far West. For one reason or another I neither subscribe nor write for the mag now. I got the impression they weren't interested any more. As far as CMV is concerned, as far as I can see it is a closed shop. How can I compete with their usual tank writer, who has the whole tank museum library at his disposal? Windscreen, a club magazine, I think is acknowledged as the best serious enthusiast magazine. They are always pleased to receive material, and in my experience, it is always published, and published well, so I must be doing something right. Which reminds me, I must send something in..................

A friend, who has been attending Tankfest since its first efforts, has advised me that actually getting into Bovington, and then parking and actually getting into the show, was the worst he can remember. There appeared to be superb facilities for some guests, and yellow card holders, but as a "friend" there appeared to be not a lot. Any comments?

General thought is that its a stuck relay. (Though lack of use of hazards)

My hazard lights are rarely used. However. I had to use them this afternoon, and after I switched them on I turned off the engine.......but it remained running. It wasn't till I turned off the hazards that I was able to turn the engine off. I tried again and it was the same. Very odd. Any thoughts? I can't recall it happening before. Land Rover 24V

Don't hold your breathe, it could be some time before there is any coverage, but then again, I could be wrong.....

I'll be taking mine to work on June 6th, fully insured, Footman James £85. I use it most days anyway. I grant you it is only a mere 26 years old though.

I saw one special Chieftain, (the 900 I believe, which had different armour and engine, apart from anything else), awaiting a severe battering on Lulworth range. Why?

A mate and I were shown around the "unseen collection" at the Tank Museum a few years ago, and we saw all manner of odd AFVs that were in the main one-offs. Question is, where are they all now? (This is partly why I get irritated by the time and money spent on the Tiger. I know it brings in the punters, but.....)

We had half tracks as our REME Light Aid detachment vehicles in the early to mid 60s. As mentioned they were equipped with a front mounted jib and a "hard top". They were a bit prone to falling over when operating in difficult terrain.