mcspool

if the Humvee is so good, why are US special forces buying Land Rovers?

Because they are too big to fit in their aircraft!

H.

There was a later sand mw in overloon, behind the glass, not in the main hall. I worked near there in 2000 and it was there then. i remembered the early side panels on it, so its probably the same one. I do have some pictures somewhere i'll see if i can find them!!

This MW was offered for sale in 2004: http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3032

It was privately owned before then, but maybe the owner used to store it at the Overloon museum?

Hanno

I've not heard of one in france so thats a new one, the pictures would be intresting.

Hope this helps,

Hanno

Nearly forgot about the aeroscreen MW I saw in France in 2004, will see if I can find the pics. The French owner had restored it from a complete wreck and bits and pieces he had managed to find.

H.

Is the Sand mw, generaaltje2160, the one at overloon? i give my right leg for those early side panels!!!

This one was privately owned and came onto the market when the Dutch owner died. Don´t know where it went. I last was in Overloon in 2006, did not see an MW there & then (see my pics here: http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=916&ppuser=24).

H.

saw a water one needing restoration in I think Spain.

There was one in Portugal which was sold to a chap in the Czech republic: http://nl.fotoalbum.eu/higgins/a93714

But it´s the later version.

H.

 

This is the one from lover! Saw this one earlier this year and met the owner. Ron is a gentleman indeed and was good enough to help me with some early parts for mine. This ones chassis number is 500 after mine.

Looks like it´s the same as this one:

This ones from holland, i've not, as yet seen another one as early as this. The gentleman that owns it has spent 20 years restoring it to factory condition and it is immaculate. his knowledge of the early production is amazing he put me right on so many things!!

As far as I know, this is the only aero screen MW in Holland.

Here´s a sample of the later ones:

Hanno

Please ignore my confused daughters voice saying "what are you doing". She says that a lot, and who can blame her.

For me it´s a sign she´s willing to learn.

Keep up the good work, I´m learning too!

Regards,

Hanno

Hi Richard,

Good to see you hanging out here as well!

Regards,

Hanno

I think the square shoulder tyres were known as ND and the later rounded ones as NDCC.

British wartime tyres came in the following types (source: Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles / Army Transport 1939-1945, edited by David Fletcher):

- Cross Country: heavily built tyres with bold, broad and deep treads.

- General Purpose: tyres of lighter construction than Cross Country, with narrower, shallower treads and more rounded shoulders.

- Sand: tread often similar to the normal commercial design, but it is broader and carcass is of special light constuction.

The best known British pattern is Dunlop's Trak Grip. As I understand it, this tread was moulded both on Cross Country and General Purpose tyres. The latter is shown in the pic below.

Hope this helps,

Hanno

As far as I know, the rounded bar grips are a post-war pattern.

Hey Sisu,

Weren´t you looking for one of these?

http://link.marktplaats.nl/190321483

Hanno

See some more uses here: http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/ploughshare.htm

Thanks Joris!

Hanno

Hi Mark, although I'm not Joris or Enigma, I'm Dutch too. Basically, Holland moved on after WW2. Yes, the war had a huge impact, but also many people led their lives as they were used to. The Dutch are renowed for making the most of a situation. After the war there was a huge amount of work to be done, rebuilding the country and economy (just like in the UK and many other countries). Most of the battle rubbish and scars were removed, it's a small country you know and we use every single square inch of it.

There was a time our hobby was frowned upon, but the past decades show time are changing, maybe because the generation who lived through the war as children are now retiring and reflecting on their lives and becoming more mellow?

Although I was born in the 60s and have an open mind towards Germany's role during WW2, I was speechless when I first (some 10? years ago) turned into the entrance at the War & Peace show only to find the traffic being controlled by guys dressed up as WW2 German soldiers!!! Apparently the fact that the Germans were "bad" was somewhere stuck in my mind. A recent poll showed only the youngest generation has no hard feelings towards the Germans. So, apparently, those feelings can be handed down a couple of generations (who did not have to live through it) before it wears off.

Hope this helps,

Hanno

What about # 83: ANTHRAX VIRAL AGENT?!?!?!

H.

Broadly speaking, apart from some minor modifications as pointed out by Ben and others, US-manufactured vehicles were pretty much used as they left the factory, including the Olive Drab paint.

Before the US was engaged in WW2, the British and other Allies has more room to specify their modifications. The M3 Grant tank, for example, had a completely different turret fitted to the hull of the M3 Medium Tank as the US Army specified it. When the USA was fully engaged in the war themselves, it was basically take it as is or leave it.

Regarding unit markings, Commonwealth unit markings differed vastly from US ones.

On the subject of recognition markings (roundels and stars), I quote Don Dingwall's CANADIAN ARMOUR IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN ITALY 1943-1945, Canadian Vehicle Markings, Order of Battle and War Establishments for 1st Canadian Corps and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade:

"By the spring of 1944, the U.S. star was adopted as the standard AFV recognition marking. Prior to this, the combination of the red/white/red AFV flash and a roundel of red, white and blue, similar to early war RAF roundels, was used. The roundel was applied to the tops of turrets or engine decks on Shermans and other vehicles where space allowed, and on the engine hoods of Otters and other wheeled AFVs, and on the cab roofs of many softskins. This was officially discontinued on April 11, 1944, but roundels were still seen for some time afterwards."

See "Crooked White Star" on the MLU Forum (http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4760) for the official Canadian instructions to mark vehicles with "White stars five pointed". There is no mention between stars in broken or full circles – this was the difference between stencilling and painting by hand! It does give an explanation for the “crooked star”: the instructions included a drawing of the star standing on one end!

Hope this helps,

Hanno

Ah yes, I remember reading about an M31 TRV being recovered from Kosovo. Great to see it actually made it to the museum. A well travelled tank, that is!

Hanno

What ho! Where did this M32 TRV come? Greece?

Hanno

This CMP Ford F15A has had its original bridge classification plate refitted when being restored. It is flat and has the size of a CMP headlight aperture. It has four holes along the edge, plus two more towards the centre to attach it to the truck, either in place of the headlight, or another place in case two headlights are fitted.

Hope this helps,

Hanno

I agree Neil it should stay exactly where it is,too many of these relics get hauled off "for preservation"

So, is this turret sitting in an area which used to be the training ground near an army camp? If so, which units were stationed in such a camp, and when?

Mind you, while the army used outdated tanks during WW2 for target practice, the Sherman was in use until well after WW2. Personally I think it is unlikely a Sherman (turret) was used for target practice during WW2. As I said, research has to be done to find out what it is exactly. Otherwise it could equally well serve out its days in someone´s garden as a flower pot!

My 2 Euro cents worth,

Hanno

How far is it from Eindhoven to Overloon?

Other option is the international Amsterdam airport (Schiphol), which is 160 km or close to two hour's drive.

If you make it over here, let me know and I'll try to join you lot.

He're some pics of what's there to see:

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=916&ppuser=24

Neil,

I think the easiest option is to fly with Easyjet or Ryanair or similar into Eindhoven airport and charter a coach to bring your band of enthusiasts to Overloon.

Cheers form Holland!

Hanno

This little piece of scrap metal sits in a wood near Newbury and has done so since WW2 when it was allegedly used for the practice placement of demolition charges by US paratroopers form the 101st - the damage up top would suggest this is probably correct?

Interesting find. This Sherman turret has indeed had its roof blown in; the right hand side was cut away with a torch.

What proof is there this was a 101AB training aid?

Regards,

Hanno