steveo578

The plate is the retaining flange of the spline spigot support which is a tapered cylindrical device that mates with the outer planet carrier of the sprocket. I'd up load a diagaram but the scanner is o/s at the moment so photos I already have on the computer will have to do "Merlin" with spline spgot support still in place -note an attempt was made to extract the spline before recovery but it was seized up! another range wreck -from a later era -whereas "Merlin" was probably driven to its doom:wow: this one was towed -there were even discarded Centurion ARV Mk2 rubber track pads that were ripped out during the operation note the outer plant carrier - it's is now out of allignment but the other side of it is well smacked by large claibre probably 5.5inch hits engine compartment of the above tank showing the damage which has displaced the sprocket planet carrier. Steve

In theory a Churchill is like most other tanks in that the main sprocket load is carried on the inner hull wall - the outer wall is a bonus and the majority of Churchills used as targets and probably many on their final journey to the scrap yard were towed without the spline spigot support in place (the removed to allow towing) -while not designed that way it probably would have no effect on the alignment of the final drive and sprocket -at least for the short term. Steve

Doesn't matter who owns what, "receiving" is an offence -it's often the weakness of the CPS in caring more about their conviction rate. Other than that there are loads of legislation that can be used EU waste managment legislation- waste transfer certificates, tax and HSE regs all can be used legitimately to legal close down miscreants- it's lack of willingness to do their job.

hi Alastair The cut was made to remove the final drive unit and none of the gearing will have been anywhere near the cut- if it can't be successfully welded back together -there is probably enough internal clearance to patch weld an internal flange the whole section could be replaced it's all riveted -not easy but do-able. I'm more concerned about the butchering of the upper support horns for the idlers -which carries alot of stress -but again if needs be a replacement could be fitted again -it was deliberately designed to be replaced if strained or damaged. The Churchill turret ring as a two piece armoured shell with 13 section bronze cage ball carrier for the 100+ 30mm balls -this is the engineered component the outer steel section is comparatively inaccurate and in some cases was found to be badly out of true on vehicles issued for service -especially the Mk7 which sufferered from a heavier turret distorting the lower ring shell and the roof plates as it traversed -sometimes causing the gear rack of the traverse motor to jump - it was fairly obvious when this happened as the jump would occur again 180° further on, indicative of an oval ring. The entire turret ring were replaced in some cases but it was not necessary to fix it to the hull and machine it with a turret ring lathe as was the case with some tanks. The thing is with a tank restoration it is never going to be required to traverse at full speed or absorb the recoil forces of a main armament firing.:-) Lots of the other problems with this Churchill rebuild are apparent but not insurmountable -most of the missing components like decks roof plates and hatches are mostly flat plate -ok expensive because of their thickness but apart for hinges there are few castings. The biggest thing is suspension and tracks. There wil be many problems with Ricks attempt to rebuild his tank but if anyones got the nerve to try he will;) Steve

Hi Rick When you next go to play with the tank have a look at the hole top left facing in the hull MG mount it looks like it has been filled with weld -possibly damage repair. Steve

Anything of any value the leckys, plumbers and a myriad of other builders will have picked over it long before the skip driver gets to it -especially at the moment:-D. that's what gets me about these idiot standing on the roof of transit pickups -they seem to think that only they understand that metal has a value -the idea that anyone is going to hand over copper or lead building scrap is ridiculous -mind it's impossible to leave aluminium ladders unguarded for a moment:-(

The vehicles in fig1-1 were ex Syrian,captured by Israel and supplied to the US along with other types including BMP1 in the mid 1970s, (the colour photo declasified was used in many books including modern soviet armour printed in 1979). the US had sufficient in USA to be used as Opfor vehicles in the 1970s, the israelis had a fair number that remained in storage for want of a use -so replacements were available. Unlike the T54/55 Tiran, it was not rated by the israelis as a service vehicle

The tank is possibly a swedish Strv 38 or 40 no idea of the wild life but i'm sure it's heavier than a CVRT:D

Yes been done twice:( first time pastport and bank ID stolen by London based Yardies and second time bank account empty by some-one buying on Ebay. Both successfully prosecuted but some-one out there still has a cloned passport -which makes travel aboard no fun:(.

Yes, I found the same, full I.D required or they won't deal with you and applies to small amounts as much as truck loads -so it's down to the authorities clamping down on dealers who don't carry out I.D checks -however there will always be ways around it, criminals are often more resouceful than the authorities give them credit for.

Hi David PM Reply sent Steve

Thanks for that David I see if can find it. The little "0" is not on a standard key board it can be accessed in the start menu/ all programs/ Accessories/ Character Map in XP but I can't find it in windows 7 -I'm beginning to regret changing the O/S system:computerrage::banghead::angry:confused: for windows 7 open start menu (the micro soft logo in the left bottom of screen type character map into "search progams and files" and enter Character Map. The degree sign ° is Alt-0176 -depress Alt key and type in 0176 on right hand key pad and the degree sign ° should appear at the cursor of your text ° .

Is it just me or has a spelling trojan/virus gotten into the forum "Saumur" , my excuse is I'm a bit thick and from 'north wot's yours?

Good to hear that a T64 exists outside a russian museum -hope you can publish some pics:laugh:

Its standard for a US M3 series vehicle -which retained 1 hull fixed MG throughout their life- including the M31 shown. It is also hard to determine without a serial number whether this one is an early model modified by replacing the hinged side doors with blanking plates or most likely a mid production M3 which were manufactured with plated over side door appertures. as far as I am aware the side doors on remanufactured M3s irrespective of their final use retained the hull configuration that they were built. As it is an M3 gasoline radial engined model it was remanufactured from existing gun tanks -last M3s produced in August 1942 first M31 built October 1942, with a small number of diesel engined M3A3-A5 built as new on the production line at Baldwin. most M31 either diesel or gasoline were rebuilds. Unless some-one knows of a M3, M31 or a CDL/T10 turret (or as a long shot a Grant turret, Grants are different but needs must) lying around the only other option would be to make it an example of the substitute standard artillery tractor M33 -which was a stripped down turretless M31 TVR used mainly in Italy for towing 240mm howitzers in place of HST M6 .

Well I knew the other one rhymed with B****cks:D

Ok so I can't spell:D

the mirus guns had a bazaar history -they were the main armament of the Imperial russian black Sea fleet Battleship Imperator Aleksandr III which was interned by the French government at Bizerta (French north Africa) in October 1924 it was broken up from 1926 to 1937. The guns stored nearby until they were disposed of to the Finns in 1939-40 to assist in the Winter War. Of the 12 x 30.5cm guns the last 4 were in transit when they were captured in Norwegian waters by German forces and sent to Germany for storage and further use. When mounted in Guernsey one of the guns broke its yoke during proofing by luck the Germans were able to despatch a truck to the imperial Russian gun factory where the guns were forged prior to WW1, which had been overrun during Barbarossa and a spare yoke was found - thereafter the guns at mirus were never allowed to fire at full charge.

The Czech (skoda) PAK 36(t) was a wheeled A/T gun, the armament of the 4.7cm pak 36(t) auf Renault 35 which was one of the few PanzerJaegers (SPG) to serve in the Channel Island and importantly as a casemate gun mounted in bunkers enfilading prospective landing beaches- large numbers were taken from the Czech defence lines out manuvered by the siezure of the Sudatenland in 1938. Possibly the oldest French artillery used in the Channel island are 15.5cm K422(f) which were barrels of the Canon de 155 L1877 (de Bang) which were fitted to the carriage of the more modern Schneider 152mm Mle 1910 (a gun built for the imperial russian Army) so although a 1914 weapon the barrels were an 1877 design.

quite possible - Dick Harley is mentioned in the acknowledgements. Steve

Yes, i remember sending you a document on this -sometime ago. it's not that much of a problem -if it was a sherman or cromwell Rgt then the support weapon will be either a sherman or in rare cases such as 15/19RH or Czech AB a Challenger, the only Rgt/Bats. supported by 17pdr m10c as an intergral component would be Churchill equiped -although a/t rgts. did provide a divisional or corps support. Steve

I don't think you would get in:-D but knowing what whitehall can be like for inefficency they probably still have the application forms.

That's like how long is a piece of string- Historically British Army naming of tanks and AFVs goes back to almost the beginning of tanks in service. Names often were specific to Battalions or regiments, Some like 4th RTR began with "D" and that ran from WW1 to the end of 4 RTR on amalgomation. Same applied to other RTR battalions for example 9 Btn RTR used names beginning with "I". Other Regiments use names with traditions relevant to their battle honours, racehorses, birds, animals, constilations, towns/cities even famous warships. Some regiments/battalions used naming schemes that divided names by squadron -so simplistically names beginning with A for A squadron B for B squadron and C for C squadron -for example 14th Canadian Tank named their tanks thus- so Amos A squadron- Betty B sqdn and Cheetah C sqdn -but Regimental HQ used R- so Ringer Regiment etc. All can be useful when attempting to I.D. a regiment from a photo although some regiments used the same system on the same tank types -for example Bunty is B sqdn 11 Canadian Tank rather than 14 Canadian Tank -both were using early Churchills so unless you can spot the unit code -for example 175 -for 14th CTB I.D. is a problem. It is very complex -so much so there should be a book about it -there is B.T. Whites British Tank Markings and Names -if you can find a copy. As for naming humour -one battalion named their tanks for heavenly bodies (constelations not good looking women) -one wit petitioned the CO to have the names Castor and Policks included in the naming scheme - working on the idea that Policks would lead to some ammusement on the radio net. I remember a broadcast of 2 way family favourites -in the early 1960s a trooper in Cyprus asked for a mention home -and that he had named his Ferret "mavis" after his mum -only to have the radio presenter ask what's a Ferret?

it's in Landships

At least they have a Notek light