Ex Army FV434 Instructor

I'd reckon the best people to speak to about it would be the Tank Museum at Bovington (they have a Tiger 1 theyv'e restored after all) They also have the biggest research archive of any museum on armoured warfare. I'm sure theres a link to that on their website

I havent seen one of them in years, Didn't they used to have a sort of motorcycle windshield on the front of them with a single wiper? (i'm sure they did) I remember talking to someone who remembers them coming into service with the RCT in the early 1960's. He said that originally you had an electrically heated suit that plugged in to the cab somewhere. (I think he said that it heated pipes throughout the suit a bit like the old electric blankets). I thought he was winding me up until I saw an old black and white picture of him wearing it, also the socket was still marked on the vehicle conection as well.

I dont know where the pictures of them going wrong are now but youre right they must still be somewhere, I remember seeing a picture of one which was on a "Dont do this!" poster outside the QOY's MT office in the late 80's. Where a squadie who was a bit late for his evening meal had put his foot down in his Bedford TM 6x6 and the JCB 410 had turned over, he'd ended up dragging it sideways down the motorway. Obviously it was in a bit of a mess!

I think you might be right, it may well be the Decontamination variant. After the first gulf war they fetched a captured one back to the NBC training place at (Porton Down I think?) I remember hearing about how the support troop of my old regiment was going for joy rides in it. If that cap badge is an RTR one (not sure) didnt they used to duel role as the NBC regiment in the 90's?

Horendous to tow, the MT Sgt had to check it was coupled correctly as that was standing orders back then. You could only tow it at 36mph. (as far as I recall) Any faster and it would just start bouncing and fishtailing. The fact is you could drive them at 30mph on the roads anyway, Once DROPS came along you just tied it to a flat rack and you were away.

yes thats what i meant

I can see why people are thinking its a chally, at the end of the chieftan days they developed a slab armour kit called still brew. They barely put it on as it was for war use only. basically it increased the weight still further and the K60 powerepack was under even more strain

Hi i'm Tony I used to be in the QOY for many years and later the REME as a fitter and a tracked driving instructor (all A mech stuff)