peterb110

Hi Top Dog Thanks for the VRN 00EE61. This isn't one of the six EW Vampires that were converted in theatre for use in Gulf War 1 - unless you've got the 6 and the 1 transposed. 00EE16 WAS a 432 Vampire! It was also known as "Sand Gremlin". '16 also turned up on exercise in Denmark with 14 Sig Rgt in 1994. Two of the original six 432 V's stayed with 14 until the late '90's, the others moved on soon after GW1. There is a possibility that at least one 436? Vampire worked with 14 in Bosnia that wasn't in GW1. This is 03FA93, however it is not clear if the internal fit out is Vampire, however the external fit on '93 is Vampire with 21m mast, cable reel, ladder etc. I mentioned earlier other 432's that were converted for the EW role in GW1. Unfortunately 00EE61 doesn't appear in my incomplete records for these Complex variants. HTH Peter

The 432 Vampire 21 metre mast was stowed on the top o/s of the hull from the rear bulkhead along about half the length of the hull. It was mounted on a frame work that was welded to the hull at four points. The frame work was about two feet above the top of the hull. The mast lay along the top of the frame work, during erection the mast was slid back to the end of the framework to allow the hand winch to pivot it to vertical. I'm now pretty sure the 432 in the initial photos isn't a Vampire variant. The VRN would help. HTH Peter

On first sight I don't think it is the EW Vampire tracked variant, let me have the VRN and I'll be able to say definitely. There were 6 tracked Vampires. It could be an EW Complex tracked variant, but research on these is on going so could be more difficult to confirm. I believe there were 16 tracked Complex vehicles. HTH Peter

Looking for advice on the weapon "fit" for the Land Rover Vampire Direction Finder used by 14 Signal Regiment during the Cold War. There was a crew of 4 [2 in the 109 Support truck] with a personal SLR each. There was provision for one of the SLR's to be clipped in the cab. There was an SMG stored on clips in the radio compartment. I understand a LAW66 was also deployed but I don't know if this was per Vampire, per Troop or per Squadron. Anybody advise? TIA Peter

Hi Andy Thanks for the prompt response and the pointers - much appreciated! Cheers Peter

Hi Andy Can you confirm the cover is for a narrow track Sankey? Cheers Peter

The Witham Land Rover with dish was a response to an Op Telic 1 UOR, known as Dagger Det, two worked with 30 Sig Rgt, there may have been another 2 with 2 Sig Rgt. It was used for Comms not tracking and gave 30 a greater bandwidth than their existing kit. It would have had a multiplexing switch system in the back with a digital telephone exchange. An interesting bit of kit. HTH Peter

Anybody had any experience of having a Sankey trailer [with NATO towing "eye"] recovered in addition to the prime mover, in this case a Land Rover 101 Vampire? Green Flag eventually recovered me using two transporters, but Green Flag small print states they will only recover trailers with a 50mm ball. Cheers Peter