Adrian Barrell

You're older than you look.....

I assume (dangerous!) that the width restriction only applies to vehicles being registered from now on. Is there any documentation implying you will no longer be able to use an overwidth registered vehicle?

Not just Spitfires, they delivered everything including four engined heavies. Remarkable ladies.

I concur. Definately of wooden construction, probably a Vampire FB2.

Actually I don't! Mind you, I have an idea where it may be now...... That would be conjecture on my part though, so I have to say I know nothing! I too like to see these things in situ but with the increase in demand for tanks, removal is almost inevitable. Churchills are not as desirable to many as Shermans though, I bet if it was the latter, it would be long gone.

My part of the country, Suffolk, was used by the 79th Armoured Division for pre-invasion training in the use of specialised armour. I have found or been given various parts of tanks, mainly Churchill with varying degrees of damage. Near the main area, there is a field known as tank field that, rumour has it, a Sherman (they are always Shermans) was buried when the army left in the early 50's. Following a lead, I found a small pile of scrap at the edge of a field that consisted of some Covenanter and Sherman parts. Whilst they were small and badly damaged, the finds did include a drivers hatch that is being used ion the restoration of a Sherman. The parts looked as though they were blown up rather than cut up so I suspect the area was cleared and these were the parts left. However, I was recovering some parts from some targets on a range a few years ago and found evidence of the location of a Sherman that had been recently cleared. The range warden assured me it had been cut up and removed and all the evidence pointed to that. There were a few small parts laying on the ground with some concrete rubble (the targets on this range had all been filled with concrete to extend their life.) Subsequently, a friend has recovered this 'scrapped' Sherman by digging it up from the range. It seems whoever cleared it found it easier to dig a hole and bury it!

I suspect it's the fire extinguisher for no.1 engine.... ''I thought she felt a bit sluggish''

Internationals are homogenous but 5/16" against the Whites 1/4". Obviously better quality than the Shermans! The other point is, the higher the manganese content, the more likely it is to work harden.

That would be, if on a White halftrack, face hardened armour. You can just about drill it from the soft, inside face. Shermans are homogenous armour and you can drill it quite easily with HSS bits. In fact, it was noted at the time that pre-1943 US armour was a little bit too soft. Armour, yes but not hard. As I said, there is armour and there is armour!

You would have to have a hardness test carried out. This essentially consists of pressing a point or ball into the surface and measuring the force required. The problem is that different types of armour have widely differing surface hardness levels so you would need to have a known level to compare it to to be absolutely sure. Of course if it came out as harder than mild steel, you would at least know it wasn't ms and therefore must be armour!

In the 25 years I have been doing this, I have seen shows change out of all recognition. Not only in number but size and focus. There is no doubt that people expect more from a show these days but there is room for all types. I too enjoy a 'private' type event where you can chill out and chat to like minded(!) friends and indeed it would not bother me if the public were never there! The trouble with that sort of event is, as Clive pointed out, there is no income unless it attracts some funding from an external source. I also like the chance to drive my vehicles properly, it is after all a vehicle hobby and that is why I restore them, to use. However, I probably only take a vehicle to a couple of events a year now, so saving up for a good blast is easier to swallow. I remember Beltring as a nice, small show but with an excellent variety of vehicles, a great site and none of the rules that seemed to infest other shows at the time. I know it still has these 'values' but for me, it is too big now. Just my opinion. I prefer to do different types of show now, more low key and if it involves a road run or indeed a large enough off road area then all the better. But... as I'm in no position to organise one myself, I'm happy to go along with what is being offered and choose which ones I attend.

But it's not a military vehicle show, it's a reenactment event. To many of the participants, the vehicles are just another accessory. I know that's a gross simplification but if the show is an end of war event and being called the Victory show it seems that is the theme, then I see no problem.

I suspected that was what you were going to say, just didn't want to send any negative waves..... Shame.

It's rusty? It's not 'on the button'?

I'm even further! 6 1/2 months old. Mind you, any prospective boyfriend will have to get past me first. "I've got a tank and I know where you live!" Congratulations Robert!

I'm sure Adam knows and will tell more but, it does not have grousers, those bolt onto the surface of the track. This is an M4 E9. The E9 being post war spaced out suspension which was done to allow the fitting of extended end connectors on both sides of the track rather than just the outside as often seen during the war. The point was to lower ground pressure as you say. Grousers increase traction and were only fitted on flat rubber track. Anyone who saw my Sherman at Ramsbury can see why they might be needed! The steel chevron has the grouser as part of the link. In fact, Adams tank is a rare, M4 composite hull but with small hatches, that makes it one of the first M4 composites and even rarer! Adam, I see what you mean about the insides....... even the bulkheads are gone.

Commonwealth forces did use M4A1(76) in Italy so Ordnance would be supplying 6 pdr, 75mm, 76mm and 17 pdr tank ammo!

Though nowhere near as good! It's not uncommon for people to call any Sherman with a muzzle brake a Firefly but Alien is spot-on. It's also on T-66 single pin track but knowing that may be seen as a bit anal.....

What they are worth is what someone is prepared to pay. If the scrappy values it higher than a collector, then that's what it's worth. Of course scrap values are transitory. Shermans, admittedly wrecks, could be had for £1000 about 15 years ago, scrap money. A lot of people are wishing they had bought one now!

More likely Nigel Montgomery.

Gas mask for a horse.

My Cromwell is ex-1 RTR and was called Annous.... whatever than means! The three HQ tanks were called Anwenoit, Anwecandoit and Andsodowe. My favourite is 2 troop in B sqdns Firefly, Wherezatiger! My Sherman had the name Gainsborough painted each side of the turret. I think it may have been post war 79th AD use. I've never given names to any of my other vehicles.

I have to confess....whilst I knew what the tanks were, the rest I googled!

You should get them seen to, it could be Epididymo-Orchitis........

Well.... the tanks are M4s, Sherman I. Welded hull, radial engine with 75mm guns. The Heritage Empire was an oil tanker carrying tanks as deck cargo, which left New York on 25th of August 1944 as part of convoy HXF305 bound for Liverpool. She was sunk by a U Boat on 8th of September off North West Ireland. The RFA Pinto was also sunk whilst picking up survivors from the Empire. Fascinating pictures!