Richard Farrant

I wonder if a 6 volt solid state regulator would be kinder to Optima batteries? Years ago I converted a 6 volt regulator on a M20 motorcycle and it worked far more smoother than the original, no erratic cut out and cut in as the old type.

the Sturgeon was a mock up of what might be an enemy AFV but based on a CVR(T) purely for training purposes. It came from an idea thought up by a member of REME who it was named after. Think they were mainly used in Suffield and possible Salisbury Plain.

There is no scrap value in CVR hulls as I understand. A local scrapyard had a few when clearing ranges, must have thought they were on a winner, now stuck with them. Due to not being pure aluminium, they are a special alloy.

Hi Tim, here is a scan of the trailer that I think you have. It was British built by Dyson, but I have seen a very similar one built by Scammell Lorries. Check the dimensions to see if they match. regards Richard

It looks like an Anti Aircraft radar receiver trailer, they were load rated for 5 tons.

Is there a possibility that this vehicle was bought from new by the Irish Army?

It would be very odd to see a gun tractor in RASC markings, surely it would be in RA markings, red over blue split horizontally?

Hi James, If the Otter had been in postwar service, I would have suggested it might be an electric semaphore indicator, but that would be out of the question in this case.

On some of the MV events I have taken part in in Australia, they visited schools and it is always interesting to hear what they have to say. Recently I visited the REME Museum and was told there was a party of school kids there, so while going around I was listening to the dialogue between kids, teacher and guide. Some of the questions these young ones ask are incredible. This hand on type of history is far removed from what we did at school and you can see from the school visits to War & Peace, how much it increases their knowledge and stimulates interest.

Very sad to hear about Ray. He will be missed by a lot of people. I send my deepest condolences to friends and family.

Please pass on our good wishes and hope Ray is back in good health soon. We miss his anecdotes on here. regards, Richard

Thanks Wally ! I can now see RAF blue/grey paint in the cab. The engine has obviously been changed probably by a civilian user. One turned up at Beltring several times. I have feeling it dates from mid to late Fifties.

Early ones were built by Douglas then Sentinel built them.

It looks like a Douglas Taskmaster aircraft tug. Some were in service with the RAF.

Tony, You will have to check up on who in your area has a tow hook but nothing to tow, then pull rank and detail them their duties cheers Richard

Hi Stefano, I think a lot of enthusiasts cannot get there head around the fact that when vehicles go through a rebuild programme they are not held rigidly to their original spec. The object of the exercise is to get a vehicle back in to use again and use what is available with any modifications embodied. Also engines are unlikely to be the original, although I have seen a few WW2 vehicles where the engines did match with records, so more than likely did not go through a rebuild programme.

hi Stef, This is not specifically a REME plate, it is a Ministry of Supply data plate and I believe that both workshop numbers on the plate are what is known as AAW, Army Auxiliary Workshops, in other words, contractors. These were often main dealers, garages, manufacturers service depots, etc. The post war number can be cross checked on what is known as a Key Card and could give a wartime number. The R in the registration number means it is a rebuild and therefore could be a mixed up vehicle and not totally original. I notice another couple of holes drilled in the side of the plate, where screws have been in the past, but no holes in the bodywork. This could mean it has been removed on a rebuild previously and changed over. The army number might be found in the Key Card for that batch of numbers is still available, either Wally Dugan on this forum or the Royal Logistics Corps Museum at Deepcut may be able to help.

The hydraulic pump is likely to be for standard tipping gear fitted by Bedford to their "O" types. It looks to be a "Weston" four cylinder type, made by Sunsaloon Bodies Ltd. in Birmingham.

In one of the All American Wonder books on the Jeep, there is a write up on the Ashchurch assembly depot. They must have had so much packing case wood they would not know what to do with it!

Correct Ron! I did not want to mention his name as he gave me this list some years back, not sure whether he is still working on the register.

Hi Andrew, A list of existing 4x4 Humbers has been compiled by an owner in England. It shows 4 of the Truck Personnel models. There are two 4x4 ambulances, and as for the Heavy Utility, there are 17 shown, but I have a feeling there are several that are currently being restored and may not be on that list. regards, Richard

Looking at the makers webpage on these clamps and their use, I have a feeling that someone has codified this NSN with wrong prefix. The label underneath looks to have a Z code so maybe this is why the item is unused surplus, because it was labelled wrongly. Not the first time I have seen that happen.

Group 4940 comes up as a special tool and so the track clamp was first clamp assy that sprung to mind. There is a different prefix on the label underneath, that might reveal more, as would unwrapping the item.

How heavy is the box or item? The number comes up as a special tool, wondered if it was a track clamp.

That's what happens when the safe load indicator is not working / ignored or overridden! :-D