Shakey985

Re 14 Battalion of what? 4th brigade 1AIF, 15-10-1914 Returned to Australia 5-4-1918, He was a reinforcement leaving Australia on the 22-12-1914 on the HMAT Berrima. Robert had 4 children who served in WW2 (RAN 2 Army 1 WRAAF 1) from all accounts and my research he lived in Port Melbourne. During the depression he went bush with his truck wood cutting, working as a tin smith and any other odd jobs. During the week he would live at the pub ( in one of the many bungalows) using it as a base. HMVF members discount is at this stage BYBO but I will make you all welcome. with the history of the area and Horses are welcome also even in the bar.

This is the Sugarloaf Creek Hotel as of a week ago As it isn't a vehicle will it fit in with the theme of this forum? the history of the pub is that it was started in 1864 and so served soldiers from the Boar war until 1953. In 1962 it was burnt down and all that remained was the stone veranda wall built by 1409 Pte Seaborne Robert 14th Battalion (WW1) around 1936. Being 10 Miles from Puckapunyal and 20 Miles from Seymour it was used extensively during both wars, to the extent that the owner would leave a keg on the bar with a cold leg of lamb for after hours trading. The 2/8th Armoured Regiment adopted it as there home away from home, the oval on the same property was used for sport by this unit and others of the Armoured division while stationed in the area. While I don't want to open as a licensed hotel due to my commitment at the tank museum ie finish the Vickers medium, operate and maintain the M816 and start the Yeramba project at the end of the year . It will be used by the 1 Armoured Regiment Association. Should I of spent my compo money on the pub or a Tank/Truck like some that I have seen here? I would like both.

You are correct in saying that it is in the RAAC Tank museum. All my photos are from my collection (wish I Had a camera when I was young). The tank Museum copy right free ( there will be more and if you have requests? send and I will try to Help. I also have some from the 1 Armoured Regiment Association which I haven't posted yet but will once I receive permission to do so.

Tim The vehicles are M113A3 APC/LRV fitted with a T50 turret. The turret can hold a 50cal,30cal combination or twin 30cals. This was my home away from home for 21 years as both a driver and crew commander. The turret was hand operated and introduced into service for Vietnam as the original Vehicle had only a pintell mount.

This is our current fleet of landing craft This is taken from the Tobruk, and as you can see there is 4 ropes holding them together. During a night loading we snapped one so loading was suspended and we moved to calmer seas. You should also note that all vehicles are reversed on to the LCH for hot landings.

One that is great for shopping It comes with its own wine rack, hydrologic suspension for ease of getting on and is powered by a diesel engine and a turbine for quick get aways Paul Downunder

The 816 working for a living During the week I did 2 tows with an a frame and lift and tow of a vehicle that was used on trails. The vehicle is still classified so no pictures, it took me 3 hours to get it out of our grave yard and on display for some officers. I am learning heaps and having a ball Paul Downunder

I wouldn't run it low as there is more chance of contamination, condensation/water building up, that is not diluted by a full fuel tank. Paul Downunder

Here are some photos of my time at sea, unfortunitly I at a young age wasn't in to taking photos of all my trips with the Army. These have all ready been posted but seem to have got lost in the **** fight over what was to be posted in the naval section. I hope they are exceptable, has any one else sailed on landing craft, landed on beach's, cross loaded from one LCH to another. I will try and locate some more of tanks cross loading and landing on the beach. Paul Downunder PS if some one can move my original to here it would be appricated

This is of a trip to Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton in 1975 on HMAS Balicapan. One of many trips on LCM/LCH I have done of Queensland and the Northern Territory, unfortunitly in my youth taking photos was not a priority. Cross loading at sea was an interesting exercise as well as driving down the ramp inside HMAS Tobruk or checking loads at night. But 2 cans per man helped Paul downunder

Mark can you let me know who is in the photo as we on the other side of the world cant be there. Paul Downunder

We have just got 50 some odd of the rebuild Adrams and the talk is that they will be around till 2030 at least and that is in the US and Australia. Our 50 are for training and then we will take over US vehicles in country. Re Leopards falling over, some crews don't get out, especially on night moves across country and this has been going on since tanks were invented. Paul downunder

They are the same lights used today on American Vehicles. Left Blackout marker, Center Blackout Drive and last one rear blackout marker and stop light. I never new that they were meant to do that, with all the hours I have done blackout driving, following the blinking red light in the dust I'm amazed. One night we were doing a move and the driver of the fitters track went to sleep and we all followed into a creek. Paul downunder

Here are some from a Leopard The first one is of the driver trainer/instant panal reaction testing station. The next two are from the crew commanders hatch, a visitor to our museum can take these photos with no problems. In fact they can take photos of the gunnery trainers with no problems. I would if I was going to make a $ out of my photos make a donation to the museum.

The engine is a 6 inline 240 brake horsepower Cummins (NHC-250) Paul Downunder

Here are the last 2 Enjoy I Do

Here are some more photos of the 816 This 816 came from the Woomera Rocket Range where it was used by civiys, it still has all the red dust in it, on it and every where else. it certainly wasn't serviced. The 816 has just gone out of service 1995 being replaced by the Mack in Australia. we also have a M543 A2 the previous model that entered service around 1963, the A2 denotes that it has a Gen Motors Detroit Diesel 6V53 215 HP instead of the standard straight 6. These were issued to cav units as this is the same engine as the M113 family. The Ward La France is circa 1942 were did the Diamond T fit in? I am certainly enjoying learning to drive and operate her within the confines of our compound" o for the open road its amazing how many gears I can change in low range'. Paul Downunder

Mine will always be slow as I cant get broadband yet being out in the bush, but only 100ks from Melbourne. Paul Downunder

This is probably not the place but here is some from an open day As for series 3 send and I will try to help(I used to own one) but I work in a tank museum. Paul Downunder

I will take so more photos on Tuesday and post them. While I'm here what is the chronology of American Military wreckers i.e WWI to Vietnam M816. If any body wants photos of vehicles in our collection (internal-external or parts I can take them and post here. Paul Downunder

One could argue that the first tank design came out of Australia but at the time it was submitted the powers to be weren't interested in tracked vehicles. Actually I am A Pom born in Solihull.

You are correct, considering what you have in your collection it didn't take long. One of the engines is out for a rebuild and then it will all be up and running again. As you would know these were developed in Australia 1940/41, when our only other tanks were obsolete and prior to American supples of Grant. The power pack slides out as a complete unit and to me it was superior to the Grants and had a lower silhouette to the Sherman.

When I joined the Army everything was green. 21 years later it was cam. My suggestion would be to select a unit and a date and then write to the current Regimental Technical Adijient (RTA) of that unit and ask?.

We have a champ parked in our hanger that was in private ownership for years, it is x Aust army and has the exhaust out through the front guard and down the passenger side. A visitor came in from over there and told me we should put it back to under the vehicle so that it back to original. now I don't know were the exhaust should go but I do know that in Australia we are renowned for modifying equipment and changing the colours to suit. When did you lot change to plastic jerry cans for water. My point is you can never please every one.

I have give you a hint by the location so what is it. Paul Downunder