teletech

I'm in the US and preparing a CVR(T) for collection from the UK. I've spoken to a few folks who have bits I'm interested in but they must be shipped by courier, lately a couple sights I'd very much like to own. Has anyone got a suggestion for how I might make this happen at a distance? One example would be ~35Kg from Willenhall, West Midlands or Leeds to Birchington, Kent. thanks so much, Pavl_

Welcome to here from there... I'm in California eagerly awaiting my shipping container from the UK with my first British MVs. Pavl_

Paul, I saw the video of when you swapped out the Striker and your Sabre is looking great. I'm sorry I can't help with your clanking noises but just want to thank you for your videos as well as the proof that a CVR(T) will in fact fit in a normal garage. I expect the rear hull bin is off due to length? Perhaps once mine get here and I get to play with them I'll be more useful about diagnostics. P_

teletech

Greeting all, I'm trying to work out all the different variations of optics used on the CVRT series, partly out of curiosity and partly to fill some holes in the turret and hull. No42: Cupola periscope, any breakdown on MK# vs. application/year? No43: No44: Drivers Periscope, any breakdown on MK# vs. application/year? No48: No52: Gunners day sight for Scimitar/Sabre. Would it also fit a Scorpion? (obviously the ranging and such would be off but if I'm not shooting anybody and just want to fill the hole) No. 54 - Gunners day sight, suitable for Scorpion No. 62 - Commanders sight for Spartan and Striker No. 68, 71 & 75, Commanders day sights for Scorpion, Scimitar & Sabre. How are these different? What # are the hull-side blocks on a Spartan? thanks, P_

Increasingly, just head down to the local police motorpool: http://www.storyleak.com/idaho-police-join-growing-number-departments-military-vehicles/ Seriously, you could check out http://www.idahomvpa.org/ but flying or driving to another part of the country will yield larger venues http://www.mvpa.org/home/mv-events/ Of course, I prefer to go places where I can not only look but touch/buy so http://www.idahomotorpool.com/ If you are homesick there are a few guys (yep, always guys for some reason) with CVR(T) here in California, hopefully mine will have arrived by then and you can see one in worse shape than yours. :-)

http://www.steelsoldiers.com is the US equivalent to this site as near as I can tell and will have a calendar of meetings, etc. There are some rather large meets, more transport trucks than armor as for some time the US government destroys anything that might seem dangerous, on the other hand we get to have the guns over here so go figure. Speaking of which, if your timing works out you might look into events like http://www.knobcreekrange.com/events/featured-events/machine-gun-shoot naturally there is a lot of overlap between MV collectors and folks who own artillery. With the recent Sale of the Littlefield collection and the movement of the "better" half of said collecting across the country I'm not sure they will have that up by the time you are here but they do other MVs as well: http://www.collingsfoundation.org/menu.htm

I recently came across a long and rambling thread on a Philippine forum regarding a large compressed gas tank attached to the leading edge of some scorpions. Theories abounded: nitrous oxide for performance, natural gas or propane for fuel, but I thought the most plausible was that it was gas for the pneumatic recuperator. Would this perhaps be a hack for leaking seals or to increase potential rate of fire? http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=17933.0

I suspect you are referring to an International/Ford IDI motor? If so the speed is much too slow, expect something like 35MPH max. You could rebuild a Isuzu or Cummins 4cyl for higher RPMs but those are really pretty tall engines. You are much better off grabbing something like a Saab 900 gas engine, (very shallow sump and easy 200HP). I'm told folks have used a ford 300CID motor in CVR(T) FWIW. I feel your pain, or will more acutely pretty soon as I have a pair of vehicles coming to me in California from the UK. I'd offer container space but I'm not sure it's really any cheaper to move one across country than straight from the UK. good luck, P_

Looks like we will have yet another buyer to compete against for spares. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140904/DEFREG01/309040030/With-Scout-SV-Deal-Done-UK-Sell-Surplus-CVR-T-s-Latvia So, that works out to 317K per vehicle which seems a right tidy sum even when you consider training and spares. Looks like Withams might have to raise their rates. I look forward to finding out how Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania make out with their CVR(T)s. It does seem pretty clear, at least some feel there is a place for some light armor in the field and this design seems to be an enduring one.

Sent by an ex-pat friend of mine, retired in the Philippines. > Last night Merry and I had dinner as guests at the posh Casa Espanol club, > during the conversation, out of the blue, our host told this story; > > During the consrtuction of the building about 8 years ago, an old man from > the neighborhood told the crew to dig carefully over there, becasue there > was an WWII Japanese tank buried there. He told them he saw the Japanese > dig a big hole and cover the tank as the American forces were coming. Sure > enough they discovered a fully equipped, not too badly damaged tank. They > proceeded to cut it up and sold it for scrap. Don't get your hopes up to > much for finding stuff here. >

Another view that shows the launch and impact nicely. at about 4:46 I know I saw a short version with just this and the slow-motion replay but can't find it just now. the brake test is also impressive for thos who missed it.

This one just sold in the US. I have no idea if 00GM81 is a valid or correct reg#. It looked nicely complete. http://www.auctionsamerica.com/events/feature-lots.cfm?SaleCode=LC14&ID=r0024&Order=price&feature=&collection=&grouping=&category=Cars

While doing some reading it seems there are those who don't feel the Fox turret on a Scorpion chassis worked well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabre_%28tank%29 "In particular, the vehicle lacked defensive capabilities. " and that "The marriage of the Fox turret and Scorpion chassis was not successful and Sabre was withdrawn from British Army service in 2004." Where elsewhere: http://www.livesteammodels.co.uk/dhmg/scorpion.html >2. Occupational Health and Safety. The toxicity issues were >significant. That is also why Britain withdrew the Scorpion. I would have thought that venting and LMG mounting would have been about the same so why would the Sabre be inferior to the Scimitar? Has anybody got information about how the crews felt about the Sabre Vs. Scimitar or combat effectiveness? Thanks, P_

Looks like they have sold a few of these this year. Anybody here pick one up? I noticed the one back in January went for under 2000 (no reserve), a later one for about 3600, then 5000 (met a reserve), and 4250 (reserve not met but I didn't notice it being re-listed). The most recent started at 3400 or so and go no bids. I was wondering if Withams has been taking the high bidder even when the reserve isn't met or if I want one I'm really going to have to spend the 5000? thanks, P_

As a local emergency responder driving to town it isn't as sinister as perhaps it could have been taken, more along the lines of an emergency response tool should our suburban not cut it. Sorry, I had no wish to offend. Mostly I was suggesting there was more regional expertise related to UK vehicles on a UK forum. If I were looking for information on an M114 a US site would have been a likely place to request information, for instance. If there were any jab it was meant in jest to provoke any lurkers with foreign armor to step up with more information in defense of the under-represented. As to cost, I did have a M35 that I used as a daily driver for a few years. Rounding out the $2000 in motor vehicle fees and insurance every year was the 3MPG fuel consumption so I'm hoping small armor won't be much worse. thanks, P_

Well, I suppose a pretty one-sided discussion shouldn't surprise me on a UK based site but I think you have all made the somewhat obvious point that the CVR(T) is a much more popular choice. I could ask on the french MV forum for their view if I could even find one (heh, now I'm doing it). There seems to be dozens of owners (at least), websites, and perhaps a hundred videos on youtube on the CVRT and about two on the Hotchkiss. Looking at service life, support, and maneuverability it is clear the CVRT is the hands-down winner. I suppose something that I can read the manual for would be nice too and it seems the risk of jokes is too real to be ignored. OK, lacking ANY real dissent from two countries on the subject it looks like the winner is the CVRT. Now to file my form-6 and go shopping. I'm new to the field but still disagree with those who say the fuel economy doesn't matter. I could buy a 423 much more cheaply and it would take many miles to burn up the initial cost difference but looking at the thing in terms of total cost of ownership it's easier to justify driving something that gets 5mpg than 2mpg if all the other costs are similar especially as fuel prices rise, the vehicle itself is a cost you might at least get your wife to believe you can someday recover by selling the vehicle but if I can smile as widely for $3/mile as for $6/mile I need to take that into consideration.

Well, it's silly to spend the money for armour if it doesn't work and remember that since I live in the USA there are an *awful lot* of guns around. I was more than a bit shocked to see the French light tank with live 90mm gun sell for just $26K at auction this month (and annoyed I had left the room). Just thinking that if there was a disaster near where I live and the road is closed so I decide to take my armour to town and some survivalist rancher took offense and opened up on me with his AR or Barrett or if I was out on some BLM land and a pot farmer decides "the feds aren't going to run over my crops this time." Accidents happen.

So, trying to decide on my first tracked vehicle and thought I'd throw it out to the community for input...I went to the Littlefield auction and while I was too slow to move money and throw caution to the wind I did get a chance to sit in some nice armor and get the itch. I came away thinking the British units were quite nice but really liked that little French job, it was just much too expensive for me. The CVR(T): has excellent speed and maneuverability, a ready source of spare parts, all the manuals are in English. The armor is aluminum. The transmissions are problematic, the Jag motor is, well a Jag motor and track, while available is expensive to ship and has pretty short life. Also, if you are really lucky (or have deep pockets) you can find it with an common cummins diesel. The 22-2: Is rarer, tends to sell for more money, has much better visibility for the driver. Seems to have better interior space and while the track seems scarce has big easily replaceable track pads! Finding other parts is bound to be hard.The armor is steel and seems to have better protection(?) It's also pretty slow and heavy. Plus there is the problem of the jokes about the French and tanks which is a bigger issue than I would have thought, especially when I tell people it's really slow going in reverse. The French apc is a little more money but seems below market. I suppose I should mention also those Schutzenpanzer Sauer SPzA1 I see, lovely and cheap but the width makes for challenging shipping and I'm worried about on-road and on-trail suitablity. Any reason I should revisit the option? Fuel consumption figures are hard to come by, the FV103 seems to be about 4.5-6MPG with the gas motor but no clue on the other.In the real world, is the speed important, which armor is actually better? Al picks up dings and can burn but the steel could spall any ideas of real-world protection against threats like .223, 30-06ap, .50AP, etc? Any input from the community, anybody have the SpZ and how do you like it? Resale value? I have to keep the wife happy, amazingly she is being a good sport about the whole thing, must be a keeper. Sorry for the cross-post from a US site but I wasn't registerd here yet and I know you lads will likely have the answers I seek. thanks in advance for your input. P_

Oh, do *please* remember to fuse your connections as close as practicable to the batteries so that in the unfortunate event of a damaged cable you don't damage anything else (don't ask why I emphasize this) and note that if you do use two 12v chargers you should fuse both positive wires AND the negative high-side battery.

In battery technology for electric vehicles there is huge emphasis placed on load and charging balance, rather than one voltage across all the cells they will charge each cell according to it's needs. This has a huge impact on battery pack lifespan. Assuming your batteries don't have external straps between the cells the closest you can get is two separate 12V chargers. If nothing else it means if one battery or charger fails you don't loose both. As they are solar you don't have to isolate them (as long as the case is isolated), just one across each battery. A diode for reverse protection will prevent discharging the battery at night but doesn't do much for over-charge protection. As the previous reply noticed, the open panel voltage can go well over the nominal or even safe charging voltage for a battery so unless your panel is quite small (300ma max) make sure it has overvoltage protection built-in or buy an external charging regulator. I know they cost a bit but it's cheaper than cooking some expensive batteries.

Hello there. My name is Pavl, I work for the university of California as a telescope technician and I've just been bitten by the armour bug in earnest. I've owned a few MVs over the years: A Ford GPW which was too small, a M35 which was too big, and a M37 which was a good size but somehow cursed. I had sold a few cars off recently and a friend sends me a link and says you must need something here, it's the link for the Littlefield auction happening right near where I live. I was amused but didn't seriously consider going as I had to work and then just the night before the auction I decided I just had to check out this once in a lifetime collection! Between not having time to do research and move money and just being intimidated I came come empty-handed but with a need for some armor. I sat in a few things that day that were completely irrational to even consider but also a few things that I thought might work for me. CVR(T) Samson Ferrett MK2 Hochkiss 22-2 M113-1/2 Lynx Dragoon AFV So, now I'm on the prowl for the most expensive, least useful vehicle I'll likely ever own and since I seem drawn to British armour of course I landed here. I've spent many hours pouring over relevant posts and owe you all a great deal of thanks for your informative contributions to these forums and hope the barrier of a common language won't make me sound any more uninformed than I actually am. Also: yes, I will never forgive myself for letting some of thoes olive-drab lovelies go so cheaply.