jonclark Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I ( and 2 of my colleges at work) used to build Challenger 2 amongst other things at RoF , later Vickers, in Leeds. Does anyone in West or North Yorks or nearby have an example that we may have built that we can come and have a look at for old times sake? Clearance not a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Only Challenger I know of is one that Terry Brooks has down south or maybe he has sold it, it was an instrumented test bed years ago I think. Chally 2 I dont think has been released, but someone will prove me wrong likely. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLUF Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Not completely sure Terry Brooks owns it, more of a custodian, hence why its kept back at Bordon. I also believe it started life as a driver training aid (but not 100% sure on that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 Yep Terry has had use of one, shall we say.. I also thought Nick Mead had one in non running condition.. These both Chally 1's though, no Chally 2's released to my knowledge, but it can only be a matter of time now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trustmeimamechanic Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 I may be proven wrong but I've been told chally 2 will never be released into private hands in this country .... talk of the panzers being laid up is rife but I reckon it will be just that ...laid up and put in store, with the regiments staying current on smaller armour . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 These both Chally 1's though, no Chally 2's released to my knowledge, but it can only be a matter of time now.. I doubt it, they will go into storage (or straight to the scrap yard, but I doubt it given how expensive and new they are.) They won't want Dorchester armour knocking around in civilian hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0rris Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 ...Especially with the threat of a conflict in Korea, my money will go on much of the kit, chally 2s included, disappearing into massive warehouses ready to be fired-up and sent elsewhere. m0rris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Without straying into the realms of the dreaded "P" word - they'll probably get sold off to the lowest bidder!! :-( :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antar Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Here is the Chalenger 1 in Borden earlier this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankman Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 god i miss my chally as far as i know they cant be released into civi hands untill the armour is declassified the only public owned ones are steel test bed ones mine unfortunately went to storage with the rest of the regiments when we re-roled to cvrt they took our challys and gave us tonka toys we were not happy the only good thing is that because we were used to heavy maintenance keeping us busy the tiny cvrt's were done in a quarter of the time leaving the pt staff to keep us busy the rest of the time. we used to have squadron competitions to change all the pads on 2 wagons by the old sledge hammer and mk 1 arm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The MOD seem to be moving Challenger 2s around at the moment, so that may the start of putting them in storage. There were two on transporters east-bound on the A31 yesterday morning and eight empty transporters coming back west yesterday evening. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankman Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The MOD seem to be moving Challenger 2s around at the moment, so that may the start of putting them in storage. There were two on transporters east-bound on the A31 yesterday morning and eight empty transporters coming back west yesterday evening. Andy they were storing them when i left in 2007 they usually move storage vehicles in groups of five they might have been en route to a range somewhere or as repalcements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recymech66 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/AgenciesOrganisations/WFM/ See link, they'll be in storage, not sold off. Storage depots in Germany and UK with controlled humidity environment ensuring they are kept in top condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landyandy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) a few pics of prototype challenger 1 at slab common Edited January 11, 2011 by landyandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankman Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 that chally looks so right but yet so wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landyandy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 there are quite a few early challys on site there in different guises,would make nice resto projects except they are full of concrete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankman Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) with only a few working prototypes the chances of getting behind the sticks of a chally are looking far off for a good many years until they declassify chobham looking at those photos brings back the stark differences between challenger one and two i remember two had hydrogas suspension on the photo it looks like its fitted with chieftain style spring packs, the hydrogas was always interesting when the attached infantry tried camping under our wagon after a days flying about salisbury plain they didnt realise as the suspension cooled the ride height got lower so they crawled nice and easy under at night but were very nearly stuck in the morning needing pulling out by their dos bags, only then did the horror stories start and no one ever slept under or near the tracks of a wagon again, my favorite spot was a dip in the armour on the right hand side of the gun sponson where the gunners sight was that dip was made for sleeping in, on exercise we had a guy come off radio stag and walk off the back of the turret expecting a metre or so drop onto the engine deck, the guy completely forgot we had the gun over the side and landed on the stumpy sa80 cocking handle right in his ribs. silly bugger Edited January 13, 2011 by Tankman oh and lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.