introduction Introduction (and looking for FV432 MK2 AMPHIBIOUS)

[RECAMLVBL]

Hi FV432 lovers

 

I'm a former Cavalry Lieutenant (Militia) of the Portuguese Army, trying to be a entrepreneur on tourism business, with Team Building classes, leadership evaluation, military training simulations (paint and soft ball) and real week-end military training, driving experiences in tracked APC, Wine tourism and Regional Gastronomy, horse riding, etc.

For so, I think the best UK model is the FV432 MK2, because they have a large slit-hatch opening in the (10)passenger compartment. I think there's only one in Portugal, in a private museum. The Russian/soviet vehicles have no large split-hatch for passenger; only MG or cannon turrets. Good for fight, but bad for touring...

I know that most of FV432 are with amphibious hardware removed, but that's what I need. In my HQ (see http://www.adegadasmouras.pt ) we have access to small dams, as well as in the "neighbourhood". I've many alternatives as Alqueva - the biggest artificial lake in Europe - or some private properties in Algarve. In Portugal, those vehicles are not allowed to use roads. They can only stay in private proprieties, or "swim" in public dams were motorised boats are allowed.

So, I have to buy (for starting) two FV432 MK2, WITH AMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITY. Can you help me?

The M113 were perfect, but I can't find any... and the Swiss army killed 500 to melt...

And there's another catch: I can only buy Ex MOD vehicles, for proprietaries that can issue an invoice, because there are some EU money involved in this tourist matters.

 

Sorry for my errors / mistakes; I think I didn't wrote a single word of English since 1980...till last week...

I've never wrote my "Curriculum Militum", before.

There's a first time for everything. So, there we go:

 

- 1984 - Specialization at Practical Cavalry School (in Santarém), Recognition (REC) and Driving Instruction of AML - Auto Metrelhadoras Ligeiras (Light Scout Cars Ferret and Saladin) and VBL - Viaturas Blindadas Ligeiras (Armoured Personnel Carriers Chaimite V200 and M113). That's why my nick is RECAMLVBL...

- 1985 - As Sub-Second Lieutenant (you don't have equivalent), I was Platoon Leader of Basic Recruit and instrutor for future drivers of Saladin and Ferret in RC6 (Cavalry Regiment, at Braga), till August; then, I asked to transfer to RC3 (Estremoz). Till the end of the year I led the Regimental Transport Platoon;

- 1986 - Promotion to Second Lieutenant. Platoon leader of the 3rd Rec Platoon, 2nd Rec Squadron;

- 1987 - Adjunct to 2nd Rec Squadron leader and S2. Accumulation with Regimental Fire Officer (coordinator of the maintenance fire plan for light and heavy machine-guns Brownning .30 - Ferret and Saladin mounted; HK21 7.62mm Chaimite mounted; Browning .50 "jeep" UMM Cournil mounted; Saladin 76mm cannons; heavy 120mm mortar Chaimite towed; SS-11 missiles Chaimite mounted).

2nd Rec Squadron leader (interim Jun-Jul).

In August I was designated (by choice), "Aid-de-Camp" of the Commander of the Southern Military Region, Sir General João de Almeida Bruno (decorated by HM The Queen Elisabeth in 1986), till Sep 1989;

- 1988 - Jan - Promotion to Lieutenant;

- 1989 - Sep - The interim Commander, Brigadier Júlio Faria Ribeiro de Oliveira, invited me to keep my usual functions; I accepted till be replaced (by a Captain...), what happened in December.

I asked to serve in Reserve and I was honourably discharged, Dec 29th 1989, 5 years, 4 month and 10 days (=1958 days) of efective service. And I'm very proud of it.

Never, ever, a militia Second Lieutenant was designated "Aid-the-Camp" of a General, in Portugal... and the second most decorated Officer (in Africa campaign 1961/74).

 

 

Best regards

 

Luís Neves dos Santos

[Adrian Barrell]

Welcome Luis,

 

it is a pity my M75 APC is not amphibious as it has all the other features you need and is for sale!

 

Adrian (whose maternal great grandmother was from Portugal)

[shane.c]

Welcome to the forum,

[stevenivers]

Hello and welcome

[Masseyboy89]

Welcome Luís, did you drive a M151 MUTT in your time in the Portuguese army?

[RECAMLVBL]

Hi Simon

Yes I did occasionally drive the Willy's Mutt. They didn’t' equipped my Regiment (RC3), but when my Rec Group (=2 Squadron) went to the 1st Mixed Independent Brigade (NATO assignment) - training polygon of Santa Margarida - for the usual fire with heavy weapons training and maintenance, we usually “stole” some, for “night training” in the RC4 officers mess and… whatever…

They were very simple and reliable vehicles, and very “nervous” all terrain.

The RC3 “all porpoises” vehicles were UMM Portuguese made Cournil or Alter, with Peugeot engines. Slow in AT but very trusty; even in road (+/- 100 km/h). The Rec units were equipped with .50 MG Browning. Latter also with SS 11, TOW or Milan launch platforms (only for Infantry units, I suppose)

As you can see in http://forumm.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=293&whichpage=16there’s lots of UMM and one Mutt photos in an airborne exercise. Nowadays, there are not on duty.

I´ll know (next week) the owner of 200 Muttys to recover and sell, and other material, purchased in an army auction. I’m quite curious…

Best regards

Luís Neves dos Santos

[m109a3uk]

Hi Simon

Yes I did occasionally drive the Willy's Mutt. They didn’t' equipped my Regiment (RC3), but when my Rec Group (=2 Squadron) went to the 1st Mixed Independent Brigade (NATO assignment) - training polygon of Santa Margarida - for the usual fire with heavy weapons training and maintenance, we usually “stole” some, for “night training” in the RC4 officers mess and… whatever…

They were very simple and reliable vehicles, and very “nervous” all terrain.

The RC3 “all porpoises” vehicles were UMM Portuguese made Cournil or Alter, with Peugeot engines. Slow in AT but very trusty; even in road (+/- 100 km/h). The Rec units were equipped with .50 MG Browning. Latter also with SS 11, TOW or Milan launch platforms (only for Infantry units, I suppose)

As you can see in http://forumm.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=293&whichpage=16there’s lots of UMM and one Mutt photos in an airborne exercise. Nowadays, there are not on duty.

I´ll know (next week) the owner of 200 Muttys to recover and sell, and other material, purchased in an army auction. I’m quite curious…

Best regards

Luís Neves dos Santos

Some nice in service shots there! Didnt see a Mutt but a late 40s Jeep on a platform ready for a drop.

[RECAMLVBL]

Hi Simon

Yes I did occasionally drive the Willy's Mutt. They didn’t' equipped my Regiment (RC3), but when my Rec Group (=2 Squadron) went to the 1st Mixed Independent Brigade (NATO assignment) - training polygon of Santa Margarida - for the usual fire with heavy weapons training and maintenance, we usually “stole” some, for “night training” in the RC4 officers mess and… whatever…

They were very simple and reliable vehicles, and very “nervous” all terrain.

The RC3 “all porpoises” vehicles were UMM Portuguese made Cournil or Alter, with Peugeot engines. Slow in AT but very trusty; even in road (+/- 100 km/h). The Rec units were equipped with .50 MG Browning. Latter also with SS 11, TOW or Milan launch platforms (only for Infantry units, I suppose)

As you can see in http://forumm.forumco.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=293&whichpage=16there’s lots of UMM and one Mutt photos in an airborne exercise. Nowadays, there are not on duty.

I´ll know (next week) the owner of 200 Muttys to recover and sell, and other material, purchased in an army auction. I’m quite curious…

Best regards

Luís Neves dos Santos

Hi Simon

 

What about 200 for sale? Of course they have the steering on the "wrong" side, has you say...

The owner of this lot as also an FV432 MK2 APC to play himself; I´ll be introduced to him next week.

 

See the picture of some MUTT M151A2, etc, on http://www.milweb.net/dealers/trader/fernando_martins/

 

Best regards

Luís

 

P.S. - why under my (absent) photo or avatar is the word private ?

[robin craig]

Sir,

 

welcome to the forum. firstly.

 

I would like to say that my comments are made with no bad feelings, just a bit of reason.

 

Frankly I think you are not very wise if you wish to swim an FV 432 or any other supposedly amphibious vehicle without just cause.

 

When you look at the physical risks of being in a 10 ton coffin in water you make me shudder. I know I have been in the cab of a Stalwart when swimming but I was younger and more stupid then.

 

Any mechanical object with seals and gears and cavities filled with oils etc are enough work to keep running at the best of times. If you take one owned privately and supported by you doing all the work and not a REME workshops then why would you risk the chance of getting water into various cavities etc.

 

Work has talked about swimming our BV206, which is amphibious granted, but my voice of reason is the same. We will get many miles and years of usage out of the vehicle without subjecting it to water.

 

In my opinion if you immerse a vehicle into water (hopefully fresh) the first stop afterwards would be your workshops to change fluids, any that could have taken on water. Do not forget that a hot unvented cavity will, once the vehicle goes into the water, have the ability to develop a negative pressure as the oils will be cooled. If you have a slight weep on dry land that will become the point of entry once on the water.

 

My suggestion, is don't swim things that are not boats unless you have deep pockets.

 

Robin

[RECAMLVBL]

Hello Robin

 

I gave up ...

 

When I saw the FV432 tests at http://www.britishpathe.com/video/army-vehicles-tested/query/carriers , I realized that it was, actually, a very expensive "U432-Sarg" ...

On the other hand, I was disappointed with Saladin tests, because I personally overcome much higher gradients (uphill) and in all terrain conditions - compared to the film - without problems. Downhill, I thought the best idea was not to reach those speeds ...

My platoon drivers thought that I was a little crazy. Almost 30 years latter, I suppose that were right. Or, may be not....

 

Thanks

Luís