Trooper15 Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 I recently found a photo of a restored Paras Austin Champ fitted with the 106mm recoilless rifle ,unfortunatly It was only one frontal photo , can anyone suggest where I could find more photos that show how the 106 is installed and what other modifications were made to accomodate it ? regards Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter4456 Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Here is the photo I took of the Champ at Evesham - I'm sure there are loads of others about - it was a very good replica! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper15 Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 Here is the photo I took of the Champ at Evesham - I'm sure there are loads of others about - it was a very good replica![ATTACH=CONFIG]67948[/ATTACH] Hi Peter , that is the photo I found on the net ! , you dont happer to have any of the rear or interior by any chance ? thanks for the reply Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David I Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Hi . There is another picture of this vehicle on page 12 of this section of the forum. I seems to belong to a forum member, Skiprat. under recoiless champ ,or something like that. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper15 Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 Had not spotted that one david , many thanks regards Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecyMech Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hi Trooper 15 I have heaps of all round close ups of that conversion (same vehicle, taken at Evesham this year). Taken to produce a 106 recoiless rifle conversion kit for our 1/24th Champ model next year. Drop me a line if you still need pics on kfs1@btinternet.com Regards........Howard @ KFS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiprat Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I spent many years trying to find out how these things went together... There is nothing in the EMER’s so I think it was a very limited modification. (less than 24 vehicles) These were put together in a hurry for the Suez campaign in 1956, the M40 may have been leased from the Americans, but this time the Americans did not want any involvement in Suez ,so they could have been supplied by France. The parachute regiment first saw these weapons been fired by the French in Cyprus while joint training prior to the invasion 3 Para that parachuted on to Gamil airfield fitted their recoilless rifles to WW2 era Willys jeeps . 1 Para had theirs fitted to champs for the later beach landings. I did have a look through the photo archive in the Airborne forces museum. The only thing I did find of any use was a close up photo of the barrel clamp. As far as I can work out there are two ways the rifles were fitted to the champs 1 for use in Suez (painted light stone) 2 for use in Europe (painted bronze green) As far as I have figured out the main differences are...... Light stone (Suez) Bonnet has reinforcing bar and sheet material fitted to the windscreen supports. Spare wheel fitted to the driver’s side Spade fitted down the front mud guard Non folding barrel clamp Rifle clamped directly on to the rear of the side body panel Bronze green (Europe) No bonnet reinforcement Spare wheel fitted on bonnet Rifle clamped to extended (high) side body panels Both types have the rear body panel removed. I did at first, have the front wheel of the recoilless rifle resting on the rear seat base (folded forward) this worked well and did place the wheel at the right height and was simple I now have the wheel fitted into a mount made from a couple of pieces of angle iron running from the top of the transition tunnel to the back of the seat/battery box. This way is also simple and gives the advantage of been able to use the rear foot wells for storage. With the lack of information on how these were put together I decided to go ahead with the little information I had and wait for people to tell me what I had done wrong!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper15 Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Many thanks for your help and information , as you say photos of the Suez champs are very thin on the ground , I found a decentish one of a Champ with 2 Para in Joprdan in 68 and a couple of other not so clear ones.It is for a model (until Howard's is released) so all help is appreciated. Thanks again Brian I spent many years trying to find out how these things went together... There is nothing in the EMER’s so I think it was a very limited modification. (less than 24 vehicles) These were put together in a hurry for the Suez campaign in 1956, the M40 may have been leased from the Americans, but this time the Americans did not want any involvement in Suez ,so they could have been supplied by France. The parachute regiment first saw these weapons been fired by the French in Cyprus while joint training prior to the invasion 3 Para that parachuted on to Gamil airfield fitted their recoilless rifles to WW2 era Willys jeeps . 1 Para had theirs fitted to champs for the later beach landings. I did have a look through the photo archive in the Airborne forces museum. The only thing I did find of any use was a close up photo of the barrel clamp. As far as I can work out there are two ways the rifles were fitted to the champs 1 for use in Suez (painted light stone) 2 for use in Europe (painted bronze green) As far as I have figured out the main differences are...... Light stone (Suez) Bonnet has reinforcing bar and sheet material fitted to the windscreen supports. Spare wheel fitted to the driver’s side Spade fitted down the front mud guard Non folding barrel clamp Rifle clamped directly on to the rear of the side body panel Bronze green (Europe) No bonnet reinforcement Spare wheel fitted on bonnet Rifle clamped to extended (high) side body panels Both types have the rear body panel removed. I did at first, have the front wheel of the recoilless rifle resting on the rear seat base (folded forward) this worked well and did place the wheel at the right height and was simple I now have the wheel fitted into a mount made from a couple of pieces of angle iron running from the top of the transition tunnel to the back of the seat/battery box. This way is also simple and gives the advantage of been able to use the rear foot wells for storage. With the lack of information on how these were put together I decided to go ahead with the little information I had and wait for people to tell me what I had done wrong!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper15 Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hi Howard Many thanks for the offer, I have sent you an email. Much appreciated. regards Brian Hi Trooper 15 I have heaps of all round close ups of that conversion (same vehicle, taken at Evesham this year). Taken to produce a 106 recoiless rifle conversion kit for our 1/24th Champ model next year. Drop me a line if you still need pics on kfs1@btinternet.com Regards........Howard @ KFS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecyMech Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Hi Skiprat, That was me that spent an hour taking pics & measurements off your 106 at Evesham. Thanks again for the co-operation, the interesting natter & the insight into what had been done. Best regs mate. Howard @ KFS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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