Cold_War_Collection Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 while working on another vehicle in the shop, the sunlight was entering just so, and a beam fell on the front plate of the Ferrets turret. I could see the outline of letters under the paint faintly, and it spells out "HAYBALLER" in stencil block letters Ferret number is 18 EA 40 As its has some extra radio ant. mounts, thinking this could be a REBRO version? Ideas? Cheers Nick CWC Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold_War_Collection Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 while working on another vehicle in the shop, the sunlight was entering just so, and a beam fell on the front plate of the Ferrets turret. I could see the outline of letters under the paint faintly, and it spells out "HAYBALLER" in stencil block letters Ferret number is 18 EA 40 As its has some extra radio ant. mounts, thinking this could be a REBRO version? Ideas? Cheers Nick CWC Canada As it would happen, on closer examination with Paul, the word is "HAYBAILER". with so many layers of paint, its quite obscurred. Nick CWC Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 As it would happen, on closer examination with Paul, the word is "HAYBAILER". with so many layers of paint, its quite obscurred. Nick CWC Canada Hi Nick, Do you have any pictures of the extra radio bits it might help to narrow it down a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I crewed (drove then commanded) a battlegroup rebro Ferret between 1977 and 1980. We only ever had two times VHF sets (initially C42, replaced by UK/VRC353). I can think of no real reason why any Ferret would need more than two sets. When they were used as recce vehicle, there wasn't the room inside for three Larkspur sets; there may have been more room with Clansman, but there was no technical or tactical reason for a rebro Ferret to carry three. The question I'd ask is whether somebody thought a third antenna base mount might be a cool idea for no reason other than "I can do it" like taking an Airfix kit and mounting bombs, rockets and torpedoes simply because they were all provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold_War_Collection Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 I crewed (drove then commanded) a battlegroup rebro Ferret between 1977 and 1980. We only ever had two times VHF sets (initially C42, replaced by UK/VRC353). I can think of no real reason why any Ferret would need more than two sets. When they were used as recce vehicle, there wasn't the room inside for three Larkspur sets; there may have been more room with Clansman, but there was no technical or tactical reason for a rebro Ferret to carry three. The question I'd ask is whether somebody thought a third antenna base mount might be a cool idea for no reason other than "I can do it" like taking an Airfix kit and mounting bombs, rockets and torpedoes simply because they were all provided. These look orginial, and I'm not sure if they appeared on all variants? I am reffering to the screw type caps in the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I can see this might easily disintegrate into an originality thread but here goes anyway. Nic, have you considered that the name you seek to understand may have been applied post release from MoD? Was it a display vehicle at Budge? We both know that vehicle came from AF Budge and its fairly easy to see the markings that have been put on since it was tidied up. Baz who worked at Budge is still around so he could be asked. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 These look orginial, and I'm not sure if they appeared on all variants? I am reffering to the screw type caps in the picture. [ATTACH=CONFIG]83237[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]83238[/ATTACH] Fitted out for Clansman the aerial base in the first picture is for Larkspur vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 When we refitted our Mark 1s for Clansman, we sinply fitted Clansman antenna bases in place of the Larkspur. The alternatives shown here were not present: presumably only appeared after a full overhaul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff66 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 some have em some dont my mk1/2 went thru base overhaul in 87 and these not fitted, aerial lead goes thru base of antenna mount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold_War_Collection Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 some have em some dont my mk1/2 went thru base overhaul in 87 and these not fitted, aerial lead goes thru base of antenna mount Great! Thanks for all the feedback everybody! Cheers Nick CWC Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PC1075 Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 My Mk I also has both of these antenna mounts fitted. It went through a Base Overhaul in August 1990 at 34 Base Workshops, REME, at Donnington in Shropshire …so I’m guessing they may have been added then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g0ozs Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 The "C" connector is to allow an external coaxial cable fed antenna (such as a HF dipole or a EVHF pineapple for VHF) to be used remote from the vehicle. I suspect Alien may be better placed to advised if the facility was ever actually used in service as the latter at least would entail carrying a mast, pineapple and cables. I can see the benefit much more for HF where a useful range increase over a vehicle mounted antenna is possible even using a low dipole between trees. Iain 73 de G0OZS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 The "C" connector is to allow an external coaxial cable fed antenna (such as a HF dipole or a EVHF pineapple for VHF) to be used remote from the vehicle. I suspect Alien may be better placed to advised if the facility was ever actually used in service as the latter at least would entail carrying a mast, pineapple and cables. I can see the benefit much more for HF where a useful range increase over a vehicle mounted antenna is possible even using a low dipole between trees. Iain 73 de G0OZS I hear what you say and it all makes sense. But I left the scene in 1982 and there was none of this then. A battlegroup rebro was nothing special. At brigade and higher I am sure they had more-sophisticated rebro kit, but I also fear that the latter were generally equipped with FV432s to work from, since higher formation took it a whole lot more seriously. I am sure somebody somewhere thought replacing / supplementing the antenna base layout was a good idea but it's beyond me. It isn't even as if Ferret was in any way NBC-proof and creating a dedicated armour pass-through for the coax made sense. Especially since afaik by 1990 the only Ferrets still in service (with the possible exceptions of Cyprus and NI - neither of which really warranted high-tech on Mark 2s) would be Mark 1s. Fascinated to get inside the mind of the person that thought this up. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g0ozs Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Alien I expect it would make more sense in the original role of the vehicle as a scout car if operating NVIS skywave HF (did reconnaissance vehicles ever have C13 or RT321?) beyond VHF range in advance of a friendly fixed radio station or on the wrong side of a mountain - if that role had passed by the time the coax connector was fitted it is probably a case of the specification to deployment time outliving the need ! Regards Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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