B series Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Now the dark evenings are with us, often means more time indoors, less workshop time. Clive / FV1602 often has mystery objects to entertain us, therefore he does not have to chance to join in. So I thought I would post an object for consideration. Anyone take a guess at who used this, where and what for etc? Clive is such an expert he most likely will come up with an NSN, and an the operators manual for this object. 1st clue, it is approx 20 inches long. B series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-boy Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Looks like it would be ideal for cooking a turtle in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Isn't it bug? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Armour for a large tortoise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Terrapin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 (edited) The camouflage pattern on the "turtle's" head suggests WW1 German army to me, but that could be way off the mark. I'll hazard a wild guess: is it a booby trap device, similar to the dead rats packed with explosive that commando-type units are said to have left on German bases? Or a camouflage helmet for commando-type units approaching enemy formations in water? Edited October 29, 2020 by John F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 30, 2020 Share Posted October 30, 2020 Groin armour? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B series Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 Well, John F is on the right track with 2nd paragraph, but wrong era in 1st paragraph.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Pure guess, German WW2 Magnetic mine for clamping to ships, meant to look like a turtle underwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B series Posted October 31, 2020 Author Share Posted October 31, 2020 Zero Five Two, not correct until you got to the "meant to look like a turtle underwater". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 It wouldn't be a helmet for a swimmer so they can approach the target? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10FM68 Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Actually, this isn't really a military item. Some years ago, it was realised by Greyhound owners that, as their racing dogs aged, they missed the track, they missed their friends and rivals and generally became depressed. But, chasing the hare proved all too much. So, White City introduced a veterans' day for retired racing greyhounds. It included some bottom-sniffing, a set of lamp posts were set up for competitive pi**ing (height achieved, quantity and colour were all judged) and the highlight was the closing event... the veterans' race. Chasing after a hare at their age would have clearly been impossible and so... thinking back to their childhood fairy tales the organisers remember the tale of the hare and the tortoise. This is one of the tortoises which were pulled, very slowly round the track in front of the old dogs.... I'll get my coat. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) Ouch Edited November 1, 2020 by Surveyor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-metal-tortoise-jelly-mould-249086424 This is the Mk.2 version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surveyor Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 That's better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 On 10/31/2020 at 8:17 PM, B series said: Well, John F is on the right track with 2nd paragraph, but wrong era in 1st paragraph.. OK then... guessing again, would the right era be the Vietnam war? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B series Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Good try, but not the Vietnam war which was fought around 80 degrees W, but same era and more around 100 degrees E. Who deployed it, what was it purpose? B series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtskull Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, B series said: Good try, but not the Vietnam war which was fought around 80 degrees W, but same era and more around 100 degrees E. Some mistake, surely? Vietnam is around 100 degrees E. So working on the basis that the object was deployed around 80 degrees W, at a guess was it deployed by the USA in Cuba? Edited November 5, 2020 by mtskull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B series Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 Sorry for my mistake mtskull, I should not have added clues after drinking wine! , You are correct with Cuba as location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Limpet mine found on the seabed near the USS Maine ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Sigh, it's not one of the CIA's crazy attempts to get Fidel while he was out diving, is it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B series Posted November 6, 2020 Author Share Posted November 6, 2020 Well yes it is Gordon_M. Congrats. The object is a turtle replica made of heavy gauge copper with internal space for an explosive device and trigger, and provide a visual attraction. Around 1960/61 the NSA & CIA instigated Project Mongoose. NSA 5412/2 Group planted several of these turtles in the bay that Fidel Castro liked to dive in, and it was hoped that he would be attracted to one and pick it up and set off an explosion, but for some reason the idea did not work. I guess he was not into turtles. The idea seems over complicated to me, there must have been a much easier and certain way to achieve the same end. B series 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 Colour me impressed. I remember one of their other ideas was poisoned cigars ... I'm only taking half a point for that, because the minute Cuba was mentioned it was almost obvious. 8-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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