Quadman42 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 There are four ball mounts on the reinforced cupola on the Martian, looking through the technical statements it appears that these were the mounts for AA machine guns. Does anyone know which gun in particular as they are all equidistant from each other and all the mounts I have come across are tripodal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
07BE16 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 See illustration from 1956 '.50in. ALL ARMS AA WEAPON' pamphlet showing mount fitted to a vehicle (Austn K9?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10FM68 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 This topic cropped up a couple of years ago on this forum. As shown above, the mount was intended for the B vehicle fleet generally and a large number of short-barrelled .5" Brownings were procured. They were put in storage but appeared pretty much for the first time for OP CORPORATE. There are a few pictures floating about of their being used on ground mounts. The cupola ring was similar across the fleet identified by the little ball mounts. At some point the idea faded away as, for example, it was only the early batches of Bedford RLs which had them, the later ones having a simple plain cupola with no mounting. I think someone on the forum imported some of the mounts and passed them on to members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadman42 Posted December 21, 2020 Author Share Posted December 21, 2020 Thank you for the info at least I know what I am looking for steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 IIRC it was member 'Artists Rifles' who found a source for the mounts. There was a picture on his Militant thread. All 4 versions of the Martian had the ball mounts as did many Militants and Constructors. Don't remember seeing them on Antars or later RLs as mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 53 minutes ago, 10FM68 said: This topic cropped up a couple of years ago on this forum. As shown above, the mount was intended for the B vehicle fleet generally and a large number of short-barrelled .5" Brownings were procured. They were put in storage but appeared pretty much for the first time for OP CORPORATE. There are a few pictures floating about of their being used on ground mounts. The cupola ring was similar across the fleet identified by the little ball mounts. At some point the idea faded away as, for example, it was only the early batches of Bedford RLs which had them, the later ones having a simple plain cupola with no mounting. I think someone on the forum imported some of the mounts and passed them on to members. I think it was me who put Artist Rifles on the trail of the gun mounts as I had come across unissued ones in Australia on sale at an event there. I understand they were made over there but to a British design. Do not think they were ever used as they were found still crated in scrapyards. I believe the Australians would have used them on their International ACCO type trucks. Big and unwieldy things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadman42 Posted December 21, 2020 Author Share Posted December 21, 2020 Thanks for this , I have emailed my cousin in Perth to see if she can find any. no time like the present lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 40 minutes ago, Quadman42 said: Thanks for this , I have emailed my cousin in Perth to see if she can find any. no time like the present lol Hi Quadman, Just to narrow your search down, the mounts were found in NSW, the other side of the country. One guy was had some for sale has passed away this year but there may still be some mounts around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadman42 Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 Thank you for the info. Would you have the part number or accurate description of the mount, or even its military NSN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 6 minutes ago, Quadman42 said: Thank you for the info. Would you have the part number or accurate description of the mount, or even its military NSN I am afraid I have not got that information. The guy to ask on the forum is Artistrifles as he got some in from Aus and may have details, try sending him a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 24 minutes ago, Richard Farrant said: I am afraid I have not got that information. The guy to ask on the forum is Artistrifles as he got some in from Aus and may have details, try sending him a PM Artists Rifles as in the London Regiment, I found the picture he posted: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quadman42 Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 many thanks , i have messaged him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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