USe of flags

[ArtistsRifles]

OK - IMBSB - does any know know of any restriction on preserved MV's using convoy flags when moving in a convoy on the public highway? Was talking about this yesterday and it was thought there may be some kind of law that restricts/prohibits it???

[ArtistsRifles]

If no pole socket was fitted to the vehicle they were lashed to whatever either the convoy commander or, more likely, the driver felt was appropriate. Seen them lashed to mirror arms (not so good), towing shackels, rad grilles etc.

 

There was an RL at Damyns hall with all the flags on display:

 

 

[nz2]

Neil in the second photo of thread 27, there are a pair of white cloth things also on poles hanging from the r.l. What are they for?

Doug:-\

[ArtistsRifles]

I think they were something to do with the two cookers in front of the RL.

[ferret1958uk]

Neil in the second photo of thread 27, there are a pair of white cloth things also on poles hanging from the r.l. What are they for?

Doug:-\

 

They look like firebeaters for the solid fuel heaters.

[nz2]

I didn't think they were flags as they look well used, and well wrapped around the pole.

The danger of combining unrelated items on display, to fool the unwary like me.

Doug:nut:

[AlienFTM]

If no pole socket was fitted to the vehicle they were lashed to whatever either the convoy commander or, more likely, the driver felt was appropriate. Seen them lashed to mirror arms (not so good), towing shackels, rad grilles etc.

 

Our armour had to fire on the ranges, where the same flags had a completely different use. As a result, I am sure some vehicles had flag sockets locally manufactured. I do remember The Third World War by General Sir John Hackett, the pictures of Chieftains firing, allegedly at 3 Shock Army, all showed red flags flying (to indicate that the tank, on the ranges, was at Action).

 

On the ranges, the Scorpion gunner's immediate action when the commander called Action was to check internal and external stowage on his side was not going the jam the traverse, check the turret systems master switch was on to power the electrical firing system (otherwise it would be foot pedal backup systems), then put eyes to the sight to look for targets.

 

The commander had a lot more to do. First of all, change the flag from Green (guns clear) to Red (action). I often wondered how many commanders, first time they went to action for real, at least thought of changing the flag out of habit.

 

If there was a misfire (of the main armament), the yellow flag was flown. As part of the misfire drill, there was a pause. Somebody who did Scorpion gunnery less in the past than I did will tell you whether the wait was 15 minutes or not. Istr that a stoppage (of the coaxial GPMG RG) demanded the flying of a yellow flag along with one of the others, but I forget which. I also str the wait was rather less: maybe 30 seconds?

 

In convoy Istr we flew the flags from the offside antenna.

Edited August 11, 2011 by AlienFTM