Journal of Military Ordna lovember 1997 Volume 7, Number 6 and -eusitemeeamemiiiia stain $4.00CONTENTS November 1997 Volume 7, Pax Vobiscum Features 4 By Jeffcey McKaughan From Sherman Tank To Shrike launcher By Marsh Gelbarr 11 Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector By Jeffrey McKaughan 1 4 Canadian Armored Regiments Onganization & Equipment, Norihiwest Europe 1944-45 By Chris Johnson 1 the Barteof ELUach By Adam Geibel 2 F Hisionic Restoration, APG Ordnance Museum Begins An Program By Stephen ‘Cookie! Sewell fact Restoration 2. 6 GAU-19/A: The Firepower Advantage By lelfeey McKaughan 27 Dw By Jeffcey McKaughan Dana's 155 mm Sister Fasr Attack Vehicle — Marines Make lt Happen Journal of Military Ordnance aes Departments Number 6 The Ordvayce Museum Foundation co 10 Book Reviews THE ROAD TOTHE KILLING. FIELDS The Caubodins War of 1970- 1979 ARMOR OF THE VIETNAMWAR (1) Allied Fonces ———— r fon Productions is working on ie. formation and photos on the newest Rus nily unveiled — the Black Eagle. Reported to have a typical Russian-style hull and chassis with a more westem looking turret. This comes at the same time as the showing of a’T-S-based armored personnel carrer by the Russians. Hopefully more information in the next issue On The Covers sian tank FRONT em'sGAU-I9IA ater"wast be United Arab Emirates. Photoby Jett BACK TOPLEFT: On pasrolattheembssy housing complex in Tran, Alhaniais this 50 cal PAV gun jeep. Clearly shown are the fender extensions, the wider res including the racing im) andthe foat fender stowage box. You ea sea difference in the i the ea sideplat, which s larger than the one inthe photo on page 4, Finally, you can sce the rp! for dismounting the machine gun, Photo by SGT Mark D. Oliva ‘TOP RIGHT: THE T-34 Mode! 1941 inthe Ordnance Museuis restoration shop Photo by Stephen Sewell MIDDLE: ‘The Meerkat lead vehicle in the US. Imerim Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection System, shown here during demonstrationin South Africa wherethe vehicle ‘operator has detected a mine and placed a marker forthe removal team. Photo by Jf MeKaughan BOTTOM: The sraci modified Sherman carrying theShikemissil. Notthis vehicle ismising the travel lock from the font lacs pate, although the menting points ae there, Photo by Marsh GelbFast Attack Veh Zi C. le Marines Make It Happen! Albania, Liberia, Zaire By Jeff MeKaughan utility vehicles and arming them. to the teeth is not a new concept to most of mies. Probably the most recogni -xamples are the SAS and LRDG WAIL Inmore modern times the basic concept has evolved into the Fast At tack Vehicle (PAV), Typically in service with special forces- type units, many of the FAVs look like over developed dune reconnaissance and deep penetration opera The U.S, Marine Corps have deployed their version of the FAV but in this case they hhave made do with a warrior from the past to do the things that no other FAV to date can do, They have designed a FAV built the aging M151 Mut. -itionary Units — Special Op. le (MEU-SOC) are equipped with the MISI FAV The MISI Military Utility Tactical Truck (Mutt went o series production in 1960 and ee ety of versions, includin Mutt served the role of li advent of the HMMWV. The 26th MEU-SOC have eleven such All east coast-based continued throug Produced ina vat ‘ome armed, the utility until the . Where MEU-SOC goes, so goes the FAV Vehicles in their inventory. In an interview with LT COL Scot Moore, commanding officer of the 26th's 1/8 Battalion Landing Team, he told JOMO that until somethi better comes along, this FAV is best suited for their needs, The basic Mutt remains the same with ‘modifications only to Key elements of the vehicle, For example, thee This means; basic know nit. Thee A FAV bein rubber f grill shutters, Pse Island Thunder 97, SGT. Mark D. in Exer maintain, which also helps when deployed on ships at sea oF in tactical situations when 1 maintenance shop is not handy. The suspension is only slightly modi fied with the changes found mainly in the frontend. ‘The standaed tires have been re- placed with commercially available wider wheels and tires. As the new ties stick out beyond the width of the Mut’ fenders, rub ber mud guards were adde Except for armament, wite stowage racks, rear side shields, and roll bars round ‘out the obvious changes to the Mutt, There are three versions of the FAV The basie gun vehicle, armed with an M2HB [50 eal, machine gun; a TOW launcher with i thr four rounds (one in the tube ina ready rack on the hood), and a ‘commander's vehicle with an M416 trailer led radio, the others rely on hand-cartied sets) The Marines have been deployed their c’ehicles a number of times over the past few years in potentially dangerous situations. In Liberia and. Sier as internal civil strife threaten the safety of the U.S. embassy November 1997 his FAV the Marines were called in for The MISI FAV strated one of its most important fe ‘wo of them will fit in a CH-S3 helicopter: This gives the Marines tactical mobility and firepower as soon as the ramp goes down, When Albania started to implode and other countries went to the aid of their ct zens there, the 26th deployed (vo of the seven FAVS they actually had with them on theships. While the vehicles lid come under Tire on oceasion, they never returned fire due to strict rules of en However, on March 14, 1997, while the Ground Combat Element ofthe 1/8 was pro viding security at the several-acre U.S, Em bassy compound, a van load of armed Alba- nians pulled up closely alongside the wite Fence around the perimeter. While they took nohostieaction, they were apotential threat. COL Moore ordered one of the FAVs to pull down in front of the van and confront the ‘occupants, With the FAV's..50 cal. machine gun only about five feet from the van, and pointed right at them, they ot the messag and left without further adieu. PAVs were Brazzaville, across the river from Kinsaha in also pre-positioned in the event that the Marines were needed 10 protect U.S. imterests if the situation there The MIS1 FAVs have their warts, The designand vehicles are getting rather old and maintenance can be a problem, But they are stil the vehicle of choice as other vehicle Marines will fit inside a CH. joaded vehicle into a hostile npreferred option, They siyle desig offered by also like the vehiel the MISI style options The Marines have taken a piece of reli- compared to the dune bi able hardware and adapted ito their mission specific needs proving once again that, when called on, the Marines make it happen. Thanks to LTT COL Scott Moore and LT Bill Darrenkamp of the U.S, Marine Corps for their assistance with this 3 NOTE: JoMO wil placement options the Marines aThe Israelis hav ability 10 up and revitalize ‘armored vehicles. The upgrade of the Centu rion o the Sho't and the MA8/M60 series to the Magach 7 are well known, What is not commonly perceived is at the end of theit useful lives, upgraded Isracli MBTS are sel: dlom discarded but are long been known for their ven new roles very different from those previously conceived of by their original manufacturers, Sherman tanks were adopted for many functions after their usefulness as gun tanks faded. The conversion of the Sherman into the Soltam L33 155 mm self-propelled ‘and as armored ambulances is well docu- mented, Less celebrated is the use of e most pho tographed ofthese isthe TMS 290 min Art: lery Rocket System, This turretless Sherman mounted 290 mm rockets in a four-round frame and was in Israeli service for several ublic knowledge. A less familiar hybrid armored fig Shermans as missile carriers. Th ‘years before becom tin vehicle isthe Sherman Shrike missile carrier The tank hull which usually provided the basis for the Shrike launcher appears to be that of the MSI HV Super Sherman fitted with HSS suspension Black pro- fam” Was one that came to light through accident three years Ona visitto the Israeli airforce museum at Hatzerim in the Negev desert, several of these vehicles were found dumped amongst 6 sof the muscum, On the wo Shermans phot So what were the purposes of these rmored fighting vehicles which had remained secret for some twenty-one years? In the October 1973 war, Israeli aircraft had suf- fered severe losses to Arab air defences Surface-to-air missiles, (SAMS), had proved effective in limiting the effectiveness of tae tical air power. In particular the SAM 6 had forced Israeli sireraft to operate at very low level, bringing them within the envelope of anti-arerat artillery (AAA), Post-war, the USA mounted aconcerted efforttosupply airdefence suppression equip. The new kit included improved elec -asuresandadditional Shrike air-o-groundanti-radar missiles, The Shrike targets « SAM battery's radar antenna, As the author witnessed in clashes with Syrian foreesbetween October 1973and April 1974, the new equipmer ‘cessful. The ECM was insufficiently devel ‘oped and the Shrike missiles had too short As the Israelis were loathe to loose fur ther expensive Phantoms and invaluable air ‘men, a further option was sox The result was the turretless Sherman single modified Shrike Was not altogether sue- The TO SHRIKE LAUNCHER missile was fited with an Israeli-developed rocket booster to compensate for a ground Taunch, and had a respectable range of six: teen kilomewes The Sherman plus Shrike (code-named it iy believed, the Klachlanin, would be trundled forward othe edge ofthe battlefield -d until needed, An Israeli sireraft would fly just within range of enemy SAM launchers, and tease Arab air defence personnel into switching on their search and targeting radars. Once these locked on, the sireraft would breakaway and maneuver to safety. In the interim, the Klachlanit erew would have launched their Shrikealong be ings given to them by the pilot, often assisted by electronic gear carried by Iroquois heli re of SAMS, After Arab air defence personnel had ain use of the ‘Klachlanit was to suppress enemy radar sites make the operators a copters hovering out of ra assimilated this tactic th aid 10 switeh on their equipment — rather than to destroy the radars themselves With the advent of ECM adar weapons, and un ‘manned anti-radar drones and decoys, the reasoning behind the Klachlanit disappeared The Klachlani : ability ofthe Israelis to improvise, produci effective weapon systems through “cutting and welding hicles. work on elderly fighting ve- Journal ofMilirany OrdnanceThe Ordnance Museum Foundation P.O. Box 688, Executive Director's Corner Aedcen Proving Ground, MD_ 21005 FELLOW MEMBERS; sctvty since isthe formation of th Action Commitee” on Au hiss the commie siuctred hy Helen Henley . ead federal governments work with ws to ase the fnds Tor the new Srv The Action Committe is made up ofthe following County Government: Chair, Bll Rutherford Members: Ronie Chenowith General Chsirman: Fed Sypber, VP of AAI Corp Federal Govt Chait Ellior Deutsch Sub Commies: Initia membership) x Otic Bridig Smith (For Sea, Sarbanes) Inkind Servic Private Industy: Cai (Chir: Neal Wright and Rich Camesie sir: Joanne Paro Sate Government: Co Chait: fim Foreign: Chair: Helen Bentley Member: Chuck Cresswell tan” aspect of he material we are preserving. His will provide willallow the Museum ofan the Facility wil enti rom this pers Rich Camesie Chain = Board of Tastes TIGER WITHOUT TOOLS of A HOME WAR Onder yourcopy tay! A Guided Tour of America’s $1295 per copy pl Premier Wartime Museum s2004 rn Order this exciting video and learn mor about the museum, whatis being done, and how you can help. Special Foundation member price of $15.00 (Members are those that joined at the $25.00 level or above) plus $5.00 shipping a Order direetly from Ordnance Corps Association P.O. Box 377 Ground, MD 21005-0377 idents add 5% sales tax) nd handling Aberdeen Provin (Maryland 1 Join The Ordnance Museum Foundation, Inc. Regular Membership Ordnance Company Commander Membership Ordnance Battalion Commander Membership $35.00 $100.00 $250.00 November 1997 7Egypt Estimates 23 Million Min Angola, Mozambique and Camboulia are places that come to mind when the subject of land mines comes up, However, Exypt has heen raising the awareness of their mine problem, Starting in WWI, with the German Afvika Korps laying more than five million mines, not counting the British Commen- ‘wealth mine fields. Adding in the mines that ars with Israeli ‘were laid during the four Estimates are that slmost 23 million mines are buried in Egypt soil, according to a recent International Red Cross report Last November. rains in the Sina un earthed more than 700 mines, accord brief in "Jane's Defence Weekly The problem has inhibited Egypt's tour ism growth, as well as agricultural expan- Based on costs to remove mines to date from Bgypi. the cost for the removal ofthe remaining mines could cost more than $190 million, GORCHAK Universal Pillbox With thebreakupothe FormerSoviet Union, the Russians now find themselves with mote neighbors than before. Perhaps with this in ‘mind, Motovilikha of Perm, Russia has de veloped the Gorchak UP (Universal Pillbox) for statie defense. Basically an armored pmpart shaped ‘menteontained in aenclosed eylind single hateh that covers the dynamic arma ‘ment component The top of the eylinder is flat with a The UP is buried with only about 150 mm of the top plate exposed which makes it eaxy 10 conceal, Using periscopes, the two To en. ibserve the battlefield, the enemy, the top hatch is openedandthe weaponsunitisraised. Armed with PM 7.62 machine gun( 1, 7)rounk}, aw NSV 12.7 mm machine gun (480 rounds}, tan AGS-17 30 mm grenade launcher (360 and 9KIIL Konkurs missile launcher. Advertised enagement rang cluded 2,000 1 sainst infantry snd 10 to 4,000 m against tanks, and up to 1,500 m against helicopters The system has full 360 degree traverse and when inthe rasied position the weapons Unit is only about 600 mm above the grou, leaves the UP isnot cleaily explained nor is it shown in the drawings included here, ‘The descriptive leads you to believe that the UP can be “dropped” into an opening but ygain, ne Systems recently ofan MIA2 Abas ne. The tests spanned General Dynamies ‘completed field testi using a diesel en; shout thirty hours and covered 100 miles, Conducted the Sterling Heights, Michigan Facility and General Motors Milford testtrick the tests ended on July 30, The Europack is powerpack which ‘combines the Motoren-und Turbien-Union MTU-883 1500 hp diesel engine and the RENK,AG,295TM transmission, Both MTL and RENK are Getman-based companies The Buropack is currently in use with the French LecClere main battle tank, The MIA2 diesel variety of tests includi put through a ing. pivotsteers, acceleration, braking. speed fon grades, and turning among others. WOGDLS. the tests validated the automotive integration of the Europack Accor and the performance results were comp rable wo the gas tusbine-powered MIA2, A diesel MIA2 is aimed primarily atthe export market, with Turkey and Greece ‘thought to be Wo potential candidates, 8 Diesel-Powered M1A2 Journal of Milirary Ondvanceit China Develops Type 90-II for Export Market China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) is developing the Type 90IT ‘main battle tank for the year 2000. Accord: ing to NORINCO of ficials questioned at IDEX 97, the tank is destined for the ex port market and there are nocurrent plansto introduce it to the People's Army (PLAY First revealed in 1991, the Type 90 is Under manufacture in Pakistan, and has been referred to locally as the Khalid, The latest Chinese version shown now sports reactive armor in the form of detach ic blocks on the hull ont and the front top and front- sides ofthe turret. Com pany literature also sta able cera that the front four rubber side shirts can be replaced with reac tive armor protection The 48-ton tank is powered by a 1,200 hp, L2-eylinder diesel engine (CV 12-1200 TCA), which gives a maximum road speed (th gear) of about 62 km/h, The French ‘made gearbox isautomatie with five Forward specs «inclu cerasler gear) and two reverse. The complete powerpack (engine removed as a single package Equipped with an autoloader, the Type The 125 mm conty-1wo round carousel and can fire HE, APPSDS, ane HEAT. One drawback is that when loading the main gun, there is slightly more than Total am d was not given. Therate of smoothbore main gun has. J at about 500 round, but would vary based on annmunitio Barrel life is expecte There is «7.62 co-axial machine gun Onboard ammunition for the commander stowage is 3,000 and 500 respectively Therearetwosmoke grenaule discharger banks. one located on each side of the turret, The fire control system ineludes a laser rangelinder and is computer aided. The gunners sight is stabilized in wo ais while the commander's sight (which has override capability) is also two-uxis stabilized but in thepanoramic, Again, using company liters ture, the hit probability at ta of November 1997, Cl In other bi news for the country. they Saudi Arabia Readies for Big Buys The Saudi Arabian National Guard has #e quested to purchase more than $1.6 billion fromthe U.S. wo upgrade its combat abilities, ‘The dea is to include 13090 mm cannons for lightarmored vehicles the SANGisequipped Cadillac Gage V-15( icles this purchase also includes 169.490 rounds of 90 mm ammunition), 130 M240 ns, and 130 M250 cal, machine with armored 1m audition they are set to take delivery 4 VHP radios (including VRC-90, wl -119 sets) and 42. RT-I702C HE radios, seem ready to finalize a deal with Denel of South Attica for G-6 self-propelled artillery pieves, The deal worth an estimated $1.6 nllion. “The deal woukd be & windfall for Denel and for the South African economy Although not confirmed, and with other coun. complete To emphasize the importance of the deal, Denel took two South Africa newspa: pertocourt to win restraining order on their release of Saudi Arabia's name as the cus tomer involved in discussions, This all comes at a time when South fers from Brit Jermany, anid Spit For pac: Africa itself is entertaining. ‘upgrades ofits navy, a foree, and in some offers its tank fleet. ‘The U.S. while inter ested in talking to South Africa, is still not allowed to have any direct discussions with Armscor relating to ilitary equipment due to issues involving a court se2 Bookshelf x Book and Video Reviews ROAD TO THE KILLING FIELDS The Cambodian War of 1970-1975 By Wilfred P. Deac 328 pazes, 10 bw photos. 4 maps 1997 ISBN 0-89096-750-4 Texas A&M University Press Drawer C, John Lindsey Bldg College Station, TX. 77843-4354 1-800-826-8911 $34.95 Finally. thirty-two years after the collapse of the Cambodian govemment tothe Forces af the Khmer Rouge, a book has bee bout the military aspects of the war. Books. salore have been written about Vietnam (Nonth and South) exellent military study published. Butlowly snd even Litos has had an ‘Cambodia, as one author pat it, was a "side Wilfred Deac has put togethera wonder nd painful death that Cambodia suffered from 1970-1975. A pawn Ful study of the slow Foreward by Col. Harry G. Summers, Jr in the larger Southeast Asian war, it was always supported enough to be viable bi wever enouigh to see reall success, The U.S. was of course, a the a major pl -vents in Cambodia and through a reports and information, shows how those efforts bear much of the responsibility forthe failures ofthe policy i ‘Cambodia and the path thatthe war took nthe tnerhand, he also pointsheavily comuption, poor leadership, lack of ARMOR OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1) Allied Forces By Michel Green and Peter Sarson 72 pages. 182 photo, sisteen color plates 19916 ISBN962-361-61 1-2 Publis 605-609 Castle Peak Road Kong Nam Industrial Building New Territories Hong Kong Loe, BI Over the past few years, mixed in with a standard collection of popular Germain and bother WWII titles, Concord has shown some lasing in releasing books that show what rarely is seen, They have done books on Afghanistan, the United Nations forces, the Middle East. und Ang Armor the simi a 10 name a few the Vietnam War look of the other titles. A nice black and white photos and a selection of Peter Sarson’s color plates covers mainly US. This be vehicles 10 { by Concord Publications Company Tseun Wan including the M48A3 (one photo of an MASA2), the MSS1, various M113 versions, the M728, Ontos, Scorpion, LVTPSAT M110, M107, M108, and several others. As inevitable with any book. there issome photo duplication with Squadron's “Armoein Viet nam” book, but believe the number is less than ten, The book's focus isto provide "a quick Cambodian commitment, and internal biek ering that led down the path to failure arly in the war, it seemed on several ‘ccasions that the Cambodian Amy (FANK) have those gains pushed back, ustally with considerable loss of life and materiel, The aims.arly on never seemed to be how to win the war, but how much of the country could they contol. In fact U.S. evacuation plans cere drawn up as early as 1973. Offensive combat in Cambodia seemed to centered completely around FANK road and river clearing operations and city and Aliho cording 10 the author, about Strongpoint defenses, twelve of AMX- 13s amd seven M24 light tanks) vehicles were MII inthe | less rifles. The loes a nice job of siving you a feel for the pli within the FANK military in the foxhole to the commander-in-chief Road to the Killing Fields” keeps th story Howing with a running chronology of fromthesoldic he military situations while atthe same time hose events in context with the political and international This book fills war in Southeast Asia a pp for students of the ells story with great clarity. The horrific human tarian catastrophe that engulfed the Khmer Republic in 197Sneedsaperspectiveand this, hook provides that foundation, Took at some ofthe various types of armored ;chicles employed by the US. Army. ma ines Corps, plus the ARVN and various Allied Forces." In the former, for U.S. ve hicles the book does a very nice job of look: ing at many oF the various types used, and the modifications and "stil the crews man Likewise aged {© hang on the vehicles ARVN MIL3s was wel: rounded. However, there were only twa photos of ARN tanks (MIs), seven Aus tralian (wo Centurions), and one South Ko- the size of the book than the amount of material availa The color plates are nicely done and make the book more appealing fo modelers ind Vietnam enthusiasts, As the title suggests there should be a as well as armor follow-on ttle Despie my comments on the scope of Allied coverage, the b Took at how the armor looked inthe fiekls of Vietnam, The ‘and informative, and except for one on page 2 (lower let A good Journalof Milirany OrdnanceVehicle Mounted Mine Detector By JerF McCKAuGHAN Not always known for looking outside of its own industrial base for defense solutions, the U.S. Army has finally adopted a foreign mine detection system that modernizes its countermine program and lessens the risk to the individual soldier. DaorbsWRSD facility in South While the world's attention has been focused ‘on the events in Oslo surrounding the treaty work towards am anti tank mine solution has never missed a beat, The US Army isin the final stages of acquiring an interim mine detection system tis something other than ‘oldier walking along. with a hand-held In mid-1997, APG between two competing systems for an fests were conducted at {terimanti-vehiclecountermine system, The inal candidate isthe Vehiele Mounted Mine Detector 1000 built by Dorbyl of South AF rica, The system is currently in service with the South Africans, while the French and the British have also acquired the system. The VMMD is mine detection system as opposed 10 a single mine detector. It is ‘composed of a lead mine detection vehicle MDY), called a Meerkat larger, but similarly designed towing mine dletection vehicle (T/MDV).called the Husky The Husky, hesides having the same detec followed by a tion equipment.as the Meerkat, also pulls the weighted trailers called Duisendpoot (conti pede). thatare designed todetonateany mines that are missed by the two deteotion units These two vehicles are followed by two truck/light utility vehicles, each towing a spare wheelifiame module — one for the Meerkat and one for the Husky. wheel ‘Phe spare came modules are referred 10 as Red Packs. A container box (called a Blue Pack} with heavierspares for more involvedrepairs is sent 10 the local maintenance shop 10 support the VMMD operation over a longer term, This container will include items such as engines, and additional tres The Meerkat and Husky are both of similar modular frame construction that al mine last, Infactthisis oneot thekey points The front Which includes the tres, suspension, s ‘of the system, and rear Frames, mechanism, differential, et with she manner that an are designed points to break away in such a entirely new frame ean be attached after the damaged one has been closely atthe 1wo Red of each isa replacement frame, one each for the Meerkat and Husky Their hulls are designed with a typical removed. By looki Packs you ean see thatthe Front and b mine-resistent V-shaped bottom, reinforced with armorplate, The Meerkat ispowered by 1 four cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine while the heavier Husky has a six-eylinder urbo-charged diesel engine ly controlled detector pans arethree meterswide and ate palse-induetion detectors, The sensitivity of the pans ean be adjusted to null out theetfeetsol the vehicles, ind toreduce the level of alse alarms caused by less dense and non ‘dal speeds of up to 35 kav, survey to a depth of about 0.5m, and be used both on and of road The Duisendpoot is comprised of 0 four-wheel trailers and a single five wheel fone. This gives full "proofing" of the swept path, Ifthe detection fale to loacte a mine fone ofthe trailers will pass over the mine and detonate if, The Duisenpoot acts as its own Red Pack, carrying replacement springs. A. Frame, and various other smaller parts along its back Weight isa critical factor with the two enough as not (© trigger any ant mines sthey crossover them, Otherthan the construction and design principles being November 1997 WThe Husky pulling ith the fast of she Duisenpoor triers This South African system only displaved the wo-trailer arrangement, Also note tha ifthis was real sweep, the spare tres woud hhave been removed, probably the fenders, and the detectors pans would be dos ‘operational methods that aid in this as well The firstis tha toreduce the ground pressure, the amount of he tires is reduced so the esate out and cover more ground spact thus reducing the overall weight per square The newest versions of the VMMD_ offer a much improved system for select predetermined tire pressures and for set the tiesto those pressures. (Dur stration, the author witnessed the Meerkat with very low pressure inthe tires, drive ove the hand ofa U.S, Army officer — no dam sage, no pain!) Secondly, and seemingly obvious. isthe ng Irom the Meerkat and Husky that isnotabsolutely necessary forthe ‘mine detecting operation, Most photos show both vehicles with spare ties and fenders, all ‘would be remoyed in actual operations In current South Airican operations the Meerkat will lead the way, followed by the Husky towing unit and the vehicles with Red Packs. One ofthese two vehicles would also. act asthe command vehicle for the operation. Wheneither. although preferably the Meerkat, encounters a metal-cased anti-vehicle min and the driver receives an audible warning, When detected, the driver would stop and slowly reverse over the mine to further pin- point its location. Using an onboard dye- ‘markersystem, the location would bemarked. The Meerkat would then backup an ad= jonal distance and stop, The Husky would then pull up tothe very back of the Meerkat, followed by the restof the column, The mine Femoval team would then move Forward by walking over the top of all vehicles, thus reducing the possibility of setting off an anti- 12 inch, removal of everyt personnel mine, Then, moving ahead of the column, preferably using a hand-held mine detector. thet her pinpoint the J. ‘The column ‘would then move on and the process r= peated. i, by chance, both the Meerkat and Husky fal t detect the Dui trailers would then detonate th sure. Asasafety measure ifthe trailersdo set off a mine th ically separated from the Husky would fi ‘mine and remove it by hi US. Regu Nr Afer Somalia, the army was tasked with surveying the available technolog y of ne warfare and establish both a ‘Shortand long term solution tothe problemof mines. ssulted in the testing in ‘mid-1996 and the Final down-seleet to the VMMD in 1997. After the 1997 test phase, and from ‘operational feedhack from he rene, num ber of changes, albeit in most eases rather minor ones, were instituted, One major ‘change requested by both the French and the Americans was the addition of a third Duisenpoot trailer. With the previous ar- rangement, the center section ofthe path was not traversed by the trailers leaving a pote lial landmine behind, ‘This third wailer cov crs the full width of the cleared path with Wheels from the trailers, Other changes in- clude a better tire pressure control system, handrails and foot pads for climbing in and ‘out ofthe vehicles, a heater in both detection vehicles, a solar battery charger for the spare search Mine Detection by Remote Control The major long-term goal of the army's ‘countermine program istoreducethe risk soldiers when searching for The most obvious solution for this isthe use of remote control ground search vehicles. (re- zgardlessof the technology, sensor detection from the air still requires somebody to go and find the mine ofthe ground!) Omnitech Robotic, Englewood, Colo- ado, has been working with the army and has @ number of solutions being controlled tests in the U.S. and on the road in Bosnia, The Panther is a remote con- trolled trretless M60 with mine rollers ind tested in Bosnia, IC ut lizes.aStandardized Teleoperations System (STS) which controls the major driving Juctions ofa vehicle uses videoeameras and coniroller unit, which looks much like Targe suitease. With some modifications, the STS has bbeen mated tothe older of the two Meerkats thatthe army has. The STS-equipped ve- hicle can be operated by a soldier or by ‘emote control as dictated by field opera tions and the changeover from one mode to the other ean betransitioned to ina matter of seconds ‘The controller unit has a high resol tion monitor capable of bright daylight view ing, akeyboar, and can be equipped with a number of modules as determined by the vehicle being operated. The same controh Ter unit, with different modules ean control variety of vehicles once the modules have been exchanged. To further standardized the operation. the controller unit an mount either control levers (For most tanks) or a steering wheel to better replicate the vehicle being operated. The Meerkat is equipped with a for ‘ward and rear facing camera, and internal ‘hookups feed the vehicle's instrumentation pane! to panel displayed on the controller. In the Meerkat, because weight is so criti cal.allofthe controls for the throtle, braks ear shill, etc are value operated on com- pressed air as opposed to the mechanical linkages forthe other vehicles tested ‘The controller unitis fixed ina vehicle ‘with mast antenna affixed and must remain in line-of-sight to the Meerkat, limited by the range of the camera feed. Although not a part of the VMMD ‘acquisition this system will betested vigor- ‘ous with the goal of having the option for cithermannedorunmanned operation avail- able to the commander in the field JoursalofMilirany OndvanceAlchongle a dark ph pasate distance and the ast Dusenpoor railer batteries carried in the Blue Pack, an im: proved jacking system for repaiting dam: ‘aged vehicles, and a more robust (and more readily available) rear differential (althous h Jht)on the Husky to name afew of the modifications In South Af Packs ate towed by Casspir or Buffel mine rote in operations, the Red fed vehicles. The tow vehicles withthe US. engineer units will be vehicles already intheirinventory. Whilea HMMWV has the Joaal.itis more likely either S-ton or dump trucks will serve as capability of pul the tow vehicles. The U.S. Army now owns nwo of the ‘and tested, includ ‘ual mine demolition testing (and repair 12) The vehicles will move on later in 1997 to Ft, Leonard Wood for further testing and raining with the army expected to purchase ten vehicles in 1998 (probably by late 2nd? ) with an option for ten more in 1999. Cost at this time is estimated st about $1.5 million per system. The protection offered to the operator the repairability ofthe vehicles, and the fact thatthe system proofs itsdetection capability I solid reasons for the army's decision LNY. a New York-based company, is the North American representative for Dorbyl and has worked very closely with the Countermine Division of the U.S. Army to position the VMMD as the system of choice As South Alriew had been isolated from the World's defense community for so lo was important to have U.S. company actual be In Fact LNY repre sented TEM of South Africa and re the first sale of South African equipment 10 nvolved in the sale tered November 1997 itillustates the openation offer a mine has been detected and pin} symed. The Husky pulled right up behinu and the Casspir withthe mine’ the USS. Army when they signed a deal for five RG-31 light mine-proot vehicles, These vehicles are now in Saudi Arabi. The South Africans have lon, proven history of countermine operations and are world leaders in its technology and skill The VMMD is the superior detection system on the market today. Other methods ate either too technologically im: sn) implement” method of detection with plow! Hand-held mine detectors will not leave the army quite yet, in faet there are four of them in the Blue Pack, but perhaps we are The mine clearing team isshown here crossing over the ropof member has a hand-held mine detector to ensure a safe path Apier marking the le Meerkat, backed eam)ix shorn moving: wp directly elind sation, th getting closerto the day when the U.S. Army Will have the proper tools (or at least the best The VMMD is that interim tool and leads all others in the available tools) todo.the job. both military and humanitarian task of d= The Army will continue towards. a solu tion that will meet all ofits future (planned) requir current requirements, and by using ments while the VMMD meets the the non developmental approach has probably shaved at least (0 years off the acquisition time ‘This puts the equipment in the hands of soldiers much sooner and most likely at a detection vehicles, the lead eam the mine and to fd the mine for rrCanadian Armored Regiments Chris Johnson War Establi During the Second World War the Canadian Army followed British unit organization and doctrine. Organizational tables were known as War Establishments WES). and these doe ments detailed the structure of units includ armament and personnel AWE was intended as a commanding officer of a specific unit, He way permitted 10 adapt the oF accordance with administrative and tactical cqirements as he Tewas not at all ‘unusual for him to change the task and add or delete certain of the vehicle types carried 0 strength, in a manner that best served the ‘operational requirements of his unit. WES were updated and revised periodically 1 refleetchangesbrought about through opera tional and adminis wide 10 the nization in War Establishment of a Canadian Armoured Regiment Elfective 12 January 1944, First Army in Great Bri Armoured Regiment, CAC War Establish= ment, Cdn, IVISI/3". This WE would serve as the basic model for armored and armored reconnaissance regiments that served in 4th Canadian Armoured Division (4 CAD) and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade (2 CAB) both of which fought under Britain's 21st Army Group in the North-West European campaign, WEIV/151/3 laid outthe basic organiza- tion of a 1944 armored regiment which was ‘commanded bya lieutenant colonel, Htwasto be composed of a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) ting squadions identified as A, and “Cand administrative 14 Jn propagated “An, three B." clements sufficient to suppott both the reg: ment in whole, orany of t's components o their own, (See Schematic Tand 1A.) RHQ RHQ was responsible for command and eon: trol funetions and it also maintained suffi cient personnel, vehicles and weapons to protect itself. It was composed of an RHQ Troop and a Headquarters Squadron which consisted of a Reconnaissance Troop. an Intercommunieation Troop, an Ant-Nireratl oop. (See Troop and an Administrative Schematic 1.) RHQ Troop The tank complement of RHQ Troop con. sisted of four Sherman Mediums: either the Sherman III (M4A2) or the Sherman V (MIAN), The ee Sherman, from which it was intended that he \was to exercise his command function, was ‘equipped with wo No. 19 wireless sets and way referred (0 as a “Tank, Control", A, second Sherman was so Fitted with two No, 19 sets and operated as a“Rear Link”. ‘The 2iveoF the regiment was assigned to thistank and one of his duties was o maintain aline of communication from the regiment back to Brigade. During operations, while the 2i/e was normally Left Out of Battle (LOB). he was still responsible for other regimental administrativeduties, ‘The RHQ Troop keader: 4 Tieutenant, and the RHQ Troop Sergeant rounded out the commanders of the other two Shermans, Headquarters Squadron Headquarters Squadron (HQ Sqn) in RHQ provided the command and control element for the administration of the entire regiment, Reconnaissance Troop ‘The Reconnaissance leven Stuart ight tanks. For the invasion of North-West Europe, the Stuart V (M3A3) \as identified as the Light tank of choice to equip the armored i paign progressed, it was supplementedby the improved Start VMSA), Theenvisoned role of areconnaissance troop was to provi the regimental commander with immediate reconnaissance to his front and flanks, Brit ish doctrine recognized that with their light armor and weaponry. they should not be expected to fight for information, In the Italian theater, Canadian Stuarts operated without turrets as was the form in Eighth foop consisted of ntsand asthe eam Army. bat in North-West Europe, complete Stuarts were employed. Regiments arvivin, from Italy in early 1945 were re-equipped with turreted Stuarts for reconnaissanee: Intercommunication Troop The Intercommunication Troop was com: posed of nine scout cars either the Canadian Lynx or the British Humbe ‘ten dispersed throughout the regiment as individual vehicles to liason officers, RHQ Troop, of Squadron Headquarters (Sqn HQ) as required, Phe troop was Anti-Aireraft Troop The AA Troop consisted of six Crusader AA Mk. IL tanks with twin 20mm Oerlikon guns. Anticipated for use against Gem aircraft on the Continent, Allied air superior ity ultimately permitted them be employed Echelons, ‘The basie of provided for administrative troops on scale of one for RHQ plus one per fighting ‘This permitted the regiment to be administratively independent and also al- lowed each of 1 their own as opes For purposes of command and contol the administrative organization of the regi iment was divided into four anization of an armoured regi squadro squadrons to operate on “echelons” as follows, (a) “F’ Echelon - This was the ccchelon and consisted of allof the regimental tanks and other AFVs in addition to the Medical Officer with his armored halftracks, and the technical olfiver together with his ARVs and other assorted recovery related vehicles (b) AI” Behelon administrative in nature 20% of the nd carried up 10 ghting echelon’ requirements oF fuel and ammunition, (©) “A2” Echelon - Another administra tive echelon which carried approximately 30% ofthe “F” Echelon fuel and ammunition requirements, "AI" and“A2" Echelons gave the regiment 50% of it’s required fuel and ammunition within reasonable distance of the fighting echelon and they also covered yormal full day”s projected requirements. Light Aid Detachment (LAD) was attached to the “A2” Echelon, (@) “BY Echelon carried the regiment's rem This last echelon 1p 50% re JouenslofMilirany OndwanceSchematic 1 ag ea =i Pe Canadian Armoured Regiment - 21st Army Group January 1944 [Regimental Headquarters: Headquarters Squadron| one om ol ON ol Nt om om om ©. Jonnson,17 Juy 1097 November 1997 vwSchematic 14 Joursal oF Milirany OndnanceSchematic 2 ‘Squadron Organization - 15 June 1944 Saunton Hennes ize Ais Ms Ais amin Eenalon itio lle ia Caio OF oF OM ot OM oF oF ole Re quirements of Fuel and ammunition, in addi- tion to the rations, baggage and stores: not ‘normally required by'the fighting echelon at short notice. “AL” Echelon itself was normally come smanded by the administration subaltern in HQSqn and moved with“F Both F" and “AT” Bchelons fell under the direct command of the unit CO, "A2" Echelon was commanded by the HQ Sqa Echelon normally fell underthe command of the HQ Sqn commander. ile and “B" Light Aid and Si As mentioned previously, a Type °C Armoured LAD of the Royal Cal trical and Mechanical Engineers wasattached to the armored regiment in addition 1 a detachment from the Royal Canadian Corps ighting Squadrons Each of the three fi ‘commanded by amajor. The 1944 WEealled for four tanks plus an Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) at Sgn HQ. Each ofthe tanks were 75mm Shermans. ‘The squadron com: rmander had one and the others were com- manded by two captains and the squadron captain, the ‘ofthe squadron, was LOB and would come forwand to assume command ifthe squadron commander was incapacitated. ‘The junior captain, known asthe "Battle Captain” oper ated as Sqn HQ troop leadlerand more impor: tantly, as Rear Link to RHQ. Histank moved with the squadron commander a all times. If the squadron commander was knocked out of setgeant-major. The seni ke action, the Battle Captain assumed immedi- ate charge until he 2 ife could come up from the rear, The ARWs attached to Sqn HQ November 1997 ‘consisted of either turrets Sherman I or V. ARV Mk. Is, Each squadron had five oops of three Shermanseach, Troops were commanded by Tieutenants, with a sergeant and corporal rounding out the tank commanders in each troop, The squadrons the teen tanks each, With three fighting squacl i.the"F” Echelon consisted off sixty-one Shermans, eleven ore fielded nine ronsinan armored regim Stuarts, six Crusaders, nine scour cars, three ARVs and seven MI4 halfiracks. (See Schematic 1A.) ‘On or about 15 June 1944, 2 CAB, n support of Sed Cana Division (3 CID), issued a directive that it's nents would switch to a four ‘roopffour tank organization and 4 CAD fol: lowed suit. That required Sqn HQ to be reduced by one tank which was moved to the troop level fora total of sixteen tanks in the lwoops and three at Sqn HQ. Each troop ‘would henceforth field three 75mm Shermans plus one Firefly ‘mand by a lieutenant and two cosporals in the the ‘commanding the Firefly. (See Schematic 2.) Incarly 1945, with larger stocks of Fite fies becoming available, each troop was again re-organized witha complementof wo TSmm Shermans and wo Fireflies, The numbers of 7: 1 tanks remained eon stant tothe the 75mm bi considered to be essential to operations and superior to the 17-pdr HE round. (See Sche ‘matic 3 0n page 16.) Troop tanks were com: 75mm Shermans with a sergeant of the warat wvo per oop as explosive (HE) round was As detailed above, an armored cluded specialized ARVsand AA tanks. Prior to the invasion of Norm: ‘ments were also issued with Sherman Fie Flieson a sealeof twelve per regiment foruse uly. armored In the case of the two armoured ments engaged in the initial assault phase on D-Day, the Firellies were concentrated in ‘one squadron which would land dry-shod as the length of the 17-pdr gun tube on the Firefly m quipped with Flotation sereens necessary for a swimming assault on the beaches. Horse, the Fireflies were concentrated in“A’ Sqn and in the case of the Ist Hussarss "C San. The oth ment were equipped with Duplex. Drive Shermans (DDs} which were com the standard Sherman V ‘The Sherbrooke Fusiliersretaineda stan In the Fort Garry ‘ovo squadrons of each reg dard three squadron dispersion of Fireflies:as it landed in reserve without any DD tanks. The Sherman VC Firetly version ini tially bbutas the eampaiign pr IC supplemented the VC. It could be eiths the standard IC or the later Hybrid model, although the Hybrid appears in most photo- raphs of the period, Inarly 1945, armored re issued with a Valentine Bridg ed the need to await while one was sent forward from Brigade during a stalled ad- vance due to physical barriers, Regiments that fought throughout the North-West Euro- pean campai ammunition carrirsineatly 1945 whilethose wriving from the Italian theater retained sev of their turretless Stuart Vs in that role, Lastly, each Sqn HQ acquired «wo Sherman IBs«(M4 with 105mm Howitzer) for vipped Canadian armored regiments essed, the Sherman ments were layer which ign were issued Ram Wallaby v7Schematic 3 22> Squadron Organization - Early 1945 ie rt oe 8 Oe OME OM OE OME (Schematic 4.) ne notablee the 29th Armoured yee Reviment(The South Alberta 4.CAD. The South Alberta's th Normandy without any Fite uh, They received their firs of the type on 09 Soy wereissuedwitha V ber 1944, While they alentine Bridgelayerand Ram Wallaby ammunition carriers in early 1945, itappears that they never received any Sherman IBs. War Establishment Adaptations Throughout the campaign in North-West E rope.regimental commanders individualized their WE tc ‘Squadron commanders often found it more practical to command from a scout ear in Schematic 4 ander himself found it more practical to exercise command from an altemative com. h Albertas, Lt sit impractical nd therefore Hearack in RHQ car, The hall ‘maintained a White Troop t F with a6 track was fitted with wo No.19 wireless sets together with a situation map and functioned vehicle, although y known in the regiment as an Conetusion The Canadian armored regiment of 1944-45 ulimately evolved into « potent offensive and defensive force, especially when used in combined tank/infantry operatio sicorganization proved it’s worth by demon: ‘Squadron Organization - Final Mode! _ a ie strating a capacity to undergo periodic revi sions in adaptation to changes in operational Sources An Anmured Regiment, CAC War Estbtih very Regiment (The Elzin Regimen ‘War Diary, 10th Armoured Regiment The Fo "1945. Gens LR n. A History OF The American Median 1 Tanks OF om a OM om om om JournalofMilirany OrdnanceTHE BATTLE OF EL UACH By Adam Geibel By Dever look Greve 1940, the worldwide situation xd bleak For the Commonwealth forces, was «nightmare and the Japanese ppeated unstoppable, The Halian East Afri Field aver 250,000 oops cam empire coul indthveaten Khattoun, Kenya andthe south tem approaches to the Suez Canal. Some 77.000 Commonwealth soldiers where idle in Kenya, stil in training, Churchill de mand ation So the first South Are sivein East Africa would bea dress rehearsal for the assault on Kismayu, Somalia, Gen ral Godwin-Austen chose the talian border fort at El Wak (E] Uach), near the vill El Bura Haja, as a place where his green South African troops could taste theit First blood, The post had bes strafedand overrun African The Africans had started 11 supplies. After the Askaris panic of seeing an aircraft, they counterattacked. Only the British officers and NCOs where left 10 fight a rearguard action, though they had captured an Malian 1 By October, El Wak was defended by the 73rd Colonial Battalion (20th Colonial Brigade) and one company of the 76th, as i the 103rd “Dubat” Group (literally ‘white turbans xd one subgroup of the 8th Group, ed “Bernardeli's lars, supposedly to nltalian Lieu tenant (organized in five groups of 300.com: two companies of the Kin Rifles back in July looting regrouped from theit int semi-regular native Somali The command also must Banda of native i SO0nativesunder ‘manded by non-commisioned officers), Fire support would be provided by one November 1997 "Using an Elephant Gun To Shoot A Hare’ RYH Ecy 16 December 1940 battery of the 20th Gruppi Campaign (65/17 Mountain Howitzer) and an wnnamed 70/15 ‘mountain howitzer battery. as well a a7 Battery The positions were also surrounded by and mines. By the time of the ade"s HQ ha positions duc East of the fort, along with barbed assault, the 92nd Br Haken up, elements GF not all) of it’s 19st Colonial Battalion The fort sat on one of four tails into Italian Somaliland, butthe Jubs section com: mnander and Governor, LTG Gustavo Pesenti hadn't visited the defense August 1940, the El Lach sector commander had been LTC Giulio Aveta Goxiin-Austen estimated that the post was defended by a thtee battalion Colonial Bi whelming force to bear on the outpost (post ‘War claims place the Malian strength at only ‘one battalion). Din; for the assault, since aan’ Day was chosen had extreme emo: In 1838, tional significance for the Boers. Boer setters annihilated a Zulu Ki in revenge for a massacre of settlers. Moving north over 110 waterless miles from Wajir, Godwin- Austen took five and half infantry battalions (1st South Baal, 24th Gold Coast Buu less 2nd Bn, and companies: of 16th, Ki Rifles) aswell African wo. e's Airican tank and v0 armored car companies, and He had four Hurri ‘canes (#2 Sqd), three Tunkers 86's G12 Sql and nine Hartbeests (#40 Sqd) to provide air cover and support Godwin- Austin sent B’ Column (Duke b's Own Regt, A Sydn East Africa Armored Car Regt and the 4th Field Brigade, SAA north to British El Wak, just 6,000 yards trom Italian El Uaeh, The col ‘umn would then turn east to El Ghala, even twv0 sapper companies, of Edinbut closer to the Hl positions, While this move would distract the ‘A’ column (Ist SA and 24th Gold Coast Bgd’s) would drive cross-country over the border and forma skirmish line with the South Alricans tothe east cers would take the Fort, the South Africans El Buro Hachi, 1,500 yards north east During the night of the 15th, the East Attica Foree quietly took up stagin The Gold Coast positions while their engineers cut a three mile path for "A* column and patrols made contact with the Son i Bandes, Probi Italian machine gun fi © during the night ly wounded and ed the tanks. ‘The fort had heen reconnoitered before sand sympathetic natives had reported the 9Allied tanks. but apparently the Italian com. manders didn’t believe their own scouts, AALO06:05 hours, the tanks led the 24th to within 700 yardsofalian fines, They started taking machine gun and artillery Tire, Ie ‘wasn't until O8:15 that the four 3.7" howit 2e15 of the SIst Gold Coast Light Artillery Battery began a fifteen minute barrage. Deploying in wo waves of six tanks each, they rushed forward they tumed broadside, ‘and raced back and the wire raki About eventy yards trom the wit Tike a naval manewv Fosth alon the Italian posi tions. The Vicker’serews whereclose enou tosee Aska tanks were unable to penetrate the wire entanglements One tank stopped for technical prob- lems and all ofthe Kali entrated their fire on it, While the armor wasn’t penetrated and the erew suffered no casual j2ht was smashed and the deiver's prism shattered. Another Vickers \washit by ashell froma 700r65 mm and it's armor cracked, though itcontinued fighting’ Meanwhile, the Gold Coasters en Jat forward their ba cons. However, the li ddoes, One fell short the wire and while it's fuze was sputtering down, 2LT Ballenden of the Gold Coaster's ran forward to move it into position, Ballenden was a British Engi reer officer only “in from England, Themen of the 2 country’ three weeks h followed with fixed bayonetsasthe temperaturectimbedto 106°F, while inside the armored cars and tanks it would broil to 150 Huts where torched and stronger build- Mlattened by the tanks, An Italian Colo- nel (possibly the 92nd Brigade’s LTC Degli Uomini) was found hiding in a mobile bbakery’sflourbin.coveredin powdery white ‘Supposedly. the GoldCoaster'sCO was tour he battlefield atop a Vieker’s and had intended to burn this vehicle but decided 10 With the tanks inside the wire, the Halian lines collapsed. Inspect it's interior first, ‘Two men stayed to the other bayoneted, So fast was the Gold Coaster’s victory that the tanks where bombed by Hartbeestsof #40 Squadron while they wer ‘mop-upoperation justsouth of he fort. Luck- ily there were no casualties, Atthis point, South African forcesclaim that during the battle 10 companies “al ins’ where withdrawn, leaving the artillery undefended and the native ‘oops unsup- ported. Considering that there were no units, exclusively of European Italians, the with drawal was probably of one of the two Colo nial Battalions This might have aetually been a reason. ble ‘attempt by the Halian commander t© ‘withdrawal while in contact,’ a tricky ma neuver for even well-trained forces but log tone was shot and assisting the inthe face of overwhelming enemy supe Fiorily. Leaving the Bande and Dubat Special Order No, 74/G 19 December 1940 cover the withdrawal was also tactically nu. as they normally would fade into the bush — in this case, where the South At cans could not easily follow ‘The Natal Carbineers and Ist Transvaal Seoltish of the Ist SA Byd were detailed to feu the retreat route © Bardera, AU 1020 hhours they were in assault position 400 yards south of the Italian lines, To their credit, the Askati’s kept up a sharp fre from trenches, ammunition pits, foxholes an huts while the South Aftieans closed with bayonets, Two Schwarrlove medium machine pinnin: when Bi vopandy ‘open brush, Behind a barrage of mortar and I8 br fire, they dug the native troops out While draining abandoned Italian ea teens, the South down the Natal Carbineers were taken ier CPL. Frank Foxon leapt Micans found fifty dead Askatis, includ & sniper in a tee. 12th African Division to Ist S.A. Light Tank Company! Officer Commanding, Ist MLB. (S.A.) Light Tank Company | Will you please accept my personal thanks and convey to all ranks under your command my deep appreciation of, and admiration for, their brilliant work inthe EI Wak operations, 2. High efficiency was requiredto reach the butlefield over such bad roads, but this efficiency was surpassed in battle, and you have won the admiration of al 3, Though [shall sorely miss you all, Tam glad toknow of yourearly departure fora well deserved rest and refit. You have done well throughout your period under my ‘command, and I look forward eagerly to the day when I may be S0 lucky as to have you with me again. GODWIN AUSTEN Major-General Commander 1A) Division 19th Dee. 40 h (African) Division Headquarters What’s Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret? 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Box 71, Briercrest, Sk., Canada, SOH-0K0 Mail Order for the Model Builder - Catalogue Available With Over 180 Pages of Kits, Figures, & Accessories Phone: (306) 692-8763 or (306) 692-8769 Fax: (306) 545-3723 E-Mai barker@sksympatico.ca Bringing the Best of the World to Your Front DoorThe 191st's where take soldiers started looting the Italian military and food stores, Apparently. they where etter sup- plied than the Springboks, ‘Total Malian losses were Forty-four cap. ‘ured (uwenty of them taians, including the LTC),cightofficersnd 200cotonialskilled, 1m and U0 light machine guns, The British elaimed the Italian Brigade Com mander escaped na mule to whichthe Duke ‘of Aosta Italian Commander of Bast Attic incredulously questioned why, when an au tomobile was available The South Africans lost wo dead when 4 shell exploded in a headquarter’s area. while there wereadozen wounded —mostot them Gold Coasters, ‘The tank company ot was bruised by a spent bul let, some 500 yards behind the bate Tine and the 2nd Br sade HQ and a radio station tak POST SCRIPT. Allied moral in East Affiea Force soared from the victory and the practical exper ofacombined armseffort. The to stay with themas they drove up the Somali coast, taking objectives and driving the Ma ian forees before them. General Pesenti recommended to Addis Ababa an immediate armisiie followed by a surrender of all of Italian East Afica, Aosta promptly sacked him and sent General Carle De Simone (who had successfully taken British Somaliland back in August) as his replacement The lialians, poised on the Kenyan bor der for months. but over ‘enemy’ sstrength, had lost any opportunity to drive on Naroibi uphoria was stimating their ‘The next moming the Allied column was still laagered up in the vicinity of El Wak, while the ruins burned, Before dawn three Ralian Savoia bombers steuck the area of the fort and the troops returned fire with rifles and Bren guns, The South African column suffered no damage trom that raid, or the next The next moming a Caproni 133 tempted another raid while the East Africa Forcewasheadedback to Wajir. A Hantbeest (flow by CPT CMS. Gardner, 40th Coop: eration Sqd) downed the bomber. The erew ‘managed io walk away from the wreck, lea ing the wounded copilot and a gunner, and ‘make Talian fines to days later In the January 1998 issue, Adam Geibel will profile the Vickers Mk IIT in South African service including photographs and drawings. END NOTES 1. Light antitank sseapons were nonexistent in the AOL Order of Battle. While 8 mm Schwarzlose machine guns might score the ‘occasional lucky hit, in general the Vieker's Mk TE was impervious to small arms caliber weap: According to Halian eecords consulted. no 20 mm Solothurn anti-tank rifles had been Shipped to AOL and all ofthe Polish, rifles were allsentto the East best solution would have been the crew-served 20/ mum Breda M35 AA/AT Gun, but none of these weapons had been sent up to El Wak. Furthermore, the use of Molotov encktals od Standard Issue item in the Halian Army — was also nonexistent in this theater. This left only the 65/17 mountai deal with seme howitzers to 2. Whon first confronted, Askari reaction 10 imexlern machines was awe — whether aircraft ‘rain. They labeledthe Marmon-Herringtons “Rhino Car's” and since those bore a Meeting resemblance to tucks, one ean only imagine ‘what thei reaction to tanks must have been. 3. Apparently. one four-gun battery mighthave (to withdraw — mos ikely the 77728 Original SA sources claim 13-16 guns captured. REFERENCES A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROYAL TANK CORPS, VI Edition, Gale & Polden roa BRITISH AND AMERICANTANKSOF WORLD WARIL.Chamberlain and Ellis, Arco Publishing Ine 1981 THE CAMPAIGNS OF WAVELL Donald Crosse, Chapman and Hall Ltd, 1942 THE INTER WAR PERIOD, 1919-1939, Royal Armoured Tank Museum, RA Corps Centre, Bovington, Dowset THE WAR OF \ HUNDRED DAYS: Springboks in Somolia and Abysinnia, 1940. 411A, Brown, Ashanti, 1990 SPRINGBOKSIN ARMOUR: The South Africans Armoured Cas in World War 1H. Klein, Purnell & Sons, 1946 SPRINGBOK RECORD WORLD WAR UH. Klein, 1946 US National Archives, Captured German War Records, T-821 DESERTRATS AT WAR- Nowth ATiiea, Europe. G. Forty. Ottenheimer Publishers, 1980 “The 6th TR". VT. Holliday, APV-G2, Vol. 6, #1, 1977 The Ist South African Light Tank Cont pany: Personal reminiscences of the campaign in East Africa’, MC The South African Miltary History Soci ety, Military History Journal - Vol 10 No 3 [SAMHS" Web Site for this article is hip! Fapidtp.comvmilhisuvol103ee. hil] Wellington Military Art 9508 Sappington Road St. Louis, MO 63126 1-314-849-4477 1-800-889-4978 Mutrrary PRINTS FINE FULLCOLOR COMBAT ARI PRINTS OF Tigers Warrior Panthers Scimitar Panzers Mark IV. 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Box 5884, Darlington, Maryland 21034. 410-457-5400, 410-457-5480 FAX, email - DPLI4@aol.comby Stephen ‘Cookie’ Sewell It was reputedly Commodore Vanderbilt who, when asked how much the upkeep on his yacht ran yearly, replied “If you have to ask how much it costs to run one then you can’t afford it.” The same is pretty much true with museums — if you have 10 ask what the bud- get requires every year to pre- serve and restore the artifacts which it conserves, then you probably can't afford 10 keep any of them yourself The T-34 Model 1942 after A dismantted. Rust Thishasbeen sadly true for many years inthe case of the US Army Ordnance Mu hich has had a very hard time of preserving its larger artifacts (the tanks and artillery pieces in the Foreign Armor Park and along Maryland Avenue), let alone give thought to restoration of arapidly deteriorating group of rare items, Some of the items have gone to other museums in the US Army museum system, stich as the Tiger II going to Fort Knox and the Patton Museum, in that they hhad better budg store the vehicles. Others, likethe controver- To return to s or better facilities to re sial decision to permit the Tig Germany for five years in return for rebuild ing it and fixing some of its problems, have not worked out as well. Still, any artifacts which are preserved by someone els items which have heen preserved and not rotting due to lack of funds or care In an age of fallin anxd an unhappy Interest in the preservation of military history by the American public, it seemed as if this, tragedy would continue unabated, However cutbacks, With the dawn of “political correctness” and new hope for the Aber deen collection has surfaced from an unex pected quarter: the US Environmental Pro- iwetion Ageney (EPA), by the EPA on the Foreign Armor Park at APG revealed that it has one of the most contaminated sections of sol in the US based on the number of heavy metals and other contaminants which have leeched into the soil lubrica These come from the paints and sin the vehicles, which after nearly '50 years in the same area have proceeded to literally “bleed” their colors and life's blood into Maryland, Since APG (both Aberdeen and Edgewood areas) has been designated as ‘a “Superfund” site, the EPA js interested in stopping or reversing any such trends to ound water, out- lying soil, and human habitation ‘The result is a pro should benefit. Over the next eight years (1996-2004) the EPA will provide S8 million from the “Superfund” to clean up, sanitize prevent contamination of g min which all and restore a number of the worst culprits (from the EPA’s point of view, leakers and Teachers) to aeceplable hazard levels. As many vehicles as possible will go through the pr ages t0 this, First off, APG will get many seriously deteriorated artifacts stabilized (no more rust um, and there are a number of and preserved without extreme mest sures, Up until now, leakers were only dealt with by pulling all possible sources of con transmissions, final drives, and fuel tanks which ruined them as artifacts. Second, xadly eroded paint jobs and decades of ne elect and mistakes will be corrected by pro: nore accurate representations of the terrible paint jobs —one past museum direc tor having gone so far as to “color code’ exhibits by country withoutregardooriginal pain scheme — as well as the EPA's source oof much of the heavy metal contamination Third, ati facts will be cleaned up tothe point of being Tead based primers and paints, able to read serial numbersand factory mark ings, which many historians have bemoaned for years with the APG collection. After 20 6 30 coats of paint, it has been impossible to tell ifan artifact was original, rebuilt.oreven which country built some of them. 23Phe MI920 4.7" SP Gun, ‘King Kong” and M40 Bi wood shape Shot in preny All of this does have a price, and at the moment, onceanartifactisrestored, it willbe sent oa warehouse for storage until the new Museum building iscompletedtohouse them. Thus. once one of the “favorites” disappears itwill notrewen to display. The first six items whichare now inthe processof g through stabilization and renovation are: the US M19204.7" self-propelled gun; the Soviet T Model 1942:oneofthe M-1938-43 [20mm Soviet mortars; the British Cruiser Tank Mk VI-Crusader HI: the Iraqi T-72 tank East German BMP-2, Thechoive of the mor tar was based on the fact that the museum had and the cleaning to test the concept: the rest were selected as the worst leakers (the T-72 and BMP-2 in particular, as they have PCB-con- lubricants and fuels onboard) or were responsible for the worst heavy metal leech: The EPA (othe Fred L, Hawkins Company of Harve de Grace, Maryland, and the USAOC&S pro- vided Buildin ration process, The building was configured to comply with both EPA and Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards. The project is under the din of Mr. Pat Hinchy. vice president of the Hawkins Company, and Mr. Alan Killinger ofthe Museum staf is the coordinator forthe Actual work on the restoration is being earried out by Tim Jordan, Jeff Jordan, Joe Wheeler, and Tab Hinchy supervision of Dale Innes 50045 as the site for the test. project. under the The procedure worksinthis manner. An 24 This vehicle is the last of as kind, an SP 15Sinm guns Mi works appear 1 be the forefather of the late Surprisingly opp artifact selected by the EPA for decontari- nation and stabilization is brought t@ the facility. Upon arrival, the vehicle is carefully ‘opened up and any anti-vandalism welding is removed to allow access tothe interior of the Vehicle, The fluidsate ested and removed in the proper EPA manner — PCB fluids are handled 2s contaminants, whereas non-PCB. uids are simply removed and sent out for recyeling.as with other petroleum-based prod ucts, Once the fluids have been removed or drained, the vehicle is disassembled as much pare it for stripping and decontamination, Photographs and drawin as is practical to pr P-72 The engine contaminated, so The brag tad te tank is basically ont ready Been are made at cach step ofthe way tocnsuee that parts will be prope restoration is complete Jy reassembled when the The parts which are tobe keptand reassembled are then stripped The actual stippin, overpressure situation inside a g tent, which prevents particulate matter from escaping into the environment. The methoxt is performed in an plastic used involves getting a worker into a "space suit” and entering the overpressure facility, where he then uses a very high pressure sprayer to strip off the paint used is essentially, water with an made from 80% baking soda and 20 hum oxide, This misture is both EPA ap: proved (unlike sandblasting or use of The mixture abrasive alumi -arborundum particles) and extremely effec live, Italso shows that itcan strip paint from hts) with An area of slassoobjects(viewportsand heaal out scratching them, approxi imately four square feet can be eleaned in a matter of about 15 minutes, and this combi nation cleans down to bare metal, with ttle regandasto paint thickness, Thisalso “cleans by strippin, oxidized metal (rust) so that once cleaned the wound’ off any layers of nd properly repainted, there will not be a problem with rust eathck through the new coat of paint The overpressure situation in the tent tendsto force the particulate matter out ofthe ie and into a drainage system, which is then pumped clear by a special filter and settling lank system. The particulate matter is ex tracted for proper disposal, and the purified water is then pumped into the post sewage system, Onee the vehicle is cleaned to the bare metal in this fashion, restoration begins, The restoration facility has a very com removed from this vehicle ax it was PCB a supertival restoration JounsalofMilirany Onduavee