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 WWW keymilitary com
Remembering the
Falklands Confi1Ct
I was recently asked if I
remember where I was
when the Falklands Conflict
broke out in April 1982.
Even though I was only nine
years old at the time, and
more interested in football
and cricket than soldiers
fighting in a far-off land, I
still have vivid memories of
watching news reports on
television as it all unfolded.
The reverberations of
Argentina's invasion of
the British territories in the
South Atlantic were felt
around the world, even in
our house on the east coast
.::!J
classicmuitaryvehiclemaqazlne
of South Africa. My father,
Les Stone, a British
national, was naturally
keenly interested in the
conflict and so my siblings
and I were drawn into the
story as it dominated news
pages and bulletins in our
house. I still remember
the sense of pride I felt
alongside my father
as Margaret Thatcher
announced victory just a
few months later, although
not really understanding any
of it. It still seems so fresh
in my mind that it is hard to
believe it was 40 years ago.
~ f
cmvedltorlalsskeypubushlnq
com
As part of our 40th-
anniversary coverage in this
issue, we carry the amaz.ing
story of three historic
CVR(T)s of the Blues and
Royals that fought with
distinction in the conflict
and have been rescued by
Eden Camp Modern History
Museum in North Yorkshire.
Eden Camp now owns
three of the nine CVR(T)
s that were sent to the
Falklands, all three from 3
Troop the Blues and Royals.
In years to come, they will
remind future generations
of the bravery of those who
www facebookcom/cmvmag
April 2022 Frontlines
took part in the conflict on
the other side of the world.
We also have the amazing
first-hand account of
Scimitar 23 Charlie gunner
Reg Hastings who takes
us through the day he shot
down an Argentine Mirage.
It's an incredible read.
As always, your feedback is
welcomed and appreciated.
,A;~:J:
andrew.stone@keypublishing.com
www twitter com/cmvmag
 32 Battle Ready
Roger Field gives insight
into commanding
Scorpions and Scimitars
during the Falklands
conflict

Craig Allen on the vehicles which

accompanied 3 Commandoas they
descended on the Falkland Islands

44 Historic Falkland
CVR(T)s saved
A UK museum has three Falkland CVR(TJ
s which are now being restored

50 camp Coffee
Louise Limb on a Falklands Land Rover
101 which now serves coffee to support
veterans

54 Land Rover vs Jeep

Craig Moore U'}covers a 1!}49Bntisn Army
report companng the vehicles

60 One of a Kind
The pride of the Russian Arctic Convoy
Museum: a rare Austin NAAFI van known
as Bertie

77 Buffalo Update
The latest on the Rhine crossing veteran

covrn 111,v1Gf Telegraph Tank-23Alpha

restored and on show at Eden Camp Modem
History Museum
CHARLOTTE GRAHAM

('i www.facebook.com/cmvmag
Classic Military Vehicle Issue 251 April 2022 Contents

Regulars
12 News I Letters
News and views from the military world

18 Gear Guide
Gadgets,gear and cool military 'stuff'

21 Military Vehicle Market

Nigel Hay on the military vehicle scene

New releases for your militarylibrary

23 Collectable Books

26 Events List
Keydates for militaryshows and events

28 Destination
Dumfriesand GallowayAviation Museum

74Workshop
Replacinga leakingcoreplug

78The Gamer

www.twitter.com/cmvmagW
 words and pictures Craig Moore

lassie military vehicle
enthusiast Chris Till jumped
at the chance of owning
a Cletrac Medium M2
Tractor when he saw one advertised
on Milweb by its Belgian owner. He
bought it as a running restoration,
and immediately transported it to Tey
Vehicle Restorations in Essex for service
and a cosmetic repainting restoration
The Cletrac had been painted military
green, but different parts had also been
painted in different shades of green.
The new coat of paint gave each part
of the tractor a unified matt, light olive
drab colour.
On show at last year's Wartime
Experience, the unusual looking Cletrac
drew a lot of attention. It is a brute of a
vehicle that appears to be just a massive
engine with tracks attached to the sides
Its strange looking configuration and
additional equipment attached to the front,
rear and sides made many show visitors
ponder what its original function was.
The United States Army Air Force
(USAAF) M2 Tractor had been used to
tow aircraft onto the runway at US Army
Air Force bases during World War Two
They were fitted with an Ingersoll type 30
air compressor located on the back that
was capable of supplying 9cfm @2000psi
to help aircraft that needed topping up
with compressed air. It was also fitted with
a 5kW 110 voe Accumulator generator,
and an external starter motor, which was
used to take the initial starter load off the
aircraft's internal batteries. Also fitted was
a winch on the front, towing cables and
ropes. This was a multifunctional airfield
vehicle, commonly referred to as the
'Cletrac,' but it also had the nicknames of
'bomber nurse' and the 'iron mule'
to discover any," explained
Chris. "It is a Mark 1
Cletrac which is quite
rare as most restored
examples are the Mark
2 versions. The benefit
of bringing it to military
vehicle events is it can
help recover broken
unusual

ff ff f I I I I I If ff ff ff ff ff ff f
Craig Moore comes face to face
with a Cletrac Medium M2 Tractor
 ~,
.,_#,';;'°~~~
transmission helps the tractor reach a top The tractor is equipped with a swinging role by the M4 13-ton High-Speed Tractor,
speed of 22mph (35km/h) when the high drawbar designed for use in towing aircraft M5 18 ton High-Speed Tractor, and the M6
rpm range is unlocked on the governor, and a second, swivelling pintle hook for 38 ton High-Speed Tractor.
allowing the engine to achieve 3,280rpm towing ammunition, maintenance, and For night work, three swivelling spotlights
With the governor set at 2,500rpm, other types of trailers. were mounted on the tractor, two at the
speeds of up to 15mph can be attained Some testing was done to determine front and one at the rear. The front pair
Its fuel consumption is 3mpg and has an its suitability as a gun-towing tractor, but doubled as driving lights. It also had
operational range of 100 miles (160km). it was quickly determined that it lacked blackout-type marker lamps and convoy
Chris said it was quite easy to start up the space to support the gun crews and lights at the rear.
~You turn the power on, turn the fuel on, carriage of ammunition and, as a 7-ton Steering the Cletrac is done through a
and use the foot start like in many military class machine, it was too light to pull the controlled differential that uses planetary
vehicles" heavier howitzers and was eclipsed in this gearsets to 'downshift' one track when ..
 Support Role
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
fully tracked Cletrac Medium M2 Tractor
was used to tow aircraft out onto the
runway at USAAF bases. The first USAAF
bomber sent to England in 1942 tenaea
on RAF airhelds, following which was a
whirlwind of activity to identify potential
new airfields for US aircraft at sites in the
east and southeast of England.
When these locations were approved
by the Air Ministry, the contractual use of
the land was negotiated or compulsorily
purchased. Then construction work
started. Grass runway strips were
gradually replaced by a/I-weather concrete
runways. Control towers, aircraft hangers,
accommodation blocks, briefing rooms,
storerooms, repair workshops, toilets and
bomb shelters soon sprouted up around the
runways.
While the RAF conducted night-time
bombing of Germany and military targets
in occupied Europe, the USAAF bombers
concentrated on daylight bombing. Cletrac
Medium M2 tractors were shipped over to
England to be used on these new airfields.
As the war progressed, 'Operation
Overlord' 0-Day planners realised that
they would need to include in their plan
the rapid building of temporary airfields in
France after the landings in Normandy to
give the fighters and fighter bombers more
loiter ttme over the battlefields. equipment to quickly construct an AI.G tor a had a habit of causing dust clouds. tne
They needed to be able to support single tacttcal fighter group or bomber new material was known as prefabricated
advancing Allied infantry and tanks when group unit. hessian surfacing.
called for as well as deal with hostile Instead of using rough dirt strips or grass It reduced the dust problem, but to provide
German aircraft. as runways, the engineers used a square an all-weather durable airheld that could
71rese torward-operattng airfields were mesh track (SMT). A British inventton, it cope with winter rain and snow and be
officially designated advanced landing was a material composed of heavy wire strong enough to cope with medium and
grounds (AI.G). As the front line moved joined in 3in squares and was lightweight, light bombers taking off and landing, pierced
forwardnew Al.Gs had to be constructed allowing enough to be transported to and steel planks were used.
to keep pace with the advancing troops. around France. An SMT runway tor fighter As soon as Cletrac Medium M2 tractors
Special USAAF engineering battalions were aircraft could be laid like a carpet within arrived at these new airhelds they were put
formed to construct these forward airhelds one week. Later, a different runway surface to worl<. 71reir robber tracks did not damage
and were composed of sufficient men and material was used to replace the SMT which these temporary runways.

A CletracMedium M2 Mk.2 tractor fitted with a crane WIK/COMMONS

the corresponding steering lever is pulled
In this way, power is always transmitted
to both tracks making the steering action
smoother and improving safety on steep
slopes.
Compared to the traditional 'clutch and
brake' steering found on most other
crawlers of this vintage, the Cletrac
differential has the disadvantage that it is
not possible to lock one track and spot
turn around the braked track. Instead,
the minimum turning radius is 10.Sft
(3.17m). While this was a disadvantage for
bulldozers, the controlled differential did
prevent the Cletrac Medium M2 tractor's
tracks from tearing up pavement and turf,
keeping the surface smooth for aircraft
operations
The driver uses two tillers to steer the
tractor: one controls the breaking on
the left track and the other controls the
right track. To break you pull both tilters
backwards at the same time, there isn't
a brake pedal or a hand brake. The tillers
can be locked into position when the
vehicle
and the driver
change
with
pressure
is parked.

only basic
gauge
to lots of torque,
must
gear. The dashboard
dials
It has a manual
double

- speedometer,
and ammeter.
the Cletrac
declutch

was
Thanks
gearbox

is equipped

easy to
to

oil
~ 1--c·QI
I! .._, .._, I
drive up and down ramps on low-loader
trailers Air compressoroutlets ~
The 14in {35.Scm)-wide track is very
similar to the rubber band-style track used 1,000psi, or 150psi 1930s, the plant was kept open by being
on US half-track vehicles, but their rubber The 150psi tap was used for powering air given orders for tractors by the US Civilian
track does not have the bolt-on rubber tools, while the higher-pressure sources Conservation Corporation and public
pads used on the Cletrac track to give it were for charging the aircraft landing gear. works projects.
extra grip. The pads act as grousers and The air hoses were also stowed by the During World War Two the company still
gently dig into the ground to give extra side of the compressed air receiving tank produced tractors for the farming but also
traction. and were strapped to its metal frame. developed new high-speed tractors for
The Cletrac was particularly effective for Chris said: "You can tell the difference hauling artillery and other specialised use.
moving vehicles or aircraft that had been between the Mark 1 and Mark 2 by the Although the company received a steady
bogged down in the mud and proved ideal size of the compressed air tank. On the flow of orders, military contracts had a
for operating on forward air bases as the Mark 1, it is bigger than those fitted on the low-profit margin, plus the cost of research
rubber track did not dig up the newly laid Mark2." and development was high
primitive runways found at these airfields The power take-off gearbox also powered In 1944, the company was sold to the
To enable the Cletrac M2 tractor to the 7,5001bHelga 75CT winch with a 300ft Oliver Corporation of Chicago and the
service aircraft it was fitted with equipment (91m) 9.5mm cable at the front. There are Cleveland Tractor Company was renamed
including an auxiliary 3kW, 110 volts, DC two accelerators - a foot pedal for when Cletrac Inc. The Cleveland Tractor
generator driven by three belts from the driving and a hand accelerator for when Company and John Deere manufactured
tractor engine. This was mounted on the vehicle is static and the engine is being 8,510 Cletrac M2 tractors for military
the right front mudguard. The auxiliary used to power the winch, air compressor service during the war, both serving the
generator provided electricity to start or electric generator. European and Pacific theatres. They were
USAAF fighter, transport, and bomber The name Cletrac is short for Cleveland flown out to Korea in the early 1950s
aircraft, thus eliminating a separate 'start Tractor. In 1916, Rollin H White, founder when war broke out. Most were eventually
cart' of the White Motor Company, created sold as surplus to the oil and logging
The two-stage, intercooled air a new company called the Cleveland industry.
compressor was powered by the tractor Motor Plough Company. This firm was to The Cletrac's strange looking
engine and mounted behind the driver concentrate on developing crawler-type configuration and additional equipment
and crew's bench seat. The compressor tractors for general farm use made many show visitors ponder what
supplied air at 1,000psi to a compressed In 1917, the company was renamed the the original function was. Some will do
air receiver tank mounted on the left Cleveland Tractor Company Inc. It sold further research into its important roll on
mudguard that had regulators and a more than 40,000 tractors over the next USAAF airfields during World War Two
booster pump to supply air at 1,500psi 10 years. During the depression of the and hopefully uncover more of its past. ..
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News & Letters crnveditorialfskeypubtishinq com WWW keymilitary com

who took the image but it is at 103 MU,

RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus in the 1960s. What
was the RAF doing with a black Triumph
TR4a sports car (Reg 22 AM 39)?
The vehicle features RAF 103 MU crest
and markings and the driver is in uniform.
A friend said he thought it may have been
bought to test the braking efficiency of
the Akrotiri runway surface at speed. In
the 60s we had Vulcans, Canberras and
Lightnings there and there is only one
runway - just a thought
Oxford Diecast do a model of the RAF
TR4A. Who, what, why? There has to be
a good story here
Simon Thomson
WWW keyrnilitarycom cmvedrtorialeskeypublishfnq
com News & Letters

Vehicle
restoration
award for
Gary
Classic military vehicle enthusiast and
collector Gary Burns has received a
Transport Trust military vehicle restoration
award
Gary, from Carlisle in Cumbria, received
a grant and the award from the patron
of the National Transport Trust, Anne,
Princess Royal at a ceremony held on
October 20 last year.
Gary is in the process of restoring an
Otter armoured car. Built as a Canadian
stopgap armoured car to replace lost
equipment at Dunkirk, the Otters were
made in small numbers but ended up
serving throughout the war in most
theatres right up to the end of the
hostilities
Not many are left with only three in the
UK including this one and the one in the
Hendon RAF Museum.
Work on the armoured body is almost
finished with the doors, hatches external
bonnets and front grille made. The next
steps are for the chassis and transmission
to be completely stripped, rebuilt and
replaced.

Rare King Tickets for the War and Peace Revival

2022, which takes place from July 26-30,
will be available to book online from April
Tiger V2 will Organiser John Allison said he
had spoken to many military vehicle

go on show enthusiasts and collectors and assured

in Sweden
The only King Tiger V2 in existence is
going on loan to Arsenalen, The Swedish
Tank Museum.
The Tiger II, better known as the King
Tiger, came into the war too late to make
a significant impact but like the Tiger
before it, it remained a feared weapon.
Currently based at the Nationaal Militair
Museum in the Netherlands the Swedish
Tank Museum was looking to get it on
loan, however, with the cost of transport,
them the event would be going ahead.
He added: "We've got stuff coming in
from Germany, Holland and Belgium:
For more information, visit
it didn't seem feasible https://warandpeacerevival.com/
A sponsor said they were happy to pay
half of the €35,000 transport cost but
the museum still needed to make up the
other €18,000
But after only two weeks, the Swedish
public and others came together to raise
the rest of the money
The aim is for the tank to be
transported and set up in the museum in Militaryvehicleenthusiastsqueueforticketsat
early April. the 2019 War and Peace Revival
ANOReN STONE

13
MILITARY CLASSIC AUCTION and

the Rois & Va up res Auction House

organize their spring sale, April 3, 2022

II S /l 11 IYI \'

fj . HI.I: « Th e Jimmy »

Cckw 353 Cargo II 6000 - 8000£

Cckw 353 Leroi II 6000 - 8000£
Cckw 353 Tipper II 6000 - 8000£
Cckw 353 Workshop II 6000 - 8000£
Cckw 352 Lot 7 II 6000 - 8000£
Ward La France M1A1 II 6000 - 8000£

II II D (j I:
WC57 Command Car II 12 000 - 20 000£

WC52 II 8000 - 10 000£

WC54 Ambulance II 8000 - 12 000£

WC62 II 8000 - 10 000£

 \If HITE
M16A1 HalfTrack
II 25 000 - 30 000£
M3 Scout Car
II 15 000 - 25 000£
Anti tank gun type M5
II 6000 - 8000£

;1 I: I: P several Jeeps including a Ford GPW from March 16, 1942

estimate 12 000 - 16 000£

Informations catalog in March 2022

Visit of the collection Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd April
Sale on Sunday April 3 at the Patton Museum, 10 Avenue Jacques Marcello!
52410 EURVILLE- BIENVILLE I France

Live Auction: www.interencheres.cam

r:8Jauction@military-classic com W+33(0)2.33.44.44 44
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II Membcrsor:
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WWW keymilitarycom crnveditorialeskeypublishinq
com
words Steven Downes
Norfolk Tank Museum hopes to have Centurion ARV running by August
Six years outside on the ranges and
20-plus years in a museum shed are not
good for the workings of a military vehicle.
But when the body is broken, there is still
something in its soul - a combination of
history, engineering prowess and fellowship
that sustains the spark.
And there are plenty of people prepared to
use their skills and their passion to revive it.
That is why a Centurion armoured
recovery vehicle (ARV}Mk 2 FV4006 that
was little more than a rusting hulk and a hint
of history will soon be roaring into life again
A dedicated team of volunteers at Norfolk
Tank Museum is stripping down, cleaning,
refitting and revitalising the 50-ton vehicle
And they plan to announce its revivalwith a
show-stopping demonstration of power and
poise at the museum's Armouriest 2022 on
August 13 and 14
The hoped-for sunshine and beaming
smiles are still on the distant horizon for the
workforce, though. They have been facing
the cold months of the museum's winter
and early spring lockdown, battling frozen
fingers and plenty of frustration as they fight
to get the Centurion moving again
Museum chairman Stephen Machaye said
the recovery vehicle was part of the first
batch of Centurion ARVs to be built. "They
were created from the mark three gun tank,
not purpose built. They were designed to
go into the battlefield and recover broken
down or stuck tanks - they could tow
another Centurion on an A-bar," he said,
News
pictures Norfolk Tank Museum
~
-
--~-~
.
----;;,;lr._1\t..~......
...
..
ir:~
I
adding that the winch had a 90-ton pull
Stephen said they had rescued the
vehicle from the ranges in Shoeburynessin
Essex in 1999. "Originally, I rescued her for
spares, but now we've decided to get her
running, which we hope to achieve in time
:. - :. -~.:' , . .s-:
~
..., for Armouriestin August. We're still trying
to locate some additionalparts for the refit,
though. It would be incredible to have the
ABOVE: Norfolk Tank MuseumchairmanStephen three Centurions running together."
MacHaye works on the Centurion The Centurion ARV has three engines:
BOTTOM: The Centuriongets its first glimpse a Rolls-Royce Meteor to drive it; a Morris
of the sunshine in two decades, outsideNorfolk to charge the batteries; and a 881 Ro!!s-
Tank Museum Royce to power the electric winch. Jt is
BELOW Rolls-RoyceMeteorMk48 donorengine,
boughtto use spare parts tor the centurionARV designed for a crew of four - a driver,
commander, winch operator and radio
operator.
Stephen said the restoration team had
"plenty of problems to overcome".
"The main engine was seized and there
was also damage to the heads through lack
of oil. Sourcing parts is not easy because
it's not off the shelf anymore and six years
on the ranges didn't help. Then she sat at
the museum for almost 20 years."
The Noriolk Tank Museum, which reopens
on April 12, houses a collection of military
vehicles, weapons and militaria mainly from
the 20th century, particulartythe Cold War
era. It also has a large collection of British
small arms, artillery and uniforms. The tanks
and armoured cars are erther in working
condition or awaiting restoration by the
museum team. The museum is at Forncett
St Peter, near Long Stratton, in Noriolk
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words and pictures Nigel Hay
s we approach spring, the
A ~~;~:zdv=~~: ~:;~~ ~
with restored and project
8 :oth
vehicles. We've seen an increase in
activity between the UK and Europe and
contacts in the film and TV industry report
a lot of hiring of military vehicles for a
wide range of productions as the easing
of restrictions continues
A very nice and well known M24 Chaffee
tank left the UK this month and arrived
in France at the Military Classic Vehicles
centre in Normandy where it will be
prepared for its new home along with an
M18 Hellcat in the rapidly increasing fleet of
a passionate Swiss collector.
Ten years ago there was little demand for
Chaffees and Hellcats, probably because
they were only used very late in the war, but
now they are certainly increasingly popular
and the values are rising
As I write this in mid-February, a container
from New Zealand was being unloaded in
Kent with an interesting and solid project
for the James Gosling collection. The new
Did you
spot
the
error?
Nigel Hay's round-up of
the military Vehicle market
acquisition, a New Zealand pattern wheeled
Carrier from 1943, is only the third to reach
the northern hemisphere and one of only
67 built. The other two are already with the
Weald Foundation for restoration, a near
neighbour of James
Several Jeeps and trailers have been
shipped into the UK from Australia in
the past two months and these are now
coming onto the market from RR Services
One of the trailers turned out to be a
distinctive Australian Jeep trailer body, albeit
on a fabricated chassis.
The only downside for this is the
exceptionally high shipping charges which
are affecting intercontinental transport
around the globe. Another
UK-based importer is
offering used wartime . ?n&,Gt
Jeep parts on UK eBay at
simply staggering prices.
They may be original but
there must be a finite limit
on what even the most
obsessive collector will pay
This month's stand out
vehicle comes from Military
Classic Vehicles. It's a
superb 1941 Ford GP at
€59,000 with absolute
attention to detail including
the all-important and normally missing
Holley carburettor.
Our entry-level vehicle this month was
also in northern France, a GMC CCKW
hard cab for total restoration at just €3,000
Despite having a Perkins diesel under the
bonnet and single rear wheels, it looked
solid and ideal for a GMC on a budget. This
contrasted well with a fully restored CCKW
at £17,995
At £19,995 a very nice M201 Hotchkiss
MilitaryVehicle Market
was offered by the new Jeep dealer GB
Panelcraft in Devon. In the last 12 months,
five new and serious Jeep resellers have
started operations in the UK and Scotland.
The common story is that the demand for
Jeep restoration and servicing, not just
Jeep sales, has grown since the start of
the pandemic as more enthusiasts prefer
to pay professionals to have the work done
properly.
As tensions between the west and the
Ukraine ramp up, it is worth noting that the
Ukrainian military does use quite a bit of
British kit and expertise - including some
CVRTs. But some experts say Ukraine
is just too muddy for Russian tanks and
there were certainly lessons learned in the
desperate battles in the region during World
War Two
Will all this cause a rise in the prices
of CVRTs and spares? We believe it's
unlikely at our hobbyist level. However, the
biggest enemy our hobby faces right now
is the sharp rise in fuel prices. Our thirsty
vehicles may end up attending more local
shows rather than travelling further afield
to larger ones that rely on nationwide and
international attendance
Lastly, we are all used to mistakes in the
media but with Her Majesty, the Queen
completing 70 years on the throne, it was
appalling to see the cover of the book
'Wartime Princess' by Valerie Wilding {who
was unaware of the publisher's error until
I told her) portraying the then Princess
Elizabeth superimposed in front of a Land
Rover Lightweight!
I have included one of the most
i~~~~cgphh~t:a~::~i~u=~~
/- would be interested to know if
that Austin K2 Ambulance still
On the Shelf New Books
Panzers
Forward
A Photo History
of German
Armor in World
War Two
Author RobertJ Edwards
PublisherStackpole Books
Year 2018
ISBN9780811737708
Language English
BindingPaperback
Pages 312
Size25.32x20.32x 1.65cm
Price£19.95
Some of the most iconic
tanks of World War
Two were those of the
Wehrmacht. Tigers, Panthers
and Panzers are now
synonymous with armoured
eeeeeeeeee,eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
German Guided
Missilesof World
War Two
AuthorStevenJ Zaloga
PublisherOsprey Publishing
Year 2019
ISBN 9781472831798
LanguageEnglish
BindingSoftback and eBook
Pages48
Size17.6x0.52x23.04cm
Price£11.99/$19.00
www.ospreypublishing.com
German missile weapons
both wired and wireless are
a source of great intrigue
and research; their bizarre
stylings inspired not just
science fiction but future
weapon systems.
Steven Zaloga delves into the
various guided missiles which
came to define a weapon
that was far ahead of its time
actions during the war and
seeing them during wartime
is a rare sight. Robert
Edwards with help from
Michael Pruett and Michael
Olive has collated a great
selection of German Armour
throughout the war ranging
from the rarest to the most
common
Verdict: A brifliant selection
of photographs from
throughout the war showing
the range of German armour in
some of the tough conditions
they would face
GERMANGUIDED
MISSILESOF
WORLDWARII
and inspired much of modern
weapon design
Verdict: A really interesting
research topic with some great
images and drawings of how it
could have possibly looked on
the field.
The TigerTank and
AlliedIntelligence
Volume Ill: Tiger 131:
From Africa to Europe
Author Bruce Oliver Newsome,
PhD
TheTi~rTank
Allied Intelligence
PublisherTank Archives Press
Year2020
ISBN 9781951171063
LanguageEnglish
BindingHardback
Pages166
Size21.95x 1.42x27.94
Price£29.99
Tiger 131, also known as
the Bevington Tank Museum
Tiger Tank was captured in
Africa in 1943. This book the development, creation,
looks at the operations and operational life of the
which led to the capturing Panzerkampfwagen VI
of the famous tank. As Verdict: An in-depth dive into
a continuation in a book one of the most famous tanks
series with the same title, of the war with some great
Bruce Newsome charts photos throughout
P!!!lllll!IIIIIIPllllllll!IIIIIIPIII
Designing the
T-34
Author Peter Samsonov
PublisherGallantry Books
Year2019
ISBN: 97814911658306
LanguageEnglish
BindingSoftback
Pages90
Size24.7cmx18.4cm the best the Germany Army
Price£12.99/$19.99 had to offer
Using original wartime
documents, Peter Samsonov
The T-34 is one of the details the design and
most iconic tanks of World development of the T-34
War Two, with thousands Verdict: Definitely one for
of pages in books and armour fans, the book takes
documents devoted to its readers back to the early days
development and combat of Soviet tank development
use through the years. through to the T-34's
It was more than a match for production and service.
words and pictures John Carroll
BritishBafflesBooks
Series I had
It seems that my browsing
shelves of used and yellowing
paperbacks in secondhand
bookshops and picking up
interesting titles has led to an
accidental collection!
I have no idea how many are
in the whole series as the lists
of 'other titles in this series'
contain about 20 and yet I
have 24 different ones. These
can loosely be divided into
groups; five about World War
One, 11 about World War Two
and eight about prior conflicts
that go as far back as The
Spanish Armada
They could be further
subdivided into land and sea
battles, for example, the 11
about World War Two divide
into six sea battles and five
land. For reasons of space
and because it is military
vehicles that readers of CMV
are interested in, it is the latter
I will concentrate on.
Pan Books was an
independent publisher,
launched in 1944 by Alan
Bott MC (1893-1952), a flying
ace from the First World War.
The company's logo was a
silhouette of Pan, the ancient
Greek god playing pan pipes
The company specialised in
publishing paperback books
as budget editions and, along
with Penguin Books, was
among the first publishers of
this format in the UK
Pan Books was subsequently
acquired by a consortium
of publishing houses,
including Macmillan, Collins,
Heinemann, and Hodder &
Stoughton before becoming
During the
1950s and
1960s, Pan
Books were
noted for
covers
that have
made many of them
collectable. By the
1970s when the
pictured selection was
published, the illustrated
covers were not as lurid
and eventually gave way
to photos
It is hard to be certain
exactly when such
changes were made
because of the numerous
reprints but one thing that
is certain is that all these
books are paperback editions
of previously published
hardbacks
I have photographed the five
books in the chronological
order of the battles they
describe. This 1972 edition of
Tobruk by Michael Carver was
published by Batsford in 1964
Carver was Gen Sir Michael
Carver GCB, CBE DSO MC, a
veteran of the desert war.
Similarly, Alamein by C E
Lucas Phillips was published
by Heinemann in 1962 and
Phillips was formerly Brig
Phillips OBE, MC who fought
in both world wars.
Caen Anvil of Victory
by Alexander McKee was
published in 1964 by Souvenir
Press Ltd and became one
of 30 books by this veteran of
the fighting in NW Europe
In later life, he became
involved in sub-aqua diving
and was awarded the OBE for
finding the Mary Rose, King
Collectable
Henry Vlll's sunken flagship
This paperback edition of The
Battle for Normandy doesn't
give any information about its
authors - even the
first name of one
- although both wrote other
books. Hubert Essame CBE,
DSO, MC was a veteran of
both wars and commanded
214th Infantry Brigade in
Europe during World War
Two. This book was originally
published by Batsford in 1965
and the copy pictured here
has Pan Books' earlier logo
despite this book being a 1970
copy
Finally, Arnhem by Maj Gen
Urquhart CB, DSO, was
originally published in 1958 by
Cassell. Urquhart commanded
the British 1st Airborne
Division during this airborne
operation
What these books have in
common is that they were all
written by British Army World
War Two veteran officers
These accounts were all
published within 20 years of
Books On the Shelf
mexpensrve.
With a bit of browsing, I think
it would be possible to get the
five paperback books pictured
for a total of £25. Interestingly,
for sale as I write this, there's
a 2021 edition of Phillips'
Alamein, an Italian language
edition of Carver's Tobruk and
a 1960 Pan edition of
Urquhart's Arnhem. The last
one is complete with one of
Pan's dramatically illustrated
covers and I was about to
press 'buy it now' and then
remembered, I have a copy
somewhere ... •
Title British Battles Series
Yearc1970-72
ISBNVarious ~
LanguageEnglish
PagesVarious
~
Size4.25x7in
Binding Softback
CurrentPricec£5each
www.abebooks.co.uk
Calendar April 2022 - January 2023
2022
APRIL
Easter Rally Taranakai
Date April 15-18
Location Taranaki Diocesan Schoof, 61
Broadway North, Stratford 4332 New
Zealand.
Websitehttps.!/nzmvc.org.nzleaster-raf/y-
taranaki-2020/
New Zealand's largest military vehicle
club's meeting to drive and interact with
other classic military vehicle owners.
TigerDay 16
DateApri/23
Location The Tank Museum,
Bovington, UK
Websitehttps:lltankmuseum.orgleventsl
Dedicated to the world's most infamous
tank, Tiger 131. See the only running Tiger
I in action at the home of the tank.
CampPlymouthSpring
MV Swap Meet & Show.
Date April 26-30
Location49er Village RV Park and
Amador Country Fairgrounds, 18265,
Plymouth, California, USA
Websitewww.mvccnews.net/plymouth_
spring.html
The largest annual military vehicle event in
western North America
MAY
Aerojumble& MilitaryCollectorsfair
Date May 1
LocationRoyal Air Force Kenley, Victory
Beamish Drive, Caterham on the Hill,
Surrey CR3 5LT
Websitewww.aviationantiques.co.ukl
A collectors' fair for all enjoyers of classic
military vehicles and militaria
VE Day
Date May 8
Various events (see local press for details)
Tracksand Trade
Date May 12-15
LocationBAIV HO, The Netherlands
Websitewww.baiv.nllblog/2021/08/19/
tracks-trade/
COVID-19 IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the impact of the coronevmss, we would like to advise readers to please
check with organisers or visit the relevant websites for the most up to date
mformat,on on all shows and events scheduled for 2022 CMV cannot guarantee
that the shows and events listed here will take place on the given dates
Please notify us of any changes by emailing cmved,tor,al
cmveditorial@keypublishing.com www.keymilitary.com
Four-day conference and auction for LocationVarious events at Bayeux,
guests hosted by BAIV Longues-sur-Mer, Arromanches, Sainte-
MSre-Eglise, Carentan, Utah, lsigny-sur-
Militracks Mer and Omaha
Date May 14&15 Website www.ddayfestival.com
LocationOverloon War Museum,
Netherlands AquinoTank Weekend
Website www.militracks.nl Date June 3-5
One of the best events to view LocationOntario Regiment RCAC
motorcycles, passenger vehicles, trucks, Museum, Ontario, Canada
semi-tracks and tanks, mainly from the Canada's largest military show with tanks,
Wehrmacht. static displays, battle re-enactments and
so much more.
GatwickAviationCollectorsFair
Date May 22 47th AnnualMVPA Convention
LocationK2 Sports Centre, Pease Date June 9-11
Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 LocationCentury Centre, 46601 South
RBQ Bend, Indiana, USA
A place to attend to get your militaria and Website https:llwww.mvpa.org/events
antique fix The 47th annual convention of the Military
Vehicle Preservation Association brings
JUNE together both vehicles and a market with
OverlordShow parts for sale.
Date June 3-6
LocationThe Lawns, Denmead, P07 Tankfest
6HS Date June 24-26
Website www.overlordshow.co.uk LocationThe Tank Museum
Hundreds of military vehicles and Website https:lltankmuseum.org.eventsl
re-enactors from World War One to The world's biggest and best live display
modern-day of historic armour, living history, and much
D-DayFestivalNonnandy
Date June 6 Crow/and1940s Weekend
Date June 25&26
LocationCrow/and, Lincolnshire
Event to mark the 1947 floods with
Buffalo 47 on display to the public
Wartimein the Vale
Date June 25&26
LocationAshdown World War Two Camp
@keypubhshmg .com Ashdown Farm
Badsey Road, Evesham WR11 7PA
www.keymilitary.com cmveditorial@keypublishing.com April 2022 - January 2023 Calendar

Website ashdowncamp.comlevents Showground, Galfow Field Road, Market SEPTEMBER

One of the UK's largest World War Two Harborough, Leicestershire The Victory Show
military vehicfe and re-enactment events Website http://harboroughatwar.co.uk/ Date September 2-4
Featuring re-enactmentgroups, living Location Foxfands Farm, Croft Rd, Cosby
JULY history groups, military vehicles, battle LE91SG
CLASSIC LAND ROVER GATHERING simulations, displays, trade stalls and Website www.facebook.com/
Saturday night 1940s big band dance foxlandsfarmcosby
-~~-· ~:!:;~t Lower Farm,
2&3
Yorkshire Wartime Experience
The Victory Show is back and it plans
to keep up the trend of its predecessors
--'-'"'-.....,..... Skillington Date August 12-14 with vehicles reenactors and a classic
--iiiiiiiiiiil NG33 5HF Location Hunsworth Lane, Hunsworth, Nr 1940s dinner.
Websiteclassfclandrovergathering.com Bradford, 804 6RN
A fun-filled famify event open to owners of Website www.yorkshfrewartime.co.uk Tiger Day 17
military and classic Land Rovers More than 500 military vehicles on Date September 17
display and 72 re-enactmentgroups in Location The Tank Museum
CapelMilitaryShow attendance Website https:lltankmuseum.org.eventsl
Date July 2&3 See the only running Tiger I in action at
LocationAldhurst Farm, Temple Lane, Combined Ops Military and Aircraft the home of the tank
Capel, Surrey Date August 13-14
Website www.capel-military-vehicle- Location Headcorn Airfield, Kent OCTOBER
show.com Website www.headcornevents.co.ukl International Anny Show
Held in support of Help tor Heroes charity Events!Combined%200ps/ Date September 30-0ctober 2
and military and local charities Location Center De Bergen, Zoentendaal
Victory over Japan 6, 5446 Wanro1jNetherlands
War and Peace Revival Date August 15 Website www.armyshow.eu/
Date July 26-30 Location Various A relatively new but stifl growing mifitary
Location The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Keep an eye on the media for local events vehicle show with reenactors, a market,
Kent live shows and a mock battle
Website https:llwarandpeacerevival.com AusArmourlest (Australia}
UK's largest gathering of cfassic military Date August 26-28 JANUARY
vehicles and enthusiasts Location 2 Skyrail Drive, Smithfield, QLD Croydon Aviation & MilitaryCollectors Fair
4878 Australia Date January 8
AUGUST Website www.ausarmour.com Location Hallmark Hotel Purley Way;
Harborough at War See one of the largest collections Croydon, Surrey CR9 4LT
Date August 6&7 of military muscle in the southern Start the new year out right with a fair
Location Market Harborough hemisphere perfect for classic military vehicle lovers ..
REVISmNG THE PAST
Craig Allen visits the
Dumfries and Galloway
Aviation Museum in
Scotland
t
may seem strange to include an

I aviation museum in a magazine

dedicated to military v~~icles, but
this report refers specifically to
the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation
Museum's airborne forces display
This collection was put together with
the help of a former colleague of mine,
Jim Kilbride, and I recently took the
opportunity to visit the museum.
Housed in a dedicated hanger, the
 Dumfries and Galloway Av1at1on Museum Destination

airborne forces display is dominated by The MIRA night sight which accompanied accessible
an almost complete Hadrian Glider that the system was a particularly useful piece If like me, you have an interest in
was donated by the Assault Glider Trust of kit. Often used for observation posts I military aircraft you will also enjoy the
This US-built aircraft was used to well remember the hiss of the gas bottles aviation collection. This includes many
transport Jeeps, guns and troops into used to 'super cool' its internal elements. classic types including the English
remote jungle airstrips during the Burma It was slightly unnerving to find all Electric Lightning and Hunter from the
campaign, notably in support of the this equipment from my past now jet era
famous Chindit operations consigned to a museum. Time moves The star exhibit is a fully restored
Close by is an airborne recce Jeep on of course and it's great to see these Spitfire that was recovered from Loch
complete with its single 'Vickers K' items preserved and on display for both Doon where it was lost in a training
armament and authentic camouflage and veterans and the general public alike. accident in 1941.
stowage. These Jeeps were used by the There is a comprehensive Airborne The museum is located just off the A76
Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron in its Forces Museum located at Duxford close to Dumfries and is open each
failed coup de main attempt to seize the but for those of us who live further Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to
Arnhem Bridge north, this new exhibition is far more 4pm, admission £6 ...
Nearby, another diorama includes a
Royal Enfield 'Flying Flea' motorcycle and
BSA folding bike both used by airborne
forces during World War Two
The wartime theme is carried on with
a detailed model of Pegasus Bridge
famously assaulted in the early hours of D
Day by a specially trained company of the
Ox and Bucks Light Infantry led by Major
John Howard. Cabinets and displays
lining the walls include collections of
uniforms, weapons and equipment
Browsing one display I recognised the
familiar canvas webbing of the PX Mk4
parachute and still remember my correct
measurements for adjusting the harness
There was plenty of other equipment I
had used over the years including cold-
weather gear from Arctic training in
Norway and desert kit I had worn in Iraq
There was even a Milan system which
for many years provided the parachute
battalions with their anti-tank capability
Guest Speaker confirmed
as BOB IVES
CamelTrophy wi~ner

Former Blues and Royals member
Roger Field commanded a Scimitar at the
Battle of Wireless Ridge during the Falklands conflict
and writes of his experiences
I I If f 11 I I I I I I I I I I I Ill
first came across combat vehicle
I reconnaissance tracked (CVR(T)
armoured cars on a schoolboy visit
to my future regiment, the Blues and
Royals, part of the Household Cavalry.
It was the summer of 1973 and the
regiment liked to have a close look at
those who wanted to join it.
The regiment was at Windsor and its
role was recce (the eyes and ears of the
army) a role it was well practised in. During
World War Two in the 1944-45 race across
Europe, the regiment was often tens of
miles in front of the lead troops, sneaking
words and pictures Roger Field
l l l If I I I I I I I
around and reporting back on what the
enemy was up to
Yes, some of our vehicles carry biggish
guns, but they are only meant to be used
to get us out of trouble when we've been
spotted. And gelling spotted is the lasl
thing we were meant to do. And, one other
point, the Scorpion and Scimitar armoured
cars might have tracks and largish guns,
but they are not tanks. Tanks, light or
heavy, go head-to-head and do the heavy
bashing, we reconnoitre although, during
the Falklands War, an infantry war where
neither side had tanks, our armoured cars
My crew: (I to r) Tpr Ford, the ended up taking on that heavy armour
author, Tpr Round 'tank' role. To misquote the ancient saying:
"In the land of no tanks, the armoured car
is kinq."
Awe at first sight
Back to 1973 and up to Ollerbum
training area in Northumberland we went.
Two of the squadrons still had the 'old'
whooed Saladins, but one squadron had
new-fangled, just issued, 76mm gunned
Scorpions commancled by the troop leader
and the troop corporal of horse (sergeant).
There were also two Scimitars with their
amazing and revolutionary 30mm quickfire
Rarden cannon, each commanded by a
lance corporal of horse (corporal}. Those
'Come 1982, thismadeittheperfect
vehicle to drive across the delicate,
sodden peat of the Falklands'
Scimitar and Scorp boys came back from
that exercise raving that this was the future
With their aluminium (as against steel)
armour they weighed in at a mere 7.8 tons
against the 'Sallycans' 11.6 tons.
This gave them an amazingly low ground
weight per square inch - less than the
weight of a human standing on the ground.
I once saw a Scarp reverse up to a four-
ton truck, hopelessly bogged, axle-deep in
mud in a field, the crew floundering ankle-
deep in the mud as well, attach a tow rope
and pull rr out all without hardly breaking the
surface of the grass. Come 1982, this made
it the perfect vehicle to drive across the
delicate, sodden peat of the Falklands. By
contrast, driving Land Rovers over anything
but the few tracks risked them getting
hopelessly stuck
Add to that its incredible petrol {back then,
diesel later) Jaguar engine, similar to the
one in the E-Type, the boys were saying.
Those original vehicles were so fast that,
when the regiment drove back to Windsor
at exercise's end, one was giving it so much
welly that rr threw a track.
It disappeared down the motorway and
luckily jt was very early morning) did not
hit and kill anyone, as it could have. The
boys in blue arrived and investigated. We
later heard that they reckoned it must
have been doing about 80mph when the
track parted company. The whole thing
was hushed up - you can imagine the

appalled headlines - but those engines
were governed down and they never went
that fast again. At ?ft 2in wide, they were
also very narrow and we drove them easily
through towns and villages. What's more,
the narrower the front, the narrower you are
asa target.
By the time I ended up fully trained, the
regiment was in Germany on Chieftain
tanks. Most of our soldiers hated those
unreliable, slow, diesel-powered Chieftains
(great guns though) compared to CVR(ns
and some never stopped whingeing about
it, especially the drivers.
The moment any of us climbed onto a
Chieftain we got covered in diesel, the
drivers worst of all. They longed to get
back to Windsor and their petrol-powered
and reliable CVR(ns. Look after it and it
will look after you. This was proved in the
Falklands where there was only one major
breakdown during the whole campaign; a
broken gearbox which was easily replaced.
Argentina invades
Come April 2, 1982, and the Argentine
invasion, I was a captain at Windsor and
working at regimental headquarters as a
combined intelligence officer, training officer
and liaison officer.
B Squadron was 'sorambled' on April 4 with
an initial order of battle of two troops - 3 and
4 troop, caJlsigns 23 and 24, each of two
Scorpions and two Scimitars plus a REME
Samson tracked recovery vehicle 'lv'ith a cte«
of four. They were under two experienced,
lieutenant troop leaders: Robin Innes Ker
(3 Troop) and Mark Gareth (4 Troop). They
moved like greased weasel "*"" as vve used
ABOVE: The author outside the troop house in
Stanley,posingbesideoneofthose'captured'
Panhards. One is now at the Tank Museum,
Bovington and a second outside the Household
Cavalry Museum, Combennere Barracks, Windsor
LEFT: We found one troop of Panhards parked up
aside street
'They doubled as taxis,
carrying exhausted soldiers and kit'
to say and, come April 6, they were loading
their war-ready vehicles aboard the MV Bk, a
North Sea roll on-rcJI off ferry. Three days "1er,
on April 9, the crews sailed on Canberra as
partoftheTaskForce.
Back at Windsor, things went quiet until
the commanding officer asked me if I would
like to go with 3 Commando Brigade as an
HQ watchkeeper - a tedious job manning
the radios. I of course said yes. Remember
that the army is highly hierarchical and mere
lieutenants swim at the very bottom of the
officer pond, there to be told what to do,
not to be listened to
His thinking was that I, as a captain,
stood a measurably better chance of being
listened to. We both knew the age-old
problem: show an infanteer an armoured
car and he thinks it is a tank and will most
probably misuse it as such. However, it was
not to be
This being the first 'proper' war we Brits
had to go to fight since Korea, every Para
and Royal Marine not already on the boat
- and there were lots of them - were trying
their damnedest to get on the boat. No
one was giving a valuable space to a Blue
and Royal. I was stood down. So too was
the remainder of B Squadron, which was
on notice to join the second wave: 5th
Infantry Brigade. Nobody seemed to want
them ... result: would I join 5 Brigade as a
watchkeeper the colonel asked me again?
Again: yes. On May 12, I set off in a luxury
stateroom aboard Queen Elizabeth 2 - the
only way to go to war!
Meanwhile, in the mid-Atlantic, the boys
finally caught up with their vehicles off
Ascension Island. They had not fired
their main armament since the previous
November. The British Army was, and
remains, staggeringly tight when it comes
to expending ammunition and they badly
needed to boresight their guns (shoot their
guns so it fires exactly where the sight says
it will - guns get knocked out of true all too
easily) before they met the enemy
Problem. There were no beaches that
they could safely land on. Creative solution:
reverse onto the landing craft (LCU), two
abreast {useful they are so narrow), and the
LCUs motor along, ramp down, while the
vehicles fired at floating 40-gallon oil drums.
They were now 'beach ready' to help shoot
in a defended seaborne assault
On May 21 they landed, to their relief,
unopposed at San Carlos. Their main
worry - and that worry remained with us
right until the Argentines surrendered -
was Pucara, a slow-flying, propeller-driven
specialist ground attack aircraft, which
carried missiles and bombs as well as four
20mm cannons. If that were not enough, it
also had four GPMGs making them perfect
tank killers. They would have eaten our
ABOVE: Moody Brook, smashed to pieces and
fire-blackened. But, yet another of those very
scary recoilless rifles
LEFT: An Argentine recoilless rifle on Wireless
Ridge. A hit from that beast would have blown
our lightly armoured vehicles to kingdom come
 The final Wireless Ridge ridgeline. 2 Para on top readying themselves to continue the attack.
Allhough I was not to know ff as I drove up the hillside and took thisphoto, Port StanleyJay beyond
lightly armoured vehicles for breakfast had
they ever spotted us. Which - spoiler alert
- they never did. Thank Gcx:I.
CVR(T)s prove their worth
As I sailed south, the boys on the island
performed multiple tasks but were not used
in battle, although they did a lot of firing at
low-flying Argentine aircraft, pouring GPrv1G
rounds at them, and even 30mm (the 76mm
was useless in this role) trying to force them
to fly higher into our anti-aircraft missile zone
This was a technique the North
Vietnamese had used with devastating
effect against US planes in the Vietnam
War. What is more, they claimed several
hits (see pages 44-49). It was only after the
war was over and our bosses saw what we
were capable of at the Battle of Wireless
Ridge that they came to realise that, for
example, the Battle of Goose Green might
have been less costly had our vehicles
been there.
Then again, there were Pucara at Goose
Green and, had they zeroed in on our
vehicles - they would have had nowhere
to hide on those wide, bare grasslands - I
wonder how many would have survived?
That though, like so much in warfare,
belongs to the wor1d of 'What ifs'?
ABOVE RIGHT: Tpr Roundbeside 238. There is
so much GPMG ammo stackedon the front decks
that he will not be able to see where he is driving;
I will tell him where to go. But2 Para desperately
needed more 7.62mmammoand this was the
quickestway of gettingit to them
RIGHTMomringdowrrofflhatlastridgelinetowanls
MoodyBook,whichlheArgentinescapllredlromlhe
Roya/MarinesonlhalrllSldayotlhe-
LEFT: Drivingback across the enemy'spositions
on WirelessRidge. The troopleader'sSCorpion,
callsign23
Even as I landed on June 1 with 5
Infantry Brigade, The Blues and Royals
had been making a name for themselves
with everyone they worked with, their
vehicles "floating over the sodden peat-
like speedboats" said Lt Mark Coreth later.
They doubled as taxis, carrying exhausted
soldiers and kit and when stopped,
converted into laundromats - soaked
soldiers using the wickedly hot engine
decks to dry their socks and kit
On June 7, given 36 hours to get from Teal
Inlet in the very north to Fitzroy in the south,
where they were to come under command
5 Brigade, they completed the journey over
'impassable terrain' in six hours. Sorry,
Commando Snow-Cats - supposedly the
dog's cojones - you did not compare.
I joined them and come June 11 I was in a
seriously filthy mood. I might be a captain,
but everyone senior was permanently
far too busy to listen to what I had to tell
them about how to best use, and not
misuse, the CVR(T)s. 3 Troop had been
re-attached to 3 Commando and headed
back north while 4 Troop was attached to
the Scots Guards, heading towards Mount
Tumbledown. Walking back to HQ and the
bleak prospect of another eight hours on
the blasted radios, a Para major spotted my
f}::_-:~·_.::·_·,k:---::.-::c = .
,fl-..-.:J.:.;-; ~~- ~"- - -
. ;,,..-~ -
'~ ~ ~~~:
cap badge. He asked me if I was 3 Troop
Leader. The troop had just been attached
to 2 Para for the forthcoming 'final' battles
This was Maj Chris Keeble, back to being 2
i/c of 2 Para after commanding the battalion
after the death of Colonel H.
I said no but then hit him with facts and
figures and ranges of our vehicles. He
suggested I meet Col David Chaundler who
was now in command having HALO'ed
(parachute dropped) into the South Atlantic.
Battle for Wireless Ridge
Col David was fasanated by what I had to
tell him but was too busy to listen in detail
Would I care to join him? TVvO hours later I
was dambering onto a Wessex helicopter,
flying to Mount Kent, with a n€1N job title
armoured acfvlsef, 2 Para. I had found the
real war. Instead of being on the receiving
end of various types of lethal ordinance {often
British made), there was a sporting chance of
me being able to give something back to the
Argentines. Mer a long night and day march
in deep sub-Antarctic cold, sustained artillery
barrages and digging in, we awaited the order
to attack Wireless Ridge. 3 Troop anived
and we wem ready, only for the attack to be
postponed by 24 hours
On June 13 we really were off. I would ..
be running alongside Col David. If I didn't
admit that it hadn't crossed my mind what
had happened to the last commanding
officer 2 Para, and those running along
beside him, I'd be lyjng. Then again, I hadn't
travelled 8,000 miles and wasted a pertecfly
good English summer just to sit on some
radios - important as that job was fellow
watchkeepers.
For what happened next, I will quote drectly
from an article I wrote in late July 1982 for The
Guards Magazine. I doubt few accounts will
be fresher than this. The bits in (brackets) are
my subseqoeot comments for this artide.
''The Blues and Royals were to sit on the
ridgelines and fire in the Paras. They were to
soften up the enemy in conjunction with our
artillery and then provide very direct support The actual momentof victory. Some of 2 Para Milan Platoonloaded theirmissileson their front decks
when the latter had to stop - poor old Round will struggleto see again!- and I jumped out of the turret to capturethat moment
''The troop moved out. I was in Tac 1 with Note the huge smiles- we were goingto live...
commanding officer 2 Para, with a radio
on the Troop Chatter Net, a net without
which the troop could not have worked so
effectively. Callsign 23 spotted an annoured 'The momentanyof us climbed ontoa
vehicle. "Could he fire?" 2 Para agreed. Two
rounds fired. A freak snowstorm intervened
Chieftainwe got coveredin diesel'
That sums up the weather.
"At 2030 hours, local time, June 13, the word of greeting as we passed. It was as moved or fired at us was "zapped" and the
attack started on some features leading one imagined a World War One battlefield, real star was the Rarden 30mm gun. The
to the main part of Wireless Ridge. It was not one of the 1980s. The constant whine Rarden with its flat trajectory, its six-shot
over by about 2200 hours with the position of artillery shells, the harsh backdrop, small capability and incredible accuracy could
captured. The troop blasted Argentinian groups of men huddled together for shelter neutralise a target very quickly. The high
posrtions using their night sight capabilrty. and warmth, others moving gently forward explosive and armour piercing secondary
Meanwhile, I had been leaping in and out of for the next attack. Modem technology was effects rounds were used
the mud wnh Tac 1 (CO and artillery !onward not apparent on Wireless Ridge "We were stood off at about 800m from
observation officer and two close protection "We moved from the ridgeline to join in the the enemy and with our GPMGs were able
snipers and, now, me), convinced that my shoot onto the main part of Wireless Ridge to put sustained bursts of fire into their
original Sandhurst view of life was utterty The troop was doing a good job. Callsign posrtions. Tpr Round, my driver when not on
correct, namely, that anybody doing what 23A seemed to be playing a little game. A the ground trying to replace the accelerator
I was doing now when they could be in a short burst of GPMG fire; the Argentinians pedal which had decided this was an
nice, warm armoured car, must be mad. usually fired back and the cars would then excellent moment to fall off, played a crucial
''At this moment it came over the air that hit the source of the enemy tracer. That part in target acquisition. The prize though
UCoH Dunkeley, the commander of Call position would not fire again. Anything that must go in this respect to the incredible night
Sign 238, a Scimitar, (the same Scimrtar I
had spent time with in Fitzroy and whose
crew I had got to know) had been knocked
unconscious. The CO of 2 Para accepted
my offer to take command of the vehicle
"I gingerly picked my way back to the
regimental aid post (straight through a
couple of minefields I later discovered when
I revisited the Islands in 2007). I arrived safely
and asked the gunner, Tpr Ford, for a quick
revision of 30mm misfire drills; he pointed
out that it was I who had taught him gunnery
in the first place. If Callsign 23B's gunnery
was not good, I had only myself to blame
"It was a bright moonlit night, wrth a deep,
deep frost as we moved back to the battle
- qurte eerie wrth the distant chatter of
machine guns and bursting illuminants. The
only movement was that of small groups
of stretcher-bearers, dark against the whrte
carpet, carrying their loads. Exhausted, they Advancinginto Stanley, els 23A, flying the regimentalflag, ahead, thosemetal legs on the left are part
put down their stretchers to exchange a brief of the Milan launcher

Behind Wireless Ridge. Ammo replenishment after the previousnight's battle, back at Tac 2 (Rear Battalion
HQ) 2 Para. Scoutand Gazellehelicoptershad dumpedmoreammofor us there duringthe night The crew
of my Scimitar and23A posingtor a shot SOidierslovea camera...
sight (this was a very early version of what
we see today in so many Hollywood thrillers
- it turned pitch black into fuzzy green. But,
and most importantly, a shot fired by the
enemy showed as a bright flash which the
gunner could zero in on instantly- even
a poorly hidden, glowing cigarette blazed
brightly in the sight. That night sight made
us masters of Wireless Ridge and we shot in
the advancing Paras with, sometimes,only
some 50 yards plus to spare)
"Fire orders changed, even before 2 Para's
attack, from "Maggie (MG)traverse left"
to "RunningArgentinians".Tracer rounds
floated over our heads from, it turned out,
.50's firing armoured piercing rounds (which momentslater by an
would have devastated our super-light
aluminium armour).
"We also came under intermittent
fire from 20mm anti-aircraft guns, but
fortunately, none of the vehicles was hit.
This contrasted with Lt Mark Coreth, 4
Troop, fighting a similar action in support of
2nd Battalion Scots Guards who ran over
an anti-tank mine. His vehicle was blown
up. However,despite headaches, the crew
were unharmed, and Lt Coreth continued
to direct his troops from the outside of
Scorpion 24A (a missed opportunityas I
have come to realise. 4 troop were used in
a flanking 'diversionary attack' which, while
it certainly got the enemy looking in their
direction, stalled once Mark's Scorpion was
blown up in that minefield. They could not
advance further without running over more
mines so they could only shell the Argentine the hatches closed and the troop slept,
positions from where they were. Nor - I
would suggest - would such a flanking
attack, unsupported by infantry, ever have
had a fraction of the effect that we did on
Wireless Ridge. But that's hindsight again).
"O Company,2 Para, successfully
attacked the ridge and suffered
few casualties, a fact possibly due
Perhaps their wheels could not cope with
the rocky and marshy terrain of Wireless
Ridge or the Falklandsgenerally, unlike our
amazing Scorpions and Scimitars. I'll never
know. What I will do though is leave the last
word about Scorpion and Scimitar in the
Falklands War - not least as I get a nice
mention - to Maj Gen John Frost, CB, DSO
& Bar, MC (commandingofficer, 2 Para
at Arnhem, September 1944)and author
of the 1983 book: 2 Para Falklands; The
Battalion at War.
"ff any particulargroup deserves special
praise for what was done that night {the
Battle of Wireless Ridge),then it must be the
tanks of The Blues and Royals.Their mere
presence had been a remarkableboost to
morale during all the attacks that had taken
place, and the speed and accuracy of their
fire, matched by their ability to keep up with
the advancing Paras, had been a severe
to the support of The Blues and shock to the enemy. Lance Corporal of
Royals. Daybreak, after a brief ammo Horse Dunkeley'stank, which Captain Field
replenishment, saw us moving on Stanley, had taken over followingthe injury to its
from ridgeline to ridgeline. Morale was sky- commander,had alone fired forty rounds
high after the previous night, and there from its 30mm gun "
was much discussion about (the Argentine Although even I could not stop the general
Panhards with their much larger than from calling our armoured cars, 'tanks' ....
ours, 90mm guns) and what was soon to
happen to them
"Suddenly it was all over, the Argentineans
had surrendered. Our initial reaction was
immense surge of
relief and delight; we
had survived.
"The dash for
Stanley began and
with the vehicles
surrounded and
covered by members
of 2 Para, The Blues a
:~iu~~y;~~n~~:edrove
into Stanley. We were
i ~
I
exuberant. We reached ~
the war memorial on the
of my vehicle, and we waited. One by
one the heads disappeared into vehicles,
exhausted, drained and woken only by
the chill of a late afternoon and a feeling of
great anti-climax."
Conclusion
"We found those dreaded, wheeled
Panhards in Port Stanley the next day.
None had, thankfully 'come out to play'.
 words Craig Allen pictures archive

In 1982 the Royal

Marines of 3 Commando
Brigade sailed towards
the Falkland Islands with
the British Task Force
and took their BV202
Bandvagens with them

The

esigned to operate in the snow,

D the BV202 Bandvagens proved

equally adept at crossing the
boggy rock-strewn ground
they encountered during the Falklands
War in 1982. The campaign has gone
down in history as a footsloggers' war
with Marines and Paras yomping and
tabbing their way across the Islands
The Bandvagen was one of the few
vehicles that could cope with this rugged
terrain and played a useful role as general
load luggers. I have some personal
history with these versatile rubber-
tracked machines as they were regular
companions during Arctic warfare training
in the 1980s. I, therefore, thought it would
be interesting to discover more about
ABOVE: This grainy image shows a pair of
their use during the Falklands War: but
first a little history. '"1eBandvagen BV202s leading troops down a flooded track
OPPOSITE TOP: A couple of BV202s see with
The Bandvagen (Bv202) was originally
developed for the Swedish Army by (Bv202)was other transport on the road to Stanley at the end
of the war
RIGHT: A BV202 pictured with a CVRT on the
Bolinder·Munktell, a subsidiary of
Volvo back in the 1960s. It had a long
originally streetsofStanleyshort/yatterthesurrender

production run from 1964 to 1981 with

many remaining in service to this day.
developedfor the
Constructed of two linked 'Kegresse'
tracked units driven via an articulated
SwedishAnny by
pivot, the Bandvagen, literally 'tracked· Bolinder-Mun/dell,
vehicle', was designed to carry troops
across snowbound and boggy terrain. a subsidiary
The front section housed the engine
and driver's compartment while troops of Volvo'
or stores could be carried in the -.
- -
A heavilyloadedBandvagenwith a trailer fordsone of the manyFalklands
inlets
rear section which was driven. Initially
powered by a four-cylinder 1.8 Volvo 818
petrol unit producing 82.5bhp this was
later uprated to 97bhp
The engine drove through a manual
gearbox while steering was accomplished
via a system of hydraulic rams working
on the pivot point. Despite this unusual
arrangement the driver was provided with
a conventional steering wheel in his cab
The Bv202 Mk1 could reach speeds
of up to 35km/h on land and was
amphibious, being driven by its
tracks in the water. The Bandvagen's
impressive ability across the snow
was down to the low ground pressure
exerted by its wide rubber tracks.
The Royal Marines were impressed
and BV202s were acquired to replace
the earlier ST4 Snowcat, also a
Three BV202scrossthe ruggedFalklandsterrainduringthe war, notethe
Bergensslungon the sides
Swedish design. It was also adopted
by the British Army and employed for
Arctic warfare training in Northern
Norway
So, back to the Falklands War and
information proved hard to find on the
vehicle's involvement in the campaign
Various sources speak of some 50+
examples being put aboard ships for
the long voyage down south. However,
it appears that very few of these were
landed while some accounts state a
large number went down with the ill-
fated Atlantic Conveyor. The ship was
lost to an Exocet strike on May 25,
1982, taking a huge amount of vital
equipment with it including badly
needed helicopters
It seems clear that several Bandvagens
were used in the establishment of the
brigade maintenance area at San Carlos
Bay alongside several snowcats operated
by 407 Transport Troop
The BV202s, with the help of some
requisitioned tractors, moved the stores
from the beach to dumps sited further
inland. A general shortage of fuel soon
became a serious issue, however, limiting
their use. Perhaps this is one reason
more Bandvagens weren't offloaded
From pictorial evidence and first-hand
accounts, it appears no more than six
to seven were in use at any one time
and most likely operated by commando
units. It also appears that at least some
examples were fitted for radio units,
which would have been invaluable to
keep radios charged
The Bandvagens were certainly used in
the move to Teal Inlet where a forward

'The front sectionhousedthe engineanddriver'scompartment
whiletroopsor storescould be carried in the rear section'
maintenance area was established by
June 1. Meanwhile, 3 Para had occupied
Estancia House after an epic night march
in freezing conditions.
Once again, the BV202s were employed
to resupply 3 Para and bring forward
supplies to the distribution point
established at Estancia. In the battles for
the high ground that followed, they were
again used to bring forward ammunition,
water and rations and to evacuate
casualties.
One BV202 was lost to a mine strike
while attempting to collect casualties
from the vicinity of Sapper Hill. Maj Brian
Armitage, who was in the vehicle, recalls:
"We ran over a mine. I went up through
the roof and the vehicle went up and was
turned right round by the explosion."
This is the only account I have been able
to find of a Bandvagen lost or damaged
due to enemy action. With the Argentine
surrender on June 14, BV202s were
seen on the streets of Stanley. They
had certainly made a difference helping
A Bandvagen in a more familiar
setting during winter training in Norway
to keep the supplies flowing to the
forward troops while saving lives through
evacuating casualties from the battlefield
A year later in 1983, I made my
acquaintance with the Bandvagen on
a NATO deployment to Norway. I have
many fond memories from this time
conducting Arctic training in the high
valleys
The BVs as we called them were
invaluable and would meet us at the
Muster'. Herc, wewould retrieve our
Bergens and tent sheets setting up for
the night in temperatures that could drop
to minus 30° and below.
Despite the harsh conditions, the BVs
were reliable workhorses and if there
was a problem our hard-working REME
detachment would soon get them going
again. Towards the end of those tours,
we received a batch of the new BV206s
which would eventually replace them
These more modern over-snow vehicles
could fit up to six upfront and came with
SPECIF/CATIONS
Make Bv202
Model Volvo Bv202 Mk1
ManufacturerVolvo
CountrySweden
Year 1964-81
Engine Volvo B18 82.5bhp, B20
97php (Mk2)
Fuel Petrol
Range 200km
Transmission Manual
Suspension Rubber tracked
Top Speed 35km/h land,
?km/h water
Capacitytwo pax front cab,
eight pax rear
Payload one ton
Weight 3.2 tons
efficient heaters and a larger payload
Despite this, the older BV202s were more
capable in deep snow and would often
be used as trail breakers for the newer
machines
When I finally left the regular army and
moved to Scotland years later I was
amused to discover that old BVs had
been sold off and were often seen in the
hands of Highland farmers. When the
weather closed in and the snow got too
deep even for Land Rovers a Bandvagen
could still get through and deliver feed to
the livestock.
They have also remained popular with
foresters and farmers in their native
Sweden where many are still held in
reserve stocks. Examples still come up
for auction and one of these would make
a good choice for the enthusiast looking
for something a little different.
The Bandvagens enjoyed a long service
career but perhaps the highlight was those
few weeks in the summer of 1982 when
they went to war in the Falklands ...
 SOidiers move a US Anny M2 Bradley fighting
vehicleduringamultinationalsituationaltraining
exercise in Cincu, Romania, September 23, 2021.
The Bradley is a tracked f,ghting vehicle platform
manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Annaments.
ltisdesignedtotranspo,ttroopspro>id/ng
armouredprotection, while also giving covering
fire against enemy troops or annoured vehlcles.
SPC JOSHUA COWDEN I US ARMY
 We had an overheating problem and on the
way to Wales it broke down in the middle
of the Severn Bridge. We had to wait until
the engine cooled before setting off again,
but the problem occurred every two hours
orso
"Eventuallywe arrived in Bosnia on our
IFOR peacekeeping mission and we were
based in an old potato warehouse in a
place called Glamoc. It was a mountainous
area and we soon found that 23 Bravo was
the fastest vehicle in the troop. It was great
to drive on patrols
"We reckoned it could do about 60 flat
the Scorpion arrived in the workshops the After some months in the Falklands out and it was so fast on the mountain
turret was removed and it was stripped following the Argentine surrender, 23 roads around the bends but it kept
and its later diesel engine, together with Bravo was brought back to the UK and chewing through belts. They discovered
a rare matching gearbox were refitted. It refurbished with a new diesel engine. the gearbox mount was broken but when it
has now been brought back to as near as Later in its life, instead of being relegated came back from repairs it never drove quite
possible to its configuration when in the to overseas training duties like, 23 Alpha, as fast again. But overall, it was a brilliant
Falklands and was shown off to visitors in 1996 it was sent to Bosnia on active little vehicle."
last year. service with IFOR with the Blues and Frank Wood, head of restorations at Eden
Royals. Camp was delighted to find this second
Scimitar 23 Bravo - Its driver was Tpr Chris Butler who takes vehicle with Falklands history. "23 Bravo,
Falklands and Bosnia up the story: "After training at Imber on minus its 30MM Rarden canon, was up for
In a remarkable coincidence, just Salisbury Plain we were sent up to Castle sale as scrap and the tracks were missing
months after the restoration of 23 Alpha, Martin but the vehicle began playing up when we found it," he said. "It had been ..
the Falklands 'Victory' Scorpion, was
completed, its sister vehicle, Scimitar 23
Bravo, was also found by the team at Eden
Camp and it too was 'rescued'
The FV 107 Scimitar, nicknamed
'Ferocious' also had a distinguished record
in the Falklands with the Blues and Royals.
In one incident the vehicle dropped into
a deep gully injuring its driver. The driver,
already injured earlier when working on
the tank, ignoring his serious head wound,
(his colleagues called it 'hatch rash'), got
the vehicle out of trouble and completed
the mission during a crucial engagement
before seeking medical help. He received a
Commendation for his courage.

23 Charlie and downing an Argentine Mirage
The Blues and Royals landed at San Carlos
on May 21, 1982. 3 and 4 Troop with their
Scorpions and Scimitars were deployed
mainly to support 2 and 3 Para to Port
Stanley. Scimitar 23 Charlie was the first to
come ashore from a landing craft from HMS
Fearless.
The crew claimed they were "used as guinea
pigs to test the depth of the water". The Blues
and Royals were quickly sent in to support
the Paras and the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards.
In the coming days, they were to take part
in the decisive Battle of Mount Tumbledown
on June 13 and 14, among other actions.
The three-man crew of 23 Charlie comprised
vehicle commander CoH K/ause Fisher; driver
Tpr Jim Holdsworth; and Gnr 18-year-old Reg
Hastings. The crew was all young, and Reg
had only been in the army for three years,
including a year's training.
Reg takes up the story: ':<Is we got onshore
in the early hours we saw a lone figure
and luckily we quickly discoveredit was
a Falklander who came to see what was
happening. He helped us find cover in a big
barn to keep out of sight of Argentineplanes
while we prepared for action. We were at San
Carlos. It was 'bomb alley'.
"Initially we spent most of our time helping
..L.L
to protect the infantry as required and mainly
in an air support role, when possible, for 2
and 3 Para and Marines. The bombing was
pretty constant. One night we witnessedHMS
Antelope blow up, split in two and sink (a
bomb disposalofficer was trying to defuse a
bomb when it blew).
"There was a lot of action. We received air
raid warningsdaily over the radio and if a red
alert was called you knew all hell was going to
break loose. And that's what happened on one
such occasion. We got the count down from
green/amber to red and left our barn in haste
for the impending attack.
''Aswe were driving along a track towards
our firing position, Klause called out and said
there was Argie jet coming across our front. I
was bringing the Rarden cannon round to bear
on the target but initially, all I could see was a
flock of seagulls.
"We had six rounds of 30mm high explosive
(HE) shells loaded. Then suddenly I could
see thisArgentineMirage coming in very
fast beyond the seagulls. I half panicked and
started firing on automatic while at the same
time traversing the gun from left to right
towards the target.
"The plane was turning revealing its
underside. Suddenly, we saw a flash from
the fourth HE round hitting just below the
cockpit. It continued to roll over and turned
upside-down, then crashed into the ground
and exploded. It had crashed into a large field
where some horses were grazing but luckily
none of them was harmed.
"We turned to each other in disbeliel Had we
actually just shot the plane down? Still, with
an element of doubt, it seemed that we had,
but this took time to sink in. We were used to
firing at canvas targets in peacetime training
but there was no after effect like this one.
"It was 9.10am on May 24, a time and a day
I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was
my 19th birthday! It was a strange feeling of
what had happened that day. I couldn't forget
that it wasn't just a plane that came to an end
but the pilot did as well."
Later that day when the crew of 23 Charlie
were back at their temporarybase, an artillery
officer and a military police sergeant came
to see them. They were investigating the
shooting down of the Argentine Air Force plane
and the crew gave their account of the action.
As the two investigators fumed to go, the
officer said he was off to investigatea report
from a soldier who claimed he'd shot the
plane down with his submachinegun.
Afterwards, Reg and his colleagues had a
chuckle about this claim. They knew it would
be a short investigation and the crew of
23 Charlie were credited with downing the
Mirage.
Some days later, the crew of another Scimitar
were sheltering in another bam right by the
wide-open doors. The vehicle commander
Scott Ward called out and gunner Eddie Tucker
found another Argentine in his sights. He fired
and for the second time, a Blues and Royals
crew brought down an enemy plane. Sadly,
neither of these extraordinary feats made big
headlines at the time.
converted to diesel like its sister vehicles but we will get the job done. We now own the pilot waving
but everything was open to the elements three of the nine CVRTsthat were sent to "I can still remember his face now. It
and water had got into the gearbox." the Falklands, all three from 3 Troop the was an Argentine Air Force jet and when I
23 Bravo is still undergoing restoration Blues and Royals." looked behind us, I saw the jet starting to
and it's hoped it'll be ready for display in During the Falklands Conflict, the three- line up on us, I'm 100% sure, as if to fire
time for the Falklands anniversary. man crew of 23 Charlie comprising of on us. But then he suddenly pulled up
vehicle commander CoH Klause Fisher, "Klause and I started to throw the fuel
Scimitar 23 Charlie - driver Tpr Jim Holdsworth and 18-year- cans onto the ground. Then we saw why
the 'Anti-Aircraft tank' old Gnr Reg Hastings had several lucky he had let us go. As we looked down into
Like the other vehicles, 23 Charlie, was escapes. Reg explains one incident. "While the cove, we could see two ships shining
eventually brought back to the UK on HMS we were at Bluff Cove, we were instructed brightly in the sunlight. We watched the
Fearless. Last year the team from Eden to take fuel cans to the Scots and Welsh aircraft line up and go in for the shot. We
Camp found this historic vehicle in a sorry Guards in the hills above us. We stacked noticed nothing at first but then the radios
state, partially dismantled and about to be them on the decks of the Scimitars and came alive with desperate people asking
broken up for scrap. each of us sat on one in the turret. But as for help from the area
Frank said the restoration will be a we got higher up the mountains and not "Just then we saw a Rapier missile hitting
daunting task. "lt'll take a great deal of far from our fuel drop off point, we noticed one of the aircraft. We had been spared
work to restore this to running condition, a very low jet go over to the right of us with but those two ships, Sir Tristram and Sir
A map showing some of the key land battles during
Galahad were in flames"
Reg's war continued with more narrow
escapes including just avoiding being
shot during the long nighttime firefight
at Wireless Ridge. He recalls silencing
an Argentine 110mm recoilless rifle with
several HE rounds from his Rarden
Cannon after it had targeted 23 Charlie.
And later as they were approaching
Stanley the crew spotted suspicious
activity around what very much looked
like a hospital building adorned with a red
cross. But on closer inspection, Argentine
soldiers could be seen carrying green
boxes away from the building. It was right
at the limits of the range of the cannon,
over 4,000m but Reg fired a single HE
round and the building was suddenly
enveloped in a tremendous explosion
It had been an ammunition dump
masquerading as a hospital and there was
very little left when the dust settled
Among the houses in Stanley itself, Reg
and his colleagues witnessed large artillery
pieces hidden with no thought of the
safety of the inhabitants nearby. They also
found several locked shipping containers
packed with supplies of luxury food items
and wine for the Argentine officers in their
former commandeered headquarters
"Of course, we made sure none of
the conflict LOUISELIMB
that lot went to waste," he said. 'We felt
we had to keep up the standards of the
Cavalry. We bartered some chickens from
some Falklanders and plucked them and
that night we had a lovely meal of roast
chicken and veg followed by rather nice
Argentinian gateaux washed down with
some very good red wine. We slept well
that night!"
Reg completed 24 years in the Blues and
Royals serving at many locations around
the world and to this day, he still has his
report about his service on the Falklands
His commanding officer had written: "He
continued with his high standard, being the
first member of the troops to shoot down
an Argentine aircraft. He was always willing
and able within the turret and the troop.
Regardless of how difficult or dangerous
the forthcoming job was, he was always
keen to get on with that job"
Eden Camp now has a new heritage hall
for its restored vehicle collection. Apart
from the 40th anniversary of the Falklands
Conflict, 2022 is also the 80th anniversary
of the opening of Eden Camp, as Prisoner
of War Camp No 83
This spring, the museum will mount a
special exhibition and events to mark the
Falklands anniversary. A vast display of
items will illustrate the course of the actions
to liberate the islands. And in pride of
place will be the three very special tracked
vehicles from that war. Importantly, visitors
will hear first-hand accounts from some of
the veterans who crewed the CVRTs on
the Falklands. And among those veterans
telling their stories of the war will be former
trooper, Reg Hastings
For those who fought against the odds,
for weeks on end in atrocious weather on
those tiny islands more than 7,000 miles
away from home, the setbacks at Fitzroy
and Bluff Cove and the loss of so many
lives, understandably gave rise to serious
doubts in the face of superior numbers of
the well supplied and equipped Argentine
force
But as Brig Tony Wilson, commander of 5
Brigade said, the Blues and Royals light
tanks were pivotal to the success of the
British. After the Argentine surrender in
Port Stanley, he spoke to the Daily
Telegraph and paid tribute to the Blues
and Royals: "When I saw them winding
down the side of the mountain and coming
towards us - well there they were, the
leading troop mud-splattered and soaked
The commanders were half-frozen in their
vehicles. It was one of those moments one
will never forget. It was a remarkable feat
for them to join us at that time!" ..
 words and pictures Louise Limb

f you're up in the land around the Angel

I of the North and hankering after a

coffee-to-go, you might just find the
cappuccino you're craving courtesy of
a jolly ex-serviceman in a distinctive, tiger-
striped Land Rover Forward Control 101
Bob Wilson, who drove 101s for the

This Land Rover Forward Control 101,

deployed to the Falkland Islands during
the war there, later spent time
as a converted camper and
now serves coffee,
supporting military
veterans

,. 50
charity Forward Assist. It helped him
train as a barista and now, among other
volunteering tasks, Bob drives and helps
look after its converted coffee truck
The Forward Control also has its
own honourable service history. It was
transported to the Falkland Islands during
the war in 1982 and performed when it
really mattered
Many will remember a famous
photograph of Series Land Rovers on a
street in Stanley in April 1982, a scene
perhaps reminiscent of the Scottish
Highlands but for Argentine soldiers
swarming around the vehicles

Land Rovers had always been essential battles around Port Stanley on foot
on the Falkland Islands, but the vast without any mechanised support
stretches of boggy terrain demanded Land Rovers were however utilised at
amphibious, tracked vehicles such as least in small numbers, as can be seen
the Scottish firm Cuthbertson's 'Water from television footage. The 12 Argentinian
Buffalo' tractor, which could extract heavy Panhard AML-90 armoured cars were
plant such as diggers and excavators confined to the streets of Port Stanley.
even from the marshy ground. With a reinforced garrison, bomb
There are still two of these vehicles on disposal and mine clearance after the war
the Falkland Islands from an original three and the building of the Mount Pleasant
sent out there for land drainage work Complex for the HQ for British Force
in the early to mid-1960s. While one South Atlantic Islands in 1985, the islands
farmer there had considered buying acquired even more Land Rovers
a Cuthbertson tracked Land The 1976 Land Rover Forward Control
101 One-Tonne you see here helped
secure the Falklands during the war and
purchase a Roadless stayed on, acquired by a local farmer
Traction Series IIA after it was cast, who used it to transport
supplies. It gained a Falklands islands
civilian registration, F565C but returned to
the UK in 2013, somewhat battered and
corroded from the wet and windy climate.
It was now destined for leisure travel.
perfect for craggy The 101's new owners stripped it
terrain. He reports completely and undertook a chassis-up
that thankfully, it refurbishment, converting it to a camper
escaped being and registering it in the UK with an age-
commandeered related plate
by the Argentine They replaced the original Rover VS
forces in 1982. engine with a 2,495cc 300Tdi engine
Another of Nick's Land Rovers and matching five-speed gearbox and
famously did see action, seized high-ratio transfer box. With the wiring
under Argentine occupation, and renewed, they fitted rear lights from a
deployed again by British Forces in the Land Rover Defender TD5
period after liberation The body was refurbished with 2mm
Planning for the recapture of the islands, thick aluminium sheet over a 2in box
the British saw that wheeled vehicles section frame which in turn was built
would struggle and even supporting onto the rear. Everything was sealed
combat vehicle reconnaissance tracked and a considerable amount of chequer
vehicles such as Scorpions and Scimitars plate was used in creating new
(and one Sampson recovery vehicle) were cappings and coverings. In particular,
deployed very hesitantly the cab was rebuilt and re-styled to
Swedish tracked Bandvagn BV202s suit a camper conversion with the
would manage the peat bogs, but most addition of fresh Defender seats and an
Bob, proud to be back troops moved on foot or flew between aluminium dash. They also painted it in
behindthewheelofa101 battle zones. 2 Para (2nd Battalion the the distinctive orange and black tiger
and makingcoffeetoo Parachute Regiment) fought its final stripes you still see today ~

Manufactured at Solihull on December 13,
1976, this Forward Control 101 carries the
military serial number 67 FL 19, making it
part of contract number WV9615.
It was one of a batch of 718 Cargo, general
service RHO models, registered in January
1977. II has an asset code of 1840-0750 and
is described in military nomenclature as a
Truck, General Service, 1 Tonne, 4x4, Rover.
The 101 refers to the wheelbase length
and Foiward Control to the driving and
engine position. Unlike some 101s, it did
Expertlyconverted
by Coffee Latino,
the truck retains its
Falkanc/sregistration
plate inside the
coffee serving hatch
A Falklands veteran truck
not have a 24-volt electrical system and
was not equipped with a winch, nor for any
specialist function such as radar tracking or
gun tractor.
Some were equipped with radio or
ambulance bodies and especially for Cold
War electronic warfare, the mobile VHF
direction s!ystem, known as the Vampire,
came with a sophisticated extending radio
mast.
How many were sent to the Falklands is
hazy but there are photographs from the
Falklands victory parade later in London of
101s towing Rapier missile systems and
they have their own asset code, 1833-0750,
detailing that they had 24-volt systems to
cope with the technology.
This vehicle may well have assisted in
carrying artillery across the island and
there are records connecting it with the RAF
and the Welsh Guards, the latter regiment
suffering the Joss of 48 men when RFA Sir
Galahad was bombed on June 8, 1982, at
PortPleasant,Fitzroy.
In 2016, award-winning forces charity,
Forward Assist, was looking for a
suitable military truck for the latest in
a series of initiatives. Based in Dudley,
North Tyneside, Forward Assist looks for
innovative ways to support veterans and
Salute Coffee was set to be a winner.
Motivated by ex-Royal Marine CEO Tony
Wright's drive and inspiration, coffee
company Starbucks came on board with
the offer of training and catering supplies
and the partnership has resulted in six
fully trained baristas so far.
Scouring the auction sites, Tony
had spotted the 101 which fitted the
bill perfectly. With financial help from
Starbucks and a grant from the Northstar
Foundation, the deal was done.
The Forward Control then went to Coffee
Latino, a specialist conversion company
based locally in Blaydon. With the expert
guidance of Ric Allan, co-owner, managing
 Forward Assist,
making a difference
Forward Assist is an award-winning
charity (Centre tor Social Justice
Awards 2015) and a full member of the
Confederation of British Service Charities.
Based at the John Willie Sams
community and leisure centre in Dudley,
North Tyneside, it was launched in 2009
by former Royal Marine Tony Wright, who
had been forced to take early discharge
after a serious shoulder injury. As its
website explains, Forward Assist now
provides "support, advice, guidance and
advocacy."
It provides a variety of projects to
reduce social isolation, loneliness and
activities that improve the physical and
mental health of veterans accessing their
services.
director and one-time graphic designer, a Bob kept Pearson's workers happy, Tony is assisted by Paula Edwards,
neat, bespoke design was soon in place supplying them with fresh coffee while the Salute Her women veterans' project
With all the equipment state-of-the- they worked. Pearson continues to take lead - a bespoke gender specific' mental
art, the Salute Coffee truck was ready care of maintenance and repair jobs on health support service tor women
to go in 2018 and soon acquired regular the Forward Control and Sankey veterans
bookings. The coffee truck was followed COVID-19 has brought many challenges Find out more about Forward Assist
swiftly by a coffee roaster installed in a over the past two years and while here:
Sankey trailer, also kitted out by Coffee the coffee truck was available to visit https:lllinyurl.com/yckalzaw
Latino. Soon, Bob, now also a barista, outdoor events, many opportunities were The 101 Forward Control Club and
became the main driver for the coffee cancelled. The team is looking forward Register have forums and resources
truck, bringing in his extensive service to a brighter 2022 with Bob returning to for those interested in finding out more
experience with the 101 in the 1970s his driver's seat for a regular slot with a about the 101 Forward Control. They can
Late in 2019 Forward Assist forged local football club, providing matchday be found here:
links with defence engineering company drinks and a growing calendar of events https:/ltinyurl.com/2vbk2jay
Pearson Engineering, also based in to attend
Newcastle, when the latter kindly The ex-Falklands 101 will be marking the
undertook a few small but vital jobs conflict's 40th anniversary by continuing
on the truck. It provided grab handles to serve a grateful community.
adjacent to the doors, making access to - CMV first covered the ex-Falklands 101
the cab easier and added steps, which in the May 2020 issue. To order a copy,
avoid the need to clamber up the front visit the Key Publishing shop at www.
wheel hub step rings for the not-so-agile. keypublishing.com ..
 words and pictures Craig Moore and archive

Land Rover
Vs Jeep ~;~ 9rt!~~~c~~~n~1~~~g;~~i~;n
the history and use of Land
Rovers in the British Army

photographs because many similar Farnborough, Hampshire

W
hile in the Natio.nal Ar~h.ives
at Kew, London, looking
for documentation relating
to the development and
testing of armoured vehicles used on
D-Day, I stumbled across an important
1949 report that resulted in the 'new'
Land Rover being approved for use by
the British Military
It had been filed away in the wrong
place. If you tried to search for this report
using the National Archives online search
engine using words like 'Land Rover' this
report would not appear in the results
The search system is very hit and miss.
The long-winded title of the document
was: 'Report No.63 SAE RAC. Final
Report on Land Rover Troop Trials Task
Instruction No 155.' I was delighted
when I found out it contained some
reports don't. Unfortunately, on further
examination, the photographs were not of
the best quality
The War Office set up a vehicle testing
establishment after World War One. It
was sent all prototype and production
vehicles submitted for consideration to
be used by the military. As demands
for more trials increased the testing
establishment was split into two separate
departments at different locations, one
dealing with tracked vehicles and the
other with wheeled vehicles.
The names were changed often, but
during World War Two, the Ministry of
Supply department that dealt with the
testing of wheeled vehicles was known
as the Wheeled Vehicle Experimental
Establishment (WVEE) based in
Under the wartime Lend-Lease
arrangement, the US had supplied Britain
with thousands of Jeeps. This agile 4x4
general utility vehicle had given great
service during the war, but post-war all
The Gathering
The Classic Land Rover Gathering will
take place from July 1-3 this year at
Lower Farm in Skillington, Lincolnshire.
The event is hosted by Classic Military
Vehicle and Classic Land Rover magazines
and is open to military and classic Land
Rovers. For more information visit www.
classiclandrovergathering.com or see
pages 30 and 31 of this issue.
 spare parts had to be paid for upfront carried out at the WVEE. It is interesting
and shipped across the Atlantic. to note that in 1949 the army referred to
The army started to look for a the new vehicle as the Land Rover Troop.
replacement built in Britain. The new The aims of the 'Land Rover Troop Trials'
Land Rover looked promising so a vehicle were to decide whether the vehicle was
was acquired for testing. The trial was suitable for issue in an emergency instead
conducted by comparison with a Jeep of the Jeep and whether Land Rovers
undergoing the same tests at the same could provide a supplement for Jeeps
time should the latter be in short supply
It was supervised by the Specialised At this stage, the complete replacement
Armour Establishment based at of the US-built fleet of Jeeps was not
Bevington Camp and 7 Royal Tank being considered, but that is what
Regiment at the Royal Armoured Corps' eventually happened
summer camp at Tilshead, Wiltshire and The report noted that the Land Rover was
not at the WVEE base in Farnborough. a "light car 4x4", with a load-carrying
The reason for this was not explained capacity of 1 Ocwt and that its overall
in the report. However, future trials of the dimensions were roughly similar to those
Land Rover, once it was accepted into of the Jeep. The trials were carried out
over about 10 months, from the •

One of the test hills on whichthe trials were A secondhill with a different gradient
conducted

The Land Rover enteringthe mudpatch
during trials
The Land Rover firmly stuck in the mud patch
'Sixslopesof varyinggradientsand
surfaceswere selectedfor the cross
country hill-climbing trials'
middle of February 1949 to the end of before boiling, and loss of coolant takes
December 1949. Both vehicles underwent place. The tests continued until three
special trials, which included hill-climbing, constant temperature differences (ie
cooling tests and mud and wading trials. engine temperature minus atmospheric
Six slopes of varying gradients and temperature) were recorded in
surfaces were selected for the cross succession, and the trial was then
country hill-climbing trials. The hill stopped; the constant temperature
gradients ranged up to 1 :1.75 maximum, difference figure was 117°F.
and the surfaces were a variety of It was therefore worked out that in
broken-up chalk, stone and grass. Both a shade temperature of 110°F (in the
the Land Rover and Jeep were crewed by tropics) the radiator temperature would
a driver and one passenger plus 280lbs not exceed 227°F. The cooling trials of the
(127kg) of ballast. Land Rover were therefore satisfactory
The general results of these trials as the vehicle would not exceed the
showed there was little to choose temperature of 230°F.
between the vehicles from a performance For the mud trials, a thick mud patch
point of view, but it is considered that varying in thickness and depth was
the Land Rover was slightly superior all prepared, and comparative trials with
round; it climbed with less fuss, was the Jeep crossing the mud in various
steadier, and had a much better second places was carried out. Little comparative
gear performance information was gained from this trial as
The cooling tests were carried out on a it was impossible to drive each vehicle
cross country course. The Land Rover through the mud and ensure that each
was driven throughout the test in second vehicle met with the same resistance, as
gear, at full throttle, and with the engine the mud was not uniform in thickness
at maximum torque revs. To control its throughout the patch.
speed, it towed a Jeep that was fully Each vehicle was driven in turn as near
laden and in second gear to give the as possible over the same areas, without
necessary towing resistance actually following in each other's tracks,
A distant reading thermometer was fitted and although the results could not be
to the Land Rover cooling system, and compared accurately, it was noted that
the thermostat was removed before the the Land Rover behaved satisfactorily in
trial. The Land Rover was warmed up the thick mud, was easy to handle, and
to 169°F, and the test was carried out, compared very favourably with the Jeep
the Land Rover maintaining a speed of in all respects
roughly 10mph. Atmospheric and engine The wading trials were carried out by
temperatures were taken approximately the 7 Royal Tank Regiment's amphibious
every mile or roughly every six minutes wing at Gosport. The Land Rover was
The Land Rover cooling system was waterproofed and waded in the sea for
a pressurised one, which operates up an hour; the maximum depth attempted
to a pressure of 5psi before the relief was 4ft. The vehicle was driven onto the
valve, which is incorporated in the ramps of a landing craft tank (LCD and
filler cap, opened. The coolant could then into its hold, followed by being driven
therefore reach a temperature of 230°F ashore by going down the ramp of the
LCT and through the waves. It was found
Car10cwt4x4withoutthecanvasroof that the brakes were of no use for about
two miles, however, this was considered
quite normal after wading.
A record of all the Land Rover defects
was kept. Ten defects were reported but
many of these were not serious and were
generally what might be expected from
any new type of vehicle.
Testing crews found that the Land Rover
was an easy vehicle to maintain, although
a few problems were highlighted by the
crews that took part in the trial. They were
told to comment on the ease of access
for regular maintenance jobs and repairs
Crews noticed that the chain securing the
petrol filler cap was too short, and it did
not allow filling directly from a Jerrycan
making it a difficult task to do without
spilling unless a funnel was used
Comments were made about the rear
 It was difficult to remove either the
complete air cleaner from its holder or the
top case from the oil container; this was
because one of the clips, on opening,
fouled the mudguard and battery. They
suggested that the remedy would be to
reposition the air cleaner suitably, and
possibly the battery as well
Mileage plus fuel and oil consumption
figures were compiled using the Land
Rover's trial logbook that covered the
period from the date of the receipt of
the vehicle in middle February 1949 until
December 1949
The total road miles run was 13,474
plus an extra 906 miles cross country.
Excluding service period oil changes, the
drivers used 58 pints of oil to top up the
engine. Oil consumption was 248 miles
per pint of oil. A total of 596 gallons ..

axle oil filler plug

the forward part
which was
of the rear axle
positioned
casing,
on were
replacing
experienced
the rear bolt
in removing
fixing
and
the dynamo 'Underthe wartime
on the bevel
was considered
pinion housing.
practically
The position
inaccessible,
Crews
position
also complained
of the air cleaner.
about
It was
the
Lend-Lease
added
increase
to which the ribs on the housing
the difficulty of filling
considered
oil had a habit
to be in the wrong
of finding
location
its way through
as
arrangement,the
Difficulties
crews tried
were
to remove
encountered
the dynamo.
when
First,
the centrifugal
onto the battery.
air cleaner
The centrifugal
and dripping
air cleaner
US had supplied
the air cleaner
removed
and
to gain access
battery had to be
to the dynamo,
was so positioned
rear battery terminal
that it prevented
from being
the
removed
Britain with
which was frustrating, but then problems without itself having to be removed first. thousandsof Jeeps'

An imageshowing •car 10 cwt 4x4, alsoknown

as a Land Rover
 of fuel was put in the vehicle. This gave a
fuel consumption figure of 24 mpg
In the report's conclusion, it was noted
'Compared with that the Land Rover had ample speed
and power for use on roads and cross
the Jeep, the country, that it held the road well, had
good steering, and excellent brakes. It
protection from was considered quite suitable for general
Compared to the Jeep, the extra seat
upfront was considered useful and
should be retained, but alterations made
The testing team found the 'all-weather'
equipment, the canvas roof and sides,
was adequate for this type of vehicle,
although it did not exclude draughts
Compared with the Jeep, the protection

the elements was purposes for which a light car 4x4 would
be used by the army in a war.
from the elements was much better.
Unfortunately, when the back of the
much better' In general, vehicle inspectors felt that
the all-around performance of the Land
vehicle was left open, exhaust fumes
entered the seating compartment and
Rover compared favourably with that of made it extremely unpleasant for the
the Jeep, both on the road and cross crew. From a tactical point of view, the
country, but they commented that the silhouette and load-carrying ability of the
British Army Service higher power to weight ratio of the Jeep Land Rover was very similar to the Jeep.
Land Rovers have been used by the was an advantage for military vehicles At the end of the report, examinersfound
British Army for more than 60 years. The Drivers involved stated that the Land that the Land Rover was suitablefor issue in
land Rover chassis is very adaptable, and Rover was more comfortable than the an emergency insteadof the Jeep, or to
different versions were manufactured to Jeep both on roads and cross country supplement them should they be in short
meet the needs of the Ministry of Defence. and was much steadier and less supply.This was subject to new modified
The half-ton Lightweight was an air fatiguing to drive over a long period. They road springs being fitted on supplied
portable military short-wheelbase Land suggested the driver's seat should be vehicles and modificationswere made to the
Rover derived from the Series /IA. The made adjustable to give more legroom for steering linkageto make it less vulnerableto
Land Rover Wolf was an uprated military taller drivers damage from ground objects...
Defender. The Snatch Land Rover was
fitted with a composite armoured body.
ll1e 109 Series /IA, Ill and Defender 130
were used as ambulances.
tne 101 Forward Control was initially
built as a gun tractor and could carry one
ton of ammunition. The VB engine was
positioned beneath and to the rear of
the cab, thus eliminating the need tor a
bonnet and allowing the vehicle to have
a more cuboidshape to maximisespace.
It was used as an ambulance, logistics
carrier, radio van and rapier missile
tractor.
One of the most famous Land Rover
conversions was the Pink Panther, or
'Pinkie', a heavily customised Series
/IA that was modified for special forces
desert warfare operations in the Middle
East. Pink seems a strange colour to
paint a military vehicle, but in the desert,
especially in the morning and evening, it
helped make it hard to spot.
Ibe Ministry of Defence purchased 72
Series HA Long Wheelbase Land Rovers
(the 109) and sent them to Marsha/ls
of Cambridge for conversion to SAS
specifications. The roof, doors and
windscreens were removed. Two genera/-
purpose machine gun mounts were fitted
along with six front and six rear smoke
grenade launchers. Four fuel tanks were
fitted, giving the vehicle a 100-gallon
capacity.
In the early 1950s, Military Land
Rovers were deployed in the Korean
War and Suez Crisis. Since those early
days, Land Rovers have been used
operationally around the world and are
still in service today.
 classifieds
CAROLINE BARNES
01780 663011 110
caroline.barnes@keypublishing.com

CHRISMORTER
Bedford Spares

Copy Deadline: 29'" Mar

On-Sale: 21" April

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1' I I'

\Vhetheritisa\Villy'soraSherman,giveusatry.
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our ream.no machines! BODAFON FIELDS
Ll,mdudno North W,1ll's LUO I B\V
Mayday Bank Holiday Weekend
~ 01252 713148 30th April, 1st & 2nd May 2022 - Gates open qam
1,000+exhibitstoincludclorries,Buses,Tractors,Motorbikes,Cars,
@ enquiries@ccins.co.uk StationaryEngincs.AutoJumblc,TradeStandsandmanymore!
Admission- Adults ..... £7.50 Children ..... £2.00 CarPark ..... £2.50

PollClts unc:lerwnlltn by KGM Undtfwnt1~ Services Um1~.

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untnsuredLos,RKO\'efV5el'Vl(tijlqalcomup10£100,00lar•P1"0YldedbyDASlegalExc>ffl$es
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r~r)/<;
words Natasha Ellak1rk, Nicky Ellakirk, Bruce Hudson, Len Gruber
pictures Bruce Hudson, Nicky Ellakirk, Natasha Ellakirk

ne
of a Kind
Bertie, an Austin 8 NAAFI van, is the pride of
the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum
 ocated in Aultbea on the
L northwest coast of Scotland,
the Russian Arctic Convoy
Museum is a unique facility with
an interesting collection of World War
Two related exhibits. The museum sits
on the shores of Loch Ewe, which is
apt as the loch was the mustering point
for Allied merchant ships before they
embarked on the perilous convoys to
Murmansk and Archangel during World
War Two
Today the museum holds a large
collection of artefacts relating to the Arctic
convoys. The largest item saw action
much closer to home where it played a
crucial role in maintaining the morale of
the Allied airmen. It is a wartime National
Army and Air Forces Institutes (NAAFI)
van once responsible for providing hot tea
and refreshments.
Bertie, as the vehicle is known, is
the only known Austin 8 NAAFI van in
existence dating from 1939 and was
demobbed ten years later. The vehicle got
its first civil registration in October 1949,
is still roadworthy and is a familiar visitor
to local care homes and schools, where
it acts as a museum ambassador with its
NAAFI display
Bertie is an Austin 8-based coach-
built van. As it has the smaller diameter
wheels, the museum staff think it is based
on the tourer version, as used by the
military, rather than the saloon which had
larger wheels. Bertie retains a standard
grille, bonnet and front wings, but from
there gives way to custom parts.
The body is quite tall and stab-sided,
built over the cab giving a most unusual
look to it and is possibly unique. The
sides are alloy panels and the roof is
vinyl covered. One striking feature is
seen inside the cab. The dashboard is
a plank of wood with gauges mounted
on it. This may be because Bertie
doesn't have the usual bulkhead or may retains the original headlights and the or anti-skid; no synchromesh in the
have been repaired later. The museum 'semaphore arm' indicators, although they gearbox; windscreen wipers that don't
would welcome any information about the are currently non-functioning due to a wipe anything; headlights that produce
original specification lack of spares just a watery glow ahead; and a high
Bertie was cosmetically restored prior The running gear seems pretty much sided van that acts as a rudder in a
to it coming to the museum. The paint original and is in reasonable order, having crosswind to stop the vehicle from going
was still neat and smooth but lacked the been maintained by both its previous in a straight line!"
NAAFI insignia. Once safely delivered, owners and the museum. A local garage Len said while the brakes might be
the museum had the decals reapplied is always happy to welcome Bertie into considered "adequate", it was sensible
and signwriting added to make it look the the workshop so the vehicle is well taken to also select a lower gear when going
part. Unfortunately, the wooden frame care of. The brakes are delightfully original downhill, just in case the brakes were
is showing its age and will require more and just as ineffective as the day it left the unable to cope. "This requires two now
extensive structural repairs to ensure its factory. This may sound alarming but with redundant techniques called 'double-
long-term future. Some of the alloy panels a top speed in the region of 35mph Bertie de-clutching' and ' heel and toeing'," he
are also coming loose and the bulkhead rarely goes fast enough for this to be an said. "The idea is that the brake is held
frame is starting to give way at the door issue. on by the right toe and the heel is used
hinges Len Gruber, who has the most to rev the engine to the rpm needed for
Bertie's wiring has been worked on experience driving Bertie, said: "Driving the lower gear, whilst simultaneously dis-
over the years and has been converted a 1930s Austin 8 NAAFI van, or any engaging the clutch twice with the left
from dynamo to alternator, which isn't other vehicle from that era, makes one foot to bring the gear lever to neutral and
original and may upset the rivet counters appreciate the extraordinary advances then to select the lower gear. This should
However, it has made the vehicle more since then, in the design and engineering result in a noiseless and smooth gear
functional and most importantly, the of today's vehicles. There's no power change - if you get it right."
original equipment has been retained so steering - just a larger steering wheel for Since Bertie is basically a mobile
it is also reversible if needed. Bertie also more muscular leverage; no disc brakes tearoom, the van contains a tea urn,
mugs, cakes and biscuits, tobacco and remote location of the museum, it is as newspapers, cigarette packets, tin
cigarettes, similar products that would difficult to travel much further afield than mugs, fuel can, and lots of replica gear
be supplied to troops working away the local area under Bertie's own steam for children to interact with, such as a
from base or in groups in their area of The trailer will now allow this unique bit gas mask, tin hats, and toys of the era
operation. "A driver not skilled enough to of World War Two history to be more They can hear the sound effects of air
make smooth gear changes would enjoy accessible to a wider audience. raid sirens and bombing raids, and learn
the sound of an avalanche of crockery Bertie receives a lot of interest from about evacuees, 'old' money and food
and china to accompany the grating of his re-enactors and organisers of wartime rationing
gear coqs," joked Len events, and the museum receives If anyone wishes to see Bertie up close,
He added: "It is a privilege to drive this requests to attend many shows. Pre- it is on display at the Russian Arctic
delightful military museum piece and Covid, Bertie was present at some Convoy Museum, which is open from
especially to see the smiles and friendly important shows, but the pandemic has April to October. Look at the museum's
faces of all those who encounter it on put paid to many travel plans. Hopefully, website for visitor details
its outings in Wester Ross. It still has a as restrictions lift, Bertie will be seen at Any Bertie outings are advertised on the
tea urn to serve those who visit, and we shows through the country vehicle's Facebook page, so keep an eye
serve cake made only with the ingredients To assist its role of museum on it for updates.
available from a wartime ration book." ambassador, Bertie has a NAAFI display, For more information, contact bruce@
A trailer to transport Bertie was recently including original tea urn, NAAFI crockery theracmproject.org or visit www.racmp.
purchased following a successful and wartime till. There is lots of other co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/
crowdfunding campaign. Given the World War Two paraphernalia, such RACPBertie/ ..
 words Peter MuJzer pictures as credited
he Hungarian Army made
T serious efforts to build an
independent, national war
industry able to supply the army
with modern armaments and equipment
during World War Two. Among the
weaponry, armoured vehicles were
given top priority along with aircraft for
the Hungarian chief of staff. In 1939,
Hungary purchased the Fiat Ansaldo
(CV33/35) tankettes from Italy with the
38M Toldi light tanks under production
However, neither armoured vehicles
were up to the demands of a war that
required medium or heavy tanks
The question remained of where
Hungary could purchase suitable
medium or heavy tanks to equip its
tank divisions. At that time Sweden and
Italy had no suitable models, and the
Germans rejected Hungarian proposals
to purchase production licences. In 1939,
the Hungarian MAVAG and Ganz factories
on behalf of the Ministry of Defence
negotiated with Landsverk to purchase
the licence to build the heavy LAGO tank
but negotiations were unsuccessful. Italy
offered its M11/39 medium tanks while
the Skoda factory also had armoured
vehicles to sell.
Theoretically, this meant Hungary could
Czech medium tanks. However, the Italian
tanks were inferior to the Czech design,
the developing war made Sweden a
distant player while the Skoda factory was
weU known and trusted. So, licences were
made available to Hungary by Skoda in
late 1939 with permission from Germany
Furthermore, in 1939 two Slovakian
Lt wz.35 tanks had been captured by
Hungarian troops and handed over to
the country's Military Technology Institute
(HTI) for testing
One of the tanks on the list of available
licences was the T-21 tank, which was
seen as a possible solution as a medium
tank for the Hungarian military. The T-21
tank was a typical design of the mid-
1930s. It was armed with a new 47mm
Skoda A11 gun, had 16 to 30mm armour
and a powerful 240hp eight-cylinder
engine. It gave the 16.5-ton vehicle a
speed of 50km/h on the road. The layout
of the four-man crew was standard;
driver, radio operator, gunner and
commander. The chassis was the same
design as the Lt vz 35, it was only more
robust due to the greater weight. The
Skoda kept the pneumatic steering and
its planetary gearbox too.
During negotiations between HTI and
Skoda, it was agreed on a test trial of
the T-21 tank in early 1940. After three
weeks of complex tests at the Harnasker
Training Ground in May 1940, Hungary
requested some modifications. They
included
• Increasing the armour to 35mm;
• Increasing the crew to five;
• Replacing the command cupola with a
fixed one;
• Replacing the electrical equipment with
Bosch products; and
• Mounting a 40mm gun instead of 47mm
The reason for reducing the gun calibre
was that the new Hungarian 40mm gun
had a muzzle velocity of 820m/s instead
of 590m/s for the 47mm gun. It also fired
the 36M 40mm shell, which was used
for the Bofors cannon. The new gun
was called the 40mm 41 M tank gun. The
secondary weapons of the tank were two
Hungarian designed and made 34/40AM
Bmm Gebauer machine guns. One was
a coaxial machine gun built next to the
main gun, the other situated next to the
driver position operated by the radioman.
The T-21 's licence was sold to Hungary in
July 1940 and would be known as Turan
tanks and was only for use by Hungary and
not for export. The Turan programme was
farmed out to four companies: Manfred

Weiss, MAVAG, Ganz and Gy&-i
Vagon es GE!pgyclr. The plan was to
produce 230 40M T tran
medium tanks for
the two divisions that were being created
40M Turan medium tank
The 40M Turan was produced in two
versions, a command version with one
R-5 and two R-4 radios, and the combat
version with just one R-5 radio. The
organisation of the joint manufacturing
programme was complicated and
slow. During the initial stages of
mass production, about 200 different
modifications were done to the original
plans because the original prototype
was found to be flawed. The first Turan
Desig~::~:~~:~!~tank
Combatweight 18.2 tons
Crew Five
Engine Manfred Weiss V-8h
Displacement14,866 cm/3
CylindersEight
Speed 47km/h
Horsepower260hp
Range 165km
Armamentone 41 M 40mm;
two 34/40A M 8 mm machine guns
Armour13-SOmm
Factoty fmll 40M Tunln msdlum tanks at
fheyardoffheautomobiledepotoffheanny,
paintedinthree-tonecamouflagewithlate-
stylemilitary insignia,FORTEPAN
;.1
Magyar prototype was finished in June 1941
During testing of the iron prototype, new
problems arose: the engine overheated,
and additional problems were found with
the gearbox and chassis. A new radiator
was designed by Manfred Weiss which
overcame the problems
Another problem was the armour
plating. Until then, Hungarian steel mills
had manufactured armour plating only
up to a thickness of 13mm. The steel
mill in Di6sgy6r developed a new type
'Mester' plate and Magyar Vagon es
Gepqyar also developed the 'Ajax' plate.
These were more resistant to penetration
but were somewhat brittle. The frontal
armour was increased to 50mm, but
n==~;;;;f-~
65
because of the lack of proper plates, this
was achieved by forging a 25mm and
35mm plate to 50mm.
Because of all these problems, the first
vehicles did not leave the factories until
the summer of 1942. A combination
of badly-trained drivers, insufficient
maintenance and the short training
programme created a lot of problems for
this first Turan series.
The first Turans were delivered to the
Armoured Training School at Esztergom
in July 1942 and tank battalions were
equipped with their Turans at the end of
1942. A total of 230 Turan medium tanks
were produced by the end of 1942.
A second order for 309 40M Tur8.n tanks
was placed, but due to the development
of the new heavy Turans, only 55 were
manufactured. Experience on the Eastern
Front had clearly shown that any tank
with a gun smaller than 75mm was
ineffective against Soviet medium tanks
41M Turan heavy tank
In 1941 the general staff ordered a new
heavy tank based on the medium Turan
Although this new tank was considered
as a heavy tank by Hungarian standards
it was an up-gunned and armoured
version of the 40M Toran medium tank.
The prototype of the heavy Tursn was
finished in 1942, but production did not
begin until early 1943. The main
 armament was a short-barrelled gun that
had a muzzle velocity of 500m/sec, which
was supposed to be effective against a
50mm vertical armour plate at a range of
500m. The armour plating was increased
SPECIFICATIONS by 30 to 40mm, but the additional weight
of the new armament and armour caused
Designation41M Tur8.n heavy tank
performance to get worse. In total, around
Combatweight 19.2 tons
180 heavy 'turan tanks were produced
Crew Five up to the end of 1944. The first 28 tanks
Engine Manfred Weiss V-Sh were handed over to the armoured troops
Displacement14866cm/3 in July 1943 with training beginning only in
Cylinders Eight the autumn of that year.
Horsepower260hp
Speed 45km/h 43M Turan signal/command tank
Range 150km The Hungarians also designed a special
Armament one 41 M 75mm; one vehicle based on the Turan. the 43M Turan
43M 75mm;
two 34/40A M 8mm
retractable mounting. The final vehicle had
a larger radio capacity and special stick
radio antennas. The Ministry of Defence
ordered 15 command vehicles, but only
the prototype was likely finished in 1943
Some battle-damaged tanks were rebuilt as
signaVcommand tanks too in 1944
43M Turan long-barrelled
heavy tank
Another invention was the 43M long-
barrelled heavy tank. The idea was to
replace the original 75mm short-barrelled
gun to become more effective against
the Soviet tanks. The gun used was an
L43 43M 75mm, based on the German
PAK40. During test trials of the gun, several
problems arose, and Allied air raids also
created obstacles during the development,
which was cancelled in the autumn of 1944.
Based on the current German practice
and lessons learned at the front, in 1944
the medium and heavy Turans received
additional skirting plates on the hull
and the turret. Contrary to the German
practice, the Hungarian skirt plates were
perforated, which reduced the extra weight
and provided better ballistic capacity, to
ricochet the Soviet anti-tank projectiles
Some battle-damaged 40M Turan
tanks were rebuilt as 41M models. The
rearmament process, which involved the
Turan 40 changing its turret to that of the
Turan 75, was simple enough because
the shape and radius of the two turrets
were the same. The damaged turrets of
the Toran 40 were simply replaced by
Turan 75 turrets.
In Combat
The 2nd Armoured Division was the first
armoured unit equipped exclusively with
Hungarian produced armoured vehicles,

Captured 41M heavy Turan tanks
around Budapest, spring of 1945.
The vehicles were loaded onto
flatcarstotransportthemtoa
repair facility but captured by
the Red Anny. MUJZER
including 40M Turan medium and 41M
Turan heavy tanks. The division had 120
medium and 55 heavy Turans, 84 light
Toldi tanks and 42 Nimrod self-propelled
automatic cannons, as well as 14 Csaba
armoured cars. It was deployed to the
Eastern Front in April 1944 at Galicia to
stabilise the German front line with the
SPECIFICATIONS
Designation 43M Rran heavy tank
Combatweight22-23 tons
Crew Four-five
Engine Manfred Weiss V-8h
Displacement14,866 cm/3
CylindersEight
Horsepower 260hp
Speed 47km/h
Range 130km
ArmamentOne 43M 75mm;
two 34/40A M 8mm
machine guns
Armour13-90/95mm
other units of the tst Hungarian Army.
On April 17, at Nadworna the Hungarian
Turan tanks clashed for the first time with
Soviet T-34 tanks. The Hungarian 3/1
Tank Battalion pressed forward on woody
and hilly terrain when one well-positioned
T-34 Soviet tank opened up on the
Hungarian Turans. The 3rd Medium
Company Commanded by Captain Mikl6s
Matyassy charged the Soviet T-34, but
the Hungarians were unable to penetrate
the Soviet armour with their 40mm guns.
The 3rd Company lost five 40M Turan
tanks, several crew were killed in action
before the attack was called off
Later 3/1 Tank Battalion clashed with two
T-34 tanks, one of which was knocked
out by the Hungarians. In these clashes,
Captain Ervin Tarczay's heavy tank
company was involved. His subordinate
second lieutenant Gybrgy Kem6ny stalked
the hiding Soviet T-34 with his 41M heavy
Turan tank and knocked it out at point-
blank range
The first contacts highlighted the
disadvantages of the Tur.9.n tanks against
the T-34. The T-34 could fire a deadly shot
from 1,500-2,000m, while the heavy Turan
had to be within 600m and the medium
Turan 400m to destroy a T-34 in battle
The insufficient armoured protection was
also painfully tested by the crew. The
armour plates of the Turans were not thick
enough. Due to improper production,
the armour plate was fragile and at
impact broke into pieces. It also contains
phosphor which burned easily
Despite the inferior armour and armament,
the Turan tanks were extensively used by
the 1st and 2nd Armoured
Divisions and the 1st Cavalry Tank Battalion
in 1944-1945. Interestingly,the Red Amly
used captured Hungarian armoured
vehicles in 1944. The Soviet 18th Army
established an independent tank battalion
based on 32 captured Hungarian armoured
vehicles in September 1944. At the end
of October 1944, the battalion possessed
eight Torans, two Toldi tanks, three Zrinyi
assault howitzers and two Nimrod self-
propelled automatic cannons
According to the Soviet evaluation: "The
Turan l, II tanks needed at least 15 to 20
minutes preheating before movement.
The 75mm and 40mm guns were similarly
mounted in the turret and were accurate.
The machine guns were complicated but
functioned well. The Turans were easy to
drive, but the control was complicated as
well as the engine maintenance. The tank
needed a relatively large radius to turn
around." However, they were inferior to
the Soviet tanks but did have advantages
- due to their size, they were suitable for
overcoming narrow, difficult roads
The Skoda T-21 tank was a fairly good
design of the 30s, but by 1943-44 the
Turan tanks were comparable or a bit
better than the Skoda 38(1) tanks, but
inferior to their counterparts, the Soviet
T-34 tanks. The construction of the riveted
hull's complicated running gear, weak
armour plates and weak armament made
them second-grade tanks by the end of
World War Two. Even so, the Hungarian
armoured troops fought with them until the
very end, achieving success but paying a
heavy price in terms of casualties.
No Turan tanks survived the war in
Hungarian territory, however, the Red
Army captured and preserved a 40M and
41M Toran tank. They are on display at
the Kubinka Tank Museum ....
Thefinalversionofthe43M
Turan command/signalstank
wasbuiltwithstickantennas
and a dummygun. Just the
protJJtypewas produced.
BONHARDT
 words and pictures Duncan Glen

ON THE
ROAD
AGAIN
I I I I I It t t t t t ti iii ii I I I I I I I I It
As the spectre of Covid-19 and all of the
restrictions that it has placed on our lives begins
t t t t

to lift, military vehicle enthusiasts' minds are

beginning to turn back to much-missed shows
and events across the UK and in Europe
 ovid and Brexit have removed
Cr~g;:~i~;r~;:~=l~i~~a:~~I :~~:~y
a lot of the previous certainties
vehicles remains unclear and will take
some time to become established, but as
people contemplate making the journey to
Normandy in June 2022, this seems like a
good time to offer some hints and tips.
What follows should not be considered
definitive and you should do your research
well in advance of departure
Over the past 20 years, I have had
the good fortune to be part of several
events and tours including the 0-Day
commemorations in Normandy, XXX
Corps Liberation Tours and The Race to
the Bridge in Arnhem, winter rallies in the
Ardennes and a couple of tours to Norway.
These trips have been carried out in
the company of people who were part of
the first wave of organised tours across
Europe including an Anglo-Dutch mission
to Prague shortly after the Berlin Wall
came down
There is absolutely no substitute
for experience and if I can offer one
key piece of advice, it is to travel with
someone or a group that has been there
before and be prepared to learn
Paperwork
Before Brexit and Covid-19, travel to and
from Europe was a relatively seamless
affair requiring not much more than a
passport and a slack handful of Euros
to supplement your credit card. For
travel, going forward, the rules are more
complex and the first port of call for the
most up to date advice should be the
government website www.gov.uk/foreign
travel-advice.
This will detail the vaccination
requirements and the level of proof
required to demonstrate your compliance.
If you are not vaccinated and cannot
prove that there is a medical reason, it is
very unlikely you will be able to travel
In addition to a passport and Covid-
19 vaccination paperwork, you would
be strongly advised to obtain your own
travel insurance. The use of the European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being
discontinued and as and when yours runs
out, it should be replaced with the Global
Health Insurance Card
Further advice can be found on the
government website www.gov.uk/global-
health-insurance-card
Finally, you should ensure that you carry
your driving licence and vehicle insurance
documents first making sure that you are
fully insured for the trip particularly for
driving in Europe. A UK vehicle sticker will
also be required, the old GB one having
been discontinued ~
Packing
Most trips to Europe will involve several
days and probably some draughty and
basic campsites. One of my very favourite
campsites is near Arromanches close
to where the Mulberry 8 harbour came
ashore. It is blessed with a dribbly, coin·
operated shower and a traditional French
toilet involving a hole in the floor of a shed
with helpful footmarks to encourage the
correct stance!
It is important to be as self-sufficient as
possible and this takes careful planning
Travelling in an AEC Matador gives
several advantages, not least the fact
that it is a mobile bedroom and kitchen
all rolled into one. It is quite a pleasant
sensation to be able to arrive late at
night on a campsite and just hop into
a sleeping bag in the back while your
Jeep-borne colleagues are wrestling with
tent poles in the dark
If you haven't got the luxury of a World
War Two campervan, then good tentage
is a must. Even the best of trips can have handy just in case of a vehicular fire or a range of other new rules and regulations.
their shine diminished if you and all of a camping accident. With so many gas Plan and be ready to go on a shopping
your gear are damp and slightly mouldy burners, hurricane lamps and candles trip as soon as you arrive. It's not unusual
by the end of the week. For the same around on your average tour campsite, to see a lineup of military vehicles in
reason, a good quality sleeping bag is a accidents are always a possibility supermarket carparks and several slightly
wise investment In the pre-Brexit good old days, vehicles bewildered-looking blokes wandering the
Other necessities often involve a would be heaped up with enough grub to aisles looking for the French or Dutch
bewildering array of plates, mugs, frying feed an army with bacon, sausages and equivalents of products they are familiar
pans, dixies, cutlery including a decent eggs being a particular staple along with with at home. After many years of trying,
sharp knife for cutting everything from pasta, rice, tins and jars of curry and a it appears to be virtually impossible to
French bread to scrim net and, of course, liver-crippling supply of alcohol. However, find bacon that appeals to the British
something to cook on. Gas burners of things are different today and several taste on the continent so be prepared for
one sort or another are generally favoured foodstuffs cannot be imported into the disappointment
and I would avoid the temptation of going European Union including meat or meat Also, beware of the rules on alcohol
too authentic and using a World War Two products, milk and dairy products and a when you enter the EU from a non-EU
petrol cooker. It is like pulling together range of fruit and vegetables country. You can bring goods free of VAT
a fry-up on a small bomb and is best Again, refer to the government website and excise duties with you if they are not
avoided. for more details www.gov.uk/visit-eu- for resale. As far as I could ascertain,
Always ensure that you have a couple switzerland-no,way-iceland-liechtenstein you can bring in 41t of still wine and 161t
of fully-functioning fire extinguishers which also gives a very good overview of of beer so, again, a shopping trip for the
essential lubricants early in the trip would The vehicle this is down to individual preference and
be in order. It should probably go without saying (and mechanical expertise in the field. I would
The carrying of de-activated weapons this applies equally to trips in the UK as certainly favour carrying replacement
and associated replicas, pyrotechnics, well as journeys further afield), but your electrics such as coil, condenser, points,
blanks etc. overseas is worthy of an vehicle needs to be in tip-top condition distributor plus fuel pump, water pump,
article in its own right and I can only with all of those nagging little problems sections of water hose along with spare
touch on it here. If the event is a full- that you meant to get around to, resolved engine oil and plenty of water. A spare
scale re-enactment for which replica It is not unknown for individuals to park fully charged battery is also a good idea,
or deactivated weaponry including that their vehicle up at the end of a tour and as are jump leads
mounted on vehicles is essential then be only bring it back out for the next one with All these spares need a full set of tools
prepared for a great deal of paperwork only the most cursory of checks. to be properly self-sufficient and when all
and a lot of scrutiny from the authorities. A full service with particular attention else fails, a proper (not ornamental) tow
I would avoid the issue if possible, paid to lubrication and all of those parts rope and fittings is a last resort to get a
having witnessed a friend having a Diana that might give trouble is essential as vehicle out of a sticky situation and into a
air-pistol confiscated from his holster is checking tyre pressures. Something safe location where it can be dealt with
where he had used it just to add a little which is often neglected and can cause Of course, anyone can break down
authenticity to his officers' uniform. It real problems on longer runs particularly regardless of how good preparations are.
was crushed and the culprit was left in hot weather. These vehicles are not youngsters, and
in no doubt what would happen if he There has been much debate over what the older ones are approaching 80 years
transgressed again. spare parts to carry on a longer trip and old. The good news is that in a group of
experienced people there will be several
experts who will always give freely of
their knowledge and assistance to get a
vehicle going again

Getting over the water

If you are part of an organised club tour,
then generally the booking part of the
trip has already been taken care of and
the organisers may (or may not) have
managed to negotiate a discount.
For small groups or individuals, the
process is relatively straightforward.
The only real difference to a ferry
company between a Leyland Hippo and
a Winnebago is its age so just follow
their online booking procedures and
published guidance. In the past, we have
just taken the dimensions of the vehicles
going on the trip and have fitted them
into the corresponding categories on -
the booking form. For instance, a Jeep is of way on roundabouts so great care is that they do the research for themselves
the equivalent of a car, a Dodge weapons needed on the approach and comply with the rules and regulations
carrier is a small van, a Matador is a There are too many differences to cover in force at any given time
campervan etc in this short article but it would be worth An example of failing to plan properly
Once boarded, the most critical piece of taking a look at this guide published for a trip to France for the D-Day
information you need is to remember is online by the AA www.theaa.com/ commemorations in 2014 could have cost
which deck your vehicle is on and how to european-breakdown-cover/driving-in- a US acquaintance dearly. He had bought
get there. It's very easy to get this wrong europe a Dodge WC62 to attend the event and
in the confusion of disembarkation and Convoy driving on an organised tour is although it was a bit rough cosmetically
arrive on the right deck but the wrong a good way for someone inexperienced it ran well and had no issues during the
side of the ship. From bitter experience, to get the hang of driving on the other journey to the base camp near Etr€ham.
it is not easy to squeeze between side of the water. It should be a relatively On the first day, word came back that
articulated lorries with all your gear to get relaxing experience and give you a bit he had broken down and needed a tow
to your truck which can just be seen a of time to look around and just enjoy back to the camp. The Matador was
hundred yards on the port bow being part of these very special events dispatched and the Dodge was located
Ferry companies vary in whether they Travelling solo or in small groups requires a few miles away on the edge of a
allow spare fuel to be carried and how a different skill set. Depending on the suburban street. Traffic was managed
much and the type of container etc. It is vehicles involved the larger, slower as the stiff rope was deployed and
as well to check with your operator and vehicles should be at the front to keep lashed onto the front bumper hooks
comply with their requirements. Again, be the convoy together and keep just tight and the sad sight was towed home with
prepared for an early visit to a fuel station enough together to stop faster overtaking the occasional attempt at a bump start
on the other side and make sure you have vehicles from diving into gaps. The ending up with the vehicle wreathed in
plenty of fuel in the tank on arrival at the vehicles must be as visible as possible to smoke
ferry terminal other road users who won't be expecting Later, it emerged that the Dodge
a slow-moving convoy had been running low on fuel and had
Driving over there Flashing LED light sets fixed to the pulled into the local petrol station to fill
It is important to take time and understand rear of the vehicles is a huge help and up. Unfamiliar with the terminology, our
the rules of the road in Europe and it should be essential regardless of feelings American friend had filled up with 'gazole'
should be remembered that different about authenticity. It can make all of the thinking that was French for gasoline
countries have different rules and these difference between a safe convoy and a and not realising until it was pointed
change from time to time. Often, officials nasty accident out to him much later that he had filled
will cut a vintage vehicle and its driver a up with diesel. In fairness, he and his
bit of slack, but it shouldn't be counted A cautionary tale sons stripped that Dodge down on the
on and it is the driver's responsibility to In a short article of this nature, it isn't campsite and it was running as good as
understand the road signs, who has right possible to cover all the aspects required new in a couple of days and we got a free
of way and a range of other rules and to plan and safely execute a longer trip top-up for the Matador from the unused
regulations. to Europe. Post-Covid and post-Brexit. diesel
For instance, some motorways and new rules and regulations are still settling He took it all in good part which is just
expressways have a minimum speed and are subject to change. Hopefully, this as well as he is reminded of the incident
limit which some of our older vehicles article will give you some areas to consider every five years when he lands on our
may not be able to comply with and in when planning a trip, but it is still the campsite in Normandy with a good bottle
the Netherlands, bicycles have the right responsibility of the individual to ensure of bourbon to share...
EX-MILITARY
VEHICLE
INSURANCE

~~
00 ~~ +-(qV)
4<1'1AM S~

THE SPECIALIST BROKER

HAS YOU COVERED
01395 255100
www.graham-sykes.co.uk

Graham Sykes Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Calls may be monitored or recorded to help improve our service.
 have had a few Jeeps that didn't have
I good strong antifreeze, or the original
coolant had been diluted so many
times with plain water that the corrosion
protection was compromised. This
resulted in very rusty water blocking up
the radiator channels and rotting the core
plugs.
I have also experienced weeping or
perforated core plugs on Jeeps - these
core plugs are made of thin steel and
designed to protect the engine block from
frost damage by popping out if the water
freezes and expands in a severe frost.
If strong antifreeze is used these core
plugs would be protected from corrosion.
They are a secondary precaution to
protect a Jeep against frost damage when
just water has been used in the cooling
system without antifreeze. If pure water is
used, over time rusty sludge will build up
in the cooling system and these thin core
plug discs will corrode thin and eventually
start leaking (see picture 1)
These plugs are on the passenger's
side of the engine. One is at the rear
and impossible to access without engine
removal, but thankfully the most common
ones to leak are those beside the starter
and behind the dipstick tube that lies at
the bottom of the water jacket.
For removal, I drill an 8mm hole in the
plug and using a seal puller prise it out

(see picture 2). The replacement core
plugs are cheap to buy, they can be
purchased individually or in a set. To
prepare, you need to drain down the
cooling system, and for good access
remove the air cleaner and starter (or the
battery and dipstick tube depending on
which core plug you are replacing).
The most common one I find that leaks
seems to be the one behind the starter,
this is at the lowest part of the waterway
in the engine so often sludge will settle
against the inside accelerating the
corrosion (see picture 3). Once the plug
is removed, any rusty sludge can usually
be loosened with a thick wire and washed
out (see pictures 4 and 5)
The replacement core plug has a defined
convex shape, this will fit easily into the
hole providing you have cleaned up the
ridge area the plug seats against with a
sharp flat screwdriver, I use a little bit of
Jeep Workshop
JB weld or Araldite around the edge of the
plug/disc and locate it in the hole
This is a sort of belt and braces as old
engine blocks often have a damaged
or pitted recess so a little sealant is
sometimes needed {see picture 6a). A
short length of 3/4in diameter solid round
bar with a very slightly domed end makes
the perfect tool for this, and with a small
lump hammer, it is possible to flatten
or dent the convex part of the disc
words and pictures Robert U'Ren
inwards just a little and just enough to
expand it and make it fit tight (see picture
6b). After 40 mins for the Araldite to dry, it
is ready to refill and test (see picture 7)
Some Jeeps have body filler or JB weld
smeared over the outside of a weeping
core plug instead of replacing it. I suppose
you would call this a field repair and
works for a while but It's a botch and
replacing the plug is more professional
and long-lasting. Don't forget to refill the
cooling system with a good strong mix of
antifreeze to protect the core plugs from
Araldite
coating the
edge
h ?'1
future corrosion
When draining and refilling the cooling
system, if the engine block drain plug on
your Jeep is behind the dynamo it will
be awkward to access so a small slot
cut in a length of flat bar will work for this
(see picture 8). If it's blocked, a bit of low
pressure compressed air should clear it.
Remember to always remove the
radiator cap when using compressed air
to clear a blocked drain tap, you don't
want to overpressure the system and
make a leak somewhere else...
•
C
'. I

rowland Buffalo LVT

~!~f ac~:rt~~n
e~i~~obno~~~;j~)
David Brown Santasalo (OBS)
in Huddersfield in late February to
witness tests on the World War Two-
era LVT 4's gearbox. Daniel said it had
been "unbelievable" to view the gearbox
working after some 74 years of being
buried underground. "I'm so impressed
and lost for words," he said. "It's
incredible to think last April this Buffalo
was under ground and now we are at
this stage. This shouldn't be happening,
but it is, and my thanks go to everyone
at David Brown Santasalo for their work
in turning the gearbox around. They
were under a lot of pressure as we want
to get the vehicle back together for
the 75th Anniversary of the Crowland
Floods"
Daniel said he had arrived at OBS's
premises in Park Road at around 9am on Restoration work on Buffalo 47
Friday, February 25 and had been shown
the restored gearbox along with the gearbox nears completion
original gears, bearings and seals. "When
I first got there and had a look around, Daniel said Peterborough-based Multifab Buffalo 47 from under 30ft of ground in
I was amazed to see that they had kept had made new seats amongst other parts April last year. Restoration work began
two original bearings and replaced the for the project. "I really appreciate all the almost immediately and the CBLA plans
rest along with the seals," he said. "All hard work they and the volunteers have to have the amphibious vehicle on public
the parts and pieces taken off have put in to help us get this Buffalo back into display at the Crowland 1940s weekend
been saved and they will go on display running condition," he said on June 25 and 26. "Things are coming
in our museum once it's up and running Crowland, a village in Lincolnshire, was together nicely for the weekend, and
The bearings that came off were still in cut off from the outside world following we've also managed to get some military
excellent condition, it was amazing to see heavy flooding in 1947. Around 30 LVTs vehicles in along with re-enactor groups
the condition of everything." used in World War Two were sent to the alongside the Buffalo which will be on
The next step is to paint the gearbox area to ferry supplies to a site where a show," said Daniel. ...
and then return it to Crowland for fitting flood defence wall had been breached,
in Buffalo. "We expect to get it back in while some were used to construct a
early March and will fit it once received," temporary flood defence wall. A number
said Daniel. "We've then got a fair bit of of these, including Buffalo 47, were
stuff that has been made to get through subsequently lost and have remained
the spray shop including new floor panels buried underground since. After hearing
and the radio cabinet which was a bit of stories of the lost Buffaloes, Daniel
a mess but has now been redone. It's all launched a search using
coming together but I'll be a lot happier specialised equipment
once it is all together." culminating in the recovery of

TOP: The immaculatelyrestored

gearboxat David BrownSantasaloin
HuddersfieldCBLA

LEFT: Despitebeingunderground
for 74 years, the gearboxwas still in
remarkablygoodconditionCBLA

RIGHT: Buffalo47 will be on display

at the Crow/and1940s weekendin
JuneCBLA
 words Callum Dickson pictures Callum Dickson/World
Callum Dickson hones his World of Tank skills still further
aving now set up my account
H and gone through the tutorial
it was time to work my way
through the initial tanks of the
inter-war period
I decided that since the Soviet Union had
carried me through the tutorials, I would
try out a different country and so I settled
on the UK, the country which invented the
tank.
The first tank available, the Cruiser I is
indicative of most of the interwar tank
designs, it is slow with a reasonably
effective main gun and decent armour.
I took it out for a spin in the deserts of
North Africa with initially some reasonable
success. I managed to take out an Italian
Fiat 300 and severely damage a Panzer II
before the game ended.
With this boost in experience points, I
decided to progress further down the
British tech tree initially to the Cruiser II
and then I got my first divergent choice
Either continue down the 'Cruiser' path
which would lead to Covenanters and
Crusaders or go down a slightly heavier
tank path and get the Valentine
I decided since my goal was to end up in
a Cromwell and a Churchill, I would need
to get the Valentine. With this upgrade,
the speed was massively improved and
while still on the slow side the Valentine's
two-pounder carried me through many
tough matches from Italy to the Russian
Stepp
of Tanks
I have only recently unlocked the Matilda comparable however, the Panzer Ill can
and so will need to see if the increased
armour suits my play style. I didn't only
focus on the British however I also
decided to focus on the other major
armour developer of the 20th century, this
be upgraded to fire the 7.5cm Kw.K. U24
which does give it a distinct advantage
Whichever your preference both provide a
different but equally fun experience and
next time I'll delve into another major
being Germany interwar power, France. •
With the Versailles treaty in
place, German armour was widely
underdeveloped at the start of the 20th
century which is reflected by your starting
tank, the Leichttraktor.
This tank was a prototype designed
under the umbrella name 'traktor' and
while it never saw action, in the game
its 3.7cm Kw.K. U45 gun is reasonably
effective in the early game
Thankfully once you have earned
the experience you can get to more ,.
recognisable German armour with the
Panzer II being the first of many tough
choices to make. You can either go
down a light tank route which includes
- --1-
~.,....-.>z ·~ . :·~ -·
the Luchs and Leopard, an assault gun
route starting with the SturmgeschUtz Ill
B which includes the Jagdpanther,Hetzer
and Nashorn or you can stay in traditional
medium and heavy tanks which is what
~---
·- ·- .! ··-·-·
.
~~
- -
FROM TOP,
I did, progressing until I am currently British Valentinetanksalwayshave right of way
driving a Panzer Ill Aust J. when drivingthroughBerlinin thismap
Comparing British and German armour
as of this point is not entirely feasible A familiar match-upas a Panzer Ill faces off with
a FrenchChar-B1
as the German armour is faster but the
British can take a hit more effectively Some of the upgradesavailable for the
Their main armaments are initially semi- Panzerl<ampfwagenAust J
 words Nik Wyness pictures The Tank Museum
RustinQ,,,1~~~
'1he committee
maydecideto use
themas collateral
in exchange
agreements'
t's not the prettiest sight at The Tank
I ~o~~~~~:~t8 i:~n~~:~.it illustrates
Ten years ago, this corner of the
carpark was filled with vehicles which
are now stored inside the Vehicle
Conservation Centre
These hulks are all that remain. The
fact they are still outside will make little
difference to their overall condition in the
medium term
After all, for the best part of six decades,
they were abandoned on exposed
grassland and shot at
They are in poor condition. Some are
missing chunks from their hulls. Others
lack turrets, track, hatches and roadwheel
assemblies
So, what is the plan for these and how
do we decide what to do with them?
Oversight of our collections'
management is provided by the collection
committee. This is an advisory steering
group composed of staff, heritage and
military vehicle experts who report to the
museum's board of trustees. Ultimately,
it's their call
Among the hulks, we have a pair of
Sherman hulls. These could form the
basis of a rebuild project but as we
row of rusting hulks recovered from military ranges
already have several complete Sherman with Royal Armoured Corps regiments,
tanks, the committee may decide to
use them as collateral in exchange
with their Allies or adversaries is less
significant than one that did
agreements
It's common for museums to exchange
Therefore, a regular Churchill tank in
running condition would add greater value
items in this way. Most recently we were
able to swap a Chieftain for a running
to our collection (and be more achievable}
than an expensive cosmetic restoration of
T-72 with a museum in Poland the gun carrier.
Two of the hulks were once A27L
Centaurs. As the museum doesn't have a
There are other factors in determining
significance; scarcity being one and the
complete Centaur gun tank, the intention 'story' the vehicle can tell being another.
is to use parts from both to create a Like the gun carrier, Little Willie was an
single exhibit. We have a similar vision for
the two Cavalier tank hulks nearby.
These projects would be a major
challenge. Before they could be approved,
the committee would need project plans
experimental vehicle that wasn't adopted
for service. But its importance to the
overall story of the tank is clear.
Sadly, the Churchill gun carrier is unlikely
to get the attention its admirers hope for.
and estimates of the time and resources But this doesn't mean it isn't valued
required to undertake them. The fact that it was dumped on a range
In the face of more pressing priorities, and used for target practice is an integral
these projects have yet to be considered. part of its story as an artefact. Perversely,
They remain some years off. it's also the reason why it has survived to
Of all the hulks here, the one that be in a museum collection today.
receives the most interest is the Churchill Because the gun carrier spent many
gun earner. more years as a hard target than it did as
This rare experimental variant featured a military vehicle, some might argue that
a casemate to house a high-velocity gun displaying it in its current condition
Despite performing adequately in trials, provides a much more genuine
the requirement was superseded by representation of its history...
developments elsewhere and the project
was abandoned
It never saw service, but it does appear
in both World of Tanks and War Thunder
It is logical to assume that the enthusiasm
we've seen for the vehicle to be restored
stems from its digital cameo
In deciding which vehicles to restore,
the committee has to determine their
significance to our objectives as a
museum
A vehicle that never made it into service
Visit: www.combinedops.co.uk and www.headcornevents.co.uk
Call: 0845 652 6263 for more information or to book tickets.

All Attractions are subject to change, but are correct at the time of going to press.
BOOK ONLINE - EARLY BIRD OFFERS AVAILABLE ONLINE
 Next
Month
Inside Your Magazine
Craig Moore chats to
collector Chris Till about his
newly renovated M3 Stuart
light tank that was seen at
last year's Yorkshire Wartime
Experience

Chairman of Norfolk Military

Vehicle Group, Ian McCallum,
shares with us many of the
vehicles he has owned in his 45
years of collecting

A Belgian-based collector
and re-enactor has created
a head-turning Citroen Flak
truck equipped with a 2cm

-·-
Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun

All our regulars including our Gear Guide,

nted'Englarldb','Acor11Wob
Ollsatltd,Normantoo,UK
four new book reviews,
Nigel Hay's Military Vehicle Market round-up,
ljffl\~
.V1w,lt,www.-,O) . . Craig Moore's monthly column
and news and views from the military world
Distributedtr,,Seyrno\x
DistrtluhonLid.+44(0)20742940CO

May 2022 Issue 252

On Sale April 28

uring a visit to the Kings
D College London University
archives, I noticed a box of
old Royal Tank Corps journals
dating from the late 1930s. I looked
through them and found three different
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd adverts for its
light tanks. One was for its two-man
Vickers Carden-Loyd Mk Ill light tank
armed with 12.7 mm Vickers machine
gun mounted in a turret.
Another advertised its export tank
known by the nickname 'The Dutchman'.
The third tank was the most interesting. It
used the same Mk Ill hull as the previous
two tanks but it had a larger turret. It was
V """'·<•••••·LIGHT
co,o
TANK
EQUIPPED WITH
VICkEIIS·AJIHSTJIONGS
- ww1,1,,. o,.....,cuN
The Vickers advert in the Royal Tank Corps
journals ARCHNE
armed with a Vickers-Armstrongs 40mm
50 calibre quick-firing semi-automatic
gun that fired a 21bs (0.92kg) projectile at
a muzzle velocity of 2,600ft per second.
It almost had the same performance as
the British Royal Ordnance Quick Firing
2pdr, a gun that fired armour piercing (AP)
rounds that could penetrate the armour
of all Italian tanks and most German
Panzers in 1940
The British Army rejected this heavily
armed tank as it did not fit in its
specifications of what was the required
armament for a reconnaissance scout
tank. It wanted a light tank capable of
attacking enemy infantry, machine gun
The only surviving Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd-buill Latvian M1937 44mm gun tank No.204 now on display
at the Patriot Park tank museum in Kubinka, Russia YURI PASHOLOK
nests, gun emplacements and soft-
skinned vehicles. To perform this function,
a machine gun with a high rate of fire was
better than a gun that only fired armour
AP rounds at a much lower rate of fire
The tank was 2.15m tall, 2.41m wide and
4.87m long. It had a combat weight of 4
tonnes and was powered by a Meadows
six-cylinder petrol engine with a maximum
road speed of 35mph
The armour on the hull and turret front,
rear and sides was 11mm thick. In 1938
six examples were supplied to the Latvian
Army which gave them the designation
M1937.
In 1936 Latvia bought 12 machine gun-
armed Vickers four-ton Dutchman light
tanks which it called the M1936. They
were organised in two companies of six
M1936 tanks with three M1937 gun tanks
They were subdivided into three platoons
of two machine gun M1936 tanks and one
M1937 44mm gun tank
After the annexation of Latvia by the
Soviet Union in 1940 these tanks joined
the ranks of the Soviet 23rd Tank Division
One 44mm armed M1937 light tank was
sent to the Kubinka Army base near
Moscow for evaluation and trials
The remaining five M1937 tanks saw
service at the front when the German
Army attacked the Soviet Union in
Operation Barbarossa on March 22, 1941
They were all destroyed. The M1936
machine gun variants stayed in Riga and
were captured by the Germans. With the
benefit of hindsight, a light tank armed with
a 44mm anti-tank gun would have been
useful in dealing with Hitler's panzers as
they swarmed through the low countries
and invaded France in May 1940....
 Pukka Military Parts hold large stocks of the High Quality
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We bring military heritage to you

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