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Issue
189
Red
The T-34
Army Royalty
Medium Af
Tank Warrriican
Berlie
tsors
MRA, Panhar
ds
Ps
warf in bush and
are
The Tanks of Nevsky Pyatachok Land Rover 101 Forward Control Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier
Catawiki.indd 1 28/02/2019 16:25:48
www.cmvmag.co.uk November 2019 Frontlines
EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TEAM: Small Print: The Editor is happy to receive contributions to Clas-
Andrew Stone, Dave Robinson, Andy O’Neil sic Military Vehicle magazine. All items submitted are subject to
our terms and conditions, which are regularly updated without
prior notice and are freely available from Key Publishing Ltd or
Editorial Contributors: Vicky Turner, Craig Allen, Craig
downloadable from www.keypublishing.com.
Moore, Mark Nash, James Kinnear, David Garden, We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of any of our advertisers.
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3
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Features
06 Red Army Royalty
The T-34 Medium Tank
A
words and pictures Vicky Turner
bs way! I
Owner Paul Clarke has spent nearly
20 years restoring this 1976 Forward
Control and the long hours and
hard work have paid off
m
nitially conceived as a gun tractor in
response to the British Army’s need for
Bo
a vehicle capable of towing 4,000lbs,
the Forward Control (FC) earned its
nickname of the One-Tonne because of its
load capacity for ammunition.
Concept development began in 1967,
with the vehicle being unveiled at the 1972
Commercial Motor Show. Production at
Land Rover’s Lode Lane plant began in the
same year and it entered military service
in 1975 but was considered too utilitarian
and uncomfortable for the civilian market.
Placing the engine under the cab and
the driver forwards of the front wheels
kept weight down – a prerequisite as it
was intended for air transportation. This
also meant that the vehicle assumed
its distinctive cuboid shape, a deliberate
design feature with air transportability in
mind to suit loading space.
The FC shared the Rover V8 engine and
LT95 gearbox and transfer case already
22 23
22 Bombs Away
The 101in Forward-Control
32 Battle Wagon
Mastiff’s in Afghanistan
Super
words and pictures Mark Nash
Sarry
or British Army Veterans of a certain were loathed by those that had to fix them. 1948. After World War Two, Britain began
age (and certain campaign), no sight Designed and built by Alvis, around to give independence back to countries
brings back the memory of comfort, 1,850 Saracens – or ‘Sarrys’ as they are that were part of the empire. This triggered
relief and salvation more than that affectionately dubbed - were produced. a revolt in Malaya led by the Malayan
of the Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier. Each vehicle cost about £350,000, around Communist Party (MCP), members of
A true veteran, this Cold War vehicle was £8.3m today. The APC was part of a which had fought with the British against
reliable and loved by those that served on wider family of vehicles designated as the Japanese during the War. The MCP
and with them, although they the FV600s, which included the FV601 renamed itself the Malaya Races Liberation
Saladin, the FV620 Stalwart or Army (MRLA) and disappeared into the
‘Stolly’ (covered in CMV Issue dense jungle that covered most of the
217, June 2019) and the country. By 1951, this guerrilla-fought
FV651/652 Salamander. conflict known as the ‘Malayan Emergency’
The Saracen’s story was still ongoing. British Military leaders –
begins in Malaya, in likely recalling experience gained fighting the
Japanese – realised that tanks
and heavy artillery would be
unsuitable for close-quarters
Cold War veterans - jungle fighting. Infantry,
supported by armoured cars
loved by those who and Armoured Personnel
served with them Carriers, would be the key.
Unfortunately, the British
Army was devoid of any
type of APC. As a result, the
FV603, as it was now called,
untried, untested and not yet
in production was pushed
forward. Still under
review by the
Fighting Vehicle
Research
42
42 Super Sarry
The Saracen 6x6
48 River Rescue
The Tanks of Nevsky Pyatachok
54 Sherman Muscle
The M32 recovery vehicle
60 African Warriors
Military vehicles in bush warfare
72 How to Repel an
Invasion
David Fletcher on defending the UK against
German invaders
78 Engineering Success
The Royal Engineers Museum
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4
Classic Military Vehicle Issue 222 November 2019 Contents
Regulars
Gear TimeWarp
The Ace Pilot 5006 watch was designed
LeisureTrailer
A multi-purpose leisure / off-road trailer and tent offering stability,
Crack
Guide
as a tribute to the brave Spitfire pilots in security and versatility. Family and loved ones can travel and sleep in
World War Two, all of whom were true ‘outdoor’ comfort
Vac
heroes. The watch takes inspiration without having to
from the cockpit of the Spitfire fight for space with
featuring an easy read dial with holiday luggage.
luminous hands – essential when The Savuti trailer
flying missions in low light and has a deeper body
TopTanks Sitting
Pretty
The Tank Museum’s own top trumps
game features the best armoured
FlyingHigh
vehicles from the world’s biggest and
best collection of tanks. From Little
Willie, the world’s first ever tank, to the
featured German Tiger Tank each deck
includes 52 iconic vehicles with detailed New models, new designs
specifications comparing weight, and new colours feature in the
armour, armaments, speed, engines and Outwell Furniture Collection.
more. Suitable for children and grown- Leading the way is the Inflatable Furniture
ups alike, a game of Tank Museum The Flying Tent is suitable for a short break outdoors, as well as for range, perfect for ensuring family comfort during camping
Top Trumps will challenge your military tours in different terrain. You can use it as a hammock tent between trips at military shows. The Lake Albernel Inflatable Chair
history knowledge and is guaranteed two trees, as well as a single-person tent on the ground. The smart (£105.99), Lake Chamberlain Inflatable Sofa (£179.99) and Lake
to provide hours of fun. Available gear allows campers, backpackers or bikers to sleep in places where Evans Inflatable Ottoman £47.99) are suitable for indoor and
from the Tank Museum at https:// it is unsuited to pitch a traditional tent, including wet ground, riverbeds outdoor use and open home-from-home inflatable comfort to
tankmuseumshop.org for £4.99 and steep terrain. Available in four different colours from flyingtent. more campers. Available through outwell.com
Gift
com, prices start from £263
ModelArmour
The M18 Hellcat was a US tank destroyer of World War Two. Armed
with a 76 mm main gun, it was the fastest tracked, armoured fighting
AATowRope HeadProtection
A reproduction of the German
M35 Helmet, as worn by
Idea
vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 60 mph. Unfortunately This AA Tow Rope is suitable for Wehrmacht forces on
for the crew, this speed was attained by keeping armour to a towing vehicles up to 3.5 tons. It entry into World War Two.
minimum, being no measures approximately four The M35 Helmet was
more than one inch meters in length, complies largely based on its World
thick. Production of the with BS AU187, features War One predecessor,
M18 Hellcat began in quick release metal but with a few
mid-1943 and ended hooks and comes with modifications.
in October 1944 by a carry bag for easy The M35s have
which time, over 2,500 transportation and a rolled steel edge, later
had been produced. storage. Available economised on the M42 model.
This kit comes with from Halfords for These are made from a tough steel,
two models per box £32.98 1.6mm like the originals, and have the
and is available from correct shade of the field grey. They
Armourfast at www. also come with a quality leather liner,
This high-quality bullet keyring is ideal for military enthusiasts and armourfast.com for with a leather drawstring and chin strap
will last a lifetime. Features a non-explosive shell. Available from £8.40 already attached. Available from www.
www.armourgeddon.co.uk for £4 epicmilitaria.com for £49.95
Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail cmveditorial@keypublishing.com Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail cmveditorial@keypublishing.com
12 13
12 Gear Guide
Gadgets, gear and equipment from around
the world
and Letters
Military news and
correspondence from From left to right are the Mk.IV tanka belonging to the Tank Museum, Bovington, Norfolk Tank Museum and the Pond Farm,
With doors expected to open next year, the
National Museum of the United States Army is
the soldier’s story 364 days a year.” The museum
will immerse visitors in what it means to be a
Poelkapelle,
A Liberty Belgium
Truck. THOMAS STIJN BUTAYE
BRADING
stalled include an FT-17 tank, a Sherman tank, a
Higgins boat used during the D-Day invasion and
readers
quickly coming to life. Located on an 84-acre soldier in times of war and peace throughout a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. They were installed in
hilltop site at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, just south of American history. The primary galleries are titled: 2017 before the building’s walls were built.
the nation’s capital, the museum will offer free Soldiers’ Stories; Army and Society; and Fighting Since then, a Sikorsky R-4B helicopter and a
admission to the public and give a comprehen- for the Nation. Each will have artefacts, films, UH-1B Huey
National helicopter
Museum have been
of the United installed.
States Army They
sive look at more than 240 years of army history documents, and lifelike soldier figures. Visitors were all used in battle and are chronologically
and traditions. “The museum’s goal is ‘telling the will learn about army history through soldiers’ placed to visually tell the army’s history, through
army’s story to an estimated 750,000 visitors stories from America’s colonial beginning, and every major conflict.
every year’,” said Tammy E Call, museum direc- lead through the generations of service to the The museum is scheduled to open on June 4,
tor. “This will be America’s army museum telling ground force it is today. Artefacts already in- next year.
Tiger Day 12
18 New
Eager crowds gathered at The Tank Museum contemporaries, Tiger Day 12 was another a world first. The highlight of Tiger Day was a
on September 14 for a day dedicated to Tiger success. It was also an opportunity for Tiger one hour display which saw Tiger 131 take to
131, the only running Tiger 1 in the world. Tiger fans to visit the museum’s Tiger Collection the arena alongside its Axis and Allied contem-
131 runs only twice a year, on Tiger Day in exhibition, before it finishes, to allow for the poraries, including a Panzer III, Churchill Mk III,
April and September, and always attracts huge re-development of the hall into an exciting Comet, Stuart, the famous Sherman ‘Fury’ and
crowds when it does. With perfect weather World War Two exhibition coming in early an extremely rare Type-95 Ha-Go.
and 4,500 people visiting The Tank Museum 2020. The Tiger Collection brings all the
to see Tiger 131 alongside its World War Two members of the Tiger family together in
Books
Gary Lewi of the Museum of American
Armor posted a message on the Classic
Military Vehicle Facebook page saying
the New York-based museum had
recently acquired a Tiger tank replica.
Gary said this had sparked a debate over
‘real versus replica’. “With a real Tiger
unavailable, can a replica achieve the
goal of providing a context for discuss-
Night at the
ing World War Two with a public that is
detached from the enormous lessons
and legacy of that conflict?” he asked.
museum
“The museum says ‘absolutely’.” Several
21 Museum
Overloon to life. Through beautiful storytelling, front axle? Imagine the effort required to soft ground was anticipated. Apparently, it
extraordinary images, video projections and drive or turn the truck. Once the duals were did make steering difficult but improved trac-
lifelike re-enactment, visitors become part of the filled with mud any advantage would be lost. tion. If readers have any further comments,
stories surrounding the Battle of Overloon. A buf- Keep up the good work. please email
fet dinner will be served in the museum’s café at Dave Parkin cmveditorial@keypublishing.com - Ed
an extra cost. To book tickets, visit https://www. Wagga Wagga, N.S.W, Australia
oorlogsmuseum.nl/nl/museum-in-het-donker
17
of the
Month
Brooklands Museum
29 Event List
Shows and events you need to know about
Manoeuvres E
arlier this year Panther Ausf.D and Ausf.A.
I was invited Similarly, the thickness
to spend three of the side hull armoured
days at the US plates was increased from
Army Armor and Cavalry 40mm to 60mm.
Collection (AACC) Two prototype Panther
situated on the Fort II tank hulls were ordered.
Benning army base in On April 5,1943 it was
Georgia, USA. Among recorded at a meeting in
its huge collection of the Panzerkommission
world
completed. one prototype was built,
I have found that data and it is the same one I
Rear three-quarter view of the Panther II hull. Many of the design features of this hull were
published in books and used on the later panzer V Ausf.G tank. US ARMY ARMOR AND CAVALRY COLLECTION was crawling over at Fort
on some websites is Benning, Georgia.
The Measure
often wrong, so to try The Panther II never
and ensure that the entered production. One
information displayed on of the main reasons for
the tanks-encylcopedia. the start of the Panther II
of the Panther II
com website and in development programme
the books I write is was the fear that the
correct: whenever I go to 40mm side armour in
museums and military the Ausf.D, would be
vehicle events I am armed The first of a regular column from Craig Moore vulnerable to Soviet
with a notebook, tape infantry 14.5 mm anti-tank
ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT): Measuring up: The side armour 60mm; The glacis plate armour was
measure and digital calliper.80mm thick on the Panzer V Ausf.D, Ausf.A and Ausf.G Panther hulls; The glacis plate armour was rifles.
Any chance I get you’ll 100mm; The side armour was 4mm thick on the Panzer V Ausf.D, Ausf.A and Ausf.G Panther hulls However, the
find me checking armour BELOW: The Panther II hull fitted with a Panzer V Ausf.G turret armed with a 7.5cm Kw.K.44/1 L/70 anti- implementation of
thickness and dimensions tank gun under cover in a Fort Benning tank shelter. US ARMY ARMOR AND CAVALRY COLLECTION Schürzen side skirt armour
of vehicles first-hand, so plates removed the threat
being able to get close from those anti-tank rifles
to the legendary Panther and reduced the need for
II prototype was an a thicker side armoured,
opportunity not to miss. heavier Panther tank
The Panther II tank was variant. A recommendation
being designed even after a meeting at the MAN
before the first Panther factory on May 4, 1943
tank saw combat on was that the Panther II tank
the Eastern Front in should not enter mass
mid-1943. Hitler had production at that time,
expressed concerns but improvements gained
about the original design’s from the Panther II project
armour thickness, so were to be incorporated
work began on designing in future Panther I tank
a new Panther with designs.
thicker amour and a hull In June 1943 companies
Author Craig Moore is an editor for tanks-en-
design that could be cyclopedia.com and runs tank-hunter.com, a
that had been told to
fabricated cheaper and more quickly. guide to where you can find surviving World prepare to start producing the Panther II were
The front glacis plate was to be 100mm War One and World War Two tanks now informed that they would be producing
thick rather than 80mm as found on the the Panther I for the foreseeable future.
82
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and Save
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5
word
s An
drew
Ston
e pic
tures
as cr
edite
d
Red A
rmy R
oyalty
The
T
worl -34 was
d th
play when it a e most
a ma p a
jor ro peared idvanced
le in n m
the d 1940 an edium t
efea d a
t of N would g nk in the
azi G o on
erma to
ny
T
here is a real sense of pride in grabbed it with both hands. that comes with a T-34.” Apart from the
Tim Isaac’s voice when he talks “It was imported to the UK by Dave ammunition, the only thing missing was a
about the Cobbaton Collection’s Freeman from the Czech Army,” explained small tin of radio spare parts.
T-34/85 medium tank. The Tim. “Dave was importing a lot of armour When it first appeared on the scene
museum, which was started by his father at that time including T-34s, T-54s and in 1940, the T-34 was considered the
Preston, has owned the iconic Red Army T-55s to sell. I think we paid about £12,000 most advanced medium tank in the
tank for 30 years and it takes pride of for it in 1989. world. German generals are said to have
place among the ever-growing collection
of military vehicles and collectables.
“They had undergone complete
restoration in 1971 for an Egyptian Army
expressed admiration for it, while the
British Army School of Tank Technology
‘
Preston, 77, started collecting military
vehicles in the 1960s and had always
contract that never materialised. It was
put into storage and not used after that,
called the production of T-34s in vast
numbers an ‘engineering achievement of
t
wanted a T-34, so when the opportunity
presented itself in the late 1980s, he
so when we got it, it had everything
you could want in terms of equipment
the first magnitude’.
To this day T-34s are often selected to
p
6
Pictured prior to its ‘tidy up’ with
the T-54. COBBATON COLLECTION
lead annual military parades in Russia wide tracks allowed it to traverse deep were produced during the war including
celebrating victory over Nazi Germany snow and mud without sinking in, while the T-34(M), T-34/76 Model 1941, T-34
- showing the high esteem that these the sloped armour was difficult to Model 1942, T-34/57, OT-34 flame
iron warriors are held in the country. The penetrate. throwing tank, T-43, PT-34 Mine Roller,
tank’s wide stance, sloping armour and The initial T-34 was fitted with a 76.2mm T-34/85 Model 1943, T-34/85 Model 1944
firepower made it a powerful and gun (referred to as a T-34/76) in a and T-34/85 Model 1945.
respected adversary on two-man turret. This was later replaced Much of the success of the T-34 was
‘To th the battlefield with an 85mm gun (T-34/85) in a turret down to the fact that it could be produced
ia’ 7
d
SPECIFICATIONS
Type Medium Battle Tank
Nationality Soviet Union
Production 1940 to 1945 (USSR),
1951 to 1955 (Poland),
1951 to 1958 (Czechoslovakia)
Engine 12-cylinder V-2 with 500bhp
Transmission Five forward, one reverse
Fuel Diesel
Range 300km
Crew Five
Length 6.1m (hull)
Width 3m
Height 2.7m
Weight 32 tons
The Cobbaton Collection’s T-34 after its new paint job earlier this year. COBBATON COLLECTION Max speed 55km/h (road)
FILM STARS
Over the years, vehicles from the Cobbaton
Collection have been involved in film and TV work.
In 1982, six vehicles were used in the World War
Two sequence in Pink Floyd’s The Wall, filmed
at Saunton Sands in North Devon. In 1984 the
museum specially built a World War Two Long
Range Desert Group vehicle for use in a BBC film
The Secret Servant. In 1989, the T-54 was taken
to the Paris Motor Show as part of the World of
James Bond display. The T-34 has appeared in
Road to Berlin and was also taken to Poltimore
House near Exeter for a recreation of the final
days of World War Two in Berlin. More recently
it has appeared in Doctor Who, Monuments
Men and Fury. Vehicles in the museum’s fleet
are available for film work and for more information
e-mail info@cobbatoncombat.co.uk The T-34 on the set of a film
shoot. COBBATON COLLECTION
8
It was fully kitted out when the Cobbaton
Collection bought it, having undergone a
restoration in 1971. ANDREW STONE
9
Collection covers mostly World War
Two but also boasts exhibits from the
Boer War right up to the First Gulf War.
These range from military surplus British,
Canadian, American and Russian army
tanks, guns, helmets, artillery, grenades,
and bombs to Home Front ration books,
gas masks, ARP and Home Guard
uniforms and blackout lamps.
A large shop on site stocks collectors’
items, inert ammunition, clothing, hats,
badges, survival equipment, books, CDs,
toys, souvenirs and much more. A rear view following the ‘tidy up’ carried out earlier this year. The fuel tanks can be clearly seen.
COBBATON COLLECTION
Having opened in 1981, services have
Tim Isaac at the controls. ANDREW STONE Car crushing for a publicity shoot. COBBATON COLLECTION
10
EASTERN SURPLUS & EQUIPMENT CO.
U.S. Government Surplus, Military Truck & Parts
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Guide
as a tribute to the brave Spitfire pilots in
World War Two, all of whom were true
heroes. The watch takes inspiration
from the cockpit of the Spitfire,
featuring an easy-read dial with
luminous hands – essential when
flying missions in low light and
TopTanks
The Tank Museum’s own top trumps
game features the best armoured
FlyingHigh
vehicles from the world’s biggest and
best collection of tanks. From Little
Willie, the world’s first ever tank, to the
featured German Tiger Tank, each deck
includes 52 iconic vehicles with detailed
specifications comparing weight,
armour, armaments, speed, engines and
more. Suitable for children and grown-
ups alike, a game of Tank Museum The Flying Tent is suitable for a short break outdoors, as well as for
Top Trumps will challenge your military tours in different terrain. You can use it as a hammock tent between
history knowledge and is guaranteed two trees, as well as a single-person tent on the ground. The smart
to provide hours of fun. Available gear allows campers, backpackers or bikers to sleep in places where
from the Tank Museum at https:// it is unsuited to pitch a traditional tent, including wet ground, riverbeds
tankmuseumshop.org for £4.99 and steep terrain. Available in four different colours from flyingtent.
Gift
com, prices start from £263
ModelArmour
The M18 Hellcat was a US tank destroyer of World War Two. Armed
with a 76mm main gun, it was the fastest tracked, armoured fighting
Idea
vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 60mph. Unfortunately
for the crew, this speed was attained by keeping armour to a
minimum, being no
more than 1in thick.
Production of the
M18 Hellcat began in
mid-1943 and ended in
October 1944 by which
time, more than 2,500
had been produced.
This kit comes with
two models per box
and is available from
Armourfast at www.
This high-quality bullet keyring is ideal for military enthusiasts and armourfast.com for
will last a lifetime. Features a non-explosive shell. Available from £8.40
www.armourgeddon.co.uk for £4
Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail cmveditorial@keypublishing.com
12
LeisureTrailer
Crack
A multi-purpose leisure/off-road trailer and tent offering stability,
security and versatility. Family and loved ones can travel and sleep in
‘outdoor’ comfort
Vac
without having to
fight for space with
holiday luggage.
The Savuti trailer
has a deeper body
(500mm), four
extension support Dirty carpets every time you leave your car, dropping coins and keys
legs and a drop down the side of the seat and excess dog hair all over the place.
down tailgate to These are some of the problems we face in our vehicles almost
mention just a few daily and it’s because of these problems that the Roamwild Car
of the features. Crack Vac was made. In summary the product offers five products
Available from in one, including a debris pick-up system; a pet hair removal tool; a
ventertrailersuk. telescopic magnetic hook tool with an LED light to retrieve dropped
com for £5,950 items down the side or under the seat; a stiff bristled debris brush for
tight spaces; and a soft delicate brush to clean dashboard dials and
air vents. For more information visit www.roam-wild.com
Sitting
Pretty
New models, new designs
and new colours feature in the
Outwell Furniture Collection.
Leading the way is the Inflatable Furniture
range, perfect for ensuring family comfort during camping
trips at military shows. The Lake Albernel Inflatable Chair
(£105.99), Lake Chamberlain Inflatable Sofa (£179.99) and Lake
Evans Inflatable Ottoman (£47.99) are suitable for indoor and
outdoor use and open home-from-home inflatable comfort to
more campers. Available through outwell.com
AATowRope HeadProtection
A reproduction of the German
M35 Helmet, as worn by
This AA Tow Rope is suitable for Wehrmacht forces on
towing vehicles up to 3.5 tons. It entry into World War Two.
measures approximately 4m The M35 Helmet was
in length, complies with BS largely based on its World
AU187, features quick War One predecessor,
release metal hooks but with a few
and comes with a modifications.
carry bag for easy The M35s have
transportation and a rolled steel edge, later
storage. Available economised on the M42 model.
from Halfords for These are made from a tough steel,
£32.98 1.6mm like the originals, and have the
correct shade of the field grey. They
also come with a quality leather liner,
with a leather drawstring and chin strap
already attached. Available from www.
epicmilitaria.com for £49.95
Got a product you’d like featured in our Gear Guide? E-mail cmveditorial@keypublishing.com
13
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The Tanks of Nevsky Pyatachok Land Rover 101 Forward Control Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier
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16
From left to right are the Mk.IV tanka belonging to the Tank Museum, Bovington, Norfolk Tank Museum and the Pond Farm, Poelkapelle, Belgium STIJN BUTAYE
Held over the August bank holiday weekend, the arena. The first British tanks went into grew, was dark brown. Later tanks were painted
The Great Dorset Steam Fair is the biggest combat covered in a multicoloured camouflage a lighter khaki brown because they were now
gathering of steam tractors, road rollers and scheme designed by the painter Solomon. It crossing enemy trenches and into the farmland
fairground machines. This year, for the first was a waste of time as the mud soon covered beyond. The colour of the cereal crops and
time, three working First World War Mark IV two thirds of the tank surface and obliterat- stubble meant that a dark brown coloured tank
British tank replicas were on display. They par- ed the camouflage pattern. Tanks were then stood out and was quickly spotted by artillery
ticipated in the storming of the hill in an arena painted brown to match the local soil colour. observation teams. Pond Farm is on the Pass-
battle re-enactment each day. The newcomer to The Norfolk Tank Museum’s Mk IV female tank chendaele battlefield in Belgium. It was painted
these shores was the Mk.IV male tank replica, is painted dark brown. If you drive or take the the same colour as the local pasture. In the
built in Belgium, with the unit identity D29 Eurostar train from Calais to Paris, you will no- 1920s and 1930s, all British tanks were painted
painted on the side. Project leader, Stijn Butaye tice that ploughed soil is dark brown. The vast green. The Army looked after the surviving
said how privileged he felt, being able to bring majority of churned up earth of no-man’s-land World War One tanks and painted them green.
his tank to Britain and offer tank rides around and the British trenches, where little vegetation Words Craig Moore
Night at the
ing World War Two with a public that is
detached from the enormous lessons
and legacy of that conflict?” he asked.
museum
“The museum says ‘absolutely’.” Several
replies were posted in response. There are six surviving originals, and
Jon Bernstein: “Agreed. Absolutely. Looks we are giving people the chance who wouldn’t
Following the success of its Museum in the great, Gary, congratulations!” normally see one to have that experience.”
Dark experience last year, the Overloon War Joshua Stoff: “Nothing wrong with a replica Mick James: “Yes, there is nothing wrong with
Museum in The Netherlands will again open as long as you say it’s a replica.” replica as long they don’t try to pass it off as
its doors to visitors after closing time. Another Stephen MacHaye (Norfolk Tank Muse- the real thing.”
six evenings have been planned taking place um): “Totally, we have the replica WW1 Mk IV - Let us know your thoughts on the matter by
on November 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23. The event Deborah II. The attention it draws is incredible. emailing cmveditorial@keypublishing.com
will give visitors the opportunity to immerse
themselves in three special historical authentic Could readers tell me about the Studebaker A lot of trucks could be duelled upfront
story lines which bring the forgotten Battle of 6x6 with dual front wheels on the steering Dave and it was often done when driving in
Overloon to life. Through beautiful storytelling, front axle? Imagine the effort required to soft ground was anticipated. Apparently, it
extraordinary images, video projections and drive or turn the truck. Once the duals were did make steering difficult but improved trac-
lifelike re-enactment, visitors become part of the filled with mud any advantage would be lost. tion. If readers have any further comments,
stories surrounding the Battle of Overloon. A buf- Keep up the good work. please email
fet dinner will be served in the museum’s café at Dave Parkin cmveditorial@keypublishing.com - Ed
an extra cost. To book tickets, visit https://www. Wagga Wagga, N.S.W, Australia
oorlogsmuseum.nl/nl/museum-in-het-donker
17
New Books On the Shelf
M2/M3
covers the design, production and operational
history of these vehicles. Highly sought after
by military vehicle collectors today, they were
American Half-
among the most successful armoured vehicles
produced by the US during the war. Half-tracks
Second World War like the Willys Jeep and Sherman tank. Around
40,000 were produced between
Edited by Robert Jackson 1941 and 1945. Their versatility
Publisher Pen and Sword allowed them to be used in a
Year 2019 variety of roles and they were
ISBN 9781526746559 easy to assemble, operate and
Language English maintain.
Binding Softback Verdict: Edited by experienced
Pages 64 military, aviation and naval
Size 21cm x 29.7cm author Robert Jackson, this
Price £14.99 volume in Pen and Sword’s
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk popular LandCraft series traces
the design, development and
Another from the LandCraft manufacturing history of the
series, M2/M3 American Half- M2/M3 and provides a detailed
Tracks of the Second World War account of its operational role.
Frituur Zorro
were chosen from a large pool of offerings and
they include an Austin K2, Austin K5, Austin
Restorations
Tilly, Bedford OCX, Bedford QL Dodge WC-60,
Ford GPW Jeep, Gaz 63, International M426,
AEC Matador and a War Lafrance M1. Each
Publisher Narwal vehicle is given its own chapter and colour
Year 2019 photographs along with basic
ISBN 9789082834123 text take readers through the
Language English / Dutch restoration process showing
Binding Hardback the vehicles at various stages.
Pages 180 The book is written in Dutch
Size 21.5cm x 28.5cm and English.
Price £38.50 Verdict: Frituur Zorro Resto-
www.narwal.eu rations is not a technical man-
ual and it does not explore the
This is the sixth book in the restorations in-depth, instead
successful Frituur Zorro series it is a record of the featured
and like those before it, will vehicles and is testament to
have wide-spread appeal with the time and hard work put in
classic military vehicle restor- by all those involved. One for
ers. Thirty softskin projects the coffee table.
18
Please contact TOM LUNN on
01780 755131
or email:
tom.lunn@keypublishing.com
for all your advertising needs
Come
find us on Stand
B17 at The War and
Peace Revival
19
A Pioneering
Brooklands Museum
is in Surrey
B
rooklands in
Weybridge,
Surrey will
be known to
many as the
world’s first
purpose-built
racing circuit
and home of British
S p i r i t Hawker Hurricane and, with its original 1917
Clerget rotary engine, a Sopwith Camel.
One of the highlights on the museum’s calen-
only
surviving Welling-
ton Bomber that saw active service, a
aviation where more dar each year is the Military Vehicles’ Day.
than 18,000 aircraft were first This year it takes place on Sunday, November
flown, built or tested. 17, and motorcycles, Jeeps, carriers, trucks Military motorcycles are always popular with
Since it opened in 1907 it has and every conceivable vehicle and apparatus visitors
endured two world wars and on September 4, that has a connection with conflict over the
1940, the Vickers aircraft factories were the past hundred years or more are welcome.
target for the German Visitors to the
brave enough to
today which occupies 32 their collections and
acres of the original site. displays.
21
A
words and pictures Vicky Turner
s w
Owner Paul Clarke has spent nearly
20 years restoring this 1976 Forward
b
Control and the long hours and
hard work have paid off
om
B
22
Aw
ay! I nitially conceived as a gun tractor in
response to the British Army’s need for
a vehicle capable of towing 4,000lbs,
the Forward Control (FC) earned its
nickname of the One-Tonne because of its
load capacity for ammunition.
Concept development began in 1967,
with the vehicle being unveiled at the 1972
Commercial Motor Show. Production at
Land Rover’s Lode Lane plant began in the
same year and it entered military service
in 1975 but was considered too utilitarian
and uncomfortable for the civilian market.
Placing the engine under the cab and
the driver forwards of the front wheels
kept weight down – a prerequisite as it
was intended for air transportation. This
also meant that the vehicle assumed
its distinctive cuboid shape, a deliberate
design feature with air transportability in
mind to suit loading space.
The FC shared the Rover V8 engine and
LT95 gearbox and transfer case already
23
There’s still room in the rear for stowage of
other gear
with several other body types including a the result of a 20-year long labour of love.
24v fitted for radio (FFR) and a hard-top That may sound like he took his time,
ambulance configuration while a rare but as Paul puts it, “life often gets in the
Vampire, for electronic warfare, came later. way”. “For 15 of those years, the vehicle
The production run was around 60% 24V was last in a queue, behind renovating the
and 40% 12V with a larger number of left- house, building a garage and restoring
hand drive (LHD) vehicles being produced several other military vehicles,” said Paul.
than right in both voltages. This was due The partially stripped vehicle became a
to the commitment of the army to Europe, makeshift work bench with work further
especially for use in Germany, where LHD delayed when Paul bought, mid-way
is prevalent. through the process, another 101GS – this
The wiring in the 101 needed work, it had only The Forward Control continued in one an FFR variant.
four fuses and no relays, so Paul built a new
service in places like Kosovo until the He bought the vehicle featured on these
wiring loom to rectify the issues, fitting relays
for the lights etc as well as a new fuse box 1990s, but when the Ministry of Defence pages in 1988 from a batch cast from
decommissioned the vehicle at the back the army in 1987, many without engine
end of that decade, most were sold with or gearbox and with various other parts
very low mileage, making them attractive missing. Paul had decided he wanted to
for enthusiasts. build a kit-car but when he stumbled across
They were soon snapped up with many the advert for the Land Rover Forward
being converted into campers, which Control, thought “how hard can it be?”
makes this faithfully restored military He went ahead and bought the vehicle
spec’d example quite a rarity. with a view to doing it up and honing skills
Paul Clarke, the owner of this he’d later use on the kit car. Fixing a semi-
magnificent restoration, can often be built car had to be easier than building one
found at shows and is happy to talk about from scratch and this was a simple Land
A NATO hitch fitted as standard, for hitching up the work he’s done. He is rightly proud of Rover, right? Wrong!
the gun for which the mortar shells in the back
were intended The 101’s SDI engine and original converted Range Rover gearbox were removed and replaced with
genuine 101 versions
24
SPECIFICATIONS
Make Land Rover
Model 101 Forward Control 12v LHD
Nationality British
Year 1976
Production Run 1972-1978, approx.
2,660
Engine Rover 2158 V8
Fuel 3.5L petrol
Displacement 3.528cc.
Power 120bhp (DIN) at 4.750rpm
Torque 176lb/ft
Transmission LT95
Type Manual
Gears Four-speed
Transfer Box two-speed transfer-case,
full-time four-wheel drive, centre diff
Suspension Live axle and leaf springs
Paul bought this Land Rover in 1988, from a batch cast from the Army in 1987. Most were missing their Brakes Drum
engines and gearboxes Wheels 6.5×16in. The wheels have six-
wheel studs, not five as in other Land Rovers
It was only later that Paul realised the Tyres 9.00x16in
101 has many unique parts and that the Crew/seats Five
only available guide to its components at
that time were the drawings in the parts Dimensions (overall)
manual. Length 4.2m
Nevertheless, testament to his talents, Width 1.8m
it was roadworthy if not pretty within a Height 2.1m
year and soon became his daily drive. Wheelbase 2.5m
Paul also took it to club meets in Leeds Weight One tonne
and to shows, including to one in Belgium,
annually. Laid up while other work took
priority, the 101 was destined for a full
rebuild, time permitting of course.
Eventually it was dismantled, with
each nut and bolt kept. Everything was
cleaned of years of accumulated dirt
and the army-applied underseal was
stripped – a bloody awful job that Paul
says is best done when cold because it
chips off, although one made even more
uncomfortable because of that.
A new rear crossmember was fitted
and after galvanising, the whole chassis
was painted and the axles and steering
overhauled. With new tyres on shot-
blasted and powder-coated wheels, Paul
now had a rolling chassis – otherwise
BELOW & ABOVE: These pictures supplied by known as his mobile workbench.
Paul show the various stages of restoration Apart from outsourcing the galvanising,
powder coating and upholstery aspects,
Paul did most of the work himself helped
by his wife who undertook the painstaking
task of stripping many of the panels.
The bodywork was in a poor state of
repair with most of the aluminium cab
corroded and covered in holes. Paul had
to fabricate various small bodywork
panels and brackets but with parts from
a donor vehicle, a single good cab was
made, although these donor parts had
added to the hours of paint stripping.
All the steel, including capping, was sent
for galvanising. Once the panels were
clean, the larger dents and bashes
25
were repaired – yet more hours of filling
and sanding and priming and painting,
ideal for Paul to perfect his skills.
The finish he has achieved on the Gloss
Deep Bronze Green BSC 224 paint is
remarkable.
A pneumatic riveter paid for itself
as everything was reassembled. Paul
reckons there were at least a thousand
rivets as well as countless bolts, nuts and
screws used in the rebuild.
The wiring in the 101 had always been
less than satisfactory with only four fuses
and no relays, so Paul built a new wiring
loom to rectify the issues, fitting relays for
the lights and a new fuse box as future
reliability was of paramount concern.
The overdrive linkage and brackets
ABOVE: This 101 had a manufacture date of
A full British Army 81mm Mortar kit completes this 101. A plastic barrel, empty mortar shells, dummy October 6, 1976 and a dispatch date of October
rounds and all the associated equipment illustrate what these vehicles would have carried during their 15, 1976 to the army’s Hilton Main Vehicle Depot
time in service as Gun Tractors BOTTOM: Standard 101s came supplied with
a canvas soft-top while ambulance and radio
bodies came later
‘Everything was
cleaned of years of
accumulated dirt
and army-applied
underseal was
stripped’
Additional Notes
This Land Rover 101 had a manufacture
date of October 6, 1976 and a dispatch
date of October 15, /76 to the army’s Hilton
Main Vehicle Depot. It appears to have
then been put into storage until November
9, 1977 when the 101 was delivered to the
were the most difficult bits to make as The vehicle then flew through its MOT Ordinance Depot, British Army of the Rhine
the alignment had to be perfect, but with and was back on the road looking better (BAOR) at Antwerp. This 101 then spent the
perseverance he was successful. than it had probably ever looked before. rest of its military time with BAOR based in
Germany. The units that it served with were:
Next, the first rebuilt SDI engine and During all the long years of intermittent 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; 1 Worcester-
original converted Range Rover gearbox restoration work, Paul had set about shire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment;
were removed and replaced with genuine collecting a full British Army 81mm Mortar and 1 Queens Lancashire Regiment. On
March 2, 1987 the 101 was cast from the
101 versions, with all parts being stripped kit. It has a plastic barrel and includes
army and auctioned off at Monchenglad-
and overhauled or replaced if deemed empty mortar shells, dummy rounds and bach and sold to PRB of Leeds.
beyond salvage. This was where the all the associated equipment that these
headaches really began as parts for the vehicles would have carried during their
vehicle were, to put it mildly, like finding time in service as Gun Tractors. It is likely
hens’ teeth. that this was its role when in service with
Once he had the vehicle in good running the British Army in Germany. All the kit
order and the rebuild complete, the final was then faithfully reinstalled as a final
coats of NATA Green and Black Cammo flourish for the restoration.
paint were applied. The words ‘Polygon Paul’s collection now includes a 101
Wood’ had been stencilled on the truck Land Rover radio body currently
at some point in its history, so Paul undergoing a major service and minor
reproduced them in their original position restoration, a Land Rover 90 TUL, an
(the Battle of Polygon Wood took place Armstrong MT 500 motorcycle, a Honda
from September 26 to October 3, 1917, Quad (Military) a Bedford TM 4-4, 8 tonne
during the second phase of the Third truck and an Onan generator set. Funnily
Battle of Ypres in the First World War). enough, Paul is yet to build that kit car...
26
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27
NEWARK
X T ST
N E LE
www.newarkmilitariafair.com
A4 AD NorMilExpo NOV 19 NEW
JeepPromotions.indd 1 PICS 2012.indd 1 10/05/2019 13:24
01/08/2019 16:21:36
www.cmvmag.co.uk cmveditorial@keypublishing.com October 2019 - November 2020 Calendar
2019
OCTOBER
27 Malvern 4x4 & Vintage Spares Day
Wye Halls, Three Counties Showground,
Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6NW
£6.50 per adult. 9am-1.30pm.
www.4x4sparesday.co.uk
NOVEMBER
3 Newark Militaria Fair
Newark County Showground, NG24 2NY
£5 per person
07889 516401
jeep.promotions@btconnect.com
2020
BH20 6JL
www.tankmuseum.org 4-5 Capel Military vehicle Show
JANUARY Aldhurst Farm, Temple Lane, Capel
5 Military, Aviation and Model Collectors 28 Newark Militaria Fair Surrey, RH5 5HJ
Fair 2020 Newark County Showground, NG24 2NY www.capel-military-vehicle-show.com
Aviation and military collectables, book £5 per person
and model collectors, plastic kits and 07889 516401 JULY / AUGUST
diecast models and toys jeep.promotions@btconnect.com 28th July - 1st August 2020
Doors open at 10.30am. Free parking War and Peace Revival
Hallmark Hotel, Purley Way, Croydon, MAY Military vehicle and re-enactment show
Surrey, CR9 4LT 16-17 Militracks www.warandpeacerevival.com
War Museum Overloon, Museum Park 1,
5 Newark Militaria Fair 5825 AM Overloon, The Netherlands NOVEMBER
Newark County Showground, NG24 2NY, German vehicle event 1 Newark Militaria Fair
just off the A1/A46 junction, in the Lady info@oorlogsmuseum.nl and Newark County Showground, NG24 2NY,
Eastwood Hall. www.militracks.nl just off the A1/A46 junction, in the Lady
Up to 100 trade stalls selling Militaria. Sell Eastwood Hall. Up to 100 trade stalls
your vehicle too. 23-25 selling Militaria. Sell your vehicle too.
Call 07889 516401, email jeep. The Overlord Show Call 07889 516401, email jeep.
promotions@btconnect.com or visit Military vehicles and living history with promotions@btconnect.com or visit
www.newarkmilitariafair.com militaria and food traders www.newarkmilitariafair.com
29
agrément n° 2002-223
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23
HÔTEL DES VENTES DE CAEN
AMAZING GERMAN WWII
MILITARY VEHICLES
SCHWIMMWAGEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, KUBELWAGEN PERFECT
RESTORATION, SDKFZ 251 CHASSIS AND MUCH MORE !
B
The Mastiff was first ack in the early 2000s in Iraq,
the British Army had a serious
to urgent operational requirements being
sent out for better-protected vehicles to
fielded in Afghanistan problem with force protection counter the threat.
in 2006 and proved in the face of the increasing IED As it happens, a small British-led team
generally popular threat. The Snatch Land Rover saga is well
known, although our US allies were fairing
had been working on a solution at Force
Protection Inc in the US. Using mine-
with crews little better. Working out of the Green protected vehicles employed in South
Zone back then, I well remember their Africa and Rhodesia as a starting point,
Mastiffs lined up at FOB Edinburgh in Helmand ad-hoc efforts, welding old armour plate and working to a USMC requirement, it
2008, note the RPG grills and heavy-duty cables onto Humvee’s for extra protection. The came up with a completely new design
fitted to aid recovery challenging situation on the ground led named Cougar. This came in both 4x4 and
32
6x6 configurations and initial trials by the The Mastiff protected patrol vehicle was of an enhanced version. Mastiff 2
Americans proved successful, leading to first fielded in Afghanistan late in 2006 incorporated several improvements to
some 4,000 examples being fielded by the and featured British integrated electronics, the design including the use of Dyneema
US Army and Marine Corps. Bowman radio fit and a slab-sided armour unidirectional armour. Stronger axles and
This did not go unnoticed by the British package. Able to carry eight fully-equipped suspension were also fitted to cope with
who quickly ordered their own versions for infantrymen, in addition to its two-man the tough Afghan terrain.
use in Iraq and Afghanistan, conversion crew and mount a selection of weaponry The turret now featured powered
work being carried out by NP Aerospace. for local defence, it was an immediate traverse for the gunner and fire
The 4x4 was named Ridgeback in British success. suppression systems were fitted to the
service but it’s the 6x6 version, designated This quickly led to additional purchases engine and fuel tanks. The driver wasn’t
Mastiff, that we are concerned with here. in 2007 followed by the development forgotten and gained a new thermal
33
The interiors are
quite cramped when
fully loaded, note the
gunner’s turret with a
manual hand crank in
this Mk1 version
imager to aid situational awareness. used mainly for convoy work and as purpose and I reasoned that if I had to
Although the same V-shaped hull was artillery tractors for the 105 light gun. go in a wheeled vehicle, the Mastiff was
employed along with blast attenuating My own encounter with the Mastiff probably the best choice.
seating, overall protection was improved came about on the 2008 tour of Helmand Close up they were impressively large
in the new version. with 16 Air Assault Brigade. Given the beasts, although there was surprisingly
As well as the troop carriers, Mastiffs increasing IED threat at the time, my little room inside once strapped in among
were employed by the Royal Engineer personal preference was to be either on the clutter, weapons and equipment. It
IED teams and a special mine clearance my own two feet or in a helicopter but was a 45-minute journey to the district
version was developed. They were there were occasions when wheeled centre at Musa Qala and I was frankly
also used as command vehicles and transport couldn’t be avoided. somewhat nervous at the prospect of an
armoured ambulances while the RAF While accompanying B Coy 3 Para as Afghan road trip.
regiment fielded the Praetorian, a version a photographer for example, we were It was hot and noisy once inside and
fitted with a camera system mounted required to make an operational move forward vision was restricted to a small
on a telescopic mast. There was also a from FOB Edinburgh to Musa Qala. A TV screen mounted on the bulkhead. A
dedicated logistic version, Wolfhound, fleet of Mastiffs was duly laid on for the gunner stood in the turret hatch manning
improvements to
the design’
34
From this angle you can clearly see the pre-cleaner and filtration unit mounted above the right mudguard
SPECIFICATIONS
Model Mastiff 2 PPV, Protected Patrol
Vehicle
Manufacture Force Protection, (NP
Aerospace Coventry, UK mods)
Country UK
Year 2009
Engine Caterpillar C7 330shp
Fuel Diesel
Range 700 miles
Transmission Allison 3500SP automatic
Suspension 6x6 wheeled
Top Speed 55mph
Armament 7.62 GPMG, .5 HMG, 40mm
H&K GMG
Capacity Two plus eight
Weight 28 tons
35
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36
SAS Pink Panther from the Barry Pocock collection £30,000 on E Bay
goes under the hammer at Bonhams MPH sale – seriously?
AuctionFever
Nigel Hay’s round up of the military vehicle market
S
eptember is always a month for auction lot of money. end up in the UK.
fever and Bonham’s MPH sale is offering The late Charles Burnett’s DUKW, itself a former Also seeming a little under-priced was a nice, late
the exclusive Barry Pocock SAS Land Rover Belgian beach DUKW with some history, was war Leyland Hippo MK2A 1945 10 Ton 6x4 with an
collection – including two genuine verified and advertised for a modest £10,000 and at that price Alexander body. Restored in 2011 and needing very
heavily equipped Pink Panthers. The guide price is is a viable restoration project. little beyond reconditioning, at £5,400 it was not a
currently at £65,000 to 75,000 each – plus those An optimist put a very tired and uninspiring lot of money.
auction fees of course. We'll watch this sale Hotchkiss Jeep on eBay and must have regretted But then, although the Hippo is always going
with interest on whether it is best to sell an entire asking £30,000 for it. He received a lot of varying to be a large and lumbering truck, it is a vehicle
collection of specialist vehicles or to rather ‘trickle’ messages of advice about the price – which that needs time and commitment to operate
them into the market (they have subsequently sold realistically was about £13,000 or less. on the show circuit – and a friend who owns a
- see cmvmag.keypublishing.com for details - Ed). Milweb had two nice turnkey Hotchkiss Jeeps petrol station.
Eleven DUKWS came floating onto the market for less than £15,000 – both of which sold quickly. Harley Davidson XAs don’t appear for sale that
this month – with all bar one up for auction. A The strength of the euro continues to benefit the often and a German advertiser offered at €76,000
restored but long-term stored example sold at continental buyers picking up good value vehicles what he claims to be the best shaft driven XA in the
a Bonhams Beaulieu sale for a high £43,500 from the UK. world, virtually entirely original.
including fees. Sold on behalf of a British Army A nice Daimler Dingo went up for sale at £34,000, It contrasts with the other UK-based XA we had
charity, it is a less challenging restoration for its contrasting with two Daimler Mk2/3 Ferrets at on sale at £35,000 – though neither of these had
new owner than the eight ‘Ducky Tours’ DUKWs £12,995 each. The price of Ferrets has dropped a the iconic disc wheels to make traction in sand
that have all been converted for tourism for 30 little this year and there have been several around much better.
passengers with enhanced safety equipment and the £18,000 region that been on the market for A pair of low-priced ex-Wehrmacht bikes offered
retrofitted with 200bhp Chevrolet 350 engines and some time. A CVRW Fox Polecat with just 135 an entry level into German vehicles. They included
upgraded transmissions. miles on the clock looked viable at £21,500. a 1941 German Victoria K 35 at £4,000 and a 1936
It would be a lot of work to restore these to This month’s best buy was a Dodge WC-51 DKW SB200 at €4,750, which looked a good option.
military spec, although there was an untouched Weapons Carrier for just €9,500 from Erik With interest in German and British motorcycles
model, which should appeal to collectors. Jostad, Norway’s most prolific seller of military continuing to grow, there was also a 1944 James
Following a recent serious accident in the USA vehicles. Buying a vehicle from Norway is often ML at £5,250 and a Matchless G3L 1941 at £5,250.
and subsequent legislation, the appetite for DUKW- a good investment because its super dry Arctic So that’s our vehicle season done. The next
based tour vehicles has all but dried up and despite climate reduces the corrosion levels you would events to look out for are the Dallas Dig Out and the
the obviously large amounts of money that have normally find on a 75-year-old vehicle. Erik keeps Newark and Malvern militaria shows, which help
been spent on them, we don’t see them fetching a finding military treasures and a lot of his sales keep the hobby afloat.
The hammer went down £43,500 on this dry stored DUKW A converted WW2 DUKW up for auction in the US A bargain at €9,500 is this ex Norwegian Dodge WC-51
37
words and pictures Craig Moore
T
he Musée des Blindés, (Museum
of Armour) in Saumur, France is
only a short train journey from
Paris. It should be on every tank
enthusiasts list of places to visit. It has
the biggest collection of World War Two
German Armour, including artillery self-
propelled guns (SPG).
The Wespe was a German army artillery
10.5cm self-propelled gun based on the
Panzer II light tank (Sd.Kfz.121) hull.
Its full designation was 10.5cm Leichte
Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell
Panzerkampfwagen II Selbstfahrlafette
(Sd.Kfz. 124). This long name was
p
abbreviated to 10.5cm LeFH 18/2 auf
Fgst. PzKpfw II (Sf). To make things
s
easier, it was given the nickname ‘Wespe’,
German for wasp – a little thing with
a
a big sting. The letter ‘W’ in Wespe is
The German
pronounced as a ‘V’, and the letter ‘e’ at
the end of the word as ‘a’ (Vespa). This
SPG could fire a 10.5cm fragmentation
high explosive HE shells at enemy targets
W
13.25 km (8.23 miles) away.
The words ‘Leichte Feldhaubitze’ (LeFH)
translate to light field howitzer. The letters
‘SF’ stands for ‘Selbstfahrlafette’ – self-
propelled carriage. The term ‘Fahrgestell
Panzerkampfwagen II’ translates to
‘armoured combat vehicle chassis’ or
‘Panzer II tank chassis.’
The Panzer II light tank was used in the
invasion of France in May 1940. It was
unable to knock out many of the heavily
armoured Allied tanks like the Matilda
II or the French Char B1 bis. Its armour
was thin and could be penetrated by the
British 2pdr (40mm) and French 47mm
SA 35 anti-tank gun. The Panzer II was
withdrawn from frontline active service.
The German weapons manufacturing In need of artillery support,
company Alkett, design team, converted the German Army was supplied with the Wespe,
the obsolete Panzer II tank chassis into
tank destroyers. The turret was removed,
a self-propelled gun praised for its reliability
and a 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun was and mobility
fitted, surrounded by an armoured open
top superstructure. They were known as
the Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131). Later, captured
Soviet 76.2mm anti-tank guns were fitted guns became problematic. Horse drawn was only armed with a 20mm KwK 30/38
on top of Panzer II light tank chassis. They artillery guns and towed artillery guns soon gun. Alkett’s designers relocated the
were called Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 132). This got stuck in the mud or snow. Tracked engine from the rear of the tank chassis
was a quick way of mounting a large gun self-propelled artillery guns could cross to the middle of the hull. Air intakes were
onto a tracked vehicle that could keep up this testing terrain and keep up with the fitted on either side. This allowed the
with the Panzer Divisions as they crossed troops and tanks. The army wanted artillery fighting compartment to be shifted to
rough, muddy open countryside of Poland self-propelled guns. German industry came the rear. This enabled the gun crew more
and Russia during Operation Barbarossa, up with several different solutions, one of room to work the gun. The transmission
the invasion of the Soviet Union, in June which was the Wespe. system was kept in its original location
1941. At that time, a solution had not been Weapons manufacture Alkett’s engineers next to the driver on his right.
found on how to fit a 75mm anti-tank gun choose the Panzer II Ausf.F light tank Unlike other artillery self-propelled
into a tank turret. chassis for the conversion. They were conversions rear ‘trails and spades’ were
The advancing German Army also needed conscious of the substantial recoil that the not fitted to the rear of the vehicle. These
artillery support. As the rains of autumn tank chassis would have to absorb during legs were usually lowered at the back of
and then the snows of winter began to the firing of this large, powerful 10.5cm the SPG and hammered into the ground
take hold of the battlefield, towing artillery artillery gun. The original Panzer II tank to provide a better anchorage when the
38
gun was fired. The Alkett designers felt a Maybach HL 62 TRM 140PS six-cylinder
this was not necessary on the Wespe. petrol 138hp (103 kW) engine fed by two
The tank hull was lengthened at the 140 litre fuel tanks. It had an operational
rear to make room for the Rheinmetall- range on the road of around 200km (120
Borsig. 10.5cm leFH 18/2 L/28 light field miles) before it needed refuelling. The
howitzer. It was mounted in the centre of ZFA SSG 46 Aphon gearbox provided one
the open topped armoured superstructure reverse gear and six forward gears.
over the engine and behind a gun shield. The Panzer II light tank weighted The armour on the rear of this Wespe was a lot
The gun could be traversed 17 degrees 8.8 tons, but the weight of the Wespe thinner. It ranged from 8.7mm to 9.2mm
left and right. It could be depressed -5 artillery SPG rose to 10.82 tons. This put
degrees and elevated +42 degrees. The
superstructure that was built around
additional stress on the engine, but it
seemed to cope with the weight increase ‘It was given the
the gun fighting compartment was only
10mm (0.39 inch) thick. Like other self-
as it still had a reported maximum road
speed of 40km/h (24.85mph). nickname ‘Wespe’,
propelled guns of this period it had a low
rear and open top configuration. It would
Additional truncated cone springs were
added to the first and second road wheels German for wasp –
only protect the crew from small arms
fire and fragmentation high explosive
on both sides of the chassis to reinforce
the suspension to help the vehicle absorb
a little thing with a
shell shrapnel. It would not protect them
from an armour-piercing (AP) round.
the gun’s recoil and additional weight.
The amount of track return rollers each
big sting’
This vehicle was not meant to be on the side was reduced from four to three. The
front line engaging enemy tanks. It was a frontal glacis armoured plate on the tank
support weapon that fired over the heads chassis was redesigned. The driver was
of its own troops and tanks from behind given an armoured compartment on the
the front line. The driver’s compartment left side of the tank that protruded through
was at the front of the vehicle and was the slopping front armour. A tubular bullet
fully enclosed in armour. deflector was welded to the armour in
During inclement weather and scorching front of the driver’s cabin and vision slot.
summer days, a tarpaulin could be secured The driver could only see to his left or
over the open top to give the crew some right through small slits in the armour
protection from rain, snow and some of his cabin. The shallow angle of the
shade from the scorching sun. The Wespe front armour gave greater protection by
artillery self-propelled gun was powered by increasing the thickness of metal any
The armoured louvred grills around the Wespe
varied in thickness from 8.7mm to 9.5mm
OPPOSITE: The Wespe Artillery SPG was built on a Panzer II tank chassis
ABOVE & BELOW: Captured 10.5cm Wespe Artillery Self-propelled guns were examined by the British
School of Tank Technology. This model is missing its rear exhaust silencer box below the rear hatch and has
the gun lock in place. STT
39
guns covered in
A column of German 10.5cm Wespe self-propelled
a Russia n village . AUSTRALIAN WAR
incoming round would whitewash, passing through
MEMORIAL 044595
have to penetrate. It
also provided a higher
chance of a ricochet.
The driver climbed into
his position through a
The tubes above and below the gun barrel helped two-piece hatch which
reduce the recoil. The gun shield armour on this opened forward and
Wespe varied in thickness from 10.8mm to 11.6mm
back over his seat. The
engine in the middle
‘Battlefield reports of the tank chassis
40
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew 5 (driver, commander, gunner, two
loaders)
Propulsion Maybach HL 62 TR 6
cylinder, water-cooled 6.23 litre 140hp
gasoline/petrol engine
Speed (on/off road) 40/20km/h
(25/12.5mph)
Maximum range (on/off road):
220/140km (135/85 miles)
Main armament 10.5cm leFH 18/2 L/26
(early) or L/28 (late)
Secondary armament 7.92mm (0.31in)
0.5cm leFH 18/2 (Sf) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ‘Wespe’ (Sd.Kfz.124) artillery self-propelled MG 34 or MG 40
gun from the 1st Abteilung, Panzerartillerie regiment, 8th Panzer-Division, Ukraine, summer 1944. Main gun elevation - 5 to + 42 degrees
DAVID BOCQUELET Upper hull armour 15mm (0.59in)
Lower hull armour 18mm (0.70in)
Side hull armour 15mm (0.59in)
Superstructure armour 10mm (0.39in)
Production Total 676
Dimensions (overall)
Length 4.81m (15ft 9in)
Width 2.28m (7ft 6in)
Height 2.30m (7ft 7in)
Total weight, battle ready 11 tonnes
(10.82 tons)
‘Designers
relocated the
10.5cm leFH 18/2 (Sf) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ‘Wespe’ (Sd.Kfz.124) artillery self- engine from the
rear of the tank
propelled gun from an unidentified unit, Italy, summer 1944. DAVID BOCQUELET
chassis to the
middle of the hull’
1943. By March 1945, 307 Wespe SPGs,
less than half the original production
number, were still in service. Battlefield
reports recorded that the gun crews
praised its reliability and mobility. What
they did not like was the lack of
protection. They complained that the
armour was too thin and the
superstructure was too tall. Its high
profile made them an easy target to be
spotted and then fired upon. There was
10.5cm leFH 18/2 (Sf) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II ‘Wespe’ (Sd.Kfz.124) artillery self- inadequate protection at the rear of the
propelled gun from the 146th Panzer Artillerie Regiment, PanzerLehr Regiment, Normandy, summer
superstructure. The loaders working at the
1944. DAVID BOCQUELET
back end of the vehicle were the most
artillery SPGs. They included: artillery observation vehicles. These were exposed to enemy fire. Another complaint
• 1.Abteilung (1st Battalion) often based on tanks with the main gun was that the fighting compartment was
• Stabskompanie (HQ company) removed to provide additional space for too cramped.
• 1.Batterie (6x Wespe 10.5cm Artillery
SPG)
maps and radios. A dummy gun was
welded in its place so that the enemy
• 2.Batterie (6x Wespe 10.5cm Artillery
SPG)
would think it was a typical gun tank.
Panzer II to V tanks were used as
Further Reading
You can read about this and the other 19 Artil-
41
Super
words and pictures Mark Nash
Sarry
Cold War veterans -
loved by those who
served with them
42
F
or British Army Veterans of a certain were loathed by those that had to fix them. 1948. After World War Two, Britain began
age (and certain campaign), no sight Designed and built by Alvis, around to give independence back to countries
brings back the memory of comfort, 1,850 Saracens – or ‘Sarrys’ as they are that were part of the empire. This triggered
relief and salvation more than that affectionately dubbed - were produced. a revolt in Malaya led by the Malayan
of the Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier. Each vehicle cost about £350,000, around Communist Party (MCP), members of
A true veteran, this Cold War vehicle was £8.3m today. The APC was part of a which had fought with the British against
reliable and loved by those that served on wider family of vehicles designated as the Japanese during the War. The MCP
and with them, although they the FV600s, which included the FV601 renamed itself the Malaya Races Liberation
Saladin, the FV620 Stalwart or Army (MRLA) and disappeared into the
‘Stolly’ (covered in CMV Issue dense jungle that covered most of the
217, June 2019) and the country. By 1951, this guerilla-fought
FV651/652 Salamander. conflict known as the Malayan Emergency
The Saracen’s story was still ongoing. British Military leaders –
begins in Malaya, in likely recalling experience gained fighting
the Japanese – realised that
tanks and heavy artillery
would be unsuitable for
close-quarters jungle
fighting. Infantry, supported
by armoured cars and
armoured personnel carriers
(APC), would be the key.
Unfortunately, the British
Army was devoid of any
type of APC. As a result, the
FV603, as it was now called,
untried, untested and not
yet in production was
pushed forward.
Still under review
by the
‘With increasing
the world’s foremost producer of rubber and
also located on the same plot of land
the trees, from which the sap used to create
as Matt Kill’s. The vehicle, a standard
Mk. 2 Saracen number ‘83 BA 22’, is
the material is extracted, are arranged in
precise rows, roughly 8ft (2.4m) apart. It violence, came
increased
owned by Adrian Sergent, a friend of
was necessary for the vehicles to be able to
Matt and a veteran of the Troubles.
pass through these trees.
Adrian “always saw them around
but never actually used one” during
Unladen, the Saracen weighed about 8.4
tons, fully loaded it was about 9.9 tons.
defences’
his time in Northern Ireland. This The vehicle was an all welded-armour plate
Saracen does not have as colourful a construction. This armour was of the rolled-
past as Matt’s, spending most of its homogenous (RHA) type and was up to
years at the Royal Artillery base at the .62in(16mm) thick all over the hull.
School of Electrical and Mechanical The Saracen has its engine front and
Engineering (SEME) from 1961 to centre and is equipped with a small
1976, and being used as a range machine gun turret. This turret is the exact
safety vehicle around 1988. Adrian same model as used on the FV701 Ferret.
grew up in Benbecula in the Outer This turret is located just behind the driver’s
Hebrides, and as a child saw Saracens position, on the roof of the vehicle. It was
at Royal Artillery Range, Hebrides. initially armed with the US-made Browning
Fender detail of the Sarcen. Here we seen
Adrian’s dad worked at the range, M1919 .30 Calibre (7.62mm) Machine Gun, the vehicles lights and horn. The large object
so he often visited as a child and took also known as the L3 in British service. This behind these are one of the two smoke grenade
would later be replaced with the 7.62mm banks. Both this one, and the second found on
the chance to explore the Saracens. the left fender, have three tubes
general-purpose machine gun, also known
Adrian said: “It’s strange having
to the ‘squaddie’ as a ‘Gimpy’. The turret
a Saracen that I could’ve seen or
opened to allow the occupant to stand
climbed on as a young lad.”
shoulder height above it.
This year the vehicle was christened
The driver’s compartment, at the front,
Nev. This is in memory of Adrian’s
is protected by a large, central and sloped
friend, Neville Stringer, who died from plate with two smaller ‘cheeks’ which are
cancer earlier this year and was also a angled in, forming the cab’s somewhat
veteran of the Queen’s Regiment. triangular shape. This section would hold
The plan, once the vehicle’s the vehicle’s crew, consisting of the driver,
restoration is complete, is that Nev the commander/machine gunner and the
will be used for events to raise radio operator. The driver sat centrally in
money for veterans’ and children’s the vehicle. He had three periscopes at his
cancer charities. disposal: one in the front plate, and one Close up of the suspension system on the front
on each cheek. The commander/machine left wheel
gunner was located behind the driver and
sat on a swivelling chair. He operated the
machine gun and also guided the driver. It
was forbidden for Saracen’s to be driven
on public roads without a man in the turret.
Furthermore, should a Saracen crash or hit
something, it would officially be the turret
man’s fault for not correctly guiding the
vehicle. The radio operator sat down and to
the right of the commander’s chair.
The Turret of the Saracens were the same as
Behind the crew position is the passenger
those used on the FV701 Ferret Scout Cars.
compartment. The conflict in Malaya also They were initially armed with the Browning
dictated the length of this section. It was M1919 .30 Calibre (7.62mm) machine gun -
ABOVE: The rear of Adrian Sargent’s Saracen. requested that the Saracen had the ability known as the L3 in British service. This was
Passengers would enter and exit through the later replaced with the 7.62mm general purpose
for a NATO-standard stretcher to be carried
large rear doors at the rear. machine gun
TOP: Adrian Sergent’s Mk. 2 Saracen with horizontally in the rear of the hull. This was
engine removed due to an ambulance version of the FV603
44
of a .303 Bren light machine gun, mounted a single differential. During steering and used in Hong Kong as police vehicles until
on a large ring. In later years, the Bren was cornering, this can be problematic as each the late-1990s.
either replaced by newer weapons or the wheel turns on a different arc. This can It was also chosen for use in Northern
position was removed entirely. Firing ports lead to failure of the bevel boxes when the Ireland. Allegedly, there was a political
with fold-out doors were also built into the vehicle is run on concrete or tarmac. Driving motive behind the decision as just a few
sides of this compartment. There were off-road on mud, grass or gravel would often years prior to the start of ‘The Troubles’, the
three either side and one on the left section cure the issue. Experienced drivers would Prague Spring had occurred, resulting in the
of the rear door. know when they were getting wind-up deployment of Soviet tanks onto the streets,
To speed up production and reduce costs, because the steering would get heavier. An causing international outrage. The British
as many parts as possible of the FV603
would be shared with the FV601 Saladin. The Saracen shared many parts with the FV601 Saladin Armoured Car, most notably the wheels
This commonality in parts would also make and suspension system
maintenance much easier. Much of the
drive train and suspensions were identical
to the Saladin. The chosen engine was
the same Rolls-Royce B80 straight-eight,
five and three-quarter litre petrol engine.
This produced 160bhp, propelling the
vehicle to a top speed of around 45mph
(72kph), although 30mph (48kph) was
the recommended safe speed. This was
coupled via a fluid flywheel to a semi-
automatic five-speed Wilson pre-select
gearbox driving through a centrally placed
differential and a ‘forward-and-reverse’
transfer box. This allowed the vehicle to
travel just as fast backwards as it could
forwards.
Like the other FV600s, the Saracen was
a six-wheeled vehicle. All the wheels Models & Variants
were driven and had independent, double Saracen Mk. 1 (FV603A): Three-hatch turret, periscopes and side hatches for the driver
wishbones of unequal length and shock- Saracen Mk. 2 (FV603B): Two-hatch turret
absorber suspension. Due to the shape of Saracen Mk. 1/5 & 2/5: Standard Mk. 1s and 2s fitted with partial applique armour and
the hull, the shock absorbers for the front vision blocks.
wheels were placed above the wheel, while Saracen Mk. 3: A Mk. 2 fitted with reverse-flow-cooling for use in hot countries.
they were placed below the rear sets. Drive Saracen Mk. 5: A Mk. 2 with a full complement of applique armour and vision blocks.
from the engine was sent from the central Saracen Mk. 6 (FV603C): RFC and applique armour
transfer box to a bevel gearbox in between FV604: Armoured command vehicle, no turret, canvas penthouses/tents carried.
the centre wheel stations which divided the FV610: Armoured command post, designed for the Royal Artillery, no turret, higher
power evenly between the wheels. From rear-section, canvas penthouses/tents carried.
here, it was sent out to the centre wheels, FV611: Armoured ambulance.
but also forward and backward to similar
bevel boxes behind each of the front and
rear wheels. Drive from here is then provided expedient remedy often used by these men Government did not want to repeat this by
via short, interconnected driveshafts which involved driving one side of the vehicle on sending in the newer FV432 tracked APCs
run through universal ‘Tracta’ joints into soft ground and the other on hard ground. and opted for the wheeled Saracen instead.
the wheels and their large protruding hubs One issue with the Saracen’s design was With increasing violence, came increased
which contain reduction gears. These joints its internal temperature. On the outside of defences. Most vehicles were fitted with
allow the continuous drive to the wheels the driver’s compartment, there are square wire cages over vulnerable areas such as
while the suspension reacts to the terrain. outlets that duct hot air out of the engine the headlights and periscopes. Some were
On the FV600s, it is the first four wheels bay. These had the effect of heating the even equipped with full cage armour to
that steer. Power steering is provided by sidewalls of the hull, vents on the rear of the protect the vehicles from RPG-7s. Another
a recirculating ball box which rotates the hull, near the two main doors did the same. addition was ‘nudge bars’ that allowed
wheels via a compensating linkage that Further heat emanated from the fluid-fly drivers to slowly push rioters back. One
ensures the central wheels steer at a wheel which was located under the driver’s unavoidable feature of the Saracen was
reduced angle compared to the fronts. feet, which emerged from small vents. exploited by enemies – its six wheels. They
The six-wheel-drive system was not These resulted in an uncomfortable level found the Saracen could be easily disabled
without issues, one of the biggest being of heat and a Reverse-Flow Cooling (RFC) if a beer keg was pushed between the front
‘Wind-Up’. This has been explained in both system was installed where cool air was and middle wheels, which resulted in the
the January 2019 and June 2019 issues drawn in through specially adapted access vehicle not being able to steer. This was one
of this magazine, so this will be a brief covers to improve crew comfort. of the reasons it was replaced in Northern
description. Wind-Up occurs because it’s a The Saracen has served all over the world, Ireland by the FV1611 Humber ‘Pig’.
six-wheel-drive vehicle, and all six wheels not just with the British Army. They were The vehicle featured in this article is ‘83 BA
rotate at the same speed. Also, the vehicle sold to South Africa, Jordan, Kuwait and 78’, a Saracen Mk. 5.
does not have a limited slip differential, just Thailand, to name but a few and were even This was the designation given to Mk.
45
and it was shipped straight from Libya to
Northern Ireland. When it arrived it was
still in a sandy desert livery where it was
used for a couple of months before being
upgraded to Mk. 2/5 standard. The vehicle
still bears scars from its time in Northern
Ireland including numerous bullet strikes
around the firing ports. At one time, it
was even turned into an ambulance. It is
thought that the Saracen was turned back
to an APC in the mid-1970s.
“There is always something to do on
them,” Matt said. He has upholstered
Other Service
Malayan Emergency (1952-1960)
the passenger seats, repaired hydraulic
Borneo Confrontation (1963-66) lines, and found an original intercom/
Aden Emergency (1964-1967) radio set.
2 Saracens that received West Germany (1952-1970s) “I did all the work myself, along with my
additional appliqué armour. Armour around dear father,” he said. “Being ex-REME, I’m a
the driver’s position was doubled with an
additional 16mm, while the sides and rear
of the vehicle received an additional .39in
‘For use in Northern Ireland, the
(10mm) of armour. Other modifications
include the replacement of periscopes with
now-ageing Saracen was chosen’
bulletproof vision blocks and replacement condition, heavily rusted, and none of the mechanic anyway. I’m used to working on
of the mushroom ventilators with flat, hatches opened. In all, it took Matt, with the things like Land Rovers, Bedford four-toners,
square ones made of welded armour plate. aid of Bob ,who died in 2011, around seven and had done a little bit on FV432s.”
The additional armour also resulted in a months to get it running and roadworthy, Thanks to this, he estimates that the entire
weight increase of two tons, bringing the and up to a presentable standard in around restoration has only cost around £1,500
total weight to about 10.4 tons. 16 months. “It’s an interesting thing to own,” while insurance for the vehicle only costs
The vehicle is owned by ex-Territorial said Matt. “It has so much history and new around £100 a year.
Army Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers things keep appearing.” As it stands now, Matt estimates that the
(REME) member Matt Kill, based in Matt has been able to trace the vehicle’s vehicle is worth around £8,000 to £10,000,
Southampton. Matt has had an interest in history. ‘83 BA 78’ was built in October 1956 based on similar examples. He keeps the
Saracens since the age of seven, largely due but was not issued to an army unit until vehicle as something of a memorial to Bob
his father, Robert ‘Bob’ Kill, who drove them 1972. At some point between this, it was on and has said he would never part with it
in the army. a shipment to Libya but was never unloaded because of this. As a tribute, he has even
Matt bought the Saracen in 2005 from Ian from the transport ship. This Saracen is a added the insignia of his father’s unit - the
Young for £2,000. He said it was in an ‘OK’ veteran of the Troubles in Northern Ireland Queens Own Hussars - to the vehicle.
Dimensions (overall)
Length 16ft 4in (4.9m)
Width 8ft 3in (2.5m)
Height 6ft 6in (1.9m) - 8ft (2.4m)
with turret
Weight 10,250kg
46
Marltrax.indd 1 24/09/2019 09:46:04
words and pictures James Kinnear
i v e r
Recovery
MAIN IMAGE: A general view of the external tank display. The River Neva is located between the tanks and the woods in the far background
BELOW: The museum’s BT-5 breaking the surface of the River Neva during its recovery in the summer of 2007. ANDREY AKSENOV
R M
ost military vehicle
museum collections are just
that, collections of tanks and
other armoured vehicles that
have been gathered together, sometimes
with a binding theme, as general
displays of armoured vehicles.
Some, such as the Bovington tank
museum in the UK and the Kubinka
tank museum in the Russian Federation
are located on long-established testing
grounds, so there is a direct relationship
between some of the tanks and their
location.
In the Russian Federation, several
museum collections located in European
Russia have an even more direct
historical relationship – to major battles
48
y that were fought locally.
One such museum is that located at
Nevsky Pyatachok, to the east of modern-
day St Petersburg, formerly Leningrad.
The Leningrad Blockade Breakthrough
Museum was established in 1985 on
the bank of the River Neva between
the regional towns of Kirovsk and
Schlisselburg, on the 40th anniversary of
the end of the war in Europe.
important due to its location between
besieged Leningrad and the south
western shore of Lake Ladoga, over
which the city was supplied by small
ships in the summer months and by
means of ice roads in winter.
The UNESCO designated museum site
north of Kirovsk is located on the eastern
bank of the River Neva at the exact point
that the Siege of Leningrad was first
Leningradsky front around Leningrad and
the Volkhov front to the east of the city.
With Red Army troops now holding
the Nevsky Pyatachok bridgehead east
of Leningrad, the city strengthened its
supply lifeline across the relatively small
land area near Kirovsk. As such the
region was bitterly contested throughout
the remaining year of the siege.
The Siege of Leningrad was finally
The museum has slowly grown into a broken. The museum commemorates broken on January 27, 1944 when the
panorama museum building surrounded ‘Operation Iskra’ (Spark), whereby on the first echelons of Red Army troops to
by a unique collection of Red Army morning of January 12, 1943 troops of relieve the city during the ‘Leningrad
tanks that saw combat in the immediate the 67th Army of the Leningrad Front Proriv’ or ‘Leningrad Breakthrough’
area during World War Two, but it is the crossed the River Neva together with operation forced their way out of the
context of the museum’s location that forces of the 2nd and 8th Armies of Nevsky Pyatachok bridgehead from
makes the museum particularly historic. the Volkhov Front, breaking the almost launch points around Kirovsk. Leningrad
The town of Kirovsk, east of Leningrad complete encirclement of Leningrad. was the first city to be awarded ‘Hero
was the scene of intense fighting during The 10 to 12km wide land bridgehead City’ status in 1945.
the Siege of Leningrad, which lasted formed at Nevsky Pyatachok during the To commemorate the Leningrad
nearly three years from September 8, harshest winter weeks of January 1943 relief operation, the ‘Proriv Blokadi
1941 when Axis forces took Schlisselburg provided an additional land corridor – Leningrada Diorama’ (Diorama of the
until the siege was finally broken in the the ‘Doroga Pobedi’ or ‘Road of Victory’ Relief of the Siege of Leningrad) museum
same area in January 1944. that allowed military forces, equipment was established in 1985, a diorama
The Kirovsk region was strategically and supplies to be moved between the originally being incorporated into one
49
of the approach ramps of a new road
bridge across the River Neva at Nevsky
Pyatachok, approximately 5km from
Kirovsk. This was later complemented by
a purpose designed and built museum
building with a small but growing
collection of Soviet tanks.
The collection at Nevsky Pyatachok is The first KV to arrive at the museum was this early welded turret model, with turret number ‘061’.
unique in that most of the tanks have The same KV tank today, more than a decade later
been recovered locally from the river and
surrounding marshland. Unsurprisingly, Dubrovka on September 26, 1942 and was restoration at the Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant
a significant amount of equipment was sunk after being hit by small calibre gun fire. in Schlisselburg. The BT-5 gave up some
lost into the River Neva in the Kirovsk The tank was recovered during winter secrets of its own. Even as the tank broke
region during the Siege of Leningrad and in February 2005. The T-38 was winched the surface of the river after more than six
the city’s subsequent relief, and in recent to shore by recovery vehicles using block decades entombed in the silt of the riverbed,
years the river has given up several tanks and tackle sets, the task requiring the the design was seen to be unusual.
lost during the siege. rescue team to cut a channel through the The standard rear-mounted BT-5 type
Although the River Neva is a relatively ice with chain saws. exhaust system had been replaced in
short 74km in length, it is wide, and up Unlike the KV tank recovered during the service by a modified twin-tube type as used
to 30m deep in places. The tanks in the same season, the tracks and running gear on on the later BT-7, with the original exhaust
museum were lost in combat or in most the T-38 were locked solid by corrosion, and it outlets plated over.
cases due to breaking through ice and had to be dragged to shore, though this was The reason for this curious modification
sinking into the River Neva or surrounding
lakes and marshland.
The tanks at the museum bear the
combined scars of combat and corrosion
damage. Tanks that had been resting in
silt fared considerably better than those
exposed to aerated river water, as can
be seen when comparing the damage.
Most of the tanks were recovered in the
first decade of the 21st century, and
from locations within line of sight of
the museum. The locations of several
other tanks have been plotted for future The BT-5 touches shore again for the first time in more than six decades. ANDREY AKSENOV
recovery and restoration operations. ...and the BT-5 in its current location at the museum after undergoing restoration
T-26 not a problem due to its relatively light weight. became clear as the recovered tank was
The museum’s T-26 M-1933 light tank As found, the tank turret had been partly being stripped for restoration. Inspection
was recovered from the river in May wrenched from its turret ring, but the tank plates and stamps within the tank revealed
2003 as a result of unusually low water was otherwise in an intact state. Crew that it had undergone a capital rebuild at
levels revealing the tank’s hull above the members had apparently escaped safely, Plant Nº183 in Kharkov in 1938, including
waterline, the turret having been removed leaving the tank with its full ammunition replacement of the original Soviet M-5
at an earlier date. Inspection showed that complement, including wooden boxes filled engine with a US origin ‘Liberty’ engine
the tank’s entire hull and running gear was with F1 grenades and all repair tooling manufactured by Allison under licence
intact and in good condition having been neatly stowed in ZIP (spares and tool) and stamped as having been produced a
buried in silt. During restoration at the panniers. The T-38 underwent a prolonged decade earlier, in 1928. This was an interim
Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant in Schlisselburg, restoration at the Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant installation undertaken at the Kharkov plant
a replacement turret was located in St
Petersburg, which is believed according
to local sources to be the tank’s own
original turret, which had been removed
‘The third KV tank at the museum was
many years before due to it being visible
in shallow water and above water level for
recovered from a depth of 15 metres
prolonged periods. The turret is, as a result,
significantly more corroded than the hull.
in November 2011’
The T-26 tank was put on display at the
museum on January 17, 2005. at Schlisselburg and joined the museum due to a shortage of new Soviet built engines
collection on May 5, 2005. at the time of rebuild.
T-38 The BT-5 tank was fitted with later tracks
The T-38 amphibious reconnaissance tank BT-5 as used on the BT-7 and featured the use of
located at the museum is relatively rare. This The Kharkov-built BT-5 located at the improvised grouser bars welded to some
T-38 is known to have belonged to a separate museum sank in deep water in the middle track shoes.
amphibious tank brigade involved in a counter- of the River Neva. It was raised onto a barge The corroded armour on the hull and turret
offensive over the River Neva near Nevsky in June 2007 and transported to shore for of the recovered BT-5 was shot-blasted and
50
repainted with marine grade paint, while the particularly interesting. links had long-since been removed for
badly corroded sheet steel track guards were The first KV to be recovered, restored and scrap. There were however enough buried
rebuilt to exacting standards. exhibited at the museum, is a KV-1 M-1940 track links remaining for the restorers at
After a two-month professional restoration at as built at the LKZ in Leningrad before the the Nevsky shipyard to complete one side
the Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant in Schlisselburg, plant’s evacuation to Siberia in the early on the KV-1S, with a few links on the other
the tank was moved to its new location at the autumn of 1941. The tank has the distinctive side. The KV heavy tank was delivered to
Leningrad Blockade Breakthrough Museum early welded turret and flame-torch cut the museum on January 17, 2007.
in October 2007. Respect for the sacrifices appliqué armour plates welded on the hull The third KV tank at the museum was
recovered from a depth of 15m in November
2011 and was recovered in full combat order
with the ammunition complement intact.
The tank is now painted in white winter
camouflage with the name ‘Leningradets’
(Leningrader) on the turret side. It also
features the additional armour screens
on the hull that were common on early
Leningrad production KV tanks.
Post-war tanks
On the other side of the museum from the
A column of T-38 amphibious reconnaissance tanks in the Leningrad region during the Siege of Leningrad. recovered wartime tanks is a small collection
The museum’s newly restored T-38 soon after its arrival in 2005. Note the turret number, which is of post-war Soviet tanks, including T-55M,
taken from the wartime photograph. ANDREY AKSENOV T-62M, T-72 and T-80 main battle tanks.
Nearby the museum, overlooking the river,
of military personnel in time of war is to this sides to protect the turret race. a plinth mounted T-34-85 war memorial
day treated with greater reverence in Russia The tank was lost in 1941 while being completes the tank collection at Nevsky
and former Soviet bloc countries than is ferried across the River Neva on a log raft Pyatachok.
common in many western countries and the mounted on pontoon boats. After first The museum is located within an area with
installation of the BT-5 at its final resting place underwater pressure jetting to remove the several historically significant sites, not least
was undertaken as an official ceremony with accumulated silt, the tank was winched to the western and eastern shores of Lake
full military honours. A group of veterans had the riverbank on April 16, 2003, a process Ladoga between which supplies were ferried
place of honour at the event. made easier by the fact that after 62 years to Leningrad by water in summer and by
in the water the tank’s wheels and tracks vehicle over ice roads in winter. The
KV heavy tanks remained free moving, allowing it to roll out museums in the area are well worth visiting,
The museum also has three recovered KV of the river rather having to be being dragged as they provide the historical context of the
heavy tanks, two of which were built locally out. It was rebuilt by the 61st Tank Repair Siege of Leningrad and its meaning to the
Plant at Strelnya, fitted with a modern tank Russians, who lost more civilian dead in that
engine and delivered to the museum in siege than the combined Allied Forces of the
September 2003 where it was manoeuvred US and UK during all of World War Two.
into its current position under its own power.
The second tank to arrive at the museum
was built in 1943 and is the only known
surviving ‘original’ KV-1S (Skorostnoy - high
speed) heavy tank. The KV-1s was built at
ChKZ in Chelyabinsk in 1943 as a lightened
version of the KV-1 series with a new cast
The author and Vladimir Gavrilov, his brother-in- turret, commander’s cupola, modified
law and St Petersburg resident, standing by the transmission, a lowered rear engine deck and
museum’s recovered and restored T-26 light tank new wheels.
The lightened KV-1S was intended to
at the Leningrad Kirov Zavod (LKZ) before prolong the viability of the original KV tank Museum Location and Opening Hours
its evacuation to Chelyabinsk. The original until it was replaced by the Iosif Stalin The museum is located on the eastern bank
of the River Neva as the bridge on the A105
LKZ facility remained in operation during the (IS) heavy tank series. When recovered road crosses the river north of Kirovsk. The
Siege of Leningrad, repairing KV and other. from what is now light woodland at museum is open daily 10am-6pm, except
Although the main production facilities had Karbuselsky Polye near the river Neva Mondays. The main exhibits are on open
display, but the territory is fenced, hence the
been evacuated the plant continued to play a in October 2005, the destroyed parts requirement to keep to the opening hours
vital role during the long months of the ‘900 were originally thought to be from a listed. Although it is possible to get to the
Day’ siege – actually 872 days and nights. single KV-1S tank; however as duplicate museum by public transport, the location is
There are two early production welded- sections including two engine decks well beyond the city boundary and it is best
to rent a car and driver from the city centre
turret KV tanks produced at the LKZ at the were uncovered it became clear that (which will cost about £25 with the driver
museum, and a later final production KV-1S the components were actually from two waiting an hour or so – which compares
as produced at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Zavod separate KV-1S tanks, both destroyed in rather favourably with an equivalent
(ChKZ) after the Kirov plant was relocated combat during the relief of Leningrad in suburban journey by rail in Great Britain).
The journey time to the museum is about
there by rail in the autumn of 1941. The rarity January 1944. One tank had a complete 40 minutes traffic permitting.
of the museum’s KV tanks makes them hull section, but the accessible upper track
51
agrément n° 2002-223
S h e
MUSCLE
The M32 recovery vehicle answered
the call when the big guns got
bogged down on the battlefield
W
hen tanks break down, get and then the M4 Sherman tanks provided heroes of the armour world.
bogged down or knocked out the basic chassis for the M31 and M32 The ARV became an important part of
due to enemy action the crews armoured recovery vehicles (ARV) the inventory to armoured advance as it
turn to the recovery vehicles to respectively. Being based on the combat removed roadway obstacles, recovered
get them out. The same vehicles can also vehicles the recovery vehicles used the disabled vehicles and could handle in-field
remove obstructions that limit or prevent same parts and fuels and were also repair duties. In World War Two such
the movement of armour. mechanically familiar to the crews. The M32 vehicles were invaluable to clear vital
During World War Two the US M3 Lee and its family are surely among the unsung roadways, bridges and even airfields to clear
54
RIGHT (FROM TOP):
M32B1A1 near Humhung
during the Korean War. Note
HVSS suspension. WIKIMEDIA
COMMONS; World War Two
photo showing an M32 with
extended crane ready to start
lifting. The Jerrycans at the side
show signs of recent refuelling;
The M32 was based on the
chassis of a Sherman tank.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; ARV
crew cook supper in front of
their vehicle while local children
wait for a share. Note 81mm
mortar in ready position
55
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It was operated by a power take-off (PTO)
from the main drive shaft. The winch was Model Kits of the M32
mounted beside the driver and the drum The M32B1 was first produced as a kit by Italeri in 1980. The original and later re-
was mounted on the outside of the vehicle. boxes can be bought quite cheaply online and was a very good model for its time.
The prototypes of the M32 were produced Tamiya also produced this version using the Italeri moulds but this I believe is quite
by the Lima Locomotive Company on a rare find and I do not know what if any
January 11, 1943. These prototypes were the improvements Tamiya made. In 2012
T5, T5E1, T5E2, T5E3 and T5E4. The designs Tasca released a M32B1 followed by
were tested in competition at Aberdeen Asuka in 2014. The only 1/72 model in
Proving Grounds against another two, the T2 injected moulded plastic is by UM again
and T7 which had turret-mounted booms. of the M32B1 version. There are various
After several weeks of rigorous testing the resin replacement parts, photo-etched
T5 was felt to be the best design. Further detail sets and decal sets to enhance
tests took place at Aberdeen with the T5 your M32B1 model.
and T5E1, Camp Hood using the T5E2 and
Camp Seely which was given the T5E4. The Striking 1980 box art for the Italeri 1/35th model
T5E3’s engine had seized and could not be synchromesh transmission gearbox
tested further. with five forward and one reverse gear. Ammunition stowage consisted
The designs were standardised in June Suspension was of the vertical volute spring of 30 x 81mm mortar smoke rounds, 300 x
1943 by OCM 21553 as M32 (T5), M32E1 suspension type for the earlier versions and 0.50 rounds, 2,000 x 0.30 rounds, 20 hand
(T5E1), M32E2 (T5E2), M32E3 (T32E3) and horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS) grenades and six smoke grenades.
the M32E4, (T32E4). The T7 was dropped for the later A1 versions. Turrets taken from gun tanks being
and the M32E4 never entered production. Armament consisted of one 81mm field converted to ARVs were kept in storage and
Some M32s were converted into M34 prime mortar mounted on the front hull. This was shipped to factories producing 75mm gun
movers to tow heavy artillery. They were designed mainly for smoke laying to shield tanks to save casting new turrets. As they
unarmed and had equipment suitable for recovery operations. Also carried was one did not have the new cheek armour and had
their task to pull heavy guns. 0.50 M2 heavy Browning machine gun and no loaders hatches, they tended to be added
The M32 had a Spicer manual one 0.30 Browning M1919 machine gun. to M4 composite hulls.
Rear view of World War Two M32 fully stowed and with heavy tow
chain. The 0.50 machine gun is fitted for anti-aircraft
or local defence
Variants
M32B1: A M32 based on the M4A1 tank. A larger production total M32A1B3: A M32B3 with HVSS suspension.
of 1,085 vehicles were produced by the companies of Federal T14E1: M32B3 with HVSS suspension produced for the US
Machine, Baldwin Locomotive and Pressed Steel Car Company. Marine Corps late in 1945. A total of 80 were produced.
Several were supplied to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease. M34 Prime mover: These were M32B1 recovery vehicles without
These were named ARV Mark III by the British armed forces. the recovery gear. Simply used for towing heavy artillery such as
M32B2: A M32 based on the M4A2 tank. Only 26 were built by the 240mm howitzer into their positions. It had no armament and
the Lima Locomotive Company. was provided with air brakes, tail lights and electrical outlets for
M32B3: The M32 variant based on the M4A3 tank. A total of towing heavy loads. Four seats were provided for the crew. M34s
344 were made by Lima Locomotive and Pressed Steel Car production started in 1944 and finished in 1945.
Companies. T1E1 Mine Exploder ‘Earthworm’: T1 mine exploder used with
M32B4: This type never entered production. It was based on the the boom on the M32. First developed and produced in 1943 it
M4A4 tank and the prototype had a Chrysler Multibank engine. did see some limited service in combat.
M32A1: A M32 with HVSS suspension. T2E1 Mine Exploder: This used the T2 mine exploder attached
M32A1B1: A M32B1 with HVSS suspension, 175 examples being to the boom of the M32. It was designed for the US Marines but
converted by Baldwin Locomotive Company. was found to be impractical and was dropped in October 1943.
M32A1B2: A M32B2 with HVSS suspension. Chenca: A Mexican army designation of its M32s
57
SPECIFICATIONS
Type Armoured Recovery Vehicle.
Make M32
Nationality United States
Operators United States, Great Britain,
Israel, Mexico and Yugoslavia
In Service July 1943 to September
1952. (Mexico to the late 1990s)
Production run 1,562
Engine M32 and M32B1: Continental
R975-C1 or C4. Nine-cylinder radical
gasoline engine. 350 or 400hp at
2,400rpm. M32B2: General motors 6046
twin in-line diesel engine producing 375hp
at 2,100rpm. M32B3: Ford GAA V8 gasoline
Every sergeant major would be proud engine producing 450hp at 2,600rpm
of vehicles as clean as the museum’s collection. Each one spick and span to show off to the paying public Transmission Spicer manual
synchromesh transmission. Five
Lima Locomotive Company started Mine Exploder. Only the T1E1 saw service in
forward and one reverse gears
production of the M32 by converting five limited numbers.
Suspension Vertical Volute Spring
gun tanks into M32B2s in June 1943. After World War Two, several M32s were
Suspension (VVSS). All the -A1
This was followed by production of 26 given to the Mexican Army. These were
variants had Horizontal Volute Spring
M32B3s in May 1944 and 20 more ARVs called ‘Chenca’ and served until 1998. M32s Suspension (HVSS)
during the summer of 1944. were also given to the Israeli Army in the late Fuel Capacity 148 to 175 US gallons
Pressed Steel Car Company was more 1940s. They served during the Suez Crisis, depending on model
prolific making 163 M32s and 475 M32B1s Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War in units Operational Range 120 to 150 miles
between December 1943 and December equipped with the M51 ‘Super Sherman’. (190 to 240km)
1944. The same company converted 298 Tanks break down in or out of combat. Top Speed 24mph (3kph)
M4A3 Sherman tanks into M32B3s from Things like trees, landslides, mud, sand, Crew Four
May to December1944. Licences were landslips can all get a tank stuck and Armament One 81mm mortar, one
granted to Baldwin Locomotive Works and prevent the progress of an armoured 0.50 M2 machine gun, one 0.30 M1919
Federal Machine Works in November 1944. assault. Tanks also collapse bridges, get machine gun
The former produced 195 M32B1s by June stuck on buildings, simply tip over or lose a Armour 51mm to 13mm
1945 and the latter producing 385 M32B1s track. For all these a call for the ARV is the
by May 1945. Overall 1,562 M32s were answer to the problem and the best ARV is Dimensions (overall)
produced. the one based on the tank it recovers. The Length 19.3ft (5.9m)
The M32 succeeded the M31 ARV built on M32 family answered the call and being Width 8.86ft (2.7m)
the chassis of the M3 Lee Medium Tank. derived from the M4 Sherman gun tank Height 9.66ft (2.94m)
The availability of the Sherman M4 tank with which it served provided the ideal Weight M32, M32B1 and M32B3 64,300 lb.
made it an excellent basis for conversion solution until the introduction of heavier M32B2 67,600lb
to other battlefield vehicles. The M32 was main battle tanks.
a classic example of this, being designed
from the outset as an ARV. An M32 ARV (aka M32 TRV) in Batey ha-Osef
The M32 first started service with the US Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Army in July 1943. They served in Italy, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Europe and in limited numbers in the Far
East. They were also used by the British
Army, the M32B1 being designated as the
Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Mark III.
A few M32B2s were given to Tito’s forces
in Yugoslavia. During World War Two the
M32 was considered adequate for the task
and were well received.
M32A1 variants produced by the
Baldwin Locomotive Company in 1945
served through the Korean war. However,
these were considered inadequate and
underpowered for the recovery of newer
tanks such as the M26 Pershing and the
M46 Patton when they were introduced.
After the Korean war the M32 was replaced
with the M74 Tank recovery vehicle based
on the M4A3. The M32 was planned to be
equipped with mine exploding equipment
such as the T1E1 ‘Earthworm’ and the T2E1
58
Limited availability for 2020
✓ Full Restorations
✓ Resprays & Stencils
✓ Servicing
✓ Engine Rebuild
✓ Component Rebuild
✓ Fabrication
✓ Event Support
✓ REME Trained Staff
✓ Registered Firearms Dealer
59
Defendingane
P
ortugal was the first European quickly nicknamed ‘mine blasters’ and were damaged vehicle than himself after hitting
power to establish colonies in Africa said to be able to withstand up to 5kg of a mine when he yelled: “Oh, look what
and the last to leave the continent. explosives. happened to my dear Berliet!”
Between 1961 and 1974 the Most of the protection came from the sheer Although Berliet was a French
Portuguese armed forces were involved in mass and size of the engine and distance manufacturer, the trucks used by the
a counterinsurgency war against emerging between the front axis and driver’s seat. Portuguese Army were assembled in
nationalist movements in three of the five Sandbags were also placed around the Portugal. Most nations opposed these
African colonies: Angola, Mozambique and wheel cavities and driver’s cabin for further wars and refused to sell modern military
Guinea-Bissau. This war was fought by more protection. Belmiro Ramos, who served in equipment and weaponry to Portugal. This
than a million men. They were mostly light the Portuguese Army, recalled an incident eventually led to the development of the local
infantry troops, including the new special when a driver showed more concern for a military industry. Gradually, the Portuguese
operations and commandos, but ultimately car industry became more involved in the
‘The five-cylinder
vehicles like Berliet trucks and Panhard war effort, first assembling Unimog 404
armoured vehicles became essential to and 411 trucks and then the Berliets. The
125bhp engine
transport and sustain troops across the vast French truck manufacturer partnered
African territory. with Metalúrgica Duarte Ferreira (MDF), a
Mine blasters could work with conglomerate founded by the Duarte Ferreira
family in the town of Tramagal and opened a
Berliets were admired by Portuguese
troops and were used for a variety of various types of truck assembly line in February 1964. Initially,
production started with commercial models,
purposes including transporting equipment,
ammunition, food and personnel. Compared
fuel ranging from such as the Berliet GCK and the GLC, but
this was soon ramped up to include military
to the lighter Unimog and GMC models gas and diesel vehicles.
GBC 4x4
to kerosene and
also used, they offered exceptional off-road
capabilities and high levels of protection That same year the French showed off a
turpentine’
against the growing threat of land mines and smaller 4x4 version of the Berliet four-tonne
improvised explosive devices. They were GBC 8KT 6x6 model. It was based on the
60
Af
Warrriican
ors
nempire
Gazelle truck, which had been used by the
French in Algeria, and was known as the GBC
Berliet trucks and Panhard
armoured vehicles helped
sustain troops in the wars
fought by Portugal in Africa during
the 1960s and 1970s
61
A Berliet-Tramagal GBC in Mozambique. By 1971, there
The Portuguese army first adopted the smaller 4x4 version of the 4-tonne GBC 8KT 6x6. were already 632 of these trucks deployed in the Mozambique,
A total of 1,670 were assembled in Portugal between 1964 and 1974. AVELINO FEITEIRONA and other 655 in Angola. LUÍS H. MARTINHO
62
Af
Warrriican
ors
bique, Some say that the Berliet trucks could withstand up to 5kg of The Berliets leading a convoy would carry sand bags around the wheel cavities and driver’s cabin to
explosives. LIGA DOS COMBATENTES offer additional protection against mines and improved explosives. JOÃO GUIMARÃES MARQUES
any mine or improvised explosive. “My AML bigger than the AML. Portugal had acquired often removed so that the vehicle could
would follow right after, but often I would sit the EBR and ETT vehicles in 1959 with the manoeuvre more easily, leaving it armed with
with the Berliet driver to boost the troops’ idea of deploying them in both Angola and only three MAC 34 light 7,62mm machine
morale,” he recalled. Mozambique, but only 21 EBR and 12 ETTs guns. At one point, the Portuguese Army
Around 1964, during the first years of the were sent to Angola for use by the Dragões considered selling 16 EBRs to either Austria
conflicts, the Portuguese Army had only 57 de Angola (Dragons of Angola), a Portuguese or Morocco to finance the acquisition of the
armoured vehicles deployed in Africa. The military unit. newly-developed AML scout car. The small
fleet included models which had seen action Initial reports revealed they were unsuitable but robust vehicle had just been delivered to
in World War Two – such as the Humber for African conditions. The EBR was fitted the French army in 1961, but the price tag
and the C15TA – and the more modern with the same FL-10 turret of the AMX- made the Portuguese hesitate.
Panhard EBR and ETT vehicles, which were 13 tank, but the long 75mm gun was In 1963, military planners came up with
ELAND/AML
RIGHT: The 60mm breech-loading mortar was
frequently used in the indirect fire role, having a range
of up to 3,000m. MANUEL SOUSA
BOTTOM RIGHT: A well-needed refill to face the hot
weather of Mozambique. HÉLDER LOSNA
BOTTOM FAR RIGHT : Crews would frequently name
their AML after a girlfriend or bride. This one, deployed
in Mozambique, was called Sónia. MANUEL SOUSA
63
‘Initial reports revealed they were
unsuitable for African conditions’
The end is near
During the 1970s the conflict escalated in
Guinea as the guerrilla movement started
to employ sophisticated Soviet-made
weaponry, which included RPG-2 and RPG-7
rockets, 9K32 Strela 2 shoulder-fired, surface-
to-air missiles and even 122mm rockets and
armoured vehicles.
However, José, who fought in the country
between 1972 and 1974, identified distances
A Panhard EBR is shipped back to Portugal after the independence of Angola in 1975. PEDRO TEODORO as the biggest challenge in combat
operations. On one occasion they had to
a temporary solution when several Daimler could still fire one while the other was being protect an ambulance during a 180km
Dingos were acquired. The acquisition of reloaded,” he explained. drive to the nearest hospital in the middle of
42 Daimler Ferret scout cars costing half The V-shaped hull provided protection the night so that a pregnant woman could
that of the Panhard AML was considered against land mines and Manuel survived an deliver her baby. “We operated in the north
but abandoned as Portugal managed to explosion without injury. However, the vehicle and even transported a few AML by boat
acquire 40 Panhard AMLs and by the end did have its limitations and two were lost in for operations in the south,” he recalled. “By
of 1966, 14 were deployed in Guinea. They combat in 1970 during operation Nó Górdio 1973 the French stopped providing spares
were well received and highly prized. José in Mozambique. and ammunition for our Panhards. We kept
Ramos, an AML driver in the country at the “The AML was easy to drive but the things running thanks to the spare parts of
time, remembers seeing a ‘Granadeiro’ (a unusual electromagnetic clutch required a an AML which had been destroyed by a mine
C15TA armoured truck), towing a damaged lot of practice,” said Manuel. The exposed and eventually the army reinforced our fleet
AML so that it could fire its mortar during an tyres were vulnerable when driving cross- with a handful of AMLs sent from Angola,
attack. Between missions, the crews took country, while others who used the vehicle displaying the colourful camouflage of the
care of them with great affection and drivers said they were underpowered. At one Dragões de Angola.”
were known to name the vehicles after their point, the Dragões de Angola made some Following a revolution in Portugal in 1974,
girlfriends or brides. modifications to their vehicles, installing air the country withdrew its forces from its
The AMLs were extremely tough. filters and replacing the original Panhard overseas territories leading to independence
Sometime before 1972, one was hit by four-cylinder air-cooled petrol engine with in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea.
an RPG while deployed in Guinea, but an Opel one produced in South Africa to - This article is based on the author’s book
the driver survived and the vehicle was increase power. ‘Berliet, Chaimite and UMM: The Great
eventually repaired, said José. Deployed in Portuguese Military Vehicles’, edited in 2018.
Mozambique, Manuel confirmed the AML The author thanks Avelino Feiteirona, Belmiro
offered an unparalleled level of protection Ramos, Luís H Martinho, Hélder Losna, João
and fire power. The HE 60 turret was fitted Guimarães Marques, José Eduardo Couto,
with a 60mm breech-loading mortar with José Ramos, Manuel Sousa, Pedro Teodoro,
a 300m range in the direct fire role and up and Vítor Francisco as well as Col Luís
to 3,000m in the indirect fire role. However, Banazol and Maj Gen Pereira Coutinho for
trees, bushes and other such obstacles their photos and stories. Thanks also to the
made it impractical to make direct fire over Ministry of Defence, Portuguese Army and
short distances. “The AML had two MAC Liga dos Combatentes for access to their
34 light 7,62mm machine guns so we archives.
Military Museum
ABOVE: One AML after the explosion of a land mine in Mozambique, around July 1970. MANUEL SOUSA
BELOW: During the war, the Berliets became essential to transport and sustain troops across the
vast African territory. LUÍS H MARTINHO
The Elvas Military Museum in Portugal
houses the largest collection of military
vehicles in the country. A Panhard EBR
and an ETT stand guard next to the
walls that defended it for centuries
along the border with neighbouring
Spain. However, war veterans tend to
get emotional when they find among
the collection a Panhard AML and
the different variants of the Berliet-
Tramagal GBC, GBA and Unimog 404
and 411 trucks which form part of their
memories from Africa.
64
Investo_FP.indd 1 11/09/2019 11:33
wordsGerry
words Pedro Manuel
van Monteiro
Tonder picturespictures as credited
as credited
Homegrownsolu
I
n the 1950s, British colonial Africa north-west of the capital Salisbury would ambushes, exposed the inadequacy of
witnessed a profound upsurge in permanently change the manner in which the existing vehicles.
nationalism as new-born political parties Rhodesians prosecuted counter-insurgency In a short space of time, and while isolated
demanded independence based on the operations throughout most of rural Rhodesia. through international economic sanctions,
expressed fundamental right of universal adult Members of the Rhodesian Light Infantry local private enterprise and the military
suffrage leading to majority rule. (RLI) and C Squadron, Special Air Service addressed the need for a range of vehicles
In the following decade, the right-wing (SAS), responded to attacks on two farm that would afford the occupants protection
minority government of Southern Rhodesia homesteads, during which an RLI F250 from both landmines and ambush fire.
refused to acquiesce to calls for majority rule, detonated an anti-tank landmine planted by As the guerrilla war escalated to engulf vast
electing instead to unilaterally declare itself the guerrillas. One soldier died of his injuries tracts of the Rhodesian countryside, where
independent of Britain on November 11, 1965. two days later, while another lost both his legs. most roads were untarred, specialist factories
Almost immediately, nationalist insurgents rolled out a veritable ‘menagerie’ of locally
started to cross into Rhodesia from Zambia Land Rovers designed and constructed mine and ambush-
to use military means to force the government The Rhodesian security forces were protected (MAP) vehicles: Rhino, Hyena,
into submission. completely unprepared for this type of
Elements of Rhodesia’s security forces warfare. Landmines – predominantly the
commenced ‘border-control’ operations, Soviet-made TM-46 – together with RPG-
successfully eliminating whole gangs of 7 anti-tank rocket grenades employed in
poorly equipped guerrillas or ‘terrorists’, the
term used by the Rhodesians.
Troop deployments and motorised patrols ‘The Rhodesian
were conducted using standard, soft-skinned
vehicles such as the Land Rover, Bedford RL
security forces
trucks and Ford International F250s (one-and- were completely
unprepared for this
a-half ton). Where the terrain permitted, Ferret
scout cars were employed. The Rhino was one of the first Rhodesian military
type of warfare’
Then, over Christmas 1972, events in vehicles designed to afford driver and troop protection.
the Centenary commercial farming area JOHN WYNNE-HOPKINS
66
Af
Warrriican
ors
67
‘Arguably, the most innovative vehicle
Eight hundred Leopards were produced
to come out of the Rhodesian
during the war, with 67 detonating landmines, counter-insurgency war was the
mine-detecting Pookie’
and only one death that could be directly
attributed to the explosion. However, the
vulnerability of the external power unit and
insurmountable issues with the Leopard’s Kudu for being both top-heavy, and therefore north-eastern border area, clearing a main
gearing would force designers back to the unstable and awkward to drive, with limited dirt road of 12 landmines in a single journey
drawing board. Addressing the two major driver vision through the relatively small bullet- without any detonations. The Rhodesian Army
Leopard weaknesses, a prototype ‘Cougar’ proof windscreen. As with the Rhino, there activated the Pookie Troop within C Squadron,
rolled out the factory. Constructed on a Land was also a railway variant. the Rhodesian Corps of Engineers, becoming
Rover chassis and powered by an armour- an omnipresent feature at the head of military
protected Land Rover engine, this monocoque Pookie convoys travelling on unpaved rural roads.
proved to be a significant improvement. A Arguably, the most innovative vehicle Guerrillas started sourcing Soviet and
Nissan chassis and engines would later be to come out of the Rhodesian counter- Chinese non-metallic mines to foil the now
used. There would be no fatal casualties from insurgency war was the mine-detecting much-loathed Pookie, causing the Rhodesian
Cougar landmine detonations. ‘Pookie’. From the same designers as the military to simply equip its Pookies with
The Kudu Leopard and the Cougar, the single-seat non-metallic detectors. During the bush war,
In 1975, another commercial enterprise Pookie could detect anti-tank mines at speed, Pookies detonated 12 landmines, resulting
came up with their version of a Rhodesian and without detonating the concealed device in one fatality. Pookie operators successfully
landmine-protected vehicle by designing if driven right over. Powered by a 1,300cc lifted 550 landmines during the conflict,
the ‘Kudu’; originally the ‘Ojay’. The main VW engine – later upgraded to 1,600cc – the including 300 in the first year.
characteristic of this Land Rover or Nissan monocoque superstructure was fitted with
4x4 chassis-mounted vehicle, was the zigzag four Formula One racing car tyres, ideal for Heavy vehicles
or concertina bullet deflectors on the sides of weight distribution below the 300kg threshold While the mainstay of military heavy
the capsule; with a bit of fertile imagination, for landmine detonation. vehicles and troop carriers was initially from
this also resembled the corkscrew shape of Named after a small tree-dwelling, nocturnal, the Bedford and Mercedes stables, almost
the horns of an African antelope, the kudu. At native African primate, the galago, or bush all other paramilitary and government
this stage of the war, the Kudu became the baby, is affectionately known locally as a departments, including the BSAP, had a
only mass-produced mine-protected vehicle Pookie. A South African-designed Milton metal fleet of centrally maintained seven-ton
in Rhodesia. With a passenger capacity of five detector was fitted centrally on either side of Isuzu and Nissan trucks. The chassis of
to eight in addition to the driver, the powerful the vehicle and directly under the belly of the these vehicles became the base for the
Nissan motor often led to speed restrictions V-shaped capsule. In late December 1974, mine-protected and armour-plated (MAP)
or governing of the Kudu. Many criticised the the Pookie went operational in Rhodesia’s ‘Crocodile’ and ‘Puma’ troop carriers. For
A seven-ton Isuzu upended by a landmine blast. The sandbags are from the bed of the truck. The Leopard was the first wholly Rhodesian-designed
PHOTO LEWIS WALTER and built monocoque vehicle. LEWIS WALTER
68
Af
Warrriican
many years the general-service workhorse The Puma was fitted with trapdoors to ors
of the Rhodesian military, the old Bedford The Puma was the first troop carrier facilitate rapid egression when
RL was modified and dubbed ‘Big Daddy’. To introduced into operational service to meet required. During the war, Pumas
reduce the impact of a high-pressure blast, these urgent demands. Built on five-ton and Crocodiles together detonated
tyres were filled with water, and the driver’s Isuzu and Nissan chassis, the sides were 360 landmines, resulting in 15 deaths
compartment and truck bed lined with a constructed of 10mm mild steel, angled to and 588 injuries.
combination of sandbags and industrial deflect enemy fire.
conveyor belting. Later acquisitions of The military Puma had a two-man capsule Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz trucks – referred to cab to accommodate the driver and a soldier From 1965, UN-imposed trade sanctions
as Rodef RMs – underwent the same riding shotgun, looking out for potential on the beleaguered country encouraged the
protective-fitting regime. However, these landmine and ambush sites. The small government to repeatedly enter into back door
enforced precautions did not yet include windscreen was manufactured of 40mm deals to sustain the counter-insurgency war.
any protection from ambush, a cause for armour-plate glass, while access to the cab In one major acquisition, in defiance of the
growing concern in the Rhodesian Army. was by means of two steel flaps. The belly of embargo, a fleet of Mercedes-Benz two-and-a-
The bed of the truck would hold a layer of the truck was of the now standard V-shape half, four-and-a-half and seven-and-a-half ton
sandbags, and the driver’s cab lined with design. The bed of the vehicle was fitted out vehicles found their way into the Rhodesia
d on The Kudu with its unmistakable zig-zag rocket deflectors. Note the A South African-built Hyena at a Rhodesian para-military base in the operational area.
externally mounted fuel tank at the extreme rear of the vehicle GERRY VAN TONDER
conveyor belting. There were no seats and with a central, back-to-back bench seating security forces. Using the letters in ‘Bedford’,
seatbelts in the back, and passengers would arrangement with seatbelts. The top was the vehicles were respectively dubbed the
often share the trip with stores and provisions uncovered except for two anti-blast roll bars. Rodef-25 (Unimog), Rodef-45 and Rodef-75.
for keeps in the Zambezi Valley. Such goods All tyres were filled with water. The Rodef-25 was fitted with steel plates
would include crates of bottled beer, so over the front wheels to protect the driver
one shudders to think of the outcome for The Crocodile and passenger, the tyres filled with water, and
passengers if a landmine was detonated with The Puma was followed by a much- the carrying bed, when employed as a troop
such minimal protection! improved armoured personnel carrier, the carrier, sandbagged. When Portugal shed
As the war escalated and spread across ‘Crocodile’. Based on the same Japanese its African colonies in 1975, the new Frelimo
Rhodesia’s borders to the east, north and west truck chassis, the Crocodile had higher sides regime in Mozambique immediately invited
of this landlocked country, there was a similar into which gun ports had been provided to Rhodesian guerrillas to established rear bases
growing imperative for the security forces to allow safer return of fire. The other major in that country. This would have a major
transport and deploy large troop numbers in modification was the doing away with the detrimental impact on the Rhodesians ability
protected personnel carriers. The standard- separate driver’s capsule of the Puma which, to defend its borders. One of the issues that
production RLs and RMs were becoming because of its abnormal weight, had placed arose was the Mozambican use of British-
increasingly vulnerable to enemy landmines enormous stress on the affixing bolts. In made Green Archer equipment to pinpoint
and rocket and small-arms fire. addition to the rear doors, the Crocodile and track Rhodesian 81mm mortar fire. To
69
counter this threat, the Rodef-4.5 was adapted becoming the mainstay of Soviet motorised
to perform the function of a mobile mortar rifle battalions.
firing platform.
To overcome the instability associated Armoured cars
with the standard anti-landmine V-shaped A legacy of the 1960s in the Rhodesian
hull configuration, a much shallower V was armed forces was the Daimler Ferret scout,
Specialist Rhodesian troops joke with an official army employed, with the bottom of the V filled or armoured, car. However, the vehicle was
photographer in front of a Pig, used here as a tactical with two tons of concrete for the mortar not suited for guerrilla warfare, so its use
command vehicle on an external operation. JOHN WHITE platform. A swivel base plate was set in was generally restricted to the protection of
the concrete and the vehicle’s width had strategic urban installations.
extended to take the mortar tube, ammunition In 1971, Rhodesia acquired 12 Eland-90 light
and crew. One hundred and thirty-two of armoured cars from South Africa. Equipped
these mortar platforms were employed by with a Denel GT-2 90mm gun and a co-axial
regular Rhodesian army units both internally 7.62mm Browning machine gun, this four-
and on external ‘hot-pursuit’ operations wheel drive vehicle was manufactured in
into neighbouring Mozambique. Using the South Africa under license from the French
Rodef-25 Unimog chassis, the Rhodesian Panhard AML. In addition to its protective role,
security forces had no qualms about copying the Eland-90 was extensively employed in
the design of the West German UR-416 cross-border raids on heavily defended rear
developed by Rheinstahl Maschinenbau. guerrilla bases in Mozambique.
A well-concealed Daimler Ferret scout car of the Rhodesian Then in late 1979, right at the end of the war,
Army’s 2 Brigade. Note the externally mounted Bren gun. The Pig Rhodesia acquired heavy armour in extremely
RHODESIAN LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
Although not anti-landmine protected, the unusual circumstances. Keen to support a fellow
‘Pig’ was a heavily armed fighting vehicle, dictator, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had
An Eland-90 and regular infantry troops on emergency favoured on cross-border raids on guerrilla shipped ten surplus Polish-made T-55LD main
protective duty at the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation rear bases. It was fitted with three pivot battle tanks to bolster Ugandan head of state Idi
complex in Salisbury. RHODESIAN LIGHT INFANTRY
mounts for Belgian-made, 7.62mm, FN MAG Amin’s war against neighbouring Tanzania.
REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
general-purpose machine guns. It could However, by the time the French-flagged
also be equipped with twin AN/M2 12.7mm Astor arrived off Africa’s east coast, Uganda
anti-aircraft guns or modified Hispano 20mm had lost the war. The Astor was then re-
cannon. Towards the end of hostilities, the directed to sail back around the tip of southern
Rhodesians put to use several captured Africa to unload its cargo in Angola. En route
Soviet-made BTR-152 armoured personnel the freighter called at the South African port of
carriers. Constructed on the chassis and Durban, where the tanks were seized by port
transmission of a ZiS-151 utility truck, the authorities, on the basis that South Africa was,
vehicle had first entered service with a number at the time, engaged in a proxy war with the
of Warsaw Pact member states in 1950, communist Angolan regime.
Retaining two of the tanks for research
‘In late 1979, right at the end of the purposes, the South Africans gifted the
remaining eight to the Rhodesian military.
war, Rhodesia acquired heavy armour in Equipped with Soviet D-10 100mm tank
guns, the tanks, however, arrived too late to
70
71
How to
RnEInP EioLn
a vas
Defending the UK against the threat
of a German invaders
S
ome years ago, while researching that you can still find scattered throughout Estuary with precisely the same object in
a book for HMSO on military the countryside. view.
transport, I included some Subsequently this view changed and, However, in 1940 it was Montgomery’s
material on the use of buses. It rather than try to defend everywhere, 3rd Infantry Division, the Iron Division,
seems that, sometime after the fall of several divisions were retained at which covered the most vulnerable
France, the War Department impressed strategic locations to counterattack the area and for whom the motor coach
many single deck buses, formed them invaders wherever they landed. For one companies were on stand-by. Winston
into Motor Coach Companies RASC and division at least the means of transport Churchill himself claims responsibility for
issued them to the infantry as transports. would be single-deck buses. this. He mentioned it in one of his famous
More recently, while reading Gen This is interesting for those with a sense memos dated July 3, 1940 following
Mike Reynolds’ book on Patton and of history, because as long ago as 1908, a visit to Brighton with Montgomery
Montgomery, I learned a bit more. The when the threat was as likely to come where he saw coaches plying for holiday
initial British reaction to the German threat from France as Germany, several London business while 3rd Division, spread along
of invasion was one of static defence, bus companies combined to lift the the Sussex coast, was obliged to march
which accounts for all those pill-boxes Brigade of Guards down to the Thames everywhere.
Monty’s reputation has taken quite a
bashing over the years and there is no
doubt that he was a rather odd little chap;
on the other hand, it is generally agreed
that in the British Expeditionary Force the
3rd Division was the best organised and
the most efficient. It fought well, sustained
fewer casualties than most and came out
of France intact, with weapons and all.
Even so, these motor coach companies
must have been a mixed lot. Public
transport was already stretched just
getting people to work, although this was
primarily undertaken by double-deckers,
which were not impressed. Modern long-
distance coaches were also in demand
and, although they were available for
hire to the military, most retained their
company names and bright fleet liveries.
72
‘Trainloads of
tanks must have
been a very
tempting target for
enemy aircraft on
raiding missions’
Those coaches that ‘joined up’ were not,
therefore, the pick of the fleet.
Some were diesel, most were petrol and
a fair number came without such useful
luxuries as self-starters. Many Royal Army
Service Corps drivers who might have
hoped for something better now found
themselves out early on frosty mornings,
turning over the reluctant engines of old
coaches, many of which should have
retired long ago. Sprayed in camouflage
colours, with windows painted over
making them gloomy inside, the buses
proved a brief source of fascination
to the media who published various
photographs before moving on to get
excited about something else. ABOVE: An experimental train transporting tanks but rigged to look like private owner wagons
At the end of the war the Thomas Tilling ABOVE MIDDLE: Even short wagons are replicated although a bit of the tank sticks out at the back
Group published a booklet dealing with TOP: More wagons, suitably disguised for carrying tanks
LEFT: A bus column disgorging infantry on an exercise, one would need a bus expert to identify the
the wartime efforts of their constituent vehicles
companies entitled The War That Went MAIN IMAGE: A Medium Tank situated among the concrete tank traps at Arish Mell on the Dorset coast.
on Wheels. It includes photographs If that didn’t put invaders off, I don’t know what would
73
How to
RnEInP EioLn Standard Beaverettes en masse no
identification is visible, and we don’t
even know where this picture was
a vas
taken but it’s a good example of how
desperate the nation was
of Royal Blue coaches, which operated Morris armoured cars in France now
from London down to the south and west,
working with troops on exercises in their
had Standard Beaverettes with which
it attempted to defend the area around ‘Virtually every
smart, well-polished livery. The company
history also records that they were obliged
Poole Harbour. Here it was joined for a
while by the 13th/18th Royal Hussars
shape and size
to have 134 coaches and drivers on which had similar vehicles. of commercial
vehicle found its
virtually permanent standby, particularly in However, it was later sent to Essex
the event of invasion. where it was reinforced by two lorries,
74
that. Tanks were another matter. Trains
are probably the best solution because
a fair number of tanks can be carried
and the only problem, so long as the line
has not been blown up, is to get them
unloaded at some strategically sensible
destination.
Road transport is out, we simply did not
have more than a handful of specialist
tank transporters at this time and even
though several American trucks were
appropriated to the task they were not
ideal and there could never be enough.
Having the tanks march themselves by
road was equally limiting. For a start they
went too slowly and, like marching troops,
got tired and worn out. The difference
being that rest will not cure tired tanks,
they simply continue to get worse.
So, rail it had to be and there are
photographs in the Tank Museum
collection revealing how various problems
associated with this were overcome;
the chief one being how tanks were
to be unloaded at specific locations if
no suitable platforms or ramps were
available.
There were two major solutions, official
and improvised. The former was a very
clever piece of kit known as a ramp
wagon, which had been introduced during
World War One in conjunction with a tank
carrying truck known as a Rectank wagon
after the Railway Executive Committee
which initiated the design.
The theory was, and it worked perfectly
well in practice, that a train load of tanks
could stop virtually anywhere, just so long
as a ramp wagon had been marshalled
onto the end of the train. The wagon was
a flat four-wheeler which came complete
with built-in jacks, folding buffers and
removable axles.
It worked like this: if the train is
proceeding with the tanks all facing A Beaverette Mark 2 of 2nd Battalion Recce Regiment, attached to 2nd Infantry Division,
forwards it stops, the locomotive is photographed near Driffield in Yorkshire in April 1941 Soon after the Recce Corps was formed.
uncoupled and moves forwards a
reasonable distance. The ramp wagon, Rectank wagons are available and the was done by rigging a sort of curtain of
y
having been marshalled between the tanks must be carried on other rolling canvas around each tank, high enough
locomotive and the rest of the train stock, so there is no ramp wagon. that one could not see the turret and
remains coupled to the latter, whereupon Several railway companies had designed looking, at first glance, like a long open
the crew lower jacks at the unattached and built portable ramps for handling wagon, the sort of thing that, once upon a
end, raise the wagon deck clear of the axle tanks, but they do not appear to have been time, they used to carry bricks in.
boxes and then push the wheels out of readily available so, as the photographs Then someone came up with a
the way. The buffers are now folded back show, all manner of other things were refinement. Rather than have a bland
to clear the end of the ramp and the jacks tried including railway sleepers and even train of similar looking wagons these
lower the deck down until it is resting on hay bales. canvas curtains were all decorated
the rails. The tanks now start up and, one Trainloads of tanks must have been a to look like private owner wagons. As
by one, move along the Rectank wagons, very tempting target for enemy aircraft their name implied these were wagons
down the ramp and into a line-side parking on raiding missions and, in the event of owned by firms who ran them over the
place. If they are heavy tanks, Matildas or invasion one would expect air activity British railway system, for a fee, but had
Churchills for example, jacks can also be over Britain to increase. Somebody came them painted up as bright and bold as
used at the end of each Rectank wagon to up with the idea of disguising them as possible since they were like big, travelling
ease the strain. something else. hoardings.
All well and good but assume that no This would not be all that difficult and it Thus, this disguised tank train would
75
How to
RnEInP EioLn
BELOW LEFT: If no ramp was available German tanks that the press was now
something else had to do, hay bales in this teaching everyone to call Panzers.
case which are wrecked by a tank passing But just what was that threat in reality?
over them. The tank is an A12 Matilda I,
vas
General Alanbrooke believed in it, as did
a
with a Royal Tank Regiment driver
THIS IMAGE: An A12 Matilda I tests a Churchill – at least he said he did – yet
portable ramp for disembarking despite the fact that preparations were
made on the German side of the Channel
many modern historians, including
Germans, reckon that it was little more
than a diversion which Hitler never took
very seriously.
Quite recently, a British author has
suggested that despite our obsession with
the Battle of Britain, or the brave men of
Bomber Command who constantly raided
the invasion ports on the German held
coast, it was in fact the presence of the
Royal Navy in various Channel ports that
76
GrahamSykes_FP.indd 1 01/12/2017 16:47
words and pictures Bernard Holloway
Engineering Success
Bernard Holloway visits the Royal Engineers Museum
and delves into the history of military engineers
T
here is no doubting the quality now enclosed to form a display area, with information. This has been achieved with
and solidity of ECS Moore’s Royal a mezzanine floor providing space for the careful use of dioramas, interactive
Engineers Museum design. The additional exhibits, viewing platform and displays, storyboards and exhibits. In
imposing Grade II-listed façade an opportunity to get up close with the 1998 the collection was the recipient of
greets visitors to the Ravelin Building, which business end of that V2. ‘designated’ status, as it was deemed to
is home to the Corps of Royal Engineers The museum is to be congratulated for be a collection of significant national and
museum, library and archive. Its slate- the clear and concise way it presents its international importance and one of only
covered two-storey red brickwork is relieved three military or regimental museums in this
with white Portland Stone embellishments - country to receive such an accolade.
pilasters, lintels, bandings, and plinths - and The use of military engineers can be traced
the arched entrance is flanked by projecting back to the Norman Conquest and William
three-storey towers with ashlar cupolas, and the Conqueror, the first Norman king of
oversailed by a full-width stone balcony. England, who employed them to build the
Constructed in 1904 in Brompton first motte and bailey castles and forts.
Barracks to house the Royal Engineers But the origins of the modern corps are
School of Electrical Engineers it was primarily rooted in the Tudor period and the
converted for its current use in 1987 and government of that time established the
now has an inventory of some 500,000 Board of Ordnance to act as custodians
exhibits. Those on show are diverse and of lands, depots and forts for home and
include a Harrier GR3, V2 rocket, one of overseas defence and to supply munitions
the first torpedoes, photographs, archives and equipment to the navy and the army.
and models and in the Medal Room 25 of By the 18th century it had established
the 55 Victoria Medals awarded to serving the Corps of Engineers, comprising
officers of the corp. only 25 commissioned officers in 1760,
Once you tear yourself away from and the Corps of Artillery. The Artificer
the static display of bridge-layers and Companies comprising professional
equipment in the car park, the first section civilians and labourers undertook manual
of the museum you enter is the original A section of the Berlin Wall complete with graffiti
work building siege lines, gabions, gun
internal quadrangle of the building. It is batteries and fascines.
78
By 1772, a Soldier above an interactive
Artificer Company display of the
was established for battlefield and this
service in Gibraltar, combination assists
the first-time non- in understanding the
commissioned officer battle and tactics.
military engineers are In battle things did The Louis Brennan Torpedo of 1874 designed to hit
timber hulled vessels below the waterline, in 1882
mentioned in the corps not always go to plan the corps were commissioned to develop it further.
history. By 1787, the much to the chagrin Launched on tracks into the sea and attached to a
Corps of Engineers had of the men and their steel winch system powered by a land-based steam
been granted the Royal officers, Wellington engine it was never used in anger
prefix and adopted its in particular. During
current name and in the
same year the Corps of
the Peninsular wars
and the fortification of
‘The use of military
Royal Military Artificers A typical storyboard in the Napoleonic
and Peninsular wars gallery. Clearly
Lisbon and its harbour, engineers can be
traced back to the
was formed. the engineers were
written and nicely illustrated
The British Army’s mettle in the thick of it and
Norman Conquest
was soon to be put to the test in various played a prominent part.
battles but the Siege of Gibraltar, 1779-1783, While their bravery was never an issue,
the longest in modern history was to stretch
its resources and ingenuity. The French
lack of appropriate training and equipment
highlighted shortcomings and hindered the and William the
and Spanish armies failed to capitalise
on their siege tactics thanks in part to the
construction of siege lines, batteries and
breaches and these failures were identified Conqueror’
judicious use of the British artillery cannon as issues contributing to casualty rates
and the engineers’ inventiveness designing and a lack of success, although it must be
defences and a simple system of pipework emphasised at no fault to the corps.
to distribute water to all parts of the island. A pivotal person in the history of the
A highly accurate model of the ‘Rock’ is on engineers was Capt Charles Pasley RE, later
display and illustrates the important aspects Sir Charles Pasley KCB. Injured during the
of the siege. Napoleonic Wars he returned to England
The next part of the tour covers the and, because of his personal experience
Napoleonic and Peninsular wars fought at of government war policy and the
the end of the 18th and into the early 19th training the Corps Engineers received, he
A Bedford QL used as an office, commissioned
century, and it is here the engineers as we became a critic of the system and sought in 1944
know them today begin to take shape. To improvements.
thwart a potential invasion by the French, After considerable lobbying he was
the engineers were commissioned to tasked in 1810 by the Board of Ordnance to
design and construct a system of Channel reconnoitre land for a permanent base for
sea defences comprising 103 Martello the corps. He settled on Chatham because
Towers from Suffolk to Kent and the military it was geographically close to London,
canal on the Sussex and Kentish marshes. the River Medway, the English Channel
Fortunately, they were never put to the test and because the land was well suited for
because the anticipated invasion never trenching, artillery training and manoeuvres.
happened. He established a school of military
Ironically, what is purported to be a lock engineering on the site and wrote a
of Napoleon’s hair, liberated by a barber syllabus to address the problems of
in St Helena, did make it onto British soil. inadequate training and the lack of Four displays dedicated to Operation Herrick,
However, its origins cannot be verified as it practical experience soldiers received the codename for all UK operations in
has not been subjected to DNA testing. It is before they went into battle. Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014
showcased next to an aged original survey Concurrent with the early days of the
map drawn up by a team of engineers for school, the Royal Artificers became known
the Battle of Waterloo. The exhibits hang as the Royal Sappers and Miners. The
term ‘sapper’ is derived from the word ‘sap’
meaning trench and they were progressive
and innovative in the use of electricity and
communications.
An example of their ability was the
construction of a 21-mile telegraph system
in the 1830s during the Crimea War. In 1855
they were amalgamated as The Corps of
Royal Engineers, just one year after the During the Victorian-era gunnery skills were
refined using such equipment as this range finder.
Board of Ordnance was abolished because A system of ring forts was built to house artillery
of their poor governance. The board was along the coast with an overlapping field of view
This storyboard is typical of those placed by the superseded by the Commander in Chief to ensure the enemy could not slip through unseen
external display of tanks and bridge layers
of all Forces and in 1856 the engineers
79
‘The term ‘sapper’ is
derived from the word
‘sap’ meaning trench’
The 30-ton Terrier can be remotely controlled from 1,000m and the 61-ton Challenger 2 based Titan
AVLB are just two pieces of equipment that whet the visitors’ appetite on the outside
moved its headquarters from The Royal A section is devoted to its architectural innovative design was built on pylons to
Arsenal to Chatham. achievements and one of its most rise and fall with the tides and it is doubtful
Arguably the engineer’s greatest soldier prominent architects Francis Fawkes. the D-Day landings would have succeeded
and motivator was Gen Gordon of Moving to the early 20th century one of the without it. Another achievement was the
Khartoum. He was often referred to as corps most significant contributions was in construction of 45 miles of Bailey bridges
Chinese Gordon because of his leadership the fields of camouflage and deception used during the Italian campaign. Neither must
during the Chinese wars. He attained a to good effect during World War One. This we forget the bomb disposal units whose
popular profile which was enhanced by included the use of dummy trees, animals, bravery is, and continues to be, legendary.
the fact he frequently went into battle just tanks and vehicles. The first gas masks and The V1s and V2s posed a different threat
holding his baton – a great incentive to suits were also designed by the corps using and the provenance of the museum’s V2
troops under his command. On his death, the best-known materials and science of is uncertain. It may have been liberated in
at the hands of Mahdi hordes in Khartoum, the time including asbestos. At that time the Germany or Holland and is a reminder of
he was viewed as a martyr. Retribution dangers of the material were unknown. how close the Allies came to defeat had it
been perfected earlier.
More recent conflicts are not forgotten
with displays and storyboards illustrating
the Korean, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait
conflicts to name a few. There is also a
section of the Berlin Wall complete with
graffiti, various armoured vehicles, some of
which were used in Northern Ireland, and
an interactive exhibit of Camp Bastion built
by the corps. When fully operational it was
home to over 232,000 personnel and the
fifth busiest airport in the world.
Details of opening times and admission
fees can be found at www.re-museum.co.
uk. Booking a guide is recommended as
their knowledge and enthusiasm will
The engineering regiments provided Harrier support, as for this GR3, its ‘hanger’ is shared by a Vickers
Vigor dozer and Howitzer Mod 56 illustrating the many aspects of the engineers’ duties in modern warfare enhance your tour.
came in 1898 when the British under the We also learn about their links with V2 standing guard as guide Chris Seymour
explains the logistics of the Berlin Air Lift and
leadership of Kitchener defeated the Mahdi the new weapons of war including the the political significance of removing the wall
at Omdurman. aeroplane. The corps worked closely with
Omdurman was soon followed by the the Royal Flying Corp, constructing hangers’
Boer War and it was here the British first communications and runways.
encountered the use of guerrilla warfare We should also not forget the use of mines
tactics, but the engineers countered this with dug under enemy lines by the engineers,
the construction of pill boxes/blockhouses very brave men many of whom were miners
at strategic points to minimise enemy by profession. The galleries dedicated to the
movements and to maintain supply lines. facsimile of a World War One trench and to
Perhaps not so well known is the links the the ‘fallen’ are sobering and can only hint at
corps has with architecture. It has been the senselessness and tragedy of war.
responsible for the design of landmark Moving on to World War Two, the Mulberry
buildings including the Natural History Harbour can be counted as just one of
Building, Albert Hall and various prisons. the engineers’ greatest triumphs. This
80
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81
E
arlier this year Panther Ausf.D and Ausf.A.
I was invited Similarly, the thickness
to spend three of the side hull armoured
days at the US plates was increased from
Army Armor and Cavalry 40mm to 60mm.
Collection (AACC) situated Two prototype Panther
on the Fort Benning army II tank hulls were ordered.
base in Georgia, USA. On April 5,1943 it was
Among its huge collection recorded at a meeting in
of armour, it has four the Panzerkommission
Panther tanks and one that the MAN factory
of them is exceptionally reported that the first
rare – the only example Panther II prototype hull
of the Panther II hull ever would be completed by
completed. mid-August 1943. Only
I have found that data one prototype was built,
published in books and and it is the same one I
Rear three-quarter view of the Panther II hull. Many of the design features of this hull were
on some websites is used on the later panzer V Ausf.G tank. US ARMY ARMOR AND CAVALRY COLLECTION was crawling over at Fort
often wrong, so to try Benning, Georgia.
The Measure
and ensure that the The Panther II never
information displayed on entered production. One
the tanks-encylcopedia. of the main reasons
com website and in for the start of the
of the Panther II
the books I write is Panther II development
correct: whenever I go to programme was the
museums and military fear that the 40mm side
vehicle events I am armour in the Ausf.D,
armed with a notebook, The first of a regular column from Craig Moore would be vulnerable to
tape measure and Soviet infantry 14.5 mm
ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT): Measuring up: The side armour 60mm; The glacis plate armour was
digital calliper. 80mm thick on the Panzer V Ausf.D, Ausf.A and Ausf.G Panther hulls; The glacis plate armour was anti-tank rifles.
Any chance I get you’ll 100mm; The side armour was 4mm thick on the Panzer V Ausf.D, Ausf.A and Ausf.G Panther hulls However, the
find me checking armour BELOW: The Panther II hull fitted with a Panzer V Ausf.G turret armed with a 7.5cm Kw.K.44/1 L/70 anti- implementation of
thickness and dimensions tank gun under cover in a Fort Benning tank shelter. US ARMY ARMOR AND CAVALRY COLLECTION Schürzen side skirt armour
of vehicles first-hand, so plates removed the threat
being able to get close from those anti-tank rifles
to the legendary Panther and reduced the need for
II prototype was an a thicker side armoured,
opportunity not to miss. heavier Panther tank
The Panther II tank was variant. A recommendation
being designed even after a meeting at the MAN
before the first Panther factory on May 4, 1943
tank saw combat on was that the Panther II tank
the Eastern Front in should not enter mass
mid-1943. Hitler had production at that time,
expressed concerns but improvements gained
about the original design’s from the Panther II project
armour thickness, so were to be incorporated
work began on designing in future Panther I tank
a new Panther with designs.
thicker amour and a hull In June 1943 companies
design that could be Author Craig Moore is an editor for tanks-en- that had been told to
cyclopedia.com and runs tank-hunter.com, a
fabricated cheaper and more quickly. guide to where you can find surviving World prepare to start producing the Panther II were
The front glacis plate was to be 100mm War One and World War Two tanks now informed that they would be producing
thick rather than 80mm as found on the the Panther I for the foreseeable future.
82
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