Classic Military Vehicle 2016 08 [183]

FREE SUPPLEMENT: Military Land Rovers ISSUE 183 AUGUST 2016

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MILITAR MILITARY LAND ROVERS

Allvis Supacat Alvis Suupacat

Complete guide to the Series One, II/IIA, III, Lightweight, 101 FC, 90/110 and Wolf TUM/TUL

Russian Artillery Tractors

CENTAUR TANK

1944 ARIEL RESTO

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CROSSING THE TS

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Contents August 2016

www.cmvmag.co.uk

MILITARY LAND ROVER SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

EDITORIAL Editor: Ian Cushway [email protected] Contributors: Aleksandr Koshavtsev, Dave Hardway, David Fletcher, Geoffrey Fletcher, Scott Smith, Ian Stead, Andy Stead, Nigel Hay, Les Freathy, Diana Hawkins, Paul Hazell, Peter McNeil, Duncan Nicholson, John Norris, Jim Kinnear, Jon Hickman, Jon Burgess, James Taylor, John G Teasdale, David Gilbert, Alain Henry de Frahan, Ian Young, John Blackman, Carl Schulze, Tim Bolton, Dimmen B Van Herwaarden, Karl Ludvigsen, Piotr Mariusz Radomski Designer: Sean Phillips, AT Graphics Ltd ADVERTISEMENT SALES Advertising Sales Executive: Michelle Duncan tel: +44 (0)1780 755131 [email protected] PRODUCTION Design and Colour Repro: AT Graphics Ltd Production Manager: Janet Watkins Advertisement Production: Kay Townsin [email protected] MARKETING Group Marketing Manager: Martin Steele Marketing Manager: Shaun Binnington MANAGEMENT Publisher and Managing Director: Adrian Cox Executive Chairman: Richard Cox Commercial Director: Ann Saundry

OPENING SHOT! 04 The plutocratic Thorneycroft Antar

06 REVIEW The latest happenings from the classic military vehicle world.

whatsoever is strictly prohibited without the prior permission of the Publisher. While every care is taken with submissions, the Publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred. All items submitted for publication are subject to our terms and conditions which are regularly updated without prior notice and downloadable from www.keypublishing.com. We are unable to guarantee the bona fides of any of our advertisers. Readers are strongly recommended to take their own precautions before parting with any information or item of value, including, but not limited to, money, manuscripts, photographs or personal information in response

COVER STORY

Jim Kinnear profiles the feebly slow but tough as nails WW2 Soviet S-65 artillery tractor.

COVER STORY

40 CAT’S TALE

COVER STORY

John Norris tells the story of the go-anywhere Alvis Supacat 6x6.

22 CENTAUR TANK COVER STORY

David Fletcher unravels the truth behind the British cruiser tank.

LAND ROVERS OUT 44 INMILITARY FORCE!

Tim Bolton reports from the Malvern Land Rover Show and 4x4 spares weekend.

COMING NEXT 50 Find out what’s in store in next month’s issue.

53 SHOWTIME A round-up of forthcoming military events and fairs.

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36 CATERPILLAR COPY

John Norris celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Diamond T by gathering together three restored survivors.

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Find out everything you need to know about military Land Rovers in our special pull-out centre section supplement. Cover pic: Garry Stuart

16 CROSSING THE Ts

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FRONT COVER

AND PEACE REVIVAL PREVIEW 12 WAR We’ll see you there!

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NUMBER 183

28

FRIENDS REUNITED

MILITARY VEHICLE MARKET 56 THE Milweb’s Nigel Hay charts the ups and

Having restored this ebay find 1944 Aerial motorbike, owner Martin Shaw uncovered an exciting link to its post-war past.

58 MV PRICES

COVER STORY

downs of the military vehicle marketplace. COVER STORY

Our listing of current vehicle values.

OF WAR 66 ECHOES Looking back at the Tetrach DD prototype.

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PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1XQ Tel: +44 (0)1780 755131 Fax: +44 (0)1780 757261 Website: www.keypublishing.com

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE – PAGE 48 There’s never been a better time to subscribe. A subscription to Classic Military Vehicle will ensure you receive every copy, post free, before the official on-sale date, while making a substantial saving on the cover price.

C CLASSIC C MILITARY VEHICLE VEHICLE August 2016

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OPE N I NG

SHOT

THORNEYCROFT ANTAR

Commonly known as the Mighty Antar, this leviathan 6x4 was for a time at least, one of the biggest trucks in the world. It was originally developed for use on oilfields, its role being to carry lengths of pipe over rugged terrain. With heavier tanks such as the Centurion coming into service, the British Army started looking for a replacement for the Diamond T, and the Antar was deemed a suitable stop gap. The military versions were initially powered by a specially developed Rolls-Royce Meteorite V8 petrol unit (a cut down version of the V12 Merlin aircraft engine) and the first vehicles entered service in the form of a ballast tractor in 1951. A semi-trailer version followed and after various evolutions it was replaced by the Scammell Commander in the mid-1980s.

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CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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A round-up of military-vehicle related news and products. Send news items to ian.cushway@keypublishin ng.com

Despatches I

t’s often impossible, sadly, to find out much about what role our wartime vehicles played during hostilities and their post-war past can be just as tricky to unravel. Which makes Martin Shaw’s story this issue on pages 28-31 all the more incredible. In a nutshell, having purchased a dilapidated WW2 Aerial motorbike from ebay, thanks to the original buff logbook that came with it, he managed to do a bit of detective work and trace the wife of the original post-war owner. Not only that, but once he’d fully restored it, she was reunited with the bike she had regularly seen her husband riding almost 70 years ago. But for us, the crowning moment was when her great grandson sat astride the newly refurbished wartime gem. Who knows, that magic moment may have fuelled an interest in the past which will result in him buying a military restoration project of his own one day…

CMV AT THE WAR AND PEACE REVIVAL

Ian Cushway

Come and visit the CMV stand at the War and Peace Revival on 19-23 July at the Folkestone Racecourse, Kent. You’ll find us just in front of the main grandstand so you won’t miss us. On the stand you’ll find a wide range of relevant Key titles and products on sale plus, of course, CMV back issues just in case there’s one missing from your collection. What’s more, because subscription is usually the best way to get your favourite military vehicle fix at the lowest possible price, we’ve come up with some exciting deals and offers – but we’ll reveal all at the show so come along and say hello. 6

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

RARE KÜBELS UP FOR SALE With so many lookalikes on the show scene, it’s rare to find a truly authentic Kübelwagen, or ‘bucket car’ to give it its slightly less glamorous name. That said, we’ve stumbled upon two this month. The first is being advertised by DP Classics in North Wales (www.dpclassics. co.uk) for £53,995. Sourced from the Bundesmuseum in Dresden in 2004, the car received a full 'nut & bolt' restoration by Detlef Kubens of Solingen in Germany, between 2009 and 2010, after which it was snapped up by a UK collector and imported into the UK in October 2010. The present owner subsequently purchased the car to add to his collection in August 2015. The AutoMuseum Volkswagen dating certificate confirms the build date as 17 August 1943, with

the car having left the factory on 22 August to be delivered to a central depot at Heereszeugamt Kassel. Now fitted with a replacement 1943 engine which has been fully rebuilt using new old stock parts, the ultra rare and carefully detailed Kübelwagen comes complete with all the accessories you would expect including: medical case and jerry can under dashboard, external jerry can, jack, oil can, primer can, cranking handle, tool case, battery box, battery warmer and a shovel. Many parts of the car clearly show the KdF cog logo (like the carb, brake drums etc) and the distributor is also a wartime Bosch original. The generator has been converted to 12v to give a more efficient electric and charging

system, and everything electrical (with the exception of the wiper motors) is working. The canvas roof and side windows are new replacements (good originals being almost impossible to source) and the tyres are all new replicas of wartime originals and have only covered a few miles. The original engine compartment VIN plate is supplied with the car's documentation and the engine bay features a reproduction Volkswagenwerk AG version. There is also a reproduction Bosch 'Enstort nach Gruppe III' plate and an ABA 'Ambi-Budd Presswork Berlin-Johnanisthal' builder’s plate. The second example advertised on Milweb (www.milweb.net) also dates from 1943 and was imported to the UK from Norway (which is where lots were left after WW2). The body and axles were restored by a specialist in Germany and the engine on this one has been replaced with a totally rebuilt genuine 1943 25hp unit which was started for the first time just three months ago. It’s had a new exhaust, new canvas hood, new side curtains and a windscreen cover. The price? A cool £44,500.

READ ALL ABOUT IT… NUTS & BOLTS VOL 34

Co-authored by Heiner F Duske, Tony Greenland and Detlev Terlisten, this volume of Nuts & Bolts focuses on the versatile sd.Kfz.7 used by the Germans as a platform for light and medium ordnance. With its armour protection deemed wanting, increasingly these half-tracks were replaced by fully-fledged armoured vehicles in the later phases of WW2, although because heavy armour was in short supply the more plentiful self-propelled gun saw plenty of service – and this is brilliantly illustrated via numerous archive images, as well as scaled drawings and contemporary photographs of some of the vehicle’s finer details. It costs €29.90. Text in German and English. Find out more at www.nuts-bolts.de

BEFORE ENDEAVOURS FADE

Now in its 14th edition, this guide to the battlefields of the Great War, written by Rose EB Coombs, is a must for anyone planning a trip to France this year. It is the product of painstaking research and a great deal of detective work by the late author and includes maps, illustrations and a huge amount of historical material. With precise 8

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

directions, including road numbers in most cases, it guides readers around the historic places to visit in Northern France and Belgium, with accompanying photographs giving a glimpse of what you are likely to find at the end of your journey. Fascinating from cover to cover. ISBN: 9 781870 067621. £19.95, published by Battle of Britain International (www.afterthebattle.com)

NUTS & BOLTS VOL 35

The development of German multi-wheeled reconnaissance cars or ‘Panzerwagens’ began in the late 1920s. In the course of rearmament of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht at the beginning g g of the 1930s,, funds were limited, but armoured cars could be produced at a lower price thann tracked vehicles. After the first experiences with early developments of 4-wheeled (Kfz.133 & 14) and 6-wheeledd armoured cars (Kfz.67 & 67a) their

poor cross-country capability was quickly recognised. This led to the development of the 8-wheeled armoured cars with the specially developed GS chassis by the company Büssing-NAG, called Sd.Kfz. 231, 232 and 263. In the course of the war a fourth variant was introduced, the Sd.Kfz 233. Written by Duske, Greenland and Terlisten, this first volume deals with the Sd.Kfz. 231 and 232 (first called Sd.Kfz. 233 and 234). Again, as a source, it’s a totally essential tome and one that’s full of fascinating photographs as well as drawings and illustrations. €29.90. Text in German and English. Find out more at www.nuts-bolts.de

Come and see us on our stand at War And Peace

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28/06/2016 12:03

WRITE TO REPLY!

AUSTIN K5 REMEMBERED D

WONDERFULL WII WINDSOR

I very much enjoyed your piece on Carriers in the May issue of CMV but was sad that you missed out the two I drove, namely the Lloyd with tiller steering and the Windsor. I was a driver/mechanic with an anti-tank platoon pulling sixpounder guns in Cyprus just after WW2. The Windsor, built in Windsor, Ontario, had eight instead of the usual six bogies and was a bit longer than the Universal Carrier. I saw a preserved example owned by a Dutch enthusiast at War and Peace a while back – it was a wonderful vehicle. Bernard Tyler, Orpington, Kent

LVT-6 IMAGES SOUGHT

I was reading your April issue (number 179) and low and behold I was transported back to April 1951 to a place called East Wretham in Norfolk. It was a big airfield and I learned to drive a K5, just like the ones in the picture. I was with a group of lads getting put through our driving course while serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers just prior to being sent off to Korea at the end of June.

NEW DUNKIRK FEATURE FILM Word has it that as we write, filming will be taking place on the French coasts for a new film depicting the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo. Director Christopher Nolan has been linked to the new blockbuster, and has reportedly been spotted with his screenwriter brother, Jonathan, scouting for possible locations in France. Operation Dynamo saw the rescue of some 330,000 Allied troops and was described by Winston Churchill as a ‘miracle of deliverance.’ If any UK vehicle owners have been approached to play a starring role, spill the beans and let us know!

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While out there I drove Bedford QLs 15cwt Morris trucks and Jeeps. I also spent time behind the wheel of an AEC Matador, one which we used for recovery and one for stores. When I left Korea and arrived in Hong Kong we had 4x4 Fords and Ford 15cwt trucks. Later, on returning to Kirkcudbright KOSB TA I drove a Thorneycroft gun tractor. George Shannon, Thirsk

I am constructing a model of a Vietnam Monitor (1968-70) and am looking for pictures of a LVT-6 with a turret and 105mm gun. Ideally, I am after measurements of the turret so that in a stand off scale model it could be realistic from 7-8m away while on the water. I’ve made my model in two parts so it can be transported in a car and it will be powered by two MIG welder wire feeder motors. Bob Allison, York Can anyone help? – Ed

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21/06/2016 17:27

FOLKESTON After a change of ownership, there’s a real air of anticipation surrou though. With a raft of new and exciting features planned we are all s to attract a bigger attendance than ever…

T

he War and Peace Revival 2016 is set to hit the military show calendar in spectacular style at the Folkestone Racecourse, Kent from 19-23 July. Now in its 34th year, the world’s largest and longest running military vehicle event is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year with many camping on site, giving it that real ‘festival’ feel that we all love. Last year’s announcement that the event John Allison, has the same passion and would close following the 2015 show sent as far as we understand it is completely a shock wave throughout the military show dedicated to ensuring that this success community but fortunately, with a new team continues for all involved with the show and of organisers at the helm, the show is very for all those who visit each year. much here to stay. Thousands of military vehicles from around the world, representing fighting BIGGER AND EVEN BETTER forces from the Great War to the present The previous owner of the event, Rex day will be on display. For 2016, there is Cadman, created a fantastic show that an even bigger line up of vehicles including successfully brought together military tanks, armoured and amphibious vehicles, enthusiasts and show visitors from all over jeeps, cars, artillery, motorcycles, emergency the world. The new team, headed up by vehicles and commercial vehicles. New for 12 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

2016 is a vintage steam engine area and vintage motorcycle display which is bound to prove popular with visitors. The living history lines, as in years past, will provide a unique picture of life in military conflict. Realistic, down to the smallest detail, visitors will be able to see depictions from the Great War to more recent conflicts. Visitors can gain an insight into the lives of British troops fighting and living in the trenches, GI’s advancing through Vietnam, Russians relaxing with an accordion after a hard day in battle or Germans planning their next strategic move. Re-enactors have a wealth of historical knowledge and many true stories about the particular units they represent and are only too happy to share this with visitors.

NE BOUND! ounding this year’s War and Peace Revival. One thing’s for sure ll set for an action packed military vehicle bonanza which is likely

PUTTING ON A SHOW As always, the arena will be the place to be if you want to see, hear and smell the best of the action. Troops and vehicles including heavy armour and artillery will come together to reconstruct historical battles. With the use of pyrotechnics and blank ammunition this is as real as it can get. The busy arena programme is also packed with military vehicle demonstrations and competitions. The Vintage Village area gives an insight into what life was like ‘back home’ during g

WW2. Complete with general stores, post office, village pub, Home Guard depot, tea rooms and ‘Victory Garden’, visitors will be able to take a gentle stroll and watch informative demonstrations given by re-enactors. A new sheep farming exhibit will show the hard work carried out by shepherds during the war, and we’ve no doubt the new-born lambs will be a very popular attraction for yyounger p p g visitors.

The Airfix Model Zone will have hundreds of models on display with plenty of demonstrations given by some of the best model makers from the modelling world, all on hand to give the latest tips and advice on modelling techniques. Meanwhile, the popular Battle of Britain exhibition will have aircraft parked on the dispersals with crews waiting for the order to scramble,, while overhead Spitfires will be p

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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seen flying over the showground. Hundreds of trade stalls will be brimming with militaria goodies; whether you are a serious collector or a casual opportunist buyer, there will be something of interest for everyone. Within the trade stalls a Zeppelin bar has been added so shoppers can take a well deserved break. The new ‘Gentleman’s Lounge’ furnished with vintage furniture and chesterfield sofas, offers visitors the chance to sit and browse through books and to meet with the authors who will be available to sign personal copies. GREAT WAR EXHIBITION There will be a special exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the Great War where visitors will be able to walk through the trenched entrance and see the hundreds of exhibits on display, from uniforms and equipment to personal effects. To give a personal perspective Great War soldiers will present their personal stories of the Somme and explain how the battle was fought. The Britain at War Victory Marquee and surrounding area will feature a fun filled day and night programme of activities, music and dancing for all ages. The live entertainment includes the superb ‘Jive Aces’, the magnificent ‘Sticky Wickets’, the wonderful ‘Swingtime Sweethearts’, the Bavarian style oompah band ‘The Bettesteiner Footstompers’ and the

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sensational Elvis tribute ‘Scott Elvis’. The popular ‘Gingers Bar’ has a great line-up of live performances every night of the show with bands such as the ‘Rockabilly Rejects’, ‘The New Notes’, ‘Blast Off’, ‘Hyperactive’ and the ‘Heroes’. (See the War and Peace Revival website for details.) NEW FOR 2016 Many additional new features have been added to the show to ensure visitors have the best possible experience, including a land train service to carry visitors around the showground. The glossy 2016 show

guide magazine will be given to all visitors free of charge on admission. What’s more, a free downloadable app has also been developed which once downloaded on to a smart phone, will guide visitors around the showground giving all the latest information on what they can see. Obviously the CMV team will all be there so come and say hello, and remember accompanied visitors under 16 years of age go free so bring the whole family. Visit the War and Peace Revival website for tickets and further information at: https://warandpeacerevival.com.

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28/06/2016 12:09

CROSSING THE John Norris celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Diamond T by getting together three restored examples…

T

here is a theory known as the ‘six degrees of separation’, which states that everyone and everything is only six steps, or points of connection, from everyone and everything else in the world. That may sound like a very tenuous link to make between a group of people, but Adrian Mason, Peter Keville and Jason Jefferies are three such people to have a lot more in common with one another than they might have thought only a few months ago. For a start, they are all military vehicle enthusiasts, they own Diamond T trucks, and by virtue of this fact they all know Jim Clark and his team of engineers at Red Ball Restorations. When CMV dropped in on Jim Clark’s The American versions differed from workshops in Gloucestershire the total those built for the British Army in a variety number of people known between us of respects, not least by virtue of the fact suddenly grew. And no doubt, after reading that they were six-wheel drive. The first about our trip to see this trio of superbly 21 vehicles (known as the Model 967) restored vehicles, many more people will were powered by Hercules RXB 501-cid be in touch – thereby further proving the six-cylinder engines. The first Diamond T theory. However, it is not just about people, Model 968 (G509) rolled off the production it's also about things, places and events line in 1941, followed by several other and it just so happens this year marks the variants such as the Model 960, 969A and 75th anniversary of Diamond T trucks or 970 ‘Dump Truck’ which was fitted with a ‘Wreckers’. Hercules RXC engine that developed 106hp, known collectively as ‘Wreckers’. They were NEEDS MUST originally produced with hard top cabs, but in The vehicle’s origins date back to 1940, a 1943 a soft-top cab version was introduced time when the British Army was in desperate and these could be fitted with a race-ring need of tank transporters. Unable to find mounting on the roof for a machine gun. anyone that could make them in sufficient The first prototypes of the British version numbers the British Purchasing Commission were ready for trials in September 1941, approached American firm Diamond T to by which time the Lend Lease Bill was in ask it to build 12 ton 6X4 vehicles for the operation between Britain and America, British Army to specifications laid down allowing material to be supplied to Britain by the Commission. Diamond T responded by American factories. and eventually produced two versions, By the end of WW2 over 6500 Diamond known as the 980 and 981, both of which T Model 980 and 981 vehicles had been were powered by Hercules DFXE engines supplied to Britain. The two types differed developing 201hp and capable of towing a mainly by the fact that the 981 had a winch loaded trailer up to 51 tons. This made them at the front and rear whilst the 980 had a ideal as tank transporters, a role in which winch at the rear only. The Soviet Red Army they were perfectly suited during the North also used the Model 981 until the end of African campaign. the war. 16 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

IN FOR THE LONG HAUL Both types remained in service with the British Army after hostilities had ended and to extend their service some were fitted with the Rolls Royce C6NFL-134 12.1-litre petrol engines during the 1950s. Around this time some vehicles were declared surplus to requirement and a number were sold off to civilian operators who used them for haulage, some even being used as snow ploughs. In fact, that was one of the roles which Jason Jefferies’ Model 981 had been used for when he found it in a garage in Salisbury over 16 years ago. “It was in a terrible state,” he explained. “Having also been used as a recovery vehicle at one time, it was painted in all sorts of colours and because it was missing lots of features it was virtually unrecognisable.” Jim Clark with his team of engineers at Redball Renovations came to the rescue and brought the vehicle back to the pristine condition we see it in today. Jason now takes it all over the country to appear at shows such as Dig for Victory at Wraxall in Somerset and Fortress Wales in the grounds of Caldicot Castle. At these events it is shown in its original role as a tank transporter towing an M9 Rogers Trailer complete with M4 Sherman tank. As well as renovating the bodywork Jason has also managed to dig up a bit about its history. “I discovered it was fitted with a Rolls-Royce engine by the British Army in 1956. It was released from military service at Coombe Martin in Devon in 1971.” He has also managed to track down some of its wartime history. The vehicle was used in the Middle East by the British 8th

HE Ts

Left: The trio of Diamond Ts in place: Left to right Model 981 and the two Model 980s.

Jason reversiing his Diamond d T intto pllace. For theiir siize these veh hiclles are remark kab bly manoeuvrab ble.

Army in 1943, but that is as far as he has reached, so far. TWO’S COMPANY Joining us was Peter Keville who had travelled from the Republic of Ireland to arrange collection and delivery of his newly-restored Model 980 Diamond T. Peter explained that while he was able to date it to 1942, beyond that he is not too sure about his vehicle’s wartime military service. “It was scruffy but largely intact when I got

Look king very plleased d, Peter Keviille stand ding by his pride and joy which he is taking back to Ireland. We are glad he shared the moment with us.

Adrian’s vehicle shows it as used by the RASC in the summer of 1942 with 33 Tank Transporter Company.

Petter Keviille’’s Mod dell 980, wh hich h was finiish hed d in time for our viisiit, look king immacullatte. CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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Head d-on viiew off Petter Keviille’’s Mod dell 980 showing its great size. Above: Peter Keville’s Model 980 looking factory-fresh. Below: The passenger side of Peter Keville’s Model 980 Diamond T. Right: The rear of Peter Keville's Model 980 showing the rear winch.

it and all I managed to find out was that for a time it was used by the Italian Army after the war,” he muses. In fact, a lot of Model 980s were used by various armies, including the Danish Army in the 1950s. Peter recalls that he had seen Diamond T trucks being used on farms as a young boy growing up in Ireland and to an extent this, and the fact that it’s such an iconic shape, was what led to his lifelong fascination. He sent his vehicle to Jim’s workshops to be refurbished, a job which has taken five years to complete. “It took that long because there were so many other projects already in hand and each vehicle is worked on in stages,” he explained. Not that he seemed to mind. “After all, restoration can’t be rushed.” h d” We were extremely fortunate to have Peter’s vehicle with us for the occasion because he is taking it back to Limerick where he plans to enjoy it and take it to a few local shows.

driven Diamond T trucks during the 1960s through to the 1980s as a civilian working for a recovery service, was on hand. He had some interesting stories to tell and watching him handle his son’s Diamond T was a sight to behold, bearing in mind they weigh the best part of 12 tons, there’s no power steering and the gears have to be engaged manually.

Adrian has completed a lot of research into its history and he knows from the chassis number, 9800373, that it was built in August 1941, making it part of the initial production run with contract number SM2052. It was sent to North Africa where it served with the British 8th Army being operated by drivers from the Royal Army Service Corps as a tank transporter. During renovation work some of the original paintwork was revealed from 1941/42 and it was decided to restore it in the livery colours of the 373 Tank Transporter Company off th the RASC 19 1942. The vehicle was given its British road registration number, 566 XUL, in July 2008, the first time it had received any such designation in 68 years. The fact it was built in 1941 makes Adrian's ‘T’ 75 years old which is significant because the whole series of Model 980s and 981s is marking the same historic milestone. Indeed, it is perhaps the oldest, if not the only type, surviving from the original production.

“Their reliability is underlined by the fact that so many are in private ownership today.“

TRIO TRIUMPH Sadly, the owner of the third vehicle, Adrian Mason, was unable to be with us on the day, but his father Brian John Mason, who had 18 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

Ad Adrian i bbought ht hi his vehicle hi l iin A Aprilil 2008 and although it was 90 per cent intact it still took Jim and his crew five years to restore. Like Peter’s vehicle, this one had also served time in the Italian Army which had overhauled it completely in October 1967. During the work the team kept as many of the original features as possible and on the day of our visit it was in its original wartime markings, which it will retain for posterity.

Above: Adriian Mason’’s Mod dell 980 wiith massive wheels for a massive vehicle. Above: Adrian Mason’s Model 980 Diamond T looking fit for service in North Africa. Right: The passenger side of Adrian Mason's truck.

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT As we stood debating the differences in the types more points of interest emerged. For example, the soft-top cab version could accommodate three men, whereas the cab of the hard-topped version was slightly smaller and could only accommodate the driver and his co-driver. The soft-top design saved steel and during the journey over from America the cab would have been collapsed which saved storage space on the ship. Mounted either side of the engine compartment, just above the front bumper, is a connector tap. Apparently, if a vehicle had lost engine power and had to be towed, then hoses could be attached to these points in order that the towing vehicle could operate the brakes. A driver steered the vehicle under tow but all braking was done by the towing vehicle. Diamond Ts can be legally driven on roads, fuel consumption is around three miles to the gallon and they have a top speed of approximately 20mph (32km/h), which means owners can drive them

directly to shows. They are exempt from vehicle excise duty (VED), but obviously they do have to be insured for legal reasons. During their wartime service with the Soviet Red Army the Diamond T Model 981 was used for tank transport roles in the same way as the British Army. In that respect the vehicle served on the Eastern Front and in British service it was used in North Africa,

the Italian campaign and across Europe after the Normandy landings from 6 June 1944 until the end of the war. They proved useful and efficient and their reliability is underlined by the fact that so many are in private ownership today. The fact that Jim Clark and his crew at Red Ball Restorations brought together three vehicles for an exclusive assembly of

Above: This low viiew sh hows sometthing off the great bulk of these vehicles. g L Left: Jason Jefferies’ Model 981 identified by t opening in the front bumper for the winch the c cable to pass through. CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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Abovee: Jason Jefferies’ Model 981 wiith all the ttools and showing the mounting for the .50in ccalibre machine gun for self-defence. Above left: Controls for the Model 981 soft-top. A

Above: Driiver’’s conttrolls on the Mod dell 981. Left: The winch on the Model 981.

Diamond T trucks uniquely for CMV was a remarkable feat and marked the occasion of the 75th anniversary perfectly. The end result of all their hard work was seeing an impressive line up of vehicles, and the B l Below: The Th rear cargo area iis spacious i enough h tto carry recovery equipment and specialist tools.

20 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

llook of satisfaction on the faces of the vvehicle owners. The workshops are under ccover and equipped with all the facilities n necessary to undertake all renovation tasks. T The other part to Jim Clark’s renovation sservices is Allied Forces Ltd, which makes rreproduction canvas covers for military vvehicles, including seat covers, roofs and ccab tops. This keeps all vehicle restoration under the direction of one team. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all three owners for allowing us the opportunity to photograph their vehicles on this very special occasion. Also, many thanks to Jim Clark and his crew (07831 378904, [email protected]) for giving so freely of their time.

AMX-13 In Lebanon. Multiple rusting and heavy weathering painting techniques for abandoned military vehicle models. Chapters include The AMX-13 in the IDF, Lebanon army dump yard,AMX-13 Abandoned in Lebanon, Lebanon army dump yard 2,AMX-13 Rhapsody in SLA blue, Lebanese army live fire drill, Walkaround section. £25.99

Tankograd 5059.UNIMOG U4000/U5000 The Unimog Series 437.4 - Development, Technology, Variants, Service.This publication tells the development history, technology and variants of the U4000/U5000 in modern German Army service. Among the variants covered are the U4000 box body types, U5000 Cargo, U5000 UAV Recovery Vehicle and the U5000 Forest Firefighting Vehicle.Illustrated with 114 colour photographs and 10 graphics,64 pages £13.99

British Military Land Rovers. This hugely comprehensive book looks at the story of the leaf-sprung Land Rovers used by all three of Britain's armed services ñ the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. It lists and describes the different types, setting them in their context both as products of the Rover (and later, Land Rover) companies and as military equipment designed to meet a particular need at a particular time. Hardback,208 pages,over 350 illustrations. £35.00

Firing Now.This book explores the fascinating history of tank, anti-tank and self-propelled artillery ammunition used by the British and Americans in World War 2. As well as examining the major ammunition types in detail, the work also explains, for the first time in a book of this type, how ammunition functions and is made to be accurate. The guns and weapons used to fire the ammunition are also covered, as is a comprehensive lexicon of terminology and an extensive list of references.£25.00

Red 78 Saladin Mk.2 in Detail.Saladin Mk.2 in detail by Frantisek Koran, Kevin Brovne, Jan Mostrk.188 colour photos 60 pages, soft cover. Saladin in the Belgian royal army and military history museum and in British private collections Photo manual for modellers. £17.99

Tankograd 9023.Conqueror.This publication describes the development history, the technology, variants and the only eight year long in-service life of the Conqueror heavy gun tank. Also covered is the Conqueror armoured recovery vehicle.Illustrated with 12 colour photographs, 94 black&white photographs and 17 graphics,64 pages.£13.99

British Infantry Tanks in World War II. Paperback,98 Pages,250 Archive Photos,12 Colour profiles.Author Dick Taylor. £18.99

Green 46.SA-6 Gainful in Detail Launcher and Radar Vehicles Fully Uncovered.Paperback,120 pages,full Colour Walkaround 470 colour photo's. £22.99

Tankograd 3025.Operation BIG LIFT 63 Cold War Airbridge from Texas to Germany.This publication shows the vehicles of Operation Big Lift of 1963 in fantastic depth and comprehensively tells the story of one of the largest and most interesting NATO exercises ever held in Central Europe.Illustrated with 8 colour photographs, 109 b&w photographs and 5 graphics.£13.99

Tankograd In Detail : Fast Track 17 Leopard 2A4M Canadian Main Battle Tank - In action photographs and a detailed walkaround, English text. - Limited print-run 999 copies. Paperback,40 pages,75 colour photographs.£10.99

Tankograd 3026 M1 ABRAMS BREACHER The M1 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) - Technology and Service.This publication explains the development history and technology of the M1 Abrams Breacher in great detail. An extensive photographical walkaround allows to see all details of the assault breacher vehicle when compared to the main battle tank and shows the specialised engineer equipment.Illustrated with 153 colour photographs,64 pages.£13.99

Panzer Wrecks 19 Yugoslavia.How did partisans improve the firepower of the Somua S35? And where did it end up?Why did a German Panzer unit pose as Allied tankers?The answers to these and other questions are to be found here in Panzerwrecks 19, with 151 rare and unpublished large format photographs sourced from around the world. £16.99

Tankograd 9024.AT105 Saxon Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier of the British Army 1977 to Today The AT 105 Saxon is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) operated by infantry battalions and elements of supporting arms of the British Army from the mid-1980s right into the new millennium.This publication describes the complicated development history, the technology and all variants of the Saxon in great detail.Illustrated with 126 colour photographs, 10 black&white photographs.£13.99

U.S Half Tracks Part Two.The development and deployment of the U.S. Armyís half-track based multiple gun motor carriages and gun motor carriages.Illustrated with 700 period photos and described in detail in the 448 hard-bound pages of this volume are the myriad of half-track based mortar, howitzer and gun motor carriages ranging from the ubiquitous but uncelebrated M4 Mortar Carrier to the obscure twin-40mm Bofors-armed T68 to the acclaimed M16 antiaircraft vehicle, which armed with four .50 caliber machine guns remained in the US arsenal until the late 1950s.£39.99

German Panzer 1.A Visual History of the German Armyís WWII Early Light Tank Clandestinely developed during the post WWI-era during which Germany was forbidden from developing, producing or owning armored combat vehicles, the Panzer I served as a proof of concept.168 hardbound pages, over 200 photos.As a special bonus, this title includes a 16-page-color walk around section featuring very rare examples of the Panzer IA, B and F. £22.99

AFV Photo Album Volume 2.STEEL CARNAGE In the second volume in our series we continue the journey through the Czech lands, were a tremendous number of vehicles were knocked out, blown-up or simply left behind by retreating German forces during the final momentous weeks of World War 2. Among them were also vast amounts of Red Army machines, knocked out in the many tank battles that raged along the retreat route.£27.99

Six-Ton Trucks From Prime Mover to Truck Tractor.From Prime Mover to Truck-Tractor One hundred twenty eight pages, soft cover, over 260 black & white and color images. Coverage of the Prime Mover, K-56 Radar Van, Bridge Erector, Crane Carrier, Tanker, Fire Truck and the Truck Tractor in period photos. Also includes walk around photos of the Prime Mover, Bridge Erector and Crane Carrier.£23.99

Tiger Ausf. B Kˆnigstiger - TECHNICAL and OPERATIONAL HISTORY The enquiries from readers have at last resulted in the preparation of a new edition of Waldemar Trojcaës Kˆnigstiger book. The new book contains 720 pages, approximately 850 photographs, approximately 200 2D and 3D color drawings, 40 maps and 30 color organigrams. The technical section has been enriched with new photographic material from the production process and with technical drawings. The section on camouflage has been produced in color. The color drawings show all possible variants from the combat units.Additionally, all dangerous opponents of the Kˆnigstiger (Eastern and Western fronts) have been presented. £95.00

Land Rover Military One-Tonne.A fully illustrated history of the Land Rover 101 One-Tonne - the forward-control military vehicle developed as a gun tractor for the British Army, in production from 1975-1978. Including specification guides, production histories and original photography.Paperback,160 pages,colour and Black/White photographs £16.99

Gun Trucks.A Visual History of the U.S. Armyís Vietnam-Era Wheeled Escort Platforms Born out of the need for convoy protection during the escalation of combat in 1967, the Vietnam-era gun trucks are some of the most interesting military vehicles fielded during the 20th century. Noted military truck historian David Doyle has created an extensive and vivid portrait of these unique trucks.Paperback,120 pages,full colour £20.99

Rare Wheels: Volume 1: A Pictorial Journey of Lesser-Known Soft-Skins 1934-45. The book will take the reader on a journey starting with pre-war preparations and then across the early campaigns in France and Poland, through Ukraine, Russia and North Africa.A variety of cars, trucks, buses and other soft-skins are presented. Manufacturers such as Krupp, B¸ssing-Nag, Horch, Adler, Mercedes, BMW, Steyr, Opel, Henschel, ZiS, GAZ, Praga, Ford, Citroen and Matford are all represented £21.99

251 Half-Track.A Visual History of the German Armyís Sd.Kfz. 251 Armored Halftracks The very first in an exciting new series of value-priced hard cover horizontal format books on German armor in the Second World War.This 168 page book is packed with large, clear images of Germanyís well-known and most widely-used armored troop transport and weapons platform.Hardcover, 168 pages. Over 200 black and white images.£26.99

Tanker Techniques Magazine.We now introduce to you our latest publication, ëTankerí, and we are sure that it will herald a new global benchmark for scale modelling magazines. This new approach and concept for our new quarterly magazine, focuses on amazingly realistic paint schemes and finishes, showing you how to accomplish them. We have the very best of modellers from around the world, showing you how to master not only the very latest techniques, but also the old standards too. £8.99

British Military Trucks of the Cold War. Manufacturers, Types, Variants and Service of Trucks in the British Armed Forces 1945-79.This book aims at illustrating this amazing story for the very first time in one comprehensive publication. 184 pages ñ Illustrated throughout with 333 black & white photographs and 55 colour photographs ñ English Text £34.99

Book World FP.indd 1

28/06/2016 11:54

CRUISIN’ FOR A BRUISING

Tank historian David Fletcher extolls the many virtues of the cruiser tank Mark VIII A27L Centaur

Centaur IVs of the Royal Marine Armoured Assault Group photographed in Britain before D-Day with their crews working on them.

M

ost published sources that I am aware of portray the Centaur as the design that preceded the Cromwell but it was not as simple, nor as logical as that. The Cromwell effectively came first and it was to be fitted with the 600hp Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, derived from the famous Merlin aero engine. However, delays in production, due to demands from the RAF, meant that an alternative had to be found and the only engine available was the somewhat venerable Liberty, an American aero engine from the Great War era still being produced in Britain as a tank engine by the Nuffield Group. Now, having reached its Mark V manifestation, it was rated at 395bhp which was not a patch on the Meteor. In addition to those who built Liberty engine tanks until the better Rolls-Royce power unit was available there were others who did not feel confident in the future of the Meteor engine and saw the Liberty as a viable alternative. To them, the Centaur was the future.

22 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

DEVIL IN THE DETAIL The official Tank Board was immensely pleased with the Meteor and only reluctantly settled for the Centaur tank as an interim and over 1800 of this version were built. The later ones, however, were fitted with the Meteor engine and were effectively Cromwells; so it is the earlier ones that concern us here. The hull shape of the two tanks was very similar. At the front, where it matters, armour thickness was 64mm in front of the driver and

57mm on the lower front plate which slopes inwards slightly. Apparently, where panels of thicker homogeneous armour were supplied, in Britain, they had a tendency to flake at the back when hit, which could be dangerous. Therefore, the favoured practice was to laminate a panel of ordinary steel onto the inner face of the armour. However, this was not done on the A24/A27 series, or at least does not seem to have been, despite what is stated in some books. It was done on the turret, hence those enormous bolt heads, but not on the hull as far as one can see. Essentially the hull and turret on Centaur were like two boxes, one perched on top of the other. As they were on Cavalier and Cromwell, the hull was located between the tracks, not overlapping above the tracks as they did on most German tanks, which tended to limit the diameter of the turret ring which in turn limited the size of turret and the gun that could be carried. The suspension consisted of five road wheels on each side, each independently sprung using a

Christie derived system. This was not one that Christie himself would have recognised immediately, despite his rather dubious claim that the war was being won by tanks with Christie suspension, except on American tanks. Centaur, being somewhat lighter at the rear did not need the heavier springs used by Cromwell, nor the same number of shock absorbers at almost every wheel station. Mostly, but not always, Centaur lacked the raised armoured cover for an air intake,

regenerative steering system, which was altogether more sophisticated than the Nuffield/Wilson system used in Cavalier. Like most new systems, the Merritt-Brown was a nest of troubles to begin with – although most of these had been resolved when it was first used, in the Churchill. SENT ACROSS THE POND Six Centaurs were sent to the United States in the spring of 1943, all without engines. The plan was to fit four of them with the new Ford V8 and the other two with the even more powerful Ford V12 when that was ready. Apart from Leyland Motors, which thought there might be some merit in the idea, nobody in Britain was interested. Even then, the Americans were generally unimpressed by British tanks. It did not help that most British tanks sent across the Atlantic as samples arrived looking so tatty and in such poor condition that General Richardson, on the British Army Staff in Washington, described the British as “…the world’s worst salesmen.” In addition to the above there are three

“Where panels of thicker homogeneous armour were supplied, in Britain, they had a tendency to flake at the back when hit, which could be dangerous.” seen behind the turret on a Cromwell, while the track adjuster on Centaur, working on the front idler, featured a worm drive arrangement as used on Crusader; Cromwell was fitted with a lever operated system acting on a ratchet. However, what distinguished the Centaur from its predecessor, the Cavalier, was the use of the Merritt-Brown transmission, which combined a gearbox with a fully

Right and below: Spotting the difference between a Centaur and Cromwell, especially the early type, is never easy. Perforated tyres on the road wheels are a good clue and, of course, if the tank carries a 75mm gun it must be a Cromwell. The air inlet behind the turret is no guide since they were fitted to some Centaurs, but any tank seen without one must be a Centaur. The method of track adjustment is always an infallible guide but it’s not a lot of help if you can’t see it, while the absence of a track adjusting tool means nothing, it might have fallen off or been left off.

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

23

Of course the presence of a WD number is infallible and it should also tell us who built the tank. This Centaur IA, wallowing in the mud, was probably built by Leyland Motors but it could have been English Electric.

other events involving Centaur, each quite telling in its own way, and worth recording here. The first of these, Operation Dracula, dates from August 1943. Since the War Office was not known for using the names of middle European vampires as operation titles I rather suspect it was done because the officer who authorised it at the time was DRAC or Director, Royal Armoured Corps, although even that is a bit fanciful. Anyway it took the form of a comparative trial over 2300 miles (3680km) involving Cromwell, Centaur and two Shermans, an M4A2 and M4A4. The Shermans appear to have performed best of all and the diesel M4A2 proved the most reliable. The Cromwell was not too bad, when it was running, but the Centaur was so bad that the officer conducting the trials, a Major Clifford, said at one point that he would not want to take one into action. A subsequent 3000-mile (4800km) trial held in Long Valley, Aldershot in November 1943 involved ten Centaurs and Cromwells. This time the Centaurs behaved so badly that the Tank Board was minded to cut back production of the Liberty engine tank.

THE CAT IS OUT Then, in April 1944, came the second and strangest incident of all. For no apparent reason the War Office announced that the Centaur tank was to be taken off the Secret List, and this within two months of D-Day. Details of the tank were duly released and a national newspaper, the Sunday Chronicle announced it under the headline “New tank – off the secret list” and went on to say, “Britain’s latest monster tank… mounting a six pounder gun, it has a three-

they wanted to know, had the Government elected to take this step, when the tank had not yet been used in action. Was there something wrong with it? But the most they could get out of Sir Andrew Duncan, the Minister of Supply, was an admission that the Liberty engine was far from ideal. Like all storms in teacups it was soon over and with D-Day looming there were other things to worry about. Even so, when they weren’t breaking down Centaurs were issued to a number of British armoured regiments for training, almost exclusively in the UK. Thus, for a while they could be seen all over the place and a lot of young men first learned the skills they later used in action in France on Centaurs in Britain. At least these were modern looking tanks with larger guns than the old Covenanters that preceded them and there was a belief, in certain circles, that many who were trained on troublesome tanks that required a lot of maintenance turned out to be better tank crews in action when the time came.

“The Centaurs behaved so badly that the Tank Board was minded to cut back production.”

24 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

man turret… this powerful new British weapon… may play an important role in the Second Front.” Whether one could describe the Centaur as a monster tank is debatable but the news was sufficient to set off some noisy buzzing in the House of Commons. A number of Members of Parliament who already had their doubts about the quality of British tanks now thought they had a strong stick to beat the Prime Minister with and for a short time there was uproar in the House. Why,

ALL AT SEA The third Centaur related incident came when the Royal Marines had managed to

Th These C Centaurs, t nott yett fitt fitted d with ith guns, came from Harland & Wolff in Belfast. They were photographed during a trial run, fresh out of the factory.

acquire some of the redundant tanks, the Mark IV version armed with a 95mm close support howitzer. They obtained 80 of them and the idea was to have them chained down to the decks of their landing craft and cruising off the Normandy shore giving fire support to the Royal Marine commandos who would be fighting their way up the beaches. Since the tanks were not intended to go anywhere no drivers would be needed and, for the same reason, they would not require an engine so the space could be used to stow more ammunition. However, when this was demonstrated on a pre-invasion exercise in Dorset, General Montgomery wanted to know why these particular tanks were not driving ashore; when told he clearly did not think very much of the idea and the Royal Marines, seizing the

A very unusual photograph, a Centaur IB fitted with sand shields and apparently photographed in the desert, although when is not clear. The fitting on top of the turret is a PLM ( said to be Parrish, Lakeman, Motley) attachment to carry anti-aircraft machine-guns.

moment, decided to have the engines fitted into the tanks and to recruit drivers from the Royal Armoured Corps. Apart from a few that were lost in the Channel (CMV June 2009) the majority arrived on the French coast on schedule and were duly landed, often towing a Porpoise amphibious sledge to carry more ammunition. Since they were regarded as interlopers, what was known as the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group was denied any official support from REME. Yet they managed to remain operational for at

least two weeks by which time some of the tanks, with distinctive gunnery markings on their turrets, had travelled up to ten miles (16km) inland. When the Royal Marines had finished with them a few Centaurs were passed on to the Royal Artillery and the Canadians but ultimately most of them ended up with the French Army. SIX OF THE BEST Aside from those Centaurs fitted with 75mm guns and Meteor engines, which were essentially Cromwells anyway, and

Below: Another Centaur IA, this time built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company and seen on its testing ground.

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

25

A Centaur IVA fitted with a 95mm howitzer but without the counterweight. This tank only has a perforated tyre on the front road wheel and could easily be mistaken for a Cromwell.

those, like the ones mentioned above armed with 95mm howitzers the majority of Centaurs, particularly the early ones carried the 57mm, six pounder gun and were known as either the Mark III or subsequently the Mark V. This was a good gun in its day with an armour piercing performance only a little inferior to the 75mm gun of Cromwell, when the latter was firing fi i APCBC (Armour Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped) ammunition. When, in June 1944, an APDS (Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot) round was introduced for the six pounder it was nearly as good as the 77mm gun of Comet or the legendary 17 pounder. Unfortunately, the six pounder was not equipped to fire a high explosive round worth worrying about so it was never fitted to any Cruiser tank in France, only in a towed anti-tank gun.

have been covered to some extent in back numbers of CMV, has resulted in a number being used to recreate battle worthy Cromwells. As far as I am aware only one Centaur

the one in the Tank Museum collection. Most of the rest have been turned into Cromwells. However, there are two ex-Royal Marine Centaurs preserved in France, one at Pegasus Bridge and the other in the Museée des Blindes in Saumur while we had the remains of one, dragged off Salisbury Plain, awaiting restoration at the Tank Museum. There Th iis also l one, masquerading as an OP Tank, in the Imperial War Museum collection at Duxford, so there is no shortage of them should you wish to see one.

“Unfortunately, the six pounder was not equipped to fire a high explosive round worth worrying about”

SURVIVING EXAMPLES Since they weren’t going to be used on active service and since Britain still had a lot of them, Centaurs were supplied to a number of countries abroad. France received 71 of them (mostly the Mark IV version) Greece got 52, and an unknown number were sent to Portugal, which is where you need to go if you want to see a genuine gun tank. They have preserved one or two and one was used in the 1956 George Baker/Stanley Baker film A Hill in Korea which was filmed in Portugal. The Centaur is lightly disguised as a T-34 and only puts in a brief appearance before being knocked out by Michael Medwin with a bazooka. It is, as far as we know, the only ever public sighting of a Centaur until recent times. Today, of course, the availability of redundant Centaur dozer tanks, themselves built on the hulls of redundant Centaur AA tanks, both of which 26 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

dozer restoredd as such, d hhas been b h in i the h markings it wore at Suez during Operation Musketeer (probably the last use of Centaurs in military service) plus, of course,

Anotther Royall Mariines Centtaur seen in France affter D-D Day. The disttincttive turrett mark kings, mark ked d off in degrees, were intended for shipboard use, they were not expected to land and fight ashore. This tank belonged to No 2 Battery of the Ist Regiment, RMASG.

ALL ASPECTS OF RESTORATION FOR Full mechanical workshop and spray shop facilities Welding • Fabrication • Servicing and general repairs

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07831 378904

28/06/2016 12:48

FRIENDS REUNI When Martin Shaw snapped up a 1944 Ariel WNG 350 from ebay, little did he know that once he had finished restoring it he’d end up reuniting it with a relative of its motorbike racing ace post-war owner

“M

y restorations are always a bit different,” admits former chartered electrical engineer Martin Shaw. “I tend to apply a little artistic licence, shall we say.” He’s mischievously referring to the Willys M38A1 which he painted in Australian RAEME Vietnam guise (CMV Feb 2012) and the Dodge WC54 ambulance which appeared in Pacific Theatre of Operations colours in our January 2013 issue. “The reason for these colour schemes and markings is that I had no solid evidence of their true past and so created something that would encourage conversation and debate amongst the restoration world,” he explains. However, his latest restoration has been a bit different – and we’ll find out why as his story unfolds.

28 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

B BEST OF BRITISH Martin had always wanted an Ariel WNG 350, in his opinion the best of the British WW2 military bikes, so when a basket case came up on ebay, he was determined to ttake a punt. “It was my wife, Louise, who ffirst spotted it and it was close to where we live,” Martin confesses. “She’s very much into the military hobby, providing pyrotechnic displays for a re-enactment group, and she

NITED D Dream build b ild tteam, M Martin ti (l (left) ft) alongside l id engineering genius and fellow old bike enthusiast Don. Above: Aerial was spotted on an online auction site by Martin’s wife, Louise. Being advertised locally, they were able to go and take a look before bidding.

The engine fired up p, butt Martin ended up p giviing it a complete stripdown and rebuild. As bough ht, the warttime Aeriiall was a runner butt need ded d pllentty off work k.

has known for some time that an Ariel was on the cards. “We contacted the seller and arranged to go and see it before we made any bids. It looked okay, and I thought it was reasonably complete which I later found out to be far from the case.” Having won the auction with help from another friend, Neil, who provided a van and the necessary muscle, Martin went to collect the bike. Unbelievably, even in its dilapidated state, with half an hour’s tinkering and some fresh petrol he got it running. The restoration began with a total strip down, with each item being assessed and subsequently restored where possible. Missing parts were sourced from all over the world, including the USA, Austria and even South Africa. “Having restored a 1994 Harley WLA and a Royal Enfield Flying Flea, I knew what I was doing and parts that couldn’t be found, I made myself – including panels and various brackets,” recalls Martin. Other parts were specifically manufactured by Martin’s friend and former engineering colleague, Don.

“Don also has an interest in old motorbikes, having restored a couple himself, and he has the tools and talent to make nuts, bolts and any manner of parts that we needed. Particular inventions on the Ariel were the front brake arm assembly and the rocker lubrication feed union. I couldn’t buy the brake components for love nor money, so between us we designed something that we thought would work and Don made it. The rocker union was damaged in the bottom of the engine, so again we designed an adapter to enable us to fit a replacement. One of the most difficult parts to get was the pillion seat, and if you look closely at the pictures, it’s the only bit missing that I couldn’t source.” The first start after the stripdown was when the gearbox and necessary ancillaries had been refitted. “It started on the fourth kick, which was amazing,” smiles Martin. “While it was on the stand, we tried the gearbox and found there was no third, so unfortunately the gearbox had to come out and was stripped and rebuilt. We found that one of the selector forks had

been put in wrong and the gearchange arm not set up correctly, so it wasn’t too much of a setback.” COLOURED PAST As the restoration progressed, the subject of colour scheme arose. Martin’s personal preference, of course, was North African desert sand, but during the rubbing down stage, there was an awful lot of green. Yet, from the frame number and the help of British Forces Motorcycles by Orchard & Madden, Martin managed to find the contract and military number for the bike which revealed that the Ariel was issued to the Royal Navy in March 1944. So where was the Navy Blue colour? The plot thickened. Thankfully, accompanying the Ariel when he won the auction was the original buff logbook which not only clarified its past – but also provided a miraculous link to a previous owner. “The names on the logbook were John and Grace Warren from Dunton Bassett,” explains Martin. “They bought the Ariel as ex-government stock in July 1948. A bit of googling put me in contact with someone from the Lutterworth Historical Society, who had a Wendy Warren as one of its members. CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

29

THE RESTORATION

Above: Bike was tatty but reasonably complete when Martin got it.

Above: Wheels were in pretty good nick.

Photographs courtesy of Martin Shaw

Above: Every part was removed and meticulously cleaned before being repainted. Martin tried to keep as many of the original parts as possible.

Above: With the frame painted, the process of reassembly could begin. Above right: Martin discovered third gear was ‘missing’ when he got the rebuilt engine going on a stand, which meant taking the gearbox apart. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything serious.

Above: What could be repaired or bought had to be custom made by Martin’s engineer friend Don. Above: The front brake cable adaptor takes the place of the rod that should go from the top of the forks to the brake arm. As Martin couldn’t get one, he made a small adjuster that’s shown on the brake arm assembly and extended the cable in place of the rod.

Above: The exciting bit! Right: With most of the reassembly done and the panels painted, it was a case of finishing off the rest of the mechanicals.

30 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

Left: Electrics are Martin’s thing, so the Aerial’s relatively simple wiring certainly didn’t phase him.

A Above: British Forces Motorcycles by Orchard & Madden puts the engine number as two away from 40362 as on the buff logbook. a However, H the Ariel’s actual engine number is BH10662. Martin asked Wendy if she knew if B her husband John had changed the engine. h She said not, as the bike remained pretty S much as it had when it was bought, so the m cchances are, it was replaced during service. The interesting thing about BH10662 is that it is not mentioned in British Forces Motorc Motorcycles cles as being fitted to any Ariel during the war, but the BH prefix and number sequence dates it to 1941, b sso it may have been part of the reserve stock for replacement of worn out engines. Again, when tthe bike was registered in 1947, who knows what paperwork was issued from the ministry. Martin assumes that the documents would only have stated the bike’s original configuration, hence the a typo t on the frame number and the original engine number being entered on the buff logbook. Left: L The bike’s first post-war owner was a successful Isle of Man racer. Fitted with a sidecar, tthe Aerial was used to transport his race bike to events. Above right: Generation game: with the rrestoration complete, the bike was reunited with the wife of its first civilian owner along with her grandson who’s obviously keen in following in his grandfather’s footsteps… g

It was too much of a coincidence for Wendy not to be related, so they put me in contact with someone else who would pass my details to her. “I received an email from Wendy telling me not only was she related, she was John’s widow, he being 17 years her senior.” More incredible still was the fact that she remembered the bike, it was always green as she recalled. This reinforced the notion that all bikes were green whether issued to the Army, Navy or Air Force and it was only locally that the colour would change, if at all. But this was the beginning of the true history of this particular Ariel... DIGGING UP THE PAST Martin discovered from Wendy that John and his mother, Grace, bought the bike as the farm workhorse. It had a sidecar fitted then, and was used to carry animal feed around the farm. It was also used to travel back and forth to town and for general errands. It stayed with John and Wendy until 1990 when one of their regular farm hands acquired it. Apparently, he had always had a soft spot for the bike and it stayed in his barn, untouched, until 2012 when he sold it. The DVLA filled in the other couple of owners until Martin bought it in 2013. But that’s not the entire history of the bike, as Martin excitedly explains. “John was a keen motorbike racer and one of the founder members of the Leicester Query

Club, a local motorcycle racing club. John C competed in local and national grass track c events in the 1950s and even clubman e events in the Isle of Man. Motorbikes were obviously in his blood, and he regularly frequented the ex-government sales of the time where bikes such as the Ariel could be picked up for £8! Indeed, in their village, there were three bikes, all with the same engineered sidecar being driven by the sexton, village odd-job man and John himself.” Fascinatingly, Wendy also sent Martin a picture of John at the 1948 Clubman event astride a BSA racing bike, providing a vivid link between the Ariel and its first civilian owner. “Apparently, John finished work on a Friday afternoon, loaded the BSA into the Ariel’s side car, drove to Liverpool, caught the ferry to Douglas on the Isle of Man, spent the week competing in the clubman events, then did the return journey with the BSA in the Ariel’s sidecar, back to Dunton Bassett.” As the restoration and his correspondence with Wendy progressed, Martin learnt more and more about the bike and for this reason decided to put it back to its original condition. What’s more, it became apparent that Wendy was still interested in motorbikes and cars and was involved with the Lutterworth Museum Vintage Vehicle Show held in late April. Knowing how much it would mean to her, Martin made a pledge that he knew he would have to keep. “I promised that the bike would be ready for the show and that I would take it there for her to see.”

FIRST RIDE The first ride came shortly after Christmas, 2015 in the boring time between Christmas Day and the New Year. Again, Don was present and Martin rode the bike up a byway close to where he lived. “It was only a couple of hundred yards, but to be honest, I was concentrating so hard on getting the gear change correct, that I can’t remember how it felt. I do know one thing, its nothing like the Ducati that I ride for pleasure! What I do remember, though, was the need to tell Wendy that the restoration was complete and that we would be able to get to the show so she could see the bike. To me, that was the most important driver for this restoration and I am glad to say that I achieved that.” On 24 April 2016, Martin duly parked the Ariel in the grounds of the Lutterworth Museum and awaited Wendy’s arrival. When she came, she recognised it immediately and was instantly moved by its presence and the fabulous job Martin had done of its restoration. “We took photos and of us both with the bike and of four generations of her family around it. It was a great day, rounded off by an email from Wendy written to me a couple of days later. I will quote her, as she put it so well. ‘I was suddenly quite overcome with the thought that John had ridden that bike (bar holidays) every day for 15 years and for eight of those I had seen him on it. It was a strange feeling.’” As a restoration goes, it really doesn’t get much better than that. CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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CATERPILLAR COPY Jim Kinnear profiles the feebly slow but tough as nails WW2 Soviet S-65 artillery tractor

An S-65 crossing a river, Stalingrad region, 1943. (Kulikov collection)

T

he Stalinets-65 (S-65) tracked artillery tractor was one of the most common Red Army artillery tractors deployed during WW2. A diesel powered modernisation of the earlier S-60, like its predecessor, the S-65 was basically an agricultural and civil engineering tractor pressed into army service, in which role it performed well, if rather slowly. As with many Soviet designs of the era, reasonably significant numbers, with it was based on a foreign prototype, in 37,626 being produced in total. Considering this case the US Caterpillar. It was tested the quantity built, that many survived the for military service in 1936 and accepted war, and that the S-65 was primarily an as such the same year, entering series agricultural tractor, it is perhaps surprising production at Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant that so few have survived to the present day (ChTZ) in 1937. At 11,200kg it was no and that those restored have been rescued lightweight vehicle, and with the diesel from bogs and rivers rather than having lain engine developing only 65hp the resultant in the yard of some industrial plant or farm forward speed was limited to 2.5-4.5mph for years as is common in other countries; (4-7km/h), or about walking pace. Curiously, but it is nevertheless gratifying to see that and reflecting its agricultural origins, the some of these once common Soviet era vehicle could move backwards at only a beasts are now back from the grave. little less pace than it could move forwards. As regards description, the S-65 is the The S-65 was manufactured in ultimate in Soviet military ruggedness, 36 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

with an open engine compartment, and more importantly for the driver, an open cab arrangement; a significant factor considering the severe winter climate that the tractor was often operated in. The engine compartment was actually provided with side shields at the factory, but these were generally not fitted or were lost early in service, while a variety of makeshift cabs were provided for the tractor, generally constructed from canvas or wood, or a combination thereof, though some truck cabs were also field fitted on rare occasions. The S-65 was a powerful if slow artillery tractor, and was used primarily during peacetime to tow tracked heavy and cumbersome tracked artillery pieces such as the 152mm M-1935 (Br2) and the 203mm M-1931 (B4). During wartime, the vehicle was used as available, and thereby towed

Above: An S-6 65 with steel cab, in Finnish military m service (Ollie Klemola) LLeft: An S-65 towing a road train of 76.2mm M-1939 howitzers and limbers, Western Front, M M May 1942 (Kulikov collection)

An S-6 65 with field built wood and canvas cab tows the barrel section of a 203mm B4 howitzer, Karelian Isthmus near Vyborg (Kulikov collection)

a variety of artillery, from 76.2mm ZiS-3 medium artillery and associated limbers, often linked together in road trains, to heavy wheeled artillery such as the 122mm A-19 and 152mm ML-20 Corps Duplex artillery pieces. The tractor was employed by the Red

Army from the early 1930s until after the end of hostilities; the tractor type making its way at slow speed ahead across Europe and ultimately onto the streets of Berlin at the end of the war. It remained in service for a short period post-war, with the updated S-80 model being the final version to be Below: An S-65 towing a 152mm ML-20 howitzer, Western Front, 1942 (Kulikov collection)

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

37

The driver’s controls on the S-6 65 would be familiar to any Russian tank driver.

This S-65 was recovered from the River Neruss in Bryansk region in 2011 and now stands on display at the Partizanskaya Polyanna Museum near Bryansk.

The tow hook is like all of the S-6 65, simply but ruggedly engineered.

series produced before production for the military ceased to make way for the first generation of purpose built artillery tractors such as the AT-S which entered service with the Soviet Army. Until very recently there were no

behemoths have been recovered and restored to pristine condition. The example here is located at the Partizanskaya Polyanna Museum near Bryansk in Russia and was restored by the Bryansky Arsenal plant located in the city.

surviving S-65 artillery tractors on display in any museum in Russia or any former Soviet state through which WW2 had raged in 1941-45. A single tractor was recovered in Belarus in the late 1980s, and since then another couple of these once extinct

the d designation No mistaking N i t ki th i ti – ChTZ stands t d for Chelyabinsk Tractor Zavod.

Th 65 engine i b f t ’ The open S S-65 bay. Th The manufacturer’s designation is also boldly stamped on either side of the radiator cowling.

38 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

A rear view, again showing clearly the exposed driver’ss position.

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Below: The Supacat is a basic but versatile platform capable of being used to mount anti-tank guided weapon systems such as Milan. The trailer allows additional missiles to be carried and the vehicle can be fitted to carry other similar missiles such as the TOW or French HOT.

CAT’S TALE John Norris tells the story of the go-anywhere Alvis Supacat 6x6 all-terrain mobile platform

D

eveloping new specialist vehicles for the military to use in extreme conditions can prove to be a fickle thing indeed. Conditions change and the requirement for such vehicles can suddenly halt. Back in the 1980s vehicle designers were coming up with no end of ideas, some reached production, whilst others never got beyond the drawing board. One of the more successful designs to enter military service was the Supacat 6x6, described simply by the Coventry-based Alvis company as an all-terrain mobile platform. serve in a wide range of roles as a rugged BREAKING WITH TRADITION support vehicle. Alvis has a long history of producing To an extent, it looked like a six-wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, its past version of a quadbike, popular today with catalogue including the Saracen APC and farmers and some adventure sports. In Saladin armoured car. In the 1970s it fact the Supacat utilised handlebars with continued with this success and produced power assistance for steering and it is by the Scorpion range of Combat Vehicle no coincidence that the same method is Reconnaissance (Tracked) CVR(T). Examples used on quadbikes. Thirty years after it was of these are now in private ownership first announced, the Supacat now enjoys an and exhibited at vehicle shows around interest with enthusiasts and a number are the world. During the 1980s, however, the in private ownership. The vehicle weighs firm decided to produce a vehicle which 1650kg and its versatility and powerdeparted from the traditional – namely a to-weight ratio make it popular still with lightweight, open-topped 6X6 intended to armed forces. Versions are still in service 40 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

with armies around the world such as the Malaysian Army and the British Army. In all that time the basic shape and size of the vehicle has barely altered. FLEXIBLE FRIEND The Supacat is just 3.335m long, 2m in width over the wheels, but 1.870m over the bodywork. The overall height depends on the configuration. For example, the open vehicle is 1.895m whilst the cabbed version is 2.010m. This is reduced to only 1.210m with the cab folded and stored. On the open topped version a roll bar is fitted to protect the driver and crew in the event of the vehicle doing a belly-flip. Handily, the Supacat is sufficiently compact to be double-stacked on flat-bed trailers for transportation by road or on pallets for airlifting by cargo aircraft. The vehicle can be carried internally aboard heavy lift helicopters such as CH-47 Chinook or as

Above: Mach hine guns can be fitted d to the vehicle using pintel mounts to provide selfdefence. Here it’s shown carrying an 81mm mortar. Right: Optional add-ons are available for use with the Supacat such as a small crane hoist to allow heavy loads of ammunition to be handled.

The British Royal Air Force trialled the Supacat and here a Chinook CH-4 47 is delivering two vehicles carried as an underslung cargo. The Supacat can be carried internally and unloaded via the rear ramp.

an underslung cargo by the same aircraft. Not only that, but it can be air-dropped from cargo aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules from its rear ramp using parachute systems. Such capabilities make it suitable for use with specialist units operating in desert or snow conditions and deployed at a moment’s notice. The engine is a Volkswagen four-cylinder 1896cc, mounted in the middle of the vehicle above the centre axle and behind the driver’s position, and develops 78bhp at 4000 rpm to produce a maximum speed of 40mph (64km/h) on roads. Fuel capacity is 50 litres of diesel and operational range depends on the type of work. The basic version is fitted with seats for the driver and co-driver with room for up to four additional passengers seated on the surfaces along the sides. It can ford water obstacles up to 860mm deep and in deeper water it floats due to its boat-like construction. As you would expect, the vehicle propels itself in water by the driving motion of the wheels and is steered as though on the road.

Curiously, paddles are provided for the crew to help move the vehicle faster in water. The body itself is made of aluminium riveted together or screwed for maintenance access. It is fitted with a tow-bar for a

sspecially-built i ll b il two-wheeled h l d trailer il to allow ll it to tow loads up to 2.1 tonnes. The rear aarea of the Supacat allows it to carry loads uup to one tonne as standard or 1.4 tonnes in aan emergency. The rear cargo platform area is adaptable aand can be used to allow a range of w weapons to be mounted and operated ddirectly from the vehicle including anti-tank m missiles such as TOW or Milan. The firing pposts for these systems can be fitted directly bbehind the driver’s position to give a full 360 ddegree traverse and several reload missiles ccan be carried on the vehicle itself and the ttrailer unit. Mortars with special base-plates tto absorb the force on being fired can be uused from the rear with ammunition carried iin the trailer unit. Machine guns can be ffitted and the vehicle can also tow light field gguns up to 105mm calibre with the crew on bboard. In such roles other Supacats could carry the ammunition for the guns. EASY OUT The shape of the hull is well-sloped allowing good angles of approach up to 57 degrees and angles of departure up to 58 degrees. Unfortunately, it also means that the ground clearance is little over 200mm when operating with ordinary low-pressure tyres

Bellow: The Supacatt has an open cab b and d the driiver can driive weariing night vision goggles to make up for the lack of infra-red lights.

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

41

Above: Supacat with a full load of ammunition towing a 120mm mortar and the crew on board. Left: Crew of Supacat using paddles to help the vehicle move across a river obstacle.

shows with or without weapons fitted. In fact, at the larger shows, owners often use them as run-arounds and the cargo carrying capacity is used to transport water and supplies back to the pitch when camping for the duration. The company of Supacat is still fully operational and has its base near Honiton in Devon (www.supacat.com). It continues to produce a range of specialist vehicles for the British Army and overseas armed forces. Spare parts are available and sometimes examples of the vehicle come up for sale. The Supacat was used in Afghanistan and since the British Army’s withdrawal from the country a number of vehicles have been offered for disposal to private ownership by the MoD. So, if you fancy the idea of owning a Supacat you might just be in with a chance of buying one.

(of 31x15.5x15) which allows the vehicle to operate in snow up to 300mm deep. The three tyres either side can be fitted with a lightweight but durable caterpillar-type track in around 15 minutes, and this increases the ground clearance by another 100mm. Optional fittings include a winch with a 50kg capacity and ramps for easy loading. Kits are available to construct a canvas cover over the rear and also a cab for the driver in cold conditions. A small number of Supacats were sold to overseas armies where they were deployed on military operations and in support of humanitarian relief missions. Unfortunately it did not prove to be as successful as the designers would have liked, but with so many different types

to choose from the Supacat had to fight to be recognised. Today some ex-military models are available through specialist websites and some are in private ownership. It is an unusual vehicle and attracts attention at

Cuttaway diagram off the Supacatt’s layoutt.

Supacatt att speed d sh howiing how rapiidly it coulld move outt to deplloy.

42 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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Right: All the vehicles displayed by the Lightweight Land Rover Club were in excellent condition. Left: One of Dave Manning’s vehicles, a Wolf WMIK.

MILITARY LAND ROVE Tim Bolton reports from the Malvern Land Rover Show and 4x4 s

T

aking place over the weekend of 4-5 June this event, organised by Mark Woodward Events, and held for the second year at the Three Counties Showground, attracted some 32 clubs and organisations, showing the unrelenting popularity of this very British of vehicles. Bellow: ‘Snattch h’ 110 bellongiing to Dave Manniing.

44 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

Whilst there were substantial numbers of Land Rovers on display, many modified for a specific purpose, visitors particularly looking out for the military versions had plenty to

VERS OUT IN FORCE! 4 spares weekend

interest them. Indeed, some looked combat ready, whilst others had been altered to meet the needs of their owners. It seems conversions into living accommodation is particularly popular at the moment, with several forward control examples being modified this way.

IN THE PINK Amongst those still in full military guise were the restored ‘Pink Panther’ of Ralph Dixon and a later Desert Patrol Vehicle; displayed together on a corner plot both were very well kitted out, providing the enthusiast with plenty to absorb. Two more Pink Panthers were on the d display formed by the British Military Vehicle G Group – a loose formation of enthusiasts f from the midlands. The hierarchy of the g group may be casual but the display was

anything but; even the grass had been covered over to give the impression that the vehicles were in a desert setting and camouflage netting added to the illusion. The two well-kitted Pink Panthers on display are owned by Sue Cummings and Graham Holding. Alongside was Sue’s latest acquisition, an ambulance. Taking up the centre position was the Series 3 truck utility of Daniel Rees, a Land Rover that had seen service in Northern Ireland. As with the other vehicles, the history of the vehicle

Ab Above: As A a restoration i this hi vehicle hi l takes k some beating. Below: A top restoration job always shows. The rear of Alvin Plummer’s Lightweight.

T DPV was well kitted out This out. CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

45

Above: For comparison, Desert Patrol Vehicle A and earlier Pink Panther.

Above: Very distinctive Pink Panther belonged to Sue Cummings. Below: British Military Vehicle Group put on an excellent display. Above: Grah ham Hollding’’s Pink k Pantther nextt to Sue Cummiings’’ lattestt acquiisiition, an amb bullance.

46 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

was provided via a display board. Another of the group bringing along two vehicles was local enthusiast Dave Manning with a Wolf WMIK and a Snatch patrol vehicle. DRESSED TO THRILL A quick chat with Dave brought home the realisation that his vehicles hadn’t been acquired as they were shown with all the kit and accessories present; these need to be sourced from different suppliers to the one selling the bare vehicle, a process that can involve much more time and effort than that of buying the vehicle in the first place! Another group with military interest was the Lightweight Land Rover Club, with all examples on display looking very presentable. Standing out though – both for its colour and condition – was the one brought along by Alvin Plummer of Market Drayton. Originally bought in a very sorry state, Alvin intended to break it for spares until he realised that it had a reconditioned engine that started and ran well. A new chassis was required and obtained. Alvin acknowledges the help he has received from The Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion. While the vehicle already had a lot of the correct kit, some items, such as the headlight covers, had to be made from scratch. Overall this Lightweight looked as though it had just come off the production line and is occasionally used by the regiment on ceremonial duties. Complementing the Land Rover was an ex Royal Marine trailer painted to match. A large number of stalls, both indoor but mainly outdoor, catered for most needs Land Rover wise with the emphasis on used parts. As this was a Land Rover show there was little in the way of specific military items though; these are of course are catered for at the numerous military centric events held around the country.

Look k att me now!! Alviin Plummer’’s Ligh htweiigh ht was desttined d to be brok ken for spares.

This former Forward d Conttroll amb bullance is now deck ked d outt for liviing in.

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

47

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COMING IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE...

Watch out for these exciting g features in next month’s issue,, on sale 18 August 2016

SPECIAL ISSUE: 100 YEARS OF THE TANK We profile the early tank drivers and the incredible machines they piloted.

THEY CALL IT THE STREAKER

John Norris tells the naked truth about this successful range of CVR(T)s.

NO EASY FIX

Jim Kinnear looks at some of Russia’s recent tank renovations.

HEAVY TRUCKS

Tim Gosling profiles the Great War’s heavy aviation trucks.

REGULAR FEATURES

And don’t miss our regular features, including product reviews, forthcoming events, pages and pages of classifieds, the very best in military-vehicle photography... and, as regular readers will be only too well aware, far more than we can list here! These are just some of the features planned for the next issue, but circumstances outside our control may force last-minute changes. If this happens we will substitute items of equal or greater interest.

50 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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IT’S SHOWTIME! The h major j military-vehicle ili hi l and d militaria ili i events in the UK and around the world... There are many military-vehicle rallies held in the UK and elsewhere; only the larger events are listed here but more appear in the major club magazines – or look at www.milweb.net, www.mvpa.org, or www.mvt.org. It is always wise to ensure an event is still on before setting out on a long journey. CMV can

accept no liability for errors or omissions in this list. Show organisers, please send details of your event to [email protected] or to the editorial address at least eight weeks in advance. Unfortunately we have space only for shows with significant military-vehicle content. COMBINED OPS MILITARY AND AVIATION SHOW Date: Sat/Sun 13-14 Aug 2016 Location: Headcorn Aerodrome, nr Maidstone, Kent Contact: www.headcornevents.co.uk DRIFFIELD STEAM RALLY Date: Sat/Sun 13-14 Aug 2016 Location: The Showground, Driffield, East Yorks YO25 9DN Contact: www.driffieldvintagerally.co.uk NORFOLK TANK MUSEUM MV WEEKEND Date: Sat 20 Aug 2016 Location: Norfolk Tank Museum, Station Road, Forncett St Peter, Norwich, Norfolk NR16 1HZ Contact: http://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk MOUNT EDGCUMBE AT WAR Date: Fri/Mon 26-29 Aug 2016 Location: Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cremyll, Cornwall Contact: Gwen Jenkins 07807 497819

MILITARY-VEHICLE EVENTS 2016 July OWESTRY CLASSIC & VINTAGE TRANSPORT RALLY Date: Sat 16 July 2016 Location: Whitehall, Aston, Owestry, Shropshire SY11 4JH Contact: 01691 610952, www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk ACKWORTH STEAM RALLY Date: Sat/Sun 16-17 July 2016 Location: Ackworth Water Tower, A628 Ackworth Road, West Yorks WF7 7ET Contact: 07816 018291, 01977 617327 WOODHALL SPA ‘40s FESTIVAL Date: Sat/Sun 16-17 July 2016 Location: Jubilee Park, Stixwould Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincs LN10 6QH Contact: www.woodhall-spa-40s-festival.com OLD FORD RALLY Date: Sun 17 July Location: Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warks Contact: www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk, Tony King [email protected] WAR AND PEACE REVIVAL Date: Tue/Sat 19-23 July 2016 Location: Folkestone Racecourse Contact: www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk.

WELLAND STEAM FAIR Date: Fri/Sun 29-31 July 2016 Location: Woodside Farm, nr Malvern, Worcs WR13 6LN Contact: www.wellandsteamrally.co.uk August BASTON IN THE BLITZ Date: Sat/Sun 6-7 Aug 2016 Location: Brudenell Playing Fields, Baston, Lincs PE6 9PB Contact: www.bastonblitz.org MILITARY & FLYING MACHINES SHOW Date: Sat/Sun 6-7 Aug 2016 Location: Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Avely Road, Upminster, Essex RM14 2TN Contact: www.militaryandflyingmachines.org.uk YANKS ARE BACK IN SADDLEWORTH Date: Sat/Sun 6-7 Aug 2016 Location: Saddleworth School, Uppermill OI3 6BU Contact: Paul Smith 07480 117685, www.ww2events.co.uk COBBATON VJ WEEKEND Date: Sat/Sun 13-14 Aug 2016 Location: Cobbaton Collection, Umberleigh, Devon EX37 9RZ Contact: 01769540740

TANKS IN TOWN Date: Fri/Sun 26-28 Aug 2016 Location: Mons, Belgium Contact: www.tanksintown.be WINGS & WHEELS Date: Sat/Sun 27-28 Aug 2016 Location: Dunsfold Park, Surrey GU6 8HY Contact: 01483 542226, www.wingsandwheels.net MILITARY ODYSSEY Date: Sat/Mon 27-29 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Show Ground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent Contact: 07595 511981, www.military-odyssey.com TANKS, TRUCKS & FIREPOWER SHOW Date: Sat/Mon 27-29 Aug 2016 Location: A426, 5 miles from Rugby CV22 6NR Contact: www.tankstrucksandfirepower.co.uk September THE VICTORY SHOW Date: Fri/Sun 2-4 Sept 2016 Location: Foxlands Farm, Cosby, Leics LE9 1SG Contact: www.thevictoryshow.co.uk WHEELS OF WAR Date: Sat/Sun 24-25 Sept 2016 Location: Crewe Heritage Centre, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 2DB Contact: Steve Morris 07807 336576/ [email protected]; www.cdmvc.co.uk

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

53

TANK EXPERIENCE DAY Date: Fri 30 Sept 2016 Location: The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset BH20 6JG Contact: www.tankmuseum.org November BROOKLANDS MILITARY VEHICLE DAY Date: Sun 20 Nov 2016 Location: Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 OQN Contact: 01932 857381, www.brooklandsmuseum.com MILITARIA EVENTS, AUCTIONS, ETC Government surplus sales Witham Specialist Vehicles Regular auctions of military vehicles and equipment are held by Witham Specialist Vehicles throughout the year at its Colsterworth, Lincolnshire site. Visit www.mod-sales. com, or call 01476 861361 for more details. Ramco UK Ramco UK is one of the largest outlets for the sale of miscellaneous and government surplus. The company holds tender sales each month from its premises in Croft and Burgh – both in Lincolnshire. Visit www.ramco.co.uk, or call 01754 880880 for more details. FORTHCOMING MILITARIA EVENTS 2016 July GHQ MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 17 July 2016 Location: The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Contact: 07919 455799, www.ghq.uk.com August YATE MILITARIA FAIR Date: Sun 7 Aug 2016 Location: Yate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate nr Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 4DQ Contact: Mark Carter 01753 534777 GHQ MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 14 Aug 2016 Location: The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Contact: 07919 455799, www.ghq.uk.com THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND MILITARIA ARMS & ARMOUR FAIRS Date: Sun 14 Aug 2016 Location: Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent Contact: James 07595 511981, www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk September WOKING MILITARIA FAIR Date: Sun 4 Sept 2016 Location: Woking Leisure Centre, Woking Park, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 9BA Contact: Mark Carter 01753 534777 GHQ MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 11 Sept 2016 Location: The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Contact: 07919 455799, www.ghq.uk.com THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND MILITARIA ARMS & ARMOUR FAIRS Date: Sun 11 Sept 2016 Location: Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent Contact: James 07595 511981, www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

54 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

CHELMSFORD MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 25 Sept 2016 Location: Marconi Social Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, Essex Contact: James Aslett 07595 511981, www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com

ALDERSHOT MILITARIA & MEDAL FAIR Date: Sun 6 Nov 2016 Location: Princes Hall, Princes Way, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1NX Contact: Mark Carter 01753 534777

NORFOLK MILITARIA FAIRS – THETFORD Date: Sun 25 Sept 2016 Location: Thetford Leisure Centre and Waterworld, Croxton Road, Thetford IP24 1JD Contact: 07596 436260, www.norfolkfairs.com

THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND MILITARIA ARMS & ARMOUR FAIRS Date: Sun 13 Nov 2016 Location: Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent Contact: James 07595 511981, www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

October GHQ MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 2 Oct 2016 Location: The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Contact: 07919 455799, www.ghq.uk.com HACK GREEN HANGAR SALE Date: Sun 9 Oct 2016 Location: Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, near Nantwich, Cheshire Contact: Lucy Siebert [email protected] THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND MILITARIA ARMS & ARMOUR FAIRS Date: Sun 9 Oct 2016 Location: Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent Contact: James 07595 511981, www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk STRATFORD UPON AVON MILITARIA & MEDAL FAIR Date: Sun 30 Oct 2016 Location: Stratford Leisure and Visitor Centre, Bridgefoot, Stratford Upon Avon, Warks CV37 6YY Contact: Mark Carter 01753 534777

MALVERN MILITARIA FAIR Date: Sun 20 Nov 2016 Location: Three Counties Showground, Wye Hall, Malvern Contact: 01743 762266, www.militaryconvention.com YATE MILITARIA FAIR Date: Sun 27 Nov 2016 Location: Yate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate nr Chipping Sodbury, Bristol BS37 4DQ Contact: Mark Carter 01753 534777 December CHELMSFORD MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 4 Dec 2016 Location: Marconi Social Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, Essex Contact: James Aslett 07595 511981, www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com

CHELMSFORD MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 30 Oct 2016 Location: Marconi Social Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, Essex Contact: James Aslett 07595 511981, www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com

THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND MILITARIA ARMS & ARMOUR FAIRS Date: Sun 11 Dec 2016 Location: Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent Contact: James 07595 511981, www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

November NORTHERN MILITARY EXPO Date: Sun 6 Nov 2016 Location: Newark County Showground NG24 2NY Contact: Mark Askew 01302 739000, www.northernmilitaryexpo.co.uk

GHQ MILITARIA FAIRS Date: Sun 18 Dec 2016 Location: The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Contact: 07919 455799, www.ghq.uk.com

M&G Casting Repairs Ltd Unit 6, Block E, Market Overton Industrial Estate, Market Overton, Rutland, LE15 7TP Tel: 01572 768363 Mob: 07808 962401 Email: [email protected]

www.mandgcastingrepairsltd.co.uk 30 years experience in cold metal stitching repairs to cracked and holed cylinder heads/ blocks/transmission casings - cylinder head overhaul - flywheel grinding

071_CMV_AUG16_ad.indd 1

28/06/2016 15:18

THE MILITARY-VEHIC T

he 72nd D-Day anniversary events in Normandy have now ended and the circus has left town. There were more militaria fairs on in Normandy than ever over the 10-day Overlord period. In fact they became

something of a daily occurrence with some considerably busier than others. That said, it was pretty much the same traders at each one, so it was hard to find the enthusiasm to visit more than a handful.

The famous Wilkinson yard at St Albans – every crate was full of NOS surplus parts.

For the price of a house in the north of England this Stuart project will be a better investment.

56 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

For vehicle owners, whilst you could get plenty of ‘clutter’ to fill up your vehicle from WW2 Nazi egg cups to every wooden crate you could imagine, there was a noticeable downturn in the number of actual spare part sellers. However, one item stood out as being a really sensible idea. For €360, a French seller was offering complete sets of all the correct nuts, bolts, screws and washers you need for either a Ford or Willys restoration. If it sounds like a lot of money, try buying them all individually and, heaven forbid, trying to source something even halfway close on a Sunday in B&Q. Ironically, a few days before I had been looking at a project wartime Jeep in the course of restoration, with all the body fitting bolts in metric (and so obviously so) and its proud owner telling me it was “costing me a fortune in packets of bolts from the local DIY store.” The late Chris Wilkinson was for many years the only source of genuine NOS fastenings for both US and British military vehicles. You would visit his yard in St Albans and marvel at his

ICLE MARKET vast stocks of otherwise unobtainable items like the dome headed armour screws in various lengths, of which you need over 2000 to restore a halftrack – plus each one needed the special aero nut. And buy for a very fair price, a crate of them that you could barely lift. And who else would have a choice of NOS magnetos for a nine-cylinder radial engine? The arrival of his sons, David and Simon, at War and Peace each year is awaited with great enthusiasm by restorers as we all know it will be another van load of almost unique ‘Wilkinson treasure’ much of which sells out quickly. So many of our wartime vehicles would never have been completely restored if it wasn’t for Chris Wilkinson’s stockpile of surplus NOS parts which he started buying in 1958. There was no collector’s market in those days – this was war surplus in its purest form. A true believer and extraordinary character for sure.

Compiled by Nigel Hay

NOS bolts for Ford Jeeps are getting rare now – but you can get good repros in full sets.

busy and we have heard that there are two interesting and substantial vehicle collections coming up for auction in the

the giant War and Peace Revival opens its gates under the new stewardship of John Allison and his team. We wish them well as we hear that vehicle entries are still flooding in, most stall spaces are already booked and advance ticket sales are brisk. It should be a good show – we’ll see you there!

“As we go to press, Jeepfinder is advertising a selection of good project wartime Jeeps fresh in from the USA at between £7000-£8000.”

TANKS A LOT What is very apparent is the ever increasing number of WW2 tanks now in running condition and also the number of projects that are currently being worked on. Chris Till has put his M3 Stuart, a nice but unfinished project, up for sale at £89,950 with lots of NOS parts. This reflects the current value of wartime armour. For many years we military vehicle owners were regarded as the poor relations of the classic car world. But if you go to an average classic car show, you will be unlikely to find any cars worth over £100,000. Go to one of ‘our’ events and every time you see a running Sherman you can think £200,000 probably won’t make you the new owner. Thankfully this month we have had Jeep projects at £4000 upwards, with, as we go to press, Jeepfinder just advertising a selection of good project wartime Jeeps fresh in from the USA at between £7000-£8000. That is good news for would be Jeep buyers and of course the parts, paint and canvas sellers. In general, despite the weather, the military vehicle market has been

autumn – both of which include high end restorations. Our Glastonbury is upon us again, as

David, Chris and Simon Wilkinson in front of their station, for so many years full of absolute treasure.

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

57

THE MILITARY-VEHICLE PRICE GUIDE Compiled by Nigel Hay

VEHICLE

COUNTRY

YEAR

ENGINE: CAPACITY;

APPROX

ASKING PRICES:

OF ORIGIN

OF ORIGIN CYLINDERS; FUEL

PRODUCTION LOW

HIGH

AVERAGE TREND

AM General HMMWV

USA

1984

6200cc; V8; diesel

(on-going)

£29,000

£45,000

£37,000

Austin Champ, FV1801

UK

1952

2838cc; 4; petrol

12,150

£5400

£6000

£5700

–

Bedford MK/MJ, FV13800

UK

1970

5420cc; 6; diesel

50,000

£2250

£3250

£2783

–

Bedford RL, FV13100

UK

1952

4927cc; 6; petrol

73,150

£4500

£4750

£4625

Dodge WC51, WC52

USA

1942

3770cc; 6; petrol

141,075

£9500

£11,800

£10,331

SOFT-SKIN VEHICLES

Dodge WC54 ambulance

USA

1942

3770cc; 6; petrol

26,000

£9500

£16,550

£13,025

Dodge WC55-WC58 command

USA

1942

3770cc; 6; petrol

37,000

£5000

£21,000

£14,750

Dodge WC62, WC63, WC64

USA

1942

3770cc; 6; petrol

43,000

£5950

£18,750

£12,375

GMC CCKW

USA

1941

4416cc; 6; petrol

562,750

£3000

£7995

£6450

Jeep M151

USA

1960

2319cc; 4; petrol

175,500

£5000

£9615

£6197

Hotchkiss Jeep M201

France

1957

2199cc; 4; petrol

14,500

£7500

£16,000

£12,370

Jeep M38, M38A1

USA

1952

2199cc; 4; petrol

100,000

£8250

£8995

£8498

Jeep MB/GPW

USA

1941

2199cc; 4; petrol

627,000

£4000

£22,000

£14,325

Land Rover Defender 90/110

UK

1983

2506cc; 4; diesel;

–

£3995

£7000

£5498

Land Rover 101 forward-control

UK

1971

3500cc; V8; petrol

2675

£4500

£9000

£6500

Land Rover Lightweight

UK

1966

2286cc; 4; petrol

14,000

£5000

£8700

£7298

Land Rover Wolf (incl replicas)

UK

1996

2506cc; 4; diesel

–

£7500

£15,500

£10,250

Land Rover Series II/IIA

UK

1958

2286cc; 4; petrol;

858,051**

£3500

£5499

£4198

510,276**

£1500

£4995

£3283

–

–

–

and others –

–

and others Land Rover Series III

UK

1971

2286cc; 4; petrol; and others

M35 (etc) 2½-ton 6x6, G742

USA

1951

5425cc; 6; diesel

15,000

£3000

£9000

£6361

1952

4255cc; 6; petrol

4500

£1750

£22,000

£12,650

WHEELED ARMOURED VEHICLES Daimler Ferret, FV700

UK

TRACKED ARMOURED VEHICLES Alvis CVR(T) series, FV100

UK

1971

4200cc; 6; petrol*

3500

£9500

£21,000

£15,335

GKN FV432 (Mk 2), FV434

UK

1962

6570cc; 6; diesel

3000

£9500

£15,000

£12,250

–

Vickers Abbott (Mk 2), FV433

UK

1966

6570cc; 6; diesel

500

£10,000

£26,000

£18,000

–

USA

1939

740cc; V2; petrol

78,000

£11,500

£16,500

£13,687

–

¼-ton (for WW2 Jeep)

–

–

–

–

£850

£1700

£1150

–

¾-ton British (for Land Rover)

–

–

–

–

£275

£375

£331

MOTORCYCLES Harley-Davidson WLA, WLC

TRAILERS

* Engine capacity figure refers to vehicle as introduced; other engine capacities used during production run. ** Includes civilian production.

Note

This guide is not intended to be comprehensive – at present it covers only the most popular collectors’ vehicles. Similarly, the figures given are not valuations and do not necessarily reflect condition – they have been derived from the asking prices for vehicles recently advertised in Classic Military Vehicle magazine and on MILWEB. But remember that the price at which a vehicle was advertised is no guarantee that it sold at this price... or that it sold at all. The effect of VAT on prices has been excluded so if you are buying from a dealer you must ensure that you understand what you will pay in total.

58 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

Tanks.indd 1

22/06/2016 12:31

BOOKS AND MANUALS CANADIAN MILITARY PATTERN VEHICLES MAINTENANCE MANUAL ref MB-C1 dated April 1942, excellent condition, £80 ono Tel: 0114 236 1124 (Sheffield) SB55222

MILITARIA / MISC AIRCRAFT OF THE RAF

MORTAR BOMB 1980’S PLASTIC CARRIER

BRITISH ARMY MK4C 1980 MINE DETECTOR

Aircraft of the Royal Airforce 1938, 50 pre war Aircraft in book. Original 1938 set by John Player & Sons. £30 inc postage. NB List price £50. West Sussex, Tel: 0739 8015688

British army 81mm double mortar bomb plastic carrier, with carrying strap, £20.00 West Sussex Tel: 07526715335

complete in box, expandable handle, search head, head phones, should work well with new batteries. £70.00 West Sussex Tel: 07526715335

MILITARY MACHINES INTERNATIONAL, from beginning to about 6 months before ceasing publication. Bargain. £25, Buyer collects (very heavy), operators manual and servicing schedule 432APC in hard binders £20 pair. will post at cost, S Yorks, Tel: 07711956049 SB55106

To advertise email: [email protected]

PLASTIC KITS IN 1/35 SCALE

AIRFIX KITS, 1/35 SCALE Les Francais De Grande Bretagne on base, General De Gaulle on side of plane prop & decals, cham on brass £195.00, Surrey Tel: 0208 3997541

MILITARY MODEL IN 1/43 SCALE

CMP field artillery tractor £48 including p&p, white M3AI scout car, £45 including p&p ring after 6pm Tel: 01280 701266

MILITARIA / MISC SB55219

SB55219

COLLECTION OF MILITARY MODELS

selling plastic kits in 1/35 scale, 155mm Holizer £38, gaz 67B £35, prices inclusive of post ring after 6pm. Tel: 01280 701266

SB55230

MILITARIA / MISC

SB54894

with certificate G Filcher GO476. York & Lancaster reg with full documentation etc £130 post free Surrey Tel: 0208 3997541

models in 1/43 scale chevrolet

SB55107

COLLECTION OF MILITARY MODELS

International M16 aircraft gun, white M3 halftrack, diamond M3A howitzer white M3 scoot car, diamond T90 transporter with cadillac M60 tank, please call for price after 6pm Tel: 01280 701266

Dodge weapons carrier, Dodge personnel carrier

OTHER

£48 each including p&p ring after 6pm Tel: 01280 701266

SB55107

Tel: 01280 701266

SB55220

please call for price after 6pm

1918 DEAD MANS PENNY

AIRFIX KITS 1/35 SCALE DODGE

selling my collection of military C&A ambulance, wireless, firetruck,

SB55237

MODEL KITS

www.keypublishing.com

LISTER JP4 110V DC searchlight generator, WW2 on original trailer. Price £5,500 Tel: 07774 68871

SPITFIRE ASHTRAY ON MARBLE TRAY

SB54216

LAND ROVER 101 AMBULANCE, 1982, based in cambs, excellent mechanical condition, engine and gearbox sweet. Bar grip tyres good, ring for full list of mechanical work undertaken, comes with full history in army, cambs £5000. SB55326 Tel: 0753 8621771

SB55233

JEEPS / LAND ROVERS

SB55226

CLASSIC MILITARY MAGS - ranging from 2003-2010 also military machines mags from 2004 - 2008 open to offers. Tel: 07917667797 SB55223

1960S MINE DETECTOR

MOTORCYCLES AND CYCLES

Tel: 01280 701266

HARLEY DAVIDSON, WLC 42, Restoration project, engine and gearbox rebuilt by Fred Warr. New saddle bags, fenders and crash bars. Need some additional work, Contact for price, Tel: 01760 755053, Email: [email protected]. Norfolk SB53990

To advertise in the FREE ADS just fill in the form on page 78.

refurbished for gulf war, complete with transic case £40 WW2 fuel can, 1945 as seen some fieldwork, but still good condition £25 p/p, Essex, Tel: 01255 812148

SB55279

selling my collection of military models in 1/43 scale, GMC CKW 353 truck, truck with crane mobile workshop petrol tanker, Dukin amphibian, please call for price after 6pm

SB55220

ADVERTISE YOUR ITEM WITH A PHOTO FOR FREE - Email: [email protected]

FOR SALE

76 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

CMV free ads Aug16.indd 76

29/06/2016 14:37

FOR SALE OTHER

TRAILERS/TOWING

SIGNS ENAMEL SIGN

1 TON 2 WHEEL, CARGO TRAILER

WILLYS, 1/4 TON, 2 WHEEL CARGO TRAILER

not tin vitreous steel. 12 inch x 8 inch for your workshop: Notice only the authorised attendant permitted to enter. Brown & yellow enamel £45 + P&P, Surrey, Tel: 0208 3997541

Very good tyres, spare wheel, tarpaulin, price to debate, 1500 euros, Pire, 156, Rue Du Commerce, 5590 Ciney, Belgium, [email protected]

good tyres, non original rear panel, price to debate, 1000 euros, Pire, 156 Rue Du Commerce, 5590, Ciney, Belgium, [email protected]

SB55107

COLLECTION OF MILITARY MODELS IN 1/43 SCALE

SOFT SKIN VEHICLES BARON MOTOR SAILOR, Baron 24 Motor Sailor cruiser yanmar single cylinder 13 HP diesel, needs a good clean up, £1950 ono, exchange antique American car, truck etc in any condition, Sheffield, Tel: 01142 686354 SB55214

SB55104

SB55104

In 1/43 scale dodge WL 63 command car, WC52 with winch WC 54 ambulance WC 52 weapons carrier WC 63 T 214 double axle weapons carrier, please call for price after 6pm, Northants, 01280 701255

SB55252

COLLECTION OF MILITARY MODELS

VEHICLES AND PARTS FWD HAR 01 RARE

SU COE, 1942, 5 TON GUN TRUCK

Believed only 1 other in UK, right hand drive, petrol, owned since 1947, recently restored, won best military vehicle at Great Dorset Steam Fair, featured CMV magazine April 2012, £16,000 ono, Wiltshire 07881555674 or 07732602568

Also used for transporting troops and equipment, rare believed only 3 or 4 in UK, recently restored, featured on Classic Military magazine April 2012, £12,000 ono to include spares, Wiltshire Tel: 07881555674 or 07732602568

2 X 11.00 X 20 TYRES

2 X 10.50 X 16 TYRES

No cracking,

cracking and age related marks, could be used as spare £10 each, 2 x 9.00 x 16, tyres condition as above £10 each

1954 COLD WAR STIRRUP PUMP

Ford 4D Diesel weighs seven ton lifts four ton. Power steering, brakes, £2750 ono, Sheffield, Tel: 01142 686354

SB54793

SB55227

SB55107

Bedford OYN truck, humber MK1V armoured car, humber snipe, Mk2 staff car, Thorny croft universal bren carrier, morris commercial C58 with gun, please call for price after 6pm, Northants 01280 701266

SB54793

1990 SIDE LOADING FORKLIFT TRUCK

M5 HALFTRACK 1942

Staffs, Tel: 07917667797

Staffs, Tel: 07917667797

WANTED 1994 FORD F350

WANTED JEEPS

SB55232

GERMAN CARRY CAN FOR MG13

Dixie clipper, ready to go cummins diesel 80% tracks, ready to travel or show, £40000 +. Will sell with transporter FL6 18 Volvo, Surrey, Tel: 0208 6603907

SB55223

£20 each ono

SB55279

excellent condition with spare pump £40 p.p German signal touch complete with sides and instructions £60 p/p same as WW2, Essex, Tel: 01255 812148

side walls good,

SB55223

TRACKED VEHICLES

7.2 diesel auto 4x4 military naval officers car in grey with grey pvc seats, just recently had a full professional paint job, in original condition with no rust and never welded, full services, too much spec to list, drives faultlessly £10,995 ono Tel: 07527527130

Willys, Ford and Hotchkiss Any condition Considered www.willysjeepuk.co.uk

AS109193

JEEP REBUILD PROJECT, GPW Chassis frame with original transmission and running gear, fitted later bodyshell with serial no prefixed H, 12 volt conversion, some spares. Dry storage, buyer collects, £6000 Gtr Manchester SB54436 Tel: 01204 593218

SB55217

SB55279

VEHICLES AND PARTS complete with 8 magazines in mint condition, all dated 1938 with eagle £65 plus p&p, Essex, Tel: 01255 812148

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

CMV free ads Aug16.indd 77

ADVERTISE YOUR ITEM WITH A PHOTO FOR FREE - Email: [email protected]

WARTIME STEEL GRENADE CANISTER, heavily embossed “ P59 - JSB - 1943” in excellent condition Stencil reads “Grenades”. Add something unusual to your kit list. £12. Richard 01842-819969 (West Norfolk) SB54854

77

29/06/2016 14:23

ADVERTISE YOUR ITEM WITH A PHOTO FOR FREE - Email: [email protected]

WANTED BOOKS / MANUALS

MILITARIA/MISC

VEHICLES AND PARTS

WORKSHOP MANUAL / DRIVERS MANUAL for Humber 1 Ton FV1600 Series. Wanted:1 Ton Radio or GS Truck. Tel: 07779 470957. Notts. SB53838

ANY UNMADE OR MADE PLASTIC MODEL KITS WANTED. Also diecast tank, AFV & aircraft models, uniform military books and de-activated weapons. Write 27A The Grove, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 3TA. Contact Number AS109608 07973 885754

FRONT AXLE FOR 1940’S/EARLY 50’S AUSTIN K2 2TON TRUCK. Complete with stub axles and back plates. W.H.Y Tim 07791 484621.

www.keypublishing.com

VARIOUS BOOKS ON THE MILITARY. Only sold as a job lot £100 ono. Please send a medium sized SAE for a full list of them. Models - Two lots of DeAgostini tanks & military vehicle models with tank stands £100-£200 ono Boxed models of tanks and other military items for those interested in building them up, also a couple of boxes of bits £175 ono Boxed model aeroplane, Airfix FW190 £60. Phone 0121 531 9113

VEHICLES AND PARTS SCAMMELL PIONEER, 1943. Wanted complete front windows or brackets to open windows. Side indicator or drawnings of same. Front rollers for winch rope. Tel: 07740 042079, N Ireland SB53839 PANHARD VBL SCOUT CAR. Wanted, Panhard vehicle Blinde Legere (VBL) “ULTRAV” short wheel base model. Must be in good condition. Phone: 0786 7780484 Hants.

WANTED FOR 1942 WILLYS JEEP, tool box lid and trailer light cable, female socket that fits to rear body SB54434 panel. Tel: 0776601360136

THORNYCROFT NUBIAN 1964

FORD GP JEEP 1942

Thornycroft aux. gearbox Type 271, 268 or 265. For TFA/B81 or TFB/B80 Nubian Phone 07849761177 email [email protected]

Help any info PLEASE. YYD 861 I saved this jeep from scrap yard in 1961, rebuilt and ran for 2 years any whereabouts, or present owner please contact Roy. Phone: 01932 769676 Surrey. Email: [email protected]

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78 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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VEHICLE PARTS

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REFINISHING VICTORY IMPORTS AND CUSTOMS (Stateside Group Ltd) Unit 4, Lodge Farm, Tadmarton Heath Road Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5DQ E: [email protected] T: 07837 788334 VICTORY IMPORTS AND CUSTOMS CAN RESPRAY YOUR MILITARY VEHICLE TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD. We can offer full resprays to suit all budgets, from a bare metal respray to a flat down mask and paint we can offer all finishes and paint types, using only the highest quality products. All Shades of Military Olive drab are available, from Nato Green, British 298, US Army OD or we can mix to spec if required. We also have electronic colour matching software to get the correct shade from a sample if required.

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We can also offer a complete service, from minor scratch or dent repair to a complete strip down and rebuild of damaged parts including panel replacement.

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VEHICLE PARTS Steering ing Whe Wheel he ee ell Restoration Restor To advertise in this section please call

MICHELLE DUNCAN Steering wheel resttoration, vintage to modern cars, tractors, lorries, buses, boats. Bluemels, Celluloid, Bakelite, Wood & Plastic. tel: +44 (0)1843 844962

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64 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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Echoes of war…

MAKING WAVES W

ith the concensus being that it was better to apply floatation equipment to standard types rather than create bespoke swimmers, often a collapsible, waterproof screen was fixed to a tank’s hull so that the upper half, including the turret, remained dry, while the lower section was immersed. This is the method utilised on the Tetrach prototype which effectively became the first Duple Drive (DD) tank. The rubberised canvas screen, made by PB Cow, who made inflatable air beds, was kept in shape by a tubular rail supported by rubber tubes kept pressurised by compressed air. The little tank’s first dip was at Hendon reservoir, but more extensive tests took place during December 1941 during swimming trials in Langstone Harbour. (The Tank Museum 9340-D1-4, 0041-D1)

66 CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLE August 2016

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Series One • Series II/IIA Series III • Lightweight • 101 FC 90/110 • Wolf TUL/TUM MILITARY LAND ROVERS 1

COMPILED BY JOHN CARROLL • DESIGN BY ROS WOODHAM • COVER PHOTO BY GARRY STUART

Military Land Rovers

SERIES ONE LAND ROVER

The

Original Land Rover 1948-1958: Rovers Mk 1-5

Owning a Series One Buying Tip: The recent hype about the end of Land Rover Defender production has pushed prices skywards and even basket cases are fetching disproportionate amounts. Belgian Minerva Series Ones are far less expensive and offer a budget route into Series One ownership. Price Range: £1,500 (project) - £30,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: There are two, the Series One Land Rover Club (www. lrsoc.com) the club for all ’48-’58 models with an internet forum and the Land Rover Register 1948-53 (www. lrr48-53.info) for 80in models. Both clubs publish magazines, Legend and Full Grille respectively and both attend shows with vehicles A restored military 80in, a Rover Mk 1, 11 BC 63 has the 1.6 litre engine and was one of 1878 vehicles supplied under a 1949 contract

2 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

ABOVE:

A Mk 3 86in of the Trucial Scouts leads a ‘tilt-up’ FFW model during a patrol in Oman. Note the sand tyres including the spare on the bonnet. The Land Rover was supplied under a 1955 contract

I

t is widely known that the Land Rover, a product of the Rover Company, was launched in 1948. The story started in 1947 when the first Land Rover design sketch was made in the sand on the beach at Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey. Early in 1948, production began at Solihull; the original 1948 models were powered by a 1,595cc engine with permanent four-wheel drive transmission. As first introduced, the Land Rover was available only as an open utility vehicle with a wheelbase of 80in and a launch price of £450. In 1949, production soared to 12,395 vehicles and to 16,795 the following year. Also in 1949, the British Army ordered its first Land Rovers, quickly realising that the car could fulfil all of

the roles of the complex and more expensive Austin Champ. In 1950 the permanent four-wheel drive system was replaced by a more conventional selectable arrangement. Four-wheel drive was engaged in low range and could also be selected in high range when required. In 1952, the relatively underpowered 1.6-litre engine was replaced by a two-litre unit. In 1953 the 80in wheelbase models gave way to the 86in models and the 107in longer wheelbase versions. Much of this was during a period when the British military was starting to replace its Second World War Jeeps and a replacement, the Austin Champ, was in the process of being developed. Nonetheless Land Rovers of types that would later be described

as Series One models - became, in military parlance, Trucks 1⁄4 Ton 4x4 GS Rover. There were several versions which were referred to as Mk1- Mk5. These were also obtained as replacements for the Trucks 1⁄4 Ton 4x4 GS Willys and Ford Jeeps. Like the Jeep, these Series One Land Rovers saw service all over the world but, unlike the Austin Champ, very few were used in BAOR. By the time Champ production had started in early 1952, it was considered to be an advanced design, but too complex. When changing world events and increased costs changed military

thinking, the Land Rover became the standard Truck 1⁄4 Ton 4x4 GS in 1956. The Series Ones were redesigned each time the vehicle was upgraded. This meant that Rover Mk 1 was the 80in with the 1,595cc engine of 1948 to 1951, the Mk 2 was the 80in with the 1,997cc engine made from 1951 to 1953. The Mk 3 was the 86in with the 1,997cc, made from 1953 to 1956 and the Mk 4 was the LWB 107/109in version. The Rover Mk 5 was the 1,997cc 88in Series One of 1956-1958. The army had limited numbers of 107in Mk 4s which was still called the Mk 4 when the 109in version was introduced while the Royal Navy and RAF had pick-ups and 107in Station Wagons. The LWB Series One was classed as a ¼-ton vehicle. Rovers Mk1 and Mk2 were considered obsolete by 1961. Rovers Mk3, Mk5 could be FFW or FFR depending on the date and type of modification. By 1958, more than 200,000 Series One Land Rovers had been made when the vehicle’s 10th anniversary was marked by the launch of the Series II model in both 88 and 109in forms. ¢

LEFT: A restored military Series One such as this in desert colours, will turn heads at any military vehicle event BELOW:

Minerva Series One Land Rovers with steel bodies and distinctive front wings were assembled under licence in Belgium for the Belgian Army

BELOW LEFT: HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in a Series One 80in, a Rover Mk 2, aboard HMS Albion (RO7), a Centaur class aircraft carrier launched in 1947

83 BR 50 is an 88in Series One, a Mk 5, with a modified rear body for Signals duties. It was photographed at the Nov. 1957 NATO exhibition at the Solihull factory

Sapper Charles Grayson drives a Rover Mk 3 over two suspended steel wires at Fort Tregantle in Devon. The 86in was supplied under a 1954 contract for 2600 vehicles

The canvas flaps on the rear of the door tops give away the exact model of Land Rover seen here in a wading tank at the FVRDE at Chertsey. It is an 80in, an FV18001 Mk I in military jargon, and one that appears to be a FFW model judging by the three aerials. The air intake is raised by the use of a length of rubber hose and a piece of wood fastened to the windscreen

LEFT:

In 1952, 11 BH 22, a Rover Mk 2, was both the 50,000th Land Rover made and one of 1900 supplied under a June 1951 contract

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 3

SERIES II/IIA

Changing Times 1960-1971: Rovers Mk6-11

T

he Series II Land Rover had a short production run of fewer than four years, from April 1958 until September 1961, but military customers continued to classify the vehicles with the system started with military Series One models. This meant that the 88in Series II was the Rover Mk6 while the Rover Mk7 was the 109in version, Truck ¾ Ton, made between 1958 and 1961 with either the 1,997cc or 2,286cc engine. Such vehicles were bought against a background of cuts to conventional forces under the April 1957 Defence White Paper and, coincidentally, these were carried out in parallel Series II production. It was reasoned that the nuclear deterrent would shape defence, largely because the USSR and its Warsaw Pact allies were perceived

4 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

as the main threat, and permit a reduction in the numbers of conventional forces. As a result the UK’s commitment to BAOR was to be concentrated on considering the withdrawal from empire and its associated closure of overseas bases and the end of National Service. The Rover Mk6 was ordered under a contract in September 1960. It was originally for Trucks GS and Trucks GS Hard-top but this was soon amended to include Cars-GS (Station Wagon). The Mk6 Truck ¼ Ton GS/Utility 4x4 Rover was a basic 1961 commercial model fitted with rear seats, bridge plate; Pyrene fire extinguisher, Warner trailer socket, convoy light, Ministry of Supply data plate, FV tow jaw, split wheel rims, spare wheel carrier on bonnet, Jerrycan holder in rear

body, FV headlights and tow rings on the front bumper. The body colour was deep bronze green with a sky blue engine; all other colours were as the commercial model. Similarly the Car-GS was a basic commercial Station Wagon with the same military specification extras as the Truck-GS. As civilian models evolved into Series IIAs, the military version of the 88in Series IIA made from 1961 to 1967 was the Rover 8. Variants of the Rover 8 included General Service (12-volt) or Fitted For Radio (FFR 24-volt) but it was also available as Station Wagon, Hard-top, CL (Commercial Logistics). The Rover 8 had been designed to replace the ageing Austin Champs in BAOR roles. The first War Office order for Trucks ¼ Ton 4x4 FFR Rover 8 for the army was for 600 vehicles under contract KL/H/01291

MAIN PIC: A Royal

Navy diving team’s Rover 9 Station Wagon ABOVE:

26 DM 60 seen here winching was one of 900 GS RHD Rover 8s supplied under contract KL/H/01305 of 1961

RIGHT: 15 DM 60 was a RHD FFR Rover 8 that entered service in January 1962 and was struck off in Kenya on September 30, 1964 after less than three years service

Owning a Series II/IIA Buying Tip: Check for corrosion on the chassis, particularly around the rear crossmember and the various outriggers. Also look at the condition of the bulkhead around the vents, the footwells and the door pillars. All the parts to repair these places are readily available but time and money need to be budgeted for.

An experimental amphibious Land Rover built for the Australian Army. It didn’t progress beyond the prototype stage

Price Range: £300 (project) - £9,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: The Land Rover Series Two Club (www.series2club. co.uk) welcomes owners of all models of Series II Land Rover and publishes a respected magazine Built Two Last. A restored 109in RHD GS Rover 9 version of the Series IIA is now a rarity compared to the newer Series III equivalents

76 AA 75 was a RHD Rover 6 supplied to the RAF and converted to full-track configuration with the Cuthbertson system for bomb disposal purposes

TOP:

74 ER 83 was a RHD GS Rover 8 and is seen here on a desert track in Eastern Arabia in 1968

ABOVE:

of April 18, 1961. All were RHD and entered service from November 1961 onwards. The first LHD contract was for 400 vehicles in October 1962. These subsequently went into service from January 1963 onwards. Similarly, the Rover 9 was the 109in Series IIA, Truck ¾ Ton from 1961 to 1966. The Rover 10 was an 88in SIIA from 1967 to 1971. The Rover 10 is now rare in GS form as it was only made in 1967 and not produced in FFR form but CLs and Station Wagons were produced, along with some other specialised variants. The Rover 11 was 109in Series IIA from 1967 to 1971 (Truck ¾ Ton). They were superseded by the Series III. This was also the era of specialist conversions to Land Rovers and military models were no exception. As well as fire engines and

55 DM 83 is a restored example of a RHD FFR Rover 8 - the special grille was standard on FFR models

LEFT: 21 FJ 79 was a RHD GS Rover 11 modified to carry a L6 120mm Wombat Recoilless Rifle

One of the most famous conversion to Rover 11 GS 109in Land Rovers was the SAS Regiment Pink Panther - so-called because of the desert pink paint.

ambulances, an experimental model was the Series IIA 109in Air-Portable of 1963 built in only small numbers before the project was abandoned. It was referred to as the APGP (Air Portable, General Purpose) model because its special rear body allowed the APGPs to be stacked on each other in transport aircraft. The APGP was adapted at prototype stage to also be amphibious; it was waterproofed and then designed to float on inflatable airbags. It was propelled, while afloat, by a propellor fitted to the rear propshaft. While the specialist conversions are now sought after, there are worthwhile restoration projects to be had from careful browsing of classified adverts where ex-military Land Rovers have survived though being used as workhorses after being cast by the military and are worth saving. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 5

SERIES III

Challenging Times

1971-1985: Series III

Owning a Series III

T

MAIN PIC:

38 FL 83, a RHD Cargo 109in as supplied new to the army. The shiny paintwork suggests that it is finished in Deep Bronze Green but was probably repainted matt NATO green in service

6 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

ABOVE:

62 GF 86 was supplied as a LHD 109in but converted by Carawagon into a Tactical Command Post vehicle in the way the company converted civilian Land Rovers into campers

he Series III Land Rover was introduced in 1971 soon after the formation of the British Leyland conglomerate in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd (BLMC),. This in turn had followed the merger of Leyland Motors and British Motor Holdings. The Series III featured numerous detail changes from its IIA predecessor; the gearbox now had synchromesh on all forward gears and the change was further improved by a larger clutch; the LWB models received the stronger Salisbury rear axle. The exterior included new door hinges, the revised headlamp layout had been introduced earlier but it now also introduced a new plastic radiator grille. Changes were made to the interior; the fascia received some crash padding, a new instrument binnacle and improved heater controls. The early 1970s were a troubled time for Britain; the worsening economic picture in Britain led to more defence cuts. Denis Healey's 1969 defence review produced a cut of seven per cent, the biggest since the Sandys review of 1957. Healey committed Britain to withdrawing from its bases east of the Suez Canal by 1971.

Buying Tip: The 2,286cc engine was a reliable engine but it won't break any speed records. It remains simple to maintain for the DIY mechanic who knows how to set the plugs and points Price Range: Cargo 109in £500 (project) to £4,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: The Ex-Military Land Rover Association (www. emlra.org) welcomes owners of all ex-military Land Rovers, publishes a newsletter and has a wealth of knowledge about the military models. Its members attend shows with vehicles 67 GJ 08 is an 88in LHD CL Cargo and one of a batch of 26. It is seen here being exhibited with the ExMilitary Land Rover Association

27 HF 22 was supplied under a contract for 490 RHD Cargo Land Rovers. It is preserved and the hard-top maybe a later addition

A preserved TCP Carawagon is a rarity in private hands such as this one because they were only ever supplied in small numbers

Inflation and industrial relations issues added to the mix and BLMC didn’t escape unscathed. It was partly nationalised in 1975, when the UK government created a holding company called British Leyland, later BL, in 1978. In parallel, the Troubles in Northern Ireland were a drain on resources. At their height in 1972, there were 27,000 British military personnel based in Northern Ireland. It was against such an uncertain background that the British military bought Land Rovers that it referred to as Series 3 rather than III. Because the Lightweight was in widespread use, relatively few of the normal 88in models were bought for military use. Those that were acquired, were, in the main, CL models in Station Wagon, hard-top and tilt versions. In contrast, LWB versions were bought in much larger numbers and, across the three services, almost 20,000 were ordered. Of these the majority were Cargo and FFR models with a full tilt roof. Among them however there were numbers of Station Wagons, CL hard-tops and numerous specialist vehicles including Tactical Command Posts, armoured cars, fire engines and ambulances. The Tactical Command Posts were

109in hard-tops with Carawagon conversions by Carawagon formerly Searle International of Sunbury on Thames while the armoured cars were conversions by Shorland. The large number of Cargo and FFR versions supplied means that there is still a plentiful supply of these Land Rovers even though they have all been disposed of by the military. Buying an ex-military 109in is currently probably the cheapest and arguably, easiest route into military Land Rover ownership. If you are in the market for a Series III, realistically there are two options available to you; you could buy a complete rust bucket and rebuild it as, with the advent of replacement chassis and other spares, almost any Series III can be reconstructed. On the other hand if you don't want to go to all that trouble you need to get a Series III that's already been partially rebuilt or repaired so, with regular maintenance, has more years of motoring ahead of it. The latter option is probably better for the first timer as a way of gaining experience and enjoying the vehicle rather than just having a project in the garage. Some of these Land Rovers, for example, have already been reconstructed on a galvanised chassis at some time which

TOP:

85 KB 80 was one of a contract for 69 RHD cargo 109s. It has been restored and in private hands seen here at a military vehicle show;

ABOVE LEFT: Many Series III vehicles were used by the British Army in Northern Ireland including the specialist conversions such as the Shorland APV. 77 FL 12 was one of a batch of 21 ABOVE RIGHT: The cover of the brochure used to sell Series III 109ins to military customers. 16 GX 78 is one of a batch of 454 FFR RHD models supplied under contract FVE 22A/69

This pair of Shorland APVs seen here in Northern Ireland were supplied under separate contracts

makes them a good potential buy. The Series III in all its guises was made between 1971 and 1985 and, over the years they have been decried for reasons that shouldn’t affect buying decisions; some say they aren’t as good as the earlier models as they were built under the auspices of British Leyland (BL). The BL conglomerate may have had a poor reputation for quality control and industrial relations but as it’s at least 30 years since any Series III left Solihull, any negativity associated with BL will have worn off. Some people note that, in the UK, most Series IIIs are not exempt from road tax - Vehicle Excise Duty. This may be true, but if you can save several years VED in the purchase price, then it’s not a reason to discourage you from buying a Series III. Some people are critical of the Series III because of its plastic components such as the radiator grille and instrument binnacle. Taste's varies of course but the Series III is a well proportioned machine. Whether a fulltilt soft-top, hard-top or Station Wagon, they look like a complete package. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 7

LIGHTWEIGHT LAND ROVER

The

Half-Ton Land Rover

1968-1971: Series IIA 1972-1984: Series III

F

MAIN PIC:

75 AM 51 was one of 95 RHD Series III GS Lightweights supplied to the RAF under contract WV11700

8 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

ABOVE:

The Lightweight has the fittings for pioneer tools on the two-piece tailgate, the top portion of which is removed for air transportation

aced with the increasing development of air transport within military logistics, it became apparent that the British Army needed to make its Land Rovers air-portable. The limiting factor was the size and payloads of the aircraft then in service. Military versions of the civiliantype 88in Land Rover were too heavy to be underslung on the military helicopters then in service. To address this problem, a version of the Land Rover that was lighter in weight was developed on the existing 88in chassis. Its body comprised demountable sections, so that when stripped down, the still drivable vehicle was within the payload of the in-service helicopters and the narrower bodywork made the vehicles suitable for side-by-side stowage in transport aircraft. The new Land Rover variant (Truck,

Utility, General Service, 1/2 Ton, 4x4, Rover Mk 1) was distinctive with its angular bodywork and even more so when stripped of its doors, windscreen and upper bodywork. Although it was officially known as the ‘Half-Ton’ Land Rover it soon became generally known as the ‘Lightweight’. Ironically, in its built-up form, it was heavier than the vehicle it was derived from. New generations of helicopters and transport aircraft soon made the ‘lightweight’ requirement redundant, but the British Army standardised the 2,286cc petrol-engined Lightweight as its short wheelbase Land Rover. The first Lightweights had the headlamps mounted in the grille panel in a manner similar to regular Series IIA models but after almost 3,000 were made, from 1969 onwards, the headlamps were repositioned in the wings. The Series III version of

An early Series IIA Lightweight taking part in an amphibious landing exercise

Owning a Lightweight Buying Tip: Although the 24-volt versions are popular with radio enthusiasts, the 12-volt GS version of the Lightweight is easier and cheaper to maintain because the 12-volt electrical components are cheaper and more plentiful.

The prototype Lightweight, seen here in 1965, had a different radiator grille to the production models

Price Range: £800 (project) - £9,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: There are two, the Lightweight Land Rover Club (www.lightweightlandroverclub.org) a traditional club and the internet forum-based Military Lightweight Club (www.militarylightweight.co.uk). Both offer forums, restoration advice and attend shows with vehicles This largely original Series III project sold for £1,200 earlier this year

the Half-Ton military Land Rover, or Lightweight, entered production in April 1972, some eight months after production of the Series III civilian models had begun. This was because the Solihull factory first had to complete outstanding orders for the Series IIA version. Series III Half-Tons (Truck, Utility, General Service, 1/2 Ton, 4x4, Rover Series 3) looked very much like the Series IIA models they replaced.

However, changes included a key rather than push-button start, Smiths heater, modified upper bulkhead and windscreen hinges, the latest all-synchromesh gearbox and a larger, 9.5in diameter, clutch plate. The 12-volt models had an alternator in place of the earlier dynamo. All vehicles retained the earlier style of instrument panel and did not switch to the civilian Series III type; column switchgear was however the civilian Series III type. From 1980, the wing mirrors were relocated on the doors, and rear fog guard lights were added. The final models were built in 1984, and entered British military service early the following year. All British military versions had the four-cylinder petrol engine, but diesel models were supplied to export customers including the Dutch and Danish military from 1976 onwards. In British use there were essentially four versions; left and right hand drive and 12 and 24 volt versions. Most vehicles were delivered as GS (12-volt) or FFR (24-volt) soft tops, but some were converted by the military into hardtops or Station Wagons, using modified civilian panels.

TOP:

The Series III Lightweight in restored form is a practical and characterful military Land Rover;

41 FG 13 was one of 100 RHD GS Series IIA Lightweights supplied to the army in 1969 under contract WV7478

ABOVE:

1969 Series IIA Half-Ton GS Stripped for air transportation. 32 FK 05 is a fake number plate used for demonstration purposes The cover of the brochure used to promote military sales of the Lightweight Land Rover

The use of the Lightweight as a standard British Army Land Rover meant that it served across the British Army and RAF in General Service and Specialist roles. Lightweights were prepared for air transport, amphibious landings, weapons-carrying roles as well as ceremonial duties and VPK versions for service in Ulster. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 9

101 FORWARD CONTROL

Moving Forwards

1974-1978: 101 Forward Control

RIGHT:

(Top) An early version during testing. A Nokken winch can be seen alongside the chassis between the wheels (Bottom) This early model has the distinctive fitting for the powered trailer in its rear crossmember. The powered trailer project was discontinued early in the production cycle

10 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

T

he 101, as its official designation is often abbreviated to, was designed to meet the army's requirement for a gun tractor that was transportable by air, could tow the 105mm Light Gun and carry its crew and a tonne of ammunition on board. Its official name of 101 Forward Control was derived from the vehicle's 101in (2,565 mm) wheelbase and the seating position of the driver forward of the front axle. The first prototype was assembled during the winter of 1966/67 and the first prototypes were delivered to the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) later in 1967. Some upgrades were required but production of the finalised version with a Rover a V8 engine and permanent 4x4 system, took place between 1972 and 1978, the majority were built in batches during 1975-77.

The 101FC was manufactured in both left and right hand drive and 12 and 24-volt electrical systems. There were General Service (GS), Ambulance and Radio variants and those for Rapier missile duties although the specialist models were all converted from Solihullbuilt GS models by specialists; the Ambulances were converted by Marshalls of Cambridge for example. In 1975, the 101 was the transport of the British Joint Services Expedition from west to east across the Sahara led by Squadron Leader Tom Sheppard MBE. The vehicles were specifically modified both at Land Rover at its Solihull works and then by the RAF at Uxbridge. The lead vehicle (60 FL 38) was the first production model off the line while the other three (76 FL 64, 76 FL 65 and 76 FL 66) were fitted with the optional trailer drive. All

MAIN PIC:

01 AM 09 was a RHD, 12-volt 101 with a Nokken winch supplied to the RAF in a batch of 35 as Rapier Radar tractors

RIGHT:

The ambulance bodies were fitted to chassis-cab GS models by Marshalls of Cambridge

A prototype 101 undergoing off-road testing. The appearance is considerably different to the production versions

Owning a 101 Buying Tip: The thirsty nature of the Rover V8 engine means that many 101s have had diesel transplants or home installed LPG kits fitted so ensure the one you buy is either original or has been well reengineered

In 1995 some 101s were converted by Land Rover with glassfibre 'taxi' bodyshells for the Judge Dredd movie. The proposition was that Land Rover is the world's only surviving vehicle manufacturer in the lawless 22nd Century when the film is set

Price Range: £1,500 (project) - £11,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: The 101 Forward Control Club and Register (www. 101club.org). Join the club to read its magazine Six Stud, its name a reference to the 101’s unique wheels Numerous restored 101s are to be seen at military vehicle events

The ‘Llama’ was a vehicle that was designed and developed in the mid-1980s as a replacement for the 101 gun tractors. In 1986/87, 11 prototypes and a single production vehicle were built based on the contemporary Land Rover One Ten TOP:

were fitted with Michelin 9.00x16 XS sand tyres in place of the usual bar grips. Operational deployments of the 101 were limited; in 1982 some went south with the Falklands Task Force and then in 1990-91 to Saudi Arabia, Northern Iraq, Croatia and Bosnia. In the late eighties the 101 was still to be released by the British army and, as a result, attracted an almost fabled reputation. Gradually, they began to trickle out through the disposal auctions and were in demand by Land Rover enthusiasts. Soon the trickle became a flood and by the late 1990s, almost all had been withdrawn from service.

Nowadays, there are very few 101s available to buy in this 'just discharged' condition. Many have been fully restored, others have been converted into campers and yet more modified for one working role or another. The swivels in the front hubs are welded to the axles making them difficult to replace if they are corroded. Check the condition of the swivels before you buy. Also check the six stud wheels for condition as they are unique to the 101 and check the condition of the 9.00x16 bar grip tyres as they are not readily available.

The 101 was engineered as a forward control vehicle using a Rover V8 and permanent 4x4 system

ABOVE:

The VIN number is stamped onto the plate attached to the transmission tunnel

LEFT: A LHD GS101 in bronze green. The twopiece body sides are clearly evident

The vehicle features numerous unique parts, which can prove difficult and/or expensive to obtain. The 101 club has attempted to address this problem with ongoing remanufacturing of parts including the remanufacture of  fuel tanks, door tops and fuel filler hoses made to the original design specification. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 11

NINETY AND ONE TEN

Springing

Up

L

and Rovers have long been desirable as privately-owned military vehicles. These include the Series IIA/III Lightweight models and, more recently, the British army Ninety and One Ten ‘rag top’. The Land Rover One Ten, launched in 1983, was developed using vehicles based on modified Range Rover chassis with Land Rover bodywork. While based on Range Rover architecture, the One Ten had a much stronger chassis with deeper side members and larger long travel coil springs. The body retained the distinctive Land Rover appearance but had a new, deeper, one-piece windscreen, new sliding door top windows and moulded wheel arch extensions to accommodate the wider track of the new axles. Launched simultaneously was an extended wheelbase version, the Land Rover 127, its Crew Cab body requiring few new parts thanks to the Land Rover's modular construction. Its carrying capacity and versatility led to many specialist derivatives, notably for utility companies and military users. The One Ten was followed a

12 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

year later by its short wheelbase counterpart, the Land Rover Ninety. While essentially similar in concept to the larger vehicle, the Ninety had a smaller, side mounted fuel tank and was offered in pick-up, full-tilt, hard top and seven-seat station wagon variants. New, one piece side doors with wind up windows were soon introduced onto all Land Rover vehicles, significantly upgrading comfort and convenience levels. Then, in order to remain competitive in the European market, Land Rover developed a turbo charged version of its wellestablished four -cylinder diesel engine which boosted power by 30 per cent. Launched in 1986, other improvements introduced at the same time included new door trims and push button door locks to improve comfort and security. The British army versions of the Ninety and One Ten were manufactured throughout much of the eighties and nineties but in some ways look much older than their civilian counterparts because of the basic level of trim. The military Land Rover Ninety was largely mechanically similar to the civilian models with

1983-1995: 90, 110 & Defender

a 93in wheelbase, coil springs, a permanent four-wheel drive system with a lockable centre differential, a five-speed manual gearbox and a two-speed transfer box, disc front brakes and rear drums. The main exception was that vehicles supplied to the British army were powered by the OHV 2.5 litre naturally aspirated, in-line, four-cylinder diesel engine and were devoid of power steering pumps. They had Series-type two-piece driver and passenger doors and the later-style, door-tops with an angled glass pane and sliding windows. A full tilt stretches from the top of the windscreen frame to the body cappings. The interior is very basic comprising simple driver and passenger seat cushions, a bare gap on the transmission tunnel, no door cards and the early-style four-spoke steering wheel. Operator safety, and associated peace of mind off-tarmac, comes in the form of a braced, tubular roll-hoop behind the driver and passenger which also provides a mount for the safety belts. There were both 12 and 24 volt versions, the latter to provide power

ABOVE:

Land Rover’s 40th Anniversary vehicle was based on the basic military version of the Land Rover Ninety as it was the nearest vehicle in production to the original 1948 model

for the radios on the FFR models, front and rear recovery points in the form of JATE rings and a recovery bumper and NATO hitch respectively, MT-type tyres and a map-reading light on the dash. Land Rover conducted a major branding exercise in preparation for the launch of its new sports utility vehicle, the Discovery. The iconic utility vehicle that had given its name to the company now needed an identity of its own. ‘Defender’ was chosen as representing the products strength and status and a suitable opportunity to name the vehicle came in 1990 with the introduction of the 2.5-litre, direct injection 200 Tdi diesel engine. First seen in the Discovery, this

power unit offered significant improvements in power and torque and its greater efficiency reduced fuel consumption. New badging emphasised the new Defender identity, its variants now being known as the Defender 90, 110 and 130. As always, there were specialised versions of military Land Rovers including armoured versions and 127 Rapier missile vehicles but few are more famous than some of those used in the 1991 Gulf War. They were widely mentioned in SAS men's memoirs which are often controversial, often exaggerated but always entertaining. A rash of them appeared in the wake of the Gulf War as Britain's latest generation of heroes sought to tell tales of desert derring-do. The, famously secretive regiment reluctantly basked in, what it no doubt considered unwelcome, publicity unprecedented since its famously televised intervention in the Iranian Embassy siege.

MAIN PIC:

Land Rover offered the Special Operations Vehicle (SOV) in 1992, it was followed by rapid deployment and multi role combat vehicles (MRCV) MMQ 249 was jaguar Rover Australia’s 1983 Perentie reference vehicle

LEFT: One of the specially built and equipped Rover V8powered vehicles that was used by the SAS in the Gulf War of 1991 is now back in the ownership of Land Rover

The Perentie, built for the Australian Army, was powered by an Isuzu turbocharged 4BD1 engine in 4x4 and 6x6 versions

FAR LEFT:

The armoured Land Rover Hussar was a 6x6 version of the Land Rover 110 V8 produced by Hotspur Armoured Products and Land Rover Special Vehicles

Owning a 90 or 110 Buying Tip: The naturally-aspirated engine won't break any speed records but has a good reputation as a long-lived and reliable engine less prone to trouble than the Turbo D versions of the same era. As always keep the oil and filters fresh to ensure longevity and reliability. Price Range: (90/110) £4,000 (project) - £10,000 (concours)

RIGHT:

(Top) The SAS 110 ‘Pinkie’ featured PSP sand ladders, Hi-LIft jack and Jerrycan brackets among its accessories (Bottom) The SAS 110 ‘Pinkie’ like its predecessors did not feature a windscreen or a roof but is recognisably a Land Rover

Club to join; Owners’ Club: The Ex-Military Land Rover Association (www.emlra.org) welcomes owners of all ex-military Land Rovers, publishes a newsletter and has a wealth of knowledge about the military models. Its members attend shows with vehicles. A privately-owned military 90 taking part in the London to Brighton Land Rover Run

Jaguar Rover Australia built a 6x6 Perentie cargo vehicle for the Australian Army’s 2-tonne contract

Many of the new generation’s tales involved Land Rover-borne patrols behind the lines in miles of empty desert where numerous communications and Scud missile targets were raided with impunity. The books contradict each other in places as internecine squabbles play out and dirty washing gets washed publicly but what can you expect from competitive blokes? If they are to be believed to any degree, it seems that successes and cock-ups followed in equal measure but their Desert Patrol Vehicles (DPV) Land Rovers - still referred to as Pinkies and based on the V8 High Capacity Pick-Ups - were built by Marshalls of Cambridge and contributed to the allies’ success in the Gulf War and laid the foundation for the next generation of special forces’ 110s. These vehicles are now sought after rarities but it is still possible to buy the more basic 90 and 110 models which in many ways offer an ideal compromise between a practical vehicle and a preserved military vehicle. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 13

TUM/TUL DEFENDER XD

The

Wolf Pack

A TUL 90 returns to a landing craft during a Royal Marines training exercise at ATTURM (Amphibious Trials and Training Unit Royal Marines) at Instow in North Devon in 2000

1996-2002: TUL and TUM Defender

Owning a Wolf

L

ABOVE TOP:

The Defender XD 110 is referred to by the army at the Truck Utility Medium (TUM) and is powered by Land Rover’s proven 300 Tdi four-cylinder diesel engine

14 MILITARY LAND ROVERS

ABOVE BOTTOM:

Although special ambulance versions of the TUM are available, this General Service TUM 110 is seen with Red Cross markings during operations in Afghanistan

and Rover designated its next generation of the Defender as XD (Extra Duty) while the MoD designated the Wolf 90 as Truck Utility Light (TUL) HS (High Specification) and the Wolf 110 as Truck Utility Medium (TUM) HS. Therefore the TUL HS 4x4 Winterised Land Rover GS Hardtop 2.5 Turbo Diesel is a general service, 300 Tdi-powered, hard-top 90 with extra equipment that enables it and its crew to function in extreme winter conditions. Other versions include those operated by the Royal Marines that can wade ashore from landing craft in very deep water, others for use in tropical conditions and of course the 110 Wolf is the basis for the gun-carrying WMIK patrol models. The ‘Wolf’ name is strictly unofficial, starting as Land Rover's project name for this military contract and being used more latterly as the vehicle's generic nickname. The winterised versions of the TUL have modifications including a snorkel that allows the vehicle to wade through deep water, an engine fluids heater to pre-warm the engine, covers on the heater duct and filler cap, insulation of the hard-top and

Buying Tip: Military Land Rovers are just as likely to have had a hard life with the Parachute Regiment or the Royal Marines as an easier life patrolling an airfield somewhere. As a result you have to buy one based on the condition of the vehicle that's in front of you, it's hard to generalise about them all despite their age. Price Range: Cargo 109in £5,000 (project) to £12,000 (concours) Owners’ Clubs: The Ex-Military Land Rover Association (www.emlra.org) welcomes owners of all ex-military Land Rovers, publishes a newsletter and has a wealth of knowledge about the military models. Its members attend shows with vehicles The Defender XD 90 is referred to by the army at the Truck Utility Light (TUL) and these models are now available through military surplus Land Rover dealers

a heated windscreen. The vehicle is adorned with useful fittings that aren't found on the civilian equivalents, inside are door liners with map pockets, an internal roll-cage and four seats; two in the front and a single, inward-facing, two person bench in the rear. On the exterior are fittings for the pioneer tools, a recovery front bumper with tow pin, the sidemounted spare wheel, a NATO hitch on the rear crossmember between the bumperettes and a steering guard. It's also fitted with two-piece doors and door-tops with the sliding angled windows. At the vehicle's heart is a 300 Tdi engine, a five-speed manual gearbox, power steering and a heavy duty chassis which makes a Wolf 90 a very sought-after Land Rover. It has a 24 volt electrical system and rolls on the so-called 'Wolf wheels', a heavy duty steel wheel with Mini Cooper-esque circular holes in its centre, especially designed for this application and these are often shod with 7.50R16 Goodyear G90 off-road tyres. WMIK (Weapons Mount Installation Kit) Land Rovers are

the latest generation of the machine gun-equipped light 4x4. WMIKs are 110s developed by Ricardo, officially described as the Truck Utility Medium (TUM) High Specification. Designed to be light and fast, but deliver a heavy punch, the WMIK meets the requirements for an agile patrol vehicle and for use as reconnaissance and close fire support vehicles. The vehicles became a symbol of British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The WMIK story goes back more than a decade to its introduction as in 1997 as the rapid deployment vehicle (RDV) concept. Other modifications for military use can include fitment of heavy-duty suspension, upgraded brakes, 24V electrical system, snorkel, blackout lights, Power Take-Off (PTO)

shafts, winches, convoy lights, sun compass, electronic suppression for ignition system. The WMIK Land Rover is a versatile combat vehicle, with a range of around 500 miles and a payload of up to 1400kg and a crew of three. Typically the vehicle will carry a .50 calibre Heavy Machine Gun, a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) or on occasion the MILAN ATGM, on the rear ringmount, with an additional pintle mounted GPMG on the front passenger side. The WMIK had to

BELOW:

Land Rover offered its XD ‘Wolf’ range on all three of its wheelbases. The extra length of the 130 was useful for ambulance applications

The specialist Snatch vehicles were based on TUMs and is the successor to the TUM with a Vehicle Protection Kit (VPK). The vehicle was originally developed for use in Northern Ireland. The prototype Lightweight, seen here in 1965, had a different radiator grille to the production models

The integrated coach-built ambulance body gives the XD 130 field ambulance an overall length of 5194mm and width of 2136mm The cover of the brochure used to promote military sales of the Lightweight Land Rover

be suitable for air-portability and can be carried in C130 Hercules and, either internally or underslung, in helicopters such as the Chinook. The 'Snatch' Land Rover is another of the many special military Land Rover variants constructed over the years. It is a protected patrol vehicle, based on the chassis of a 110 V8. It was originally intended for general patrolling in low-threat areas and developed for use in Northern Ireland. The intended use was rural patrolling while providing a degree of small arms protection for the occupants while allowing them to snatch suspects from mobs. Window guards, armoured glass and other military extras were fitted. The vehicles were largely unremarkable until the British army deployed to Iraq

LEFT: Land Rover termed the special military version of the 90 and 110 as XD but they were nicknamed ‘Wolf’ after the project name and termed TUL and TUM by the army ABOVE:

Marshall of Cambridge and incorporates a flexible seating and stretcher configuration for a maximum of six seated casualties

The Multi Role Combat Vehicle (MRCV) and the Special Operations Vehicle (SOV) were specialised weapons platform vehicles and available with a choice of a Tdi diesel or V8 petrol engine

and Afghanistan when the vehicles were used in situations for which they weren't ideal because they didn't offer sufficient protection. Officially it is a Lightly Armoured Protected Wheeled Vehicle (LAPWV), manufactured by Courtaulds Aerospace on a Land Rover heavy duty rolling chassis. ¢

MILITARY LAND ROVERS 15

For Classic Land Rover Enthusiasts Classic Land Rover is an exciting monthly magazine dedicated to Series and the classic Land Rovers. Written by enthusiasts, it is the complete guide to buying, owning, running, driving, repairing, modifying and restoring pre-nineties Land Rovers and Range Rover classics.

August issue includes: THE OLD LADY A 109in IIA Carawagon with a past and a future

HOMING PIGEON A Series III that keeps on finding its way back to its restorer - he’s restored it twice now!

ONE OF A KIND A Series One with bags of character. And a bus seat

TWENTY YEAR SEARCH The most original 1984 Ninety you’re likely to see

POWER NAPPING A very subtly modified early Ninety with a retrofitted V8

JUS

T

£4.3 0

FARM FRESH If this IIA had been in a barn it would have been a ‘barn find’ but it’s Emrys Kirby’s new Land Rover

AND MUCH MORE

565/16

August issue AVAILABLE NOW from and other newsagents then on sale every first Wednesday of the month* Alternatively, you can order your copy or subscribe at: www.keypublishing.com/shop

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