Chieftain info and banter

[Mark Heaps]

The photo also shows some noticeable aspects of the NBC pack that may be missing from museum pieces. ( ie the one at Bovington at Tankfest )
Note the horizontal rod between the two hinges. This was a stay rod to hold the NBC open when servicing it, changing filters in wartime, in peacetime the filters were not usually fitted, the space worked as a very efficient fridge, but in both cases you would not want your arm to be in the way when that pack closed.

[Mark Heaps]

Most disappointed last night.
Hit Dover ferry port 20 minutes before midnight on my way home to Germany and got on the midnight sailing.
I was hoping I would get stopped by customs just to see their faces when I said I was taking three hedgehogs out of the country.

[Mark Heaps]

Also the condition of the rear reflector indicates that it and the rear fender have been replaced.
Prior to repainting in unit lines, grease was liberally applied to all areas not to be painted, markings, lenses, reflectors etc. Once the new paint had dried sufficiently the grease with its coat of paint were wiped off. Realistic would be paint on some areas of the white surround and at other points, clean surround, old paint and then the new paint

As per this vehicle in the restauration hall at Bovington. Also note the paint around the bottom of the number plate board. The rubies (light lenses ) and bulbs were removed prior to painting, and probably paper pushed in.

[John Clarke]

An interesting piece of head gear. Would this be an officer? Getting the right target this time ...........hopefully



Excellent use of a poor old Conqueror tank.

Sadly Chieftain gets the same treatment from Challenger 2's in one of the next up clips, such is life!

There's always a newer bigger fish.

Still, here's more super Chieftains rolling out during better days.

[Mark Heaps]

Nice film clips, John Clarke. Please post more if you find them.
I especially liked the leaving parade from Hildesheim. The Chiefies moving out, no lights on, winky pots not fitted, as if we were deploying to face the incoming russians.

And after those clips of tank crews at work, here is one of them at play. We were very much work hard, play hard. We did some crazy things at times but it was done to keep the young guys sane. And when you watch the vid, you will see just how young some of them were.



I was attached to RDGs at the time but with the main portion at Basra Airfield in Iraq. The video was done by a Squadron group in the middle of no-mans land.

[Stephen White]

Outstanding videos. Thanks. The 17th/21st Lancer subaltern in John's first film takes some beating. How on earth could he command a Chieftain with a silver spoon in his mouth and a plumb in his throat. And that silly SD cap. Things were different in those days.......

This one takes some beating (and it's got no flash photography or scenes "of a sexual nature" as the BBC would have it. If you're an ex US Marine however, I'm sure the BBC would be providing a number to ring for anyone "who might be affected by the issues raised in this programme".

[Mark Heaps]

Only ever saw one case of a porta-loo being knocked over and that was door downwards and a young officer inside. . When we finally realised it had blown over and got him out, he went ranting and raving to the CO that he was being disrespected. The CO asked him to think carefully about why it had been done and who could possibly have reasons for doing it. Young officer was taught that respect is earnt and not a given right.

[Mark Heaps]

Spoke to my brother who crewed Chieftain a couple of evenings ago and he suggested we need three tones or soundtracks for the APU / GUE.
1 ) for the start up to idle speed.
2) Rev control being pushed forward to the detent for the normal operating speed, before putting it on load and starting Main Engine , gun-kit etc
3) Rev control being pushed beyond the detent for max revs, if trying to use the hydraulic start on the ME. I personally never saw or heard it used, or even knew it existed. Correction - I knew that the hydraulic start for the ME existed but not that the revs of the GUE would be increased when trying to use it. I fixed the electrics and electronics not the mechanical bits. We made sure that the electrical starter motors worked.

Mark

[John Clarke]

Thanks for the info Mark, my thoughts for the GUE on the Armortek Chieftain would be a completely separate sound module and speaker exclusively.
Controlled from the transmitter a sound module can be started, revved and shut down with the Armortek sound module muted.

I have have a Mtronics diesel sound module with all these options, Add that to a small motor driven air pump smoke generator and you have your GUE ticking away on your model while it stands ready to fire up the ME (that wonderful main engine the L60).

Also found this on the sales web site that shall not be named. the chap selling it very kindly took pictures of every page, here's a couple.

Interesting to see that tank commanders should be aware of rust and I'm guessing do something about it ASAP.

I might even make a bid so I can quote code.

Oooh Arrrr the code

Reading though it again who's the LAD, does he make the tea

[John Clarke]

Won the auction, Army code 70761 (the Code) will be in my sticky little paws in no time, it will make a nice little memento to go with a couple artifacts from the era I have stashed away.

But be warned, a spot check of any Chieftain could happen any time (I feel a jobs worth coming on )

Tank commanders and the rest of the crew will be expected the help and support during testing procedures.

And of coarse all details will be recorded in section 1B of AB413 (what ever that is)

Any problems will also be reported to REME and maybe ex REME personnel

[Mark Heaps]

And of coarse all details will be recorded in section 1B of AB413 (what ever that is)

Any problems will also be reported to REME and maybe ex REME personnel

AB413 -Vehicle log book that followed the the vehicle wherever it went
Section 1B - List of inspections

In my experience, any snap inspections were accompanied by REME, we could then give immediate feedback to the inspecting person whether the fault had already ( previously ) been reported and what action had been taken. And if it was a fault that we were previously unaware of, had the vehicle commander been negligent in not reporting it to us, or had it suddenly occurred.

[Mark Heaps]

Male or female ?

Are tanks male or female ?

In WW1, the brits had "male" with 6 pounders, "females" with MGs, and hermaphrodites with different sponsons.

I always saw my Chieftains, Challenger 1 and 2´s as female.
They were cantankerous bitches at times.
They were each diffferent and needed their own special treatment to keep them purring.
Treat them nicefully and respectfully, and give lots of praise, she would not let you down when you needed them most.

[Chris Hall]

Male or female ?

Are tanks male or female ?

In WW1, the brits had "male" with 6 pounders, "females" with MGs, and hermaphrodites with different sponsons.

This is, of course, true. But the WW1 tankies drew nothing from it, and didn't regard one type as better than the other. They normally referred to their tanks as 'cars' or 'buses'.

However, the m/g was of more use than the 6pdr in killing infantry. So perhaps the female of the species is deadlier than the male !

[Mark Heaps]

Has anyone any info whether Armortek will be introducing a new smoker unit for the Chiefy model ?
Any ideas for modifying the standard smoker so it belches out more ?
Mark

[John Clarke]

I agree with you Mark, it's a Chieftain Icon.

A Wiggytronics I used, built a right belcher, it wasn't very big but it worked well with the Benedini sound, amp and smoker fan control.

There's a few types on the market, with varying wattage and voltage, I have no idea what the optimum wattage is, but I'm guessing the higher the wattage the greater the smoke.

I'd like to buy from Armortek so I'm looking forward to see what they come up with.

September's looking like it's going to be a busy month.