allanpcameron
Donor
I've got family visiting this week, so probably no update till early next week. Sorry.
Allan
Allan
Enjoy your visit, I do hope you do not get some of the family drama I have seen. Are you taking them to see any local attractions they may not have seen? Only have passed through Glasgow once for two days.I've got family visiting this week, so probably no update till early next week. Sorry.
Allan
looking forward to the next update!I've got family visiting this week, so probably no update till early next week. Sorry.
Allan
I think that might be down (in part) to it being a Liberty (or rather, a modified Liberty) engine in the back. The story doesn't seem to be suggesting that the Lion needs as much nursing.Nice chapter and he isn't wrong about how tricky and exhausting it can be nursing an engine. Still though they have more tanks that can go east compared with OTL and the meeting with the Russians isnintresting.
The Valiant will probably be the preference for the Soviets to be sure.Crusaders though will probably see action out east while the Victor's and follow on Valiant Mark's along with the Centurions will probably see more action in the west.
"These tanks you are sending us? They are terrible!"The Valiant will probably be the preference for the Soviets to be sure.
Was actually talking about the Far East, Japanese army doesn't have much short of Arty that can do any damage to British tanks.The Valiant will probably be the preference for the Soviets to be sure
Fair still though have to wonder how it will handle the Burma, Malaysia or india at the end of the day. All that moisture in the air will really mess the engine if it sits cold and isn't turned when they aren't in service.I think that might be down (in part) to it being a Liberty (or rather, a modified Liberty) engine in the back. The story doesn't seem to be suggesting that the Lion needs as much nursing.
I believe Vickers was going to sent a team over this time around to get feedback from the command about specific changes that would be desired."These tanks you are sending us? They are terrible!"
"Well, if you can't make good use of them, then we could-"
"Nyet, nyet. 10,000 more please. Preferably by next month?"
Scratches head.
I know. Still, I suspect the main use for the crusader will end up being support roles (bridge-laying, mine-clearing, etc), rather than actual combat.Was actually talking about the Far East, Japanese army doesn't have much short of Arty that can do any damage to British tanks.
Probably not well. Fortunately, the tanks in Malaya at the moment are Matilda IIs, which should be within the ability of the Australians to maintain.Fair still though have to wonder how it will handle the Burma, Malaysia or india at the end of the day. All that moisture in the air will really mess the engine if it sits cold and isn't turned when they aren't in service.
Now in an ATL where the Japanese do not cut off rubber exports, its not that hard to develop a US Rubber Block style 'Live' track replacement for more Commonwealth Armor.What might be interesting is with tanks in Malaya driving through all those rubber plantations someone gets the bright idea of fitting rubber pads to the tracks to try and cut down wear & tear on the roads.
What might be interesting is with tanks in Malaya driving through all those rubber plantations someone gets the bright idea of fitting rubber pads to the tracks to try and cut down wear & tear on the roads.
Not invented here?That same Eureka moment could also have happened on first inspection of the M3 Stuarts the UK received....why it didn't I'll leave to others with more knowledge than me to elaborate upon.
Far more likely:That same Eureka moment could also have happened on first inspection of the M3 Stuarts the UK received....why it didn't I'll leave to others with more knowledge than me to elaborate upon.
An offhand remark by an RAF officer about how much easier it would be to remove the old stone walls and fill in ravines if they had a bulldozer, set the RE officer thinking. Apparently during the final days of the battle of France this French speaking officer had been attached to a French engineering unit where he had seen and photographed a conversion done by the French army of a Renault FT17 into an armoured bulldozer. Using the French conversion as guide this officer sketched up a scheme for fitting a dozer blade to the A10 cruiser tank. Unlike the French conversion the turret would be retained on the A10. The biggest problem would be sourcing a suitable set of hydraulic rams powerful enough for lifting the blade and installing the pump in the cramped engine space. Eventual despite ram sacking the dockyard and Naval Base no suitable hydraulic system could be found. Therefore a rather Heath Robinson solution was adopted. Taking inspiration from a military recovery vehicle, a gib and hoist would be added to the back of the turret and with the gun facing aft a winch on the gin would lift and lower the blade. If the tank was needed for battle then either the blade could be pinned in the up position or if time allowed the whole thing could be unbolted. With the considerable resources of the dockyard exploited to the full the Mark 1 Malta Bulldozer Tank was hard at work lengthening Luka airfields runway early in the new year.
Long distance runs was an important part of early US Tank development. The Christie system, wheels and tracks, was important as the rubber road wheels didn't tear up surfaced roadways, same for the Knox designed rubber block track.Far more likely:
the Tanks they saw in the US were brought by tank transporter to a exercise field, where they demonstrated their cross country abilities and only moved for very short durations over roads. Then in the UK they drive the tanks to/from exercise fields and notice the difference between the US and UK tank in wear & tear on the roads (as the repair bills for roads are a lot smaller with them for some reason).
Christie suspension proponents like Barnes arguably made a huge mistake by not changing the track design and deleting the convertible system altogether. This would have saved up a lot of space, weight and cost and would have made the suspension far more attractive.Long distance runs was an important part of early US Tank development. The Christie system, wheels and tracks, was important as the rubber road wheels didn't tear up surfaced roadways, same for the Knox designed rubber block track.
Knox 'won' from
1. Not being a jackass
2. Being in the Army, not a private contractor
3. Longer life track than Christie's long pitch steel track
4. Most importantly, A better system. No time needed to pull the tracks on and off depending on the ground you were going over. Just keep driving.