Grand-daughter joining Rock Ape Reserve.
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one eventually left to go onto armour when the Regiment got Scorpions.
https://www.rafregimentheritagecentr...v101-scorpion/
In November 1981, the RAF Regiment took delivery of its first of 184 Scorpions and other variants of CVR(T).
All the CVR(T) vehicles were to be air-portable and two Scorpions could be carried in a C-130 Hercules. Another requirement of the CVR(T) project was the low ground pressure – similar to that of a soldier on foot – and this would serve it well in boggy conditions.
All the CVR(T) vehicles were to be air-portable and two Scorpions could be carried in a C-130 Hercules. Another requirement of the CVR(T) project was the low ground pressure – similar to that of a soldier on foot – and this would serve it well in boggy conditions.
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Re #38
Remember Aden ? The Northumberland Fusiliers needed artillery; the boy with the armored car needed permission from on high before he could shoot:it never came and a lot of Fusiliers died, needlessly. IF a weapon may be authorized then you want it on site and present an officer with authority to say,"Shoot."
Remember Aden ? The Northumberland Fusiliers needed artillery; the boy with the armored car needed permission from on high before he could shoot:it never came and a lot of Fusiliers died, needlessly. IF a weapon may be authorized then you want it on site and present an officer with authority to say,"Shoot."
LB, Very best to your G´daughter, she sounds like she will enjoy and make the most of being a Rock and make lifelong friends.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
In November 1981, the RAF Regiment took delivery of its first of 184 Scorpions and other variants of CVR(T).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat...cked)#Scorpion
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One 'fine' late evening in the early 80's saw me on Soltau Trg Area doing a minefield recce with the Sqn OC in a 'borrowed' CVRT... 'He' decided it would be a really, really good idea to take a short cut across a nice German bog... Cue minor disagreement settled in the traditional manner sans rolled map case enthusiastically wacked across the crewmen's bone-dome I was wearing with the promise he would upgrade to the pick helve if I didn't do a left turn NOW and get on with it....
Cue one left turn and off we went... splosh and all that. To be honest we were doing well, the Sparton took to the task like it was made for it...
Of course, as always when these things are going to plan hrh EmporerMong (PBUH) is sat in the back planning and scheming... He managed to get the boss to change his mind and demand (more usage of a rolled up map case was involved mind) a 'right turn' and head for this other track.... (I may have mentioned something like this might not be a good idea as we will probably throw a track... or words to that effect) however EM's (PBUH) plan rapidly came to fruition with bells as we managed to throw not one, but BOTH tracks.... And, to just make our day we began to take in water as it became pretty obvious the regular driver of the vehicle hadn't replaced the engine oil drain hatch thing and water was now coming in..... and in.... and in.....Yes, it was sinking!
Now, there are major advantages of being in a RE Field Sqn over one of those Rock Ape ones, and that's having the odd CET (that's a Combat Engineer Tractor btw) complete with a 'rocket powered recovery anchor thing... lying around. The boss got on the Sqn net and got one sent over. To be fair, he did try and be pretty nonchalant about it and tried not to attract attention to the matter in hand, but as always it failed and within the hour we really did feel like Custer with the Indians all lined up on the horizon as the rest of the Sqn lined up on the track we were headed for complete with the compo equivalent of popcorn and ready for the nights entertainment...
Now, we retreated into the vehicle and the rocket powered recovery anchor thing was fired over us (and they even remembered to attach the winch rope this time which was a first as the normal procedure was to fire the anchor, followed by 15 mins looking for the anchor before attaching and re-firing...) The boss, having admitted that ex MT Cpls who had commissioned still came into the 'don't give an officer a map' rule and did the right thing by going to get the wire rope and attaching it to the front recovery eye that was now under water, much splashing and non-gentlemanly language later, and we were finally pulled out... As far as I know, the two tracks are still there....
So, do they work well in boggy ground? kind of... But:
1. Don't let the guy sat in the top hatch navigate.... Giving him the map's okay, even give him some wax crayons to make wriggly lines on it, but give directions???
2. Put the **** hull plates back in following an oil change....
3. Stay on concrete, dry concrete...
4. Quick gear changes (down) always wakes up the guy sat in the top hatch when you can hear snoring coming over the intercom....
Oh and good luck to her... I'm sure she will enjoy her time in the Sqn and do well.
We used to airdrop said Scorpion from the RAF C130K. Tracked Rapier came courtesy of the demise of the Shah. Although designed to go in the C130 the tracked Rapier was a tight fit.
Of course, as always when these things are going to plan hrh EmporerMong (PBUH) is sat in the back planning and scheming... He managed to get the boss to change his mind and demand (more usage of a rolled up map case was involved mind) a 'right turn' and head for this other track.... (I may have mentioned something like this might not be a good idea as we will probably throw a track... or words to that effect) however EM's (PBUH) plan rapidly came to fruition with bells as we managed to throw not one, but BOTH tracks.... And, to just make our day we began to take in water as it became pretty obvious the regular driver of the vehicle hadn't replaced the engine oil drain hatch thing and water was now coming in..... and in.... and in.....Yes, it was sinking!
https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/th...cements.72507/
Good luck to her for the future.
Last edited by air pig; 16th Jun 2021 at 11:26.
Although designed to go in the C130 the tracked Rapier was a tight fit.
Thread Starter
Back on thread, said grand daughter has done lots of weekends at Honington and "has now done all the boring bits".
Next stage is a fortnight at RAF Halton in March she says.
Bit of a contrast with the day job: supply chain manager, but that was the whole idea.
Next stage is a fortnight at RAF Halton in March she says.
Bit of a contrast with the day job: supply chain manager, but that was the whole idea.
Thread Starter
(My great aunt used to live in Tring right opposite the museum; does the 'Crow's Nest' still operate?)
How about EFI-guarding SOPs....?
Thread Starter
I will ask but she is skiing in the Alps at the moment. Alright for some.
Thread Starter
Many years ago, did (I think) two weeks at Oberammergau - half a day of 'how to dig a snow hole' and the rest of the days on skis... great fun, and got paid (LAC rates)!