Picture Of The Week - No 63 - SA-8 Gecko

Comment:  Took this picture back in 2011 at the Duxford Vehicle Day.  The vehicle in question in a Soviet SA-8 Gecko Anti-aircraft missile system.

Picture Of The Week - No 60 - M36 Tank Destroyer

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Comment:  A classic photo of an American M36 'Jackson' Tank Destroyer on its way to battle during the Battle Of The Bulge.
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Raining Humvees! Military vehicles plummet in failed US airdrop drill

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Comment:  Opppsssss, someone's in for a bollocking over that !
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Yorkshire Military Vehicle Trust - 2016 'Crank Up'

Here in the UK, the Yorkshire Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) had its annual 'Crank Up' event in the middle of York on Sun 17th April.  Different location this year, down by the river in the Castle Gardens.

The weather gods smiled upon on our gathering and although it was cold, we had sun for much of the day.  My truck developed a miss-fire on the way, but a change of condenser sorted the snag out (thankfully).

Here's a few pictures of the event. Including motorcyles there were 80+ vehicles there. 5 CCKWs made it along.  Standout vehicle for me (apart from the the CCKWs of course) was a Humber 'Pig' with its 4.2 litre Rolls-Royce engine - I'd love to own one.

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Great vehicle this Humber Pig.
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View of the 4.2 litres (petrol) engine.
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Good view of the RPG screens.
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Dodge.
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Replica of a US Fast Attack vehicle.  Looks a lot better than it sounds ! LOL
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Landrover
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Hillman staff car.
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Hillman staff car interior.
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My friend Chris and jeep with my godson Gareth.
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Morris quad tractor.
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Reo, CCKW and Dodge.
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Reo
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Dodge.
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CCKW 353.
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CCKW 353.
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Stalwart.
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CCKW 353.
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Cliffords Tower
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A geese family, there were several around hissing at us if we went too close ! :)
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33 keeps came along.
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Tank Chat - David Fletcher has returned to host the latest Tank Chat, on the Mark I tank.

The Museum's Mark I is the only surviving example of this, the first tank produced to go into battle.
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Picture Of The Week - No 56 - T72

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Comment:   Some years back I got to have a quick look round this T72.  Compared with NATO tanks the interior is horrible.
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Picture Of The Week - No 49 - ISU-152

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Comment:  A picture of the Duxford based WW2 Soviet ISU-152 owned by the (UK) Imperial War Musuem taken when I visited in 2006.  The armour on that gun mantle is impressively thick !
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Picture Of The Week - No 46 - Shermans

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Comment:  This weeks picture shows a couple of WW2 British Shermans.  The one on the left being a Firefly, the one of the right being armed with a 105mm.  Main points of interest in the picture are:
a)   Track extenders fitted to assist with mobility over soft ground, and
b)   All the extra track hanging off the vehicles for extra protection.

Yorkshire Wartime Experience - 2015

Went to the Yorkshire Wartime Experience on Saturday.  Took the truck over arriving around mid morning.  With over 450 vehicles on-site, 40 plus trade stands and the same number of re-enactment groups, there was lots to see :)
Here's a few photos from the day, and a some video footage (not all mine):
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My CCKW 352.
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I was fascinated to have a close look at an Opel Blitz, the German equivalent to my CCKW.
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More headroom in the back than in mine.
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Interesting twin spring arrangement.  Cable brakes though, not good !
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Myself and a genuine Marder III.
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This MACK truck is huge, and makes the CCKW look small.  They were used for towing large artillery pieces like the Long Tom.  This particular example was used by the British army post-war and had an engine conversion to a 12 litre diesel engine and power steering added.


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Military Vehicle Events - 'Crank Up' and 'Battlegroup North'

April and May have seen two military vehicle events in this part of the world.  Firstly there was the 'Crank Up' event staged by the Yorkshire Group of the Military Vehicle Trust which is when we all meet  up at Cliffords Tower in York for the first meet up of the year.  Fortunately the weather gods were reasonably kind to us, and it didn't rain.  Best turn-out ever with over 90 vehicles in attendance.
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It was after this event that I started with this strange noise from the trucks off-side front wheel.  Going to have the wheel off next month to investigate what it might be.  Ideas at the moment range from a stretched wheel nut, to a broken spring, it's very strange...

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On the 9/10th May I went along to a second event, this time at Elvington Airfield for the 'Battlegroup North' event.  A Sherman tank was along for the event, and I managed to get the truck and it together for a pic.
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I was helping crew a British 25pdr field gun, and did two shoots with it, myself in charge of the ammo box.
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Here's a pic below I took of the gun in action crewed by my old friend Chris Jenkins and his two sons, Graham and Gareth.
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CCKW truck in for a service

My CCKW due to its age is considered a historic vehicle by the DVLA and as such is exempt from requiring an annual MOT.  Owners self-authorise the road-worthiness of their vehicles.  From my point of view whilst it's a relief not to have to face the trauma of a MOT on such old vehicle I do want to be safe on the road.  To that end 2 years ago I put the truck in for a safety inspection (Link) and it's now time for another.  I'm using a specialist company called MV Depot who are based here in Yorkshire.  Adam Wright the owner is very experienced with CCKWs and having taken all the wheels off and inspected it all over, I'm following his recommendation and having the all the brake cylinders and hub seals renewed.  Here's a couple of pics from yesterday and today.

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Truck up on axle stands, all wheels off.
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Rear drum brakes exposed.
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Close up of the brake mechanism.  You can see where there has been a slight weep of brake fluid from the cylinder.
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Rear brake cylinders all removed and cleaned, waiting on new seals.
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