Army Surplus.

Not much use here I'm afraid as I can't find the source but I'm sure I read somewhere about the modern french army using WW2 dated field guns.

Perhaps 105's or maybe even 88's.

Does that ring a bell to anyone?

 

In Mozambique in the late 1970s the Rhodesians came up against T-34 tanks, they were countered with 25pdr WWII vintage guns as well as the 90mm Guns on the RhACR Eland (Panhard) Armoured cars - still scary when one rumbles!

 

I believe that this essential headgear has been in use since 1815

The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is 18 inches tall, weighs 1.5 pounds, is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.


There are some who protest this tradition!

 

I acquired my own deactivated Sten in 1972. There were hundreds still kicking around at that time. Mine happened to be in the armoury of the closed Bomarc missile site.

 

I saw an Afghan fighter with a Lee Enfield SMLE No.1 MKIII on the nightly news last night.

 

The M60 is an amalgam of several designs, but mainly a rework of the German MG45 which was in the development stage when the war ended.

Regards
TonyE

Hello Tony,

I going to have to agree with 'FormerJugHead', the M60 used a gas recoil operating system, That's a pretty major difference, no?

Dave

 

I believe that this essential headgear has been in use since 1815

The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is 18 inches tall, weighs 1.5 pounds, is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.

View attachment 39354
There are some who protest this tradition!

I wonder when the last bearskin was made? with the shrinkage in British army manpower surely there must be a surplus of them already in existence. I can't think that they wear out very quickly.

 

I saw a student yesterday wearing a 2nd Lt. Red Tunic of the Irish Guards.

 

In Mozambique in the late 1970s the Rhodesians came up against T-34 tanks, they were countered with 25pdr WWII vintage guns as well as the 90mm Guns on the RhACR Eland (Panhard) Armoured cars - still scary when one rumbles!

We're still using the Panhard AML 90 in Ireland and you're right they make a great rumble.In Lebanon in the 80's,it was the biggest mounted gun around in UNIFIL, The Israeli's de facto forces,the SLA,were still using Sherman's with 75mm guns and when they saw a"90" coming,they backed off pretty quick.They are a good piece of kit and have been upgraded with laser sights,so I think we'll be using them for a long while to come.

 

Enjoy

 

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View attachment 39368

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View attachment 40473

 

Thanks,great photo's.Had a cousin who served in the RLI in the 70's,cheers Alan.

 

Excellent photographs.

Especially this one.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/weapons-technology-equipment/39368d1288179042t-army-surplus-3dakformationtrainingdr-jpg


Regards
Tom

 

I believe that one of the people jumping had done his first combat jump at Arnhem years later he was a Warrent Officer with CSqn Rhodesian SAS and still jumping out of the same type of aircraft!

 

During Op Grapple in 92/93 I became un-wittingly caught in the cross fire between Serb and Croat forces near Tomislavsgrad. The Croats had a T55 towing a T34 that had broken down, the T34 was firing over its engine deck as they were retreating, unfortunately my camera was confiscated by the Croats who seemed rather touchy so lost the pics.
We had to hand back to Serbia a M32 Sherman recovery vehicle that had broken down when they left Kosovo in 1999 (Its tracks were squealing as it was towed by one of our CRARRV's at probably the fastest speed it had ever gone)

I had a LMG (modified Bren) until 1992 as my personal weapon
The RE Troops G10 Stores had lots of engineer hand tools dated from WW2 period some still in the grease paper.
The 4C mine detector (updated Mk4 from WW2) was retired in the 90s.

 

When we talk of weapons longevity we look at the glamorous stuff and forget that the good old 2 inch mortar (Now the Royal Ordnance 51mm) has been around since the early 1930s. Not a glam bit of kit but boy it has got many a unit out of trouble.

 

The Welrod pistol was still in operational use with "Them" during Desert Storm in 1991. Could well be still even now.

 

I'm looking for 20mm Oerlikon, 40mm Bofors or 6-inch Vickers Mk VII dummy ammo. Better yet, we'd love to get the original weapons if they're still available.