GliderRecon Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 The area where I live (Southern UK) is dotted with the sites of Iron Age, Roman and Saxon settlements, so I tend to keep my eyes peeled while walking footpaths. Yesterday evening I spotted an interesting bit of iron poking out of the ground, and levering it out, discovered the object pictured here: http://img831.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=tracklink02.jpg I wonder, could this be a track link from a Universal Carrier? The size seems right (width: 9.5 inches). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gautrek Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 Brilliant find mate. I just find fossils when dig about. Apart from a few years ago when we were up a mountain in Wales where a few planes had crashed over the years.I saw something sticking up out of some water and waded in to see what it was.Its turned out to be a bomb of some sort of something like a mortar or that sort of size. I stupidly dropped it and the ran away.It was only after wards that it thought why did i drop it? We ended up taking it down the police station and they got the bomb disposal dudes to sort it 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 19, 2010 Share Posted July 19, 2010 At that width it's certainly too small to be American, like from a half-track or Stewart. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Should it turn out to be a track from a Bren Gun Carrier the question on everbody's lips will be.....would it be the model that also came with its own tripod? Regards KR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 That would be the Carrier, Bren, No 2 Mk I or II 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GliderRecon Posted July 20, 2010 Author Share Posted July 20, 2010 Thanks chaps. If the object is indeed a Carrier track link, I'm guessing (with the aid of some cursory Google-research) that's it the by-product of a track tightening session. It seems the Carrier's brake/warp steering system took its toll on track tension/condition and periodically crews would remove a link to keep everything taut. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Of course it could also be from something more prosaic. Like a piece of agricultural or construction machinery. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Of course it could also be from something more prosaic. Like a piece of agricultural or construction machinery. Or from the several models of light tanks that the Brits produced between the wars and probably continued to use for training well into the war years. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 Or from the several models of light tanks that the Brits produced between the wars and probably continued to use for training well into the war years. Michael Bingo Light Tank Mk VI.....track width 9.5 inches. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 20, 2010 Share Posted July 20, 2010 So, a genuine military collectable that GR can mount on his mantlepiece. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 So, a genuine military collectable that GR can mount on his mantlepiece. What a shame the rest of the tank isn't attached. (although it'd be a bugger to hang the entire AFV from the mantlepiece) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I'm sure you'd find a way, Macie. You're persistent. Like certain itchy skin rashes, for instance. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GliderRecon Posted July 21, 2010 Author Share Posted July 21, 2010 >>Bingo Light Tank Mk VI.....track width 9.5 inches. That's a lovely thought and not beyond the realms of possibility. Tidworth is about 15 miles up the road and there were definitely Mk VIs based there before and during the war: http://www.qdg.org.uk/pages/Armament-59.php When the Historic Military Vehicles Forum (http://www.hmvf.co.uk/) finally get around to approving my registration I may get a definitive verdict. A couple of the regulars look to be Carrier owners. >>What a shame the rest of the tank isn't attached. This weekend I'm heading back to the spot with a trowel and a can of petrol. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 This weekend I'm heading back to the spot with a trowel and a can of petrol. Petrol? You planning to drive away anything you find? :D:D Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Probably easier to drive away a light tank than carry it...... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Nope. That's why they call them LIGHT tanks. They're man-portable. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I look forward to you giving us a demo of that 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I think if I carry the track link for you it serves as proof of concept. Engineering is easily scaled up. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelly Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 depending on where you found it might give you a clue . most of the south coast from the new forest down to south devon and cornwall was dedicated build up area for the normandy invasion .you might be able to find out which divisions or even regiments were in that area in 1944. alternatively send an email to duxford or bovinton .good luck . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 And well before the D-Day build up, before the war even, there were areas that were set up as training grounds for armour and where large scale exercises also took place. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalins Organ Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I think if I carry the track link for you it serves as proof of concept. Engineering is easily scaled up. If the scaling up works you probably need to loose some weight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.