THE MINING RIGS
Not long after the sale of the Centurions to Empire Trading, some were converted to mining rigs.
Stripped of their engine and transmission covers and the turret was also removed. There are a few varied reports of how many were converted, two, three and a dozen. I can only find evidence of 2 so my thinking is maybe only two were converted. These two were converted at Dubbo NSW and the two turrets sold to The Dubbo Military Museum.
The turret with an A barrel
at Dubbo Museum
The Converted Centurion--note the dish front idler wheel
This appears to be the complete rig still showing the spoke type front idler wheel were there three, or is this the same as the one above
Then this week I received a request from Roy Wight a Canadian working in the Congo
Roy explained he was a workshop manager and had been given a mining rig to repair, his company having purchased it from Indonesia. Roy was looking for information on the gear change / gearbox. I could not understand a chap with his position being confused at working out the gear change setup and so sent him some diagrams and also posted him a Workshop manual on a CD. Roy then sent the photos below and explained his trouble in a little more detail.
The drivers position has been changed and a new one added forward and above the old position but Roy's email details it so I will include it here
We bought this unit in Indonesia – it is now in my workshop in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. I’ve included some pictures, but unfortunately there are no number plates.
It no longer has an upper hull – just cover plates. The area where the turret sat is now the engine compartment, with a 300 kw diesel and a 10 speed gearbox installed, still driving through the original gearbox & final drives via a driveshaft. It should be an interesting experience to drive the beast – once I get the incorrect clutch problem sorted out. I should have 20 reverse gears and 50 forward if the 2 gearboxes work together the way I think they will. I believe I will disconnect the High reverse and both 4th & 5th gears in the Merrit Brown box.
The drill rig just sits on the carrier and looks somewhat like the top picture you sent me, but our driver’s station has been re-located high and further forward. So no protection at all if the operator looses it on a hill!
Hell! 20 reverse gears----50 forward gears, imagine driving it ---how the hell would you know where you were in gear selections -- what a beast -- hope to hear more of it when its up and running
I now understand his question on gear selection troubles
The drilling rig removed --Good set up--- drive the tank under it--- drop it down and drive off
I was looking through some old copies of "Centurion" the newsletter of the 1st Armoured Regiment Association and came across these articles on 169017, that is now Holding Ground at Palmerston, Darwin and the sale of the Centurions.
169017 being loaded for its trip to Darwin
"CENTURION"
A couple more items taken from The Centurion Newsletter of bygone days
The items below were supplied by Mike Cecil, who at that time was Curator of Military Technology, Australian War Memorial
169042
169042 had a seized motor and sat at Moliagul for many years but has now been moved to Sth. Australia where it will in time be restored and have a new motor fitted
169069
This Centurion also sat here for many years but it was a runner and has now been moved outside of town to the owners property
This tank was crewed in Vietnam with 2 Lt. Mick Butler as the Crew Commander and John (Rusty) Dyson as the driver
My thanks to Mike Cecil for this and all his past help.
The Remaining Cents
Below are the few remaining Centurions still for sale
169061
169070
169095 This is Bullwinkle a
well known tank
169105
169127
The Hong Kong tank is still there as is 169074 the stripped Cent without a turret -a hull only job now.
None of these tanks went to Vietnam with the exception of 169074 so it looks like all the Veterans have now gone
ABRAMS DAY
The 1st Armoured Regiment Association held an open day to view the Abrams Battle Tanks
This day was only open to members. It was held at the Puckapunyal Tank Museum, and we were given access to climb all over and into a Abrams Gun Tank and also a Hercules M88A2 ARV. The only restrictions were no photos inside the tanks, otherwise it was all there to see
We moved into the tank hangers passed a heap of Leopards and inside was an Abrams gun tank and an ARV, complete with walk up steps. Beside the right wall were five more gun tanks.
We climbed aboard and my first impression was --- small--- inside! I went to the ARV first as the gun tank was covered with people. You had to enter from the side hatch and crawl around to your position---and that was more or less where you stayed. Access through the top cupola and hatches would be a bit better I imagine. Every thing was white and clean, looked great.
The Hercules M88A1 -- note
the old men steps, boy were they needed
Rear view of the Hercules
M88A1
The right headlight
assembly---everything looks like its meant to stay
The front winch note the two
hatches above
The hangers looked over size
but all the Leopards are now outside and only about seven Abrams were inside
They sure have a nice emblem
Across on the Gun Tank it
was all go -- a steady stream of people into the drivers seat and the turret --
everyone seemed to feel it was cramped
The operators hatch -- note
the lock down device and the 360 swing on the scope
The operators machine gun
mount -- note slide at the bottom
The drivers compartment the
steering yoke is pulled right out - it just slides in and out as required --Gear
change is an auto selector on the front of the hatch No double the clutch or
stick change on these beauties -- but where has all the fun gone!
The drivers position!
The drivers hatch just swings aside
I have the opinion that unless the gun is pointing at 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock the driver cannot exit the tank --I would not feel all that comfortable in there
As these are all shot on my digital camera I was able to upload them today, I have some more on my 35mm which I will have developed tomorrow and may add a couple more !
Some more on the Abrams
&
Note the difference in the pads fitted to
the Hercules ARV. I would imagine it gives extra traction.
"Stalemate" -- covered in mud from the range
I wonder if the ration pack is any better
than "Bully Beef and Dog Biscuit's" of my days?
All these items will be fitted to the Abrams with a big cost saving -- The laser gun sights are also being converted, another very big saving
There are a lot of people that never manage a trip to the Tank Museum, so I will include a few shots from the museum, but if you can come down , do so as its a great display and these photos are only a tip of what is there!
This was the M13A1 brought from John
Belfield's Museum - She took a mine hit in Vietnam, note the missing road wheel
An engine compartment on a M13A1
You could spend many hours in the Museum - I have been there about twenty times and never get sick of it, always something new and rearranged a credit to the Museum Staff.
Now back to the Abrams
Fully opened up for our inspection
These are neatly parked
I believe all the driving is done closed down--they are really taking all the fun out of it
The drivers hatch -- it slides sideways, the round pivot point on the left of the housing
Entering through the operators hatch - note the 360 degree
scope - and the operators machine gun mount on the right
They said we could climb all over it and we did!
The road wheels do not appear to have much
rubber on them but then they are running on rubber pads
Note how the tracks are driven by the final drive sprocket
That is a BIG bore
In all its a big gun, was told that when its laid on the
target--- the target is history
The rear end, no you do not get cooked there but its quite
warm when they fired her up, and I decided to stay about 15 -20 feet away.
Sounded a lot different to the old Centurion and I am sure the old squeak and
groan from the Cent tracks will be missing -- pity.
The left hand rear
The right hand rear
My thanks to the Museum and the 1st Armoured Regiment Association and all the people that assisted in making this day available. I know it was appreciated by everyone that attended.
