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Old 25-02-13, 18:54
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
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Thanks, Des, an interesting link.

The MH tanks that were delivered to Australia totaled something like 138 - can't remember the exact figure, would need to go and look it up. They were mostly CTLS4, both left and right turret versions, plus at least one turretless 'tug' version, unless this was converted in Australia in an effort to find a useful purpose for the type. The turretless tank is visible in images taken at the DAFVP workshop in Salmon Street, Port Melbourne.

The MH tanks were delivered either as diverted 'refugee' cargo (ie already on the water, ship diverted to Australia) or from cargoes awaiting shipping space in the US, sent direct to Australia after/during the Japanese advance south.

They were issued for only a short time to Australian units before being withdrawn and broken up - at least the bulk of them ended in this way. Apparently at least one 'escaped' this fate, as per Ron's posts on the subject.

Mike C
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