The Pucka BARV
Hi Chris,
The Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (Aust) No.1 Mk.1 at the Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, is based on an M3A5 Grant tank. The example, built around 1950, was the only one converted, and Mild Steel was used, as it was intended only as a training vehicle. It was used by the RAEME Training Centre at Bandiana, Victoria. Upon its 'retirement' from duty in the early 1970s, it was transferred to the Army Tank Museum.
The design was based upon the British M4 Sherman-based BARV.
As the Australian version wasn't actually 'armoured', it is a stretch to call it a BARV, but that was its designation. I suppose if 'push came to shove' (no pun intended), then any built to the Aust design for use in a combat situation would have been made from armour (but none were....).
Mike
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