[Martin Kelly]

I know a little bit about this, mainly from some of the Aussie tank boffins that meet up via World of Tanks (online tank game) and a chat with Dave and Ahmed a *loooooong* time ago, when the Fishermen's bend Heritage Group was still going.

It was an effort to create a light tank from Local Pattern carriers, which we manufactured. It was also known as "Chassis 160" which referred to the particular chassis it was built on.

The cylindrical turret on the tank is just a test turret, the vehicle was supposed to have the turret ring enlargened to take the Rhino armour car turret. Seems we had a thing for the Valentine type turrets (if you look at the Rhino and Sentinel), not realising that their polygonal shape became a shot trap that blew the turrets off! Like the sentinel, they had envisioned it to take the 25 pounder as they knew the 2 pounder it was originally going to be armed with was being outclassed.

The Carrier chassis was lengthened (like it was for the local pattern 2 pounder). It had a new suspension design (based on a Watt's linkage principle) and upper chassis.

FHBG guys said it's first test had problems with steering, which I think was confirmed with the info sign that used to be on it at Belfields.

Hpoe this helps - I don't know much about it, it's a bloody mystery. if anyone does know any more, post away.

- Marty

PS - No one seems to know where it went after the Belfield collection was sold off... so it's a true mystery.