Australian Lepoard Tanks

[Dinty]

G'day All, read all about it here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4831652.ece cheers Dennis

[Wayne Henderson]

Gee Ian, lighten up! Everyone knows that the minute a collector buys a tank some nutter with a gut full of whisky and a manic dislike of government property nicks it anyway. Owning a tank is just the same as owning a massive stinkboat or having a mistress, something that costs bucketloads of money and is used rarely, but oh the ride....
When I win lotto I'm gunna buy a tank, I've already got the whisky...

[Ian Pullen]

Yeah, sorry gentlemen. I suppose that was just venting.

A very good friend of both my wife & I has just passed. Given only two years to live five years ago she fought on. She said she wanted to hang on just to up the betting odds. Aparently no one apart from her, had anything more than three years on the sweep. (Hey, it was her idea, cleaned up too).........

There have been other things this week also including having to put my dog down. Seems I'll no longer have any one to blame my farts on after 18 years of having Boxers.

So gentlemen, I was just needing to vent. It's just been a week I'd rather forget.....

[Snowy]

Just saw this SMH article about the Leopard-in-your-cornflakes-box giveaways. There would be a lot of disappointed people over this:
http://news.smh.com.au/national/vete...1028-5aft.html

[Ian Pullen]

Gentlemen

I am trying to find a copy of the original proposal for the "gifted" tanks. This way I will be able to answer many questions over this fiasco. I had a copy somewhere & I will find it eventually

I seem to recall that it stated they were to be gutted completely of any and all internal fittings. So basically an empty hull.

Devoid of power packs, radiators, hydraulics etc.

All sights, vision blocks etc removed and welded over.

All external binning and ALL crew access (hatches) welded shut.

Am unsure but I think the turret was to be welded in position as was elevation of the barrel.

The complete external appearance of the vehicle was to be refurbished to new condition including tracks.

Barrels were to be cut at the chamber and breeches stripped of most of the components and then welded in position plus a cut in the breech ring.

I believe that there was also a covenant in the contract that the vehicle was never to be sold off and would have to be returned to the government when it was no longer required.

Upkeep was to be at the expense of the proprieter (not the government).

I am fairly sure that there was mention in the original draft of the expression of interest that transport costs were not to be at government expense.

As I cannot find a copy of the original expression of interest (yet) I will not put my hand on my heart and state that these terms are definite. I recall seeing these points written somewhere though.

I think I mentioned almost a month ago about having seen none of these so called gifts actually out there.

I have heard rumour of an overseas group of cashed up gentlemen who are waiting in the background wanting to buy the entire fleet if they were somehow to go to public sale.

[Ian Pullen]

Seems that the gutted hulls that are available for "Clubs and organisations" etc are also to have their tracks welded once in position and then the hull filled with concrete so as they are definately unable to be resurrected as anything resembling a runner.

Tis such a pity.........

I suppose that they would make an intersting letterbox in the front yard though.

[easo]

Well the Tanks have started hitting slabs of concert around the country. Not as bad as the fears led to believe. Power packs are fitted but rendered seized by removing all gaskets and oils, then run at full until seizure. The packs were refitted when the cost of making them asbestos safe for private sale was too much. Also without packs the tank would sit with its but too high up and un-level.

The breaches are welded up and firing needles and the breech block contacts removed. The barrel is plugged and the gun is cruched via the internal gun crutch.




The tank is delivered with gun at 6, the recipients take turns cranking it around and inspecting the tank prior to the hatches being welded shut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avw8AzVvSew

Blocks are welded into the tracks to prevent removal of the tank without authorization.



No concrete is poured into the Tanks and they are pretty well clean on the inside. I believe it should be up to each RSL to decide how to display there tanks. I know one RSL is trying to secure permission to have the hatches open with the ability for a glass module inside to allow visitors to drop in and see the inside but prevent them touching anything. They can't!



Regards Easo