Humber FV1600

[fv1620]

Might not seem very dramatic, but after being idle for well over 10 years it was nice to hear the B60 come to life. But this I believe is the only surviving FV1622 of 8 produced. I know the Test Troop Sgt who used this very vehicle 18 BK 91 in Cylcops Sqn 2 RTR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1aLZbHSsv8

There are few other Humber clips of mine there.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks Clive.
Surprising how much better the B60 sounds than the B40, gets a real note to it.
Must be terrific to have that historical contact.
Rich.

[fv1620]

Rich it can sound nice. Even one of those clips I put on youtube doesn't sound too bad running just of the first 3 cylinders!

On another forum someone asked my what a FV1622 actually was.

It may outwardly look like a normal GS but it is a Power Supply, Electrical & Pneumatic, Truck Mounted, Malkara, 1 Ton, Humber FV1622

It went into service in Jan 1963 with the Missile Test Troop, Cyclops Sqn 2 RTR. Here is that very same vehicle at Kandahar Barracks at about that time. I have just sent the clip to the Missile Test troop Sgt who used this very vehicle.



It has a governed engine & its most obvious feature was a compressor to run up the gyros when testing the Malkara ATGW centre bodies that were accommodated in the Test Equipment, Guided Missile, Trailer Mounted, Malkara, 1/2 Ton, 2W, Sankey FV2308R which was towed behind it.

I was told by the EME that the bottom line was in the event of a catastrophe with a Hornet engine then the FV1622 would have to be a donor.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Clive, I will be very dissapointed in you, if you do not have the trailer to match.
Can you tell me what the tyre pressure on the mudgaurd is?
Rich.

[fv1620]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Clive, I will be very dissapointed in you, if you do not have the trailer to match.

Richard, I'm very disappointed as well! Enquiries over the years have led me to believe these 8 trailers ended up at Jacksons of Bawtry. Here trailers were found with unknown electrical fittings which were ripped out so the trailers themselves could be sold. I imagine the trailers had done very little mileage & being prestige items would have been well maintained.

I was at War & Peace a few years ago & rather unusually found myself looking at a stall with mostly WW2 memrobelia. In a pile of old newspapers I found a mint copy of the full parts book for the FV2308(R). There can't have been many of those printed.

I have been in contact with the man who drove back this FV1622 from the Ruddington sales. It was selected as it stood out as a well maintained vehicle which was used very little. It was complete with compressor, alternator & all the fittings in the rear. Yes & you know what's coming, if you don't know what it is you rip it out & throw it away.

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Can you tell me what the tyre pressure on the mudgaurd is?
Rich.

I think that reads TP 36, which is about right. I only have the Servicing Schedules for Pig Mk 1 & Mk 2. But I have a SEME training publication of 1953 that gives the figures for the CT as

Road
Front 35
Rear 65

Cross Country
Front 14
Rear 45

However the Commer FV1601 book states

Road
Front 27
Rear 65

Cross Country
Front 25
Rear 45

All depends whether you have a Humber or a Commer I suppose

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks for the pressures Clive, could not find them in the User Manual. Makes a big difference in the Champ. Imagine it will do so on the Humber as well.
Rich.

[fv1620]

Rich yes its frustrating not having the pressures in the User Handbook. I suppose the Army like to keep that info separately in the Servicing Schedule along with POLs as these things may change from time to time & reprinting a publication of 2 or 3 pages can be done more easily. Although the Commer book being a civilian publication, has all the info together.

Here is a bit info on the FV1622 in service

http://hmvf.co.uk/pdf/MISSILE%20TESTING%20HUMBER.pdf