Interesting carrier conversion ??

[motto]

I don't know if this has any relevance Ron but the three replica Japanese tanks that were built for use in filming The Pacific TV series ended up being fitted with Marmon Herrington transmissions after the original set up using a Jaguar diff/rear axle turned out a failure.
I have no knowledge of where they were procured but was told that they had come from a batch of light tanks that were on their way to the Dutch East Indies when war broke out and the ship was redirected to Australia. For some reason these tanks were not put into service but broken up. I seem to remember being told that this was done by Ford in Geelong.
John Belfield seemed to be quite familiar with the story and it may well be that this is common knowledge amongst the armour enthusiasts but I'd never previously heard of it. It struck me as strange that these vehicles would have been broken up at such a desperate time. It also seems strange that there are any remnants still about.
I would be curious to know more. Corowa is almost here I might ask around.
David

[Jared Archibald]

G'day Motto, and everyone,

the armour historian at Puckapunyal, Major Paul Handel, has done research on these very interesting small tanks in Australia and wrote an article about them. It even has a number of photos. See link below:-

http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Arm...ingtinph_1.htm

I have heard a number of times that there are NOS transmissions and final drives extant in Victoria, and the ones used in the replica Japanese tanks could have came from the same source.

Looking at the images, I would not like to have been going to battle in one. Something bigger, heavier and faster would be preferable.

Jared

[Jared Archibald]

Whoops!, I'll take back one of my statements in the last post.

I didn't re-read the article before posting:- 30mph is fast for any early armour,

Jared

[ron]

Hi Jared & Motto,
John Belfield was here a few months back and I showed him the Marmon Herrington parts that I have, and he said the ones used in the movie that was made here were not the same as the two man type that I have, I dont know what they were but they are not the same, he said that these were the first of there type that he had seen,and according to the son of the man who built the conversion,he was told by his father and uncle that they were from a two man tank that came back from
the Dutch east indies, Regards Ron