FAT Fast 17 pounder recovery

[rob love]

There is supposed to be the remnants of an old 25 pdr limber in the cambrian yard. But by what I have read the limber did not go with the 17 pdr.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Excellent find guys! I am sure it will look excellent behind the FA(S)T.

Attached is a pic taken in Antwerp, Belgium. source: National Archives Canada 40843
I have also seen a number of pics of 17pdr's being towed by Morris Quads, both the beetle back as well as the the later type.

There is supposed to be the remnants of an old 25 pdr limber in the cambrian yard. But by what I have read the limber did not go with the 17 pdr.

Haven't seen pics of Quads, 17pdr's combined with Limber (yet), but Crusader Gun Tractors did sometimes use the Limber combined with 17pdr gun. Anyone know what the ammo storage looked like?



source: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...er+Gun+Tractor


Also in this Pathe movie: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=53625

Alex

[rob love]

I read on a site somewhere that the limbers were towed empty just to make use of the braking system. Did the limbers have a surge brake?

Does 17pdr ammo even fit in a 25 pdr limber?

[kevinT]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Anyone know what the ammo storage looked like?


Alex

I have heard rumours of conversion kits to take the 17 pdr ammunition in some form but yet to see evidence. But that does not mean it is not true.

Cheers
Kevin

[rnixartillery]

I have just taken some pictures in my armoury to show the difference in length between the No 27 limber trays carrying 25 pdr ammunition and the fixed 17 pdr rounds the shortest in length being the APC round,this clearly shows that the 17 pdr rounds are too long to fit the limber box.The only possible way to store 17 pdr ammunition would be to widen the limber box by altering the blast wall and I very much doubt that would happen.


Rob..................rnixartillery.

[kevinT]

Rob,

I have not said that the trays themselves were used, as you say and show the 17 pdr rounds are too long. But I am sure I have read somewhere that there were conversion kits for the limbers to take the 17 pdr rounds. Perhaps the central dividing panel was removed and some rounds were stored lengthways as opposed to end on. This question about the limbers has been banded around for sometime. Upto yet it has not been confirmed either way that they were used to carry 17 pdr rounds or just used to carry stores and extra kit.
Great photos by the way.

Cheers
Kevin

[Rob Fast]

The gun is missing the barrel,breech ring, the guts of the gun are long gone, you take them the way you find them. I had to purchase a Leopard tank barrel as part of the deal, so I have something to fake it with. So the search is on for an orginal barrel/breech/muzzel brake etc....!
Just getting into the rust and seized bearings etc... all stamped "Made in England", I realized I am getting into BSF tap and dies." Shit" would be the right Canadian term to use here.

There is a great shot of a Canadian 17 pounder knocking out a water tower in the Canadian News Reels DVD, episode Road to the Reich, Newsreel 44.

Anyone have a Canadian source for BSF 1"-10 castle nuts, both axle nuts were gone and I was lucky to get it up on the trailer.

Cheers , Rob

[rnixartillery]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

The gun is missing the barrel,breech ring, the guts of the gun are long gone, you take them the way you find them. I had to purchase a Leopard tank barrel as part of the deal, so I have something to fake it with. So the search is on for an orginal barrel/breech/muzzel brake etc....!
Just getting into the rust and seized bearings etc... all stamped "Made in England", I realized I am getting into BSF tap and dies." Shit" would be the right Canadian term to use here.

There is a great shot of a Canadian 17 pounder knocking out a water tower in the Canadian News Reels DVD, episode Road to the Reich, Newsreel 44.

Anyone have a Canadian source for BSF 1"-10 castle nuts, both axle nuts were gone and I was lucky to get it up on the trailer.

Cheers , Rob

Rob,' Shit ' is one word for it but I can think of a few more ! I may have a couple of hub nuts knocking around somewhere if it helps.

Rob.................rnixartillery.

[Rob Fast]

just to let you know that the stuff is still out there. A 17 pdr. round, but still trying to identify the tracer round that was sold to me as such M62A1...NIce to have the shell. A couple of siege lamps today 1943 marked, and some RCAF items, an 1154 radio, and a service dress WAG tunic. Cheers Rob

[tankbarrell]

Surely it is an M62A1 APC projectile? It's for the 76mm M1 gun and the 3" M7 gun as used in Sherman, Hellcat and M10 respectively. I saw that on Facebook and told him I would have jumped at it had it been this side of the world!

[Rob Fast]

Adrian, a good trader for a 17 pdr. projectile.

[tankbarrell]

Definitely!

[Rob Fast]

Looking for input on this drawing. What it is the round bucket/funnel left side. Axe/staves/bill hook...????? Cheers Rob

[tankbarrell]

Jack and handle.