Aussie Sentinel tanks

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Ryan,

I think AC1 went to the Jacques Littlefield collection in California.

Thanks Rich, I thought so.

Luke, you and me will just have to uncover some more with some thorough digging.

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Thanks Rich, I thought so.

Luke, you and me will just have to uncover some more with some thorough digging.

Well how many do we know still exist?

AC1 at pucka
AC1 at Bovington
AC1 at Littlefields ex John Belfield
E1 hull still with John Belfield

AC3 ex John Belfield did it go to the AWM?

Is there any other well known sentinels?

That still leaves over sixty unaccounted for.
The hunt is on.

Luke

[Ryan]

Have a look here luke, I've already started the hunt:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=11517


Maybe a mod needs to merg these threads now.

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Maybe a mod needs to merg these threads now.

Good idea.

[Mike Cecil]

Gents,

The AC3 at the AWM is the original and ONLY wartime AC3 produced: John's was cobbled together several years ago from a few original parts (and lots of other bits and bobs).

The original and only AC3 was gifted to the RAACA Association (NSW Branch) by the then-Director of Armour in the early 1960s and mounted on a plinth on a small hill overlooking Canberra near Duntroon (can't remember the hills name). When that area was redevloped, it was transferred to the AWM, where it stayed on outside display for some years until moved to the Mitchell storage annex. Here it was carefully opened (it had been welded shut in the early 1960s) to reveal very intact and nearly complete internals. It is equipped with a Perrier-Cadillac triple V8.

The most original and complete AC1 is that at the RAC Tank Museum at Bovington.

Mike C

[Ryan]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the info. We should tell the poms to give us our AC1 back then.
Hopefully the AC3 at the AWM will be on display one day. That Perrier-Cadillac triple V8 would be lovely to see.
As in regards to the x-Belfield AC3, do we have any details on it? It looked to be an original hull. Was the turret original? From memory I don't think it had an engine. And I don't think the gun was original. Still, I like to think of it as an AC3.
Ryan

[JackM]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The original and only AC3 was gifted to the RAACA Association (NSW Branch) by the then-Director of Armour in the early 1960s and mounted on a plinth on a small hill overlooking Canberra near Duntroon (can't remember the hills name).

Mike C

Mike,

Mt Pleasant - as you say, it's on the Duntroon perimeter. I remember seeing it there, when I was at RMC in the early 80s.

Jack

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Jack: of course .....Mt Pleasant! Fancy me forgetting that : now the site of the National RAA Memorial, me thinks.

Mike C

[rmgill]

Hey lads, Coldsteel over at Tank-net says:

The Serial number is usually stamped into each of the three major armour castings. On the top of the Axel Housing at the centre just forward of the join to the hull. On the left hand side of the hull just above the hull-gunner's view port. On the left hand side of the turret just above the armoured cover for the spotlight power lead penetration. It's likely to be of the form:

A.C.I. NO. 8030.
HULL. NO. B.K.H. 38.
A.H. NO. B.K.A.H. 31.
TURRET. NO. B.K.T 35.

The ex-Belfield AC1 no in the US at the MVTF probably has a mismatched turret and the only photos online aren't clear enough to be sure but there appear to be markings on the hull and turret with the hull possibly reading:

ACI 800#
NOT AHT TURRET

Which might indicate it was fitted with a turret that was suitable for training only. The armour of the first dozen or so tanks didn't go through the full heat treatment process. Although it is very faint and might be something else.

[Ryan]

Reading Peter Beale's book 'Fallen Sentinel', which is about Australian tanks during WW2. It is stated during the May 1943 review of Australian production that, ' in regards to the AC3, 200 were on order, 146 hulls and 106 turrets had been cast'.

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Ryan,

I doubt the one Matt posted is the same one i know of/know the guy who has one. So, add another to your list in NSW! As to what type it is, i am not sure, nor have i seen the guy again since first posting- but am sure to run into him one day!

Cheers,
Ian.

[ron]

I asked this question some time ago but it seems it was to minor to answer

[matilda IIA]

Actualy they are just near the drivers perescope !
, Pitty to see that ARV standing in the weather, it was a bloody good vehicle....I guess sometimes you can have to much money.
Kind regards

[Mike Cecil]

Is that the ex-JB 'AC3' and Cent ARV in that image??

That is, I seem to remember, 169111: ex-SVN, had a really good history. Not nice to see it 'weathering'.....

Matt: I thought the AC tanks had the hull number stamped on the left side of the hull, on the vertical face of that little 'hump' in the hull adjacent to the drivers/hull gunners positions. Hull number = registration number, with tank type/mark as well, such as 'AC1 8042', or similar.

Mike C