Aussie Sentinel tanks

[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

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Matt,

Oberon warming up yet after the winter chill???

The AC1 plate: number should be in the range 8001 to 8065 (but it sure does look like a '7', I agree!). The AC3 was 8066.

The Bellfield AC3 was built on one of the many AC3 hulls cast for the project, but never used. Most were scrapped. John recovered his from the Holsworthy Range where it had been used for anti-armour training. As a consequence, a whole lower side panel had to be replaced: no mean effort on a cast tank hull!

As a consequence (of the hull never actually having been built as a 'tank'), I'm not sure I would include it in the list of 'survivors'.

Mike C

[Ryan]

8072?? even though the 8 looks like a 3. Or is the 7 an upside down 4?...with a bit missing.

[matilda IIA]

Hi Guys

The plate is hard to read, (and I have the original photo)

It may read, AC1. No. 8072 or 3072
HULL No BKH48
AH.F. No 57
TLF&E. _ _ _ . MG, Unsure about this line.
_ K _. 70 Unsure about this also


The vehicle is south of sydney, if I am back that way I will take a better photo !

Hi Mike, Very cold and wet here at the moment, great weather to be in the shed working on a real tank.....

Kind regards
Matt

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by matilda IIA

working on a real tank.....
Matt

them fighting words...lol

[Luke R]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The Bellfield AC3 was built on one of the many AC3 hulls cast for the project, but never used. Most were scrapped. John recovered his from the Holsworthy Range where it had been used for anti-armour training. As a consequence, a whole lower side panel had to be replaced: no mean effort on a cast tank hull!

As a consequence (of the hull never actually having been built as a 'tank'), I'm not sure I would include it in the list of 'survivors'.

Mike C

I disagree Mike,
It would be one thing if John made a replica hull or modified the hull of a AC1 to look like the AC3, but it still was cast a AC3 hull during the 40's like every other AC hull.
Its like if i built a Spitfire out of NOS.
Is it a Spitfire? yes
Did it serve or have any history? no

Luke