AKA Cambridge carrier

[Jon Bradshaw]

See here on the front the old wading skirt and the low mount headlights.

[David Herbert]

Sorry Jon, I should have been clearer. There would have been a 'P1' of each of the variants that were actually built.

The P for Prototype and W for troop trial vehicles system got a bit mixed up with the FV430 series because one of the W numbered vehicles became modified to full series production standard (and is shown in the user manual) It retained its Army Registration number but was completely brought up to production standard which involved considerable work. Similarly another W numbered one became the prototype Green Archer radar vehicle, again retaining its Army Registration and recieving a total rebuild.

Going back to your Cambridge, as I understand it all variants were intended to be fitted with a wading screen as swimming was regarded as extremely desirable at that time. The lower headlight location should not I think be looked on as a mod, but as the production standard once the wading screen became part of the design. I think that it was not fitted to JXW32 simply because they hadn't designed it yet and were more interested in hull layout and automotive issues.

The key is to find the hull number or Army Registration number of yours. As I wrote before, FV430 series have a hull number stamped into a tiny plate about 30 x 25mm welded to the rear of the vehicle. Failing that another common place is stamped into the sloping front (glassis) plate, often near the lower edge in the middle. There must be one somewhere so they could keep track of which hull was which in the factory.

I think that this will be a fascinating project and that you will find it great to play with when it is done. Please show us lots of photos.

David

[maple_leaf_eh]

While suffering with a head cold and not having much physical energy, I was trying to surf to the end of the internet through Facebook, and found the following images from a group dedicated to Rhodesian and South African vehicles. I was initially tempted to label these as a Cambridge, but closer checks of the images already posted here, see differently.

So, for the sake of eliminating possibilities, what is this vehicle?

[David Herbert]

Certainly not British though it is based on Universal carrier track and suspension components. I suspect that it has a relatively standard truck axle in which case they would have had great difficulties steering it.
I think it is probably a South African prototype intended to be a sort of enlarged universal carrier.

The tie bar linking the front and rear bogies is an odd detail. It was presumably intended to reduce pitching but would have had the oposite effect, a really bad idea !

David

[Jon Bradshaw]

So the Cambridge has been researched and I have looked at the options for what to do with it.

For the power pack I have pulled and sold the old B80 and the transmission. The new engine will be a non turbo charged V8 diesel engine from an MLVW (Canadian 2 1/2 ton troop lift truck. This should give more than enough power and will make for a very solid old engine with plenty of power. The transmission is an automatic.
After opening up the final drive casing there is no 5 speed built in, it was simply linked back under the grime to the transmission. The final drive still had a good coating of oil on the gears so still functions very well. The advantage of the forward and reverse lever on the final drive is that the engine rotation is not an issue. Just reversing the lever sorts that problem out.

The strange radiator is in good shape with no leaks and should be easy to fit to the newer engine. Keeping the unique radiator is going to make the fitting of a rad to the vehicle very easy since the cowl was welded to the hull. It will fit right back into place.

As I get more time to work on this chassis I will finish cleaning out the gunk and give it a sand blast and paint before dropping in the engine. I have to paint the Bofors and a CMP anyways so why not go all the way to green on it while I am at if...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jon Bradshaw

The wheel pattern is closest to a Panzer 38T, but there are plenty of these out there and there is no need to make another one out of a non original chassis.
The 38T was made into several successful variants- Hetzer, Marder, Grille etc. The one that doesn't have any surviving examples of it (that I can find) is the Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) Sdkfz 140/1 (recce tank) This vehicle was made in 2 variants- one with an open top and a short 75mm gun and the second was a semi closed turreted version with a 20mm gun. I have decided to go with the 20mm version. There were about 70 of these made but I haven't seen any online pics of one in a museum... Just some wartime ones and one set of post war "junk" parking lot shots.

AFAIK, there aren't any surviving Aufklärungspanzer 38(t). Also checked http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving...n_Vehicles.pdf

So you're good to go...

[Ed Storey]

Just what the world needs is one more fake German SWW AFV. It is no wonder everyone is in love with German SWW armour as no one cares to preserve and restore what is perceived to be a less glamorous vehicle and use it to explain to the public the story behind that particular vehicle and why it was manufactured. Instead the first thing that seems to come to mind is how can it be turned into something German. Don't get me wrong, I like German SWW armour as much as the next guy; but I find parading around another reproduced German vehicle just perpetuates the myth to the public that destroying one thing to fake something else is somehow what collecting is all about.