Ryan's M3 medium

[Ryan]

Hi guys, my M3 arrived today. The semi it came on didn't have enough room to turn into my driveway so we offloaded it down the road on the neighbours lane. It was raining heavily when it arrived so everything and everyone got a good soaking.
Reversing it off the truck was pretty nerveracking as I had not driven it before or any tracked vehicle for that matter. The truck driver was a vietnam vet and simply told me that once the centre of gravity of the tank was off the trailer not to stop or try to turn. This I did and all was good.
I then drove it down the road to our place. I couldn't find any other gear apart from 1st though! Just too nervous I guess.
It's now sitting next to the house after tearing up a bit of the garden. The other half looked something like this...

Still haven't had a real good look though as the rain just hasn't stopped.

[Ryan]

Some more detailed shots showing serial numbers and such.
Centre suspension unit has the cut off remains of what looks like a dozer attachment.
And another shows two different roadwheels. Can someone shed some light on the background of these wheels?
At the moment I am unsure if my tank is infact a M3 Grant or a M3 Lee as it has no upper hull. I have only been told it was a Grant. Is there any way to tell from the lower hull?
ryan

[Stuart Kirkham]

Very nice Ryan but whats the contraption on top of the Grant

[Ryan]

It's an engine driven winch that was once used to pull logs and timber out of the bush.

[SDT16]

Those Road Wheels look Skinny

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Some more detailed shots showing serial numbers and such.

Ryan, those are casting numbers, see http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoels...04/foundry.htm. For serial numbers see http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/serial.htm

At the moment I am unsure if my tank is infact a M3 Grant or a M3 Lee as it has no upper hull. I have only been told it was a Grant. Is there any way to tell from the lower hull?

Going by the numbers initially supplied, roughly 33% chance it is a Lee,. Read up on its history here: http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Arm...les/m3ph_1.htm. It is not really important of course since you are going to resore it as an ARV anyway, eh?

And when can we see you joining the Sherman Register mailing list?

Hanno

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And when can we see you joining the Sherman Register mailing list?

Joining yahoo first to join the mailing list is the sticking point hanno, otherwise I'd already be there. Just seeing what sort of spam and such it will allow in.

Update: reading yahoo7's privacy settings they state they will tract my IP address during browsing and by signing with them I allow them and associated companies access to my browsing history/cookies. Hanno, I do not like that. Is there a way to be a member of your site and not of yahoo7?

[Philliphastings]

Hi Ryan,

It looks like you might need some armour off the scrap M3 Hulls we have at the back of the museum. We also have other parts you might need. Our M3 is now complete, though unrestored.

Good luck with the restoration !

Cheers

Phill

[Robin Craig]

Dear Ryan,

loading or unloading tracked kit to or from transport often has a few ring twitter moments.

I recently loaded 2 tracked AFVs onto transport, decks were frozen and I had very little leeway either side before I would drop off the trailer. Skating in a 12 ton vehicle you have only had mere seconds of previous driving experience with is daunting, but over time becomes part of the overall experience of ownership of tracked MVs.

Needless to say, after reversing the first one onto a detachable gooseneck trailer and the hand signals from the numpty truckie were too little too late and my nerves starting to fray, I called it quits for the second one and drove it on front first but that put the vehicle back to front on the trailer.

You should have some handy spares after you gas axe all the timber winch kit.

Good luck


Robin

[Ryan]

Hi phill, it's a bit naked isn't it. A good starting point though. Great fun to drive too. The chap I bought it from said it originally had a petrol radial in it. The MAN diesel sure sounds nice though. I'm hoping I may be able to buy some armour in victoria soon. Your offer is generous and if I'm unable to locally I may have to take you up on your offer. Thank you.

Hi Robin, it's not a way I wanted my first drive to be but now that I have done it I'm pretty pleased with myself. Now that my nerves have calmed I may be able to find the other gears! Looking forward to giving it a bit of the right foot.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Is there a way to be a member of your site and not of yahoo7?

Ryan,

I have sent you an invite to the e-mail address you use for this forum. PM me to let me know if that works.

Hanno

[Ryan]

Had to do some repairs on the weekend to get her running again. Nothing major, just a broken belt. Felt good working on it though.
She needs to be running and ready for a soon to be happening border raid.