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#1
18-07-04, 22:16
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Australian experimental Light Tank
In a corner of John Belfield's Melbourne Tank Museum lies this interesting little light tank. Not much seems to be known about it - can anyone shed any more light on the subject?
 
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Film maker 42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains 42 FGT No9 (Aust) 42 F15 Keith Webb Macleod, Victoria Australia Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern 
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#2
28-12-16, 05:54
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Bit of info on the Aussie Experimental Light Tank
I know a little bit about this, mainly from some of the Aussie tank boffins that meet up via World of Tanks (online tank game) and a chat with Dave and Ahmed a *loooooong* time ago, when the Fishermen's bend Heritage Group was still going.
It was an effort to create a light tank from Local Pattern carriers, which we manufactured. It was also known as "Chassis 160" which referred to the particular chassis it was built on. The cylindrical turret on the tank is just a test turret, the vehicle was supposed to have the turret ring enlargened to take the Rhino armour car turret. Seems we had a thing for the Valentine type turrets (if you look at the Rhino and Sentinel), not realising that their polygonal shape became a shot trap that blew the turrets off! Like the sentinel, they had envisioned it to take the 25 pounder as they knew the 2 pounder it was originally going to be armed with was being outclassed. The Carrier chassis was lengthened (like it was for the local pattern 2 pounder). It had a new suspension design (based on a Watt's linkage principle) and upper chassis. FHBG guys said it's first test had problems with steering, which I think was confirmed with the info sign that used to be on it at Belfields. Hpoe this helps - I don't know much about it, it's a bloody mystery. if anyone does know any more, post away. - Marty PS - No one seems to know where it went after the Belfield collection was sold off... so it's a true mystery. Last edited by Martin Kelly; 29-12-16 at 00:32.
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#3
28-12-16, 06:07
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Is it not at the Puka museum?
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Bluebell Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991 Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6. Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6 Jeep Mb #135668 So many questions....
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#4
28-12-16, 07:23
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Its likely its still there, i believe his collection is as large as it was pre-sale, just not open to the Public
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Military re-enactor and modeller
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#5
28-12-16, 08:11
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So what is different about the Carrier based experimental tank at Pukapunyal then??
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Bluebell Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991 Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6. Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6 Jeep Mb #135668 So many questions....
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#6
28-12-16, 10:16
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Try these photos, I think it is the one you are referring to.
Regards Rick.
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1916 Albion A10 1942 White Scoutcar 1940 Chev Staff Car 1940 F30S Cab11 1940 Chev WA LRDG "Te Hai" 1941 F60L Cab12 1943 Ford Lynx 1942 Bren Gun Carrier VR no.2250 Humber FV1601A Saracen Mk1(?) 25pdr. 1940 Weir No.266 25pdr. Australian Short No.185 (?) KVE Member.
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#8
28-12-16, 16:49
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Long Long Time ago ...
I think I recognise that text .....!
And I seem to remember that '160' ended up at the Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal having been purchased at the Belfield auction (along with M113A1 APC hull, ARN 134199.) Mike
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#9
29-12-16, 00:30
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It ended up at Puka? I assume (though wasn't 100% sure) it wasn't still at Belfieds, as it was listed on an auction site with a sale price. Cheers, thanks guys!
Puka I think is currently closed to the public but will open again at some point, no doubt. Last edited by Martin Kelly; 29-12-16 at 00:35.
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