Military Vehicles at Stars of Sandstone 2013.
Most people associate Sandstone Heritage Trust with the superb collection of Narrow Gauge railway locomotives, rolling stock and the 23km of track snaking its way around the farm. Not so well known is the fact that the Heritage Trust includes a huge collection of tractors and other agricultural equipment, road vehicles, lorries and buses, yet one of the jewels is the collection of Military Vehicles representing South African Armed Forces since the Second World War. Not only those used by the SA Forces, but also examples of those used by the enemy.
Take for example the Grad Multiple Rocket Launcher, much favoured by the Soviet Forces and much feared by those on the receiving end!
It's not every day that one can see a Sherman tank in operation! These were the mainstay of the SA Forces during the latter part of WW2 and for many years thereafter. Many older South Africans will remember them from their National Service.
Sandstone's example has been modified as the Israeli Defence Force uprated them, with a Mercedes Benz Twin-turbo V8 engine and Allison gearbox. It has been refurbished during this last year, with a better radiator, to cure the previous overheating problems, and the rollers have been vulcanised:
Some of the mainstays of the Armoured units during the pre-sanctions period were the British Saracen Armoured Personnel Carriers and the Ferret Scout Cars which they were associated with. The Sandstone Heritage Trust includes several examples of both.
Not forgetting the old favourite from the 1960s, the Bedford R, 3-ton 4x4:
When the sanctions took effect, one of the last overseas suppliers were the French, and South Africa was able to source some Panhard Armoured Cars and lost no time in making copies, all the time improving the design. These were seen with the 90mm DEFA Gun, which had been developed for the French/Algerian campaign, and with a 60mm Breech Loading Mortar. Sandstone has an example of each, althouth it is unlikely that the 60 will be ready in time.
With sanctions fully in force, South Africa went into full-scale development of its own Armoured and soft-skinned vehicles as well as Artillery which led the world!
Sandstone has examples of the Unimog-based Mine Protected Vehicles, the well-known Buffel and even a Moffel with its large bullet-proof windows.
There are examples of the SAMIL range of soft-skinned vehicles starting with the SAMIL 20:
....to the latest acquisition in the soft-skinned range is the SAMIL 50 Gun Tractor:
But the latest to come on to the scene is something really special, the supreme example of South African Armoured Car design, the Ratel:
Where in the world can one expect to see all these Military vehicles in one place? And there are more!