Military Vehicles

Marmon Herrington Armoured car goes for restoration

A decision has been taken to commence the restoration of the Marmon Herrington Armoured Car supplied to us recently by the Armour Museum at the School of Armour in Bloemfontein (see: http://www.sandstone-estates.com/index.php/military-vehicles/40-military-vehicles/2914-military-vehicles). This project is typical of the type of cooperation which we enjoy with this fine organisation.

Step one will be to evaluate the condition of the vehicle and then the work will proceed. In this case we are out sourcing the restoration to Jan Fouche & Sons in Lichtenburg who are specialists in the restoration of old World War Two Military vehicles.

New Military vehicle store completed

Apart from planting grass on the approaches our Military store is now complete. Here are some pictures of the vehicles being put in position.

Military vehicles

Part of the Sandstone Heritage Trust's collection of historic vehicles includes a wide selection of Military vehicles which have a direct relevance to the campaigns in which South African soldiers fought, from the Anglo-Boer War until the present. The collection begins with ox-wagons which were the preferred transport for both man and materiel of those early wars, and includes a Fowler Road locomotive Crane Engine which itself is too 'young' (1905) to have taken part in the Boer War, but which is similar to several brought to SA by the British forces to transport equipment to the men at the front during
that campaign.

From the First World War, but on the side of the Germans, the collection includes a Feldbahn 2' gauge steam locomotive from 1915. From WW2, the Sherman Mk 4 in the collection was the mainstay of the Armoured units for the length of the Italian campaign. A Canadian Pattern Ford truck also comes from this era, but little else.

From a South African point of view, there has to date been a gap in the collection, that of a Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car. Many of the 5 746 vehicles were made here in South Africa, for our forces serving in East Africa and the Western Desert. This picture was taken of my late father, Lt John Selfe (on the turret) with his crew, somewhere near Gazala.

At last, as an extention of the arrangement between Sandstone Heritage Trust and the Armour Museum at School of Armour in Tempe, an example of the most popular Mk IV has been obtained and is now on the way to the Collection to be restored to running condition.

This example is of the Mk IV, the design of which was a radical departure from the Mks I to III, with its engine in the rear. More than 2 000 of these were built. The steel, no more than 12mm in the front and 6mm elsewhere, came from the newly established ISCOR (Iron & Steel Corporation) in Vanderbijl Park and the assembly of most of the vehicle was done by Dorman Long. The engine is a Ford V8 Petrol 'flat-head' and the four wheel drive transmission came from Marmon Herrington, which gave the vehicle
its name.

The sequence of photos shows it being loaded on to a Sandstone low-bed.

The main armament is likely to be the 2-pounder with a .30 Browning Machine Gun. So there was not much protection for the crews either in armour plating or fire-power. They relied on the Armoured Cars' mobility and the good navigation skills of the crews. My Dad said when they got into a scrape, they'd simply head southwards into the empty desert and pursuit normally dwindled!

We look forward to seeing this 'missing link' as part of the Sandstone Heritage Trust collection of Military Vehicles!

Andy Selfe

August 2013

Daimler Ferret Mks I & II

The first production Ferrets were built from 1952 and the last was built in 1971. It was a development from Daimler’s famous Dingo. In all, 4 409 were built. It was the basis for the Fox which first appeared in in UK 1969. It was used in many countries from Abu Dhabi to Zambia as a scout car along with Tank and Armoured Car units.

Specifications:

Engine: Rolls Royce B60 Mk 6A 6-cylinder petrol engine

Power: 129 BHP at 3 750 RPM

Transmission: Wilson Epicyclic gearbox

Length: 12’ 7” (3.84 metres)

Width: 6’ 3” (1.9 metres)

Height: Mk I (w/o turret): 4’ 9” (1.45 metres), Mk 2/3 (with Turret) 6’ 2” (1.88 m)

Laden Weight: Mk I 4.22 tonnes, Mk 2/3 4.4 tonnes

Speed: 58 MPH (92 km/hr) on the road

Fording: 3’ (.9 metres) (without preparation) 5’ (1.52 metres) (with kit)

Trench crossing: 4’ (1.22 metres) with channels carried on front

Vertical obstacle: 1’ 4” (.4 metres)

Gradient: 42% (20.7 degrees)

Range: 109 miles (300 km)

Crew: 2 (Driver and Commander)

Armament:

Mk I: Pintle mounted Bren gun

Mk 2/3: Turret mounted .30 / 7.62mm Browning, elevation +45 degrees, -15 degrees, 360 degree traverse, non-powered.

Ammunition: 2 500 rounds for BMG

In South Africa in 1988, it was proposed that they might be used by 44 Parachute Brigade (Parabats) either as Scout Cars or with the turret removed, as tow vehicles for Anti-Tank weapons. They would have beenmodernised. It is not clear whether this took place.

Compiled by Andy Selfe from information contained in Armoured Fighting Vehicles of the World by Christopher Foss and South African Arms & Armour by Helmoed-Römer Heitman

The Sandstone Heritage Trust Military collection acquires a significantly important vehicle for its collection.

Resulting from our joint relationship with the Armour Museum at the School of Armour in Bloemfontein, coupled with a very strong relationship with the commercial vehicle manufacturing and refurbishment industry in SA, we have acquired an as new armoured fighting vehicle, namely a Ratel 656 MK3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

This is an iconic mine-protected infantry support vehicle which is legendary amongst South Africans, particularly those who served in the Military during the conflict in Namibia/Angola. It is fitted with the 90mm DEFA gun and turret, as used in the Eland Armoured Fighting Vehicle, which was in turn developed from the Panhard Armoured Car which was so successful in the French/Algerian conflict of the 1950s to '62.  The Ratel 90 carries a crew of 3 plus 6 infantry. Its road speed is listed as 105 km/hr although some 'ou-manne' will tell you it goes up to 120! It can climb a step of 60cm, cross a trench of 1.15m and has a fording capacity of 1.2m. Road range with full tanks (480 litres!) is 1 000km. It carries 72 rounds of ammunition for the Main Armament and 6 000 rounds for the three machine guns. This is an Armoured Personnel Carrier with a punch!

This vehicle was locally designed and manufactured at the height of the period when sanctions isolated South Africa. It represents the pinnacle of Armoured Vehicle design of the time. Small wonder that these are being snapped up, even today, by other countries as they are disposed of by the SA Army!

The Sandstone collection is designed to maintain and demonstrate the very best of Military vehicles which were either designed in South Africa, such as the Ratel, or which were acquired from overseas and which saw service in South Africa or with the South African forces who might be deployed elsewhere.  Our particular emphasis is definitely on the vehicles that were designed specifically for African operating conditions, and once again the Ratel is one of the best examples of this.

The Ratel will receive an official introduction at the Stars of Sandstone show in May this year.  We believe that we have sufficient critical mass to provide a very credible opportunity for Military enthusiasts to visit us alongside our traditional visitors who tend to focus on our Narrow Gauge railway as being of specific interest.

The Ratel at home in its natural environment… 

Military vehicles feature strongly during forthcoming event at Sandstone.

Sandstone’s annual event is internationally accepted as being almost unique in terms of the diversity of heritage items that are on display. One of the hidden gems of Sandstone has always been our Military vehicle collection that has been built up over many years in close association with the School of Armour in Bloemfontein, with whom we work closely on a daily basis.

This year we are featuring our Military vehicle collection as one of the primary attractions at the Stars of Sandstone event. 

For the first time ever we are now advertising on the international market and are hoping to attract international Military vehicle enthusiasts and collectors. A specialised advertisement covering our Military vehicle activities appears below.

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!

The Military Vehicle collection of the Sandstone Heritage Trust has for some years included an example of the Eland Armoured Car fitted with the (de-activated) 90mm DEFA Gun. These Cars were always used in conjunction with ones fitted with a 60mm breech-loading Mortar; two of each in every troop.

The Sandstone Collection was fortunate to acquire a 60mm recently, in derelict condition.

The hulls are identical, and were based on the Panhard AML 245 of the French Army. The crew consists of a Commander, Gunner and Driver. In full Operational Order, the 90mm carries 20 rounds for the main armament, High Explosive and High Explosive Anti-Tank:

.... and the 60mm, 44 mortar bombs, both High Explosive and Smoke:

.... as well as 2800 rounds of 7.62mm for the Browning Machine guns, which are fitted coaxially to the main armament. An extra Browning is fitted on the 90mm for anti-aircraft use:

Below is a picture of a full troop in Operational Order at M'pacha in 1969, keeping a watchful eye over a Harvard.

The 60mm mortar is particularly useful as an area weapon and it worked well in the Bush War.

The Sandstone 60mm is now with veteran Military Vehicle Restorer Jan Fouché, and he is working from the bottom up. He has removed the turret, probably under safer circumstances than these shown below, taken at Katima Molilo in 1969, where the much heavier 90mm turret has been removed with a chain block hanging from a branch of a tree!

It can be seen that the turret includes the basket of the fighting comparment, all of which revolves with the gunner, crew-commander, ammunition and radios.

In the above picture the turret has been removed as well as the panels which separate the fighting from the engine compartments. The gearbox can be seen under the partition, with shafts outwards to each side where they split, one to the front, one to the rear on each side. The drive shafts follow the shape of the outside of the hull and have extra universal joints at the widest part of the hull. Below is the fuel tank.

Jan has also removed the engine, a Chev 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine which is strong enough to propel this Armoured Car at low speeds in the bush as well as at a tidy speed on the road! These engines replaced a flat opposed 4-cylinder petrol engine in the original imported and the first of the locally-produced models. The electric clutch, operated by gripping the gear change knob, has been replaced with a more conventional hydraulic system.

The open left hand hull door gives access for all the crew, but each member can also enter and exit through a hatch above him. The size of the gearbox can be seen in this photo!

The engine has been removed on its sub-frame, along with the massive alternator, needed for the radios, particularly! The fan is also large and blows air from the engine, outwards through the radiator.

The engine compartment looks roomy, but with the engine back in place, it's not easy to even find the dip-stick! The rear panel is much taller than the early models, if one compares the picture above with this one below, showing a soft-skinned vehicle tyre being pumped with the compressor connected to the Power Take Off. Also taken at M'pacha in 1969.

Jan has a long list of spares on his shopping list; all of the hydraulic equipment for the brakes and clutch either needs replacing or reconditioning. All the flexible hoses are perished and seals are needed on the transmission.

We look forward to reporting on his progress!

Andy Selfe
6th December 2012

What started out as a routine service has turned out to be a major rebuild of the undercarriage. The newly rubberised Rollers are now being fitted.

Our Mk IV Sherman will be deployed every day during Stars of Sandstone 2013. A number of other important Military vehicles will join the line-up next year.