second hand Grant tanks

[Owen]

What makes you think it's a Lee, Owen?
The only difference between the Lee and the Grant was the turret. ARV's had their own smaller fixed turrets with dummy gun tubes and attachments for boom jibs and the like. So without it's original turret it would be very hard to tell the two tanks apart.

I thought that loooked like a Lee turret on the ARV in picture NA14940 ,it doesn't bulge where a Grant one does, I didn't know the ARVs had their own turrets.

Looks to me like a Lee turret facing to the rear with dummy gun.
here's a Lee turret.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e-latrun-4.jpg

[Bodston]

Originally Posted by Owen D

I thought that loooked like a Lee turret on the ARV in picture NA14940 ,it doesn't bulge where a Grant one does, I didn't know the ARVs had their own turrets.

Looks to me like a Lee turret facing to the rear with dummy gun.
here's a Lee turret.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e-latrun-4.jpg

I'd agree with that. Just looked up M3 ARV's in Hunnicutt and it seems that the earliest Grant ARV I's didn't have a turret at all, they installed a winch in the empty belly of the tank. Later versions, Grant ARV II were sourced from the US as M31 tank recovery vehicles, so they would have had modified Lee turrets. The official British designation Grant ARV II is still correct though.

[Owen]

Cheers Bod, I'm always learning something new here.
So Grant ARV II would be brand new vehicles, and the ARV I would be conversions?

[The Aviator]

Here's one in Fremantle Army museum W.A

General Grant tank – Starting Procedure
Discovered amongst papers accumulated by an ex-REME instructor

• 1. Make sure that the master switch and ignition switch are 'off' and that the gear lever is in neutral.
• 2. Check the level of the engine oil by the dipstick on the filter cap of the oil tank
  (do not overfill).
• 3. Inspect the engine compartment for loose and missing parts.
• 4. If engine has been stationery for five hours or more it must be turned by the starting handle over at least eight compressions (to check for a Hydrostatic Lock).
  If a lock is evident, remove spark plugs from lower cylinders to pump oil out.
• 5. Check the transmission and final driver for oil.
• 6. Check the voltmeter: it should read zero.
• 7. Close the master switch and the voltmeter should read 24 volts.
• 8. Turn on the required petrol tanks.
• 9. Turn on HYCON pressure cock and check for leaks.
• 10. Prime engine if necessary (not more than four pumps).
• 11. Check clearance of the clutch pedal and then depress it.
• 12. Close starter and booster switches together.
• 13. Let the engine turn for a short while then switch the magnetos on to 'Both'.
  NOTE:- Do not prime engine whilst it is turning or switched on.
• 14. Check oil pressure gauge: should read between 60-80 lbs per sq. in.
  (If the oil fails to show within 45 seconds, switch off the engine).
• 15. Check the flow of the gearbox oil by the tap situated at radiator.
• 16. Check for leaks throughout the engine and transmission.
• 17. Check the running of the engine on each of the magnetos.
• 18. Let the engine warm up before moving the tank.
  (The minimum oil temperature should be 80 degrees to 100 degrees).
• 19. Do not attempt to move off until engine has warmed up for at least 10 minutes.

NOTE:- If engine fails to start, check fuel cut-off valve for poor seating or sticking.
Over priming and under priming will cause engine to be stubborn in starting.


One ex-tank driver's comment:– "Can you imagine doing all this in action?"

---

[Ron Goldstein]

Originally Posted by Owen D

What happened to all the Grants after they were replaced at the end of The Desert War?
I know a few ended up on Military Ranges.
What about the rest?

Owen
I know what happened to at least one of these "oldies"
I'm referring to one particular "Honey" that I met up with in the 4th QOH.

" I had been assigned as wireless operator to the SSM (Squadron Sergeant Major), one Sgt. Major "Busty" Thomas, as Welsh as it was possible to be.
His tank wasn’t the nice, solid-looking Sherman on which I had been trained for the past three months, but was instead a Stuart tank from the 8th Army desert days. To make matters worse its turret had been removed and the only protection "up top" was a canvas hood that was designed to keep the rain off."

BBC - WW2 People's War - Joining the 4th Queen's Own Hussars

Ron

[kfz]

Originally Posted by The Aviator

Here's one in Fremantle Army museum W.A

3. Inspect the engine compartment for loose and missing parts.

LMAO.

Only the British Army would put this in the check, check Someone hasnt robbed the engine.

quite interesting that, displays its avaition heritage with its almost aircraft like starting check. Twin mags run up, manual fuel prime..

Kev

[The Aviator]

This is my favourite Kev.

4. If engine has been stationery for five hours or more it must be turned by the starting handle over at least eight compressions (to check for a Hydrostatic Lock).
If a lock is evident, remove spark plugs from lower cylinders to pump oil out. OMG!
Graeme in Perth.

[kfz]

Originally Posted by The Aviator

This is my favourite Kev.

4. If engine has been stationery for five hours or more it must be turned by the starting handle over at least eight compressions (to check for a Hydrostatic Lock).
If a lock is evident, remove spark plugs from lower cylinders to pump oil out. OMG!
Graeme in Perth.

yep presumably the lower cylinders of the radial engine are lower than the oil tank so if the oil tap/pump fails the engine fills with oil. if the lower cyclders are locked it will normally bend the con rods, writing the engine off.

The give away of course is that the oil level will drop. I think there is a check higher up in the list, so if you discover at this point the tank is half empty you know its leaked, most prob through the engine.

I think you can assume safley say that this drill isnt followed if the tank was under fire, but then it probably doesnt get into a situation where you are under fire with a cold engine.

Kev

[deadb_tch]

Read Grant starting manual and have to denote that routine of starting russian IFV BMP-1 is similiar to Grant's, hehe, its like starting helicopter , it is really hard to remember for first times what switch must be turned on or off and what have to checked before u turn engine on

[von Poop]

Some interesting variants from that quality 'Anzac Steel' site:

The US M3 Medium Series in Australia Part Two - Variants by Paul D. Handel

Including a wading Grant, and one converted to a BARV.