Saturday, Feb 14, 2009 at 17:32
In a younger life I had a two year holiday, courtesy of tghe Australian Government. Not knowing a thing about engines, motor vehicle etc - I didn't even own one - guess where I went. R.A.E.M.E.
The final 12 months of my sojourn saw me attached to the R.A.A.C. Armoured School at Pukka. I was a crew member of one of the few armoured recovery vehicles that the Australian Army used.
So the photo above of the Cent bogged brings back plenty of very pleasnt memories, I don't think! It was always more fun if it was raining and at night. The mud in central Victoria is the best in Oz. It has no bottom.
What we did in these circumstances was to back off, physically attach bloody heavy, greasy wire ropes to the front or rear attachments of the bogged
tank, usually rear, drop a hydraulic spade that was supposed to prevent being our vehicle from being dragged back into the bog, get inside the recovery vehicle as ropes used to break, get the winch going, and hope for the best. Then out came the blocks, pulleys and try again.
A real bastard of a job, as these things weighed 42.5 tons, and with fuel, gear, and ammo, add a couple more.
The
tank in this view doesn't look like it is owned by the army, so the owner would have had a really nice time getting it out.
Much easier a FWD.
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