Sek Kong ..C Sguadron 16th/5th Lancers..1974 to 1976

Submitted by Chris Webb on Mon, 12/02/2019 - 03:38

Christmas Greetings to you all,

I am hoping that someone out there can help me put an accurate final stage to a total rebuild of a Scorpion (CVRT) light British Army Tank that for the first three years of its operational life......Jan74 to April76 served with C Sqn 16/5 Lancers.

The rebuild of this Tank has been an on going project that has taken 8 years to virtually complete.

The Tank was decommissioned in November 1996 and was partially stripped to spend its final days as a " Hard Target " on Salisbury plain ranges.....it was saved this indignity and is only 30 Plus working hours away from coming to life.

The final stage is a full repaint in the colours that it would have had back in 74... along with the correct insignia....and this is where I need some help...

I know that the unit markings were '2' worn over an RAC arm-of-service sguare and the formation sign of 48 Gurkha Brigade...but need to be sure of colours and locations of the marks.

Might somebody possibly have images of British  armour of that time....and with luck, maybe a Scorpion Tank?

fingers crossed 

Chris Webb

..

Greetings,

I was with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers in HK at that time and had the task of assessing the damage to public roads caused by the tanks when the drove from Sek Kong to Gordon Hard to be shipped to Saikung for annual firing practice, and then back again..

I would think the Gurkha Museum at Winchester would help with Photos, that's my humble suggestion

Best of luck with the project !

Richard Beazley

Greetings Richard,

Many thanks for taking the time to respond, and thank you for your suggestion.

I am still optimistic that I might yet hear back from somebody that was more closely involved with the opperational aspects of the armour in use at that time.

There is a picture that I have come across of a restored Comet tank that currently resides at the HK Museum of Coastal Defence that has what I need.....but the ideal would be individual close up images of both the left and right square...  and any on the side and rear....might any kind person that has cause to go there, or might be there...take those pictures for me..please.

Cheers...and a Happy New Year.

 

Chris

Hi Chris

I was plannig to visit the Museum today, but on checking the website, found that it is CLOSED for refurbishing !

Howver further research came up with a photo that might help..

As I don't have your contact details I will forward it to David for onward transmission

Richard

Hi Chris

I was plannig to visit the Museum today, but on checking the website, found that it is CLOSED for refurbishing !

Howver further research came up with a photo that might help.. But I don't know about the sides ! 

As I don't have your contact details I will forward it to David for onward transmission

Richard

Hi Chris

I was plannig to visit the Museum today, but on checking the website, found that it is CLOSED for refurbishing !

Howver further research came up with a photo that might help..

As I don't have your contact details I will forward it to David for onward transmission

Richard

Thank you Richard,

As a further foot note to me E/Mail to you of todays date...

I live in hope that clearer individual images will be available....particularly if somebody involved with the Museum might get to hear of my need and be a good samaritan...and help me out.( please )

 

All the best,

 

Chris

I snapped this quite a few years ago. Not sure if it helps or not. Phil. If youy want a proper copy by email, just let me know. 

Museum of Coastal Defence Tank
Museum of Coastal Defence Tank, by Philk

Greetings...with my thanks.

 

That image will certainly help, but still hope that close up images of all markings will be forthcoming.

The final stage is painting and opperational signage..and that is not planned for at least three months, so fingers still crossed.

Best regards,

 

Chris.

Hello, I'm the chap who conserved the tanks vehicles cannons and anything metal at the MCD ,I have recently moved office turmoil reigns, good job CNY is coming . I was head of metal conservation with the USD/LCSD 1996-03 

So the tank got blasted removing all the original paint apart from one wheel , so it could be colour matched to that in the future .

All the writings were stencilled and we put them back in exactly the same place  with similar colours .

Conservation ethics came in with the fake machine gun over the viewer eye slit ,  squaddies put a fake gun over it to make it more frightening , as it happened in its career with the Mo D , we decided to keep it 

The tank was conserved at HUD supervised by me, the two others were done by my asst in E Kowloon , with me checking up sometimes  .  

thx to T for the heads up that this was being discussed

In reply to above...name unknown..

Might there be any record on stencilled markings...or better still, images of same available..or anybody currently at the museum that could take freshh images for me.

 

Best regards

 

Chris

i believe the museum is currently shut  still post typhoon , they lost their roof , I will see if I have the records of the stencils 

my real name is Paul 

There is a good collection of photos of the Hong Kong Comet tank online at: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/kam_wing_fung/comet/

Found via: https://www.google.com/search?q=comet+tank+museum+of+coastal+defence&sxsrf=ACYBGNT8Xde5YagXwNabFD6lbBjFMvKg3g:1579269218233&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMo4em5IrnAhXEFogKHS-2CJwQ_AUoAnoECBEQBA&biw=1378&bih=851

Very many thanks David....extremely useful.

I can see that there is no rear recognition...and the side has a red and white triangle,....... as yet I can not find what this indicates.

I seem to be arriving at the point where I might have sufficient to satisfy my graphics man.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris