![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This included pioneer tools, fire extinguishers, towing equipment and even a spare roadwheel. Various pieces of equipment were stowed on the sides of the structure. The superstructure was constructed from 25mm thick armor plate. The 12 BARVs, constructed on Centurion Mk.3 hulls, were completed in 1963. The trials proved successful, though a few minor modifications were requested and subsequently applied to the vehicles. The first production BARV arrived at Instow for user trials in February 1960. A production contract was signed for 12 Centurion BARVs to be constructed at Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF), Barnbow in Leeds. The design was approved and the prototype was sent to the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) in Chertsey to finalize the development of the fully armored vehicle. After a series of further modifications, it was demonstrated on Instow beach, Devon, on the 4th and 5th March 1958. The complete prototype underwent its first test submersion in June 1957. The unique upper hull, which was shaped like a ship’s bow or breakwater, was crafted from 5mm thick mild steel that was bolted to a simple frame. The general arrangement of the driver’s position remained mostly unchanged. ![]() The hull was completely gutted except for the drive systems (engine, transmission, clutch, gearbox). An obsolete Centurion ‘Tower’, a rare vehicle with a large winch mounted in place of the turret, was delivered to the FTB and a comprehensive course of design and development ensued. The Fording Trials Branch (FTB) of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) were tasked with designing and building a mockup of a replacement for the Sherman in January 1957. The standard crew of the Centurion was 4 men consisting of commander, gunner, loader and driver. The tank’s weight of 51 tons was supported on a Horstmann suspension with three two wheel bogies per-side. The vehicle was powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine producing 650 hp, and giving the tank a top speed of 22 mph (35 km/h). It had armor from 51mm up to 152 mm thick. The standard main armament of the Mk.3 consisted of the Ordnance QF 20-Pounder (84mm) gun. The Centurion Mk.3 entered service in the early 1950s. It was logical that the replacement would be based on the British Army’s serving tank, the FV4200 Centurion, specifically the Mk.3. Work on a replacement would begin in 1956/57. The Sherman BARVs were still in service in the mid-to-late 1950s, by which point it was becoming clear that the old Sherman was having trouble towing the heavier landing craft and vehicles coming into service. It could pull tanks off the beach that have become stuck, and could even be used as an anchoring point for small vessels. It could push landing craft back out to sea or pull them into shore. The role of the BARV was to assist in amphibious landings. One of the many ‘Funnies’ on the beaches, this modified tank was able to wade in up to 8ft (2.4m) of water thanks to an open superstructure shaped like a ship’s bow that replaced the turret. This was the Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle or ‘BARV’. On the beaches of Normandy in 1944, an interesting and important, although poorly reported vehicle was operating. Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle – 12 Built ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |