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Walter · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 6:50 pm Post subject: Bastogne Barracks

I was in Bastogne Barracks and saw this Cromwell in the workshop
According to P-O it is not yey documented in the PDF lists
Does anyone has more info about this one ?

Walter

Massimo_Foti · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

What's the current status over there, is the collection open to the public on a regular basis?

Massimo

Walter · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

Open from Tuesday till Sunday
Guided tours only
departures 9 a.m - 10 a.m - 13 a.m and 14 a.m

Massimo_Foti · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:36 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

Better than nothing, it's just that guided tours aren't good for taking pictures...
Do they have enough space around vehicles? How about light conditions?

Massimo

Walter · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

The space around the vehicles is reasonable
The light condition is not that good
It is one big Hall were your flash would disapear

Costas_TT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 15, 2012 Posts: 387

There's something very fishy about the turret ring of that Cromwell... I think the tank is essentially a Charioteer backdated to a Cromwell.

Note the bolt groups on the turret rings in these pics:
farm3.staticflickr.com/2110/2219393229_c28d9186f2_o.jpg

1.bp.blogspot.com/_yRN...rMaybe.JPG

military-vehicle-photo...m/5419.jpg

the_shadock · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

- Costas_TT

There's something very fishy about the turret ring of that Cromwell... I think the tank is essentially a Charioteer backdated to a Cromwell.

Note the bolt groups on the turret rings in these pics:
farm3.staticflickr.com/2110/2219393229_c28d9186f2_o.jpg

1.bp.blogspot.com/_yRN...rMaybe.JPG

military-vehicle-photo...m/5419.jpg

Hello,

you may be right, but a Charioteer should have a welded armor plate over the BESA hull machinegun mount. I can see on Walter photos that the hull do have the machinegun munt, and no armor plate, so I'm not sure it is a former Charioteer...

P-O

Costas_TT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 15, 2012 Posts: 387

Maybe it was removed and the BESA refitted as part of the backdating process. The other possible alternative, a conversion of a Cromwell ARV seems unlikely, given the different configuration of the plating covering the turret opening. It wouldn't have the ring with the bolts.

If it turns out to be indeed a Charioteer, I'll hazard a guess as to its origin and go with Finland (a bunch of Charioteers were sold off recently) as the most likely source.

ajmac · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Nov 14, 2011 Posts: 37

It must have been a charioteer, they had a larger diameter turret ring and it looks like this was a budget conversion, I just hope the turret is a replica and they didn't wreck an original! On hmvf you can follow a charioteer to Cromwell conversion using an original Cromwell Turret ring and turret, this too had an original besa mount installed when the welded plug / plate was removed.

the_shadock · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

Hello Alastair,

glad to see you on this forum !!

Pierre-Olivier

Costas_TT · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 15, 2012 Posts: 387

- ajmac

It must have been a charioteer, they had a larger diameter turret ring and it looks like this was a budget conversion, I just hope the turret is a replica and they didn't wreck an original! On hmvf you can follow a charioteer to Cromwell conversion using an original Cromwell Turret ring and turret, this too had an original besa mount installed when the welded plug / plate was removed.

So, there is a precedent for this. Thanks for confirming.

Massimo_Foti · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:45 am Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

Renault UE in Bastogne:
www.flickr.com/photos/...467793178/

Massimo

the_shadock · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

this should answer the question :

"About 18 months ago, a Cromwell (Charioteer converted back) weekended outside my workshop, it was being transported to a museum at Bastogne if I recollect. Came from Norfolk way."

Richard Farrant, F.V. Restorations & Repairs - Specialising in Military Vehicles

P-O

the_shadock · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Bastogne Barracks

two new Sherman tanks at Bastogne barracks, they were previously at Vissenaken :

P-O

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