We Find Forgotten REME Treasure in the Alvis Saracen Armoured Car and Free of the seized hatches
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- Опубликовано: 1 фев 2022
- In this video we give you the first look at the Alvin saracen armoured car that is currently undergoing restoration. We find some forgotten REME treasure in the back storage compartments and work on getting all of the doors and hatches unseized to get it ready to be repainted.
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She's a decent looking Mk 3. The engine is the B80. One of the random tools that you pulled out from under the seats is the drain plug removal tool. You'll need that. All of the intercom gear is Clansman and has been fitted after the Saracen was removed from service, as they all had Larkspur. The gun should be a Browning M1919 A4.
I was travelling in the back of a Saracen in Armagh city in the mid 70's with some soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment, I was in the Royal Tank Regiment.
The doors were open and on a latch, I had one foot on the threshold. Seconds before the driver braked suddenly I moved my foot. The door on my side slipped its latch and slammed shut. The Royal Anglian Corporal sat opposite me said " That door always does that when he slams on the brakes "
Such an underated channel, maybe put more of your TikTok's on RUclips as shorts
This Saracen is one of the batch that was used for export to countries with a hot climate (and also in Northern Ireland) with the reverse airflow cooling for the radiator (air in through the two beehive engine top covers and blown out through the traditional radiator grill which was fitted with a thin metal screen to direct the outflowing air. It may be fitted with the B81. IIRC they had wider tyres than the original Mark 1
It actually was the B80,same as the Saladin,& centurion AVRE winch,theB81 was fitted to MK1 432,and Stalwart
Arte et Marte. 70’s. My left knee still has memories of the aggressive Clutch pedal.
The Sarican was Fantastik to drive. I drove one in Ireland which was an Ambalance .It had no Turret but a screen for the co pilot to look ( which was in my case the Doctor ). On the inside was 3 seats on the right and a Strecher and the Drivers seat was a high back, which when you get in it you flip it upright.
BSF! When I started as an apprentice mechanic, in 1968 😱, we had to get a full set of BSF/Whitworth, AF and Metric spanners & socket sets. I still have most of them kicking around in a few toolboxes. Probably never use them again.....
I had the pleasure of driving Saracens. Only downside of the gcp was when you got a false neutral and the pedal slammed your foot back. You always smacked your heel.
Knee! To avoid put in each year and kick the GCP 6 times before starting!
@@TheJon2442 yes during first parade as well as operating the steering to check OM13 level. They sometimes still happened after you'd done your checks.
@@TheJon2442 the pedal down procedure doesn't really prevent a kick back, it's for taking any slack out of the brake band auto adjusters in the gearbox. Kick back is most likely when the selector is poorly adjusted, or the pedal isn't pressed fully down with authority.
I worked in Coventry at the Alvin plant, mostly on Scorpions, Saracens, and special projects like the Shadow. Most interesting job I ever had.
I remember an afternoon cabby round in a sarrycan, when training at SEME Bordon.
GCP was interesting 😂
A Scammel explorer would be a fantastic addition a raunchy powerful go anywhere 6x6
We’ve got something better, keep an eye out for an upcoming video
@@fittermat I'll deffo keep my eyes open for the new additions you're a great bunch of straight talking band of hard working guys . I just miss the Scammel from my days in the REME attached to a TA tank regiment. I never went back after theyb took Cents off us and reduced it to a recce squadron.That was over 50yrs ago Mat
Great video!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
brings alot of memories driving and recovering them
Drove one in the 80,s in Belfast. Marked as an Ambulance. Amazing vehicle. Never had time to peddle up and would get kick back of the GCP.
Mine served as an ambulance in NI, before being converted back into an APC and being sent to Hong Kong.
@@Starfireaw11 we ran out of Grand Central Hotel. Before it was flattened. 😁
Yes all very excellent I am sure. But where is the Scania V8 for the Concrete Centurion? Guy Martin wants to know!
That Saracen is a great find if it all runs OK ....
We will get to that soon
Corporal Jones's van!
Loved driving 'cans' in NI in the 80's, I used to get a kick out of intimidating black taxis. Never got to clip one, they knew we wanted to bump them, so they kept well clear. 2 Sqn RCT. Great times, sound of a can being revved hard is music to my ears!
Great vehicle
Years ago on a very rainy day, we were coming home via the M1 motorway, when we passed a slower movi g army convoy . Among the vehicles were a number of these vehicles. As we passed the armoured car, every window on the off side opened and a hand appeared giving us the "Royal " wave. I laughed so much it was funny!!! Nice find!!
Can’t beat a bit of army humour!
Holy shit, doesn't look like you lads do much work. Three guys one hinge!
Just love it when you find some quality spanner’s makes spending the money always easier on the pocket. Irish used to move when I drove one in northern island or I smashed the car or taxi. I never had any complaints from section commander 😂😂😂 we called them an “ Armoured pigs “ as it was a pig to drive 😡 give them there due they did motor when you put your put down. The front four wheels moved for steering just had crap visibility.
The pig was a different vehicle that served in NI, based on the Humber 1 ton. A lot of people confuse the two. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humber_Pig
@@Starfireaw11 sorry for confusion I was not referring to the Humber pig I just meant we called it an armoured pig as it was a pig to steer at slow speeds
I'm hoping in the next couple of months I might convince you guys to sort out my Ural 375 for me 😁
She's gonna be a beauty
Looks like a needle gun is the right tool to get paint of these vehicles, would have been handy when i done my Ferrets.
Great fun to drive. You got used to the steering wheel. Unmistakable sound of the engine. Belfast 73/74/75. 10 Reg RCT 👍
That’s a real good sary-can 👍
It’s suprised all of us just how good it was under the years of grime and paint
i made loads of different parts for this model of vehicle, ,occaisionly the centre wheel would lift off the road,but a bit of off roading would remedy this,saracen was ahead of its time in lots of aspects,trends are moving back to this style of vehicle
Poor Jack. You'll be calling him blister next, for turning up after the works been done. Keep them coming boys, great crack.
Blister!
Bit like '12 guage'. Not the shotgun. The steel thickness. Which is very thick and notoriously hard to work with.
The Gun that goes in is a Browning .30 cal (as seen in Band of Brothers). They make replicas for re-enactors.
I worked for Pyrenes later Chubb in the late sixties and we built mod airfied crashtenders on the Sarecen chassis, wonder if there are any stored up somewhere.
where the fuck are you bloke am enjoying your content videos cause you show a no holds bard give it all video. please show more with hewes as am enjoying your banter as well as hewes videos . looking forward to seeing more content.. yours and joes videos are the best videos of tank restorations I have watched. there is nothing better then your content by far. it shits all over the rest of some tank restorers. as a ex grunt from Australia totally enjoying it
AWESOME work as always guys !!
How on earth nobody ends up with a spanner wrapped around there head at the end was a miracle !! 😆
You guys ever thought of getting a Scammell recovery truck THERE AWESOME and great fun to drive !!
Keep it up ,, and TRY not to kill each other !! Lol
Grew up around Ferrets and Saracens
I own one of each 🤣
Served my apprenticeship on them,alongside cents,chieftain & stalwarts
My Saracen taught me that heat and penetrant oil and cursing are necessary to open the hatches. A lot of each but mainly cursing
Guys I'd like so see more footage of your Fastrac 😍
Got the exhaust manifold to replace on it before silage starts so will be some videos coming soon
Some poor Craftsman had to pay for the deficiencies in a tool box inspection and you now have some free spanners.
I remember sitting down at the dinner table and my dad talking about how when he was in the Tank Regiment during the 60's, him and his mates parked their Saracen and Ferret armoured cars outside one of his squaddies grandma's house for the night during transit from one base to the other, guns still in the turrets 😂
Used to drive around Crossmaglen in the late 70s in one, had the Browning machine gun mounted in the turret.
Bring back the Saracen APC support vehicle infantry.
Stronger armour and chain gun 2 missles
REEMEE... NOT REMY.. 😂
REMY Martin, a good Brandy😄
Hi guys, this looks to be a very interesting restoration job, I will have to subscribe and come along for the ride, two questions, 1-would sand blasting not have been better and 2- did the other guys share their cake? Take care and keep safe and well, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia.
Love the Pig, had many happy memory"breaching baracades in Ulster in one. One day got hit by a washing machine at Divis, 🏴🤙💪
The spanners are known as BSW, not BSF. British Satandard Whitworth 55° thread angle. The size is based on the bolt shank diameter not the hex Across the Flats.
Those spanners are most likely to be Whitworth spanners, one for the age of the vehicle and two I thought that I saw a W on the spanner.
I'd have told him that my key worked in his land just to get him at it 😂
I'm surprised you didn't hit the defender horn 😂
where can i get one of those pink beanies from?
What a dream to Barn find a Sara.
Fitter mat . The raised vents on the engine covers were invented by a reme NCO in lybya to prevent over heating when traveling in the desert.
Yes the reverse air flow vechicle normally left the workshops painted stone not green
Drove one in Londonderry in the 80s. 06FF23. With 4 Nitrogen tanks on the side and a turret with a gun that fired a water projectile....
There was a simular Sarecan at Hendon RAF museum about 9 years ago. I saw one in Lisburn with ATO mid 80s.
That steering wheel position is just mental.... 😮
Have you got the defender sorted now ! Shame what happened to it !
So do all the wheel stations work or have they been fitted with Polish bearings a 70’s economy measure. These failed with great regularity especially on tracked vehicles. Very square panel work respected in service maybe ex TAVR.
Will we see videos of the dimond T?
Il see that you will
Why is it that whenever people find stuff in old vehicles they never put it a box and tidy up after
Had one as an Ambulance in Belfast 77-78
I do believe Nick Mead at Tanks A Lot has replica 50cals made to order
it should be a Browning M1919 A4. All of the mount is missing, but they should be able to get that from bannister's, or from one of the big Mil shows.
Most Haunted would love all of those "orbs" floating around inside 😂
Spanners coming out me eyeballs. The curse of Land Rover collecting is the hundreds of boxes of rusty snail spanners I’ve accumulated.
Crackin Fred dibnah accent 😂👍
Hi Mate, Your content is bloody good. Bet I am 1000th guy to nag about it but WD40 is not an oil. Smelling good but not an oil. I like the German Balistol brand. They have the classic plant base gun oil but also really good lube oils and corrosion protection stuff. No hate - just saying
A good whack of nato bronze green and lots of nuts to paint red! Enjoy. 🤣🤣
We must have been pampered!! Seat Belts, Seat Cushions sandbags on the floor Luxury. would become like a peppermill very quickly under fire. If it's a mine your gone. Yemen 1967 69
😎👍
Isn't it funny how the words "Barn Find" make everybody's ears prick up!
What is the connection between Fitter Matt and the Mr Hewes Guys and Girls?
Perfect vehicle to drive through someone's garden at night
especially filthy dissidents'
ok .. now i'm curious ... whats with the matching beanies ??
Everyone loves a pink head
@@fittermat .. lol , fairy nuff
As part of the same family as the Stalwart we’re the Saracen and Saladin also amphibious?
just the stalwart that was amphibious to my knowledge
@@fittermat love to see more Alvis vehicles bet the salamander is a bit of a fun drive need an off road fire engine you have the perfect excuse after the tractor fire
So what does REME stand for? Rough Engineering Made Easy or Royal Engineer Minus Education!!! Lol I'm an ex-recy mech.
Use said it mate,as ex sapper 2nd reference the right one
Nick I was 0n holiday in Cyprus and I met an old soldier who was in the rasc in Aden he said they used to call the royal army service corps run away someones coming.
(w)Reck Everything, mainly engines
You should do a video on using vinegar to de-rust tools etc
@soldiers two men why not a video comparing the two?
First comment also love the channel!
56th
Great series, but Joe needs a microphone
Main problem with six wheel drive on the road is transmission wind up. A real pain.
The manual doesn't even mention wind up, and as long as the rolling diameter of each wheel on one side is within 2", it'll never be a problem. I've never had any issues with mine.
@@Starfireaw11 Interesting, as the Chieftain mentions windup as being an issue when he was talking about the Stalwart which shared the same drivetrain.
@@simongee8928 oh yeah, every forum and blog post has something to say about it, but you won't find a single reference from when they were in service. I don't know where it started, but everyone quotes it.
"A wack of spanners"
them spanner's even sound old.
Probably was lying in the QM Stores for ages, and this was his way of dumping them. With spanners that size, a VM would need a toolbox as big as the Tiffy's.
Robin lander on the web 2RTR back in the day. You will probably find some of your old mates .
Hello, Michael Mayo here;ex AJAX 2RTR 64 NI. Spent time out there in both Saladin's and Saracens.Up and down the whole of NI, sand dunes of Magilligan Point.Then off to Cyclops.(Parachute Squadron RAC)
@@michaelmayo2500 I left northern Ireland in late November 1964 demobb. When you went to Cyclops parachute squadron did you run into my old mate from lybya flakey Rodgers. He died in an accident on salsbury plane in 1967 so I was told. I still have photos of flakey and myself at an NCOs dinner in Homs lybya. He was a real character Alway ready for a laugh and a joke.
Hello Charlie, the nickname 'flakey' certainly sounds familiar.I was also in Libya doing heavy drops from Beverlys at Tarhuna; and it was some 50 odd years ago.Did flakey come from RTR or was he part of the Recon Squadron (ex BAOR) that took over Cyclops when we disdanded and RTUd.His name is ringing bells.?????
Flakey died on salsbury plane .He is buried in tidworth military cemetery.trevor dady mentioned it on the web site because he attended the funeral service. I think that he died in 1967 before the regiment left for Germany.
Hi Charlie, I remember Trevor Dady.He was our GuidedWeapons technology expert at Tidworth.Met him and 'gig' Young at a reunion at Bovington about 12 years ago; both made half colonel. Still unable to put a face to 'flakey'.Have been trawling my photo's.Michael.
once the Browning is installed you,ll be well away
It’s looking good now Youl see in the next video
The music starting at 8:33 is *way* too loud.
Massively expensive vehicle doesn’t have stainless steel pins on the hatches and what the hell is going on with the steering wheel :o that has to be on backwards?
Extremely simple vehicles designed and built to a price 75+ years ago when the UK was absolutely broke and rationing was still a thing after the war
@@iatsd I hear you, except on the simple part. That six wheel drive system is a bit mental :o)
@@iatsd they were no expense spared and as complicated as possible at the time. The people had rationing, the military had cold war budgets. Working on them is a pain in the arse, I want to set mine on fire regularly 🤣
No gun....throw the spanners.
Dear America. When English people say spanner, it translates to "wrench"
These videos would be interesting if the camera person had a clue on how to use it.
That steering wheel layout was designed by 5 old blokes wearing brown lab coats, who had bushy eyebrows.
ever thought about putting an airsoft gun up in that turret?
We have now sorted something
@@MrHewes cool looking forward to seeing what ya did
Great channel but please please pronounce REME correctly! It’s pronounced REEMEE NOT REMMY!!
The ex REME guys i work with pronounce it Remmy.
@Peter Griffin You should've probably got together and told everyone at some stage 😂
Some REME guy when we first started told us we were ‘fucking idiot civvis with no clue’ for pronouncing it remmy, so in his honour I have, and will continue pronouncing it remmy, just to keep edging up his blood pressure.
Hang on , what does REME stand for! Rough engineering Made Easy or Royal Engineer Minus Education! I'm an ex- recy mech!! Lol.
@@kmc7355 I served 20 years from 1990-2010 and I’ve never heard one person pronounce it REMMY, are you sure they actually served?!
How in God's name do you forget a Saracen,and when you get it going don't forget to pedal up in each gear to tighten the drive bands up.
Even with the closed captioning on, I’ve still no real idea what these fella’s are saying.
We don’t talk much sense so you aren’t missing much!
@@fittermat
You do know that what I stated was just goofin’ around?
That interior paint is horrid!
For all the money you guys spend on vehicles I'm kinda wondering why you don't spend some on a laser cleaning system, rather than fvcking about with a needler. Are you also all masochists in your spare time?
Have you looked at the cost of even a low end laser rust remover? £50k plus for a shitty one. They only make sense if you have a business doing laser rust removal.