Tanks

[pjw4118]

Oliver Hudson awaiting call up to the RNZAF was transferred to Avondale Military Camp in September 1941, Signal training for the 4th LAFV. By July 1942 he was at Waiouru. From his album notes.



Valentine Infantry Support 18 1/2 ton, 2 pounder Gun



Bren Carrier 1 1/2 ton, 4mm Scout, non armoured, Ford V8, 50mph



Waiouru Camp



Avondale Military Camp Sept 41, Signals training
Top N Grardner, D Gibbons, J Kendrick
Below J Anderson, F Frew, Self

Eventually Oliver went to ITW Rotorua, Wigram, Canada, and 75 Squadron





Any thoughts about
When did the Vanetins arrive and were Honey tanks replacements for Stuarts? Did we have many Available?

[Dave Homewood]

Weren't the Honeys and Stuarts the same thing? I thought Honey was a UK nickname for the Stuart?

[Dave Homewood]

On the question of when the Valentines arrived, the answer is here:
antipodeanarmour.blogspot.co.nz/

"In October 1941 the first twenty Mk IIs arrived in New Zealand, they were issued to the 1st Army Tank Brigade. Between 1941 and 1942, New Zealand received 98 Mk IIs, 80 Mk IIIs and 77 Mk Vs. A total of 18 Mk IIIs were converted into C.S. tanks in 1943. Twenty five Mk IIIs including nine C.S. tanks saw service in the Solomon Islands with the 3rd NZ Div Special Tank Sqn. The Valentine remained in service until 1960, when they were replaced by the M41A1 Light Tank. The Valentine C.S. tanks served until 1956, when 3-in ammunition for then, ran out."

I had not realised till reading that blog that New Zealand used Valentines in Italy.

[The Red Baron]

Up until recent times there was a Valentine in the yard behind Supercheap in Tauranga,its since vanished...hopefully not to the recyclers.

[pjw4118]

Thanks for that info .I hadnt realised that we had so many tanks. It also questions why we need so many LAVs

[Dave Homewood]

The NZ Division converted the whole 4th Brigade (three infantry Battalions) into the 18th, 19th and 20th Armoured Regiments, so they had a lot of tanks all right. The best they had as far as I can tell were the Sherman Fireflies with the 17 pounder guns.

[30sqnatc]

I had not realised till reading that blog that New Zealand used Valentines in Italy.

Yes but only a support vehicles (bridgelayers) not gun tanks as tank technology had surpassed the Valentines protection, firepower and speed by then.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I saw that. Still very interesting. Did the bridgelayer tanks come under the jurisdiction of Armoured Corps or Engineers?

[30sqnatc]

Oct 31, 2012 16:27:36 GMT 12 pjw4118 said:

Thanks for that info .I hadnt realised that we had so many tanks.

There are accounts in the War Histories of a tank squadron starting a battle with full strength of 16 tanks but have 3-4 still operational by the end of the day.

Oct 31, 2012 16:27:36 GMT 12 pjw4118 said:

It also questions why we need so many LAVs

LAVs are our primary fighting vehicle and they will be around for many many years. Battle attrition is inevitable so just as well we have some backup in numbers.

[patmcshane]

Hello

By pure luck I have found this discussion board - it's great! I refer to the photo above entitled "Valentine Infantry Support 18 1/2 ton, 2 pounder Gun". My father served in the 20th Armoured Regt in Italy in WW2. He was at Cassino and I'm pretty sure he was in C Squadron. Would anyone be able to confirm the crew members names on the Valentine in the photo as I think my Dad is the guy on the left in the turret with the cap on? My fathers name was Joseph Ivan Logan McShane. He was known as Ivan or Mac (s/n 80548). I am looking at writing an account of my fathers service and am currently compiling research. If anyone has photo's of tank crews in the 20th either in NZ or Italy I would greatly appreciate a copy. Many thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

Email inbound Pat.