Good work guys, I'm part of a contingent that is repairing and preserving vehicles in the UK. 2 Saladins being part of them. Only 1 thing I would add, you need the white lines on the hubs to keep an eye on wind up! Or risk big problems later
Lino - I’m in the States with 07 BB 48, we have all the manuals but there is nothing like an old hand to tell you trips and traps. Would you mind being a resource??
Loved driving these in Cyprus in the early nineties. We drove from Episkopi to Dhekelia with all or Ferret scout cars and I drove our troop Saladin. A lot of fun!
Couple of stories told to me by a Territorial (part time soldier) - The standard tin of compo cheese would fit into the barrel of the gun, with a blank behind it it made a nice splat mark on the side of an opfor tank at close range- No argument about hits. On exercise there were a lot of vehicles all of which looked the same. Being a Merchant Navy officer he carried a red ensign (a red flag with a union jack in the top corner, the original 'jolly roger' from the French for red flag). On returning to base he would put this on his antenna so he could identify his vehicle later that night after a few beers. Once they ran into a US umpire who clearly didn't know what the flag was and asked what it was in a rather self important way, the lad saluted smartly and replied "'British communist party sah!", driving off along the road before the umpire had recovered. Last used in action during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, there is footage of one falling back, stopping and engaging the lead tanks of a column and then withdrawing further. That gun could cause real damage to something like a T55.
An ageless design. At a push the old Saladin could do a useful job today in the 21st C. Add a rugged tablet display with external cameras and GPS. Replace the coax with an off the shelf laser rangefinder. Replace the radios with modern equivalents and there you go. A low cost highly maneuverable 6x6, 4 wheel steer recce vehicle. With the ability to fire 76mm HE, AP and canister if necessary. I'm not sure how much additional armour or reactive tiles it can accommodate but with a little ingenuity .... ... By way of validation, it is still in use with many hot climate countries today as a support role vehicle. . I remember them from BAOR and was amazed to see them again in Kuwait in 1991.
I drove one in lybia c squadron 2rtr. We went from the coast our barracks in Homs. The whole squadron Saladin's, Saracens, ferrets trucks and land rovers.we drove to the border to a place called Dr toumo .A water hole in the middle of nowhere. It was quite a journey. On the 2rtr old boys forum website there is a document listing all the vehicles and men who made that journey.
Last time i saw one on the Street was in early 70s but it was a BGS ( german Border guard) Vehicle, iam a big fan of brits arm Cars, Ferrets, Saladins and Saracens
REME Depot in homage to REME. Stands for Restoration, Engineering, Military, Equipment. Created by our Royal Engineer friend that serviced in the UK and sadly passed away September 16 2018. RIP Martin Spirit
My first experience of these were in 1981 as an Army Cadet at Okehampton Battle Camp in Devon. There were 2 at the bottom end of the Parade Ground. I wonder if they are still there or if they found good homes as well?
The high school I dropped out of still sends me invitations to reunions, even after I repeatedly asked to be removed. Can I rent one for a weekend ? And, may I flag the turret for all kills ?
Keep driving that old beast with the engine covers in the open position and you'll get great grief. Does not allow cooling air into the rads, even though yoy'd think it'd be OK. Eventually you'll overheat.
How can they call themselves REME if they’re American? It maybe a misunderstanding on my behalf but I thought REME stood for Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers.
Stands for Restoration, Engineering, Military, Equipment. Martin Spirit was a Royal Engineer who served in the UK and set the REME Depot up with friends. They restore ex military vehicles. He passed away in September 2018.
