More Trucks..

[luchi]

Can't. Petrol engines.

Why, no petrol in the leb?

[Goldie fish]

Why, no petrol in the leb?

Of course there is petrol there, but logistically, it makes more sense to have all the fleet using the same fuel, hence, the 1970s vintage light tracked recon vehicle gets left at home.

[Truck Driver]

Of late, vehicles (especially TCVs) whose service life has been extended, due to the €€€ situation,
have gradually been getting a paint job

One of our own TCVs looks the better for the fresh lick of paint

[hptmurphy]

Can't. Petrol engines.

No role for them, Scorpion tracks being a problem, you don't drive them everywhere you want to be like an AML or Mowag, you have to carry them and then deploy them.

Other problem being there is only one unit in the country that uses them, would have to deploy that entire unit to operate them.

[RoyalGreenJacket]

No role for them, Scorpion tracks being a problem, you don't drive them everywhere you want to be like an AML or Mowag, you have to carry them and then deploy them.

Other problem being there is only one unit in the country that uses them, would have to deploy that entire unit to operate them.

now there's a thought - deploying an entire unit.

i'm guessing days to do are getting few for the non Diesels in the Irish DF?

[Goldie fish]

now there's a thought - deploying an entire unit.

If you deploy the entire unit, there will be nobody at home to train others how to use that units vehicle type.

[DeV]

That could deploy a troop

[RoyalGreenJacket]

That could deploy a troop

a valuable asset in any environment i would say, particularly if it turns nasty in the Leb.

[Goldie fish]

Better off with the hitfist or the 40mm agl of the vehicles already there. The 76mm of the Scorp is a very impractical round.
If only we could put the Gun of an AML 90 on a scorpion hull...

[GoneToTheCanner]

It was done, as a trial, with a Belgian Cockerill 90mm, way back when the thing was new. As for tracks, buy them off the reenactors. They seem to have lots Failing that, get the IDA to set up a small factory producing them and the track pads.Oh, wait, the anti-war lot would go mad...

regards
GttC

[REX]

Of late, vehicles (especially TCVs) whose service life has been extended, due to the €€€ situation,
have gradually been getting a paint job

One of our own TCVs looks the better for the fresh lick of paint

It's more the case, that with Health & Safety legislation, each unit is not allowed to spray their own vehicles, as used to be the case. The proper filtering systems, spray booths etc are so expensive that the only one available is the Curragh, and as a result there is a severe backlog

[hptmurphy]

now there's a thought - deploying an entire unit

Some bastard would close the barracks the minute they were gone out the gate!

If only we could put the Gun of an AML 90 on a scorpion hull...

Waste of money.....Turret rebuild required.

As for tracks, buy them off the reenactors.

...and where do you think they are getting them from???

That could deploy a troop

No they couldn't. The logs for a four vehicle troop would outstrip the benefits, plus I say again these are a fast recce vehicle for off road use with no troop carrying capabilty.

Mowag MRV far better suited to that type of task if required, failing that...didn't we just buy a load of RG32s that could carry out the same role and be mine protected...

[Aidan]

All of this does beg the question as to why their Scorpions are still in service if they can't be deployed?

There's been talk here over the years about a dieselisation programme for them - and various gun upgrades. Given the financial situation, it's safe to say that won't happen. Are they only being kept to make the case for a replacement (which will probably be PIII based after all) when the time comes?

[GoneToTheCanner]

@seanachie, somebody must be still making those tracks and pads given the amount of those vehicles or variants on the go, worldwide. Maybe they are being allowed to deteriorate in service until they become unusable and can be scrapped to show a budget "cut"?

regards
GttC

[hptmurphy]

seanachie, somebody must be still making those tracks and pads given the amount of those vehicles or variants on the go, worldwide. Maybe they are being allowed to deteriorate in service until they become unusable and can be scrapped to show a budget "cut"

I reckon with the amount of variants being retired that there are plenty of spares available.

Given there were a few export customers that they are still in production some where, but I do know that the Army don't like driving their on roads as they are excessively heavy on wear...and brakes.

Two type of tracks available, On Road which have rubber pads, and off road.

http://www.cookdefencesystems.co.uk/tracks.html

Maybe someone like this crowd?

RGJ might be able to shed some light on track suppliers seeing as his mob still use the variants.

All of this does beg the question as to why their Scorpions are still in service if they can't be deployed?

We couldn't support them overseas. They are not patrol vehicles in the sense of the type of patrolling the DF do and they must be supported by a dismountable element which means additional vehicles. They don't perform any role in the peace keeping role that any of our other armour can do without the limitations of tracked vehicles.

Why do we have them at all? They are good if you deploy them in the scenario they were intended for, but they have limited range and need need to be carried to their AO.