hi all
does any one have any pics of the hull front of the marksman and the back of the turret, not the one at duxford as i have got pics of that as i am after pics of it when it was trialled.
many thanks dave

Hi Dave,
I was involved in the trials of Marksman when it went to Saudi Arabia in the mid-nineties, it was a real experience to live-fire the guns. The turret at Duxford is the one used in the trials. As far as I know this is the only trials turret used, and was used on all the British trials as well as the Saudi trial. By the way, the Chieftain hull used at Duxford is not the same one as used on trials. The trials Chieftain hull was 53MS28, the same hull as used for the Sabre turret trails (not the CVRT Sabre turret but another twin 35?mm anti-aircraft turret).
I have some photos of the Marksman fitted to an M60A3 in Saudi if they would be of any use to you drop me an e mail.

Regards Aye

DENNIS

Dennis looking through the limited stuff on Marksman I am sure that apart from the adaptor for the turret the hull was identical to a service one. Sabre was a nice clean turret compared to Marksman in my opinion, although that does not mean it was better.


Bob Griffin

Bob,
I believe that you are correct with regards to the Chieftain hull for Marksman. One of its major selling points (which didn't do it much good) was that it could be fitted to any MBT hull with the appropriate interface ring. The Marksman turret was completely independant of the hull, including electrics. It had its own generator within the turret. The complete turret could be fitted within a couple of hours, we in fact did this in Saudi as part of the sales demo, but they still didn't buy it.
All I was trying to point out was that if anyone wished to build the Marksman on trials then the VRN of the hull would be different. I think the hull was a Mark 2 with just single headlights, what do you think? The MS designation was of course Military Sales, this does not explain where Marconi, the manufacturer of Marksman, got it from!
Regards Aye
DENNIS

Actually I may be able to help you there.

On leaving the Army in the late 80's I worked for AF Budge in Retford and among our hundreds of vehicles we had a Mk2 (?) Chieftain which was loaned several times to Marconi for the Marksman programme.

I have some photo's somewhere and should be able to get the VRN of the tank if anyone is interested.

Niall Hall

Hi Niall,
I would be very interested to know the VRN of the Chieftain used in the Marksman trial. I was involved in some of the trials, but was not into modelling in those days, so did not record anything. I would like my Chieftain Marksman on trial to be as correct as possible. However on studying the photos which I do have of the trial vehicle it may be a Mark 5/K that for some reason did not go to Kuwait. Some, but not all Kuwaiti Chieftains had single headlights, and the rear deck looks more like a Mark 5 than a Mark 2, with the raised transmission covers. Please try to confirm the VRN for me
Regards
DENNIS

Dennis

Sorry for the delay - had to find the photo's of the Budge Chieftain !

VRN was 00EB28 and the few pics I have suggest an early mark (2 ?) with single headlights - older NBC pack on turret rear, no IFCS etc.

Thinking about it I recall we didn't run it much other than to move it and load / unload off low loaders. Whether Marconi actually used this for trials or anything other than a mobile "turret stand" I really don't know.

I recall we "loaned" it to Marconi a few times - what they used it for as part of the Marksman programme I cannot vouch for.