hi all

i have just updated the armoured Engineer branch REA website
http://www.armouredengineers.co.uk/photose.htm



and i think you all will be asking me lots a questions ie about Great easterns two being use dto bridge a river, churchill flails, bridgelayers , three versions of ARKs , differant SBG bridge a jumbo to be exact. let me know what you think OSSIE

Dear Ossie,

Once again you've posted a fine series of photos!
While looking at them, I also noted the AVRE Mk VII again & was wondering: did it still have the coaxial Besa MG?

Also, some AVREs Mk VII seem to have some sort of bore evacuator. Are those 7.2" gunned tanks, or is it a variation of the 6.5" gunned version?

Thanks in advance,

Erik Jan

Hi

ok the coax and front hull machine gun are a 7.92 besa and the tank holds nine boxes of belt for these.

the gun in the picture has a end cap fitted made of wood to protect the end of the barrel then covered with a Canvas cover .

hope this answers your question
ossie

Hello Ossie,

So there is a coaxial Besa on AVRE Mk VIIs?
Reason I'm asking is, that e.g. in this picture and also in the Tamiya book on the Churchill, there is a hole next to the gun, but it is in the same location as the gun sights, and the Besa 'cradle' that would normally be next to the gun, isn't there.

As for the 'bore evacuator', in Osprey's "The Churchill tank" there is a photo showing an AVRE Mk VII with something that looks like a large drum halfway round the barrel.

All the best,

Erik Jan

hi

ok i think i know hat picture you are thinking of, it has fitted a 165 mm gun, it was the trial vehicle

as far as a coax besa well that is what it says in teh user handbook i have#
but i will try and contact a ex tank commander to find out.
speak soon ossie

Hi Ossie,

Any additional info on the AVRE Mk VII is welcome; I hope to hear from you soon!

The picture I was referring to, is in the book World War Two Tanks by George Forty, on p. 49.
On second thought, none of the other AVREs I've seen feature that kind of guntube; it looks larger in diameter than 165mm too. The caption says it is a 290mm Petard.

All the best,

Erik Jan