still searching 08 EA 81 FV432 MK11

Me Again
Still after any information/pictures of this fv432 or where it served.
Here is some information that might help you,help me! find out any information on my FV432 MK11 08 EA 81

18/05/77 VSD M' GLADBACH

12/11/77 3 ARMD DIV HQ & SIG REGT

07/12/82 4 ARMD DIV HQ & SIG REGT (HERFORD)

23/02/83 VSD OD ANTWERP

16/05/83 OD ANTWERP (FITTED FOR CLANSMAN)

03/08/83 42 FD SQN RE BAOR (HAMELN)

20/02/84 42 FD SQN/35 ENGR REGT (HAMELN)

26/11/92 OP GRAPPLE ENGR FD SQ 2 (BOSNIA)

17/04/95 OP GRAPPLE ARMD RECCE SQUADRON

03/04/95 VEHICLE DEPOT LUDGERSHALL

19/10/95 ABRO BOVINGTON PLANNED REPAIR

22/08/96 CBT ENGR SCHOOL 3 RSME REGT

25/01/01 CBT ENGR SCHOOL QM & MED CENTRE

01/10/03 DSDC ASHCHURCH

21/01/04 SOLD WITHAM(STRUCK OFF,BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.(NOW IN SAFE HANDS!!!!!)

Hope this might jog somebodies memory!!?


Thanks again,

Richard

Richard

My apologies, have acquired some more information on the history of your vehicle under 2 Scots Guards/1 Welsh Guards ownership.

Can only speculate as why the vehicle was withdrawn from the Guards and put into temporary stockpile before being reissued to HQ 3 Division

Hopefuly I will be able to make the time to consolidate my working notes and produce a sensible document in the next couple of months

Hi JPW

Thank you!!

You have no idea what a pleasure it was for me to see your post this evening. I have spent many hours, not to mention driven many miles to various military establishments, trying to further my quest to get as much history on my FV432 MkII 08 EA 81 as I can.

I would be so very grateful if you could consolidate your notes & pass on to me any information that you have.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Thank you again

Best Wishes & Happy New Year

Arnie

Part of a post I made on another thread.

Reference 08EA81, while it was in 42 Fd Sqn RE, I believe it was in 8 Troop (I was in 9 Troop at the time and it used to be parked next to mine 03ED46, I was the lucky one with Ranger and Barminelayer). I may have some pics of it in the MT yard from when I took photos of mine.

I would queery the bit about the vehicle being on Op Grapple in 1992 with 2 Fd Sp Sqn as I was with 35 Engr Regt then and the Fd Sp Sqn was 44 Sqn not 2 Sqn (37 Fd Sqn, 42 Fd Sqn, 44 HQ & Sp Sqn all from 35 Engr Regt with 5 Fd Sqn from 26 Engr Regt joining later on). We had relatively few 432's with us and they came from 37 & 42 Fd Sqn's.

42 Sqn at the time were based in Gordon Barracks (Linsingen Kaserne), Hameln.

Hi Chaz

Thank you!

This time last year I had almost given up hope of ever finding more info or pictures of my FV432 MkII 08 EA 81 but now I have two possible leads.

I would be really interested to see any pictures that you might have, especially of my FV432...but also of yours.

With respect to Op Grapple, I have found traces of white paint on the vehicle under the destructive camoflage pattern that it currently has. So maybe it was in Bosnia or was this white livery used in Germany or any other location? Be nice to see if anyone has any pictures from that era.

Any other info that you might have or remember would be of interest to me.

Regards

Arnie

PS. Do you know where I can lay my hands on a Barminelayer....it's on my shopping list!!!

I was supposed to be going back to Cornwall a few weeks ago but got delayed, I will be heading that way soon when me old man goes in hospital so will have a dig through my photos etc then.

Your 432 was in 42 Fd Sqn at the time of Op Grapple 1 so probably went with them, 2 Sqn RE was a HQ & Fd Sp Sqn at the time and as such had no 432's, possibly a 436 but more likely a Sultan as CP.
26 Engr Regt at Iserlohn was the parent unit for 2 Fd Sp Sqn and was where 5 Fd Sqn came from on Op Grapple 1.

The White was only painted on for UN tours and was applied rather hastily for Op Grapple 1.

37 Fd Sqn were doing route building over the mountains so were based at Tomislavsgrad, Redoubt, Happy Eater with some 432 (mainly at Tomislavsgrad).
42 Fd Sqn were based at Gorni Vakuf (7 Tp), Vitez (HQ & Sp Tp and 9 Tp), Tuzla (8 Tp) with 432, 434, 436, CVRT and CET
5 Fd Sqn were based at Rorkes Drift (brought out to build a different route part way through the tour).
44 HQ and Fd Sp Sqn were based Split (HQ, Res Cell, Bridge Tp), Tomislavsgrad (Mainly REME, Res Tp and Plant Tp, some Bridge Tp).

As a little bit of interest 42 Fd Sqn's armoured vehicles (432, CVRT and CET) were the first armoured tracked vehicles into Vitez and the first over the mountain route (the OC was actually driving a CET at the lead of the convoy as it entered Vitez school).
The Warriors of the Cheshires had problems getting over the route so Kate Adie was kept busy until the Warrior turned up to great fanfare as the first armour over the mountains.
We also had 432's from the Irish Rangers? to help as the Warrior's were too heavy for the bridges in areas.

I have Terry Ganders 'The Royal Engineers' at parents house and that has some photos of 42 Fd Sqn's MT yard with at least one 432, may be a long shot but possibly a pic in there.

JPW wrote:

Richard

My apologies, have acquired some more information on the history of your vehicle under 2 Scots Guards/1 Welsh Guards ownership.

Can only speculate as why the vehicle was withdrawn from the Guards and put into temporary stockpile before being reissued to HQ 3 Division

Hopefuly I will be able to make the time to consolidate my working notes and produce a sensible document in the next couple of months

Hi I thought i would let you know that there is a article on my fv432MK11 08 EA 81 in the Miliatary Machines International magazine, which you can purchase in WHSmiths.
Hope you are well.
Best Wishes,
Arnie

Update re: Still Searching 08 EA 81 FV432 MkII
Just thought I would let you all know that I have an article in this months Military Machines International highlighting my on going search!
I am still hopeful that someone, somewhere has a picture of my FV432 in service.
'KBO' - Keep Battling On (WSC)
Best Wishes
Arnie