MILITARY VEHICLES # 9.

GERMAN 10.5cm FIELD HOWITZER.

The 10.5cm weapon was the standard German field howitzer throughout the first world war. This particular improved model appeared in 1916.

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BRITISH SIMPLEX 20hp RAIL TRACTOR.

Small rail tractors were used to transport supplies from rear depots to the front line trenches in France 1916 - 18. Being petrol driven they did not give away their position by plumes of smoke.

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BRITISH 9.45inch HEAVY TRENCH MORTAR.

The 9.45inch was the heaviest trench mortar used by British and Imperial forces in the first world war. Its bombs was nicknamed a ` flying pig `.

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BRITISH AEC MODEL 850 GUN TRACTOR

Only six vehicles a year were built of this sophisticated design between 1929 and 1936 for the Royal Artillery. Most were abandoned at Dunkirk in 1940.

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GMC DUKW AMPHIBIOUS TRUCK.

The `Duck` as it was popularly known was developed specifically to support seaborne landings. It could carry two and half tons of supplies or up to twenty five men from ship to shore.

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CHURCHILL AVRE.

This Churchill avre was displayed at Hermanville - sur - mer, Normandy from 1987 to 2001 as a memorial to the 3rd infantry division at Sword Beach.

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SEXTON SELF PROPELLED GUN.

The Sexton was developed in 1943 from the Canadian designed Ram tank. It was a great success providing artillery support for fast moving armoured formations throughout the campaign in North West Europe.

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GERMAN 7.5cm ANTI TANK GUN.

This PAK 97/38 anti tank gun was a stop gap weapon. It did however equip German reserve formations many of which guarded the Normandy coastline.

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GERMAN STURMGESCHUTZ III.

The Sturmgeschutz assult gun ( stug ) was designed to provide close artillery support for attacking infantry. It was also used in regular Panzer divisions to replace lost tanks.

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GERMAN JAGDPANTHER TANK DESTROYER.

Although only 382 were built the `hunting panther` was the most successful German tank destroyer of the second world war. The largest group of them fought in the Ardennes offensive of December 1944.

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VEHICLES # 7.

 

 

1914 DENNIS MOTORISED FIRE PUMP.

 

This was Coventry's first motorised fire engine. It has a Coventry made White and Poppe engine and a body made by Dennis Brothers of Guildford. This appliance was used in Coventry until the 1930s, when it was sold to the General Electric Company ( GEC ) and used at their factory in the Stoke area of Coventry, where it saw service during the second world war. It was eventually brought back by Dennis Brothers, the original manufacturers, and restored by the company's apprentices to the condition in which you see it today.

 

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1977 TRIUMPH 2500Tc POLICE CAR.

 

The Triumph 2000 was launched at the London motor show in 1963. It had a body designed by Michelotti who designed many Triumphs cars in the 1950s,60s and 70s. In 1968 the 2500 was introduced. The 2000 and 2500 models stayed in production until 1977 with a number of facelifts to the body design. One of the most popular vehicles with police officers, the Triumph 2500 was very quick and reliable. This vehicle was restored in the police garage in Little Park Street, Coventry, prior to coming to the Coventry Transport Museum.

 

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1982 DE LOREAN.

 

Engine - 2.8 litre. Top speed - 135mph. Price new - £25,000. The Belfast based De Lorean company set out to build a car that would look and drive like a $50,000 sports car, but for about half the price. Production on the stainless steel bodied and gull winged door De Lorean started in 1980 but by 1982 the project had floundered and the company went into liquidation. It consumed millions of pounds of British taxpayers money when it was set up, yet its clear aim was to create a niche in the American market. The car itself had a reputed speed of some 135mph and retailed at £25,000 and most indeed found their way to American shores. It has a fuel injected rear mounted 2.8 litre six cylinder engine, central petrol tank and luxurious if not novel interior. The romance of the De Lorean has been kept alive through the hugely popular `back to the future` films.

 

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AUSTIN PRINCESS AMBULANCE.

 

This ambulance is based on the Austin Princess motorcar. It has been fitted out to the highest standard and is seen as a luxury ambulance to be used by V.I.Ps and dignitaries. It is a shame most of its passengers would have been in no fit state to appreciate the opulence this ambulance has to offer.

 

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1949 BEDFORD KZ AMBULANCE.

 

The vehicle on which this ambulance was based was very easy to use and very sturdy making it very suitable for conversion to an ambulance. In 1948 the National Health Service was introduced in Britain and many local authorities took the responsibility for operating an ambulance service. Many of these new local authorities began to use this type of ambulance. Coventry service had several of these vehicles which they painted maroon rather than the more usual white or cream.

 

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DENNIS F8 FIRE PUMP.

 

This type of appliance was the mainstay of most British fire brigades in the 1950s and 1960s. It is fitted with a B80 straight eight Rolls Royce engine and both pump and the vehicle were made by Dennis at their factory in Guildford, Surrey. Coventry fire brigade had this type of appliance in service throughout the city along with the F7 and F12 models. This is also the type of fire engine used by the cartoon character `Fireman Sam` which he called Jupiter.

 

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1929 DENNIS MOTORISED FIRE PUMP.

 

This appliance served with the city of Coventry fire brigade and was based at Hales Street station which is the red brick building facing the front of the museum which you can see through the window behind the vehicle. The fire pump is fitted with a White and Poppe engine which was made in the Holbrooks area of Coventry. During the second world war this appliance provided fire cover from temporary out stations located in the suburbs of Coventry.

 

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1937 DENNIS.

 

Model - Ace fire engine. Engine - 24.8hp ( 3,770cc ). Top speed - approx. 50mph. This fire engine is sometimes called the flying pig as its extended bonnet gives it a snout like appearance. It is fitted with a 400 gallon water pump mounted at the rear.

 

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1922 GWYNNE FIRE ENGINE.

 

Model - eight. Engine - 8hp ( 950cc ). Top speed - 35mph. Price new - £207 ( 8hp car ).

 

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1969 FORD CAPRI 1600XL.

 

Specification - 1600cc crossflow engine, Borg Warner type 35 3 speed automatic gearbox. Original colour silver fox metallic. Price when new £1,066-12-11d. This car was donated to the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society to mark the 25th birthday of the Ford Capri by Alan and Amanda Horton who provided the following potted history:-

The car was given to us by a couple who knew we collected Capri`s as they had no further time, money or space to keep her. They decided to give her away to someone who had. So we took her on and planned a full restoration in future years. Unfortunately owing to other expenses that arose we undertook a budget respray, hence the reason that she is not in her original colour now. We have promised in the not too distant future to rectify this problem and any others that arise in her upkeep. In recent years we have taken `Clara` to numerous classic car shows and she creates a lot of interest partly due to the fact that she is automatic, which is very rare for this model.

 

 

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RANDOM PHOTO`S # 14

 

TROPICAL FLOWER.

 

 

 

CARVER DERBYSHIRE IN THE UK.

 

 

 

BEGGERS BRIDGE UK.

 

 

 

SPECTACLED CAIMEN.

 

 

 

MADAGASCAR COCKROACH.

 

 

 

PIRATES BAY.

 

 

 

ZEBRA FINCH ON FEEDER.

 

 

 

1873 DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

 

 

 

RED LION PUB IN CRICH UK.

Originally stood near the church of St Peter AD Vincula in Stoke otherwise known as Stoke Minster.

 

 

 

RED LIONS PUB YARD.

On the right hand side of photo, in the background you can just see an Edwardian Urinal.

 

 

 

 

OLD TIME GOODS.

A nostalgic trip back in time.

 

 

 

DERBY ASSEMBLY ROOMS.

Built between 1765 and 1774 and was dismantled and bought to Crich.

 

 

 

 

K1 TELEPHONE BOX.

Introduced in 1921, this kiosk came from the grounds of a hospital in Rochdale, Lancashire UK before being located in Crich.

 

 

 

MARK 2 METROPOLTAN POLICE BOX.

No it`s not the DR Who`s Tardis.

 

 

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AIRCRAFT # 11.

 

SOPWITH PUP.

 

Single seat fighter. Pilots regarded the pup as the perfect flying machine. The Royal Navel Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps both used it extensively. Date - 1916 - 1918. Engine - 80hp Le Rhone 9c nine cylinder rotary engine. Top speed - 112mph at sea level. Service ceiling - 20,500 feet. Armament - one forward firing synchronised 7.7mm Vickers machine gun and up to four 25lb bombs on external racks. Where used - UK, Western front, Italy, Mediterranean.

 

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SOPWITH STRUTTER.

 

Two seat fighter and single seat bomber. The Strutter was designed as a high performance fighting aircraft. Both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Navel Air Service flew large numbers of them as did the French Aviation Militaire and Belgian and United States Air Services. It was named the strutter because of the unusual arrangement of the central mainplane bracing struts. Date - 1916 - 1918. Service ceiling - 13,000 feet. Engine - 130hp Clerget 9 B nine cylinder rotary engine. Top speed - 100mph. Armament - fixed forward firing 7.7mm Vickers machine gun, Lewis gun in rear cockpit, up to 224lbs of bombs. Where used - Western front, Russia, Macedonia, Mediterranean, UK Home Defence, Romania and Japan.

 

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BRISTOL M.1c.

 

This is a replica of the single seat fighter. Date - 1917 - 1918. Engine - 110hp Le Rhone nine cylinder rotary. Top speed - 130mph at sea level. Service ceiling - 20,000 feet. Armament - one fixed forward firing 7.7mm synchronised Vickers machine gun. Where used - UK ( training ), Macedonia, Palestine, Iraq and Chile ( export ).

 

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MITSUBISHI Ki - 46 III ( DINAH ).

 

Reconnaissance Photographic. One of the most elegant aircraft of world war two, the Dinah was so successful that Germany tried ( in vain ) to acquire manufacturing rights from Japan. Although fighter and ground attack versions were developed, it was in the high altitude photographic reconnaissance role that the Ki - 46 excelled. Given allied codename `Dinah` this aircraft combined high speed with long range and was able to cover the entire Pacific theatre of operations with little opposition.

 





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MODEL of a BOEING C17.

 

This is a manufacturers model of the Boeing C17. The first C17 for the RAF was delivered in May 2001 and is operated by 99 squadron. In all 99 squadron has eight C17 aircraft. In RAF service the aircraft is unofficially known as the Globemaster.

 

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GLOSTER METEOR T.7 VZ634.

 

Tandem two seat conversion trainer. Built and flew for the first time in 1949. Entered service with 247 squadron in 1949. Carried a crew of two. Max speed - 585mph. Range - 1,000 miles. Service ceiling - 40,000 feet. This aircraft is powered by two Rolls Royce Derwent 8 turbojets each rated at 3,600lbs static thrust. It did not carry any armament.

 

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CESSNA 310A G-APNJ.

 

Twin engine business and executive transport. Built by Cessna in the USA in 1956. Carried a crew of four or five. Max speed - 221mph. Range - 1,729 miles. Service ceiling - 19,500 feet. The aircraft is powered by two Continental O-470-M horizontally opposed piston engines each rated at 240hp.

 

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SOCATA MS. 880B RALLYE CLUB G-BFTZ.

 

Three to four seat light aircraft. Built in France in 1968 and registered F-BPAX. In June 1978 came to the UK and registered G-BFTZ. Carried a crew of one plus up to three passengers. Max speed - 121mph. Range - 530 miles. Service ceiling - 10,500 feet. The aircraft is powered by a Rolls Royce Continental O-200-A four cylinder horizontally apposed piston engine rated at 100hp. This example is the oldest of its type now in existence in the UK.

 

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DE HAVILLAND VENOM NF.3 WX905.

 

Two seat night fighter. Aircrew - two. Max speed - 630mph. Range - 1,000 miles. Service ceiling - 49,200 feet. Loaded weight - 15,800lbs. Span - 42 feet 11 inches. Length - 36 feet 7 inch. Height - 6 feet 6 inches. Armament - four 20mm Hispano cannon. Power plant - one De Havilland Ghost 104 engine rated at 4,950lbs static thrust.

 

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SUPERMARINE SWIFT FR.5 WK277.

 

Fighter/ reconnaissance aircraft. Aircrew - one. Max speed - 685mph. Range - 630 miles. Service ceiling - 50,000 feet. Loaded weight - 21,250lbs. Armament - two 30mm Aden cannons and provision for underwing stores. Span - 32 feet 4 inch. Length - 43 feet. Height - 13 feet 6 inches. Power plant - one Rolls Royce Avon 114 engine rated at 7,175lbs static thrust.

 

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AIRSPEED AMBASSADOR.

 

British piston engine passenger aircraft which flew on European routes in the 1950s. Engines - two 2,625hp Bristol Centaurus 661, 18 cylinder radials. Dimensions - wing span 115 feet, length 82 feet. Weight - 52,500lbs. Performance - max speed 312mph, cruising speed 260mph. Crew - three. Passengers - 47.

 

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AIRCO - DE HAVILLAND DH9.

 

Bomber. First world war British bomber designed for strategic attacks on German cities, railways and airfields. Not very successful because of its underpowered and unreliable engine. DH9s were some of the first aircraft stationed at Duxford.

 

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