APC driven in Sydney, NSW

[Todjaeger]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2007071...rimeoffbeat;_ylt=AmdF2LO6I2qGlwwGbVza01IfYhAF

I watched the video, in some respects it was rather amusing to watch. OTOH it does seem to reflect accuracy in reporting. It was stated that it was a restored tank which went rampaging through Sydney and destroyed 6 cell towers. From what I saw of the vehicle, it appeared to be an M113 variant.

-Cheers

 

[Neutral Zone]

From BBC online;

Tank rampage crushes phone masts

A man has been arrested in Sydney after phone masts were destroyed during a 90-minute rampage in a privately owned armoured personnel carrier.
John Robert Patterson, 45, allegedly smashed six properties including an electrical substation in a path of destruction through six suburbs.

Police followed the restored tank in a sedately paced chase until it stalled.

A defence lawyer said Mr Patterson claimed "that certainly he had authority to behave in such a manner".

Mr Patterson appeared in the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday and was denied bail pending another hearing on Monday.

He has been charged with malicious damage, breaking and entering, using a weapon to avoid arrest, predatory driving, possessing a prohibited drug and driving dangerously.

The magistrate recommended Mr Patterson receive psychiatric attention.

'Coverage problems'

The incident began when police noticed the APC destroying a substation in Minchinbury at about 0200 local time on Saturday (1200 GMT).

Officers called for back up and pursued the vehicle at speeds averaging 30km/h (19 mph) as it crashed through masts, fences and telecom relay sheds.

They moved in as it stalled trying to bring down another mobile phone tower in the suburb of Dean Park.

Police gave no reason why Mr Patterson had targeted the masts.

Telecoms firm Telstra said there would be "coverage problems" and it might have to install temporary phone towers once it was given access by police.

========================================

Thankfully no one was hurt in this incident. I'd love to know how he managed to get hold of an APC, this guy obviously seems to be disturbed.

 

[Todjaeger]

In some ways, I'm tempted to send a copy of the clip to my cell company with a caption of "Fighting back against high phone bills". Having watched the clip, the vehicle seemed painted out as a US vehicle with a large white start on the side. In some respects the paint scheme seemed like the one used by US vehicles in WWII or Korea, but the design itself appears to be that of an M113, though it is possible that it might be one of the predecessors to the M113 (M75 was it, or the M59? Don't remember).

I would assume that the vehicle which was listed as a restored tank, was likely stolen from either a museum or armour collector. Speaking of which, any idea of any of the Australian Leos have made it onto e-Bay? I'm looking for a new sport utility vehicle...

-Cheers

 

[Waylander]

He was lucky.
In the US they killed the guy who had stolen a M60 and went on a rampage through the suburbs. They only got him because he got stuck on the concrete wall between two highway lanes.

Are the owners of armored vehicles forced to do any modifications onto their vehicles in Australia?

In Germany you have to replace 1m² of armor with thin plate at the drivers location so the police is able to get through to you without needing a MILAN team from the Army.
I saw this when me and my father had the opportunity to drive a restored T-55M.

Some years ago a freak used his stolen Fox APC to carry his girlfreind to a Drive In.

 

[Manfred2]

Thats a good rule, but I never heard of a man with a privatly owned tank doing any damage here. THat M-60 in San Diego was taken from a National Guard armory.

And yes, I hope the cell phone companies got the message, loud and clear.

 

[Waylander]

In the end an unmodified roughly modern tank is the ultimate crime vehicle.

How do you want to stop it especially when hostages are taken.

Or for terror acts. I doubt that a tank full of explsoives can be stopped before it runs into your parliament despite these nice stoppers which are intended to stop trucks.

 

[eckherl]

We had a pissed off drunk cannon cocker back while I was on Fort Carson steal a M109 howitzer and decided to drive onto highway I-25 enroute to Denver, with much luck he ran out of fuel before a Apache gunship took out the suspension. It for sure gave the Colorado State Police some pucker factor.

 

[eckherl]

Thats a good rule, but I never heard of a man with a privatly owned tank doing any damage here. THat M-60 in San Diego was taken from a National Guard armory.

And yes, I hope the cell phone companies got the message, loud and clear.

And if they only knew where the fixed fire extinguisher handles were they could of prevented that from happening.

 

[Waylander]

Modern tanks are so easy to steal and to drive.

Just crack the cheap padlock and there you go.

 

[eckherl]

Modern tanks are so easy to steal and to drive.

Just crack the cheap padlock and there you go.

Are you stating that German motorpools are unguarded, if that is the case then I will fly over so that I can take a peak inside of a LEO2A6 and PUMA

 

[Waylander]

Not unguarded and I won't go into details about how our barracks are guarded.

But we are a conscriptors army and so it is not hard to find out what you want about how the guards work...
And the barracks which are guarded by private contractors often enough seem even moe open to me.

But as always this depends on alert level.

It is much easier to go on open day events and do a ride in a Leo and veterans from other countries are well liked there.

 

[DavidDCM]

Yeah, I also always thought that it would be so easy to steal a tank when I served in the Bundeswehr. Luckily I served on the Leopard anyway, so stealing was unnessecary.

But one question, what would they've done if he hadn't been stuck in that building? Would they have waited until he runs out of fuel or would they at some point have called in the Army for some target practice?

 

[rossfrb_1]

Being described as a 1967 Tojan apc here
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22073903-2,00.html
A hitherto unknown beastie to me.
Again the media seem to have problems with the difference between a tank and anything else armoured and military

rb

 

[Waylander]

Why should they be more precise?
The majority of the audience gives a sh_t about wether it is a real tank or an APC.

 

[Todjaeger]

Some quick Googling I found this. The FV432 Trojan APC, stems from a 1959 design requirement for the British army for an APC. It is visually similar to the US M113, but has ~12.7mm of steel armour, as opposed to upto 44mm of aluminum armour of the M113. Over 1,000 examples have been upgraded for continued operation in British reserve units.

Incidentally, the business that owned the tank apparently rented it out, where it was popular with kids going to dances...

I would've rented that over a limo for prom any day!

-Cheers

 

[DavidDCM]

Does the configuration with twin Autocannon have really been in service? Has the FV432 been in US service at all? Or is this just the collector's "version" that has never really existed?

 

[Todjaeger]

Does the configuration with twin Autocannon have really been in service? Has the FV432 been in US service at all? Or is this just the collector's "version" that has never really existed?

With regards to an FV432 ever having seen US service... I doubt it. Or at least, not entering regular service. The FV432 entered British service at about the same time the similar (and similar looking) M113 entered US service. IIRC there were 2,500+ FV432 units built, compared to 80,000+ units of the M113 and variants, which is still currently in production around the world in different countries. I wouldn't be surprised if the US purchased or was given a few FV432 for testing purposes, but I don't think any FV432 would've seen actual deployment or service outside of proving grounds in US colors.

-Cheers

 

[StingrayOZ]

It can't happen to M113 as the US does not allow private ownership of them. NZ had to scrap all of them instead of selling them off to private collectors.

Rumored starting prices were a very reasonable $20,000 NZD. Running costs and parts a avalible.

Australia will not be selling any instead mothballing the non upgraded M113's.

The Leos can be sold, but may not be, they may be used as reserve units until all the logistic and M1A1 arrives. They will hold onto them for a few years and then concider selling them off. I wouldn't expect any fire sale of tanks until 2010.. so save your $'s.

I would *LOVE* a Leopard. I have the space (40 acres but might get a larger 5,000 acre property in a few years).

My GF family in the UK have a relative that owns no less than 3 tanks. And the worlds fastest tractor with 3 helicopter jet engines.

 

[DavidDCM]

@Todjaeger: Thanks for the info! So that vehicle was just a custom made collector's edition.

@StingrayOZ: In the case of the Leopard 1, I would think that before selling them to private collector's, the Australian Government would try to make a third world developing country buying them. A Leopard 1 is still a fearsome machine, especially when neighbours or potential enemies of that particular country only employ even older tanks like the T-55 or so.

 

[buglerbilly]

In the case of the Leopard 1, I would think that before selling them to private collector's, the Australian Government would try to make a third world developing country buying them. A Leopard 1 is still a fearsome machine, especially when neighbours or potential enemies of that particular country only employ even older tanks like the T-55 or so.

Why do you think anyone would buy them when Germany itself has been giving away for free or selling them for Friendship Prices to all who wanted?

There is very little or no market for LEO 1's.

Chile had expressed some interest BUT that was more aimed at the Engineering & Bridge-Laying versions than the MBT's. Even this interest seems to have disappeared over the last 12 months.

It would make more sense to give the lot away to some Friendly Nation.

Regards,

BUG