The Abandoned Tank Project - Episode 1 - Resurrecting a Falkland Islands Centurion BARV

In the first episode of the abandoned tank project I travel to Mr Hewes farm to take a look at his abandoned tank project, the centurion BARV, barely any of these extremely rare vehicles still exist, with this particular one being the largest vehicle to take part in the falklands conflict! Subscribe to the channel to follow our progress as we bring this impressive beast back from the dead.
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[@DC9622]

Contact the tank museum, they will have the history of the vehicle and could advise on what and what not to do when playing with a centurion and meteor engine.

[@antonyisherwood4164]

My thought exactly... Tank museum Bovington. 👍

[@huevacho97]

Nice project!! Just keep in mind that war isn't like a video game. As an Argentinian myself all I know is that many Innocents lives were lost in that nosense war just because of ridiculous politicians.

[@ssm726]

I knew, there were 2 of them. I inspected one in Denmark in 1983. We were together with Royal Marines on excercise. The one, I saw was attached to HMS Fearless. 50% chance, that I saw this one in action several times.

[@spenced4537]

My Dad was REME 🔵🔴🟡 he was posted to 22 Engineers at Perham Down, he took me out of school to remove the engine and radio equipment out the gate guard, centurion AVRE one of the best days spent with my Dad. 🛠🔧

[@heathersmith5055]

I have a photo of one of these coming ashore at Port Stanley in 1982 during the war. My late Dad was a Royal Marine signaller aboard HMS Fearless. It would be nice to know if this was his Barv. I'll be interested to watch the rest of the restoration xx

[@DieselCreek]

Awesome project! 👍🏼 I need more info about those little crawlers in front of the tank tho!!!

[@kwinterburn]

Tankettes or Brent gun carriers are usually that size

[@nickjames2370]

Look like Ransomes of Ipswich (UK) MG crawlers. MG = motor garden. Produced from 1936 to early 1960s (?)

[@abbush2921]

@@nickjames2370 Thanks Nick . Regards Ab Bush .

[@idontgetit3739]

@@kwinterburn nah, those things are way too small to be anything like that, looks like some kind of old farm crawler to me.

[@Eytaris]

Hey, Matt, nice to see you there!

[@colinwaite3355]

Sorry but this was not one of the two B.A.R.V.'s that took part in the Falklands War. Just one of the 11 that were made and are now all sold off to mainly museums. I was the driver of the one on Blue Beach off Fearless in 82.

[@pompeyrodney]

Hi Colin, your comment really interests me as I was on the Fearless for the Falklands trip, I understood we left the Barv on the beach, can you please recount what happened to ours?

[@thetruthwillout3347]

There's an excellent photo of a Barv in the book Falklands Task Force Portfolio part 2 page 10. The caption reads " The HQ staff of 3 Commando Brigade come ashore with their boots dry on a BARV!" Unfortunately you cannot make out the vehicle plate. Was that taken at Ajax Bay?

[@Dang3011]

I was drafted to Intrepid in ‘79. I remember sitting on our BARV during a sods opera. I think that is the one that is now in Bovington and was the other one used in the Falklands.

[@acrchy]

you would have seen my brother on the rear deck then ,, he was assigned duty's at the rear being new to fearless

[@colinwaite3355]

@@thetruthwillout3347 The Plate was removed when we were painting her and left off. The caption is wrong as the people on board were the Beach Party from 4th Assault Squadron off Fearless.

[@donkeybollocks389]

I’ve a series of photos of myself and my oppo doing an Engine and Gearbox change on a BARV in the late 80’s. 00ZR21 to be exact which is now at the Tank Museum at Bovington. If the photos are of any use to you let me know?

[@AdrianPardini]

As a crushed down to earth Argie I really like this video. Thanks for keeping history alive

[@siras2]

Have to say those tracks look a bit tight - Not only zero slack across the top rollers, but your front roadwheel is actually being lifted!

[@GARDENER42]

Be aware there is possibly some asbestos used in the vehicle. Oh & lead in all the paint & paint flakes. Worth checking with the Tank Museum.

[@billgeorge7804]

I have little doubt I and several others worked on that old Centurion BARV at what was 27th District Workshops REME in Warminster. Good memories of thirty years ago. 😁

[@peterbird8161]

My father was a Royal Marine vehicle artificer, I am sure he knows all about these I have sent him this video

[@phartley9780]

I remember your dad well. Dickie was a great bloke, lot of respect for him. I was a VM in the Royal Marines. From what I can remember I worked with your dad for a few years.

[@itsmegzuz6197]

@@phartley9780 are you joking?

[@itsmegzuz6197]

@@phartley9780 bro im so fucking high i dont fucken know what i wrote

[@maxwellhatkow6209]

@@itsmegzuz6197 lmao

[@kbg2000tube]

They were used to push landing craft (LCU’s & LCVP’s) off the beach and assist vehicles coming ashore.

[@daveskelton9905]

It’s an interesting bit of kit... But, I’m pretty sure that is XE368 Seahawk in the background, ex Cornwall Aeropark, Bruntingthorpe then someone on Walney Island? I’d love to know what is happening to her as I worked on her when she was in much better state, trying to get her back to life. Many thanks.

[@idontgetit3739]

as soon as i heard the first bit of effing 'n' jeffing i was hooked lol, nice to find a channel with hosts that have the same vocabulary as me sen, cracking job lads, i'm here for the long haul ;)

[@AceAndyman]

Curious how u got a hold of this beast of a recovery tank.

[@mastertemple]

Fantastic video, can't wait to see the rebuild and see you driving round the moors haha Si-thee 👍👍

[@commander31able60]

I'm not used to this level of political incorrectness on KZbin. it's refreshing.

[@captainclarke]

This is like "DingleZilla does tanks"! Been in touch wit' Tank Museum, I think they've the sister one so probably have decent info?

[@fittermat]

yeah need to get in touch with them properly

[@mbak7801]

This should be brilliant. What is especially delicious is all the purple haired crowd losing their sh1t about the patriotic and down to earth attitudes and opinions. Absolutely fantastic and good luck with the refurb.

[@paulparker-joy3582]

Nice work mate looking forward to seeing and hearing it running

[@elken9157]

Never saw service in the Falkland. Instow was the closest it got to the sea.

[@TimBendix]

One of the BARVs was based at the Fording Trials Branch, Fremington, near Barnstaple in the late 70s. This where all manor of amphibious vehicles / amphibious modifications where tested by the Branch. I was a qualified troop commander and was able to take the BARV for a trip into the water and back.

[@GrahamB58]

A lovely beast! - I saw one of these in a farm in Bures in Essex - I have some half dozen photos of it there if you want them - I was wondering what the hell it was!

[@kwinterburn]

Just seen this and subscribed, basically because of the joke " 4 determined gypsies could get it out of the tank" excellent

[@johnduncan210]

250kg = the maximum lifting capacity of a determined gypsy :D

[@SamsMotors]

Good effort mate, subscribed and looking forward to more. Between us, we have both the coolest 'Falkands era' vehicle projects on KZbin I reckon!

[@fittermat]

Cheers bud! Hopefully the editing will improve as I get the practice in

[@nrs91]

@@fittermat I think the audio is key! But great first crack!

[@fittermat]

@@nrs91 mic’s are allready in order, but these aren’t bad when I don’t have my finger over them.....

[@nrs91]

@@fittermat 😂😂🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@brcron007]

Your probably still working on it ? Maybe put out a post locally and maybe 1 of the original Royal Mechanics that worked on her in the past might pop up and give you some pointers ??? Worth a try. Maybe someone will recognize her and reach out for you ? Worth a shot in the dark. Enjoy watching from Bradenton, Florida. New Sub.

[@MYEVILTWIIN]

High speed reverse ... the french gear 🤣🤣🤣

[@whotknots]

Yet another casualty of Britain's lack of preparedness for World War Two occurred when the British Bureaucracy persisted with Petrol engines as power plants for it's fast patrol boats and tanks. This occurred despite some outstanding concepts for high powered, multi crankshaft two stroke Diesels being developed in Germany by Junkers for aviation applications as early as 1932. An appalling number of British and Commonwealth tank crews died particularly horrific yet potentially avoidable deaths or endured grotesque disfigurement from burns while operating British made tanks as a consequence of Britain persisting with petrol fueled engines in tanks. Legendary British firm D. Napier & Son actually licensed permission to use designs for high powered diesel engines developed by Jumo at a relatively early stage prior to the war. However focus on development for those designs did not occur in Britain until 1943 when the Admiralty applied it's substantial influence at government level in order to obtain them for use in fast attack or 'torpedo' boats. Tragically the first model Deltic designated D18-11B was not put into production until around 1952 and had a continuous rating of 1,875hp at 1,700rpm. Conventional Mercedes diesels of comparable power to the Deltic D18-11B powered a captured German U boat which was subsequently used as a test-bed for early Deltic diesels. The Deltics were half the size and one fifth the weight of the Mercedes diesels and had a 1,000 hour overhaul or replacement life! It seems rather absurd therefore that the Meteor petrol engine continued to be used in British tanks until 1964 when it would have been relatively simple and far safer for crews if their vehicles were re-engined with Deltics. Equally mystifying is the fact that the Meteor is basically a naturally aspirated Merlin aviation engine which was 'derated' and simplified by removing the supercharger and reduction gearbox resulting in it producing only 650hp which is one third the continuously rated output of the Deltic D18-11B. In addition to this both the Merlin and Meteor use less than ideal, problem prone and inefficient carburetors in their fuel systems whereas comparable German engines were equipped with vastly superior and largely automated fuel injection well before the war. It doesn't require exceptional effort to conclude that post-war British bureaucracy must have been constantly on the lookout for ways to repurpose war surplus materiel and safety for tank crews was obviously a secondary consideration to economics. What seems particularly inexplicable is that this venerable old Centurion BARV still had not been re-equipped with a more powerful diesel than the Meteor engine by the advent of the Falklands War! A more powerful Deltic and probably a significant number of other modern V12 diesels with substantially more power than a Meteor would probably fit in the engine bay of the old BARV with no more trouble than a Meteor!

[@DeceptiveCobras]

the first box was the TC's and medic kit the 2nd box by the driver is for map and logs there should also be a 2nd Logbook in the back where the engine is as ALL Brit Tanks have log books dating back to WW2 all the Radios and most of the Classified stuff would have been removed before she was Sold on by the MOD or the dealer she looks like she has not been touched in about 10-15 years as for the Battrys they should be Deep Cycle Marine as a Good replacement also the gearbox should NOT be sealed up as the Clitch needs the motor in so you can depress it to get her in gear, you could use a 2 V8 motors if you want a more stable Drive Train However seeing how you have the V12 use her For now until you have to replace the inner Seals near the cylinder sleeves, and I know all this because I am a Ex Tank Driver 2000-2004 3rd Armored Cav I Drove Challenger 1/2,Warrior, Fox, and even a few Shermans ( for Tank Fest etc )

[@51WCDodge]

I have had the fun of riding around on one of these at the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Jersey in the Channel Islands. The ride like a bucking bronco :-)

[@mazdamaniac4643]

"Ah fuck! there goes the torch.." quoted by mechanics world-wide since time began 😂

[@scotttait2197]

You mean until torches where invented!

[@KrasYnek]

@@scotttait2197 You mean SINCE torches were invented 😅

[@mazdamaniac4643]

I like to think that just after fire had been discovered, some caveman muttered the equivalent of "Ah fuck." after dropping his torch into a particularly deep cave. ...and that's how swearing was invented 😂

[@MrMuckyPaws]

Awesome. Looking forward to seeing the resurrection.

[@fittermat]

Very soon!

[@colinshearsby6633]

Shared this video to our Tradesmen Reunited page on FB. We are all former Royal Marine Tradesmen (Mechanics, Metalsmiths and Armourers). A number of our members actually drove/crewed these before, during and after Op Corporate (Falklands) until the new version (Hippo) took over. Unfortunately, I’ve been informed that this model didn’t serve in the Falklands, but we are not/will not take anything away from the sterling job we know that you will be doing. Please let me know when more video is available so I can share with our members. Stay safe and well, best regards, Col.

[@richiefrankland9471]

Great video loving it already 👍👍don’t know if it’s just me don’t think it is but your volume levels a abit wonky especially the outro

[@iansnell8897]

Hawker Seahawk in right background...

[@tubster0001]

I hate to say it but this vehicle wasn't used in the Falklands. It actually spent the majority of it's service life in storage from its commissioning until the mid 80s. From there it was used for recovering boats at Instowe camp during training exercises until it was sold off in the mid 00s

[@stephencresswell4760]

Do you have some evidence for that? Sure the owner would want to know.

[@tubster0001]

@@stephencresswell4760 2 Barvs were used in the Falklands. One broke down after being driven on to the beach and got stuck and that's where it stayed until the end of the conflict. The other was used and was fairly heavily photographed and the serial number located above the driver's vision port is completely different to this one. I can't remember the serial numbers of the vehicles in the Falklands but they certainly don't match the one on this Barv unfortunately

[@DorsetAviator]

Hello. I live in Bovington Dorset. We have the Tank museum here and I believe they have or had a working centurion barv. Try giving them a shout and they should have loads of information and history on the vehicle. Hope this helps. Great video 👍.

[@lesthiele4921]

Thanks for this great video, will it be a complete re-build including paint job inside and out, or just back to running order? I have subscribed, good luck anyhow, keep safe and well in these crazy times, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia

[@axelusul]

Respect to the project, plus the vets from the Falklands. Good friend fought at 'Tumbledown".

[@jamiieos]

I follow him Instagram!

[@regsparkes6507]

Now this one interests me, I'm going to enjoy watching this one roar back to life. I guess the best way to do this is to subscribe, which I did. Thanks for this.

[@118Verbeek]

Fantastic! Great work mate. Love the couple of Ransomes crawlers sat in front of it too...or what remains of them at least. 😂

[@chrisbittlestone9264]

Tanktastic, dudes - good luck!

[@matty741]

The suppression system is something that is still on modern kit. We had Trojan and Titan at my last unit and when people hit them by accident, such a laugh haha.

[@MikeDent]

ahhh such fun. 😊

[@fazsum41]

Is that a Seahawk in the background?

[@TheBlatchi]

Can you please get those lil one person tanks going aswell

[@delta6tango2]

We have a small tank at Buckhurst plant hire that needs shifting

[@fittermat]

Allways room for another project!

[@ferrofilos]

Lucky vehicle , i wish i could rescue a tank or armored vehicle from malvinas, but knowing the Argentinean politicians they probably got scraped from steel value and got in their dirty and corrupt pockets. Im looking forwards to see the restoration of that! Cheers from Argentina !

[@alanslaughter6871]

1962 I was with REME port workshop and we had a Barv, when landing craft were dropping off vehicles they never come into beach, because in most cases they could not get off, They would drop vehicle into sea, we would drive the Barv in towards the vehicle, my job was to connect the Barv to the vehicle, the Barv would then reverse out, to the workshop and be deseaed bad grammar, all the oils were drained flushing oil was put in the engines and gear boxes two to three times. That is what the Barv was used for.

[@mattr7307]

That tank is fucking ace, thanks for the video, looking forward to seeing the series,good luck!

[@fittermat]

Cheers! Really appreciate the support!

[@mattr7307]

@@fittermat I don't know if they can be of any help but witham's specialist vehicles in Lincolnshire sell alot of MOD vehicles and parts direct from the MOD. Hopefully it all runs without too much grief.

[@chrisbirch2645]

Love your videos,brilliant ways of describing everything,creases me every time i watch

[@kbg2000tube]

Both HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid had one.

[@Terry_Fritz]

Happy to find you. Watching two Dutch channels where they are working on tanks with one in Dutch and the other in English. Relying on automatically generated subtitles is a nightmare and that's when they remember to tick the box to generate the subtitles in the first place. All the best.

[@idontgetit3739]

Master Milo??

[@markdinwiddy2543]

Good luck with the project. Looking forward to hearing that engine growl!

[@DJScottie]

Loving the video Matt, best of luck with the renovation lads and can’t wait for the next video 👍

[@vhbeckett7706]

Went upt beech.

[@northerner1374]

Excellent! Just don’t do a Clarkson and add an FKL number plate 😜

[@BRED510]

Fantastic video. Really looking forward to seeing this progress!

[@leoncharlesworth8108]

Brings back memory's looking at this video lived on cents for Five years in Armoured Engineers. Charlie Charlesworth

[@simonorams3013]

Might be worth having a look at the tank museum tankmuseum.org/ they will probably have it's full history in their archive or at least put you in the right direction.

[@fittermat]

will get in contact with them shortly

[@simonorams3013]

@@fittermat Lots of info including some pics of BARVS on San Carlos Bay... tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar-uk-fv4018-centurion-barv/

[@keirlilley647]

Excellent work Mat. Hope you and Mrhewes get it done 😀

[@fittermat]

Were giving it a good go!

[@Whitpusmc]

Well I agree with the sentiment of course but being from the US and not knowing the Kings I missed a good bit of this... might some kind chap translate for a poor American?

[@glenspryszak6005]

There's a LOT of internal cleaning up required on the inside of that tank. Looks like a pigsty.

[@MegaLingster15]

what a cool project! good luck you two, gonna be one hell of a job!

[@jaytoppo1670]

Fast reverse, the French gear hahaha love it hahaha :D

[@chrisclarke3965]

I have experience on centurion engines. We had a later mk gun tank, I changed all of the spark plugs, magnetos, booster coils carbs and got her perring. To change up the gear a little twitch on the tiller helps drop the revs.

[@davel831]

The royal Marines used these in the Falklands , when i was at Bordon at REME we trained the marines to use this gear.

[@connorwaldron6206]

I would love to see that plane in the background

[@jesusoftheapes]

Yeah cool and all but what are the tiny personal use tanks in front of that thing?

[@TVtwarn]

Looking forward to seeing this progress !

[@davegilyeat550]

Loving it, well done gents.

[@Harry_Warne]

You’ll need a fucking rum lot of wd 40 to sort this out quality video buh

[@wazza33racer]

Engine compartment from hell.........that is a serious challenge.

[@robleary3353]

Bril!. No PC, no boll*cks!. A laugh and an education on saving a bit of historically important bit of kit!. Love the job you guys do, don't change!. 🤣 Nuff said.

[@fittermat]

Cheers! Appreciate it!

[@andywarrington4738]

nice project lol , nice proper english spoken , good luck lads

[@rangeroverl322]

Locked in to follow this project . I take it a load of shot blasting to inside and outer ?

[@jamesocker5235]

Quite the parade machine except for the road destructing tracks

[@felixdagger549]

what is the tiny rusty vehicles in front of it which are singe seater

[@xacoupeguy]

i like the two ransomes crawler tractors infront of it

[@michaelturrell6101]

Five minute job ! That takes a few weeks + +

[@tikkathreebarrels]

French Reverse..... cracking!

[@dannymiles5640]

Fitter matt and guy Martin doing wheeler dealers!👌

[@adamskinner5868]

very cool

[@fittermat]

Thanks!

[@channelsixtysix066]

I'm surprised it is a petrol motor and not a diesel.

[@Angel_423]

Damn thats cool. Saved my homeland

[@bumhole275]

You from the falklands?

[@Angel_423]

@@bumhole275 yup

[@bumhole275]

@@Angel_423 nice my grandad fought in the war

[@Angel_423]

@@bumhole275 what regiment

[@bumhole275]

@@Angel_423 not sure but he was in the navy next time I see my dad I’ll ask him

[@spawnof200]

is that a sea hawk i spy in the background?

[@centurion262]

I was wondering the same thing

[@simong6049]

The french gear 😂😂funny

[@duskhunter3803]

Great stuff. Good to see there’s still a few of us left that haven’t given in to the woke PC brigade!

[@echohunter4199]

I’m just a retired US Army Infantryman living in San Antonio, Texas but I sided h Falklands war since I started my 26 year career in 1983. I also own a restored FAL rifle so when you consider the kit the British Marines we’re using, it’s not a simple job fighting on barren terrain! They had to dig in to get any kind of cover and 7.62 ammo is pretty heavy and the average Infantryman carried just 140 rounds on them but they’d usually have at least another ‘basic load’ of 140 rounds in their rucks. In each conflict there will be some bad mistakes as each side adjusts their tactics and it was both sides that showed some incredible efforts to do their jobs. Sinking the Argentine aircraft carrier was a very important move that saved a lot of British lives. That said, imagine how the crews of these recovery vehicles dealt with attacks since tanks are often targeted first at onset of hostilities/battles. I find it incredible that you’re all restoring an overlooked vehicle that had a critical role in that operation, well done men.

[@HauntingWithZDog]

It's looks like tank locomotives

[@womble321]

There were fully overhauled meteors for sale a while ago. They were done for the gulf war. Why not cut the top off put the engine in and weld the top back on :)

[@fittermat]

its designed to be able to lift its own engine in and out so we will be doing it how they would have in the field

[@womble321]

@@fittermat oh makes sense.

[@ianbeale2527]

Around 2005/6, I climbed in to one of these at Witham S.V. IIRC it was green and sand painted camo. I'm a short arse and I had real trouble climbing down in to the drivers position, which was extremely claustrophobic. I can't imagine what it must be like if you were partly submerged. Looking out through that small armoured glass panel, it just felt like I was in a metal coffin. Christ knows how anyone above my small stature got in and out.

[@normplatt7549]

Very good! Good show!

[@anthonyshaw7251]

The track pads were made in Stanhope Weardale, by W Cook Castings ( still there today), they had the military contract. I have chisels & pry bars made out of the track pins, extremely strong stuff.

[@oxfd611]

So what was to keep a smart Argentinian soldier from jumping up onto the chassis and give the fire suppression handle a pull and really fucking up the vehicle's crews day?

[@julianpighin1572]

Really liked the project! Not so much the comments about my country. Of course, being someone born long after the war was over, i've never really felt anger against the british people. I can understand where that hatred comes from but I don't share it. Greetings and good luck!

[@mudpanther6079]

found it after the tiktok help

[@cromwellg60]

In the interests of being petty and splitting hairs.....its an ARV not a tank ;) "up and running and crushing something Argentinian" hahahaha love it 🇬🇧