Va-rooommmm!!!!!

[Keith Webb]

From the look of it, this is a triple Cadillac sidevalve, but what did it fit?

I suspect it may have been the Australian Cruiser tank.

More pics here.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
From the look of it, this is a triple Cadillac sidevalve, but what did it fit?

I suspect it may have been the Australian Cruiser tank.

Nice pics! Where did you find them?

Indeed, the Sentinel Cruiser tank was fitted with triple Cadillac "75" engines.

Second example I know of mating multiple engines to create sufficient output to propel a tank, the other well-known example is of course the Chrysler A57 multibank:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Indeed, the Sentinel Cruiser tank was fitted with triple Cadillac "75" engines.

Second example I know of mating multiple engines to create sufficient output to propel a tank, the other well-known example is of course the Chrysler A57 multibank:

Hey! Wot no piccy credit McSpool !
Thats another packet of Mr Dowe & Mr Egbert's finest you owe me, and one of them Dutch 50gm jobbies please, not a piddly 25gm UK effort.

What it doesn't show, apart from the long struggle Carl had in just finding parts from range dogs and the non-sectioned bits from museum examples, is the very complex radiator with its large "wet-box" ( It is the term here I'm afraid) where the output shaft passes through to the clutch.

The rad re-build was almost as much hassle as the engine itself.

The clutch IIRC is a cone type with the outer, engine driven alloy casting also forming a massive, multi-blade fan. This struck me as a novel arrangement to afford sufficient friction area in a minimal space, plus the clutch is also conduction cooled by the blades themselves acting like huge heat-sinks. Even so I believe there is an idle time limit of 4/5 mins whereupon you have to set the revs up to c. 1000 in order to achieve sufficient air volume to cool the engine.

I think Adrian "Tankbarrel" lives around these parts too and he is probably better informed than I.

The M4A4 encasing the pictured engine still resides in Carl's yard although the ownership has changed and its not for me to say what the current situation is.

R.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Nice pics! Where did you find them?

They came from the RSL Archives.
I have a few more developmental shots of the Cruiser which I'll put online soon.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Keith
They were also used in the armoured snowmobile and Penguin..but I don't think too many went to Oz...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by FV623
Hey! Wot no piccy credit McSpool !
Thats another packet of Mr Dowe & Mr Egbert's finest you owe me, and one of them Dutch 50gm jobbies please, not a piddly 25gm UK effort.

Well, I did leave a link to the thread in which you attached the picture.
But I'd be happy to bring along a "slof" one of Holland's prime export products to Normandy. At what date do you expect me to show up with the goods at "Champ St.Tenace"?

I think Adrian "Tankbarrel" lives around these parts too and he is probably better informed than I.

Adrian frequents this forum, and has available a lot of photos showing the unbelievebale work he has done on restoring his M4A4. I'll leave it up to him to direct the members of this forum to the URL where they can be viewed.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
They came from the RSL Archives.
I have a few more developmental shots of the Cruiser which I'll put online soon.

Good! They will be well received, especially if they are unseen examples like the ones of the engine.

Thanks,
H.

[Keith Webb]

Including some of the development team from the Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Section





There is also this twin Caddy installation.

More pics

[tankbarrell]

Yes, I am certainly intimately familiar with the Multibank engine......
My M4A4 is just about finished now, I will post the URL when the last of the pics are uploaded by Hanno.

The clutch is a conventional twin plate Lipe, the same as fitted to the radial engine. I had to have a new radiator core made for mine, very expensive!

The engine runs very well though and makes the tank very nice to drive, or at least compared to other models of Sherman!

[Tony Smith]

The pictured engine was the "Perrier-Cadillac" engine as fitted to the AC-3 Sentinel. AC-1 had the left and right engines as pictured, but the top engine hung out over the back, making for a long and awkward shaped engine.:The AC-1 engine installation is the picture "Twin Caddy". The third Cad V8 is out of view in the upper part of the pic. See http://www.mheaust.com.au/Aust/Resea...sentinelmk.htm for more info.

Contrary to most published litrature, there is at least one other AC-3 surviving besides the one at AWM, that owned by John Belfield. John's AC-3 was built up from produced-but-not-assembled components and is actually more complete and less worn than the AWM's one which underwent the trials. Perhaps Keith could get out to visit John for some current pics of his AC-1 and AC-3. International MLU'ers will know John Belfield and his Melbourne Tank Museum from the Year of the Blitz video, and if you don't have a copy, well you know what to do!:cool