In 14 years in REME, with Armoured regiments and workshops, I never knew this vehicle to be refered to as a tank recovery vehicle. Sure, it could be and was used to recover APCs and CVRTs and may have assisted in tank recovery but was never a prime armoured recovery vehicle, apart from with Saladins and Saracens etc. They were lovely vehicles to drive and when doing a long-distance recovery, it was so easy to do a driver change on the move. Driver sets the hand-throttle and the co-driver takes steering control, the driver opens his door and climbs out whilst the co-driver moves across into the seat. Whilst the co-driver is moving across inside the cab and taking full control, the first driver is walking across the deck behind the cab, clambering down to stand on the fuel tank, opening the left side door and climbing into the co-driver seat! I well remember an incident in Hohne, back in 1970 when I was lifting a Chiefy power-pack with one of these (our 434 was being serviced) with the Leyland parked alongside and at the rear of the tank. The cab of the Leyland protruded some 8ft out from the rear of the Chieftain. Another squadron had just come off the ranges and one of their tanks was parked at right-angles and facing our vehicle. The crew were cleaning out the turret and doing all the other things they had to do as normal. However, someone, presumably the Loader, had left a round in the breech of the RMG and discharged it. Being a REME VM and not a 'Tankie', I have no idea how that happens but it did! Again, being a REME VM, all I did was drop down into the space normally occupied by the engine air intake box. There being no further cause for alarm, we all surfaced and surveyed the damage where the round had penetrated the co-driver's door and entered the battery box beneath the seat and continued it's path out the other side of the vehicle. No-one knew where the round ended up but it made a right mess of the Leyland!

Hi Matt. This was primarily but not exclusively issued to REME for heavy recovery and field repairs. You will find it’s FV designation on the data plate and all the books like drivers manual, CES & servicing schedule and EMERS for detailed repair procedures with drawings are now freely available on e-bay, military vehicle dealer sites and always at the larger shows and dealers. On my first posting in 1972 to Germany the reccy mechs had one of these all cleaned up and fully equipped parked up in one of their garages as they had prepared it for back loading, casting and disposal as they were at the end of their front line Army working life although I believe some hung around in TA units for quite a few years more. It had been replaced by an AEC militant MK3 which in many ways was a better vehicle with power steering and clutch air over hydraulic and with air actuated diff locks etc etc, but of course these had a diesel engine BIG bonus. The AEC slew platform was far stronger than that on the Leyland which was always weak and had to be checked regularly for cracks lest it broke free and toppled when lifting. Be careful with that and don’t lift very much over the side or with the boom out far. Over the rear lift with supports is definitely the safest option if the situation allows. As a working crane the AEC was so much better. The reel on the side of your Leyland was used for pulling out the winch cable via a snatch block hooked onto the casualty and then also back to the Leyland again with the main winch rope if you wanted to double the pull 2 to 1. Here is the kicker though and you will probably like this. The old sweat reccy mechs much preferred the Leyland over the AEC as 90% of what they used it for was heavy recovery as opposed to us VM’s that used them more for field repairs and pack lifting etc. The reason the reccy mechs liked it so much was that main winch. Such a good one and with far more pull than the AEC so less time messing about putting on 2 t 1 pulls when the Leyland could very often just do it straight in one pull. They were a beast and very heavy to drive apparently but I arrived to late one and only used the Militants which they said were big tough trucks for big tough blokes. The B81 fitted was a pussy cat of an engine and not really any major problem except fuel consumption but as someone on here has already commented no account of petrol was needed back then it was to us as tap water and just as freely available Hope this is useful. Good luck with getting it up and driving again, nice to see this old kit still doing good service.

Hi matt I used to own the truck I and sold it on ebay bay 18 years ago and have never seen it to this day. My mate Simon in new Zealand who made me by it in the first place just rang me up and told me . Your old leyland is on KZfaq I have many pics of the old girl she was red and on a q plate when I got her look after her she means a lot to us

I remember repainting that bloody thing 25 years ago, it lived in the Forest of Dean for a few years owned by Ashley Lewis what a beast !!!

This channel is an absolute gem, beautiful truck guys!

A Recovery customer of mine up here in Liverpool has got one , fantastic bit of kit but that engine needs constant fettling, the winches on them are unbelievable

According to gov.uk the new toy was manufactured in 1958. It has a 6500cc petrol engine. It weighs in at 24360kg. A heavy girl. Looking forward to the updates on this.

Bloody magic! 3 lads living the dream with 'big things'. But what a find first and then to get it! At least you now have a crane to lift off the Leyland's gearbox.... 😏 Had to smile at Crouch's ex MOD Scammel dragging in an ex MOD Leyland. Something nearly poetic. Good idea to balance the NOx poisoning from the diesels with CO poisoning from the RR petrol engine though. Who needs canaries when you have pigeons.

Crouch’s Scammels a bit tasty an’all..👌🏻👌🏻

I grafted a martian crane and subframe complete with winch onto a 1987 freightliner over 20 years ago, still use it today, the lifting capacity is limited due to the naff outriggers as standard, and the slew ring is weak, dont pull with the slew, winch is the best part of it, its on u tube under philip nash freightliner, if you are interested!!

No one going to argue with you when you are driving your new Big Boy Toy down the road looking forward to see you guys fix her and the use her

Passed my Class 2 in one of these. Fond memories of suspend towing of another Leyland Reccy out of Germany via Hamburg up the peninsular to Esbjerg to catch a flat bottomed boat to UK.

Coming from a heavy recovery background, that is a hell of a bit of kit, pretty jealous you managed to get that off of crouches tho haha

I had the privilege to be involved with the Foden IMMLC (DROPS 8x6) test programme at RARDE Chertsey in the early ‘90s. There was a Martian onsite that was deployed whenever somebody got something properly stuck. It sounded MAGNIFICENT and remains one of my all-time favourite vehicles. I still have a blue patch on the back of my left thigh from when the DROPS I was observing the test gauges on, dropped into a particularly deep rut at Long Valley. Cab went down, I went up, cab lurched right and came back up, I came down onto the gun rack… Ow. Great memories in general though 🙂

"So next week we'll get the gearbox out and fix the clutch and hopefully take it for a drive"... Tunes in next week to see Crouch's delivering another tank.

This channel always makes me happy.

Smashing!! I'm looking forward to seeing her moving and operating under her own steam. I like the Scammel she was delivered with too! Do love the old Scammels.

you need to film a ride of all your tanks and other stuff going to macD or a fuel station

Well worth the wait , nice one lads. Never seen so many lads so happy with a new toy lol.... 😂

I just love the fact that you have so much ex military kit. Obviously for the military they don't have to consider the running costs

That is BIG and beautiful. . Well done

I had great fun at work rewiring that switch panel and instrument cluster on an AEC 10t Gun tractor. Wiring was shot (good old yellow rubber) so I wound up rewiring the whole truck with Bedford style wiring harness. Probably the only AEC 10t with hazard warning lights.

I think the smaller cable drum is used to pull out the winch cable. Least ways that's what I've seen it used for, may not necessarily be its intended use. The KZfaq channel "fishsponge" have a video of a Martian recovering various trucks at a muddy field and that's what they used it for.

That's an absolutely magificent beast.

Keep em coming matt. We'll see thee more often then 😂👍👍👍👌👌

This is a great classic recovery vehicle. Reminds me of an old M816 5T wrecker.

What a machine lads , its not miles 2 the gallon its meters 2 the gallon with summit like that lol

Owned and used a Martian recovery 40 years ago , fitted a Perkins 540 V8 diesel and ran it on red ! ....Rolls B81 engine was always reliable though and they loved running at max revs for hours on end......just the petrol disappearing fast !...Happy Days

Oh joy, Leyland and a Scammel, proper trucks in the same frame!

Now we're talking lads!!!

I can remember as a kid seeing one of these near Southsea Castle- an artillery tractor version. One of the soldiers- an officer took as into the cab and showed the various gears-there were plenty. An impressive vehicle- the next time I saw one- about 15 years later it was in Bradford- it was civilianised and was a tow truck- it was towing a Bradford Corporation trolleybus in a parade.

Hi This was my first recovery truck when i was in REME in the BAOR in 1986. Great truck loved driving it and not very warm in winter lol

Another great instalment of your 'ever growing' military vehicle fleet, Question,are you guy's Ex-military or just grown up kid's with a passion for all thing's military ??

Time has rolled on when all the vehicles we used to test and certify annually as an MoD examiner are now in the hands of collectors, good to see the being saved

Brilliant videos that brings so much envy!! Great fun keep up the great work!

The channel that keeps on giving, brilliant 💪🏻

Mad as a box of frogs you lot.

Now that’s a fair rig! I love he size of the fuel tank on he side 🤣 glad I’m not filling it 😳

What a great truck! That engine sounds ace and everything is clearly top notch quality. Lovely to see that Crouch Scammell as well. Classic British Heavy Metal \m/

Loved the Martians. As RA we had them as Gun Tractors for the 5.5" medium + a couple of 10 tonne tonnes for Cargo per Battery. Regimental REME had the wreckers like yours. Virtually unstoppable off road. 2mpg on road and the other way round off road. You needed winches like that with a 7.5tonne 5.5" bogged down in a hole. Happy days.

As a young and stupid Vehicle Specialist in 1977. Vehicle Depot Ashchurch still had these on the books.

What a super machine. I had the pleasure of driving one around the sand dunes at Barry Buddon many many years ago. Serious offroading.

Thank you for sharing 👍

Nice one! Love these vids. Nice bit of kit!.

I drove on of these in the late 70s for the army great piece of kit

Aaaaand now my sprinter recovery wagon looks like a toy my daughter would play with. That thing is superb.

10:29 The small cable drum & capstan, is probably to drag out the main winch cable. Manually pull out the light cable, run it through a re-direct pulley on whatever you're trying to connect to and the small cable then drags the huge cable out towards it.

looking into the crystal ball I forsee a combine without an engine and Matt with a smile

That is beyond cool!

Love it. I mean, who doesn't love a crane. 64 years young and still up to the job (or will be). Looking forward to this earning its keep. Very Tasty bit of kit.

Blimey fellas, that thing is huge, I used the US M816 wrecker when I was in the Australian army, but yours is huge. Don’t let your mate crash that truck into the centurion.

Proper new toy. If it makes a Stalwart look small, its BIG!

These minus crane with a bit of rear body were used to tow 5.5 guns. In that form they had a massive horizontal winch underneath. If you disconnected the winch and covered the centre you could squeeze 90 bottles of brandy inside coming through customs.

It’s a bench seat like a bench :D I made the exact same thing yesterday for my mini crane build ^-^ (I blagged some hard wood laths)

' I think we did good'. Nice big lumpy machine 😃

Now that's what I call a proper truck. Love to have one.

Built to typical military spec, no expense spared and nothing left out, love it !!

Leyland Martain, had one in mid 70s in Germany. Can speed as 45mph, of you jam the rev controller so it doesn't work. Built on the 50s. Wooden floor boards.

Good video lads what a crane next you be looking for proper tank transporter God job you lot arnt into battle ships christ shell will be rubbin thier hands when you turn in that thing more like gallons per yard me thinks sounds a beauty though cant wait for next installment 👍👍

Beautiful monster of a recovery truck. Be interesting to see which diesel you transplant into that engine bay.

Hoofing👍

Put your boots on my friend, the Hippo was desighned to hook up fully loaded ,to a fully loaded Hippo and continue at 8 mile an hour and keep inline untill the delivery.

Not sure if the cable on the side of the jib is for an over lower limit switch / sensor. Coles 315’s have them and it looks like it might be similar.

come on Allcroft its SCAMMELL ;)

Awesome truck. Beast

"Look at the shaft on That" ooh big boy :-))))))

You all can't stop buying unit you fill up all the spaces in the sheds. great buying lads

That grin said it all

That’s a beauty!!👍🇬🇧

From my understanding its a 6x6 drive as well

Love it, bloody amazing machine. 👍👍👍👍👍👍🤜🤛🤜🤛🇬🇧

Get in! Another B81 to join the Stolly.

I love it. That will make lifting 432 K60 power packs, and Cent engine, steering box etc so easy. Take care of it.🇬🇧😀

The tube behind the nearside cab door isn't for an extinguisher, but for a welding bottle. I have an ISPL for the cargo & gun tractor variants if it's any help.

Hello, i ran a Hippo for about 10,000 miles or so and that was 4mpg, i looked at a Martian but the 😄horific petrol consumption i couldnt quite cope with, that was about 25 odd yrs ago and Gass conversions werent realy available back then,but nowadays i recon thats the way togo instead of a diesil conversion, dont forget about the difference in engine revs if you go to diesil,the truck speed will drop to a crawl if you dont change the gearbox aswell. Goodluck buddy.

While you have gearbox out you may aswell get a diesel and slap it in lol 😆 just like that a volvo d16 be good cheep option. By god its impressive imagine that coming at you head on even I'd pull out of way in my unit lol

so cool

Was this Chassis /cab the same as the troop carrier version, when I was a civvy driver at the local Army vehicle depot the Army had 32 Leyland troop carriers with 10 ton swan neck trailers to go to Felixstowe Docks for Germany, it took all the drivers (driver and co driver) to do two trips to take the order to the Docks, good practice driving around London's North Circular .

A thing of beauty

Wow I was expecting a Cole’s crane, you know a proper crane like I saw when I was in RE’s, but this is wayyyyy better, it’s fantastic

What a nice machine

Don't forget to join the FB Martian group!

In many ways, the boom is like the US Army M62 wrecker, with the single lifting hydraulic cylinder. Same manual boom support legs. I had a bit newer US M543A2 wrecker. It had the twin hydraulic lifting cylinders, etc.

Great toy lads 👍

Who needs money and tanks when you have a crane an honest to goodness crane on a really big truck to boot

Its very nice, when in doubt hell for stout. Once you got tank you gots to have a recovery.

what , couldn't you find a bigger crane .. lol that thing is a beauty

Excellent winch machine but needs a lot of looking after, we suspend towed ours when we had to take them anywhere (TA Unit). Don't use trees as anchors, they tend to pull them over! Have fun and start saving for petrol

That driver delivering your new acquisition is a true professional.

I got it from a garage in Fazakerley he only sold it to us as we promised not to cut it up for the winch. When it's on song that b81 sounds like a fantastic don't butcher it and fit a diesel

Good luck with the Martian boys I did the proving trials and development on this in the early 60s in Germany the jib and winch are superb but the chassis and drivetrain are appalling it’s grossly underpowered and take note of the label if it’s still there on the floor in the cab stating not to exceed 35 mph or excessive transmission damage will occur I can give testimony to this as I did and the results were disappointing front of the prop shaft UJ sheared off taking the Air brakes and transmission break with it - the small drum on the side of the jib is for pulling out the main winch cable there was a capstan on the jib to pull the wire back in - the two holders behind the cab are not for fire extinguishers they were to hold the oxyacetylene bottles - lots of memories working these things one point we could suspend tow the Leland with a Scammell Explorer with the Meadows petrol engine faster than the damn thing could drive itself Again somewhat disappointing

I have a right stonk on over this. The noise when it started, mwah! Bugger the tin worm and get welding! She needs to be craning stuff and being taken to places she shouldn't, like Macdonald's

Every little boy’s dream. Your toybox full of Tonkas.

The word "Gardner" keeps rattling around in my head for some reason.

Perfect for recovering that OT64 from the bottom of a lake 👌

Who owns the big green Diamond in the background at the start of the video ! That thing I want to see more of !

Awesome cool 🆒️ 😎 👍

That Spinnaker Pole is something else, does tha reckon it would sink my sailing dinghy 🤪

Seems to start right up, sounds great too,..what a pity petrol is so damned costly. Like you said Mat, a diesel engine swap is in the offing,... I hope!

Great truck to drive with the low intermediate and high splitter and the normal 4 speed box . Watch the so called none slip deck. Crane is good , we used to lift 109 power units out in the field with out any trouble . Even the Yanks were impressed !