Has anyone here driven an FV432?

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Wed 24 Sep 2008 16:49
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - Group B
Or a similar tracked military vehicle? Any hints or tips, dos and donts?

My other half got me one of those 'driving experience' vouchers as a little surprise present for my birthday a while back, and I've got it booked for this Sunday.

I'll obviously get tuition on the day but I'm looking forward to it, its on my mind, so I wondered if anyone had any experiences to pass on?

Cheers,

Rich.
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Wed 24 Sep 2008 18:25
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - Armitage Shanks {p}
I drove one ??years ago. I recall that it was a totally auto gearbox so no embarassing stalling when moving off. You steer with levers, left and right natch, which brake the tracks on that side so you pull the left lever back to turn left. Peripheral vision isn't a strong point and it isvery wide so you have a good chance of knocking down a few trees. Enjoy your day!
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Thu 25 Sep 2008 01:23
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - jaffa
Yep sure have,
Tips are do not think you can drive it like a tank, ie flat out over bumpy terrain, or you will find your chin meeting the armour plate around drivers hatch frequently and painfully. Of course flat ground just put your foot down. To stear there are two tillers, pull left to turn left and likewise for the right, to brake pull both tillers towards you evenly. Word of warning on top of each tiller is a button that when you have braked and wish to stop are depressed these then hold the tillers fully towards you and prevent the vehicle from moving despite being in gear, do not depress this buttons when moving forward and turning. It is a semi automatic box, you can select gears 1-3 or 3-4, 1 is for very boggy ground and prevents track spin, just use 3-4
Great fun and enjoy your day

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Thu 25 Sep 2008 02:25
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - MagDrop
I suddenly found myself at the tillers of a FV434, the REME version with hydraulic crane etc., in November 1971. We were on ex on Thetford Chase where they filmed Dad?s Army. Our Flight was totally grounded by fog so no helicopters to service. The REME detachment were run ragged trying to fix umpteen Ferret head gaskets as well as rescue vehicles that had run off the road in the fog. Thus the interesting sudden change of trade to Ferret Recovery.
I recall that despite never having driven anything with automatic gears it took only a few minutes to feel at home. Also remember the quizzical looks from the Ferret drivers who couldn?t work out why the Army Air Corps/REME had replaced their normal service.
There probably won?t be any bogs where you are going but one proved my downfall, I should have ?read the ground?. I suppose that comes with experience. We sank to the tops of the tracks and spent a very mucky and exhausting afternoon digging and winching.
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Thu 25 Sep 2008 10:36
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - Group B
Great stuff, thanks folks. I was wondering about the gearbox, whether it would be full or semi auto; I think some postwar tanks had a pre-selector box (didnt they?) so wondered if it would have that system.

All sounds like great fun anyway. I don't know how rough the obstacle course is and how muddy it will be, but I'm looking forward to it even more now. Hopefully 'digging and winching' does not come as part of the package!

The place I am going to (a bit south of Leicester) is apparently the first place in the country to get "Tank Paintball"; the FV432s are fitted with turrets with 40mm paintball cannons to shoot each other with. But at present I'm down to do driving only.
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Thu 25 Sep 2008 10:54
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - CQ
Brings back memories, used to work on the 7.62 turrets for these and the GKN Saxon.
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Fri 26 Sep 2008 10:00
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - welshlad
dental insurance is a must especially after you bite down on the hatch edge a few time

Edited by welshlad on 26/09/2008 at 10:01

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Fri 26 Sep 2008 11:00
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - Group B
Yes I was thinking that after reading Jaffas post, I wonder if I can get a gumshield at short notice or maybe even a full-face crash helmet!

;o)
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Wed 23 Jan 2013 19:21
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - gazzman1959

i drove 432`s in the mob, slow, leak oil all over, forever breaking down, easy to throw a track , if you don`t keep the track taut,, never ending maintenance regime.. and I had a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. on the plus side, used to sleep on the engine cowling (warm), 2 small inside boilers to make tea for the crew, and if someone p***es you off in the back, you can blip the power as you go over the peak of a hill.. and hey presto, anything loose in the back hits the roof....very difficult to drive with hatch down and looking through the periscope. but after all that, glad i did it, had a good crack in em

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Wed 23 Jan 2013 22:48
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - countryroads

Cant offer any advice OP but it sounds awesome...have fun, might drop some hints for something like ths myself!

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 16:19
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - memyself-aye

I got a 'tank driving' day in one of these for christmas. Am giving it to my son as I'm 58 and it's not a 'tank'

It's also not Tiger 131 which is what I really really really wanted to drive.... :(

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Fri 28 Nov 2014 18:37
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - John Clarke
It's an AFV (Amoured Fighting Vehicle) drove one for 6 years while I was in the Royal Artillery. Great fun, as the others have said, two tillers, pull the left one back to turn left the right one to turn right. When stationary press the buttons on top of the tillers to apply the handbrakes. It's fully tracked so it does drive like a Tank. 30mph on the road. Enjoy yourself.
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Fri 28 Nov 2014 22:36
Has anyone here driven an FV432? - alan1302
Enjoy yourself.

Hopefully they have by now or their voucher may have expired! LOL

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