Further Pains

OR How An Obsessive Old Fart Behaves
Obsessively!  There, that's one philosophical question taken care of.
     Let us now return to that topic that we've covered in depth already, namely "U.F.O." which went by the name of "O.V.N.I." in Italy, a factoid you never knew until now, and you're welcome.
     Okay, I may have to recast my opinions about some of the hardware used by SHADO's Moonbase, namely their tracked missile launchers, which, if Art can stop shovelling coke into his piehole -

The kit in question

     I did originally believe these were automated, unmanned robotic systems, absent human operators.  Now I'm not so sure; all you'd need for same would be the missile launchers, spare missiles, a reloading system and a protected housing for the computer systems.  What we see above looks suspiciously like a pressurised hull that accommodates a human crew, even sporting what looks like a window.  True, we never get to see any shots of their crews in operation, which probably comes down to time and budget as much as anything.
     Right, that was an aside before we began, so let us approach another piece of hardware, the SHADO Mobile.  Unlike some of the technology on UFO, we could make these vehicles right now, if we cared to.  This particular beast comes in two flavours: a Control version and a Combat version.  Art?

NO!
(You see, children, what coal-intoxication can do to your mind?)

<brief pause for a tutelary Tazering of our errant Neanderthal art editor>

     Ahem.

The Control version

     This variant, as you can tell from the radar dish, is the mobile headquarters unit that controls up to three other Mobiles once on the scene.  They travel to the scene of the action by dedicated SHADO jet transport, offload at the nearest airport and travel by track to do the dirty deeds.
     Now, the Combat one is a lot harder to locate in actual "Combat" mode.  Conrad suspects that this is part of SHADO's covert role.  If you see one of these driving past your window -

Your window being in the North-west of British America

     You wouldn't think it was armed to the teeth.  This is because the weaponry is all retractable and normally hidden from sight, the better to fool anybody who happens to be in the neighbourhood.  When the teeth get bared, however - 

 - up pop the fangs.

     That's a cannon in the turret, and the object at the back is a type of mortar capable of firing bombs that can be impact-fused or delayed-action, so acting as a variety of depth-charge weapon - UFOs like to hide in bodies of water as this prevents Earth's atmosphere from breaking down their external and internal components.
     Finding an example of this beast in Combat, as I said, is tricky indeed.  There is a shootout at the end of "Sound Of Silence" WHICH I CANNOT FIND.  The episode has been removed from Youtube and nobody has ever done the obvious and compiled a set of clips showing the Mobiles in action.
     I shall put this one on the back burner, folks, but don't think I've forgotten about it.

The coke I was referring to.  What on earth were you thinking?

From Not-Quite-A-Tank To An Appreciative Yank
If you frequent Youtube with any regularity you may know it's more addictive than JJ180 that hell-drug from Philip Kendred D of The History Guy, a very dapper South Canadian who focuses on bits of history that have been overlooked or forgotten.  Well worth a look if you dare the hideous addictiveness check out Youtube.  Conrad was thus intrigued when his name - The History Guy's, not Conrad's - came up on one of the "Top 5 Tanks" videos.  What would he choose?
     Well, nothing predictable, I assure you.  His mission is to focus on the forgotten, and he certainly did.  Oh, this does contain quite a lot of TANK, so you might like to move on if that's not your thing*.  Art?  O stop whining and put some salve on it!

The Centurion BARV

      I may have mentioned the BARV in a previous BOOJUM! entry.  It was an amphibious recovery vehicle intended to be used on landing beaches, hence the acronym - "Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle".  Art can provide a shot with better contrast - can't you, Art?

Note cushioning rope mat at front

      You can't really see from this perspective, but the BARV's exhausts have been relocated to the very top of the hull superstructure, and the whole thing is watertight, meaning it can operate in waters about three yards deep.  The mat at front is to cushion when pushing landing craft back out to sea, or stranded tanks off the beach.  The whole thing is so damned British that I'm delighted The History Guy saw fit to include it.

     I think that's probably all the TANK and near-TANK you can accommodate in one sitting, so we shall move on.  For now.  Because we shall definitely return to this subject.

From Acorns -
Do mighty oaks and all that guff.  This item comes from a passing mention by Lord Peter Wimsey, about how he keeps his Froth Blowers cufflinks in his strong-room.
     You know Conrad.  Inquisitive, curious or just plain nosey, I could not leave this uninvestigated.  So!

Said cufflinks actually existed

     The "Ancient Order of Froth Blowers" was a cod charity set up by Bert Temple, an ex-soldier and merchant, in order to raise charitable funds for the surgeon Sir Alfred Fripp, in gratitude for being the recipient of life-saving surgery from said surgeon.  It ran for 7 years, and accumulated 700,000 members, and raised the equivalent of £6 million in today's money for various children's charities.  Not bad for a bit of whimsy**.  As an ex-serviceman himself, you can see Lord Peter (Death Bredon) taking an interest, especially since he likes to imbibe himself.  Though the society's motto was "Lubrication In Moderation".
     One feels this is another, very British, institution.

Sir Alf

Finally -
Phew, the heat - Your Humble Scribe is more thirsty than hungry, so I think I might to see what we can do with that remaindered Mozarella I bought earlier in the week.





*  I will, of course, know if you ignore this article and will track you down and deal with you accordingly.
**  Ouch.  Sorry.