Bikesrepublic

Wahid Ooi

  • asThe inaugural MotoGP round in Thailand was voted as the best in 2018.

  • More than 220,000 spectators show up over three days.

  • The votes were cast among the Grand Prix Commission.

Sawadeekahp! The Thailand MotoGP was voted as the best round in the 2018 season. It was MotoGP’s inaugural round in the country.

At final count, more than 220,000 spectators descended on the Chang International Circuit in Buriram over the event’s three days. It was the highest number of attendances throughout the entire season. It was even more remarkable if you factor in that the little town of Buriram lies in the middle of nowhere. To be exact, the location is some 379km to the east of Bangkok and takes 5 hours to reach by road.

The MotoGP race was won by Marc Marquez after a thrilling race-long battle with Andrea Dovizioso. Maverick Vinalez and Valentino Rossi finished in third and fourth on the resurgent Yamaha.

The Grand Prix Commission made their appreciation known to MotoGP.com. The commission consists of the FIM, IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association), and Dorna, MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers’ Association).

IRTA’s statement

Speaking to MotoGP.com, Herve Poncharal, president of IRTA said, “The whole MotoGP paddock was keen to discover how the new Thai GP would be, we were impatient for it to arrive and there was plenty of expectation. In the end we can be assured it was the best GP of the season due to many different aspects – we expected good, but we didn’t know quite what they would be able to achieve.”

“Everything went smoothly, the commitment of the organisers was fantastic, and they faced any problems through the weekend quickly, trying to find solutions as soon as possible. The crowd, the people…every single person involved was happy and always smiling.”

“The fans’ support was incredible, the access to the circuit was fast and they demonstrated that they understood MotoGP – creating a commercial area close to the paddock, giving good exposure to our businesses, investors, sponsors, teams and riders.”

“It’s also significant that a new event in this area – an important region for MotoGP – has achieved this result. It’s a perfect example for other countries to follow and this prize is fully deserved. From my point of view, it will be hard for them to improve!”

Dorna’s statement

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, called Buriram “a perfect blueprint for future events and we’re excited to return to Buriram already.”

President of Chang International Circuit’s statement

Newin Chidchob, President of the Chang International Circuit said: “On behalf of both the people of Buriram and Thailand, we are extremely honored to receive the MotoGP Grand Prix of the year 2018.”

“We must also thank the people of Buriram, for showing the capability of Thai people to the world… Everyone really came together to make this sports entertainment experience for our visitors from around the world unforgettable.”

  • Pictures of a possible new Triumph Rocket III were leaked on the internet.

  • The “new bike” is styled more aggressively than its current crop.

  • It will bring the Rocket III to compete directly with the current power cruisers.

Want to ride something audacious? Something which blows your neighbour’s mind when you tell him your bike’s engine is bigger than his Honda Accord’s? Ride a Triumph Rocket III, then.

At 2,294cc, the Triumph Rocket III’s engine holds the record as the world’s largest production motorcycle engine. It produces 145 bhp, but that’s not the entire story. Because at 221 Nm, forget about “mountainous torque,” instead the torque moves mountains.

Current bagger variant

Now pictures of the “new” Rocket III have started showing up on the internet. According to Visordown, they were snapped during the Triumph Global Dealer Conference last October.

Judging from the picture, the new bike or variant will look more aggressive than the current classic-looking model. Check out the Brembo Monobloc calipers, upside-down forks, dual exhaust pipes exiting on the right, and most of all, the single-sided swingarm.

Yes, we admit too. It does look like the Ducati Diavel power cruiser.

Revamping or adding such a model is good for the Hinckley-based manufacturer as they can have a more modern-looking cruiser. It can compete with the power cruisers from other manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, Indian and the aforementioned Ducati. The timing is good too, since BMW has just teased with a new 1800cc Boxer.

We hope the new Rocket III project is a go. Watch out, mountains.

  • Mohd. Hafiz Nor Azman passed away after crashing at the Cub Prix final race over the weekend.

  • The organizers promised a thorough investigation.

  • The tragedy was the second in the space of 18 months.

“What about runoff areas? See that food truck over there?”

The unfortunately incident and passing of Mohd. Hafiz Nor Azman at a motorcycle race ought to serve as a wake-up call.

This was the second death of a Cub Prix rider in 18 months. Two-time National Champion Norizman Ismail passed away at Kemaman, Terengganu in May last year when he slid into an air fence followed by his bike.

What happened

Hafiz paid the ultimate price at the final round of the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix 2018 Championship, held at Dataran Bandar Penawar in Johor on Sunday. He had been competing in the CP150 race.

Heading into a chicane, a rider in front of Hafiz had contacted a board at the side of the track, sending him to the ground. Hafiz ran over the rider and crashed heavily himself. According to NST’s report, he was unconscious and passed away at Hospital Bukit Tinggi.

The aftermath

The disaster sent shockwaves throughout all walks of life in Malaysia. Condolences poured in for Hafiz’s family. His team’s main sponsor, Petronas issued a press statement, announcing their sadness for the rider’s team.

However, shock gave in to dismay and people started to speculate about what happened in the same breath. What had caused the young rider’s demise has yet been determined, but there are already many Horatio Canes in Facebook. Here’s when fingers start pointing in every direction.

However, the paramount issue here is about safety. Hafiz’s grieving father queried, “Was the track safe or not? I felt the track was a little lacking in safety.”

Past champion and national rider, Wazi Abdul Hamid shared his views at the funeral.

Opinion

We are not criticizing the organizers for they have done the best they could. The air fences have certainly reduced rider injuries by a wide margin since their introduction many years back. On the other hand, the best needs to evolve to stay the best.

150cc cubs are already super-fast these days in stock form. We tested the Yamaha Y15ZR when it debuted in 2015 and it hit almost a 150 km/h top speed. Just imagine how much faster they are in race trim.

Having a fast bike where there’s lots of space isn’t much of a problem, but Cub Prix races are usually held on open air car parks. Car parks have high concrete curbs, typical deplorable surfaces and tight confines when converted into a racetrack. What about runoff areas? See that food truck over there?

Solution?

Is widening the track a better solution? That would seem good idea at first glance, but it would only create higher corner speeds. Faster crashes are not pleasant.

The obvious choice is to hold the races at purpose-built facilities. Yes, there aren’t many in Malaysia apart from the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). On the other hand, there are many go-kart tracks scattered throughout the country. Problem is, these go-kart tracks are situated in hard-to-reach areas. Conversely, large numbers of spectators present another challenge as some go-kart tracks usually lack exciting views. Currently, Cub Prix spectators stand behind fencing that’s right up next to the track.

But whatever is decided, it better be decided on by next year’s first practice. We Malaysians have an annoying obsession with the status quo until tragedy strikes. But what’s worse is that we start pointing fingers again.

Like the bereaved father said, “I hope the relevant parties will look into the incident and prevent another tragedy.”

Twice is once too many times. A third fatality, if due to lack of improvements to track safety is criminal.

Bikes Republic and our sister site MotoMalaya would like to extend our condolences to Mohd. Hafiz’s family. Al-fatihah.

  • The automotive industry is male-dominated but more and more ladies are getting involved.

  • We came across a few female students at the TOC Automotive College

  • They are set to break through the stereotype.

We ran into a couple of female students who are studying automotive subjects at the TOC Automotive College (TOC). We decided to interview them about their desires, inspiration, challenges and expectations from studying such courses.

It is beyond doubt that the automotive industry is male-dominated, probably to the point of being chauvinistic. More often than not, ladies are delegated to non-technical roles. However, there are ladies who love cars and bikes just as much, if not more, than guys.

Siti Kamilia Alisa Binti Kamarudzaman, Diploma in Automotive Technology

First up, Ms. Siti Kamilia Alisa Binti Kamarudzaman, who is currently studying for her Diploma in Automotive Technology course.

Bikes Republic (BR): What your reason in studying automotive subjects?
Siti Kamilia Alisa (SKA): When I was little, I used to help my Dad fix cars. It was his hobby, I guess. We didn’t own a workshop, (so) we only did simple (and) basic stuff like replacing the timing belt and all that.

My siblings are all girls but I’m the closest to my father and he’d always ask me to help out. The passion (for cars) developed from there.

BR: What made you choose TOC?
SKA: A friend of mine studied here and introduced it. He said the system here is different from other universities.

BR: What do you think of TOC, so far?
SKA: Everything’s great, everything’s good. Classes are good, the practical (sessions) are good; it’s a lot of fun.

BR: The automotive scene in Malaysia is dominated by men, so what’s your experience in surround by a majority of male students?

SKA: People here are okay with it, impressed even, in some cases. I haven’t gotten any backlash or negativity, so far.

BR: What are your expectations when you graduate?
SKA: Learning new things, for sure. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I think. I’m just living the moment now and see what comes about in the future.

Ms. Nurul Hazirah Binti Musa, Master Technician Course.

Bikes Republic (BR): What stoked your interest in automotive?
Nurul Hazirah (NH): My Dad and Brother love technical stuff, so I was influenced by them. They’d usually repair cars, bikes or the house.

BR: Why did you choose TOC over other technical colleges?
NH: It because there’s lots of practical lessons compared to just studying theories. It means there are fewer assignments. Additionally, the facilities here are more comprehensive compared to other places. Also, the quality of the lecturers is very good as they have experience.

BR: What’s your opinion about ladies studying technical subjects, given the male-dominated industry?
NH: Personally, there’s nothing to it because it’s already ingrained in me. Yes, there were who questioned me about studying to be a (certified) technician. But there’s no distinction between what industry is male or female dominated these days.

BR: You’ve done your internship. What did you experience?
NH: The only problem I came across was on the strength factor. We can do it but just need a little bit of help once a while.

BR: Looking forward, what do you want to do?
NH: I’d like to start my own workshop.

BR: Do you see an advantage since you’ve studied automotive before starting your business?
NH: It is advantageous. For example, I can spot the mistakes made by technicians easier. Training him and correcting his mistake will be good for all parties. In the short term, at least I won’t get cheated by workshops when I send in my car!

CONCLUSION

There you have it. Given the right lead, ladies can develop a love for cars and bikes, instead of the stereotypical Barbie dolls or a Shiseido make-up kit. However, passion can only go so far if one does not seek formal training to walk on the right path.

If you are parent reading this, it is okay if your daughter loves cars and bikes. There is always a need for certified technicians, and they can command higher salaries. These students should also find it easy to move up the corporate ladder, or, like Nurul Hazirah, become her own business owner.

So, send in your daughters. TOC will take good care of them.

Please click here to find out more about the TOC Automotive College. Please click here if you are interested in the Superbike Technician Course. TOC has a programme called Bina Bakat to assist potential students in need of an education loan.

TOC Automotive College can be reached at (+603) 7960 8833

  • Triumph has revealed the 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 prices.

  • However, the prices are for the US market, at the moment.

  • They are considerably cheap, considering that they have more technology than their peers.

There was lots of excitement accompanying the 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 launch in October. This was the Scrambler that will destroy the scrambler wars. However, Triumph withheld the prices during the time.

It finally has, courtesy of a motojournalist who was attending the media ride in Portugal.

The 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 features two “terrain-centric” variants. The Scrambler 1200 XC is more road-oriented but still off-road capable. On the other hand, the Scrambler 1200 XE (“E” for extreme) is more off-road oriented but still road-capable.

Both models share the same 1200cc Hi-Power engine, new LCD display, LED lighting, backlit switches, torque-assist clutch, cruise control and optional GoPro control.

The XE, however, features longer-travel suspension, IMU-optimised Cornering ABS and Cornering Traction Control, extra Off-Road Pro engine map, Brembo M50 Monobloc calipers and a couple more wonderful things.

Okay, okay, how much? Triumph in America recommends US$ 14,000 for the Scrambler 1200 XC, and US$ 15,400 for the Scrambler 1200 XE. But bear in mind that these are retail prices in the States. Still, the prices are super competitive among its peers. They are considerably cheap even, given the amount of technology it carries!

  • A parts replacement programme has been initiated for the Yamaha YZF-R25.

  • The parts are a radiator hose and gearshift shaft torsion spring.

  • Hong Leong Yamaha Motor will contact owners of the affected units from mid-January 2019.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) issued a statement regarding the Yamaha YZF-R25. The Malaysian Yamaha distributor calls it a “Parts Replacement Programme.”

When Yamaha initiated a recall campaign for the Yamaha YZF-R3 in America, we did not publish the news as the R3 is not available here. We were uncertain if the YZF-R25 used the same parts as the R3.

Well, it does look like it is so now. HLYM will send the notice to the affected customers from mid-January 2019 onwards.

There are two parts to be replaced. The first is the radiator hose. Yamaha found that the supplier has improperly vulcanized (process of hardening rubber) the hose and it may leak cooling fluid.

Units affected by this are YZF-R25 frame numbers beginning with PMYRG1510E, PMYRG1510F, PMYRG1510G. Also, units 0000000 to 0012240 for frame number beginning with PMYRG1510H.

The second part covered in the programme is the gearshift shaft torsion spring. Yamaha found that the supplier shot-peened it improperly. Shot-peening is a process to strengthen metal parts. The spring could potentially break causing the shifter to become loose, consequently affecting gear shifting.

Affected units are all units with frame numbers beginning PMYRG1510E, PMYRG1510F, and PMYRG1510G from 0000000 to 0006758.

 

Model Frame Number Component
YZF-R25 All units with Frame number beginning with

PMYRG1510E

PMYRG1510F

PMYRG1510G 

And units within the following frame numbers

PMYRG1510H– 0000000 to 0012240

Radiator Hose
All units with Frame number beginning with

PMYRG1510E

PMYRG1510F

All units within the following frame numbers

PMYRG1510G- 0000000 to 0006758

Torsion Spring

 

Owners are advised to contact HLYM immediately upon receiving the notice. Contact numbers are: 03-61577011 and 03-61577002.

Source: Hong Leong Yamaha Motor

  • The internet went crazy when with the news of the “death” of the Suzuki Hayabusa.

  • The manufacturer is only stopping production of the Euro4-compliant ‘Busa.

  • It did not mean there is no more of the model in the future.

The internet went crazy last week with the “death” of the Suzuki Hayabusa. We decided to sit out the storm and see what actually happened.

 

Well, Suzuki Motor of America has issued a press release in the matter. “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated,” said Mark Twain.

 

This was what they said:

“Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) has confirmed that U.S. market production of the Hayabusa sport motorcycle continues uninterrupted,”

 

“Production of the European-specification Hayabusa ceases due to Euro4 emission regulations. This situation, and resulting media reports, may have caused confusion and misunderstand among U.S. consumers, media, and dealers.”

 

It all started when Suzuki Japan’s website announced that they will cease production of the bike. Certain publications jumped on it, by assuming the worse. The “obituary” had circulated the globe about a kabizillion times before considering the backdrop.

 

The manufacturer is merely stopping production of the Euro4-compliant Hayabusa meant for the European market.

 

It’s not bad news at all, since they will definitely debut a Euro5-complaint ‘Busa for 2020. Some say it will feature turbocharging, 1440cc engine, IMU, active suspension, etc. and more rumours.

  • KTM CEO Stefan Pierer confirmed that a new 500cc two-cylinder model is coming.

  • He also said that Bajaj will build the new bike.

  • The Austrian firm wants to compete with the Japanese in this growing segment.

Rumors of a KTM 500cc two-cylinder road model circulated some time back, but it begot nothing thereafter. KTM CEO Stefan Pierer confirmed Bajaj will build the new KTM 500cc two-cylinder model during the recent interview with Speedweek. He had also expressed his interest in Ducati during the same interview.

Having Bajaj build the bike means it will be priced competitively. Pierer says it’s because KTM wants to compete with the Japanese in this perpetually growing segment around the world.

It should bode well with riders who want a KTM but finds the 390 Duke/RC too small while the 790 Duke/Adventure too big or expensive. a 500cc platform will most probably include both Duke and Adventure variants, as with the 790.

The new 500 could well be called the 490, going by the Austrian manufacturer’s tradition. But what can we expect?

The new generation 390 Duke features a TFT display, ride-by-wire throttle, ride modes, ABS, WP suspension, and such. The 790 Duke is also bedecked with those features. Consequently, we can safely assume that the new 500cc bike ought to include the same features.

As for the engine, KTM dabbled into a new direction for themselves with 790. Instead of being either a single or V-Twin, they went with a parallel-Twin called LC8c. Its 285ocrankshaft timing mimics the 75oV-Twin (360o– 285o– 75o) in the manufacturer’s larger bikes.

Hence, we should be able to expect of the same in the 500cc model. The engine should be compact and lightweight such as the 790’s, although we don’t know if it’s sleeved-down from the bigger engine.

What happens to the 690 Duke then? KTM may just replace it with the new bike, since a two-cylinder 500cc engine should produce equivalent of more power than a 690cc single.

We’ll definitely bring you more so watch this space.

  • The Harley-Davidson LiveWire will feature high-end Showa suspension and Brembo brakes.

  • The Motor Company is aware of what customers expect on a performance bike.

  • The bike should be available in 2019.

The upcoming production Harley-Davidson LiveWire should allay some fears of electric bikes being like golf carts. That’s because the Motor Company has announced that the LiveWire will feature high-end suspension and brakes.

“When we were looking at Project LiveWire, the feedback we received was clear: customers wanted a true motorcycle,” says Marc McAllister, Vice President of Product Planning and Portfolio at Harley-Davidson. “They weren’t willing to compromise the ride for an electric vehicle. We had to look at it as a motorcycle first. To deliver the kind of performance the bike allows, we chose Showa suspension, Brembo brakes and so on, to deliver the kind of ride people expect.”

Harley’s association with Showa and Brembo isn’t new. The manufacturer’s touring models utilize Show Dual Bending Valve forks, as well as Reflex ABS units.

On the other hand, Harley will equip the the LiveWire with Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks (SFF) and Showa Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite monoshock out back. Braking duty is handlbed by Brembo Monobloc calipers. The suspension will be fully-adjustable.

In the electronics department, the bike will have four power modes, besides three user-adjustable ones.

Harley-Davidson also plans to nominate 250 electric motorcycle dealers next year.

  • Walt Siegel Motorcycles (WSM) are custom Ducati builders.

  • They built this retro model called the “SBK.”

  • WSM builds it with the air-cooled or liquid-cooled Ducati engines.

Always wanted a Ducati superbike but the Panigale’s too common for your tastes? You can seek out this “SBK” from Walt Siegel Motorcycles (WSM), then.

WSM is based in New Hampshire and hand-builds custom Ducati-powered bikes. Sticking to two-valve air-cooled Ducati engines previous, WSM now build bikes based on the four-valve liquid-cooled engines.

The SBK can accommodate either engine. The classic Ducati ladder-trellis frame is used, instead of the monocoque design of the Panigale. However, the geometry of WSM’s frame is identical to Ducatis in the World Superbike Championship, that are different to volume production frames.

This particular example was built around the 4-valve, liquid-cooled 1098 engine (dry clutch, woohoo!), built by Bruce Meyers Performance. However, it features a custom WSM ECU. This ECU in turn features traction control, clutchless upshifts, full interface dashboard with data acquisition.

It was due to the 1098 engine that WSM chose the frame and chassis geometry. The SBK uses Öhlins FGR World Superbike forks and Öhlins TTX shock, revalved to WSM’s specifications. Brembo Monobloc calipers and discs are obvious choices for the brakes.

WSM used carbon fibre to reduce the bike’s weight. Lots of it. The large fairing is entirely carbon, weighing an incredible 4kg. The tail section and its subframe are also made of carbon fibre, weighing a next-to-nothing 0.8kg. The airbox and its intake tubes are carbon fibre, too.

There are certain differences between the air-cooled and liquid-cooled SBK. The former uses BST carbon fibre wheels shod with Metzeler racing slicks, and Arrow titanium mufflers. It tips the scale at 154kg. The “LC” model, on the other hand, is fitted with OZ Racing wheels and Dunlop Q4 tyres. The muffler is from SC Project. It weighs 161kg due to liquid-cooling.

  • KTM CEO Stefan Pierer stated his desire to acquire Ducati in an interview.

  • He already has ideas on how to make the brands work together.

  • It’ll certainly be interesting to see if KTM does manage to buy Ducati from VW.

Everyone seems to want Ducati ever since the Volkswagen Group said it may be up for sale. Now KTM CEO Stefan Pierer says he’s interested.

In an interview with German publication Speedweek, Pierer recorded his interest to add the Italian marque to his collection. He even went as far as naming a few ideas on how Ducati could fit into KTM’s strategy.

The conversation started from his desire to turn KTM into the world’s third largest large capacity motorcycle manufacturer behind Honda and Yamaha.

Bold words in this soft global motorcycle market, but they were with substance. KTM is one of the very few brands to record sustained growth. Husqvarna, now owned by the Austrian manufacturer is also seeing a resurgence under Pierer.

How does it bode for Ducati, then? For one, the Italian brand will be at home with a brand owner who knows motorcycles instead of milking it as a financial instrument.

Instead, Pierer said that he saw that it’s the automotive industry which pioneered the “platform strategy” (building different models based on one engine or frame). “Today, engines and chassis are built partly identical for both KTM and Husqvarna, but in the house we are not working against each other,” he added. It makes sense since offering two brands increases customer frequency.

Yet, how should we imagine Ducati will fit in as a platform to KTM? Desmo LC8 engines? 75oV-Twins in Ducatis? These individual traditions and identities will not mix like orange juice and blood. We’re not even talking about the two brands’ racing effort yet. On second thought, however, Ducati may well benefit KTM in finding the magic equation in MotoGP, after all.

Still, it’d be interesting to see IF Pierer successfully adds Ducati to their stable.

Source: Asphalt & Rubber

  • We visited the Imperial War Museum, London at the end of Day 2 of the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure.

  • The Imperial War Museum displays exhibits that many of us had only seen on TV or read about.

  • It was full of with important modern warfare exhibits.

Continuing on the Day 2 of the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure, I was getting blown away by how just awesomeness of London. I came across the Imperial War Museum by blind luck.

(Please click here for the Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia London Adventure Day 1 at Tower of London and The Bike ShedDay 2 Part 1, here for Day 2 Part 2)

Coming off Westminster Palace (The Houses of Parliament), I consulted Google Maps for my next destination. I was thinking of the British Museum and St. Paul’s Cathedral, but something else popped up at the edge of the screen: The Imperial War Museum.

It’s not that I like war, but warfare intrigues me. Unfortunate as it is, warfare is where human emotions are at its rawest. There’s also a saying that “No one is an atheist in the trench.”

However, warfare pushes the boundaries of technologies the hardest. For example, it was the US Department of Defence who created the precursor to the Internet. So was the GPS (global positioning system). Titanium was first widely used in the Northorp SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance jet. Many of the technologies or solutions available to the public resulted from research and development in the military.

Along with my late-Dad, we’ve watched and read so much about the conflicts in antiquity (Rome, Greece, China, et al), World War 1, World War 2, communist insurgency in Malaya and Malaysia, Vietnam war, and every subsequent one in recent times.

St. Paul’s Cathedral and British Museum will have to wait.

Getting there

The Imperial War Museum has facilities divided among many locations throughout London and the United Kingdom. But this one at Lambeth is the main facility; a “short” 1.4-km (0.9-mile) walk across the Lambeth Bridge from the MI5 Security Service building.

My calves started to burn as I got to within 700m of the destination, but I kept pushing on. London has this magic of compelling you to keep moving, instead of squirrelling into the nearest café at the road side. Believe me, there are just so many cafés and restaurants anywhere you go around the city.

“We will never surrender,” as Winston Churchill said.

Soon, the courtyard of the museum appeared. Children running around the garden in multicoloured jackets confirmed it. The museum moved here in 1936. The building was originally the Bethelm Royal Hospital.

The compound

Alhamdulillah for the cool weather. I arrived without feeling like I’ve just completed a walkathon.

My eyes spotted a large yellow-colored shells and the barrel of a long gun. “Ya Allah! This is what I want to see,” my lips uttered involuntarily. (I’ve totally forgotten that I’ve not had lunch or any drink since breakfast at this point of time!)

I almost ran up to those guns. These are the BL 15-inch Mark-1 naval guns that I’ve read so much about! I suddenly felt a chill and goosebumps rose on my skin out of excitement. These were the best naval guns produced by the Royal Navy, hence serving from 1915 to 1959. The 15-inches referred to the gun’s bore (circumference of the tube, not length), while the length is at 16.52 metres long.

The gun was capable of shooting shells of 879kg with 222kg (490 lb.) supercharged cordite to a maximum distance of 27.3 kilometres, at 20barrel elevation (such as on the HMS Hood). The HMS Vanguard’s maximum 30elevation mounting increased the gun’s range to 34.6 kilometres. The guns were also employed as coastal defence guns in Singapore during WW2. At maximum elevation, the range was 40.3 kilometres.

Both are identical guns, except that the one on the left belonged to the HMS Ramilies and the other to the HMS Roberts.

These weren’t the biggest naval guns, by the way. That distinction belonged to the 18-inch behemoths fitted to the WWII Japanese battleships Yamato and Musashi.

Foyer and atrium

This particular Imperial War Museum does not charge an entrance fee. However, visitors are welcomed to drop some money into a donation box. Perhaps more importantly was photography and videography are allowed!

If those guns outside were interesting, I almost went complete bananas inside. Because, hanging from the ceiling (front to back) are a Harrier GR9 jump jet, V-1 flying bomb, V2 rocket and Spitfire fighter. These, all these fangled war machines were in those books and documentaries, but I didn’t for the life of me ever imagined seeing them up close and personal.

V-1 Flying Bomb

The V-1 (Vergeltungswaffe1 “Vengeance Weapon 1”) flying bomb was the first operation cruise missile of WWII. It was used by the Nazi Germany regime to terror bombing London. The first was fired at the city on 13thJune 1944, exactly after Allied troops landed at Normandy. A total of more than 9,500 V-1s were aimed at London.

However, the V-1 was primitive that it could not avoid anti-aircraft fire or fighter aircraft, and many were shot down that way.

V-2 Rocket

So, the Third Reich worked on Vergeltungswaffe2, better known as the V-2 rocket. The V-2 was the first proper intercontinental missile and the first manmade object which crossed into space.

Unlike the V-1, there’s no defence against the V-2. A survivor of a V-2 attack attested to seeing an entire block of London building lifting a metres into the air before exploding. More eerily, a double crack sound followed after the explosion. The “cracks” were the result of the bomb passing the sound barrier. The BBC reported that nearly 9,000 civilians and military personnel were killed by the rocket bomb.

Nazi Germany had been working hard on a nuclear program (they invaded Norway for the supply of “heavy water”) but they didn’t succeed in weaponizing that technology, thankfully. Otherwise, all of Europe would probably be speaking German now…

Another interesting fact was that the chief designer and engineer of the V-2 Werner Von Braun and his team surrendered to the American forces at the end of the war, rather than to the Soviet Union.

Von Braun and his team would go on to create the Saturn V rocket which carried the first humans to the Moon.

T-34-85 WWII Tank

The T-34 Soviet medium tank was widely regarded as the best battle tank in World War 2. Despite being outgunned by the excellent German Panzer and Tiger heavy tanks, the Soviets produced so many more T-34s to counter their losses. In fact, 44,900 T-34s were lost – the most in the war.

The secret to the T-34s success was its simplicity, which in turn meant easier and cheaper production. A total of 84,070 we built. By May 1944, they were producing 1,200 units of the T-34-85 variant per month.

Reuters Land Rover

The beat-up Land Rover was wearing the bright white paint and multiple “TV PRESS,” “REUTERS,” “FOREIGN PRESS,” etc. notations when the Reuters crew were covering the conflict in Gaza in 2006. Yet, an Israeli helicopter launched a rocket at it. The rocket went through the roof and exploded in the gearbox. Journalist Sabbah Hmaida was injured badly in his legs but his cameraman Fadel Shana suffered minor injuries.

Sadly, Shana was killed later when he was shot by an Israeli tank. The tank opened fired the second time, destroying the SUV he was travelling in. Eight other unarmed Palestinian civilians aged between 12 to 20 lay dead or dying from the blast.

As a journalist, it truly angered me that the Israelis actually shot vehicles with “PRESS” prominently emblazoned on their sides and roofs! What stank even more was when the Zionis regime exonerated the soldiers who fired the shots, through some incredulous reasoning.

You can read the full report here https://cpj.org/blog/2008/08/-in-the-gaza-strip.php

Rolls-Royce Merlin III Aircraft Engine

You would definitely hear about the iconic Rolls-Royce Merlin engine if you’re an aviation/history fan. It was installed in almost every British warplane including the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, de Havilland Mosquito, Lancaster heavy bomber, etc. etc.

This particular Merlin III engine was a 27,000cc (27-litre), 60oV-12 with single-stage, single-speed supercharger, producing 1030 bhp. The later Merlin XX produced 1,240 bhp.

According to the IWM, it powered the Hurricane Mk. 1 flown by Squadron Leader Tom Gleave of 253 Squadron. The squadron was protecting the Biggin Hill airfield on 31 August 1940 when they intercepted a formation of German Junkers Ju 88 bombers. Gleave hit two bombers but a shell hit his starboard wing fuel tank. His planes burst into flames, but he managed to bail out. The plane crashed at Mace Farm, east of the airfield. This engine was recovered by a local flying group in the 1960’s.

The American Packard Motor Car Company produced the Merlin 28 under license and designated it as the V-1650-1. It was this engine which went into the early North American P-51 Mustang. The later Merlin 66 became the Packard V-1650-7 which powered the P-51D variant. It was this plane which helped cripple the Luftwaffe fighter arm in the skies over Europe.

Enigma Machine

Radio messages in the military have to be codified (ciphered) to avoid the enemy from knowing your intentions.

Great Britian was in the process of being starved out and deprived of military materiel from America by Hitler’s U-boats (submarines). The U-boats meanced the Atlantic Ocean and sunk merchant ships of the Atlantic Convoy at will. Something had to be done quickly and one way was through breaking the German’s radio code.

The Germans used a machine called the Enigma to cipher their messages. The machine looked like a typewriter, but it actually replaced each letter typed with another letter through a “code” which only the sender and receiver know. Let’s say we typed in “Guten Morgen” on our end, the receiver will receive “XOGAT NQLRZ.” Therefore, the message is gibberish to anyone who intercepted it without the code.

The Allies made concerted efforts to capture the Enigma and break the code. It was finally broken by a British mathematician named Alan Turing. From then on, the U-boats were either avoided altogether (the Convoy charted other routes) or ambushed by the Royal Navy.

The cracking of the Enigma code remained Top Secret in the UK until the 1970’s.

Krupp Flak 8.8cm Flak

This is another piece of weaponry that Call of Duty players should know. It’s better known as the “Flak 88,” or “eighty-eight” in English and “acht-acht” in German.

It started out as a Flugzeugabwehrkanone, German for “anti-defence cannon.” The term “flak” is a contraction of that word. These cannons shot flak shells that are pre-set to explode at the chosen altitudes. The explosion throws out metal shrapnel in all directions. This method of anti-aircraft defence was for high altitudes where smaller shells could not reach. Remember this was World War 2 and SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) have not been developed yet.

The mechanisms of the gun was so well designed that later modifications adapted it to other roles such as artillery and anti-tank. That 8.8cm Flak KwK 36 version was fitted to the Tiger I heavy tank and it outranged every Allied tank on the battlefield. The later PaK 43 was fitted to the Elefant and Jagdpanther tank destroyers and lastly, the KwK 43 was fitted to the Tiger II.

Avro Lancaster Heavy Bomber

The Avro Lancaster was the backbone of the British Bomber Command in WW2.

It was used primarily in night bombing missions. But the true strength of the “Lanc” was its ability to be transformed quickly to carry almost any payload or mission. Its most famous missions include the bombing of German dams on the river Ruhr with “Upkeep” bouncing bombs, besides the fire-bombing of Hamburg.

The IWM displays the forward fuselage of a Lancaster christened as “Old Fred.” Old Fred served with the 467 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. It flew in 49 missions in enemy territory, marked by the 49 “mission marks” below the canopy.

Japanese Katanas

One level up and it begins with the Pacific Theatre of WW2. Displayed here are a number of katanas (Japanese Samurai swords) that were issued to Japanese military officers. The katana gained its notoriety during this period as they were used to behead prisoners of war. Truth is, the katana is a weapon of chivalry and honour, as was the samurai spirit of Bushido. But war corrupts many things.

Mitsubishi A6M3 “Zero” Fighter

The Japanese Zero was the most feared fighter plane in the Pacific War’s early stages. It was instrumental in leading the attack on Pearl Harbor. As it was built light, it could outclimb and out-turn any American fighter, initially.

Fortunately, the Americans discovered an intact crashed Zero in Akutan Island, Alaska. It was shipped back home and experimented on. The US then developed the F6F Hellcat and new tactics to counter the Zero. The Zero was relegated to kamikaze attacks in the latter stages of the war.

M4 Sherman Medium Tank (refer to the video above)

Just as the Soviet T-34, the M4 Sherman Medium Tank was built in great numbers in WW2. Furthermore, it also had the sloped armor similar to the T-34.

Being built simple and easy to maintain, the Sherman were ubiquitous in the battlefields of both European and the Pacific. The chassis served as the platform on which the Allies could build specialized machines including the amphibious DD (Duplex Drive) M4 which “swam” from the landing ships to the beaches, Zippo flame throwing tank, T34 Calliope rocket launcher, anti-mine tank with steel chain flails, and more.

Some 49,234 were built from 1942 to 1945.

Battle of Berlin

At the end of the European theatre, the Allied forces USA, Great Britain and Soviet Union were racing toward the seat of the Third Reich – Berlin. While none of the nations admitted it, whosoever reached and conquered the city first would most probably have the biggest say after the war.

The Soviets made almost suicidal efforts to finally conquer the city, and it was costly for both sides. The Soviets Red Army also committed many atrocities towards Berliners, especially the women. As word spread, more Germans decided to surrender to the Americans, including Werner Von Braun.

These were the main infantry small arms of the Red Army.

BMW R75

The BMW R75, especially with a sidecar attached is probably one of the most enduring images of the Great War. The Wehrmacht (German Army) used it in Africa and Russia extensively. The sidecar’s wheel is attached directly to the motorcycle’s rear wheel. A locking differential and selectable road/off-road gear ratios could be selected. There are also gear for reversing. The engine was a new 750cc, OHV, Boxer which produced 26 bhp.

BMW’s rival Zündapp also had a motorcycle during the war called the KS750. However, the Army urged both manufacturers to standardize their parts for the sake of simplicity in the field. It resulted in both the R75 and KS750 sharing 70% of their parts.

It was the R75’s success that prompted the American Army to demand for a motorcycle of their own, resulting in the Harley-Davidson XA. The XA became H-D’s first shaft-driven model.

The R75’s story didn’t end there. In producing the legendary movie “The Great Escape,” the producers dressed up four Triumph TR6 Trophies to mimic the R75 for the jump sequences.

Field Marshal Montgomery’s Humber Super Snipe Staff Car and North African Campaign Map

This Staff Car was called “Old Faithful” and was used by Montgomery as his personal chauffeur-driven transport while commanding the British Eighth Army in North Africa. He used it to visit his troops in the field and gave them his famous “pep talks” from it.

Montgomery was the commander who led his troops in pushing German Field Marshal Edwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps all the way to Al Alemein, Tunisia and out of North Africa, opening the way for the Allies to invade Sicily, Italy. The Italian campaign knocked out the Fascist Italians, depriving Hitler of an ally.

It also turned out that the first shots in the Battle of Al Alemein were fired by the British on 23rd October 1942, exactly 76 years ago when I visited this museum. What a coincidence! The British troops had lost and surrendered in one battle after another, including Dunkirk, Norway, Tobruk and Singapore before this, so the Battle of Al Alemein was the turning point for the British.

Willys MB Jeep

The Jeep was another symbol of WW2. Simply put, it was the first 4X4 SUV. The troops loved it as a multirole vehicle that could do just about everything.

This particular Jeep was used by the Red Cross Homes in La Selva and Cuvia, Italy and Klagenfurt, Austria. The Jeep’s windscreen can be folded forward flat on the hood, thereby making it ideal as an ambulance. This particular unit was also used to deliver supplies to the Casualty Clearing Stations in those theatres. The Red Cross didn’t want to keep the Jeep after the war and handed it back to its former owner, Joan Whittington, who drove it back to England from Austria.

The Jeep were jointly built by Willys-Overland (MB) and Ford. The former produced 359,489 units while the latter built 277,896. It was used extensively in WW2, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Little Boy Atomic Bomb Casing

This was one of the five actual spare Little Boy atomic bomb casings.

Filled with 64kg of enriched uranium-235, “Little Boy” was the atomic bomb dropped in the history of mankind. It flattened the Japanese city of Hiroshima on 6thAugust 1945. The bomb which was dropped on Nagasaki on 9thAugust 1945 was called the “Fat Man,” on the other hand.

The “bombs” hastened the Japanese military to surrender to the Allies, thereby ending the war in the Pacific and WW2, overall.

BAe Harrier GR.9

The Harrier attack/fighter was the first operational vertical/short take-off (V/STOL) and landing aircraft when it was introduced in 1969. Vertical take-off means the plane could get off the ground without needing to sprint down a runway. Instead, it goes up like and hovers like a helicopter. The engineers did this by aiming vectoring jet nozzles on the fuselage.

The carrier-borne version called Sea Harrier distinguished itself against the Argentine Air Force in the Falklands War in 1982. Although slower, the Harriers shot down 20 Argentine aircraft with no loss. Only 2 Harriers were brought down by ground fire.

Harriers were license built in the US for the Marine Corp as a close-support aircraft, called the AV-8B.

This particular Harrier started out as a GR.5, before being upgraded to the GR.7 and ultimately the GR.9. Great Britain had stopped flying the Harrier since 2010, replacing them with the American-made Lockheed F-35 Lightning II.

One Last Look

There were more which I videoed on that day but too numerous to be included in this already too long article.

There were sections on the Korean War, Cold War, War on Terror, UN Peacekeepers, and many more. Besides those, the museum also had a resource centre which was stocked full of books and videos for researchers. Its shop was like a toyshop combined with a bookstore!

In fact, I didn’t have much time to spend at the museum, unfortunately, as it was already 4pm. I didn’t have the luxury of reading each info card of the exhibits. Almost the all notes here were from my prior research. However, touching the V-2 rocket had my senses tingling. This was something significant out of history.

The only I could do at that sad moment was vowing to return some day. Like General McArthur.

Before I close, there’s something that I feel strongly about mentioning. It was heart-warming to see so many parents who patiently read the cards and explained it to their children. That’s what my late-Dad did for me.

On the other hand, I’ve seen so many Malaysian parents shrugging their shoulders and saying, “I dunno, let’s go” instead of teaching their kids. I hope these parents can take a cue from the English and educate your children.

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