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What is a Beresford Funnel?


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I am currently halfway through building the 1/35 AFV Club Scimitar and Scorpion kits, and have found a very short reference on page 11 of Osprey's New Vanguard 13 Scorpion Recce Vehicle 1972-94 to an interesting device called a "Beresford Funnel". Now this particular Osprey book didn't elaborate too much on this piece of equipment so I turned, as most of us do, to Google for more information. 

 

The following information was found (is it correct?) and I guess most AFV modellers and ex British Army servicemen/women would already know this information , but here goes (cut and pasted) :

 

All British Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV’s) have the following item as part of their Complete Equipment Schedule (CES). The CES lists items of equipment that are mandatory, and must be on board the AFV at all times.

Meet the Beresford Funnel:-

Now, this piece of AFV equipment is one of the first things that a novice AFV crew member gets his lips on, and is responsible for many fits of laughter for the AFV old hands, as well as grave embarrassment for the novice.

Traditionally, the most junior crew member is responsible for the AFV CES. This is a sound policy, as the new crew member becomes familiar with all the little do-dahs and whatsits that make an AFV the fine killing machine it is. Inevitably, he will come across the Beresford Funnel as he works his way through the schedule. He will then display signs of befuddlement as he closely examines the item. He will, in a curious chimpanzee fashion, open the flip lid, look into the cavity, turn the tap, flex the rubber, close the flip lid, reopen it, feel the cork gasket under the lid, stare at the NATO part number stamped on it; as if magically it will give up its secret, but all to no avail. This is the hard part for him, because now he is going to have to ask his Corporal to explain to him the purpose of this strange piece of equipment, and what it is called in relation to the CES.

Understand this; that when a senior British Army crewman enthusiastically answers a junior’s question with great detail and fervour, it is not because of his superior leadership skills and kind empathy. No, it’s because he is just about to make you feel humiliated and stupid.

For the Beresford Funnel, there are several ways in which the senior NCO could describe its purpose to a junior crewman, but none of them will be anything remotely related to the act of urination. However, what they all will have in common is that the device in some way requires a crewman to put his lips firmly around one end or the other to operate the equipment. The rubber bladder lends to the credulity of the NCO’s explanation, as it can indeed be inflated. Examples may include:-

It is a horn that will send an audible warning to neighbouring AFV’s that “our radio comms are dead”. The 1/4 turn tap at the ‘mouthpiece’ can be turned to alter the pitch, and thus convey the level of desperation your commander is experiencing. Of course, practise makes perfect, and the junior crewman will be strongly encouraged to practice heartily until they have complete mastery of pitch, morse code, last post, reveilie etc.. Other crewmen may even offer up helpful trumpeting advice on where to position your tongue over the tube opening.

It is an emergency gas mask. The rubber bladder is lined with a Top Secret compound that will filter out all forms of nerve agents, mustard gasses etc.. Of course, your lips have to form an airtight seal around one end or the other, or both, if you are required to use it in ‘rebreather’ mode. Visual instruction is usually offered for this complex manoeuvre, as well as helping hands to ensure that both ends of the device are firmly inside your gob.

The forerunner to the CamelBak; albeit one that was designed for use in Nuclear, Biological & Chemical (NBC) conditions. Normally, the helpful commander will instruct the new crew member to fill the bladder with water, then add about 75g of fullers earth via the funnel. After closing the funnel lid and vigorously shaking the slurry, the new crewmember is encouraged to discover what hydrating yourself during NBC conditions would be like. Drinking half a litre or so of the water and fullers earth slurry would be enough for training purposes. The commander would usually lament on how it is a bitter pill to swallow, but necessary for preserving life.

Seriously though, the Beresford Funnel is actually quite useful for AFV crews training or fighting under NBC conditions. You simply close the 1/4-turn valve, flip open the funnel lid, insert your todger inside of the nickel-plated funnel, then urinate. The bladder will expand to accommodate your urine. Once you have relieved yourself you can then hook up the small tube to a gutter pipe that is routed to the outside of the AFV. Open the valve and the contents of the bladder will drain through the gutter pipe to the exterior of the AFV.

Incidently, many British AFV’s also have a ‘commode’ located under one of the crew seats. Further details are taken from SECTION 2 of the DEFENCE STANDARD SPECIFICATION:

10.8.5 Human Biological Waste Disposal

10.8.5.1 The hygienic collection and disposal of human biological waste on-board a vehicle is essential in an NBC contaminated environment, but must be allowed for in the design, due to the duration and tactical requirements of Battlefield Missions.

10.8.5.2 A commode is the most suitable device for collecting faecal waste, or at the very least, a commode seat to which a bag can be attached. The commode will need to be similar in size to those used by campers and caravanners. Whenever practicable, the commode and/or seat should be in a location not normally occupied by a crewman, but this is not always possible. A commode seat can convert to a normal seat with the provision of a sealed lid on top of which the work seat folds down.

10.8.5.3 In order to minimise storage and hygiene difficulties, urine should be collected separately from faecal waste. A system that allows urine to be discharged outside the vehicle at appropriate times can be installed. This enables urination to take place separately from the commode location when required, especially as this function takes place much more frequently.

10.8.5.4 A hygienic method for the collection and disposal of biological waste shall be provided and be capable of supporting the crew over the Battlefield Mission period, including 24 hours closed down. The system shall be usable by all crew members in an “NBC clean” vehicle interior which is accessible to all when closed down. Some form of retractable privacy curtain or screen shall be provided. The design of crew seats shall not be compromised by the requirements of the waste disposal system. The capacity of the system shall accommodate 400 gm by weight and 300ml by volume per person per day, with a suitable safety margin.
[Mandatory]

10.8.5.5 Bags for faecal waste shall be of similar design to food waste bags but labelled "faecal waste". The waste shall be neutralised by adding the powder called up in the CES after each person’s use before immediately sealing that bag to prevent cross- infection. The sealed faecal waste bags shall be temporarily stored in the commode (which could be located beneath a seat squab), until such time as operational conditions allow for permanent disposal by burying in the ground. [Mandatory]

10.8.5.6 Urine shall be collected separately in a Beresford funnel with bladder attachment, or a device with similar dimensions and capacity. The Beresford funnel system should be stowed adjacent to the commode to prevent urination into the latter, thus reducing the volume of waste to be collected and stored, as well as the risk of overflowing. It should however be possible to use the Beresford funnel system at other crewstations if required. Disposal of the collected urine shall be carried out by connecting the end of the collecting bag (bladder) to an internal disposal pipe for discharging by gravity directly outside the vehicle. The pipe shall be fitted with a non-return valve. [Mandatory]

 

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Thanks for that, very interesting.

 

It also opens up a product opportunity for paint manufacturers.

 

Presumably when the bladder is emptied to the outside world it will flow and drip against the AFV armour.  I have checked the extensive catalogues of weathering washes, I could find all manner of different stains accommodated but not one does a urine stain wash.  This could open up a whole range of new products, different colours and intensities depending on what the crewmen had been eating.

 

Come on Mig Ammo there is a gap in the market here.

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel

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  • 3 months later...

The idea that the old hands would get the new-guy to blow into this device is just...... EUWWW! That has to be classified as a covert, biological-warfare device and should have been banned. Still, the military sense-of-humour, eh? 

 

Chris. 

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On 8/16/2020 at 8:59 AM, nheather said:

Thanks for that, very interesting.

 

It also opens up a product opportunity for paint manufacturers.

 

Presumably when the bladder is emptied to the outside world it will flow and drip against the AFV armour.  I have checked the extensive catalogues of weathering washes, I could find all manner of different stains accommodated but not one does a urine stain wash.  This could open up a whole range of new products, different colours and intensities depending on what the crewmen had been eating.

 

Come on Mig Ammo there is a gap in the market here.

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel

 

Thank you Nigel - that's  mental image I'm never going to be able to unsee :)

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On 14/12/2020 at 11:56, At Sea said:

Why use paint when you could use the real thing...

 

...realistic bleaching effect. 

 Hope no bright spark suggests a demonstration at the next Nationals at Telford. That will definitely sort out social distancing 

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It looks similar to the 'P' tube on a Wessex. The chrome 'cup' was in the cockpit & connected to a rubber pipe that vented overboard.

The chrome 'cup' was sometimes presented to an Officer on retirement, or on promotion to a desk job as a pen holder.

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In the Australian Army there was a device, shaped like a funnel with a wide open end and a narrower end.  This was lodged next to the thunderbox in the sandy soil.  I have witnessed a young, female soldier being instructed in it's uses as a loudhailer.  She literally put the narrow open end to her lips and shouted out a command.  Everybody who witnessed this fell around laughing.  She was naive enough to believe us and spent about half an hour washing out her mouth after she realised what it's real use was.   It is a familiar piece of equipment widely used.  :) :) :)

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Haven't seen one of those in a while. I don't recall seeing one actually used for its proper purpose. I just kept a couple of empty bottles in my drivers hatch for peeing in and just tipped it over the side.

 

P-3's, just to pick up on one point.

 

''Traditionally, the most junior crew member is responsible for the AFV CES.''

 

This isn't true, certainly not in my battalion. The driver was responsable for the CES. He was the one who needed to know where everything was and that it was in good order. The vehicle commander would check and sign for it, but the driver was the one who looked after it.

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  • 1 month later...

A similar device was fitted to the sea King helicopter. As this was American designed, rumour has it that the MOD requested that the size of the top Cup be increased as it wasn't big enough for the British. 

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