rneil

Iain, I strongly suspect that the RT-25 was strongly influenced by the EB. Although I have yet to find a photo of EB's in NZ service there is some anecdotal evidence suggesting that there were a few EBs in the NZ inventory in the 1970s. The RT-25 was manufactured by an NZ company called Lees Industries, who at the time was the largest manufacturer of heavy machinery in Australasia. Although producing a fair number of RT-25s (one source states 26) the heavy machinery sector in NZ lost the protection of import tariffs in the 1980's and the potential to manufacture competitively was lost and Lees moved onto other more profitable projects. The NZ Army replaced the RT-25 with 16 Matbro TS280 RTFLs from the UK and 11 SkyTrak RTFL from the USA in the mid 1990s

Yes often confused as the Eager Beaver, had an Automatic transmission.

Military Forklifts are an often forgotten class of military vehicle, This example is the New Zealand RT-25 Rough Terrain Forklift. The RT-25 was in use with the New Zealand Army from the late 1970s to the mid-90. The RT-25 had a Perkins 4 Cylinder diesel engine which provided power for the drive chain and lifting hydraulics,krikstal axles and Clark transmission. In addition to having 4WD capability, the RT-25 also had the ability to be operated with 2 or 4 wheel steering providing excellent off-road handling. Intended to handle standard NATO Pallets (1200mm x 1000mm) with a capacity of up to 2500KG the RT-25 came with fork extensions and a crane attachment enabling it to handle different sized loads. When used on operations in hot climates such as Malaysia and Somalia the cab could be removed to provide a natural air conditioner. When used in colder climates with the Cab fitted, a heater was fitted for the comfort of the Operator. As a military forklift, the RT-25 was fitted with the full range of Blackout lights and front and rear facing spotlights.

Would any members of the group had any images or descriptions, both external and internal of the various types of 3-ton lorries configured as Binned Stores vehicles that British and Commonwealth forces used in Ordnance Field Parks, Workshops Stores and other mobile Ordnance Depots during and after the 2nd World War?

I have checked the War Establishment for the New Zealand Laundry and Bath Units for WW2, which were closely based on the British establishments. A 15 c.w.t water truck (200 gal) was part of the Laundry establishment, but not the part of the Bath unit which this disinfector was part of. This indicates to me that this equipment must have been self-contained with an independent, but limited water supply, I, assuming something around 20 gallons. Given the thought put into designing this type of equipment I would also assume that it would have had the ability to be hooked up to an external source such as tanks, bowsers and natural supplies so I also believe that Pump and filter would have been part of its CES. Would be nice to know for certain.

Hi Richard, thanks for the interesting link. Illustrates the diversity of 1940's Australian industry where they were able to design and produce this equipment in a relatively short period of time. New Zealand only had a Mobile Laundry capability in the Middle East and Egypt from the middle of 1941, using standard British equipment. But I am curious whether the Mobile laundry units that NZ maintained in the 1950s and early 1960s used the British equipment or the Australian equipment described in the article, another path to explore. Here is a link to an article on what I currently know about New Zeland Mobile laundry and Bath equipment. https://wp.me/p4YOZp-3e Regards Rob

This picture is a British Truck, 3-ton, 4x2, Morris-Commercial CVS 11/40 fitted with Disinfestor equipment. This equipment was part of the equipment of Mobile Bath units and was used to disinfect soldiers clothing by the application of steam. The concept was that the Mobile Bath unit would set up next to a unit in the field,. When operating soldiers would strip down placing their underwear in one pile, and thor outer clothing into another. The underwear would be sent to a field laundry unit for laundering with soldiers receiving a clean pair in exchange from stocks held by the Mobile Bath unit. While the soldiers were enjoying a nice hot shower, their outer clothing would be processed by this machinery while they were having a shower. The disinfestor’s purpose is to kill lice. In the austere base and field conditions field that soldiers had to live in the risk of infestation by lice was a constant problem. Bathing and the laundering of underwear was not sufficient to handle infestations and disinfecting of outer garments with steam was necessary to kill the lice and their eggs. The disinfector equipment consisted of two disinfecting cylinders with an oil fired heater and a water supply mounted between the cylinders. The disinfecting cylinders were hinged at the middle, allowing them to be rotated 90 degrees allowing them to be loaded and unloaded while horizontal and then rotated until they were vertical for the disinfecting process. Clothing would not be wetted but placed into the cylinders dry, and when the process was completed was ready to wear almost immediately. Despite this equipment being in service throughout the Second World War. this is the only picture I have ever seen of this equipment and would love to find some more photos, drawings, user manuals or any other information on this equipment.

Hi Rob here, I'm a kiwi Military Historian specialising in New Zeland's Ordnance Services and related Logistic Corps. My interest in Military Vehicles is in the specialist Logistic varients and specialist Logistic equipment that was used by New Zealand Forces from the First World War to the present. Anything to do with Binned Stores trucks, Mobile Laundry's, Mobile Bath units, Clothing disinfectors, water and fuel distribution is within my area of interest. All the best Rob