"RAF Tender" - what this term means ?

[modello]

Dear colleagues !

 

I see in the literature, dedicated to WW2, the term "RAF Tender" sometimes. For example, "Austin K2/YF 2 ton 4x2 RAF GS Tender", "Bedford ML 2 ton 4x2 RAF Type A GS Tender", "Albion AM463 4x2 30-cwt RAF GS Tender", etc.

 

What this term means - the Fire Guard vehicle ? Or Fire Engine ? Or something else, associated with fires ?

Or this term is much wider ?

 

Thank You in advance !

[Richard Farrant]

Dear colleagues !

 

I see in the literature, dedicated to WW2, the term "RAF Tender" sometimes. For example, "Austin K2/YF 2 ton 4x2 RAF GS Tender", "Bedford ML 2 ton 4x2 RAF Type A GS Tender", "Albion AM463 4x2 30-cwt RAF GS Tender", etc.

 

What this term means - the Fire Guard vehicle ? Or Fire Engine ? Or something else, associated with fires ?

Or this term is much wider ?

 

Thank You in advance !

 

It is nothing unusual, just a truck, usually with canvas covered body. RAF have always used this term.

[Ron]

Or from the dictionary:-

 

tender (ˈtɛndə)

 

1. (Nautical Terms) a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship

2. (Railways) a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water

3. an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast

4. a person who tends

 

Ron

[Tony B]

May have originated from the system of the early RFC to use Cavalry terms such a squadrons. Tenders , were Horse Holders in battle situations for Dragoons, who rode as Cavalry but fought as Infantary.

[RAFMT]

Nope, it originated from the fact a tender was vehicle that carried supplies, as per the dictionary entry above :-)

[Tony B]

Nope, it originated from the fact a tender was vehicle that carried supplies, as per the dictionary entry above :-)

 

How about this for a definition of Tender then? 'leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.' Less beans in the diet?

[AlienFTM]

May have originated from the system of the early RFC to use Cavalry terms such a squadrons. Tenders , were Horse Holders in battle situations for Dragoons, who rode as Cavalry but fought as Infantary.

Dr Johnson wrote his dictionary in the 18th Century. There are those (q.v. Mallinson, Light Dragoons the Making of a Regiment) who posit that Dr Johnson was not necessarily using the word "indifferently" in an archaic manner when writing his definition of a Dragoon, but in fact using the more modern usage based on the poor performance in their early years of the 13th Regiment of Dragoons see wikipedia:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Hussars

 

The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 they had been converted to the light role.

 

He defined a Dragoon something along the lines of "a soldier who fights indifferently whether on foot or on horseback."

[modello]

Thank You all, men, for Your explanations !

 

This so strange, of course - for what reasons those guys from RAF not used "the truck" term, simply "the truck" ? :???:???:???

Or "load carrier" at least ?

[Tony B]

Ah we are a literate lot! Thank you Mon V!