Great War truck

The second elephant is certainly being hauled by Packard. I don't think the first one (chain drive) is though. Something different altogether.

No. It belongs to a friend. I just went to have a look at it.

Found some more pictures. The front was modified post war to make it more attractive: The badge which was stolen off the lorry about 30 years ago was returned by the bloke who took it when he recognised the lorry:

I went and had a look at this super Bedford last weekend. Unfortunately, my sim card deleted most of the photos I took. It had a long life in civilian service so wont be restored as a military machine. This data plate was on the dash but was blank. What should be on it?

I was very lucky to examine and have a play with a newly imported US Liberty B truck. Apart from the missing bodywork the truck is in super condition and will not need a lot doing to it: It needs a new seat! Tow hitch did not look correct. I need to compare it to another one: Mileometer in the hub: It has a sprag behind the axle: Massive sprocket on the rear wheel so I wonder if this is off something else:

There are some wonderful clips of film of US MV’s on Liberty loan drives in the USA. Lots of interesting and unusual vehicles. Can anybody id the chain drive trucks transporting the elephants. At first I thought Peerless, but then realised that the hubs were wrong.

Which Holt have you got. 5 ton, 10 Ton. "75" or "120"? Tim

Super trucks. How did they end up in the USA?

Not the first LVT at Woolacombe though. There was at least one there in 1944 with a Russian observers wearing US Navy uniforms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljtjZ3SjdoQ

Some clips have been appearing on Youtube. I was wondering how they got that LVT through that little gap: Then its first run down the beach: You will see a great deal of congestion with the surfers:

Finally (and I promise not to post anymore photographs after this), by the time we got back to the beach my ride (and all my kit) had gone back to Cobbaton in the Dodge. I then hindered Tim in his loading of the Sexton for which he kindly gave me a lift back to Cobbaton in his ex Fury GMC (which I understand is up for sale). Smiles and waves all the way back to Cobbaton. If you have never been to that museum I would highly recommend it. Tim is currently restoring their Sherman which was in Fury. it is the one which blew up throwing the turret up in the air. It was recovered from a range and there is great deal to do to return it to running condition: Many thanks to Preston, Tim, the Devon MVT, First Wave 44 and the Friends of Braunton Burrows for arranging such a superb event. It sets the bar for the rest of the year.

The highlight of the day has got to be the ride in the LVT. The noise, movement and heat from the radial engine are things I wont forget. Also the excitement followed by slight trepidation as the machine lifted and started to float. Makes me think a great deal about the US marines who used these in the Pacific. I have attached a few photos, but they really cant do justice to the amount of enjoyment I got out of the day. Many thanks Charlie and William for the ride:

Tim brought out the Sexton from the Cobbaton Combat Collection. This is one of those which was imported into the UK by Dave Freeman back in the 80's. it looked and sounded superb and Tim put it though its paces. Tim indicated that it was probably the longest he had driven it.

Next step was a run up and down the beach. Ended up a bit like a mad max movie.

After they had returned to dry land I asked Charlie how he had got on. I cant remember his exact words but it was something along the lines of “jolly exciting”.

I was very excited to hear that Charlie was bringing his LVT for a play as it would be great to see it in its natural environment: After running up and down the beach Will dipped its tracks in the water and the crowds descended for a closer look. Unfortunately, by this time I was in the pub and could only take photos from a long distance away: Unfortunately, the large number of wind/kite surfers did create a congestion issue. I would have thought the surfer would give way, but it seemed they did not feel the inclination

We lined up in the car park before heading off to Saunton where we lined up on the beach I very much admired Pauls new Bedford QL

Then the landing craft were unloaded with differing levels of positive driving and enthusiasm: The stirred up mud created an interesting fragrance, so we all headed off for the next stop. Saunton Sands

The next stopping point was the concrete landing craft where the vehicles were reversed into position through the bows. Lots of gouges here when the GI’s practiced doing the same 70 years ago. The landing craft were built by engineers from the 146th one of whom left his name. There was then a memorial service and wreath laying which was very moving Followed by a flypast of Austers and piper cub

Super Burma Jeep Preston and his American Land Rover Rob and his BSA REME Ward La France

Just got back from what was an absolutely superb event and one which I will remember for a very long time. Information on the event was posted by Utah1944boy on this thread: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?47110-Devon-D-Day-2015 John and I drove down on Friday stopping over with family to make a 7:00 AM arrival on Saturday. I was a member of the Devon MVT for many a years so it was nice to see so many old friends, with the shout of “Hey look, its Tim…..quickly drive off before he notice’s us” still ringing in my ears. Possibly the best event I have ever attended so many thanks to the organisers and to everybody who gave us a lift, which was very much appreciated. I have many images to post so I will make a start here. We hitched a lift in a Dodge to make an early start at the Assault Training Centre where we stopped off at the bazooka wall to set up some pyros to give a display of bazooka training as the convoy approached. GMC which followed the Dodge down My first ride of the day (the Dodge) First part of the convoy arrives: Rod who joined us from Oxfordshire: Tims GMC (my fourth ride of the day) One of three SWB GMC’s Mack, first time I had seen this one when it was not raining at Honiton Hill

The arms were set up in the Milling Machine so that the remains of the original shaft could be bored out – that proved to be successful. The final picture in this sequence shows the two arms placed on an off-cut of the new 1 1/2” diameter sleeve, just to ensure fit. If we decide to use these arms again, then they are ready to be brazed to the new sleeve.

There has been a bit of a pause of late – Steve has been on holiday and is also busy at home with a building extension, Tony has been on holiday and all of us have been rather tied up with other commitments! But with our thoughts turning again to getting the back wheels on now as soon as possible, we have been looking at the brakes and the braking system. Steel 1mm Blanks have been laser cut for the new dust covers which go inside the back wheels over the shoes and springs and they still have to be finished off at the Leicester out-station! New brake pads have arrived and await riveting to the brake shoes at base in Axminster. The original handbrake compensating gear was still fitted to the chassis recovered from under the Shepherds Hut – it was bent and corroded and there was no way of recovering the actual tube and shaft from there to use again so it had to be cut. It consists of a 1 1/2” diameter steel tube which can turn on a 1” steel shaft which runs through it, as the hand brake is activated and to the tube are brazed two arms. Although the arms were also heavily corroded, we hope that we can recover these and that they will prove to be be good enough to be used again. The levers, with some of the original shaft left on them to hold them by for machining later on, were first of all sand-blasted, just to clean them up and so that we could see what exactly we had there. At that stage, the original brazing becomes very clear to see.

Sorry. I forgot to mention, it is a Heavy Aviation.