mcspool

Simon, This is a a South African Reconnaissance Car Mark IVF. Better know by the British as Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car Mark IVF. HTH, Hanno http://www.geocities.com/marmonherrington/

Erhm, Land Rover, Range Rover, Land Rover ?!?! H.

Hi Adrian, I think it all boils down to one´s personal interest. Some like the mechanical side of things and love to dig deep into the oily bowels of a vehicle. I know guys who restore vehicles and them let them sit as they don´t like driving them. Others like driving vehicles and buy a running one, slap some paint on it and take it to a show or rather, join (HM)V clubs that organise off road drives in sand pits etc. Yet another group of people like the historical research aspect, and spend a huge amount of effort to dig through archives to find out the nitty gritty details of the design, manufacture and use of a type of vehicle. So within the group of HMV enthusiasts there are people with distinctly different interests. In my experience, the people interested in re-enactment, are more interested in the daily life of soldiers. Uniforms, kit, weapons and vehicles are essential parts of this hobby, but not necessarily the main focus. So yes, I see people who combine uniform collecting and vehicle collecting, but it is not the same in my view. While you shake you head when you see reenactors in the Beltring Bush, they will probably shake their heads when they see you digging out a rusty Sherman hulk on a range . . . Being in it for different interests does not mean we cannot enjoy this hobby together, but throwing it all on one big pile is just not going to work. My EUR 0,02 worth, Hanno

Another HMV found on the Canon Digital Photography Forums. This is a Ford 3-ton 2G8T or G8T. Note the Olive Drab base coat showing through after the red and black paint wears off. Great to see the black out lighting still in place. Under S.M.2451 the UK were delivered with these US-built Ford 3 ton 4x2 6-cyl. 158" wb chassis with stake bodies (source: Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles: Army Transport 1939-1945): (click on image for large size scan) Below is a picture of a preserved example, shown at Beltring a few years back: Source: Ferdinand Hejl's photo site H.

Some pics of a CDSW - albeit an artillery tractor - just so people know what this rare type of truck looks like: Click on the pictures to see large size scans and more pictures of this survivor, which I photographed at a show in Holland. - Hanno

Page 22 and 23: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=436246&page=22 Like Richard said, these trucks were featured in a "Bush Tucker Man" episode, which I used to watch regularly. Not because I wanted to survive in the wild, but because the Major presenting it always had interesting historical stories. Like these trucks and other equipment which were brought in by ship/landing craft to build an airstrip in the remote North of Australia to protect against a Japanese invasion. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mungalalu_Truscott_Airbase - Hanno

I like this one better. . . .

Isn't the PzKpfw I at Munster a runner? I know it was rebuilt from a lower hull wreck which was dug up sometime. Hanno

Joris, Cobra King is one of 254 M4A3E2´s built. The E2 is an up-armoured variant of the M4A3 Sherman tank with extra armour on the hull and turret. The M4A3E2 was designed as an assault tank, and therefore equipped with a standard 75mm main gun and HE (High Explosive) ammunition. Later, when in actual use in NW-Europe, some units retrofitted the longer 76-mm gun in place of the 75-mm gun, as they had a need for better armour piercing capabilities. - Hanno

I'd like to set the record straight on who really discovered and identified Cobra King: It was back in 2001 when CH Keith Goode noted the Jumbo at Vilseck has serial number S/N 50487 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/message/1195). One thing led to another, and Joe DeMarco was able to confirm M4A3E2 with serial number 50487 corresponds to registration number 3083084 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/message/1198), which is the number of "Cobra King" - have a look at the Signal Corps photo Joe posted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/files/Surviving_Shermans/Germany/Vilseck/ Search the message archives at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/messages for more background on this important discovery. After this important start, it is due to G104 mailing list members, many of which serve in the US military, like David Davenport, Shawn Ferguson, Brian Stigall, "the Army historians finally got on the ball and confirmed it for themselves". No doubt many others did their bit behind the scenes as well. Possibly Cobra King took part in the Hammelburg Raid, but this still needs to be confimred. Great research task for the Army historians! Regards, Hanno G104 mailing list owner & moderator

Stefano, I agree with you. Cobra King's place for eternity should be in a purpose built museum in Bastogne. But you know how the Americans can be. They even claim and "bring back" FT-17 tanks from Afghanistan, a type they never had, just because they want it! - Hanno

My pleasure. When I find the time I'll do a short write-up about the discovery of Cobra King, which is slightly different from what is presented by the US Army publications. - Hanno

Read below for the final installment of a story that started on my G104 mailing list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/) Personally, I think it is a pity Cobra King was not brought back to Bastogne temporarily before being shipped to the USA. - Hanno

This one? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250446482452 While it is indeed a M601, it is not of "1942 ?" vintage. These were built from the mid or latter part of the 1950's until as late as the early 1970s(!) for foreign military aid. I´m just posting those build years here to prevent possible problems registering such a vehicle. Otherwise, nice trucks! I´d like a civilian Power Wagon to convert into the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army version:

Expect for Weapons Carriers in the Far East, the Dodge WC series of trucks were not used by the British Army nor RAF. Maybe one or two were used unofficially, as sometimes vehicles were traded/borrowed/rebuilt from wrecks etc. What I understand is that Command Cars were not popular in front line use, as they made it very easy for the enemy to target commanders. I think you will find them in use around USAAF air bases in the UK, and similar non-front line uses. While an attractive colour scheme, it is a common misunderstanding RAF vehicles were painted blue-grey during WW2. Before and after (with black wings), yes, but not during. Hanno

Further to some pictures posted of Mulberry harbour remains across Europe (UK, France, Holland), here's picture of concrete pontoons (Beetles) for Mulberry Harbours. If I understand correctly, they are located somewhere in Scotland. - Hanno

Mike, I heard about it, but did not see it myself. It could be the PU which I saw under restauration in the Normandy area 5 years ago (see thread on MLU). At that point in time the chassis was painted in a greyish blue colour, as that was the original colour they found (even under brackets bolted to the chassis etc.) Hanno

Some dates and places, as far as I know these are the major events in The Netherlands: 11 - 13 September 2009: Keep Them Rolling "Achterhoekweekend", St. Isidorushoeve. See http://www.twente-achterhoekweekend.nl/. Tanks and other tracked vehicles are especially welcome! 19 September 2009: Paradropping, Ede. The vehicle part of this event is organised by Keep Them Rolling, see http://www.ktr.nl. 20 September 2009: crossing of the Waal Bridge, Nijmegen. Hope this helps, Hanno

Stefano, Thanks for posting the pictures! I knew Danny was there with his C60X, but I did not get to see them. Hanno

Hi Richard, Yes it was good to shake hands and chat briefly. The Australians were dying to get to Port-en-Bessin as they wanted a front row seat for the fireworks. As I could not make it to Normandy earlier than Thursday evening due to other commitments, I had to miss the impromptu meeting at Batterie Longues. Are you planning to come over to Holland for the Market-Garden commemorations? Hanno

John, Pity we did miss each other, I did stop to admire your beautiful truck though! Hope to meet you in person at another show sometime soon. Hanno

Lockheed Lodestar, one of the unsung heroes of WW2. Or better, a complete fuselage on a Queen Mary trailer! - Hanno

Other than Richard Farrant and Chris I did not run into any other HMVF members (not that I know of, that is!). Richard brought his trusty Bedford QL and Chris brought his freshly restored Bedford MW - follow the link in the quote below. - Hanno

Some more pictures of the trucks in "Lang Kidby´s Tour". These were shipped from New Zealand and Australia to Turkey and driven all the way to Normandy!

Due to my interest in things Canadian, I focussed on making pictures of the Canadian Military Pattern trucks in Normandy last week. From Switzerland: Italy: UK: Belgium: Holland: Enjoy! Hanno