david052 Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 Hi Had a search on here, as I seem to remember the topic came up before, but couldn't find anything, as I am looking for info on the Caterpillar D4. The RE Museum at Chatham has one so I am assuming that the British Army used them in wartime too - is that correct? Is there a resource anywhere where I can find out more info, and is there a record of which serial numbers went into military service, in the Allied Forces? Also, is the main difference between the D4 and the D2 just engine size? Finally, did the Clark CA-1 ever enter British service? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 I have one too! 2T serial numbers were all military as were some of the preceding model with a 7J serial like mine. The British Army used loads, they were the standard size IV dozer. Famously used to bury victims at Belsen..... D2 is a smaller tractor with little commonality. Not sure about the Clarkair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 I have one too! 2T serial numbers were all military as were some of the preceding model with a 7J serial like mine. The British Army used loads, they were the standard size IV dozer. Famously used to bury victims at Belsen..... D2 is a smaller tractor with little commonality. Not sure about the Clarkair. D2 and D4 both widely used by RAF Airfield Construction Branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david052 Posted February 26, 2010 Author Share Posted February 26, 2010 Excellent news on the serial number, 'cos I've come across one for sale in the States with a 2T number. Looks complete, winch etc, albeit rusty and non-running. $2000! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 D2 and D4 both widely used by RAF Airfield Construction Branch. You sure about the D2 Mike? All my information gives the D4 as the smallest tractor used. The D2 is pretty useless for much construction work.... I suppose it may have been airportable and used as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its me Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 Hey sorry to bring up an old thread. Would anyone be able to tell me the weight of a d4, without the dozer blade. Also i take it the military, used them without the dozer blade, but would these be armoured? Ifso what would these ones have been used for? many thanks Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Hi, a plain D4 2T goes about 4 1/2 tons, I have the exact weight but not in front of me. The military did use them without blades, though generally only the wide gauge and as far as I know the D4 was never armoured. The only armoured Cats used at the time were the D7 with the inner blade gear and they were 1T serials. The armoured D8s were not really armoured but were wadeproofed as beach recovery vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David I Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Hi All, The Clark did see service with the British airborne Divisions. There is one on display at the Hartenstein Museum at Oosterbeek. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 You sure about the D2 Mike? All my information gives the D4 as the smallest tractor used. The D2 is pretty useless for much construction work.... I suppose it may have been airportable and used as such. no, not in hindsight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder44 Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 3 Clark CA-1 dozers with their scraper boxes were used to enlarge the Chindits landing ground, code named white City, I think thats the right name, these were glider landed and operated by U.S. engineers. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustexpert Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 regards Caterpillar D2 in military service. I have a book "Diesel Taff" by Austin Hughes; a WWII plant operator who mentions his surprise to find he had to commission and operate a D2 in the middle east on a bridge construction job. This is a good book if you like military stories about plant and low loader driving not front line action! I have a D2 which has some parts on it which have some green on; but not parts which would interchange with a D4. I have driven a D2 with a blade and they are only any good for the lightest of trail breaking jobs in the woods! A D4 of similar age is only a ton or so heavier and not that much more powerful but much more useful. I hope this is interesting, thanks for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Hi Rust, that is interesting! It's the first time I've heard of military D2 use, I wonder if it was a local procurement sort of thing. As you say, D2 is a bit small for many jobs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpu121265 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I have a D2 which is finally on it's way into the restoration shed. It is covered in OD, and appears to have always been OD (but that is not so say that it has not been through a comprehensive strip and rebuild during it's life)... Does anyone have any images of the data plate (which mine is missing) and a clue as to where it would have been fitted? I bought this thing primarily because it was cheap and looks useful for shunting stuff around - if it turns out to be military that would be a bonus. Adrian, do you have any info on the serial numbers assigned to military D2s in the same way that "2T serial numbers were all military as were some of the preceding model with a 7J serial like mine. " refers to D4s? Regards Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I've never seen anything that shows D2 was even used much by the military, it was a bit small really. I suppose some were procurred on an ad-hoc basis and a small order could have been placed at some point. Serials I have are:- 1938 - 1943 3J 1 - 3J 7000 1938 - 1947 5J 1 - 5J 10600 The 3J is narrow gauge (40") and the 5J is wide (50"). The Cat plate is a small, aluminium plate about 2" x 1 1/2" with just the serial number stamped into it. There is one on the left hand rear lower block and another on the rear face of the transmission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hi Had a search on here, as I seem to remember the topic came up before, but couldn't find anything, as I am looking for info on the Caterpillar D4. The RE Museum at Chatham has one so No idea on D4 serial numbers etc, but I am proud to say I did the restoration work on the one in the museum way back in the late eighties. I put that green tape on the electrics. Best of luck with your search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpu121265 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Thank Adrian. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpu121265 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Whilst i am still trying to find any documentary evidence of the D2 in military service in WW2, they did have their own G number, "G124, M2 Light Tractor, Caterpillar D2". The hunt goes on! Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 No idea on D4 serial numbers etc, but I am proud to say I did the restoration work on the one in the museum way back in the late eighties. hi Rob, Was that the same D4 that was on a plinth at Wainscott..........around about 1980-81 ? If so, then I had to refit the steering clutches in it, so the CO could drive it up on the plinth as his farewell. I was at Plant, Roads & Airfields Wing on a plant repair course, and the particular machine being taught at the time, I was more than familiar with, so was found something else to do ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim gray Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 hi Rob, Was that the same D4 that was on a plinth at Wainscott..........around about 1980-81 ? If so, then I had to refit the steering clutches in it, so the CO could drive it up on the plinth as his farewell. I was at Plant, Roads & Airfields Wing on a plant repair course, and the particular machine being taught at the time, I was more than familiar with, so was found something else to do ! NOT THE WAINSCOTT ONE AS THAT IS STILL ON ITS PLINTH, thier is another one on a plinth in Gillingham business park, part of an old barracks site. Regards Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 NOT THE WAINSCOTT ONE AS THAT IS STILL ON ITS PLINTH, Thanks Tim, I did wonder if it might have been moved as I've not been to Wainscott for many years now. As you are the man on the spot, is it a post war D4 as I cannot recall now? regards, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder44 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 In Military Engineering Volume V dated 1944 (Reprint)1954page6 it shows Caterpillar D2 also picture of the crawler with a La Plant Choate angledozer and a Hyster winch, so it would appear that this little dozer was indeed used by the Military Engineers. I wish I could post pictures out of this booklet, but yet scans were refused, this does not happen on any other formums, B*** shame. John. I also have TM5-3086 Tractors,crawler Diesel 70 - 90 DBHP Caterpillar D7 Maintenance Instruction and parts catalog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder44 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Hey sorry to bring up an old thread. Would anyone be able to tell me the weight of a d4, without the dozer blade. Also i take it the military, used them without the dozer blade, but would these be armoured? Ifso what would these ones have been used for? many thanks Kyle Dozer with no attachments 4.6 tons. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I wish I could post pictures out of this booklet, but yet scans were refused, this does not happen on any other formums, B*** shame. John. I think that only applies to pictures that are someone elses copyright. A 1954 government textbook is fair game I say! I would like to see the picture, I have the 1962 issue and D4 is the smallest tractor shown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 In the late Sixties, when I was an apprentice with agricultural engineers, we used to go to a farm where a forlorn looking D2 stood in nettles, with US army numbers and star visible under flaking paint. Was not even contemplating private ownership of such things at that time :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder44 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I think that only applies to pictures that are someone elses copyright. A 1954 government textbook is fair game I say! I would like to see the picture, I have the 1962 issue and D4 is the smallest tractor shown. Adrian, I ment that I scanned the relevant pages but the picture gathering format on this site will not accept anything I try to post,the other three forums that I frequent all accept my pictures, it is just this site that I cannot [post pictures, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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