Great War truck Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I have seen this one. A cracking bit of film and he is not hanging around http://www.focus-wtv.tv/programma/wtv/opgeknapte-legervrachtwagen-langs-frontlijn it is a pity i dont understand what he is saying Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 This was posted on the landships site. Here is a blog of his 1,200 KM journey to Switzerland. http://parcoursdufront1917.wordpress.com/page/2/ we should do that Steve. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4Founder Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I know, it's glorious. I had the honor to ride through the better part of two states in a 1918 Dodge Staff Car during the 2009 MVPA Transcontinental convoy reenactment. What utter joy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 This is the truck that did the London - Brighton run a few years ago, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Thats the one. They drove it over from france to start the run. The four metal tins on the side were full of cheaper French petrol. They brought a spare gearbox with them as well! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 This was posted on the landships site. Here is a blog of his 1,200 KM journey to Switzerland. http://parcoursdufront1917.wordpress.com/page/2/ we should do that Steve. Tim Switzerland might be a bit keen. How about the railway on the Somme or the Menin Gate if we can persuade someone to go with us? We aren't really very adventurous! Steve :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Thats the one. They drove it over from france to start the run. The four metal tins on the side were full of cheaper French petrol. They brought a spare gearbox with them as well! Tim Makes me want to dig out the snaps I took of them en route and opening champers when they arrived in Brighton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Switzerland might be a bit keen. How about the railway on the Somme or the Menin Gate if we can persuade someone to go with us? We aren't really very adventurous! Steve :-) If you need a tender vehicle for the trip I can help out! Tom;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Larkin Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Switzerland might be a bit keen. How about the railway on the Somme or the Menin Gate if we can persuade someone to go with us? We aren't really very adventurous! Steve :-) Ypres would be the better idea. Count me in at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Makes me want to dig out the snaps I took of them en route and opening champers when they arrived in Brighton. So....get digging I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cel Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Give me one more year, and I'll join the convoy as well! Marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Give me one more year, and I'll join the convoy as well! Marcel Steve and Tim - what have you started! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cel Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Looks like the trip has come to an end in Verdun, after 800+ kilometers. His goal of arriving there on 11-11-2011 at 11 o' clock seems to have been reached. As I understand it one of the reasons for stopping the journey is the bad weather. I cannot find more details at the moment, but he says he will complete the blog when he returns home, I will post a brief translation here. Hats off!! So how about the convoy, have any plans been made yet? It would be nice to drive down the Voie Sacrée with as much vehicles as possible. Regards Marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 So how about the convoy, have any plans been made yet? It would be nice to drive down the Voie Sacrée with as much vehicles as possible. Regards Marcel Something seems to be starting here. No, there are no plans. However, I think it would be nice to do something special for centenary year and it is more fun in a crowd as there is always someone to get you out of trouble! Perhaps we should put out a few feelers to see if anyone else might be interested. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN THE STEAM Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi STEVE my plan is to be as near to finishing the halley as possible if not hopefully finished in time for the centurian as long as it all goes well. well done for driving the DE DION all that way a credit to you:D DAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 This was posted on the landships site. Here is a blog of his 1,200 KM journey to Switzerland. http://parcoursdufront1917.wordpress.com/page/2/ we should do that Steve. Tim CONVOY Here is some period professional advice for the convoy, looks like we will need quite a number of lorries to be meaningful and we will have to run part time at night without lights so as to be authentic: 3rd July 1914 – 25 days to war – well prepared? Transport —The secret of success in the employment of aircraft for military operations lies in the completeness of its organisation, and that is not complete unless the transport is mobile and adequate for the maintenance of the machines in an efficient condition. In war time, each squadron will be provided with a car for the Commander, 6 light tenders of the Crossley type for the conveyance of riggers, men and boxes, 6 heavy tenders for the transport of large spare parts, camp equipment, &, 3 reserve equipment lorries for other spare parts, 3 shed lorries, 3 flight repair lorries fitted with hand power tools, electric lighting plant, small raw material, &,heavy repair lorry fitted with machine tools of various descriptions, 1 lorry carrying spare parts and stores for mechanical transport, 1 baggage lorry, 1 lorry for petrol and lubricants, 6 motor cycles and 6 trailers. In peace time, the squadrons are accompanied by the tenders, repair lorries, motor cycles and trailers. All squadrons at present in camp are now at full strength excepting No. 6 and No. 2—the latter having left some of its transport at Montrose—the equipment necessary being completed by the loan of spare vehicles from squadrons now forming. In war time the squadron transport would be completed by vehicles provided under the subsidy scheme. It will be observed that most of the lorries and tenders are in groups of three or multiples of three—due to the fact that the transport is thus entirely separate for each of the three flights. Considerable attention has been directed to the exercise of the transport section of the squadrons. Convoy runs have been made by flights and by squadrons during the night as well as during the day. This is most important work as in transport it is essential for the various vehicles forming the convoy to keep in close formation, the distance apart being kept as small as possible so as to minimise the risk of capture in the event of an attack from a hostile force. It will be readily seen that the difficulty in limiting the distance between respective vehicles will increase with the speed and number of gradients negotiated, and be greater at night than during the day, so that since all these vehicles are motor driven and much of the work will from necessity be done at night, it is highly essential that exercises after dark should be frequently made. At one of these night runs at which we were permitted to be present by permission of Col. Sykes, the convoy started at 9 p.m. and arrived back in camp shortly before midnight, making a long detour through the surrounding country, the roads of which are seldom straight for any great distance and which are freely interspersed with hills of varying gradient. The run was very successful, the vehicles being in fairly close formation—from 30 to 50 yards apart—throughout the exercise, which, having regard to the type and diversity of vehicles forming the convoy, must be considered excellent. The superiority of motor traction over horse traction is already evident, as apart from the greater speed of the former, it was not possible to discover their approach except by the visibility of the headlights until the vehicles were almost within hailing distance. Further experiments were afterwards conducted without the headlights, as it is obvious that under actual war conditions the employment of headlights would tender them readily observable to a hostile aeroplane flying in the vicinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cel Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 The blog has been completed, see here: http://parcoursdufront1917.wordpress.com/category/en-guise-de-conclusion/ After over 800 kilometers he was exhausted and an accident happened where his co-driver suffered a dislocation in his left arm. He then decided to stop at Verdun. Fuel consumption was 52 litres to 100 km and engine oil consumption about 2 litres to 100 km. Water consumption decreased by the use of a rubber fan belt instead of a leather one. Regards Marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 A fantastic story. Well done to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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