Maurice Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) Wartime caravan (D.F. trailer), but no room to sleep in it .Are there anymore alive . I only have come across 3 ww2 pictures till now . What are the thoughts about it ? Edited September 16, 2013 by Maurice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Hi Maurice, That is an unusual 10 cwt based trailer. Can see it has the early hitch as used on the No1 Mk1 trailers. Does it have any fittings inside? A bench or table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 it should have a table inside with a R106 and R107 reception set, there should be a turnable antenna on the roof wich could be turned from the inside . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfy Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Very cool great for shows although think I'd be too tall to sleep in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 :shocked::shocked::shocked: A rare beast! A very rare beast. It would have carried a HRO reciver with a cross areil. Inside should be a sterring wheel attached to the bottom of the antenna and a brass 360 deg. ring. I know Phil Webb has illustrations of the fittings, he was intending to build a replica one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It could be the 'Trailer 10cwt. 2 wh. for D.F. set' To quote from the Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles " DF trailers have always been fitted with the standard 2 21/32" draweye as the trailer is normally towed by a 3 ton lorry. The body is fitted with a rear door, windows and seats for two operators together with DF equipment". Certainly I have never seen photos of this particular trailer. Where has it appeared from as it is probably a unique specimen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 The Signals museum at Blanford would be wetting themselves over it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Is there a data plate still on the trailer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Is there a data plate still on the trailer? Yes I will check it tonight , even a post war rebuilt plate . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 trailer plate says : 10cwt MKII trailer Cont.no. 294/23/S.2912 W.J.R. Ltd. Ser.no. 4143 rebuilt plate states that it was rebuilt 6/53 and had post war registration 70 ym 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 18, 2013 Share Posted September 18, 2013 trailer plate says : 10cwt MKII trailerCont.no. 294/23/S.2912 W.J.R. Ltd. Ser.no. 4143 rebuilt plate states that it was rebuilt 6/53 and had post war registration 70 ym 21 Hi Maurice, The maker of the trailer was W.J Reynolds, I think they were from East London area and a Ford dealership. The contract was for 200, X4671351 - 4671532 Trailer Direction Finding (Body 1 unfitted) (prior to fitment of Wireless) and Trailer D.F. Type "A" B.C.2 (after fitment of wireless) cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 Thanks Richard , I can see under the flaking paint remnants from a wd number, and some small yellow stenciling, will clean it carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 Frame is exactly the same as 10CWT GS trailer . Inside the cabin is still the hole for the round turnable ring for the aerial. Just repaired the chassis and took everything of. So frame can go to shot-blaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Very interesting trailer Maurice. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon king Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 That must be pretty much a unique survivor. Presumably it was towed by a radio or office bodied MW or Guy Ant. Wish my frame was as good as that! Has anybody ever categorically determined what the three tabs hanging down from the second cross - girder are for? The centre one had been chopped off on mine to allow for a standard plate with axle flood switch and junction box so they clearly served no useful purpose whilst in service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 it is listed in the Canadian fighting vehicle book as being towed by 3 toner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 In British service the trailers were normally towed by Bedford QLRs of Y Service. They worked in pairs of preferably threes to triangulate positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I know what you mean Tony, though the way you phrased that raised a chuckle .... Is it just me, or are those wheels small ? It looks small to tow behind a 3 tonner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 GORDON the original tyre size fitted was 5.25.16 not very tall to go behind a 3 tonner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 (edited) I know what you mean Tony, though the way you phrased that raised a chuckle .... Is it just me, or are those wheels small ? It looks small to tow behind a 3 tonner It was ***** early in the morning! There are a lot of tales about D/F units working at if not beyond the front line. Apparently German weapons were prized as the sound didn't give away you were British. On May 8th 1945 Peace was celebrated, on May 9th 1945, they started D/F and interception of Soviet stations. Any unit markings? 30 Corp would be my bet. Edited September 26, 2013 by Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 According to the Ministry of Supply publication, Data Book of Wheeled Vehicles, the draught eye on this trailer has an ID of 2 21/32" so that it can be towed by a 3 tonner. I have my doubts about it being towed by a 4x4 though as a QL has a tow hook height of 2' 9 1/2", where as an OY is 2' 3 1/2". The height of the trailer eye is 2' 1 3/4". All this from the data book, it also states that if the lorry were laden the tow hook height would be 3" less than given, this would still make the trailer tow too high at the front if behind a 4x4 (QL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Another vehicle known to have been used by Y Service is the dear old Humber Heavy. Could that have handled the trailer? Trouble is a lot of the information concerning Interceptor and D/F were, and still are higly classified. The men who used the equipment developed the techniques still used today. They also used WC54, mainly with the Special Liasion Units that took the information from Bletchley and rebroadcast, in cipher of course, to Allied Headquarters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Just been speacking to Phil, who's computer is down. The trailers were towed by 15 cwt trucks, the Humber's were units in there own right. There were normally four DF units together based at intervals of around two miles. 109 and 110 Special Wirless units operated DF from the Shoe Factory in Nimegen (Apologies to my Dutch mates for spelling) So can one of you confirm the site? They were also the unit that contacted the Germans asking for a truce to collect wounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 Hmm all interesting , got the R106 and R107 for the interior , the arial is another thing which will be difficult to find . would there still be manuals hidden somewhere to copy ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Marvellous photo - the first I have ever seen of this trailer. Presuming you found it in Holland, could it be one of the ones Tony B. was talking about as having been based in Nijmegen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.