Question, LRDG Ford F30 cab. 13
 

Hi all
I have a couple of questions regarding LRDG use of cab 13 Ford F30's.
Does there exist any other pictures of a LRDG F30 cab 13 than this ?
(picture from http://lrdg.hegewisch.net/lrdg-hq-trucks.html)
Does any one know if the rear body is of the same type as used on F30 cab 12's? or have any pictures of the rear body type.

The reason why I ask is that I have cab 13 Chevrolet C30, chassis and cab that is in to good a condition to brake for spares, so I was wandring if it could make sense to make a LRDG copy out of it instead?

Chevrolet
 

Hi Niels

The CMPs in that photograph are Chevrolets...

Thank you very much for that, that pretty much settles it.......

f30 use by lrdg
 

hallo niels
i have found some pictures off F30's cab 11 / 12 in use by the long range desert group.
they started using these trucks as a replacement for the worn down chevolet WA trucks. sorry but I have found no pictures off cab 13 's in use by the lrdg. accept the on you found.
cheers jaap

Niels,

Not sure if your photo actually depicts the LRDG....

Check lrdg.de, it has good info on the vehicles in use with the LRDG. They used some Cab 13 CMPs in the "Heavy Section" for transport of supplies. AFAIK they were F60s, though.

Hanno

Interesting to see that these F30S trucks have Chev diffs under them. Just how many Cab11 1940 Fords were fitted with Chev Diffs? And why?

My F30S has Chev diffs as well.

Regards Rick.

Chev diffs
 

I believe it was due to problems getting the Ford version of the driven front end ready in time.

Also, there are several references in the available LRDG literature of Fords breaking rear axles too frequently. Bagnold even refers to a Ford breaking two axles on one trip!

Hi Hanno
The same picture is also on the Lrdg.de page, and from what little I can see on picture the rear body on the Cab 13 is heavily loaded and modified to an extend that I havent seen on "normal" service vehicles.

Thanks Jaap for the pictures


Are axle failures a normal problem with Ford CMP's or is it only on early vehicles?

Like Keith said, at the start of Ford CMP production there was a shortage of Ford axles so they fitted Chevrolet axles. Check the Ford parts list for the exact number, or search this forum as I am sure we handled this subject before.

H.

I indeed found the picture of the Chevrolet on the left, but does that mean the Chevrolet CMPs are in LRDG service? If so, why are they not listed?

I can't see it very clearly, but I'd guess it is the normal 3-ton body with a spare wheel to the left hand side.

Not a common problem, except maybe for the LRDG grossly overloading them? Of course the bolted split axle design is weaker than the one piece cast design.

H.

Axles
 

And of course the rear axle shafts were identical on both types.

I have found a load of documents.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+meterial
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+-+August+1940
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...hicle+material

From this it is very clear that the vehicles got a real beating, and that the Fords suffered, but also that they where looking at strapping a Light tank Mk VI to a Mack 10 tonner ;)
Sadly no mention of 30cwt chevrolets.
Possibly yes it could be regular 3 tonners, to me the wheels just seem smaller (= 16inch) and the overall lenght shorter than a F60

The initial photo was taken in front of an Italian roadhouse along the Via Balbia (The coastal road in Libya). I have never seen a photo of the LRDG using such CMP Chevrolets - but there is a wreck of such truck in the desert of Egypt which I consider not to have been used as a normal transport truck since it has two MG-mountings on the sides of its back. It may have been used by the SAS or Commandos - but I cannot provide an evidence for that.

Hi Kuno
Do you by any chance have a picture of the truck in Egypt?
Cheers

Not the best one at hand right now - the MG mountings can be seen in the rear third of the back:

A much better example is the truck once found in the desert and then unfortunately brought over to the museum at el-Alamein. when it was found, it was nearly in "mint" status with even the explosives still packed on the back - now it is just "painted" over every second year with thick a green, grey or brown layer of primer: