Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Blair
Stu..
youngest CMP...????
Surely you jest...but by no stretch of the imagination are they a Canadian Military Pattern Vehicle.
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Alex, I agree in that we should not be calling an Iltis a Canadian Military Pattern vehicle. Canadianized Military Pattern may be more appropriate. In any case, my hat is off to those who restore and drive them. Love them or hate them, they were used by the CF and have their place in history.
I can't say I disliked them. When they were first issued to 2RCHA in Petawawa, we were happy to see them. Our jeeps (in fact all of the vehicles in Pet) were worn down despite the immense efforts of our maintenance wizards, so something new was readily accepted.
My new Iltis performed brilliantly for the three months I spent out west on Ex RV85. Yes there were issues - lack of space once the dual installation was set up, but I also had a trailer. You had to be like Olga Korbut to get in and out of the back doors, and you needed ear plugs to keep you from going crazy while driving on highways (tires and rear diff tended to scream at you). It could also navigate terrain that the 5/4 ton trucks couldn't, so you had to make sure your recce/route selection accommodated that fact. The most annoying thing about the little truck was its "grunting" when being flexed over rough terrain. Iltis users will know what that means.
As a non-maint type my perspective will of course differ from the wrench benders' perspective. When I needed an Iltis, the army kindly sent one and we put it through its paces. At the end of the exercise, the truck got cleaned (usually at the tank wash rack) , user maint was perfromed and then the truck was turned in. All the other maint was for the most part invisible to us operators with the exception of ire of the Tech Adjutant at post ex "O" Groups. But that is another story...
From 1985 (Iltis delivery to CF) to 1997 (my release from the CF), I can not say that I had a major problem with the Iltis - and I do have a good amount of time as the front pax in the Iltis. All in all, I liked the dopey looking VW, and if time and circumstances permit, I probably will get one (or two). Then I will call it what ever I want to call it.
Keep them going!