Quote:
Originally posted by David_Hayward
said Richard
I am just going through the 1936 WD Trials Report and it mentions that there was a 6 x 6 'Tractor' used for AA towing and also by the RAOC for recovery work. The Census List shows ex-RAF 'Lorry 6-ton 6 x 6 Crane' to Contract S.3353, L 5819826 to 5819831, and 'Tractor 6 x 6 Heavy AA', H 5877476 to 5878475. Were these the R6T chassis? I suspect that these were 1934-6 Models. The AEC Marshall 'lorries' appear to be 6 x 4 drive.
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David,
The 6x6 AA tractor would be the AEC / FWD R6T/850, refering to bart's prewar book, it was originaly made by FWD in 1929, with a Dorman engine, with planetary reduction gearing in the front hubs (this can be seen on the mystery 4x4 in an earlier message, which I am sure is a Hardy built for the trials). After the takeover in 1929 the R6T was produced by AEC as their 850 model until 1936. A recovery tractor was produced for the RAOC. This matches with what you have said.
The census numbers you quote are late war and would definitely not be the R6T as that was long gone, they would be based on the O854 as used on the RAF refueller. The cranes would be Coles EMA type mounted on O854 chassis / cab. As for the 6x6 HAA tractor, those census numbers may not have been taken up as there is 1000 trucks there. According to what I have found, in 1944 the WVEE started testing an AEC 6x6 Heavy Art. tractor, two prototypes were built, one having an armoured cab.
Richard