military heavyweights

[Les Freathy]

Good evening to all
I have discussed with our mentor re starting a thread on military heavyweights from say 10 ton upwards to include recovery transporters heavy artillery etc. We have i believe nearly a thousand members and almost every one must have had access to these types at one time or another be it military photos ex mil, restored or scrapped, there are plenty of choices here so come on guys lets see your worth
Within this thread we can cover Pre,Wartime and into the mid 1950s as many wartime vehicles carried on in service
From this point i will start a thread in the PW section to cover modern equipment

Heres your starter Bamber

Scammell 20 tonrated tractor introduced in 1939 with 10.50.20 front tyres shown. They usually towed a Scammell 20 ton cranked trailer but is shown here coupled to a Shelvoke and Drewry 30 ton normally used in conjunction with a Diamond T

[Les Freathy]

A ex French contract White Ruxtall 922 with the British built body with a capacity of 18 tons, any one know who was contracted to build the bodies. the922 in the photo had single piece ramps that took some handling around 250 were in service during 1941/2, note stowage of the spare wheel this must have caused over heating problems in the desert. Amazing how none have survived a UK fairground operated two cut down versions in the west country for many years

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I look at the National Archives files that I have on the subject from time to time to refresh my memory. These trucks had for instance tank bodies originally, which were not wanted and disposed of for a few cents on the dollar in the US. Whilst some trucks were delivered to the UK, and assembled say by Vauxhall Motors Limited in Hendon [the GM Limited-owned plant], others were shipped direct to the Mid-East. I suspect that GM Near East, Alexandria, which was leased by the British Government, may have been used.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I thought that I might as well include the heaviest combo photo I have! Mack LPSW 17.5 ton Dump Truck [S/M 6132] with 60-ton ? trailer to S/M 6155. The same trailer was also used with Diamond T 980/981 tractors but this combo is more spectacular!

[Les Freathy]

WEll done David
Acracking photo, the trailer is indeed a Rojers but not the 40 tonner used with the diamond T it is a 60 ton used mainly to transport heavy engineering equipment the flares down the body size are unusual it is not on the photos that i have, photo of the M19 40 ton trailer included

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Mr Freathy will recognise the attached as being one of the Pearson's of Liverpool shots that we have. Sorry Les, I forgot to mention I bought a copy of the Diamond T book some time back and it is excellent. Read my plug of it in HERITAGE COMMERCIALS about a year or so back when I reviewed the Corgi model.

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/at...=&postid=36954

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The Rogers trailers to S/M 2060 carried Census Numbers X 1247088 to 1247147. Similar trailers are shown here behind Diamond T 980/981 'fifth wheel' and drawbar tractors just around the corner from Lep Transport Ltd's works in Goole, Humberside. Fisherman's Arms in the background, with newly-assembled Ford F60L (Model C298QF)A 5827461 ‘Ambulance Office Type 4 stretcher Articised Cat 235’, Census Numbers A5827392 to 5827592 to Contract SM 6063.

[Les Freathy]

Here is a couple of ex military Scammells the first a model sv2s just out of military service by the look of it and in the ownership of a travelling showman

[Les Freathy]

The second a converted transporter tractor to a heavy dump truck
i think it looks awkward

[cliff]

Here is another couple from Pictures Australia site.

The first is negative # d1_44876 captioned '12 x 12 Blackbutt from the forest, Bellangry'

Now Blackbutt is a native hardwood timber so you will know just how heavy those pieses of timber are.

Cheers
Cliff

[cliff]

now this one is Negative # AA049911 and is captioned '20'O x 12'0 DIA MOORING BUOY' and dated 1929.

[cliff]

This one I think I got from the American Memorys data base but am not sure now.

It shows a crated CKD Beaufort aircraft being delivered to the assembly factory from Melbourne wharf during WW2.

cheers
Cliff

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Les Freathy
Here is a couple of ex military Scammells the first a model sv2s just out of military service by the look of it and in the ownership of a travelling showman

Les,

Note the spare rego plate in the cab, registered in Wiltshire, 1969/70.

Richard

[Les Freathy]

Richard
thanks for that reg info it will make it easier to track down the fairground owner at the time

to keep things moving heres a Mack LMSW recovery built for the British
Les

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

S/M 2047.. H 777053 to 777092; H 4655373 to 4655525, 'Tractor 6 x 4 Break Down'- model LMSW-23?

[Al Nickolson]

Photo from my uncle's photo album.

Al

[Al Nickolson]

Photo from my uncle's photo album.

[Al Nickolson]

Photo from my uncle's photo album.

Julius Nickolson standing in front of his truck. He was from Alberta, but his nick name was Tex (6'4"). The name on the cab of the truck above the windshield is "Alberta"

My uncle passed away a few years ago, but left me his photo album. He drove the D7 Armoured Bulldozer.

Some of the photos have dates on them.
Dieppe 3 Sep 1944
Nijmegen 5 Nov 1944
Lake Surishemahn 1 Jul 1945
Zuider Sea Harderwiyk, Holland 26 Jul 1945
Oldenberg, Germany 1945

Al

[Les Freathy]

Hi Al
Really nice photos its good to see items that are unofficial, just for your records the tractor is a Federal 604 with Trailmobile semi trailer. Your uncle,s bulldozer is an armourd Caterpiller D8 , do you have more to share with us
all the best
Les

[Al Nickolson]

Hi Les,

I scanned the original photos at around 700 to 800 KB. The ones I've attached here are around 50 to 60 KB. If you would like a larger file size, just PM me.

Regards Al

[Al Nickolson]

Photo

[Al Nickolson]

Photo

Al

[Al Nickolson]

More Photos

[Al Nickolson]

Al

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Les -- this a magnificent thread, and I thank you for posting it. Hanno will remember, I'm sure, passing a huge old Diamond T trundling its way from Belgium to Beltring, back in 2000; slow as molasses on a winter day, yet magnificent in its own right.

Scammells are equally as awe-inspiring, as both Hanno and I can attest. There's just something alluring about those big buggers!

Al -- your photos are magnificent. Thank you for sharing them. Post as many as you see fit... they are an inspiration.

Does anyone know if any of those big Cats still exist?

[Les Freathy]

Good evening Geoff
I think this one could run a long time as there is so much to cover. In the spirit of Al,s uncles photos heres another Mack LMSW recovery.

[Les Freathy]

Here is a further item for the heavyweights, a Mack EXBX 6x4 18 ton transporter loaded with a crusader with its decoy camo in place

[Les Freathy]

Sorry folks
had another look at that tank its a A13 cruiser
Les

[Les Freathy]

Merry Christmas guys

Just having a clear out of the dedicated file i use for this forum so should end up with 8 posts
have good time
Les

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Les, I have a note that S/M 2047 was for Model LMSW-23, but where I got that from I am not sure! Did WHEELS & TRACKS cover these as well as Bart's Mack book? I have some 1944 photos of LMSW-57 wreckers in Liverpool, in an order' for 160 to Demand S/M 2109 or to Canadian order CDLV 1516 and 1659'. Now where I got 2109 from again I have no idea.