Canadian radar tracking - Fort Bliss 1947 set 1/2

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

...

Interesting vehicle indeed. I seems to be based on Stuart bogies, tracks and sprockets, but uses 3 in stead of two bogies. The transmission cover/doors looks like M24 Chaffee.....and the overall look of the front and layout of the hatches also looks similar in design to the M24.

It almost looks like a mock-up or prototype which eventually led to the M19A1???

Alex

I saw the same things, but without the model numbers. It is old and new technology at the same time. How about a T-65 self-propelled AA chassis, without the gun. http://ww2photo.se/tanks/usa/ligh/m5/m5.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

I saw the same things, but without the model numbers. It is old and new technology at the same time. How about a T-65 self-propelled AA chassis, without the gun. http://ww2photo.se/tanks/usa/ligh/m5/m5.htm

Alex, Terry,

I'd vote for it being a T65 40mm Gun Motor Carriage. This was not taken in production but further developed into the M19 MGMC. I can imagine a prototype being kept at this range for testing other concepts or even as a means of transportation.

H.

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[David Dunlop]

Interesting topic here.

The attached photo is of a British Radar vehicle from the book "Half -Tracks". edited by Bart Vanderveen.

The interesting thing about this photo is that the same radar equipment sat for many years in the Princess Auto yard in Winnipeg, except rather than being installed in an International Half-Track, the Princess vehicle was an Autocar. There was no trailer that I was ever aware of, but a nearby grass fire eventually scorched the exterior of the vehicle. It was apparently purchased by somebody in the north end of Winnipeg, somewhere on or near McPhillips, who's plan was to restore it, but that was the last I heard about it.

Curious now as to what type of radar it was. The electronics racks were set up down the side behind the driver. The right hand side was partially set up with equipment racks and a desk or work bench. There was a large gear assembly on the roof, but no sign of a drive motor having survived.

David

[alamotex]

David The British radar you describe is very likely Radar FA No1 Mk1 or Mk 2 which was based on the coast artillery Radar CA No 1 Mk 4 and was developed at the end of the war for ground observation and mortar location. They were mounted on heavily overloaded US Army half-track vehicles which led to suspension failures. Refer to article "Radar in the Service of the Royal Artillery" by Lt Col David Wilcox. Counter mortar radar trials were carried out at RCA Camp Shilo, Man, in the late 1950's and the Winnipeg half track may have been part of those trials before being sold as surplus.

Brian

[David Dunlop]

Brian.

That is an interesting bit of local military history. Thanks.

For what it is worth, at the same time that radar half-track was languishing at Princess, there were four other Autocar and Diamond T half-tracks sitting a few yards away, all with the rear body armour removed. Origional rear floors all still there and all with Brandon Construction Company stencilled on the doors. Probably all came out of Shilo around the same time.

David