Knockers

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Neil Ashley
I was always amazed how the army kept large quantities of the war-time Leyland Hippo in service decades after its replacemnent the AEC had entered service.

They were certainly still with units into the 1970's and the last ones were not released untill the 1980's. A MVT member recalled recently how he had visited an ABRO workshop during the 1980's and found a line set up on the shop floor repairing Hippo's prior to their dispatch to Ashchurch to be disposed.

Neil,

It was around the mid 1970's that Hippos came back into service at the local TMP after being in storage at Antwerp Vehicle Depot. They were a stop gap, while waiting for Foden 16 tonne 8x4 to come in to service. There was never a shortage of AEC 10 tonners either, rows of 'em. One Hippo even had a show plaque on it where the Army had attended a historic transport rally!

They were not popular with young squaddies and were always in our Workshops for clutch and gearbox repairs, spares eventually drying up. From the long serviced guys at the workshop, some going back to the 40's at that time, it would appear that they were surprised to see these Hippos reappear. We did also get the odd QL in for work at the same time.

Back to the AEC 10 tonner, its replacement was the Bedford TM 8 and 14 tonne range.

Richard