IHC Halftrack Ambulances

[Don Dingwall]

Andrew:
M14's had no rear door originally.
One of the reasons they weren't very popular when first issued.

Go to Servicepub.com to get the Weapons of War book on the HT in Cdn. service. Required reading frankly for anyone interested in them in our usage.

Rob:
Should be easy to fab the racks anyway. Nothing complicated about it!

Don

[Andrew Tomlinson]

I would agree, but there were probably several variations, as not all HTs were high roofed. My previous comment (I read somewhere) that sometimes the fuel tanks were moved together to one side to make extra space on one side is still a possibility.

The Germans mod in their 251 was for two on one side, one above the other. The other side was for the seated wounded.

Regards
Andrew

[servicepub (RIP)]

Andrew;

Try <info@militaryhistorybooks.com> (Dover area?) or <Sales@barbarossabooks.co.uk> (Wales?)


Clive

[Andrew Tomlinson]

All
Many thanks for the info and advice - most helpful !

A Dutch contact also sent me some pics in a Dutch book of non high roof Brit / Canadian HTs in action in Holland, with clear markings showing.

He has converted the Tamiya kit to British spec, new mudguards and rear with a tilt.

Regards
Andrew

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Not a half-track, but possibly of interest is this picture of a British M3A1 Scout Car which has been converted into an ambulance.

The link doesn't work (anymore), so the pic plus caption follow below. Not surprisingly, the M3A1 Scout Car and Half Track ambulance conversions are similar.

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8b0500...0/8b05765r.jpg

"The Army uses "lend-lease" equipment now being used by British armoured forces, is a "white" scout car which has been converted into an ambulance for use with tanks. It has been proven to have a fine cross-country performance."

Source: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fahome.html
Digital ID: fsa 8b05765

[Andrew Tomlinson]

Hanno
Thanks for that pic, better than the one in the George Forty book I have.

The Medical M3 White Scout with stretchers has been modified by removal of the gun ring and 2 large hinges added at the rear. So I'm sure the 2 piece rear plate could fold down too - so that is how they got the stretchers out !

It is like another (NON - MEDICAL version) in Normandy which had a normal canvas roof on. That one had 3 triangular-shaped hinges so I'm sure the 2 piece rear plate could fold down too. I think it's in the Concord book 'Tanks In Normandy'.

If anyone needs British stretcher measurements and a rough drawing I can send them to you.

Regards
Andrew

[servicepub (RIP)]

Went to Archives today and looked at these 5 photos. The originals are incredibly clear and show the detail of the stretcher brackets.

[Crewman]

Originally posted by Robert Dabkowski
Looking for information on the interior layout/equipment fitted to an International Harvester Company (IHC) halftrack ambulance used by Canadian/British forces circa 1944/45. Have several photos showing the exterior red crosses and tarps fitted by no views of the interiors. Am restoring an M5/M9 combination vehicle and would like to complete it as an ambulance variant if I can find the information that I need. ANY help/info/sources/contacts much appreciated. Robert in Toronto

Robert,

If you ask for the sources check please the US Library of Congress. They have very nice pictorial of the Halftracks including also manufacturing lines. Check the neighbouring call numbers of the pics I posted, known also from previous posts but without their archival numbers. Many times this library has greater archive on the subject of one pic they show.

One very important thing however: If you are looking for the Haltrack ambulances in the US Library of Congress you have to use both "British English" and "American English" as well as various more or less correct wordings and names of these vehicles. You have to look for under the slogans such as: "Half-Track", "Halftrack", "Halftrac", "Half-Trac", "armored ambulance", "armoured ambulance", "armored ambulances", "armoured ambulances" etc.


Library of Congress LC-USW33-000261-ZC


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-007929


Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-008532

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Andrew Tomlinson
The Medical M3 White Scout with stretchers has been modified by removal of the gun ring and 2 large hinges added at the rear. So I'm sure the 2 piece rear plate could fold down too - so that is how they got the stretchers out !

Here is a nice picture of a M3A1 Scout Car Ambulance. It is a variation on a theme, it retains the gun skate rail, and does not have a folding rear plate but an added door (source: Polish 2. Korps PANZER COMMANDER Fotoalbum - AFRIKA! Ebay Item number: 6283414188).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

From the Canadian Kangaroo Regiment Archive:

From a Corporal Grant Herbison original negative.

Regimental Medical Officer, Capt. John A MacLeod, RCAMC.(left)

His driver, Lance Sergeant Irwin is pictured next to him.(right)

The Regimental MO's halftrack (International M14 ambulance) is in the background. Signals Officer, Lieut. Don Simpson's wartime diary mentions that he and Dr. MacLeod would sometimes use the back of the halftrack as sleeping quarters.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4SPpQ89z9Nkp3nji/