Ford/Marmon-Herrington Fire truck Surinam

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Apparantly there was also a 6x6 version. After checking Vanderveen's WW2 vehicles book I come to the conclusion that these trucks were purpose-built WW2 vintage trucks.

This is most likely one of fifteen 6x6 3-ton Crash Tenders originally ordered by the KNIL for use in the NEI (see quote below from my web site). As with other vehicle shipments, not all of them arrived and some probably were diverted to Surinam. The 4x4 version could be one delivered along with the 6x6's to compensate for losses and/or changed requirements.

The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army indicated a need for 15 Fire-fighting trucks for fighting crash fires on landing fields. Therefore the Netherlands Purchasing Commission in New York placed orders with Marmon-Herrington for "Fire-Fighting trucks, as delivered to Canadian and United States air forces, if possible with either Walter Kiddie or American La France firefighting equipment". Equipment consisted of a water tank and pump, foam developing equipment (mechanical and chemical) and with carbon dioxide cylinders.
As of August 1941 five of the fifteen needed were on hand, with 10 still on order. Five trucks were expected in September/ October, the delivery date of other five was uncertain. An order for five Fire-fighting trucks was approved on September 4, 1941.
Bart Vanderveen notes the trucks were based on 1941 model Ford chassis.

Source: Marmon-Herrington military vehicles > Trucks > Netherlands East Indies > Truck, 3-ton, 6x6, Crash Tender (Ford/Marmon-Herrington MM5-6)