Question, LRDG Ford F30 cab. 13

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Not a common problem, except maybe for the LRDG grossly overloading them? Of course the bolted split axle design is weaker than the one piece cast design.

And of course the rear axle shafts were identical on both types.

[Niels V]

I have found a load of documents.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+meterial
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+LRDG+material
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...+-+August+1940
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...hicle+material

From this it is very clear that the vehicles got a real beating, and that the Fords suffered, but also that they where looking at strapping a Light tank Mk VI to a Mack 10 tonner
Sadly no mention of 30cwt chevrolets.
Possibly yes it could be regular 3 tonners, to me the wheels just seem smaller (= 16inch) and the overall lenght shorter than a F60

[Kuno]

The initial photo was taken in front of an Italian roadhouse along the Via Balbia (The coastal road in Libya). I have never seen a photo of the LRDG using such CMP Chevrolets - but there is a wreck of such truck in the desert of Egypt which I consider not to have been used as a normal transport truck since it has two MG-mountings on the sides of its back. It may have been used by the SAS or Commandos - but I cannot provide an evidence for that.

[Niels V]

Hi Kuno
Do you by any chance have a picture of the truck in Egypt?
Cheers

[Kuno]

Not the best one at hand right now - the MG mountings can be seen in the rear third of the back:

[Kuno]

A much better example is the truck once found in the desert and then unfortunately brought over to the museum at el-Alamein. when it was found, it was nearly in "mint" status with even the explosives still packed on the back - now it is just "painted" over every second year with thick a green, grey or brown layer of primer: