Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks

[Keith Webb]

I realised when I checked it was the GMEXL7, not sure which of the MCP configurations that was.
These are the other photos I have, they have been enlarged by a factor of 4X from quite small images.

Originally Posted by Charlie Down

Hi Keith,
Nice quality photo, however the controls for the pump on the 1533X2 were different. The 1533X2 controls came out the side of the cab on the passenger side door sill next to the airline connector, as opposed to the screw driver being used through a hole in the cab floor. See photo on reply no 209, page 7 of this post.

Do you have any other factory photos you can share?
We have nearly covered every detail of the 1533X2 on this post and always looking for more information/photos to complete the picture or confirm theories.

[Charlie Down]

I've been looking at tracking down details of the charging panel on the Wireless trucks, and found some photos of Chevrolet WAs with a panel on the outside of the rear body. On the basis that the LRDG re-used items throughout their Desert campaign on different trucks, Aero screens and Wireless set ups for example, then the charging switch panel would most likely be re-used too. I was sent some documents by Bob Amos-Jones that were very useful too.
To summarise what I found out I'll cover the whole wireless setup. The LRDG used a WS11 High Power unit with Windom centre feed or sometimes end feed aerials on 16' duraluminium poles stowed on the trucks, and the 4' rod aerials for local (100 mile range) communication between Patrols. The power supply was fed through a 'Special' series/parallel switch for trickle charging/wireless use, from 2 standard 6 Volt batteries, one the truck battery, the other a 'booster' battery to provide the necessary 12 volts with the truck battery for the wireless. The 'booster' was mounted on the side step in front of the driver. During long periods of stationary Patrol, Road Watch, the Patrol would either take a chore horse to recharge the batteries or swap batteries with the other trucks in the Patrol. Very high levels of training were given to the signallers, this being the primary reason for the successful long range communication, not the limitations of the wireless. Very high levels of maintenance were given to the wireless and accessories throughout the Patrol too. No information is given on what periods of the campaign chore horses are used, but it seems they were more common later on. I suspect that all the Chevrolet 1533X2 trucks, and most likely the CMP Ford F30s were fitted with wireless suppression fittings as standard, but on the WA's not so sure. Most likely the ones from the Egyptian Army would be suppressed, which would therefore be primary choice for wireless trucks, but not the ones sourced from the civilian dealership in Alexandria.

I've put a drawing together of the series/parallel switch based on the photos attached (not dimensionally accurate and most likely wrong with some details, but its something to work on!), and on the assumption its the same switch, but on the Chevrolet WA's it had a protective edge due to its external mounting on the outside of the rear body, but on the Chevrolet 1533X2 no protection was needed because it was mounted in the cab behind the Drivers seat. No photos found yet of its location on the Ford F30's, but its not externally mounted on the rear body, or in the cab, based on the limited number of photos showing those area of wireless trucks. It may be mounted in the plywood wireless compartment, or possibly in one of the tool boxes below the wireless compartment. Hopefully something will turn up.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Charlie: I for you.

Keep up the detective work

[Charlie Down]

So Bob Amos-Jones and I were having a bit of a look at some different LRDG trucks, well actually we were looking at LRDG Medical trucks, but that’s literally another story.
We were looking at the vehicles based on the late standard Patrol trucks, the Chevrolet 1533X2 models photographed below, which we believe to be all of the same vehicle type. We discussed various features as annotated in the photos and came to the conclusion that these trucks were not medical trucks, but HQ Wireless trucks. Not something that has previously been researched to our knowledge, so has been quite interesting to look into. Many thanks to John J. Valenti for timely supply of new photographs that gave us significantly more information and details.
What we don’t know is how many were converted to this role, but we know a bit more about the radio procedures to have an educated guess about their function. The LRDG signallers had the latest training in long range radio communication and were the deciding factor in the range they could send messages, not the ability of the wireless equipment. Their Patrol trucks had Wireless sets No11 (HP), High Power, to maximise their range, usually through a Windom centre feed aerial mounted on 16’ (5 metre) 2 part duraluminium poles. The patrol vehicles used two 6 volt truck batteries to provide the 12 volts needed for the wireless, which were also charged through a switch panel from the truck generator, simple and effective. Standard British Army Wireless trucks however used four 6 volt Wireless batteries, 2 charging whilst the other 2 provided power to the wireless. The truck battery was separate from the Wireless set up. They could be charged through a switch panel by the truck generator or by a chorehorse, a small petrol generator, that could be used while the truck was stationary. We believe the LRDG HQ trucks resorted to this setup, as there is no booster battery on the side step. The trucks were used at HQ or sometimes deployed further afield to help extend or resend messages from and to Patrols, HQ or Cairo, which seems to be the justification of using a valuable Chevrolet 1533X2 chassis for a HQ truck, when the Patrols were getting exceedingly short of trucks.
These trucks seem to have been made as a batch as they have very similar features, including many of the standard LRDG fittings, sand mats and channels, condensers, racks for 2 gallon cans, etc, but the lack of defensive weapons is very telling and suggests they worked in relatively safe areas and were supported by other assets who provided any defensive capability and logistic support to supplement the limited stowage options for extra Petrol and water, etc. Other features of note are only 1 spare wheel, added stowage lockers, no visible aerial mounts, lack of switch panel in the cab, and location of windows and doors.
Any comments/information always welcome.
Photos courtesy of John J. Valenti and IWM!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

High-res photo showing some interesting details. Courtesy of Jonathan Pittaway

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