Cab 11 C15 and 2A1 body

cletrac (RIP) · #1 20-08-08, 06:49

I've been trying to figure out what all would have been carried in an AAAT truck. From what I can see they had a crew of four. They had a Boyes in a wooden crate across the front of the box and the Motley mount with one Bren on early models and two or three Brens on later versions.
These excerpts from training manuals show how much ammo was carried. I can't find anything on how much Bren ammo they carried on the early trucks that didn't have the 100 round drum mags. They'd also have two bandoleers with 50 rounds each for the Enfields in the cab mounts. Add to that the cleaning kits and accessories for the guns and there's getting to be a bit of a clutter.

Colin Macgregor Stevens · #2 20-08-08, 07:16

The pilot model of the Ford 15 Cwt that was saved by Gary Moonie many years ago has been sold to Don Gordon of Victoria, BC, Canada for restoration. Included was the
2A1 box that Colin Stevens brought out from Saskatchewan.

Don has a good reputation restoring DND / CMP vehicles. At the MVPA COnvention in Portland, Oregon in August, he won a price for his restored C8A Cab 12 DND truck. He has also restored a C15A Cab 13 CMP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cletrac

I've been trying to figure out what all would have been carried in an AAAT truck. From what I can see they had a crew of four. They had a Boyes
>>>>>>>>>>> BOYS
in a wooden crate across the front of the box and the Motley mount with one Bren on early models and two or three Brens on later versions.
These excerpts from training manuals show how much ammo was carried. I can't find anything on how much Bren ammo they carried on the early trucks that didn't have the 100 round drum mags. They'd also have two bandoleers with 50 rounds each for the Enfields in the cab mounts. Add to that the cleaning kits and accessories for the guns and there's getting to be a bit of a clutter.

cletrac (RIP) · #3 21-11-08, 00:54

Here are some pretty good shots from Life magazine off another thread. There's an AAAT, then a cable 1, and a GS version.
On the AAAT you can see 4 cases of clips for the Bren gun on the drivers side rear fender. In the pass rear corner of the box is what looks like a roll of signal wire of some kind and between the cab and box is a camo net. I thought the thing near the gunner's left hip was for the motley setup then I realized it's a bayonet for a No 1 Enfield. I can't tell if it's a Chev or Ford or if a 4x4 or not. It does have a pintle hitch .
The Cable 1 is a Ford judging by the rear end and from the ride height I'd guess a 4x2. Notice no pintle hitch. What kind of setup is the soldier in the back seated at?
The GS is a Chev and note the cloth covers over the vent screens. They must be in dusty conditions! That's a roll of barbed wire on the push bar and the caption says they're loading ammo but those boxes look more like shipping crates for a Bren or Boyes or the like. What would that little contraption on the front of the truck box be for? It's not shown in the parts list.

cletrac (RIP) · #4 18-02-09, 05:15

I got my motley mount just about finished with a plastic Lewis gun then got to thinking that this setup with a Lewis would be more at home on a Cab 11 than a Cab 13 but I don't have a box for the C15.
I've been sandblasting parts for my C8 at my brothers yard on the warmer days but when it gets down to about -10 C I've been working on a 2A1 in my garage.
After poring over my photos and some basic measurements I've figured out that a lot of the measurements are the same as on my 2B1. All the sills are in the same place as are the wheel wells. This makes sense since the 2B1 was a direct replacement for the 2A1 and used the same mounting setup. The 2B1 is 10 inches wider is the big difference.
The strange thing is they didn't use standard width boards. The floor boards are 1 1/2 x 4 1/2 and the side boards are 1 x 5 1/2 for the most part. This means a lot of rip sawing. For the sides I rip 2x6s to 1.1 " thick then use a planer to get them down to the 1" thickness.
The cross sills are 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 so I have to start with 4x4s and rip them to size. The lengthwise sills are 3 3/4 x 1 1/2 so I need ti rip 2x6s down to size. After all this is cut to size then most of the boards need 1/4 x 1/2 grooves cut in the edges for the 1/4 x 1 joining strip.
I've made 4 garbage bags of sawdust so far and will likely get 4 more.

cletrac (RIP) · #5 19-02-09, 06:54

I got the sills figured out and bolted on the first floorboard today. I think I'll give the edges of these boards and the joining strip a liberal shot of linseed oil as I assemble them. This should preserve stuff a little better.

George McKenzie · #6 22-02-09, 01:15

Dave I use 2/3 Linseed oil and 1/3 Turpntine That preserves it and harden's the wood . George

cletrac (RIP) · #7 22-02-09, 04:40

George, that turpentine trick seems to be pretty common in these parts of the country. When I sided my house with log siding the guy I got it from said to use the 2/3, 1/3 mix for the first coat then use about a 9 to 1 mix for the final coat. It seemed to work pretty good.
Here's a pic of the completed floor. I had to notch the rear crosspiece between it and the floor boards for the mounting bracket for the POW can holders. Now I have to cut a rebate for the rear angle iron as it fits flush with the floor. Then all that's left is the wheelwells, the two piece sides, front, tailgate, and toolbox. Nothing to it!