MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > MILITARY VEHICLES > The Armour Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31-08-05, 14:26
kevinT kevinT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 306
Default Armoured Dozer

I have just found a great picture of "Slippery Sue" a Canadian Armoured dozer.
It is on British Pathe film ID 2145.01 frame 189 and on.
The AoS is 344 with an Army Group diagonal b/ left to t/ right.
According to "British Miltary Markings 1939-1945" that AoS should have the bar below. Is this another book error?
Can anyone make out the WD serial. I have last 4 numbers as 1007.

Cheers
Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 31-08-05, 15:11
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

"Slippery Sue" should be from 1 Mechanized Equipment Company, 1st Canadian Army.

Cheers,

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31-08-05, 21:14
kevinT kevinT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 306
Default AoS

Hello Chris,

Thanks for that. Any idea of the colour of the AoS?

Cheers
Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-09-05, 19:56
Don Dingwall's Avatar
Don Dingwall Don Dingwall is offline
Chev44
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wilds of West Carleton, ON
Posts: 153
Default uh....Chris.....

First...Howdy.
Long time no hear.
Second, your timing is awful. I'm just putting the finishing touches on my Resi-chunk D7 (un-armoured) from the same unit....Steve G. and I looked into a photo of one from the same unit some time back and concluded that it would be an RCE unit, not RCASC.....so, a blue background was duly hand painted on my Dozer. Same number and A of S sign style though.

Steve mentions in an email that the dozers wre operated by company HQ of Field Park Companies.

So am I repainting this thing in time for Capcon next weekend or what?


Cheers
Don
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-09-05, 20:17
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

Hi Don,

I thought you had dropped off the face of the world. Good to hear from you again.

I was perfectly happy with dozers being under the RCE umbrella myself, sporting a 344 over a blue background AoS. When I saw a good front frame of "Slippery Sue" in this Pathe film though, the AoS looks to me to be of two distinctly different shades of paint with a split white bar. I'm guessing the colours here and the Corps affiliation, so I'm open to suggestion.

Cheers,

Chris
Attached Images
 
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-09-05, 21:00
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

Don,

Further to my last, the more I look at the photo and having enlarged it, the more I'm leaning towards the distinct possibility that it could be a single light coloured AoS sign behind that "344".

That's more in keeping with the RCE parent corps, which makes more sense to me. The white bar signifying an army unit affiliation. How's that for waffling? If it were me, I wouldn't repaint that D7 of yours.

Cheers,

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-09-05, 23:30
Mark W. Tonner's Avatar
Mark W. Tonner Mark W. Tonner is offline
Senior Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 3,027
Post

For what it's worth, the AoS marking in question is that of 1st Mechanical Equipment Company, R.C.E., who were Army Group Troops (21st Army Group)

Cheers
__________________
Mark
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-09-05, 00:13
Mark W. Tonner's Avatar
Mark W. Tonner Mark W. Tonner is offline
Senior Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 3,027
Post

Another 'armoured dozer' of the 1st Mechanical Equipment Company, R.C.E. - Udem, 1945.

Cheers
Attached Thumbnails
dozer 1.jpg  
__________________
Mark
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-09-05, 00:57
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

Mark,

Thanks for clarifying that. Now if you can dispose of that AoS sign I mistakenly posted, that would be great. No sense misleading people with my faulty interpretation.

As an aside, the RCE certainly had some colourful names for their dozers. I seem to remember 'Picadilly Commando' as being another.

Cheers,

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-09-05, 04:00
servicepub (RIP)'s Avatar
servicepub (RIP) servicepub (RIP) is offline
RIP
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,734
Default 'nother 'dozer

This is from the Cdn Archives. taken in Italy. Only markings I can make out are on the side - M7/21

__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed.
- M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-09-05, 08:52
tankbarrell tankbarrell is offline
Adrian Barrell
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Suffolk, UK
Posts: 843
Default Re: Armoured Dozer

Quote:
Originally posted by kevinT

Can anyone make out the WD serial. I have last 4 numbers as 1007.

Cheers
Kevin
[/B]
Its not the WD number but the chassis number. 1T1007. This is usually visible on the front of the armoured D7. Strangely, allthough this alphanumeric sequence is typical Caterpillar, they do not list 1T serials in their production list. It has been suggested that these vehicles were assembled by someone other than Caterpillar. 'Normal' D7s being 3T, 4T and 7M serials.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-09-05, 21:42
Mark W. Tonner's Avatar
Mark W. Tonner Mark W. Tonner is offline
Senior Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 3,027
Post

Another 'dozer' of the 1st Mechanical Equipment Company, R.C.E. - Caen, Aug 1944.

Cheers
Attached Images
 
__________________
Mark
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-09-05, 20:03
kevinT kevinT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 306
Default Thank you for your help.

Great help and advice as always guys.


Chris

You wouldn't happen to have a scan of "Piccadilly" by any chance.

Cheers
Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-09-05, 17:01
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

If you have it, Picadilly Commando appears on page 198 of Don Graves's South Alberta Regiment history.

Cheers,

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-09-05, 20:43
kevinT kevinT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 306
Default Can you confirm......

The spelling please Chris?
Piccadilly ( as in London ) has two c's.
I have just found another little gem of a dozer on British Pathe called "Jaq (c) ueline", although I am not sure what sort it is.

Cheers
Kevin
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-09-05, 13:37
Chris Johnson's Avatar
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson is offline
Cdn Armd Corps In WWII
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 61
Default

Yes, the name has two c's.

Cheers,

Chris
__________________
Chris Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 25-12-05, 20:00
servicepub (RIP)'s Avatar
servicepub (RIP) servicepub (RIP) is offline
RIP
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,734
Default Armoured Bulldozer

Here is a drawing by official Canadian War Artist Capt. O.N. Fisher. Caption reads "Engineers clearing roads through Caen". AoS number is '48'

__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed.
- M38A1, 67-07800, ex LETE
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 27-12-05, 01:14
Mark W. Tonner's Avatar
Mark W. Tonner Mark W. Tonner is offline
Senior Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 3,027
Post Re: Armoured Bulldozer

Quote:
Originally posted by servicepub
Here is a drawing by official Canadian War Artist Capt. O.N. Fisher. Caption reads "Engineers clearing roads through Caen". AoS number is '48'

Just to add to what Clive said, I've seen the painting of this drawing and the dozer's AoS serial and formation sign are that of the 3rd Field Park Company, R.C.E. which was part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

Cheers
__________________
Mark
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 27-12-20, 21:34
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default

Here's anther picture of an Armoured Dozer

IWM BU 4333
"A bulldozer demolishing a road block for the entry of British armour into Bremen."
Date: 1945-04-25

Click image for larger version

Name:	IWM BU 4333.jpg
Views:	11
Size:	103.2 KB
ID:	118553
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205428687


Click image for larger version

Name:	393069131554 IWM BU 4333.jpg
Views:	4
Size:	167.7 KB
ID:	118554
Source:https://www.ebay.com/itm/1945-German...m/393069131554
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 19-02-21, 14:22
Jakko Westerbeke Jakko Westerbeke is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 278
Default

Looking through a museum’s archive of scans, I just came across these two pages from the London Illustrated News from 11 November 1944, that I thought might be interesting/amusing here:

Click image for larger version

Name:	Illustrated London News 1944-11-11 page 540.jpg
Views:	19
Size:	403.9 KB
ID:	120122 Click image for larger version

Name:	Illustrated London News 1944-11-11 page 541.jpg
Views:	21
Size:	603.0 KB
ID:	120123

(In the scan, the first page was blank above the part shown here, so I trimmed it down.)
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 19-02-21, 17:58
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default

Jakko,

Thanks, interesting to read how they tried to explain the weapons of war to the general public.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 19-02-21, 18:00
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default British Pathe: Invasion Scenes Europe 1945

Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinT View Post
I have just found a great picture of "Slippery Sue" a Canadian Armoured dozer.
It is on British Pathe film ID 2145.01 frame 189 and on.
The AoS is 344 with an Army Group diagonal b/ left to t/ right.
According to "British Miltary Markings 1939-1945" that AoS should have the bar below. Is this another book error?
Can anyone make out the WD serial. I have last 4 numbers as 1007.
Here's a link to the film: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/i...nes-europe-14/

Note you can view it as a film or as stills.

Click image for larger version

Name:	189 images.britishpathe.com.jpg
Views:	5
Size:	86.1 KB
ID:	120127
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 02-08-22, 12:52
Jakko Westerbeke Jakko Westerbeke is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 278
Default

A minor part of these bulldozers, but I found PDFs of original manuals for the winches used on the D6A and D7A:

Click image for larger version

Name:	Hyster D6N Towing Winch.jpg
Views:	2
Size:	192.9 KB
ID:	129601 Click image for larger version

Name:	Hyster D7N Towing Winch.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	114.0 KB
ID:	129602

The serial numbers indicated are technically not for the armoured versions, but the D6A was basically a D6-5R with an armoured cab and hydraulic dozer blade and the D7A was a similarly modified D7-7M, so I doubt the winches would have been very different.

Edit: I just realised that site is making linking to the right page difficult. In the menu on the left, choose Allied Winch → Operator’s Manuals → Archive to find the ones I mentioned above.

Last edited by Jakko Westerbeke; 04-08-22 at 14:34.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 02-08-22, 14:21
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default Allied Systems Company archive

Nice find Jakko!

Good to see some manufacturers still provide this sort of information to the users of their products.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 03-08-22, 11:20
Jakko Westerbeke Jakko Westerbeke is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 278
Default

There is probably more stuff there that some restorers might find useful, but I didn’t really look beyond a quick glance.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 09-02-23, 09:44
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default

D7A No.31 "GLADY'S", Rue de la Gare at Caen, read more here: https://flic.kr/p/2b1zaVX

Click image for larger version

Name:	44638732325_0941805548_o.jpg
Views:	3
Size:	238.7 KB
ID:	132747
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 09-02-23, 11:13
Jakko Westerbeke Jakko Westerbeke is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 278
Default

Nice find
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 09-02-23, 11:35
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default

Armoured Dozer with the number IT1019 at Blainville (Calvados), France - read more here https://flic.kr/p/26Vw7u1

Click image for larger version

Name:	41956125840_dcc408ea23_b.jpg
Views:	2
Size:	406.8 KB
ID:	132748
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 09-02-23, 18:53
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default

And here is 1T3037 - read more here: https://flic.kr/p/UQuecL

Click image for larger version

Name:	34679251294_68a1660f6a_k.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	567.4 KB
ID:	132750
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 09-02-23, 19:37
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
Bluebell
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Posts: 5,534
Default

Jakko, There were other options for winches (for those who dont know) There were (Carco ?) twin drum winches used on "cable controlled" equipment. Some Cats (D7) had cable controlled blades and a second drum was used to operate the bowl on a scraper. I assume the millitary dozers used in airfield construction were fitted with them?
__________________
Bluebell

Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 12:01.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016