,eREAKDO\VN It. .His~o,ry ,!}.rR.!l!C6V~:ry Velh~c:le.!iiiiinLbelBr~l'1!,I!

d] ATIliil,·

A History

A 'CJ'liIckU'41i:1,' WWf.lrJ bJ!'" lJrtdg.r U?/( 61)gatilry hrrJl. AUf' 'It-tel ill lh:e ",un apgn from rJl'l1lrmkt all! t'dplllrmi Itaiiap~ or je-rmtlit4

!i

~r;.ks.

REM,E MU$·EUM RQY31 Etecirical aad Mecb,;mjcal Eogineus

covery Vehicles in the British Army

Brian S. Baxter

.©Crowti (;(jPM~J'~' 1989 First pt4Mi6llf;d i'189

SUlmd impt"e'Ssi.()n 1990

ISBN 0 1}1904564
Fn»:u Cln'lil'I"

GhieJraln: An 11W.i.~hUlg '" 'C hiefw~J;I hulk It/' IiIi ~wep

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:~IMSOpubl:i~.tilli!lS ~. llv.ilnble from:

J!M5l0IPUb!JJillalioWl 'C~lIiN U\'U[lIlJld. t.elephul'!t: (J~a l[rfillly) PO Box 276, L(J.miOIl,. SOWS
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.ontents

Iuool,lction
Transport

vi
2

art 1 .FromHersete .Horg~powe:r [ If(J;p~~r1 The .Ear]y Development 9f Medtlulkll] jClpt8f' 2

Tanks. 3

The First WorJd Wiilr: M.Olar l'r.a~.spon .and

Pan: 4 The Developmenr ofR..e.cov.ery VemC:]elii SiFlli:e' 1.945 63 Cl$a/)$M .1 The P,os:~'~Wu S.itua:U.(H:1I: Dle: 1'940s aad 1~50s 64 CkafJ-$~ 2'R.·ec~l\\"ery Vekk.les 8:nd.Transporters in ll'le
194(18aad 19S0s 66

NfI'pWr 3

F.irst WQd~ \:WarSa]va~'f;. Systems. and EquipDl¢..!J.·l 6

Scrimp and Save~]9191:0 193'9 9

CiJa'P-tJw ~1 'I'nf: f'iffit P.ost~War ARV is 74 Clla.fJlter 4' The 19OOs:N'ew fWm;Qpmes and New
Designs 81 Cn~'IJ'£(JI':5 Thcl 97Ds and 19S10s;N ewelt"AnnouirOO. Reeove":ry Vehicles ·~7· Chap.tJJr-6 F1liFthc:rProgr~~ in Wh~C:::]Ii:~Recovc:f1' Vchk,h:s II
1. S

~n 2

i~ilIprc.r Changes in th~ War Office and the A.rmy~s 1

klilj},ref:2 htJP-ter J
.Re:PilIl:r' Qrgan:~s.an:ioos J I} Equi:pmen~ DeS]GIIll'l the I 920s ~I1d..19308.

kapt-er 4
srt

Recovery Vehkles in tile 19

Tank Rec!l;:rvc;t'yand'the Fitst Tank

23

r:n~!l;r· l;!)r '~riod wJ

and Tl:oms,Purters

9[

Transporters

G.loosaty of A]:lbll"ewiadons, 97 Acknow.ledgl;m·~f!iICi:'l 98

~lI!d.e:li:. 99

3 The Second.'Wodd 'Wal'

1 The OutbJ'eak ofW1)r; The Caimpaigrl in Fr~[!:cc and Belgium and: ]rs LegEl.d.e& 24· lwprer 2 194,0-1941i Tile Cam~~ it! Nonh <Ina ~st Afr.iCamind-Contemparary Eq1l1!iiplnen( 17 ImpMr 3' 1941-194:2: New OrgmllSRl]OT;]:S and New Eq:~ipm~t 32 hlip~e'r'it 1941-1943: Ihe Centiaued War. in the Midd::le
l~ptef

East and North Africa. 38· JUl:p,rer 5 1942-1944: F'l.lrlfuie.r. Dev.e-iopl'Th!l::nts.m the United Kingdom 41 hf1:jJ1:i:tr 6 TIl.I!Campaigns,.in Sicily aoo It:iitly 4.3 hap'te:r 'l]~2.-194S AmliOiI;IredRecovery V.ehicles and New Tnnsporl:.ers4I7 haPifer B D Day .E!ndthe- N ortb West UEurop~
C<lm.p~igg 54 /.(J:P[cr' I} Tille. War Agai]]st J'i!:p~n: Indiil and Sg·~d'U, :3st E

.A$l~ 5'

Th.i$ hook grew out 0 a series of articles written fO.l the Royal Electrical and Mech-alIlic.aJ. Engineers (REME)jQUTnat REME bas, since its formation in 1942, been the Army
Corps mainly inv(}l\'l:-cl:in vehicle recovery but it has ,~lways been an Anny requirement that mJ dll.v~li·of8J mili.lflry vehicle should cure simp1~ faults and !lun lhe unit owning the vehidt; should recover il if only .. ~~",!.'i,1[1S needed: thus to ,an e?,:lelU recovery is of concern to all 'I:JTII'I:Ic.he..o;lf the l
Amly which operate vehicles, TIl:iS book describe .. the development of recovery vehicles s agtIIin_8'~ a background of conrernpo raf,' technology, military cam paigns, economica and n urneru us. other Jnfluences. RE ..\ilE inherited lilt: recavery role from its principal ' forebear, the :Ellgin,eerin~' Branch of the Rt;I,ya1 Army Ordnance Corps. (RAOC(E)). Much expertise camealso from the W'(IrkiliQlp' personnel of the Roy!!l. AnDY Service Corps (RASe) which Ier many years had been the mSH) operater of Army transport vehicles, The RASes major workshops were incorporutcd into REMEin ]942 but each transport Co:mpW1. WOCkSJ10p remained RAse IJinti.1 195"1 when REM.E 'took"over ~hc remaiuiag RAse repair faciJjlies~ The salvaging of disabled ~ank.shegan, as a Yank Corps task, bIJ'twhcn, Elfu:r World War I. lheRAOC (OQ,k over tank Cnrps w~1rkshoplil and began t (I provide each Lank barralion wifh a Light Aid Detachment (L.AD). tank rcc()\'c:ry was prsc ticed by b('Hb the RA.DC and ~l,e batralion's own 't;rll.ti.esmCf.l .. RENtE inherited the la:s.k frum 'the RAOC ruU] when, ]1':1 1951; i'l~ expanded L AD:!;: replaced .Ro:}"8l Armoured Corps (RAe) technical tradesmen REM.E assumed khe main responsibil it)' for t :;mk recovery. The word 'recovery' came into use Inthis context ][I the 19310sin rh~ R.AOC. It was used in the sense uf 'bringing hack' damaged equipment ~o 3 place of repair: In the eady years of thc' century and dm.ingWorid War 1 the term mos:dy used W8$ 'salvage'. RI.:~Ct'l\l'dy may vary Irom the towing away uf a 'clt.i.clebroken down On a peacetime t:il street ~I) lh~ extrication from alii tch uf Jl baule-damaged tankin wartime, while under enemy fire. Later. within the overall work ofrecovery, 'backloading' became- the .!>I!par:;JH,::ly defined 11Isk of moving iii concentratien or vehicle casualties [0 a workshop further to rear the figlumg

M.:Jny ufrrlu: basic techniques ofrecevery and tools ..,f th,( trade were devejuped ill the period lip to the nineteenth <century fur d.raggin:g guns into maecessible places, 11:11J.8" winches, iacks, :puH,t:1rs shackles, anchors, gun pl:!ifik" and the shovel in one form or another have a history rea ching mu h further back than [he self-propelled vehicle, Thi:;;know]edg'(' and experdse W3);i qu.iddy adapted for use with tracrionengines from the .1 &608. This buek is devoted to the means ft[ recovery bur Jt is proper to I;JaY rribu te If only briefly ~ to the men upon w 110 this back-breaking war k fell. The}' wen: from many regiments and corps belero and even after REM.E was funned. Many \1i'crc's.im.ply drivers and driver mechanics wErh reCnltl..'fY expertise acquired ,rr(}m arduous esperieace In the RAOe, and in RE.ME.or.iglnally l the necessar ' s,kilJ were not dCL:lJli,~d important enough to warrant a separate lFaJUC. In Fitters Moe,lll" Transport specialiaing in recovery became Fiuers M'f (reenvery] ..sometimes FldR! 8!nd ..Iterthe W8Jr the-trade became Recovery Mech!lni,. T work has-al'wJYs been the same" demanding men of resour wid:L ,I.]] independent {)ulloo'k, physical strength and many skllls, not the least a.talent for improvisauon. SUl:h ;1 mixtu re ufn:n fits iU into the daily peaeetjme barrack life b given. 3 recoverytask these men an 1n their element. pi.uh their knowledge, experience and mascle ~g:.Iin:Sllhc worst i'iit:u~lTinnRthat [ate elm contrive,
1

1m

me

or

HIlL-

VI

Part 1

Froml Horse D 'HDrsep :war

I

Chapter 1 The Early Development of Mechanical

Transport

11Iroughom recorded his'lory until about two hundred, y,ea:t5 a80 the limi:mli:on,s, iJif man'. abmty in agrkulture, land transport and warfare badbeen the power of the horse. The

cars IUId motorcycles

fOI

military maneeuvres

and, on

[l)aCCorlifea~d of military operal:io'iJiS was con:dki,oned by this a:lldi could only e,l:t-ange when a n~'~r PO'Wc;f source
appeal'edi.

By the

late eighlccnth

century sleal1~ power had

become a pl"8.ctica]i'ty'and 1JU.! way wall clear for a new mdustrialised world. As, early ,os 1782: [he Frenchman eUflfliOt bad lb,.~i:1it ;8J steam-pewered gun t[~c[Qr~ the first ,;1!lttcrnp[ at a:pply.ing steam to 'WR!dare. The first :OritisJl p.ropo~s, foe the use 'of ,Q:I.i.lj:t:!l,I'l' steam tracters cameduring theCrimeam'll Wa;r~ 185+-.56~bllJit none was ent aut bii:=fut'e I:hew:a.r~.decl.EJI'~r:i..~nEs, began soon aftee, In .~,351 01 > Woo~Lwicbunder me c:onu.ml, ,of the Roya.! Engin·eers, (R.'IE) ,"nd bv 1873, the 'rune ohm: AsbantiW:a:rs in Af'rka~ 3 number of macltimes wag in~~t'lice. riab: were earned out hsuling guns and wag:on trains, The term 'mecbanical I::l'aDsPO:f1:"MT)" d;100:r;< from this period. Some ofrhese' cady ( m.mchwJes, like their d.vi1ion Bi!ricu1~ c::otlm~ttpan:s,~'Were fiucd wiw powc.rod winchesend were used to recover other
trscters, gtIIIs or W;S1J:;OIl:S, which overturned Oil' became bogg~d: in soft gt'u1L!J.n,d. •. Whilst Dot designed specifically fd,r this pu:rpooe tJtu;!se·'I'>"er.en effect, -rhe first ]':,ectlv'Cry '...ehicles .. i By U;'99. I[h'eb~ning' orm~ Boer \ljlar- thesteam tractor bad become efficient but ilil~ in:rernaJ combustion (petrol) Ic~gine had been de'" ~apedin the .Iai!l[wo decades t ,of theeenrury and the m~Qr cat 'wiiSlikee:dy seen iiIS ~ :mor'c

occasions, fleets of b1lJl8es, ars sad lorries were hired to c demonstrate the !liU'~W::IDc m,ov"'eIliell[ oJ bodies of treeps b~ mad. The power of the steam. uacl:t)l .H Dowspeeds Was ide fh,1' hauling loaded W~:[]!S and heavy guns onel!rhls enable( ,i,l tn hold off the cempedtion of the motor vehicle in. these ro]~s lI'ru:'ticulady, for rome years. For Ioad car.rying· however, th.e.11l0[DJ' I.'ilrry s~liJn b'~gan 10. eme~"g,efrom, the early d.cmOMtra:j;:ions.'Stl1idtt.i.a.h! as tile leader in lu ficld. Bcii' 1914 wh·eeJed. and tracked '[:i8.,cton with petrol or p.am,ffin engines had been derekrped which CQl!li]d improve on most
fearures

of the steam tra tor,

The Wu Offiol:was not :il& slO'W'lO mo\re with 'the times s ]8 SOllnelim:es ,cb.imt::d. 'Tn!:' prngma:tic men of the teehnieal Corps) REJ AnDy Ord.n3iijJ:e D~"Paltmem (ADD) and. ASC simp,~y wanted f·eliablc and effici.etu machines 'befure making la:rge:..scale Eq1ll:ipmem purchases. The firsr staff ell ~!7e[ein, service by I 903 .•the' year In wIlle]] ~he first ASC M' com.pany: was :I'brmed. By 1909 'the armuliIl financial estimates showed reducdons in d\e number of hnree-drawn A.se com.pnnj~.s in f.aVlll!.li:F' of an increase in M T . H not its ~lifl1lIl.cy tltls period was t~l't~inJy the EIIdul.elll.ceru

p.nu:tical: meaU'!!I of light 'l:rOOS;pl}fL A ntllmhor o,:fsteam tracrors and two mO[Of carswel)l,! sem '[0 :South Africa

during the war. Up 'tiotI1i5 time MT had remained ~ I.E responsibili

the growing civ:U~ii'U'li.use of steam IUlId p;:'tf/DI,

y but

~iFl!J::iJ],ed vehicJes iIldu'ced '~!me ar Office in 1'9t10 1;0 set up :~ W MechJm.icai. Transport Comnlitro~, Th~ firsn: aials of ' 1~H:ii'n.L~ des were held in 1901 "aU bIn ODe of the cO!l'ltei!lrt~!lit1:.S b:ing '"S1:eampowered ..:By ],901 the Colnmi:l;'tee 1'1 d t--c:OO.mmlelided
ItbBit .M T should become the province of the .ArmY' S~:M~ Co.rps.(ASC). Tria1s cantlnued und~r the contro] ofrhe Director of Supplie,s. and Trnl1:spo![i[ at the Wa:r OmiC.0.

With C(JIiDUD:1Jend,8Ib..le f.orei:hougiu. Ih~ ~fa:r Office iss·ueds]peci.fi.c!1tioM fot Wa.r Department (Wr: ~orries~nd established a coasiderable :mea.:.>Ut1;i of design st.IW.dIl1'&ti.o:n witl!:! wbjc_h manufacturers seeking contrac h.lildt:Qcump]y. Thetesnlt was not only a series of very 1Pi:'a.ctl~j~:robust 100 wd1~eWgned :m:i]iMry vebl,d'es bm also a sped6cati.Q1I'l which W'!1~ in ad vance o,f that then. (lffered to civUian bu.}""ers by some .D'lEUlma.Ctnrers, To mc:re8l!le' the lml.llm1!1:of M T which would be made available in war ,Ell su'bs1dy seheme was dll!lv:i~dJ bywhich ru .BIGlIusL retaill1er was paid 'til ciVilian owners of\VD
.D.1010r 'l;l"!;':it.i.Ctt!',

0([ the

s,eeiiica.ti~JlIiv,ehldes
dered
'[0

On eenditicn

lnitiaJlvst:C!:am rracters 3'ndi steam lorries, p:redomlOOl'Cd

since Ilhe~t .n:;lia.bDllitywasthe product of half n 00II11Jliry of dlevelo_p;men:t. Mcncllcan Sind motor' lorries were air: lint too unreliahle and tiragile for miUt!f!ry U~] pardcuJarly ,aWBY from firm gnH.wd IU' roads but 8. number of far"!,;jghn.>d civilian e.nt1nlls.ia:s:ts poimed '[fie way by volumeeci!llg pri'!fll:te:
j

the War Offic~ if warbiJ:Iok,eom. The iirnt s~nl;!!mg for steam v:em~]es. 'Fbepext :subsidy Scheme caillted far :petro.~loro~s"i!l 30·cwt (1 Jh"lO~~)EI!!'!I.d. 3 ..to,n l~a.d apl1lcili"!:fi.. Most, m:anuml:::ttu"ers of lorries, andthere were th~n milllY IDOJ:li!than ooda,y, :produl:ed ene or more WU
in,] 90S WEllS

th;n

dMZ·Y were

gU[,1'IeD;-

The se~alkl'Jl oirthe R.FC in U11a ffl.}fJ].liIe Army 1:0 become We 'Royal Air FOl'C!: (RAF)" led to me Leyland bciJ)g ~uwn ,c'\"eran~I,~~ '.IRAFrype' . the

:fill!11lDU~ wa~,a Leyland which waschosen t the Royal F~ying C-Q"[lIS, (RF,C) ~o be i'ts ~Ei.'!nciEird 3·tanDe.r.

types" The most

Tanks,

Chapter ,2 The First World War: Motor Transport and

\Vllen the British Ex,pedition:;,u;y For~ (BEF) embarked for Fr-ancein 19']4 on the outbreak ofWodd \"i:'3.1 I the main method of straregic military movement on 1and: lil,las]:',;)ilw;lY , di B" .;iIFC-:0011:1.P01[, &tellsl:ve nerwcrks'. 1!'X]StCirn.rJtam aIlY'mll>t<:f! blJIt:it soon became dcar '~h,aJt: 1[(1 supply me Army fOfW!Ud or truIbeads demanded fa.rmore MT then 'Was·av,mlil'b[e. MT W,BS s01Jl.giIrin p'r.ef~[e:ti,ce to horse-drawn wagons because each 3~tonne:r carried three times as much as il horse-drawn G~era.l Service (OS) wag'O,o,~'Wok up less space in a.cohnua, was Jess susC'epli'bLo' to the effects, of weather and. more 1ikc1y to survive shelling. A few :shrapnel hOiJes in noa-easentlel P.fil:'t.. of a ve:hrde mattered not but a :slightly wounded home . udl 10 beevacuaeed or destroyed, A:[ that rime, h,O'wl::,C'r there were many d.i:~!l(hnl-i:n!ii:ges [(.'I, :he use of M T. Its rd.n.abiLity was re]a.'[~veto the loch.o.oJog;. Jf [he ag' and d'epcnded entirely 011 '. kiUed. ~u.andling and nsintenance. wii.e.rea:l mu:ch of 'be population ofBritain md Prance was familiar 'I';rl111 tile h!Jrrs~"w ..:gon ~d harness, ~'W were capable of drtving Let dooe m~dnL.'1i[ling l.t'I.G;;;;hi1nic~ IIvehicles. To the depreda.tion~ c~used by poo:rJy trained J:ri vers were ~u:l!ded bose of the terrain, MIC::'ftb '" initial tdvao,ces,;and retreats the war. had settled down to a sJogging ]llI,uchbetween two U:[Ie5; oiiKed defences SlRticbing from heBelgian CO!lS( 'through France ro the Swiss border, Doe lr me main. features W,QS Intense ar iJ1er)"ire wbic-h sedueed dread 'poOfrn;!ds totnugh, saell pined trails, ui'm~ly' msuitable [ot allY' wheeled vcl1JEde, so]f-powered or not; .i:!lii,
j

("

,., ,

mo:s.t.1ynon-standard, often badly worn and not r.cb'l;!.S[ e:rll;'),ugh :FiJi:" the: purpose, One mere l~,seflll1ldocis~.oIlIlli"3:!l, I1J.,re requ.i:s:itio.niogof over .'l! 'tllolU3nd LondQli buses; Most of them went ito l~ranee complliele wim 'therr ,l:o:lourfu.l. bus bud.i'''5 bU'Lmany were hner converted 1:0 cargo "dudes . .on uamodlfied survlvor still ~Nis;[sin chill Lg~dmm.'funs,porl: Museum 'col~li:ctioo. The lo.ng:e.rterm soilutiO!ITIJ ""''''3:8' PlU'C.il.Il8e of !t::hou£and~ or AmerictlIm, l't3liana.nd Swiss lorries. In all eascs.tb.ese were sturdy, we:nt~~gin~et~d machines and. some oftltH~:

'me

aet pack hO!i's~$, mules

.aJ!r1d.

human pOiIt~rs were sometimes

Amerian

ll':YpeS~ particwarly ~w.e;Ji'~apable c

of cauyilJ,g

he only means of supP[Ylfig ('Of ward Ibr:oQP~. In the Mjddl~ Eaen wnel1e Turkey Wag the e'nc:my) ,MT u Cered fL'liainly from tit ...dfec'tli wand and dust and abo rom tlieoabs~ce of nearhyhase np3i:rre;s01!lt"CCS • .II:!, E.afi!'1: \fr.~ca. Me pr:ohl.¢!n. W,ii!J$:aack of g:ood roads and the dtec'ts l if '[he '~ropkal climate, Despite l.bt.~~ pt-ObleMfi MT was llCCcss(uUy~mplQy,ed,. The.Ar.my had. available, i.I1. 1'914, about 1,200 WD-'type o:rr.i~ !lJfwb.ich only SO were a.cruaUy 'WllIf Office awned,

be remainder being subs~dy v,ehicles. There was also <Ill. :Io.rge

mm.bcr of ambulaaces 'and ears, A lypkal W<!:lek's prDducion of lorries by the \V:ho]eof die British motor industry a~ hi~[im.e was !1l bout 1SO. ToOmeet 'lmmed:iat~ needs, me:rgency 1egi:slation was :p.ass!;ld authar.isingthe Oflm:l11~n ~ l~i'ing ·ofci vilian I,onies., cars BInd trnct:icn engine's ilS well Iii nm'Ses and wagons. fer Wilt service, The result as far as

AT was. concerned was a 101m j~~dequ,!l.te fleet of vehicles,

S r~.p,fi.l)'ta:nk btitag us-ita wuA

1Jt\

.(In:<J'lnert

ti'\!jl

o{~~gJlrj 1(1 r.ig~l

UP\!

rmrn,ed' gun UJ.nJ~.

remams.1)tiU on the design of the Royal Tank Regiment

(RTR) CI.p badge .. A spenson proHud!ed on each side of the vchic]e in whicltWilli mourned either l'Vj;fg machine-guns or a greater [0.008 than tbeWD types. Purchases were made liner Li1,rougn the MiI:d:stry of Mu:~itiofi!i which grildu.d~y 'took
6~poourl.de:r :![Il1'l,. The machine, WSls d£.\ligned 'to cross enemy trenches. Thuir width ditc1~iHt:i.d length of mere dUIIl its 26 feel and. thus ~ w~igh'~ nearly 3-0 tOIlS·. The ~in. of civiliau firm involved ill 'the design was Messrs Fosters of

oVer responsibility ffir [be provision of all war nlEliteriai , The O:j'igin~lplan for M'f malntenauce in France to be ",haredl between the AOC and ASC f{)u.ndcred due to the 110ariling or-scarce spare parts by front line ASC unitsaad eventually most M T repair WBS c31"~k-dOUI 'by '[be ASC which took 0\"11;1' the former AOe Base Repair Workslrop at
ltolll!i:n.

Lincolr; but mallY others took pan in preduction, The pdncip1~ oftmcked vehicles we:re.lby 191$, well under-

TIl': lank carne ~nlo existence fur

WHE

\'Vi!L)

separate reasons and

stood, '[0 the USA trilckt::d. r:lgricuhural tractors were .ah:ead~ ill lise and similar machines had been built ill Enoland iliousb not adopted commercially. Th:' name si ven by the NBVY 10 the new device d ut.ing its eftdy involvemenr was 'Jandship' and for a time thu smck:
bUI: me i'i.t'1~t."Cy surrounding the project was enhanced by marking early vehicles a:s't~nk8' their rivened panel censtructicn re&C.lllbling w some degree large water t~:mJ"s.. Thi.s risp security code-earne soon attached itself ro [be. new vehade and DO oJlidal redesignation since that time h~ succeeded in I:hang:ing it, ·\'Wlu.:nthe first lank!' W~:l:itinto action in ]916 centempu» nry mili£ary vehicles were 'steam and paraffin powered! tractors weigb ..iJ.lg 10 to .~ tons and the Amcri.~:m Holt 5

developed initially by IWQ So.rvi"ees." tbeNIiI\')' and 'IJu; ~nny ..From the begi.nni.ng, f the- wa:r the ,N~!(I'y had o operated on !:.hI: left filuik of the allied armies in R~]gium in.a grollnJ roJe i na vnl diiv]8,ioD:l>having been forlIu .. Irom both 'd

marines and n[l'",;aIreservists without sh.ipflI.The Ri;rYiI] N aval Air Service (RN AS) supported th'ern with: reennnaissance and bnmblnglhghts and" mobile pilot rescue' serviee
sci up 1:0 save 'downed' pHOIS be' ore (he Germans could get [CI them, This service, ming armed passenger C-8Jl"S ~ 800n discovered the limitations of unprotected ... hieles and e quickly adupted armoured cars, some ofqU.i'lC' elaborate ul;Sign w~tlJ machine gun armed fQlal,:rll1El Lurrets. The 1914
WRS

v im age rnoter car with

fC>U'

wheel dri ve only,

r D',agi[.e

wooden

opposing armieshad dug' iOJ advru:u::t1>ould only be mauc: c if! the: face ofimell~ machine gunand au]ih::ry we. The resulting enormous C;OS( in LiYell 1:l!'IJughl demand'S from I.hf:
from Ior s cross-ceuurry armoured vehicle c~pi;ib~eof
Lr3Jvcrsrn!]l trenches, crushing

or wire-spcked 'wheels .a:nd weak transmiasiea soon created a quest or better cross-cenrury vehicles, SO' begElfl a lfl1im of dl!!\lC'.lcrpme:llueJ1col.lrngL'd by iUl ex-saldier, ~he Pirst Lord of Admiralty. as be [ben was.; Mt WiMt.o.n Churchill. Onc~ the eady mo!bilrt phue of [he wlir bad eaded 91J.d the

trac ors weigrung about l2 tons ..The ht:a'li'iest motor [on"it:'! were some of the imported ·types whh a laden w~igh.l of about S tom" Tanks, .at n.c~J:JlIt tons, were Iberefm:e in al 30 re.8p~C'[s monsters ... d while: '[hey struck terror into those n Germaas th Yconfronted they also caused grtat.iogi:;.lic
problem'S for [he British Army. The tank WaS to be operated by:a. new eorps but ~g:tin fm reasons of secrecy it was first known aSIDe Heavy Section , the Machine Gun. Corps CMGC). By the time some vehicles

me

had bee:Q captured by the Germansthe

uame "tank' was we.

barbed wire and

COI:l';f,e.yiHg

machine-gnntesms ~n'!:O action. Soon and logically. the War Office plans 'Were coordinated with the developments already 5tan!:!tlili:iy the Navy and, eventually, J machine

evnl\ttu 'WWCD was rushed into prodncticn. The design which W8S1iO dominarc early armoured warfare was (be [lQW fam.iH.ar J:homboid shEl.p~which

(lie: war ended ·and elso te {he. A.Oe and ASC in recognition of their outstaading wt1irservice, In common with. other heavy machines, the tank h,ad to be cie:lligue:d.[or' carriage byrall, This dictated that the sidesponsans must be detachable, ~il1~ethe widtb of the ,ma.in body of the tank was ~lre~d.y dose 1:.0 the UKr[)ilway londing gauge ohppmx.i!n:il·[dy Y feet. Any IDQVemCm 3'\-""

known and. no need remained for euphemism, sc the new organisation was rree to proclaim itself a.!!th,r: Tank Corps. The wDr:d ~Roy~~' added to lhe CO'!'pS' titleshnrriy dl:eJ was

frnmmiJ.w.ays, had (0 be onthe til:nk'3 owntracks, clther sd{~powr.:red'orwwoo. In France and Belgium the semi~t~tic:filatureof the war ena'bh::di11lih,1,1BY lines [[0 be oo:l"l.Sli.tlcledwell forward. Frtim We rail head, the approach .m!1Jlc.b over p~)~r[mId:;; ith ll:l:1derpowemel and C(l[iltplclI.dy w lllltiipr1l.l.lgvehicles meant that in the lank '5 filM bartle so mtny brolee dewn that only sixerossed Llli~:iltf!tl line, TheW;lIt Of.lic-t;'w,""~Vt:!ry keen to get tanks inti]. actlen, GO ficl,e;:n'tly ·expec.~il1g them. W reduce the ..ppaJJ~ng in£i:liIlUY 11 c~~Uldticr.:,. ~w, if any) obstacles were placed :In the 1i\i1Y F of l1u:Iliewweapon's developmentand much thought wen!: into Uif; organisaticn to operate and 8UPPO'!l it. 711 MT Cornp~m}'A S.C inhL8iH:y provided drbi'~r5 and Y~hide I.!!ai]l[to'IJam;;f;l ti,~ppOl~~ hi1:s'~ nn offk:.c:rs and AOCrrodc51" w A men (1h12:11 in sepsrare Corps) ~"'<f;!n:involvedtrom the srart ill a:i1'1la.ining the tank'e armamenr. The 'Heavy S(OctiOilii. (later eavy BU1'lch) MGC provided uu:uk. rews, headqnarrers c ~lff. ecng:iut:1erWgoffic:ers and lIliiU:lY repair rnidl&9rnefl. A~ llW were :ilhipped to Frano~ Ior ISt'ockpiling" others were ;fi[U ~!1('J, 'B~wiil]gwn in Dorset, where tbtii-ileW CGrp!fl!depot nd traitti:ng 'i!l!fiit was cl5:tilblis.hed. The opcl.·a,[itm~d h;l:f;1:n i I'3l1cemctl1ded. a. static wn(~~shO'p(later tided 'ranl~Corps ;llt(1lil Workshop). 10[111:haste to gf;t tanks into iJ1Cllo:nrbie eadquarters III F~oUiCI;; fall~d IlQ realise the di]flicm.tiet'l nherent in the inrrodnction of an emirely d1.eW Wetlpon. oncel;Ji[; mtH~hrn.es.of uncertain -reliabi]]ty whoae .crewsfifild Mppo:ning grganis<lticm lacked e~per1()mce. II; was inevi tbk~peihQ,ps, thar the tank achieved vel,., limiTed success in he SQIDIDC bartle but i~s.poremial was d~arly seen and .e'!l(:.~opm.cnt co:p{inur;::d, Soon tanks were organised ,in attalions.. each wIth irs mVTI mobiJe wnrkshop, but this OfiCe-pt quickly changed when \lto:rkshops were eembineu
ODO

As the s,iy.eof tile T 3.011:: Cor:ps in F mnc~ ·.i:f.lcf.'('1Ul~ :lind c-a:suiitlties throughoutthe Army created severe manpower shortages the: need arose [or greater producl:i.V.i~y from lh'-'i' s.maLlnumbe:r!5 of skilled nadesmenevailablete the [CCllnit:::aJcorps •.The i!:i1gi]']J~-erof1)ce::ts i:Q bOlh Ui;~ Tank Co.rps and the' AOD~ IJI!l.Lng· mcir knowJedge of prodluc.ILiQ.1l or,~nis.niln I' redcp.LOi],'t.:d. !.ItoC 'tOld(;lsmil!illfOlrlltaximum output. I~a.dii.lgme:'V,i[ab]yw Ihe.thinning. om. elf front-lln« tradesmen ,,000lmoslD:u their d.i.5llppearmce .. This created
l'IDrk5.hojJ5 where e,ng·i:r.it'leri:ng C{iXl.ij~d!:,;tiiltio.n:8· rould be given mare em.ph.u;]s but WEl~ Qnly fei3is,ih]ernrb.e static warfare oondiuons of the Western [-'.m.nt. SOOiIJi after tanks went lnte action in li9H,} criaisamse a over the supply of rhe 6-pO'llndcr .gun'!il~~S tbe Navy needed t ~o recaiu stecks to eq uip light craft andfer the defc!1:c:e mCit.C static

llgm,ln!1l1: German s:IJI.b:m3:rin.cs which orl:.C!ll1'tUir:~~d m~;l't:IFI:"':nJ!l vessels. using gunneryin save torpecioes,. W!lere3is lIiMy of ~hL;l cl'e'l'~lk[ 'Ulnks .I.intcring the b~ule.fickJ"'w'e!.'e deemed unsahrageibJe it was now impor~aJn to allieast recover the glms .. A '!i!<iI'l;"a~1;!'piiI:rtyilnder. CEI.ptall'l ['l,. P. :BI:I tier, a for.meili' RE offn'l:~J[] S.~'l a.ba.UJJ'ri:\l;:ti:iI:'li'if.i~uns ,il.tid seon CO-lInd seme g oftll!eraniksrne_ms.e~yes Ito be .[\epa:ir,8ibl,~ Dr at least r!L'lI b.8ive lZuhe:r wva,g~abJe camponeats, F.rom 11118'beginnl[lg trhere grew up first one then [WI) tank-salvage companies .•. mlJing A the soldiers !\.cnring in the [U81 romp'<llny fera time: were a
number of Australians detached. from the 19{h Australian

larger units leavinga handful cf'rradesmen

].11

each

Inranu.Y Ban~!.Iioll. l.iuer ~thecompanies werc·aaD;E1Lgamatm to form. ansdvaaeed field wor.kshop, known 81S the l'gn]( Fi:e1d Banalion t to ca rry 'OUt field repairs. Thi:.IJ.Ieftilie CCfJltrn.lWo.rkshop to ceucennate on overhauls, mu,jor rebuilds and the repalr and reclamation of components 3!I':Id !l:'l~!i!mblics. 'The men .of lhesal.vage CQmP'<lni~f.i W~l!'-C the flnu [0 be involved in lank recovery in the ne]d:.

~utHEon'In aupervise nlnk. G:::reWs in mai ruenanee lind simple e-pai:rs.

Chapter 3 First World War Salvage Systems and '"' E quiprnentt

Reco~~17 ,of M T, ]i~l!::!1lain[en9IIce:; 'W~smainly an ASe
resp '~!.'j;ildlil!:y. One of the pioneees in the developmene 0 recovery vehicles was the hit Mobile Repair Unit of 93 Company ASe. A detailed ·aCCO'IIJ.ll.t '[he deillign of i~!l, of T~rCOVCl'Y' equipment and] its cmpl,Qyment exists in. a long letter sent borne by Corporal Sydney Burrowa 'tu b~~loeal vi~!Ii' for ~ilIC'h.li&.i(lnin, thechurch :!Ilag:il~eis sper;::ial CW1&[mas Issue for 19'16. The repair 1lll1Ili: specialised in -recover'

and developed recovery vehleles by finingcEl:rg.o lorries ·with locally fabricared cranes or sheer legs and hand-eperaeed winc'hes. The winch was,pOS.~t.ioned in the fron~ of (he low.ry body with space for faur men lO operate it. As, 'me feliju.irernrnl for rerovery velliclcl!, Increased II second
reeovery unit was fDrmed and. mere Lorries wer-e COn:VCfICd fo:r ~iJi1Use.'Gndually more 'oophi!'l'ticaood c'Iuiprnil!fJlt was developed and b.uil,t bythe repair units. Devices i,n~,~ud.e-d

SaJ,~~ lmils.

lO;Fry$hAwi~ji:b,

wiJ~,h ~:md lIw:mmJ.i{inl1 t'iIDOpy mali

p:u-l1e:ybhxks to provide mechank:~d adVMUJ1!,~when w.in,chin:;g~ ground ~:ncholi;s of 3. spiral design, used vriginul1l! f'Orsecuring parked aircraft whenstrong winds threatened, and a dummy axle or ambulsnee which enabled se'lrercly damaged 'Vch,ichlS to be towed to wOl'kmops,. These ron,V'eftw vehicles were Ilsu~Uy known as 's~j]vage Lorries' and sometimes' "fmt ~id. I.orries'. This U5i1i: of medical '[erminology 'Was ItO be perpetl!1a:E,ed in the reference to ~v'tihi(:h~ casualties' and in ether way.s in later yeEin. A fl ,'ourJu::-chass,Ii'l for (he.im;proved sruv~~~lorries w3,s tb~ American Peerless which w=-sl.lrroo !iI,Tjth 'a weU·des:ig:nec crane Qogm,iiI!d SIl.:Pifiordnsstru:is whh::h could ~ pl:!!coo O.r. thegroTIfid 110 take- the weight of the rear of 'me veWc'le ~'hil H:frlng. The CiU~'Opymils wen!' design.ed with a !o.n_gi'ludluiil slotto accept thecraee 'boom. wheels for the d1..lmmy axle were stowed on tbe side members of the [Qfl), ~hpss~s behind the rear wheels ,giving i[ 'the 3.;ppearance of a 6-w heeter,

Too

Theo;pporlunfty W,;3:S, taken to use my gun tractfl'i'!l 61' passitlg ranks for :recovery_ Gun traeturs, wheeled. and tracked, were'mostly li:n,ed with winchee, A parti,¢f!;!Jar]y U5efUt vehicle, never available in suffident numbers solely

Pe(1rks.s,Jal~(l.ge lony "llOwing rn:ar ja,tk ltnIJered ami dm.rmtj! WI! wheeb J11'Dt!.ii.;d on M~ l!t1~oflhe du:mj.s,

tractor :for medi.'Ilm.l(ullcry. i[, was slso a polater m th~ eress-cuuntry miital"Y' lorry of thi: fUu,Dte. Snme FWDs were converted. ttl l'ec:ovt:fY vehielea, ene bcing used by' the Central .M'[ DG:pol in i,oIldo:n. nespi~e:'dlte
g1!l!:FIi

practical

vari.ety of meehaaical ,[,~"'Ov,ery,~qu~p:mem[here WM Oi!:Vc:!' enough iII!i~i:dljfbl~ IllaRY a motor .~orry su:ffrsfed the !J!!.'ld, indignity Q:foom.,grecovered by horses. Tank reoovery presented rremendeas pfo!blems. A ,sQ.1ll!ild tank could tow another onflnn level gmblimd,.whichwas pnwtical, in die wotksh~p area bun rarely so on, the ba tlefield where most tanks became cas1i1~lne!i, Here vms n unendlna panorama of trenches and. shell holes. o\fIDen,Q,
:Set ,ofmud. 10 these circumstaeees towiti~ Was a~lmos,t. impossib[,e: sonmi 't:arliRs. had ItO be dug QUit: ,:nul.dnmagoo

ones repai:I-ed, in:vi~}'l <orc:;mnib.~lis0d ,and Bbandonedl.

of 'bogged'~ilJdt5'was first tried by ffilUing'Eo~ extension 'spuds' 0.1'1 ro tr~ckphu~s So truut bellied uw.k:I; could get som!! grtp on solid ground. A bcu,Gi" "o]utiw:!

Sclf.,rncovuy

Jak!a~ .lor1)'1.vi.th dw:!I'IW .fa~lIro cm!J.

/1JCIc

S(!lup'lnui 'f.'ltarjr:u:k mis.c.d

l!fMilr

for use on recovery ~was the A:mmt:}Jn Holt tractor. This in U~m;igioal fOIm W,ElSa h,E11f"[r;l:Ii!:.::k~ [be :t:r.,or.U. su.pparted ilIldi Sl,eered by a reel roller. The rear tracks gIl'll!.'! ita 'LlsefllJ [In'-road performance and incorporated. ~ steering' system 'by track brakes. The patent Jor this system had been. purch-

eve.nwa]]y pmvidj:ng il solid purchase, The mose common e'X;pedien[ was many men. with l'inovdJiO" s1!i.ll. today the basic recolll'erJ' tools. RepEliir QII tile spot W9.iii aJwarys thillp,e-JimW~ 311' 00 roc,O'~;rery proper workshop facilities. to as cutting, Q;r ,"vc:Jdmgquipmem was ~mdy 3Jva:i1able rben, andtive:·ts of e d;wtu,E\;ge.d :p]at,el> efreuhsd ee be' h.e:<l1iood !lind pum::.bed O1tU: oO.r

proved to be an undirelUng beam, a.baulk ot'aimber chlllinOO. aercss hoth tracks and drawn under them as the--y IlPOO.l

aiie.dbefore the war from the British firm R ustca and Hornsby, Holts W~rl;i widdy employed as hiea.vy guo. tracrors. A pO'puJar Amed.car.L lOfl'Y \'Vl'l.:$ the.F'\W'D made by LIlt: our WheeJ Drive t\ Ut'O Company. Despite solld tyres F iheadded traction of 4-whc-d. drive mads the .F\VDa:

drilled out with hmd drili~s.Early ,e:x.pe.r.iments wi'lh Ge:nmim hand-grenades led to their use COif l:miogpJat:e!5 and c srmiglut!:ning running gear,t J·.BC'kS gun. planks and! sheetlegs. for li.ftm,g: were co.m.aulnpla.ce ru.d:~in Ii!COvery iJpem,tians. The ,clrlief lmitationswere enemy shdling, terrain aad
j

weather.

,d~1J WIlY wir}, disabled

~~l(JII'f:(j,"'.

There were mBflIY proposals for V.a'riMi;','Ol of the tank few wen: bulb, One which ,g,ofuno ,p'tQdi!JCtiOIiiL '\VIlS a gun carrier, designed. to. carry h~vy artillery pieces over broken groWId. Y.c.:k. of engine power and other design Umiun:i~fls condemned this equipm~:nt mainly t<o ll.resuppJy role,llnu before tb ,"j/ wC'tebu:i]'1!ItW' offuc :p~an:nl;':difrywere J ea.mtail./,;.ecll:for ccnverslon to :sa].v~e lanks ad. 'were fined

although

with. power operated sh:'wmg cranes" They poot1ted \'ery 1.1, eful in the Centr.aJ. md Deport Workshops but were too oo.ll'5P~I:'lI!()U!ll. [,0 beptil.cticiiII] in forwillli'd:ll!reas, Instead early

muk'S or tankwere adapted by the fining ·of.:1I et of s $heed~gs to the front ItO act as mobile- cranes, I..iI'tmg was by block aI1.d Ytc:kJle.Wbfll these tanks wert: permrlllf,ndy .aJ\I·ailabLe1.0 this role they would abo be usedus tank tY,gs,
thus represeming

Rec.!i)very Vehicle CARV) thaI this W,ell" PI'QduGI.-d. There W{lS no attempt to reate a purpose built or winch-eq uipped rccevery ''i''ebi~]e:Sl.aitELblefor rom-line use. the most lIkely f reason b~ing t.he rclarively low power of availabh: engines .E!Jnd.ite ueed to COl:a;ce'ntmteon producil1g, gun tanks, Tl:ial. l the Tank Co~ . trade5mc;r!! even alJilo\.v.lns for their e&ti:'aordiW!lry'skiUs~ were ,~Mt:te brlllg b8ick'any damaged and de:relicl1anb ,!itt a1i~ was an OUlS'!',I;Uldl,llg achievement. By U9'17 the Liglue.:r 'm~djlJ.f.i1l' tSinks, were in p!:'{](:hlctio.n, but tl1.dr numbers were relsti ve]y few ;'!~dtheir weigbt of 14 tons did llnte to ease :rro'Dl-lh!l:: recovery dili'iciill.ltie~. The medium tank's role Wfi$ pUl'Sui{' after a hreakLhrougb by the
heavy tanks of the earlier designs, IIwas on[y througi\ all cll,ormous,lyexpand_dl tank production rata [hUl the Carps bad been able to cope with frHeu:~(ival:lk~ tank losses and still bui:ld up the huge reserves needed fer the mador tank, battles

me nearest

equivalent 1::0 an Armoured

hulL

o~ r;,_(

~I

~rWt!).Pf'JCd

,SId/till'g!l

f!7fl.k.fJ.Q:fftd (In tnIJ grm ~'aml?i"

of'Camb ,~ :I.tldAmiens. 1:n191 8, Ge.rmBny launched a m<a~ive 'Slurp/rise offensi V~ with. mitial 8UiCCe-SS. the but

oollD,rry and army was too exhausu:~d to sustain such actilljty 8IJICI the allies drove the Germans back, The ,1\ rmlstice

follewed in November 1918. L]u:1e is recorded ofril,e :s~hra.gc"'lOft on mil! rei .•i'li.vdy few l mnks used agaimn Turkey in me Mjdc:He' J!;asL but,

there was mtu;:;hlcss broken up hy sbel.lintt, and it waS. therefore milch easier 'to tow broken down tank5 using fit uilnks er heavy '~raellI.1r:li;. ArmQured £:1115 were operated 'by(iilli: Army In all the theatres of ~JPe:r.ariQn8but '[heir recovery was more akin to that employed for MT except that, bciog somewhiilit heavie only the larger :salva.8e lorries could be used to lifr or tow concentrated
llilenli.

gener"Uy. terrain

Scriftl'p ,and Save: ,." to 118.1'

Part 2

Chepter 1 Changes in the War Office and the Army's Repai r Orqan isation s
ArmistilC!e day in. November 1918 brought [0. WI end the war against ,Gemumy andhet allies. The British ArmY', by 'tl1'en mainly WD5cripts or velunteen for 'W~r sersdce naly, was. r:i1lIP~dly~~ed down despite: ~ncrea8ed :responsihili:t:ies ~1t1. the pa.s;(~Wlrrperiad due 1;0 many additioaal polielng tasks, To me pre-war duties, of eonrrelling me Empire were DOW added theoccupatica ofGemumy 'Ind for a tim~ part (If Tu.rkey, 'tbe added cemmlrmem ofJ'Blestin,e._. internal ~ecl1l1ty in Ireland. and ass!S'[r;UICe te the alliti·bolsh'~'!lI~k \iVh:ite Russians. Conseriptlen eontinued till Jl910illnd much ,cffllflt went DUo the recrniuing 0:£ new regUlar :sn'ld~ers. or me n.,~""ml!dtanised brancbes of the Army the RA.SC had no d.Lfficu1ty .[e'Ia:iill:n~its MY which had provt'd more economical man horned '~rn_i:'I$]l@rt, falCtor. crur:fying l1''J.!:IJt[~ ;1
'u. • nowever, were seen '1-...1: I'ev;' m [If pCI\,\lcr(0 have a peace-time role and! the no'\\" Roya] Tank Corps {RTC) Yl'aS .reduced te the UK Depot 8l1d rom ba[J~~d~o]]Js with sm.EIlI~ detachmenrs ove:l's~s mQ5'tty iuu;;i:r.t~

W~I:t

...~. ..:... .

" m peace - " ume:

'tJlll!ti;.!l"

l~

armoured cars, The c:avaby bad been little used in the etatic W,aJrfale of 'the WeSlenJi F.ront but J.!twcrtbl:.less continued afrerthe war (0 have a dlsprepcttlonate influence eo Army affairs, Thi~ 'enlllbtedi I'[ i[)O I"1:l':9ist l:he :sr:;i'if[ o.f:me>chflnisatiollunill192S. In 1'939 the Ciilva]l!'Yregiments, by mell.ill]mmn all in an armoured rote were combined with lh~.R TC to fermthe Royal ArmcHu'oCrl Corps (RAe). Aft,erWo:dd War I 'me .Minisrry of M.uu:i'li!]n::i ceased '['I) emt 1iII:nd. the 'War Office 1't:ga:jne;d full ,['l;sp0f.lilibi1ily fa,l" d!esign.U::tg~ testing ,MId procurl.ng vehicles and equipment, MI remained tbe l"espo:nsibililj' o:hhi! RAse 31'I.cll an experimen.taJ department wa~ set up in P Oomp.wy RAse. Iesfunctions included vehicle de."teLQpm.eLll and tJialt:iin cani unction with civilian ..manufacmrers, In 1.9.19the War Office formed iI Med:lOlnicul Tmn~PQrtr Advi:swy Beard 'tDr coordinate- the foreseea iacreased use of .MT t:hronghoutl:he ,Army, By ] 927 ~·the mechanisation of me Am:tJ!r galilLer.aUy ll;ilidprogressed. toO (be SlB.ge where [It was _ore I.ogi~a]m U'ea:1! Tas fOIUUnC equipment rarher than M something peculiar, Therd(u'~, followinga 19'27 War Office ie lrga:nisaunn the R.'\OC;iI in Jmu.my 1928 toek O'I'er If:s,Ponsibiliry :fo:r .MT issues 'tCi an ,P'otrtsof '~he A_rm,y other '[~ ~o I~b~ ASC. The Moe was courrelled ia;], R W.RT Office bytbe MBSl"e1" GeneiEll of Ordnance (MGO) W'hcrc~s the MS,e came under the Quarter Master 'GC:.Ile.ml (QMG)m refit: ling 'tbe :RASe I,csponsibili'ly fO'f 5,iJlIP!pl:yh~ food and

me

fuel, as important a. function as transport, A 1: the same Ilmt. the class.iJicaticm of all vehicles was begun: .A' vehicles lncl uded tanks. armonred cars; ]orry mounted guns and h~.u tracks, Later, fuUy t:r,!i!i~kedgun tractnrs were added 10 this ]isl. 'B' vehlcles were M:T v,eh~ch;!~ '!,lpi.'lt'.ned by :my 'bunch of the Army otherth~ the RASe. RAse vehicles were si.mpJy !B' \rehjcles operated by the R.>\SC which thus ::;;~ug~u retain something ill:f its or;~gInal pre-eminence in to dliisfidd, Fur II. time: after 1918 lh~ Department of1~ilnk Design and E.xperimen'[ (DTD &. E) caatinuedrc fUncti.o,n. under in !h~ d, Colonel P. Johnson, an UTe englneedng officer, and MtS trnnsferrt"d., .in 1-92U, te the Su;perinrendem o,f Desigp's Depanmem srthe litoy~]Arsenal, W'ool:wicb, '\Vork ceneen ttatcd on me, Medium D~liIn im.pt'O"v'ed wartime design llQUf fined with suspension. Otb.er versiona were made as am,pbl'bious tanks burno seri/t:~ :pfoducLion was undertaken. Then, in 1'923~for ooo.no.my:rcasons; the DTD & E was clesed d,own and the War Offi,oe ~I.!gl!.'l, de&i:g;ns for new tanks from traditional armaments mamrfacturers ~tii.rting, .~ this time, to add. this weapon to thei.r stocktn trade, Tank dcsi,gners r>emElining in tb~ Supf!:1"ioln:nd'e:ntof Design's diepa[tm~iIiltwere. in .1928,~transfen;ed to the Direeterere of hlfichmlizatlon, part fJfth'!:l' MGO's departmenr. Theirrole WEiS now relegated to liaisen with the cemmercisl s,uppliers and minor modificatioiD wO',rk. Som.e complete deslgJlis were produced during '[h~Ja't~~ rearmament period and PUt uno prodh;u;;'~ign but mest tank design at: ~5 'Ii_m~was 'the \l,'1'o.rk of comme:rcililllfirms. The' War OiBke ,sought B all.d] RASe '",ehldes from. motor manufacturers by p.roii,lidiQg dCisign s:pccincations., reSting pnm.l'i.Ype~ and. then placing orders, All the coros .!:Ilvohroo. in meehanicel tnmspor't and '~:rat;:tiQlll"OOk part, either lOLnlJy OJ." .cP8:·rn:u::ly" in the trials 0 s DEW vehides. The RAoe was cnncemed with. their recover andr~,;dl and the RE with their compatibility with mill,la:r: 'brid\!les •.The :Ilec:m.i:ng[y cemplicared structure for the 'ol;m,[;[r.d ofp.rocullewel[ilt, 't~Mg a,Jld Q1je:ratio!ll of mechaaica vew'des funct1ufill:d reasonably well since the Army and \V~ Offioo w~e' small; most of the experimental, work W'a'S earrled out by eathusiasrs whose engin.eerlng[:[a;ining overrode in:~0r'·co.rps ri:val:ry and the scale of operation was m,inim.tll., It w~s' not '[illlI936 '~t tb~ tetsl Arnty posrt-WorJl War I MY hu]ding~. reached 4.000 wodd-wide and ,at that time th.ennlir,ere but a few hUlldl'd tanks.
From 19'33, nQ'Iv::H.lr, a new threat 'DO peace became

gpparent from N.azi GermMl.j' and LO the a1ftiidy 'i::omplex problem 'of meehanisation was soon added 'the quantitative problems of rearmament, i.e, the pnnr£di.n.g ef modem ql!li.pmr.:lltfor the H:glJIlm: and reserve armies. '[he War
fficedeparrments dealing with ¢tlU£p!l!£'nt dlmign and

p])ii!-wa:r O~tiOIlIlS

prop. r bar;:k.gro:nm;dfoil" dicl~tiJi!g COl'"prs 'O~<!tiUIil. In :an~ case funds were searee in peacetime for 1ncreas:inS strengths

l!.edtnl,ealtrBiiningw.as not

thOU!!Ih![il

rovision were frequen tl.yre(Jirg~Eli8oo in an effertte {lope. .u'tinereases in st8iff rather th~lI'Ir0 reshuffle (lif respoIli5.ibiLiie.swould have had mere impact. A maier step was the _ tting up of a Dit~e'~(jfaoo of MUm,lions Produclion bUiI: the benefits of thiswere qw.ckJy lost when this, together Vlith its rubcrdina't'e MOOls depl:rlment and directorates, 'was, IllllDrbed.l0 1939 Intothe newJy created Ministry of Su;pph' '~tOS). }J.':'Willg sirrreadered almost Billitatechnical branh!!i!> t~ the new Mloistry" the W:IDf Office: lacked, for [he ;rncial, first :y-e.uof World Wilr:U:, any branch with the rtise to produce t-~c::.~\ruc:~d :!i;pt,,':dficalii,i:!l~ or directlv,es ~1ric:hthe ~rI,.tOS could wark to wheIJ. d.eslgn.iJ.l.g miLimry :quip:rnel1l_, Trials establlshments tO~l were El'alUlfe1"red so ~ewmilitEiry organislilltiom; had to be formed 120 conduC'[ user rirus -of machines designed by the civilian minisuy. In faer, ~~Ehe war p.I.''Ogr.es.sed hundreds of scrvioemcn were iecended to the 1\108 and the cross-flow of ideas and
~m.phdnt!l coneerningequlpment
11'1.

of manpower or ~q uipmenr, 'Cite main solutiens to :RAOC(EY:s, problems. :BI!l1'w~lfn thc:l W.ilIr8 d:!.~ system rQr!:~epms Wi;!S b.ro.1IJIgh~

did

110t

depend en we] y'

the rigid intf:~,.... ,epfll"DJlJe1Llit8l d channels of cemmunelatlon. 'lj'cl,!',grtlu'Jul'lS ~~!;·\lr.ing (l,r the 'W ar Office ~q'L1ip.meru this ~raj[n:heswas acoostilllcnt CRU£C much of the delay nod (lif

it:o;sign NQ.I:S wltieh oodeviU.~d ~qulpmern developmem in C

@:!lfulJlions ill 'lh-e.1920s and i:ady 1930" 'W~t.e meam :8l11blish tGlctica] concepts and to show what, if my.

he eliLdy'Years of the war. The lequ:en~ trials and manoeuvres {)r'~!l"my units WId
'10

more mebile. Time do,mmatiog faeroe so any repair work which wouJd tru;<I;e00 [ :Igns in II unit or .a mobHe WQckshop would have 'to be passed back to a 5ta:li;c workshop •.The repair orgamSlilltio.D in :6gJlliltiogunits had, to be greatly strengtheaed to COpe with moc:lmnis~tio!l. The RASe trained its drivers to ,Ell rugn leveJ ofteelmical eompetence and backed. thls 'With the U'<liAS,pl:m oomp:ul.y"sown Yr'tlrrk:!inop Jl,hm:lOiD. The R.TC had driver mechanlcs supported by unit tradesmen but Wi!li~ !:'(ti!lfI;lJiOed m each bDitfaJion (1ater :l)r;:gm1c:~t)by lim. MOe LAD. ,A.s the ~RA,find cavalry became meehanlsed tbeh: unirs were to receive LADs. At firs [ these LADs were fhTIIlld by de18clring men and equipment. mm the 18:rg~r .AOC i!ll,obik ~"'Ork· R shops but eventually dley 'Were 'se:pw-atdy llli!ldpem:!UIcndy C$roblisied for each task. RAOC(E) repair responsibiliries increased witb.mec:nBJlkadooa.nd Army 'c~p;msion but in, manpowcf remained. OOU1tUy inadequate for thewerldead, BI siruO.liOILl [MI: was ttl ll::o'IIIti.nue 'well.lnto,the: wail". The 'more advanced work!lh.o.p or'g:mrn13,tiORS in the Mjdcl:~e East had came bno use afOOt ex!p~rienc:e during; the mililary aetion in the late 1930'S in Pelestine and aftee the d"lJ,lrotl.l!gh and pl['ofess.kl.ntll tralni_ng carried o'U'E in .nr,n'pr before the action began. agairrs!: 'the lrnlians in Libya. While the Midldrne' E~strem~dnedthl: only war theatre where me
'\!!tOil Iell e b

moee up to dan:e since lrwH thought ]:ilie]y

the :!'.!C.o)!t "\"ar. \'i'cruld then became the

'th;j'[

t.'9Tgani:sation was requi:r~d to meet the needs of~ and realise he potential, of, mechanisation, Conclusions were S]Q<W in mIlling and thenelsts had afield day. The WEIr Officemoved lnoC!):J;tainly bur did, before 'W~vJd \V;r U bC'~n l decide' EO D!!,.1]l an armoured division. The: Re:gllLl3:r Ar.my fi.eM force: ~n l1~' nited Kin!1ldom in. I:h~ pr,e-M:u.nich crisis "period U can:eJy amounted to two divis1ollil~'wonh of troops, T~~I ;;er-'"rarely uxerciised in their field f"tlfmaJrions and were stiU . axfrom, fully mechanised, 'So the scale of r'cp3ir and el:o\'ciy supp 'rt cob bl~d 't.ogc·1tlier for maaoeu vres Wl!ve me In.dlic;a;dol'l.O[ the. full needs of wartime op -'rudon$~ rMricuJ[['[~{ of ~"inaumY' th~H was to be reased in: size a,t 8, !lteiM QUJlts,u:ipplng the resau .rees ~v~i[~bh~losuppnrt it, 1'0 be fair, some erilig:ll1:ened (dfic,ers of RAO C (E) hHd lIittM P.~"~l~it.! '[hI.'!1930$ fQreca5'~lng ";"U:cgriiuc:lythe effects fmobile warfare \l!(l mid:r Corps and. the ch~:ilges wh:k.h h'~uld be made 'to pr-ovide <[~ffectiverepair and reCDvefY apport. For the most pari tb.ey were unable 10 ;infllJ:~'m:cethe

Army

WBS

Bct.iVeJy engaged against the enemy

it was

me

mevi'Ealb[y the ~orcing house of new tac ticalaad ~(Jsisticideas and prccedures. Breakdown v,ehides were 'pro'l.!'id~clin. RASe. and RAOC "I!,lWktllll!:npsandIn LADs; bur no' Siepar,liI:u~':remve;ry units existed unnl mle:r the outbreak of war, When it :reoo\l,ery laskpl"Qvcd teo d:im'cl1l,~for a unit 10'[ lt5 LAD the "'ext Un'e of SUPP0ir[ W;8iS the'RAoe moblle 'Workshop. Dr:ive.r~ wcr"Ct howm;ret expecll~d 1.)0 be self sufficient 'UJ a great degree and allreceived at ~east elementary .recovcringuammg. Till!' Man.ual, of Driving aIld! Maiinl:emmce - Meclimllca1 Verud~ (Wnee1ed.)~ [ss.ned byrne W~r Ol1icem.1937~@ ull units 'Wi:d.1M T, rov1erod. ill dilDo/rate derail, the meaes O'f:seJf~.hdfi ;n;covcry e-VGnto rhe ,e:Ul;m 0-[ u5iPg the resources o'fme ·~ocal hLac.k.snnth' before, lf all else f2lUed. ',camng' rhe 'breakdown gang". Theywere destined itO find few vuta ~ b1acksm.ilhs in. the dCSUr'ES of North A.focal

Equipment Design in the 1920s and 1930s

Chapter 2

Bveryone believed. mat World W i:1l!' J was ~ war to end all the w.. s", This W,BS enshrined in Govern.m~.llIt poHi::Yin 8 jlen-year ru[·e· dung~ro'l.tsly I!ISSlIJlmlngthai!: there would 00 ao other m~rio:[ro.ntmcntiil] "Warfor ten ye.iilrn, f' or rea s.D:D S , one S,\1I:s;peC1tS;~ of fiscal exped~e:ncy 'tJhds period was continually c:x.le'ndie<li, The Treasury guardians of the 'nation's wardepleted weahh: armed willi the len-year rule and knowing:

'me vast

h!g"ol,r:),

of usable eqlllipm~nt remsining

in

Army

dJ!.1}011>, felt justified in p([Illg:g,in.g from A:r.:msr Estimates ml1.!u:h ofLhe fund s,fer. dceve:1npmg and providimg new equipment. Althougb hnge weapon ~tol.:ks remained, the bulk ofthe 2001000 motor vehicles ill use HI[ the end ofWodd War I had been sold off. Thooel'i:fflili01:11g quickly became obsal'f:'tle. \Vheurne war ended, co:n'Ullctl! for the vast numbers Qf tanks ne:ed:Gd .ForP~i:rn.1919were cancelled, E~tgElt at the

'UI:J.t;e Willi

8.11

in:i:riaJp,roduction con tract for Medillm C tank: ,

Wli:fili:

budgetwhich enabled the pO!iot-war. Army [0 keep abreast Gj new dev~]op:rn\entti in -r;msptlft !!Indranks and to carry om small scale expcrime'l1n and purchases. Under RAOC conrrol B vehj~le. torage and, issues Were s gradmilly concentrated at Farnboreugh fi(:3!rAldershot .•~ vehides remalned a time at Vi?ool,wj!clt. The RASe ,A'lT d'eput W!1S set up ill F!':;:ltl:t~tm;;!'r{iddle-sex. Far:nborol1gh wru also the si te of lhe M,er::;.bankal W ~rfa:re Experimental E$~!lbHi'l,hment(MWEE) whlch from. 1928 took Olver the :1"0 Cliff Company and also carrled out A Vehicle l:1i~ls, 'thtll,1g~ some experiments oc»HmUled 81 Wo(),~wiCcb mel :;,'11 :Rovington, In 1934 MW'EE became th{;;.\otechanisaUDl'l Experimental Es,tabliS:hmen't (MEE). Tracked 'lrehk]e' trials eentred on reliability of engw~~ and traeks. MOM development work was now done by the

mr

''Hom-, and .3 6 of these

a de'veJopme;nl uf [he &[edium A. used towards the end of the

CQD]:ple[oo. The 'fWlk Corps,

IIIId ml[dle-r
taruQ

reduced in size 3lJ!dw:iili, thesenewer

needed. f~ of the older heavy nULk5, ~Q surplus machines were sold to ifriC'J]cUy gover:Dmems and mM1)' ethers became wat' memoil.L2ItLs. Openl'rloml~ plans, cvolv"ng as '[hoewar ended) convinced the: R TC thaJl: furuee wars weuld be more wcbi1e' and :SO~ ~dlho'ligh some heavy tanks were still used for. training, and from 1921 by tile newly re-established
Terrlterial Army (TA)j n e future was seen (0 [ie with the fu~~l\;ir ediums. For a few years the Medjum Cs and. a m

l'IJIIlmdfil1f t::lql'Ii!rime;rna] M~diwn. Ds were the only OlJe!]· o wlhiicll could, by IlIlY iltrer.cho.f the imagill.ati.On., be re:gnrd:cdr
as modem. Despite

this and th,c insecure fumre of the R C

the potient~~dof armour WitS recognised by such II'Hlndils:as Mrilj,orGeneriil I.F.C. Fulles and CapUlin.B.H., U.ddlen~ "ax!: .. Bom fores3,wrh.e mobile warfare that was to charaeeerlse the next major conflict and did their best to influence developnumIsa.ccordililgly. Thf:r,e had been much prQ:fPi~SS during World War I I[OW81:d,simprovi:ng the :reJiabiliry and 'P\l"E1cdcal value o:r M T and ]hCr,~ were even better prospects, given cxperimenr and di.•·""e.l,opmellL Four-wheel dti ve, the use of s,hafl drive instead of chain ddve, wider use of pneumatic lyt,gS '!lV~n on ~(Dm~ 3~'~o:llIlt':[;S~ heavier CilPE'l~i'~y lQmes and tile U!re ef caterp,ilI.ar.tueb all b.rougb'l. nearer ~-eaLi8.a,I.ic'1lClfdl~ CC:D:CJ!'pl ora fu]]y mechanised army WhCi5.C vehlcleawould mo lom.ger depend on rosds. More forward thinking and dedicated officers therefore fought fur and gailled ,a llH~Bgl':!i!

of what was 't() b eccme [he Yiekel·S MediuDl tank, This w,~ inte productiona ~~~. ]a:~e;rand abeur HID (t':liIWC! MJlrks) were btlJUL They became thestendard tank of n"ne llTC UJI to the .beginning of rearmamenr inthe late 193f)~. \V e·igh.io in the devc.l.oped versions, approx:ima.tely 12 t'QIlS and.wi'tt speed Ilf 16-mph, these mfiks were light Y~ii;rl'i ahead of,tlll that had been developed untiJ '~hc;:p.A fm:llt-moulJ,ted alr-eeeled Arm5lrong Siddcley VB engine pru".ided power Sind the artnament ",,'a:nt41nun. (3-pou.uder) gun with u,p tJ :s,ixmachine guus m01J.O.led or carried, These were the tanl 'LI-s'Cdn ,aUthe 'i:xpe:rl.mental manoeuvres f'lhf.l late ]920s i and early ]93{1B~whic:h wert to pU:;::dc rhetaoticians aad dccrrtnc writers in lh~ War 011'1ce whil~t enlightening Britain):) flnure enemles, FoUo,wing' OIl '[he heels of the Vickers Medium tank can ,~spawning of one-man and ",'O-m iii 11 ~tankettes' Sind. tn!1!ichinil:gun carriers, Iii ny fr{'J.mrhe designs of Sir Jobn Darden .. whose ~g,mpali1y was evemu.ally abso.rberl by
Vicke~. One of the twoimportant production designs the series of 5-ton. Light tanks an-ned onLy with machine
'i'l'3

manufacturers.

In 1921Vick irs bad produced

~heprtm.lt}r.

me

gt1DSJ ideel together with -<lILQOur.,ed.cars, for the colonial pollelng role. The second design, ill, machine gun. carrier :f( the InfmU'Y, lcd to the Universal C'3-l'ri,ef used for many j purposes,:and in huge numbers in 'World '\l'ar II and generally known as the 'Bren Carrier", ,ArmOIl_U~edcars dJevdcp~d during the 1930s be,~anby maJUng use of tbe: 6x4 drive system~nd like those ofWO'J WHr I retslned machine gU_jlannament. :By 1939 the firsl modem designs witb 4·wheel. drive and heavier armsmen'

atlUlc]lIed direl:tly

Did ~,PIl~~u'i;ld,~OITienEiving EliU ddve line Co'Il1p<l'i1I.:.ms "[0 the hu]] armour ii'iill:~(,;;;!.d 0;[ hilving a

In the case of Band. RASCvell.ide

developmen;

much

repar-~~~ eh~sili.is.+Here. too cQSItQQ.llside:rati.oJ:ls irue:rvcnod ~ncllXld9i'l well as theIlrst f~' ttI!.H:ieril armonred Ci1fEi:~ new v~hlC;le5in use at the hegi.n..oing. of \Vorld War]I :i:nd.uded. ~b~iP]yar.lnilurc:d. V'ct'sloniii of MQ:rns ComlTher,::i;aiIS;-CWi trucks. The 1920 pattern RoUs Royce. an. upd:"m~d ""odd. Wllr I d{;~~ign, eq uipped someunlts twenty yerurs· after still. irs In:rr:oductiol1. By the mid 19~O~ the Vickers JirlCidJllJim ta:nks wer~ 'obsoll!lseCIl[ and in any cal'll!' too ft:w in nurn be r when some lb!irughts, nthe War Office began. w erystallise on the i C.Qroc:;:::pl of attr.too:j\llcl illvisiDtiS, Vl!i:k.e'c~· r.st nliproved H d.es~QTI~ the Medium, Mark III or '16'IO!:I!1!n~r' was eon&;mned .pan1y ongr""{lilUlcbl ofwst and Oldy three were buill.

more im;~n1s carne [TOIl1,The Anny itsill.m tile 1920\<; c:.:perimfflrs were conducted wj[h three truainchls~t:.,1l of Vlehide ~ the; 4-WhL!e:Jdr.l~e ]orry and ttl;'ile:W'il" the haLf-track. ;)!J,Jjd.l~t~r: rigid 6-wh·t,!~J¢r. his des;is:na:[]o>[l d:ir~tin~ tbe T gu.igned it frQm tbe trac:tor!&erJ:1i.:tr,!i!ii~~rcombit.lation Of' arllcuJmoo ~whee[er. Ea:r[y !:::lolpe:rImenl:s wi:~h ~wh0el drive centred. on the Hiltbi, the prototype of which was built byP COIIl.p;llllY RA.SC03!lOO on pant) of ~ Gcr..mR!11 E:rm.u:dt U;3!C'~Or.Later lSp:rodii.!!{;:1.k,u Hathls were buiilt forth~ Army •. by ThorJiiyuQ{ts, STarting in ]914. MQl_{1 were usedas gun

Later ether manufacturess W~.minv]tmi to smrr taking-an 'iI:J~tes~m 'wllll~ design, Their preblemswere .D.oLonly .Unt::Xper.ie.ocebut, m{~ Vkk~'-rfil) 'tl1~yWer~ O(:!I]tinilil!Uy foih:d.

by thaabsence of) 0'1' changes

ItO; War Office policy on w~k ~m,p]o!i'm~ntas.dle presand I!,':Qrntri1l!j,~ by virtue ohhesystem (If two and three year appelntments Inthe W:arOffice~ carne

MIld Wli:llt.

One of dle JeflOn~ for tbe uI.ld~r·fut'i:ding of new milk rles.ign lfnd purd:ulslng was theemphasis p.~i!Qedon tbe needs Qif Air Defenee of Greait: Britain (i\.DGB) in.dudling, lIS itd:id~ll_ghrer aircraft, Ant] Allers.£[ (AA) guns and radar. Th~ c;x.parJlMOn and m~di;!mi:;;i;]jtiQD of we N a,Vy a:s.prime: ~lJtector ofthe "is:land f"orl:reiss' lDg;eth~r w:hil increases in QoaSL Artillery were ;mJ~ogjven.pil'iQJ'iL")'~ as, was the f'UIlding iiJiCiv~J. Defense. These could be seen as defcn:si",'c measures \'!'iIle.r-ea:::; CEink8 were deemed ofliillsiv'C an II. U]1,iH! when the bague o:fNa'Li.ol1s wa~ st:r.ivio:g disarmamenr. for
Despite U1esr.:prob:lems !iiCl~EI~'fid:l1.aoces i.n tank de~;igllli 'We"n: made, Two important stepsweretneedeptlcn ef the uwk 1!1:!$pL::n~ion ji'Stcm d;esigm!l:clby 'the Ame:rk"an J. Wiiliftiter ~ O.l:uiuieand oraffink. transmlssienand sn:eerl:n,;g-u.!l:i~ developed by Dr H .• "vl'err.it fllOill.EIi basic concept by Mr W.,,~,WUSOLt~ O'I:U;: ohh,c D1aiI! i:h:si.gD.t:t:S ofWor'!d!W:ar ~ 1~!Iliks, \nothe:r P9s1tlve dii:!l:is..ion lilllkcnEit this time decreed J

rfrInltnere would bt::two d~8~C;Saf tank, a llglu .fiilsl 'Citil.1i.iscr~

f;(!F mobJJeopera:tiof.llS Mld a slower, morebeav:ily armoured ']Rfru:LlltY~ank to ii:tOnti forl~f!edpositioh:~ in :'lUppot[ of t m!:nu:ry OIl rom. These distinctions persisu:di. till theend of World W'ar Il. Ye~ another decision standardised 111emain ~!['mame.l]t for ull l~iP~ ~I g1Jlll..!"!rrn.,t:d.U't[l.k wiq_hm~ :neW infill11l)'anti-m.nk gun, the l-pounde:r . (;08t eansideratiens l;;['Iusedthe firsl infan uy UIT.Lk to be 5,Qsm~11 thaI.; it could only
accommedate machine
gU:11 I!.rm1li:t::lent.

JI,.\a:ti.lcl:il was J.lwbably the best rank in world when 1'[ fer'S!; !!~peart.d. lln aecalade it: weuld seen lose when. the Impetus af wal.' hast.ened nml~ch!'Ve1'O'pm~I1:I'l in ,Ol:U ceuutries the invoJ.ved. Theerulsestanksbulhjn til!': immediate pre- .... y.ar period were forthe mo~~ P~ft lbiilr!i!'~~ adeqmde rQT l1Iu:irtad~ du.e 1.:0 ru'shed d.. 'I.'lc]opmi;l1il:,unfamiliariry by manufacrueers c and, unde::rfu:lJ,ding. N 01: :iiurp'.rlil~l1gly) m06'e buill by [fie ElHP~fie.o.red.firm Vi~ke:r's were usually rated Ineeha nl cally reliable,

me

In: successor, the

!bfleaJs;dQw:n body and lasted Inte tile Bate E)3,Os..II':lt1J!d a 'i;i'b in the lttat'· wj'[n ~ hand operated jib w,io,dl •.AnotbtlJ"reuwery v,ers~on was used byu;le MF. W!ri[Sl it 'WmS undgubted~y ill powerful tracser, the l'eCl:l:nolog.y f'Ort:lledriven and steered axle was 1lI[ thattirne botlllUtreliable mcl expensive, so the H<l!ihi g;~ve way to '~Jh;e - .. hee!!':F with (he rear four 'wheel.s clIri'V'efi~he 6v [
'~cti]it.\l whilst one
B'[ ]es;s:[ was

fitrted with

II

OOl.lIItry lyr~ and ~lau:r ~ [he :S:dna.tyre, Widt me W.ar

Dt!!pafrtnt::ot (WU) rear b!:?£":icnd the new low-pressure a eress-ecuntry tyr~a the G-wheeler t.... the equ.,d of COrlW-u!~;8 PQIi'HlfY ha~f-1;ro.~kiii ~J()c!:::pt !i'ery 50fl: mud or snew, The In bogie design enabled, overall tr~cks 'or chain'S to be :l1x~~d
effectivcly con verd:qg h
1:'0

a hIlLf~[[!lck if need be. T e meet

6:>::4 •.

Half-tf'ack8~ '!lsing F;I)~n!Cb'KL"BTCS::lC' traek:!; or tbe Bllitish

~R'lladl·c.s~· system, eacb :r,epLBcillg the rear wheels of a con vc:n:tioirJ,iOd carr or. ]Olry ~w~re fo.r a time seen as the best mCili!rn,S .of off-ecad movement:. However, ~heir cos:[twE,ig'J:n

and lliea.vy wear 00. J'OBciswere ondisadvanrage. COlmpa:!';oltiV'c tr'j,alls CO:ll1lid:tM::t~d ~!!l:tIle:': 9'20'R at Aldershot ,Gel a~ Bovingtoifl 1 sb:owoo that, overall, 6=whee1li:d ~g!frie8with :~!JiL[rdri:V'I;;E!. wheeJ:s were adequ~t~ formost tlff-f~i',ld oo[lldil:iC!n~:lfld w{Iiij.Ld b~ chesoffilcll to prodtlceand ma]lJItBlfl t!Uli:L'1 h.:a]f' tracks, Despite 'this, iii 3m:;..:!.! 1Ji!limlOeTUf n~~f-l:r<'l,c:kgun [:!"1e1ictors m:s purchased and 'SOw;L:e' ~ Burfords aJlt1J or.ris Commercials, M wr:r,(: selllit 1\1 8hi:Ji~g:h;!1!ii I 927 when '[[b.,el!:uern~:~h).md ][1 S~l!;tl(;'~itl: wasrelnfeeced during the Chhliese Civi!,Witl'. The first 6-v.,tbeeier::i! evol v~dim I:91 g, in. the USA tb.m1:1gh ~;I!pe:nm'~n~~·by' IF:l~ Goodyear Tyre Compmy. The use of a ' deuble-drive rear DO'gle built by Ill~' T~mp!L!.l ,Company cornbin~d with new 'Goo.dyes:r. pneumatictyres produ'l:cd a ¥thicl~'W'mch W,f}S more eco!ti:mmksJ, fasterand f'Or iOI. giv,en ti:Dgine. size 9:b]e [0 C1:IUY :mQI[~, Soon6~'wh~lcrs were devel(l~d ~n France and Britam wi[h ·an.d 'W,i:mo:ui[:both .rea r s;xl.'es ddvElliln.u: fur milit.a::ry pUl1l000$,dou'IJ:~I}·drive was essenti;1lJ[ to im::roa~t;: i~!L':tiO!JI in soft s.v:aund. The ·com~eJ:{!ial &-w.hecle:rs were Improved by ,iii War Offiee designed, ud pstented OO!'llF bogie ..Tb¢]915 .p~Jtcnt described iii. system uslng two spring!>;one abeveand oae 'below '9. eeatral pivot: :alu.clwd tooeach !)f II.l'u~ two ~~h!lL'li~ds side,
members. The rwe rear axles were shackled between I!]irn set of SIU.llll.g:s :so[ihlll;[ m,ey l'etEl]n!l;dlneir pOfli:~fgn f.~[~tiV'{l o ~ one an !Jib ex. The ~s~~::mwas,aided by radius rods and
lQ\lIeT.1ca:Qlctbe

the requirements for this type ofve:hide a s,peciiicatiull WID is::n:Jied and tlr.ieW.ar Office .fl'ceJy surrendered Its patent 'rigl'n:t:s for rhe WD bogie to mannfacturers con ti:i!lC':oo WI ::);~ll:1PJy~ehkk:'ilfur rhe Army. TbeWD type 6"'~hee[er 'W~ pe[f:ec[edbylhe' .Illld.-1930s. and j!: ",'as again. 'hopto'd dl~'l tilt n1lJimbus requlred ill war might be: provided. in peacetime' lnrou:gil a. su'os.idy 'scheme as in W ~ddW::lf 1. Oneschemc: hadrilllre8idy beentried rOt 4"whee]er~· m~hc 30l.cwt classbi with om}, lim~'l(d sueeese ..A new' iliubs~dy sclreme based 0.1] liIe WD 6~wbeele:r was 1:;''I1eness suc_C-e5sfu]. The indneeJ menrswere :insu:fil:cier.1'l or civilifill uJSeri:,i v":h()~by the 193IIi f could. buy noJDinal3·:mn pElyload 4X21o:r:ries capable O'f taking netldy .LOQ per cent overloads, and. which w~rc both cheapee and. more economical to run than the heavy 'WD
types. The mi~i't~rya~dciviU~Ui req;ut1'cm.en.H; were no longer comp.adlde. This rto.r;pecloe:d the plen for srtand8Xdis! tien on 6x4 'vchichlsoood, acc~Jy[ing rel.uctlUl.tly th.:iI:tfunds would not permit the outright. :pur&.a:se of all the Am1Y~s' needs, the W;ar Offi~e d,cvb~d aMW ]:i[~'n: the 6 x 4lorrk,;s areas by leas soph.i:!'litlc'Bm':dI dvilian-pattern vehicle'S. The ,incre:~I'$mgn~oo fo(!:'mJli)ch~]1i::;:.ad(l[l broughr require·

would be rile SUUl{hH'dfmn'[~lil:le vehicles supported in .real

l:endency iii], ath!i:rdiesigns for a wheel to lift wllu::nmovin; c.i:os~-country, ~~uiE!!g a.less of ddv~ to rh~ w~eel :iij'l:.iUgroundcil!:hrough normal d:i1iere[u::ia.1 ,ac'D:io.n" ][lU':]y verniOIIU',) indu~g retl])~ery vel1iiCliIll~~ had rwin re ar wbe.e18 mel. high pr.~S!:3ure tyres. Th..;MT Adv.i.sory Boord 118ed; ]u;. powers to olga!g;U;ise experimenus joindy wi:th d.\liU:m Industry and 8ILI.o:ng its mQI~ importanlt. ac.h:ie\rieJlmen1i:S,were the low p:[iessure ~fi05S·

m~nts fClr erheeclasses of velncles, light and he::tvy 1:1tiliries 8-C:W1 and ] 5~I!::wt rucks and both 6- and U t O·~~111QITi~~,. l':r~~l~ wePtI:eenducted Of.mBlHY dvililill'l vehides designed 1 meet these new ;spe;cili~ations. Tile r'aiJ't!.r~ crt'the 6 x 4,. [un'~ su.b!iikly ilichemc caused du:War O[fice l:of!:\Ulmine the OOn1l:cmPOl'11I1,}, mass-prodneed v·ehichl5 aVelilable in '~h;~ 3-:l) class. Trials in the 1930s led 1[0 ,Eli new ca:te:gory o:(WD .3.-m 4 %2 truekwhieh, wheafined whh smg]e~low-p:!'!.'S!l~:r(l cross-CO,1!l!:r:IlfY' tyr..(;li1l~~$ deemed suitable for lines of ro!1'!1n'UlllllCatiOn (L ef CjU'WlSpo.n. These vehicles [lEld the .adv3:n:m,ge of: cheapm,::s5:a!od ready ,~1lfaili~illil.Yfrom {;il'!';h::uin piJ:lod.lU!Cllicl[! ,Lines .. :nd w~rejl,]st comi:nginto Army service a WorEd WadI began, This financia! expedic:'n't was lElit.erto be regrcn:ed Dnd mo~~m~nllfac~me:rs wereaskedte ~evd(l 4> x 4 3~uftru!l!erg ye8ir or SJ,''I biter. E".en sothere were' I1ieV'E;r a enough of these m fully~qu.i;p tht;JH~:ld armles \-'1ith propL'ilt
cross-eountryvehlcles.

thepter ,3
~e(overy Vehicles in the Inter-War Period

he better g,f 'che: 'W'orldWar I rocov~:ry "'chide- def;l,gn!l, e~adequate, ro,r atime, to deal withthe quite small lImbers Qf NiT Yebid'G5, PrlID!l;ining inserviee ,intnlJ;l e~r.I.y iOs,. American c.l1ass~ssoon :gave way ID ,Britisb and as the st 6·'i'l'hedt':n were developed WIDe W~rc builr wbh ]gcb~~ sndreeovery equlpmenr, The dummy axle or nbulancel used in World War] was further developed d $om~ were built incorporatlng [ibs, Daring rhis peried (i firnl gantry breakdown bodies appeared. These eenstoo. of a ~rrronlf:g.irder nrunut~ir'![cgtii!!l wi!1:_h ~rgu' bOody ,iI d ~{)okl:ng.like a, set. of reil!i.rOi:'~edI C;S.!.i{'I!PY rails . BeJQw the ~pe-rcross-members of thls SIT.IIJ I:tu:re a lQngjmdil1E1:l ~I' ellm was fined whlch eould be' slid forward for u,:lIJ."emn~, I"Olrudh1,gover dr.ivi_[lg cab, or rearwardste support other vclRelos on suspended tow, Lifting WfL8 bJ" lii]oc.k d-11Icliile er !3! h:ll:nd. -operared winch attached to the end of ,e I beam, ThG:fnutt of the beam could be unshipped E!nd smped '[0 the Hoar oif the vehic::]ewhich raised the rear Il:IIid ove rauf leve], ~nOllrding d;t;,rvic(,l' bl;:" sedas 9, crape. to u r~gi!:!illy~he:&eodles were built on both 30·cwt sad 3~IQin b assls. The de:iign lasted wen into the H)50@:.inArmy nice! a.I1:J~~tnn!YI(]])r.:: modern chassis. The Roy.al N8ivy s: :stIlll1s;mg a ,f;;.B:11try-boo..ied. re~lJve['y vehicle in Pil~6.

FBAX chassis .. MoS'I:Qii:lntry lorzies

RA;OC since the high lift capa'bmO' was essential

were used

men. by me
fO.1r

.A

vehicle t':cDlgme changee, The need forB, h~g~mountinapoim for the I b~m made the g~:i:l'~ry body much h:ighu 'rna:QiiD~ noemal car,go bod:y on the SBme chassis andtbus very diflicuh. to conceal when ini!C,tioiD.

AD m.remative and
lorry was
iii

Less well-knewn

ecntemporary

break-

dOi\1ffi

much sim;pler[y:pe .. Based on the $·'t;}JJldard

C!itgo body c~mmj;)llo the <6 x 4 rn.~e of 3~1:Ol1 t lorries t:h~

basic breakdown ]erl')" had Ell girder crane of lUi'!ed. eight: h bQJ~edlm the veldde d13~r5.is'(hrc!!J!gh[h~fl~OT. ITwas fined
"rJII,litb br;ucing struts iuilie;' rear. of tile vehicleaad

me

m;e

support about 2 1<'2 tons, enOl!gnLO li ftorwlil end ~r:another 3··lQlltmcr.om suspended [ow. A 11at.u::lJ-ope:r,ared j.ih-wm,ch was fined, This: ~tyl.~ I,}f recovery equipment '\va~ sometimes k:nOl'irn~.~:a 'WeaV:E:r crane. T.h~ Wea ... r M[]J['m.f3cmd~~ II.lId e E]lgineermg eo Ltd 'W,~S a 'i.lo'elI,Kno"*n]:l1I,lI]lde:r of gU<lge iSqlU.ip!l!o:;,Q:l..Thes~ bre~kd.owll.1Q(r.des were preducedmainly

eould

u: 3·'[01:1hassis fnr these veh.id~s c

\V!.:ll--r;l,ill QlGsli. cases,

Wl.;IT: UD

tt~d with 5-tcm, winches and were rated in the 1930s as

avybr!!akdo"''1l!~eb'ic:Les. Prcd I],~d(l!=i-·~Q;i'):):l~t[1 3

"ylandR,e:trie'Ver~Cr.m;sky IGL7 and tGL8and Guy

Mom:!' C~~1':\l!1~~rcial.D lype 3rJ c'W.Ig,antry

(;tImH(ti.llWl.l

.tor'l,tJJi!JJ

wrjceIM~,,~·l~r.

tm.;lc~m~g!.j~J

CMssI(!J?fOE '7 .J-tan b:r~a.kJow'igaRiDi

:~r$dar!dramp'tj'(Jr

.r@fl)1

ltltuiii'fg'cr. dW:l;fI'nY m:1.e.

.shQWmg th(l-ifl)

on the Tho:rllyc'roft WO/ACl4~ [he .AJbion \V[)BJailldBY3 andthe Ka;rr.ic-r flM6A:and eK.6 chassis, MOllItwere used by the RAse a:nill".likemosl pIle-war velii.cLes:) 11great .IlLUID.ber was ,I!}:st ·whefJotit~ .t\tmy wa:!> eV.8JClJatoo from FrOlnc.c 1n 1940, It 'Wa$~ however, eheape:r and e$llie'f 11:0 replace limn, therneee ctnIl;p]ex ,g~nl!'.rylorry. In addi:~ion. to genny bodiesliruilt ml the .30-c"i'.rt G,x4 (!hassi~:~ :som;e Qf[h~ RJ\OC workshop tool I,o[:ri'l.'l:;;, the Q:i1 Moms e~tmt!l];er.d8.] D Type ~hii$~i~ were fihed liliIith Hfting !b~OrniS atthe rear, but tbe-se were not such effocti.ve ·l1eco'v'C(['y vch.i.cles.Mving nQ mai:r.l winch .. Biy rheIate ]93'08 only MOl'rhl Commercial were still. b:uildi~g mili.l'<i,ry 30·c;w~

F~f!D l~6T H ~a~y Bri!(lMowtl 'lraclor'l.cirJJ Taskers l'iR]I~rl(m}~ trumi-PO!1t1t u'nilfif '~'")!j Vil'~r! .Ligli!t rlJflJi Mark .ll. r.rg

RAS(;'

3~1Pi 'is:x 4 brea,kd'i1'Wiil .lorr), r~h,o~iIlg .d,ratrr afj,jil

H!"UC1[~n1',

,.!,wD R6T'WWi mbWq.r ~rlMlji'b It! $e{rlf Or.:i,~ance of_ficflr

lmil1i'lg III Jj(JvlngufJl..

6 x4 chassis. The CD and then CDSW superseded the original D Type. One v.ersion (,f the CDSW' was 8i light

SLough
rear
of

The Four '\\l/ned D.rive Autu Go had set up an agency in [0 refu 'Dish, ex-\"(rorld \Var,[ FWDs for s~ie Q;f.1 Ihe

breosldown

lOf[')'.

II:had.

iii 4-tUI:1,

t:hasUsw]nch

ilI.I1Jd d10

cjv:lliall :ma;rke~ ·EIin.d thenprogressed tbjs,

to the manufactun

offhe bod.~· onsisted of eq:uipm~:I1.llockers ..A small A c frame jib Vi<a~ fitl'Cd :U the rear the chassis. Production diese coarlnued well into] W orld War 11.

or

of l"J;CW designs, Eventuallythe fum separated from the parenrcnmpany and, in )927, began. to produce a6"whce~ drive tractor developed from an earlier lorry. The Army adopted this model the R6 T in] 929 ~iilsa gun. 'trac~n;rand beff,'li'Ybreakdown tt~~l(]r 'ii.'.flrrian't or the MOe snnn f follOWed. Both types had 7-'[On winches. In ai161 R6Tf; were buill between 1929 and. 1936. The breakdown vehicle provided the RAOqlE) withthe means of recovering most ofthe A and B vehicles in usc iU the ti:lIIe. Two variants of the FWD r~C:Ql!re:ry vehieles are recorded; onewith <I, crane

consisting; of lUI angled. gi:rder A frame surmounted b a. horizontal j:ib and the oth!eira s.impl.er tubular A frEllme!;,... ith pulley at: the apex •. Early R6Ts were pO'\Ile"l:cd. by Dur.malll engine.s .. By the end of&6T production the Brirish F\VD

company.had been absorbed by A.BC, 'the latter he ;;ring supplied the ItO bhp engine used ..In later vehicles for some
were known as AEC R6Ts .• '\]though it aad 6-wllee:1 d!'i"~(ithe artillery tractor Wi~ bare']y robust enough Ill' cope withthe more heavy VlZo.rldWar I guns then being rnf!d~rliised. Similarly, new tanks Q,I;t the drawing board then. would he too hea,vy .fof [h breakdown tractor. Theee was clearly :!I need for a hl:luv:ic.)'

time. Afterrh'f! tal:ll;)e over

me rractoes

zain, the caslnga for which pivoted nn the ends of the wde

:raCIOil'for both roles by 1936 w,nen tht: last R6T was bulb. ,Me!!srs 'G. Scammell I:l11.d. N ephew beg:l<1G. vehicle: produt.::i~n~ after World Will' I .ntd quiddy established an ~m~able 'reputation in the motor industty for 'soundly :ngiw.e!(:roo and robust veh.icte\,=. The fnm. ·iljpeclal.isedl in ~ea.vJload C'dl'rier~:lo,d. tracrors, prnduclng 6><4 and 6 x 6 .ehicll'is in the 1.920s:l.l1lIli.nly for oilfield work. Fromthis :l'eSig.ll named the Piu!!l'f.~et,lhr~ military vehicles were ~lWclQ:p~d. The maln feature of' this chassis was its niipef.isioh and trensmlsaicn system. A single rear exle irtlve two wheels on each s.icle by means of an enclosed ,gear
j

articulated ll'aIls:pnl'tel:" was purchased. Derails ofthis vcl:i.ilc ,arc given on. page 20. A gUn tractor was later Ie designedand then a jn,L'i\VY breskdowe tractor. These two had a commcn ,~hlilsstS. plJ:'oduC'don versions were fitted ,end with if vertical 1··10:0 ch~:ilsi.~ wlneh. Eai.lier filJiI'l~t'r~had
used
II horizontal

winch. With the recoverytackle

carried

QJ1

me breakdowe tr.B!l:mr !lS "'V;r.l:ic~hapa,dty was ad'r.lqWltc :~o.lr c most recnvery work, but was; 'by .DO mean .. generous when dealing wilb tanks and some of [he h¢av,le:r transport vehicles which WeI',!: to come Into use during Pioneer's long period of service.

we-

1~he ffirlrS[: production

St;::iun:mell breakdown

tm~tolf

Wiiijij

Ulowin,g much greau!r wheel movement than. wou ~d be pcrss,ibLe with a conventional double drive QUglC'. Thefront ,:d4!' attached to a Lrmsvel'SU::leaf spring pivoted at [he was :entre and was positioned by EI honzorual A rram~ with its [P~ under the vehicle's ge ,u:btJiX This ingenious, if , lIDlp1ica.'[eg ~ ~u:t;:J:llgeme[lt ga''''''e the vehicle 3.'(;;WSS-OOU.lilrY performance Ul11XII',a!.A,dedfor its tim!:. The Atmy carried QUI trials will"!3. second-hand Pioneer m sbout !921 and purchased a purpose-designed annoured ~arehlilssisifll1918. After. niah! it seems thaI its wooden mock.-up body was discarded and the vel.lfde con verted to ,.1 n:;akclown Earey. 1:1 remained for many }"ears in this role at. M\l;rEE FamibO!;g,ugh. In 1931.l:he firs'[ Scammell Pioneer

delivered in 1'93-9and was given the model deslgnation SVIS. lis recovery crane censisted of a naIrow./it framl\ of girder eonstructioe wlth iii horiaoetal ! beam jfb atthe top. The iib was held in the horizontal position hy two struts and the wh.ole 8:I..nICUll~ Ielded forwsrd imo the hody well for travcUing. TIlls oV'er-oom:fl,Jeit srrucmre was replaced, after ~bout fifty h:ild been built, by the more common H'!:.rl:ie.M Murf"is ::;]jdin.g jib, the bonnm secEioQ of w:hiG:.hremained fn.,:~d·~nthe body 1';11 an an.f~~luf a.ho1ll35" from hori;>lolllaj. o An extendin g section ,could. be slid au t ic Increase reach and

height fd.rusewhen towing~;u: lifting. A band operated

was

wi.ncll 'WBlS, used for .lifting. Thi$ version of the breakdown

trnCUII;

We SV2S. In both versions ~quipmem was

carried in two timb~{[ [Qcken, one each. side uf the reeovery [ib, Al'llCIi;: underthe righ!:ltail1,d. side '0,[ tbo ,cal, c01lr.ded ;<il:eel tracks v;'hkb. could be .t!ltted, oyer the pl11r(If rear wheels on each :lii~d~W cU.nverr. '[I:!t~ ,"eb.ild~~ff~tivah' inooE! h;dC~tr;il_t:k fur tr'l!:'!i'e:l"'S.ingve:rysoft gI'(11l1I.f1U. Counter.we:]gh'ts. nn 'br.~ek~ !l!:n:..s in from onh~'l'~cl£:;!t!lr :'ie'.!:v~cl o balance I:he load wil;e'n ~ r towm:g -iii vehicle !i.u~pe:nd,edfrom, the jib.
T~tl SC'-a!tlm,~I.~ ~r~~ for

dwir time,

mast'j;j:ve vehicles ~

nearly aile foot wide,[

the [then pezrnirted maxlmnm ~or (:lpmm~rci3L vC'h.iC'lei'l~ 'Weighir1,1,'l ~ppmximEltdy 10 tOIlS and
t1W1l

unladen ..The breB~d(}w:ll tractor and gun tractor 1l]ood. ] 3.50 X 20 '~yre$,.Unu:tu,:dly for [hil's.p·erigd prodnction P~i:l!l'leel's; were' diesel fil:l.gined.. The Ga~]]!:t 61. W W~5 ;a!Jready lI1,';tdl ~tllllibli;8hed engine in (Comme'rdall1se and de9J'~~C,"l :rd:m.ti.vdylnw (lUl'pm a trartSmi5l':llOIn with .!lix its, fQnvardgears ,ena.Med SCl'Inune[lslJ) moveprodigiotlls loads, Abc.r:v,~dli~.r[!d!lamf IWiJde'J: ulDk the vehicle carried <I distinetlve round extension chamber g,i.v.LIl\El: rise to the name !ooffec If,Iot''Scammell" M,O rne'I' .name arising .frOl'n. the use of :a diesel engine was 'the knoeker", By]940 the Matilda lank was cow.imlg ]nl[Oservice wclg[wiAg B.bam 15 Jt!0I1.5 ~ twice the we:igh.l of Vickers Medli.:milSo:f'th~ cEI:dy 19308. The wheeh:dbre~:kdow:n ~l~~~~C'w,a&8It this 'lime! [ogCither 'whll (he- tirs. few tank "tr:aooslX}fiDerS, the cIlIiy l'JliLeIlIII'Sf .rece,verm!!l um:ks oeedliili±g' o more 'LliJJanU5t ill 'row t 00 the s~iu and po,wer of tile uC\w j ~!clI[S were m e'Vt:I'Y Wlly justiJioo. So,me or the ] ,700 Pioneer br,eakde'WIi n:1:i('(QnbUili]'t~vere 1'8.51Jed to the RAP nmd some to other .iEm.pif{: :lnrd~, It contemporary development was, the ABC M.o;m.do.i' wl'nJcl:i!.,~dlEh;ou,gh.aq,op~d.primarily as a gun rrac tOif'J \'!'BlS (0 be ·extensively used in the recovery ro]e millie .Middle Ea,:;]L Th:e M,flrt~dQtwas originplly .:!I dv,iliru:t 4~w'h~il':]t.':dorry in the l .AE.C commercial ranse. An off-shoot of the :British .FWD C,,(l,mprrQ.y ~ Iiard.y .M.u:~or~ w'Elich :had $pccit![i:sed in 'buj~ding t
4"wL'I!ee!~drive eenversioas,
W8.!!:

winches. The' Mat1!dor used 13,50 x 10 CJ'08~H;('llll.try ]:yrl.):~.~ gi.ving it an el{ce'F~em off.;roadpcdorma:nce. This" mgether with the winch, made it· a most su]U!ib~~ vemdc- fo.r liecQv(l!rY'Wprk - S~)m~wha~ Slt.aJn~ely] lilO ,oflicial recovery verslou seems 1i:O h~ve been buih for .Army 'Usc. An ideal me·,nUl of rOO(lV!!l:ry from the _costv:iewpo.ilU was l:h~ duml1"1lYaxle er ambulance. The51~'had appeared d1Ui:rm~ WorM: \War Ma:nd.w~rli: developed in the inter-war pct.iod. One was a 'ililrm,ple bar with, 'asmaU solid t;Yf~dliNin T wheeled bogie on eachside whkh could bcflrted with traeks, Similar bogies were used ;cm.som~transpmn:er traih:::rs;fo·[ mllch~ne gun earriers, seepage ;;n. The more d~lb~lf~t't,:dJl,lI.ITUlly;axl,c with a rib and hB.1'1d. opera.ted winch) mentioned onpElJ:e n 5, was carried 011 l'-yop-nC:1;ull;,!(ic. tyred wheels. Thi8 was, in u:s.e du.ring the 19305 and enabled any g,ulmbLc'mwjng vehicle 1)0 recover B ca:milDty !by suspended
~QW.

!lbsGI,"'he.d by AEC ilog,eccllcr

with the; FWD c~mpanYElll'lid tile 4x 4 M.ilIltad.oi W:iliS built usmg Hardy dr::v¢l(')pb~,c.omponmts., D'espitt;; not being .Bwepted dl.uing miimry cargo vehicle trials, it W35S~lelo:t!l':d inwruooA fot use ,~S .iiI. nra'ClI:or for the 6-i[J:[;:n RDW]'!:zer and 3 .7-inch AA gun. L]l:::e:lse Scammell, mffit AEC i~.:amdors t 1"ver~ ,~i~e] e:!lgin,~d(!jtld were fitted "v:i;[hI' -WIl CbiilSS]~j

Dt.lJl'l:r?!,Y 81ti'e

'Wilh.j.~band lew.rld

r)p~rl?!l!ld

rtL'1",c.ha!i1ic}~·m d

~h(!'

tl1rJ1l' 19JOs.

Cnepter 4 rank Recovery and the First Tank

Irans porte rs

',onku:covery ill W'orJd W8I r has been described in Part 1,. ,;rl)Waj.<S were 'then tile ,only means of carrying tanks OWl Lng distances. In the first few- yGa~ of the .ioh::t-W,!;!if period] !,pjdd,rl;vc[o,pmeLlls wer-e ~aking place' in mot{lr transpurt, arndo:x:i.caUy, as du: size and power of motor :~urrie3 ~rdi;)'pedl tank weights reduced, the' 30-[01.\ heavy u.li.i,ks~I todd 'War I giving way to' !:he 12.IQD Vlckers Mediums. In ~jteof improved steel for track shoes and le!!swc·jgh t, the gber s.peoo:) offered. hy the new designs C!iI!U5ed excesslve ack wear ..For a few 'years instead of looking to motor dustry fur transportees :a ,greal deal. of c:leliigneffcrt wa verted U;) wn~~]-cuI'J.'l-lrac:,k vC'hich:.swhlch used 'Wh,eels I strategic moves, and tracka fur combat. The wheels were :moo. and Iowered mecltElnk~dly !iU1dthe :Il."c5uJtin,g ccmph:x tllngemeoIs ser'!l'eclunly to s,hoW' (bIn an Ideal eolutinn is reJy p:r,::Ictica]., A d~IU ,disad'l.rantargeof'll~.~ whecl...c:w1:l~ !oCk concept wall, that it was o~'no i1el,p. in recovery, A. U1nilO rh a sic~ed engine, for e"":I:rnple) cO'l.ild.not be moved iliolr.1tthe use ef annther vehlcle. Between 192:6.a.nd]93·1 ckcrs ,pJ:oduced varkms wheel-cure-track designs tnelud~a v~arialiltof their current mediumtank. P,eacetimc train:ing took place .0.11. 'Well-defined training

",.pproach marches on cracks these would net.'d lQ' be harder wearing, .A. means of ll],oYmg disabled tanks was still

me

sas m(]<;tlywith mil access ana caused

ff!W

problems

for

Ik transport and recovery as lume;! wl1lis arely a con~ider~ r {l:n.It was elear though that if tankS! were tOI make lO!n.g

needed. In 1919' the RASe acquued a num her nf a rriculated Jow-]oaders, cousisting of ABC 4-whe.e]ed tractcrs, based. un the K. t~,pelorry but fined wiLh c.bru:i1.-dri:ven rear. a~h:s, 'file conversions and semi-trailers were me werk of He Bauly of Lsadou ;Eln:lid were ~:i'J!t,end'ed catry,ing Hclt 81'ul,lery for tra tor'. Tl'l'l! eontempcrary Med),mn C uJl.k was only 7 tons heavier than dl~ :!Holh am:llI:l:ll~S trac(Ol'/semi~ltr.riler combiwu:ion ought to have indicated the iiI!1$werto the preblera of recovering and cru:ryin;g d.iJiiall:dedranKs.!H that time, bewever, Ii tons W;j:s about the maxinnsm thar c!(l'Uildi be carried Oil such a U'Ml.SPOflt'l,l;[". By 1926,ilie'[im,e of me' Generel Strike, it was possible 'to d~:p]O'y SOUleVlckees tam.Ik.s, using oonuJI..crcial rransportera. One was demonstrated lie; W~r O:[fice' smff III sbout this tlme at Chelsea Barracks, In ]'9128one of the ABC lbuly vehieles still in use was l'Cs[ed c8ITyi.ng a Vickers. Medium. Ta •. The teanspnrter W,8IS f(~UDdto be 100 stow ~being lllDde.rpuwci'ed and qU]t,c unsuirable for off-road use. A yeaI;' later a Scammcl] commercial articulated vehicle was tested, again 'Thrrying a V:i.clrersMgdmm" The B-wheel.ed lony' cemprised .~:\OuUd tyrcd illx.2 tracror ~nd II semi-U'a~]er. wi Ell four. suUd tyred wheels lil Line 0[1 two Sl1:d'Hll'd'i;!:S. At that 'tim.e two Sc:nnmeU

semi-trailers were ~1Iiai1ab]e with this wheel. ,ElITllrlgem.en.'[. Onew ..s a low-leader and the oilier a flat-decked '~[8ItfQnn ,It" itratlc:r.Whid1 01 these twowas used is not recorded. The trWs vt:hid.e was: flotcQ:n~ideted iW,;0lI1 but was better than

developments. One 'of fude was the Scammell Pioneer tiillfi~ transporter whichwas under developmen; in this period and the cnher was possibiHty of 'c~:rrying tanks on heavy 6-.wheeled comme rcial lorries, Drawings of Ii much Deller and prgv10mdy unknown design prod.l;J!.ced in the Ordnance WQ'rl~!Jhop 81t Aldersbol if 1928 came to light in 19'94 in the RE.iVffi .Museum. These show IHI. ,s·..... heeled recovery tracrerwith a built-in jib and.
11m

me

I 'heavy mn.ks still in, use had been transported bS C:i.VilaBIl comractors using commercial articulated lew-Ioeders of some 25 tons capacity. The War Office was still mere concemed with the reeovery problem man with strategic movemenr. To save money 'some 'in houoo" ideas were tried out,; tlmswhile modern artieulsted lorries were bei Ilg tested two, wry odd ~QmpcLing designs of t:ilnk recoeerv lfr3!i!ler, taller-made for [be Vick,en; Medium Tank, were built as prutorypes, Both used four LrOClio.nengine type :\ned whec1s' tillite Southem Comm:mdpatte'll1. thetrailer frn.me supponed dlC: weight of me tan~ from beneath while.in the A1dershol raW:Fn a cranked frame over the tank hull supponed a net of steel cables on which the tank was carried. Both d'~!iigns were arehalc, lmpractlcal and even unsafe when moving, DC1iPi~c

lh~a.n.c~ent AEC, By this time evensume cfthe World W,lW

g-wh~eled. transporter

nuiltt of mere eonvcntional

d~igfD., very advanced for irs time, incerporatlng

pneumatic-ryrod wheels. The fact t.ll!:ll it was not produced maywellstem from the 1ikcly cost at fI time of considerablt economi-es in Wllr Ofike budgets, and the concurrent emt::l"g·efice f tbe Sc.ammell Pioneer tractor, There is no o mdi~j'l.[ioll ,,·iilelher 1J1e £lADe drawings were !lokly 8 military design study 'Orif a vehicle manufacturer w:.a!:l ~n\'olvtrl.. Bt"lLn AEC and Gu.y MobU:'l, were fit this lime

devdoping

[his; o11ici8iI reports in 1'9310and

Southern Command pattern \-';'asthe beuer of the lWO migbt h~v"e been UdOPICd but.fartwo more promismg

n)':u S1Jggestlt::dlhM the

The develcpmem of [he Sc..ammgll Pioneer has been described on pElge 17', To l.':arryEanl(8 the tractor was fined

8-wbet:1ed

eI'OS!!

cOl:lr.nuyvohlde:s.

DIId

with ~ lUl.llt~~b[eand :!ii, &:emi-u:aih:J'wh.H s, dcUlCh"bll.'! rear bogie, mounted om four large pncumaric-tyredwneels, OJ one of these vehicies was built, ~tD rUJmb~r R2.2 S09

Sm--I.tr.lflm C07lmW'Ut pcJil!em !~k

rctoWiry lrtJillff, pl~OjogrnplliJ,d

il.1

J""lJf;1 OTUl'ilWl S ;::m~112n-'lM

NC{!very

JPZ9.

DI'Ggmi trrtilit:')! !T:u.cmr, rimilQl]r

f!~hidt.

fpnk !l'mM"j;'vrUr c(;Ittjling (J, iW',,'!iiWfl. lQ! one l{1j~n1lI).(/ificd ~ .~ tanR

cillilifln rcgistnniOIl MV5364). Delivered

mogrl!lph,ed innumerous

n was ope.r8ited bythe RAO"~ p~ifiCELlly as a h;oovery vehicle ~c)r"lJ!S~ when tanks er
nglmd in the m:i.d-193Ds.
inc:hprovldcd a
l:milE1x ~t;;Ic~'edvehicles eeuld
m.~[ll'l8 00',

in 1931~it was sima.ta.cl.f.I£i·UtrulJghm,Jlt I5Qutbem

be rewed,

The I rae tor's

hat is fbr .r~moving iiI:r:Ld_ rf'pJ~cing the re"r bogi,c. IJt\-.ing~h~ Lln,;!aO:pe:r.8ited, j Sicks was atedleu s busines«, l'his first' liDUem tank trl:lins:por[~r t;.pc:m.. 101 of itstime asa u,,:~iJ.1l.ing Ie.rucle for' O[dr:!oitt~ Corps o,fficer~ and mechanic'S. Aspiild qfthe rot:::iirllu'tmCfilprognuIlme h'l1931 Scammeljs
C:l'e eskedto

em, with minimum ~ffQrt0[1 the part -af the crew, except

of 't:msrric:.king' vehicles and I.(}ad~ng

~o]id wre:d wheels, Each bog.ie!:olJ1lldbe fitted witlllr8:t::Ks if r1X]tllred. Otiher trailees were designed by the WaD' Offic~ D~~ig.l1 DC]'liiil.'rltll!:',r.1l ~ 1.~~ldudj:llg 8~wlice.IeJ" using four. one bogie i'ik!iiim.i.larIeones on the ¥wfleelled ti;raik:r . .Anolh!!l:r does:ign·'Widcl.y tested !",,'O1$l.. ,·wh~d{:dlraill~rwrLh ;2 a..low [1'00["1.-.(1 1.l.8Jck.waybetween the two wl[e'spoked witn.eds. L:<.m:::r:! i more robust ve~io.!] was ppJclu~oo. by Taskers ee ~ 3 \'W~rOfiict des.igo.:1'tld featured Ii 2>wheeled bogie on each rude looking rather like the chassis of present-day horne bOiX
trailers,

produceaau pdau:d~ra[l$pQ1"ter, The illirsi irudor ehassis forthe

I!tllctOr

ghl of these useda longer wheel-base version of 'l he

bur still used the g·m,[Jsemi -trailer wHh d~ti'!c.hable rear bogie. The need fThr better semi-trailer was soon recognitled and ~he second esign of 20-u:rnner, HJ~:c; 30\.[jotlllcl' " iucorpoultl:d II fi.,'(cd ahe bogi{l. Trials.of a Leyland Hippo 6X4Jo,rry l~ok p]OIce over $'omt: ars fr(lm ] 9$, I and, while its use us. J.l. tank U:'lI1ili:-iipOner SOOIl undered a,SI!..aI1k,s heavier than the Vickers Meci[lIm were s.ignfd~ it W3IS lob(\co!Ji!1I! the Anny~sfiirst heavy carglJ
g-U'"f1 ir.ry.

ShoinJy before WmldWi\l:r U Mes!Sr.'l Cranes ofDereham Ltd he-Clune inv·o.lved in the design of Hai'len fer the carril3Jgll of~igb~~ tr~~k,l..,-d\(f!h~de::;, One 5-l:On ,ciilpacity desi·;n
pro.duoed in SmilU nnmbers from 1937 fcQUl.tDd iI s,ingJe rubulaemainframe wwhkh weremmchecllwo ,rear.cross members, eaeh snpponing rwe-stuh ,:ii:l:!l~:s 11ELd :11 '(O'~a.I of e~gh[ smallwheels. The sl.e~.r.abl!i:urntable 01 the from t ca:tj'.[.ed.tWO larger wheels. 1"1.\'.1:i1rc;l.ckw~ysfgt the trans[ ported vehlcle rested on three cross members ov~r. the pQ.~(.,_typ~cbo:.'iisis. TW~J demd1!!ble loading ramps were cerned, The suspension of the [leis.of rear wh,c~j:;;o~ each 'Side ef the tnrile.!: WliL!! interconnected so that a]] wlleds, rc.:ma:i:m::cl Q'.i1I !!IH: gr(lIJi.i:ld U\'cr rough country, preye[[[illg ovede~dillig of meryre:il.Th..is design led '[0 ;,li:I'iJ lmproved lypi:: prod uced during 1938. i:nil i.. fOf the Indian Army. It. fearuees longer trackways and six wheels only with

lancer

The Carder; and V~cke.rs ligiu m,nk:;;HId :m(!dline-gl!]1J1 IT.ie15, ;J:nd 'Other light tracked vehicles developed by the en COJone'.1Giffar<l M ..rtel, all needed transporters for t'lg moves, The Carden Loyd Com_pRny offered its ~lW!l aller design. with asmall bngie on each &idclllted with two

ny

]O. 50. X ] 3 tyres and \\"'3.8nEt~cl ar 7 Yl'I!IJJ11S capacity,. Abom ] ~800 had been built by the end. of the war .
Some

of !:h~'\Vor]d W:a!l'"m' h~.vy [,fink:;; with ~~lv:ilgegear.

·onnnued in us-c for a, time ~le sr that war and for the next '[wenty yeaes the problem of tank recovery, 0[, more precisdy, what eqlLlipment it required, was to exercise mmds in tnt: Waf" Office, lhc RTC :and RAOC. Tracked vehicles Wi:!f.e still seen as [he best means of reeoVering t;ln'liks '[0 a point where tbey n.lIi~b[be rep.S!ired or '1l'8iI1S,ported to 'Workshops. One scheme W8iS to convert ::Fl!:Irvi:vin,g j ust post- World W'a;r. J M~di\!lmC tanks. but this fell through. A[lolher idea, apparently tried useda modified ~ MecljlUm Dragon' 11 eked artillery tractor, A Ransomes and] Rapier crane \\"a.S :f]u)edand ahand-operated winch bur r~po:n~ of lts trials were somewhat n.ega'Livc and no ,ene'rgy seems to have been applh:d to solving the apparently minor diflll,t;;u!· tle:s,described. His doubtful whl!l'he:r funds would have bee u granted IlIJlYWiJJ! for rIl'[;W dragons for this :roJe. The 'vehicle was unarmoured so would have give-n no p:ro~ec'rril::u]J
j

gun tanks- as possible: "aml even if designs lu,d. existed: it is doubtful if tank hulls would have b.~!!nm\lae availa Me then for non-comber use, Many eofthe ·rri..ls of commercial load -ca:.rr:"ing vehicles fo~ ca_rryj'ng ulf.lks dUf.iug the inter-war years were :,limed ~( pJ'OVll'lg their sWlltbil.:i'cy for impressment in thee'l,1ent of war. Th~Wa[ Office ssw ]10 reason W' invest in large Dum bers of vehicles to . it in stores :.l'i.-'l!lltlng the possibility of mdb;iJ~s.~ti.onwhen they might. C1l:sily be obtained when
needed, As early as 1\12'8Brirlsh manufacrurers.had

to its crew. In the 19-.30sd. R TC company en [he N m:tbWcsl Frontier of India did cnnverta Vickera I ighD. '[;1]']1<: 1n<to form of a ARV but linle Is JtJruown ShOUl it. ADO'I:i1er scheme wot!lcl. have CODVI rted the Anny"s-lh:rec "6~lOD. .i,ck,ers.Medium V Mark UI tanks Itorecovery vehid,e!J, but instead, one at leasl

prJ)d-ucc.-d vehicles eapable of clu"ryio& en ,mads allc01s,~,OUl: tanks lhe ArlDiY migh.'l con\''eivaibl~' evc-r acquire. In that yea Scammell:!! ,~ld.vcl"lis-ed an articulated low [-o.l:IJd ca:pa ble of er carrying.1.5 tons sad ,E1 year larer bull l ~h,eir:liri'i'l 1OO~m.n Cilpacity articulated ,low kmder. Alse In.1918. the Eagle ,Eng;ine-crm.g Company Ltd. produced. irs first 10.- to 5.Q·'~o~ 6-""l:leeled full ~l':',EIoil'er. hese v'I;lhkJc!l,would have been SJOVi T moving, but by (he' outbreak ofl(1orld. War II British commercial g,·wheeled lorries 1,VgF(': capable of carrying 18.[~

20 tons all:up to 30 mp.h in favourable circumstances. a!lhoush limited by law tn US It-nus 3'[ 20 mph. Many of these1930s- commercial rigid lorries and tractors wirh lr.a:ile:rs. semi-trailer were 'to b~ used dmrng the wsr, on or finis~1< dirs daya as II recovery training bulk at Bovll1gton. Once rea:rmame:Il'[ be;.an the n1!s'll WB5 on to provide ~:S:I:r!-<Q:I=lY hire to the War Office ul:' lvtOS for moving tElnka of up (Q 4{1 tons in wcjght 0[1 J3'rir..'il 's :roads, in Occasions arise when wheeled vehicles meoo. to be. transported. 1111 the e.ar.!y 1930s-ili.e\Va:r Officetook deLi,,,·er of.a 3-ton capacity low-loading Jon-y dJ£Si.gnt::d. tor this

purpose by Garner MQtors. It used a 4-wheeled chassis, a'\ltl.i.labl,ecommercially for municipal vehicles ~l.nd was fitte wiuh small pneumatic tyred wheels, twin In the r-ear. Its from axle was M:{ bsdk under the rear ohh~ cab gi 'i'ing ~ good weight distribmion and a layout which stilllooks quit
:lrnmdc:m. A

hand 'winl::h, WM

U8t"Ci

for

Lo.m.dillg 'dead' v,ehi'c:I,~

.Le_y]and M,otor!il, used. at least l'i.\'O v@!rimnu of their pre-!,I;'l designed Octopus. Sx4rigid lorry during World W:u II with an extrarear axJe p.rohl;libly unpowered that is, a [Ox and an exrra wide body (or tank carrying, It is beli~"'cd! these were omly used for delivering tanks buill by the: compaay.

The Secon'd World War

Part 3

Chapter 1

'The Outbreak of War: The, Carnpalqn in 'F .' ',.' an B···I·· ..' anc II-t· L······ .. '~ -ran'ce md se qiurn nd ~s eqacies
BriUtin' .. rearmament in the 1930. responded :[0 a recognised threat from a rearming Germany, hC'!.1~tthe emphasis on defensive equipmern, Bruain mild.France had entered into a Ueaty (.0 defl,:.nd Poland ifh were attacked, Ge-fIl.i1illI~r b:illIOemoastrsted its exp"i(uio:[lis[ plans hy annexing d Austriiil followed b)' pan of Czechoslovakia, lh~ luuer 'P,rolil'oki.ml;the [ourney 01 Mr 'Ch:ambel'la;in, IlbeB:rilish Prime l\Hfilster, to Municb in 1935. He returned h,3iving I,1.lcgollilted a r: 'CC~S.gVi11gscttlc.ooC'f.U which effectlvely gave way to AdDlE Hider" but the rnllitary slmatian in Britain. d!iC!.lrII. with rearmament only iust under 'W:iIIY ~ :reSiUy gave the: 'Prime Minis.LCr Jinle (;huiice. Hitler indicate.d that Germany was now sati:s,fie.d hut few in nri~aiL'l.despite passionare hoiP~ and a loathing for WlU, ~:ptcted til r.J.~ peace could be maim.. In !..heevent of a War Bdtain had a.greed tu send to France an ~['IC'dHjO'na:ry force w:hi!.!bwould ,C mprise, as in W'or[d Wat I~ the handful of Re-gular Anu.y divis:io1l!il..1]01 required to ~(Xlljc)e Empjre~. 1h~ T.J\. would form a the foUow=1ll]pelemeat fOT the R~gullll.r8. The I :' TA infamry divi.sions were, theoretically ~ organised just asthe sa regu.lar ones, Bifid entirely dependent OJ] motor transport, btl t during a period. when Regular Army raodernisetlon was eXp!!i~t,tdto raketiH 1940., equipmcnr Of [he TAwas woefully inadequate: then In the 'Municb' crisis. Icwas decided 11.1 duuble the sue' 'Of the TA [00 26 divfsions. This ~Ilm.lkcof the pen" ca,!Jt'i~dun.b.ttagillab1e 1Dgislic pF(l blEm~. hfunpowe:r was itr.tilabJc but pr,edQu~ HuJc elst'. The A:IlllY's M"r s.trengfh 'bad Increased sisfold between ],936 and 19 319''b'U'~ thls still Iell short of the R.eguJ.~i.[ .rmy':s A Deed s, F~cl!lclwhit [he. T A expan siop, Further orders were placed for new vehictes from manufacturecs including those. in Canada, but the short-term answer had to be impresstbougjn suspect by some, quickly came [Q Britain's aid. Tt more dos-cly eentrolled Empire CO'UIlitries !ilULh as India. arlc the smaller celenies perharpl!! inevitabLy J offered support. Whilst this prO\'id.ed a huge ;PlJtenl.i~j reservoir of manpower few of the countries WCK sufficiently .industrialised m l"lqU:ip armies with.out help from .Brinn-n, hElm p'l~i:'iSed

then to' equip its own.

Alter M.r Wins'mn Churchill succeeded Mr Nevj"J]c Ch,lIulOerla1n as Prime- Ailw:ster the eppositlon parties joined in. 1:'1 ~NEltio!l.a1 Gov·eTnJJ].eIU~ So thou d:IJ;~ proseclJdon
the WUl: mighllake prec~d(;.Ilce cv:er part comicitlf,ati.ons. The new leader h~d laueched the- hrndshiv proiecrwhea Fi~t Lord of rhe Admiralty .in \\tro,-rld War J and ~Ot.lt.illll&
Y

moo .

take iii, Jivcly Imeresr in mi[iulI:}' equipment, As the REF moved '[n France Elndlook up positiuns .In 11 North nearthe B!;;!I,gian border, France mablllsed its large! ~il.rlil.ntryarmy find trusted Ii) the ~l:ren~tb of in; fixed
W

defence, the Magino( Line, ciespjJC"the fact th~.t this was iI t h.c time inoomplete" Ga'ps in the line included the Ardenn

area which. was left poorl " guarded since [he terrain was con1ilideretllul15uitabk: for armoured forces. a deeislea oftl French High Conunand that was 'C{'I pruve disasucus. For sbe months there was relatively [iu.l~ actlon and fear
f instant ae:riliilbombardment

mwt. The.aistin;gpb.ll~

deering a selected ~ of gOQd cr.md:ition cargo vel! ides equ.t1Ung (0 accepted A.rmy 'I,l'cblde load CBijpaici'lies: instead, froIl.!1 Sepeember 19'39.. there came imo military use a huge varieqr of vehlde.s· by size, age and manu facture wllli:h represented a lQgi!;l'~kni.ghtmare" By Febru.ru:y 1940 some 3·5~OOOV'-ehL les had been commandeered. The pr-ovis.iO'.Dof spec.i.al..i:st vehicles such as recovery tracrors was, Ics''iIeasy but some' c~'ll.ian eqllivil]~nt.s, were requi'Sitionoo" Wb~lllhe W,IU bcpn "he inde_pend.1enlly g'ov'r::mcd counrides gflh,e ,Emp·jr.e had all followed Brit=in's deelaration of war on Germany, Even South. M[ica~ whose ]oyalry w"U~

or

were scrapped for the cemman-

and massed rank assaults o:n till,,! allied armies all sub s.i ded , Thls resp,iue enabled factories ill [.he UK tn P-MUCC {;ol1s:ide:n'b~e nnmbers of vehicl ... and so 'Some of the less s suit .. bk Impressed transport was replaced, Production of i t:o.l!1ks speci:d.i::>l. vehicles and weapons involved more compJe~ .i..ndustrii!!il processes ~Ild so :Iagged 'behind. Many the new TA divisions sent to France were, for this reason. little more than I:1citle.... armed labour farce, DespitiO!!this, wh~lI the G-ermans eventuelly attacked in the spring of 19 throup 'Ihe Ardelllles, haying fi:r5t lured the BrlLi;:;h Arm; and some French forces north i.ow Belgium, these Illequipped T A dlvision!!; were scon in rhc front line and 5urr~recl accordingly, The Germsn 'bllirzkriog:' or llgluniD war was fil.bly demonstrared in 11 drive to Lhe French t:O:iiS'[ which was ItO isolare all Lllefm:-oel4 to the north. The only hk· up in the plan was when the one nrili&h A.n-ni' tank brigade in France, iI small fo.rm;~tiong,f M.\l,lJ]da iIlfa.f'I.try '[1il1lJ&~~~ boughl time :in a coumer-anack near Arras and caused 89mi': alarm Q the: German High Cemmaad. The mVl.dne-ri!lhUi:ty ofuhe::;e tanks to nO.rn1911 anri.·tank weaptl'r. was soon ended. by me bigh VeJOcily 8.8mm PiA gnas u~cl
j

of cities, polson gu attacks

~o.rtile :li.fSit tim1;l~g~ini!i[ tanks, i\$ the German advance began Bl"hOlilil hm~uhi' dispatched ~o France the !s'1Antlourtd Divisice, Ill-equipped, ~dy !TRilled and wirheut mest of hs supporting Arms. it went JUD action Lm:mediately on arrival and was dt't~i:mi!lted ..None Jf the a.lliedarrmies:l BrJiLish t French or Bc::lgian was abl.c[o:l:' .ullg towi[h~;tmd the German ensJ,mght.. In geIIIC'l'Dl d'u::y ,'i'e~eall fnslJffi.d.{\ndy ltE!linted::.led or fq1J.li:ipped.fora modern ,'lIIrof movement. This, for B:ri,taiu; w~~inexcusable after rlLthe U'.iais f}:f mebile forces which had lQkcn p]1I01;:. in 'the ~208 and 1930s andwlth the- country's earHev l,eB"lIin t:iil.lk ~i;l:!iign. . B'liRed on itsexpC:'.l'1eOJ;;:e']11 the Spanish Civil W,~r, • ;jer.marry used Its i1Ilready ~,~ge[J:cl.~u)' AtmyIA.:i:rforucoope:r:il~n 1.\1 br~k up m!'llnya]lied fOiITiliU:io;ns which 80f')J1 became Jisorg1llnlsed as [hey '>l.'i~hdf~ to [he coast. The rescue ni;;~i{Ji[J from Dunkirk brclUgh!: om near.l)\' 400.000 troops
DIll virtually all their v~hid!:5; heavyweapons

pt:npd ti!m:ksblooded in this campaign did littlebur dCW9,llSilT~~~th~:irl1l;';ft(-c~iveaess Ulid tmn::liabiLiry;. pru~ l
ducts as they We're m:hasty andunderfunded and, iLl-dermed o:penl'tiomd pnilosO'phy, d;eveJ.o'pmen1i:
SOO!l1L after the CV'E1CliJJ8.t10n France sued for peace and. W;['L3 partitioned ~ the north being~It:c;:tJ];:!:IIl>cl by Giilrm:;Lfifl1irc(,:$ whi[,~[h:~ south remained undcrGermaa dom.i.oaLion" (',:Q,DtrQlIecl by a pr{HJerm:;m govc:mlllent led by Man;hioVl }li,eti1lil1 in the old (own pf Vichy, Add.il1g lnsult [0 i.nj.'Il:ry JUS I as Franee was am the pomt of surrender ba]y declared war on the allies and! anacked southern France, Moore abt:mii1i.g to Br..il8ID was tb!! :llim8lti(}['l in .Africa where large' ][tt1.li.:anforces in the colonies ofLibya.j Ethi,g,p,iOl.!3!nd SomalH!i.nd tllre".ne.f.I.ed. B:riti~h: pO!,!,\l~ssio]ls and the Suez Cana], Adding to t11.e .gl1I,vit}, of to is SitllM1!IUQIl W1l8 the l~u~ge and modern Italian lIi!lLVY w'hj.c:~b -persed: athreat to Mru:t;a.and
I

me.ntWere abaeidoned ..much stilt intact. ute German use. Teehnieal support (0 l:he REF had remained disjollItOO. :u~ in :part to tne pre"'wBf or:!:!;]jlI:s~tion., wHh r1\;pl}]r r.ldesmeil distributed among many eorps.and regjmc·n~~. tlnrli;gh the RAOC toOk. m3]')jy moibi~el;1t(li,[k:shopJ'l [:0 ':I1I!I:lCC and $1;;11;1]]it base Q[gau]&3ltiou lilidstati;t:: wl,);,rksbops iany tTl' irs hastily recrulted men had little experience of lltary equipment, even tholiJJghmosl: were fi[rea:dy !lki]]ca adesmen, The dilutien nf tile T A resulted jIll extr-eme Illlrr:~gL\lS w~lrk..,b[)p and remvery equipment, P'oll!'n~i~] of 11prrovemefllu;iIl the ergan-i9Pli(m were soon identified and e::first jnd~p~:ncli;n t recovery units were esrablisaed, In Februa:ry 1940 the \V!i[ Office setup iii Tank .Repe~r d Rli:cuvc:zy Cumminee: whose chairmen was tbe Direc::tnr f Ordnance Services (Eilgillie~Iing) (OOS{E)) ..The vital. II.porrtanceof the iogistlcsupPOtt Cor itlitecn:ilnised annres 2iJ:.l ~t blst being reeognieed. The 'Cilmm.iul;c was Ito l1,festigate the need Iorrt:oovery equipment and to set up.;)) i;i~:illinill:. The pr'eci:pjIo11s departure fr:IJm France and the uneentratien on an.ti·jmr'lils'loll, meaenres wh1,c:h fol.low!::d iil'(1;; to ddOlY this preiect, The Regular divl5<iO',os ;jlf.ld1:.U!1kbrigadi;s;:In:d tb~kw asonB:b1r'Wif::Uequip'poo TA ilivIsio[ui1l1ild,. between (bern" ken ttl France and.le-ft thJ;!!'"emC' bulk of~b,'i,; Army'~ oo'l!e'r.y vehicles. These.Includedthefirst Iew production 8JmmeU 20~tQntankrmn:spoiter.s and :heavy breBikdowl'l "dC!:U[i'j" ~Jm.1;;i the !!!l1rv:i.v.ing AECR6T breakdown of f1':ies~ nndreds 0[3':[0:1.1 g8IIITry lorries and RASe breakh wn ]orrleSElIld. 50fflt': 30·cwt MOl'ri~ Commercials, In dlrion, m81JiY effhe new Cranes Hght recovery uaners and
meearllerTaekers tr.aii~r::;; pli!J;iiia numbe'r of imp:re~soo

.and equipMo~f>then passed t

uU1}llJIghth:e ~kditea·,ml'le:an. In Brlt;JJin the re·eq'U;ippi~fot 'Home Defence' 0:£ rhe returned BEFand_ those new ~fOm:le:r TA~ d]:v:isioo'Swhich had remained in the' UK now became vital. Of the many pri'l!:ri.lics th~caSl~st tomeet was the resroretion of mobility to lhe .Army. Shill -working in, the 'Illoto![ indl.stry~despire
[0 p8£s.ajJ,e

the setbacks o.f e:m.'m·Y air raidsEind the l[1~'S rnmf,l[lWCr ~o yf the armed furc:cst gradually replaced lost uanspon but the Short le.rm aJlsw~]' was antnh'!!f round! of impfe$sm.c::n[ and
local purchasing of vehicles .. M~Uly buses were acquired
Ill:

this time

3S

v(ihjclcs was hampered by; the lack of standardisation

troop ~tansJmrls.

The nre~ofpt{ld:uA;:tiOti of neW

between mannfacmrers, Even lti:lCl imr;::IIUQW\i;d the design r Qf ~la!ld:trd. !;}'pes [0 be bulllby differ..entfu:msll:lls would have been clifficul t to all:hieve in the face eemmeeeisl rivIDllry and tr~di'LlOQS ev,c:tl in wartime. There WlllRf.IIO shorn-term answer. Ito the slow nne of p.roduc[lon oh[lIJik:iJ. and :s~ec:ialvehicles suchas tank transperters and recovery vd.lid~~. Heror·e the w~upl"e'p~l'atorywork had begu Il. to enabk the

ur

Canadian motor iodusuyrru build roili.tary whidcs;~ ,~r.1LiCu..Lar.ly trucks whhm the B,riti:sh Army load: cap::liclty classes ~:rJ;d'wi~h ~i;'lflilin eOm:m.Qn features .imc:h.ullfig body st'yJes tm.d lyre sizes. Working d!Jsdy with rbeCanadian Defence Dep:artm!';lEl~'~. motor tlnns produced drt:~gns ~Ilr.;l.range uf militarytrucks 'will,ell were to be built joiIll]y by the local branches oifFord Oln,cl Gi;lI:u,;T<l!l Motors, Tbcey diff~tt-d mai:ll.l.y [n the englnes.and rransmlaalon bur. were offil]mos.t i.deul]cru

slze ailid a:prp('''af8Jlce.They became knewuasthe

FOlIdrl]]d

Chevrol~~ ·Can·a:dian MJlh:u'y Pattern' (CrrlP) veh:k~es."Also ~n 1939' the '\\i'ar Offic·e scm III Purc.hasin,g Commiss]onw[~te USA la see what suitable vehicles and ~quipm.e!]J Tn ight he .. .".~:aU1lJbLa. Ftiillit1L:ee placed orders Ie US trucks but the 100

Vil.ifi:fi recovery vebicles;and Iraik:r:~ we.re lost. The :finotUS ;ck;i:nd Whi'lilfl hntit!!ii bad b~enf(l(;:eoivoo ~llJdCon, v·r;:ned tQ k HllDsponell's before tlI.e el'ld. of me ,Cam,l;i!ildgn imd some part8 suggest (luu a. few h~d been :issued '~,uBEF ullin;;:. h~ir fauds not known.. On,e ScammeU b1'c~kdowTl.tra~R_or Jpn.u:l:d by dlie Germillilltl at [hitl~ime wa:s :recaptu,red ,llIboY,[
nlc yealrs hner.in N cwl:b Afrjc~. M:w.y of tntre8l1ir1.amenil:

exporn:. of other 'kQrJ]l ..e <\!~:ore~ :a3 b-<1.n'~d by US fm-eigin W pulk:y, .llrit:llrn s.oug1u vehid!es buiJlm B.ri:tish spe(!mC~njocfls
butt USfir:I:1'ils were rclU.ctllil1~ to ,~m::Ib:;Jifkn:Sllc:h lOoni:rac(s o wl!:icb in ::all.)' ·c:noe might ne''!ICf be :needec] if,:lIS soO'n :see.lll~d

~ilAA:llYl th~ G~mllIDr; .Lmuld win .. l~the de-g~:Ii.,:r,i;l:oo s Si:[!l.1!OlJirm aft'er r11e faU of Franc!;! B,r:it...in~QQk UJl OUt3:laod'mgf.'!:'e'Jldl rnn~:rol!;ctsnd bappily I'urc:h~e:d. off·the~shelf ~hi,des ~l!iL I~bt: a rush to !"e-equip. The IODg,·[erm 1'Iim gf b'Ul.ying S,pOCi~l~]Y

d~igltlf~d vehicles 'W,;jS~however ,pursued. At abeut Lhis 'Iin'H~ci¥iliarl. ,pa:rrerrJ, OattllliWfiI:Il trucks were suppli,ed, to cover

'I1u: dieJays "While CMF vchide

pJ.lm:iuc1:ion gu' under way. A!i

C!lI.nada. fiD[ troeps to reinforce Britain, the output of [be S Canadian factories b,ad iIlitiaU~r '1.'0 be spread more i:.binh'.

Re~nforcillg the .J\II.iddleEast just whelmBrltsin i.meU WIUii ti"lreat,em:d with inv3-'5l.o[l!l-VIMl an llP ..Jodtl,n;Ue rtecC':j~ ~yand plili!dQt'l$stocks of tanks, were sent there U) enable me' .Middle EasE ~"t.QhileDivisiollto be modernised This
rO'f!tl:l:1tion was ito become the 7th Amtonr,ed Division and .formed. the backbcne of the ·\XlI;lSl~r.f!DC'~el~: OJ'L~which F

abou'[ a year iI]mus,"tall the Churchill tanks produced remained in. Britain and ai;:ces8i'b]t 11l [he m~nu1'actlllel!', 'II 'power tim vehic If;:': Va'l.luaJ] Molnfs., assisted by some experts from. >General Motots, tbe!lT<lfe<tn cO!Ilpa~ry, d,(i~ signed EI ho:rillonl;ll U..cyllnde:r engine coll:Sistiny essential! of two &-cyJ..i:nder ,engine blocks 0[1 ,either side ,of a camm.q:r
This illustrates the: difficrdties faced by Britisb W,lm.t oCisu;ffici.endy- po\verful. engines . Ev'cn ' his exped.i{:ll[ resulted in a severely underpowered vehicle capable of little more than 1. 5 mph. In :h~cam.btU :l'ole a'ccornpnnying mf.lll'l.try thls may haee been adequate erankcase.

[iln:k. desigL'l.'ers ior

would become

d,ecr,easin!1'; probnbUi:ty. A pasrnodlc ~O:n1IillUllltiO.ll of meaerial 'hlitz' became II ,greater dall,g·er lilt home a"fc'e!rhe t centre of land o'pl.;:!a:tio!i1S, hadmcved to the MiddJ.e East snd
Africa.

The Battle of Brltain severely discouraged GermallY from irs Opemtion SEALIo.N, :'i.inc'c., w.ill.lOUl . Ir superiority and with the lloyal Navy La:rg,ely intact, such B venturewas 100 d.&ky. Genom)" havin;g 5;b:llu:edf'g~and wid) RY8sia~ arracked the USSR, In erstwhile treaty partner, in. JtmJc [94L .For Brualn tile threat of invasion still remained but with

'me g.th Army.

but approach move'S on tlLa,ck~were PO,"d~TO!'u~!1-iW~e the speed of a mixed force W;J:S g("ftJccito the slowest vehicle, De$,:rit~ some ruJIJ,!Irbacks the thick armour and ronsequ.enl weight of the Ch.urddU were tomake it ~ very s'Ili:E(l'b1e basi for 'lari()UiS is:pl?cial ;;'i]jfi.our,ed vehicJ€S 'wMeh WeI!: te be
developed later. At thistime a mrmber of vehicle manufacturers were asked ttl produce designs for 4~whee:l drive lorries in Lh~ 30-cwt and 3~10n c;::las~~in r-ecagni tlon of the perfo.rm:llnce ~tmi!;atiollS of. 2-wl1,fel dri.ve vehicles. Some new 4 >:4 vehicles. were lBter built withchllssis winches givingrrhem useful light recovery pm:elrltlal. In the d'esign ofreoo"liery vehicles there was little signill.cil~l't progres;s: bm.amQllg [be imponam devel,opmen W!l.J!l, tbeflrst plI.'oducrioiDvcrsio:n of the SralmmcU3()I.'!ion t~ rransporter, followed later by an. improved 20;1IOn version, The dm~~w.asdnl!l:remm'abl'e semi-trailee wheels were replaced on. the 20-wWler by sm.a:Uer diameter wheels under [he h.uriton;ud bed olthe semi-traller, This resulted ina ressonably low and stable veh ide. The 3tMo.fillf:f' had 8. .steeply 8Doping semi-traller whilc:h w.heIli. Enden. with rhe W AmedcaD nmks which it way Id carry III t'er In [h~ war. cow

The War OffliC·_tricd. in the midst uf iu 1n1l11Y other preoccnpatiees to ana]yse the lessons ofthe CBw(X'Iign in If.nmce. The r,e]]j)nc:e on railways far tbe movement .of military fOlmatio[l:!l!llld es:pe:c:i::dly for tank movement had been a ~ave mistake inthe face of enemyair superiority ~ espedlill:y ~ittoe Eu:ropr: had a gm1d .road ~nelwfirfto:.. Fewof 'th~ quite logical conclusions, drawn fl'O.m. these studies were to hll,ve wtJlcn rele.vance in N ~1I:'th and. East AfrjCi!!,. The pre-war designed Infamry tanks Mad!;s n and ill, A1atildH and V.ah:n ine respecti "'ely were ;in ,p:r-oductionlly J '940 bu...tonly the forme:r ll~d been rested In battle. Matilc.ia was the be toolL"rmoured a and yet p'l'ov",d '1fldnl".!:r.abl~ ~l"l Jargr;:r bigb ~~odt' weapons;. 1J1g.e8Un~ 'iiiomel11lng w~tbeven & thicker armourwas necessary, Alii pan ·o:ft.h.~ extension of tilink prodlu(tio:l1:~11firms pre-",~iOU$ty in other ensill~eriug fiitlds, the sldpbuil!den Ha.rland and Wolff had produced a. pno~ medel gf a new heavy tank, '~he Al0,in COI:dy 1940. h "'!"IS ess;ernd;ally ~ r1;iIln.emem of me bas.i.cWodd'W ar I heavy tank shape bat with. rnrrer-meunted main armameru, and
j

easiLy foull,ow br.idgt.."'S ..The rear wheelson the tucto:r wer BUti"!!.'w.itb.15.00 :-: ,20 tYI;CS. The front wh'(;)l!ls and the trailer wheels used 13.50 X 2(}ttyre::;, Not Illany years
beforduUld the prospect of carrying 3D-ton loads (j,n

Ime'umo'tic: lyres would hil.'''·(ibean ridiculed. Bolh types or[

transperter had binged real' ramps and were intended S~d.fiCll.IJy 81&. tank recovery vehicles, there being 5ti.U no War Office I."equ~f-em.ent for the strategic movement oftaa by·!;'oad. Thiiswas s.eon to change. Another Scammell

VI'~S mmncled
W8!r

for .;]I slmilar role S.L10uJd another continencsl prove W be as sl!i!'~icas 'tile previous 011'1;:. In the crisis

.w;Uo·wing '[he: Dnnkirk tt'l..~ellJaJjon, Vanshall Motors ltoOQ.k 0"(':[ the A10 project and") based on in; geneml.s.ha,pe.
des.icned and pJannoo, the produerian 0:[ Infantry Ta.nk l\illk IV:; the Churcllill. With the dire sitwnion in Britain in
,eg['&f.!&iv'C

L940 i'. ord~d !Offlh~ dj'~WiIig beard", that Is, wl thO'll'!.. "W~$ pm"lc!l:ype testing, Illiel!l'irab~y ~t,quickly developed a ftepuootiou for unrcliabiliuy O'l.l!t: .1.1ocess~vemodifi~..:ltioills s won o'V,er,C:aDJJe- ,problf;:ms, ru.clI.ed. by the fact tlm.l fOor 'Ute'

de.... elopment at this time WillS, ,tb~change eo me. SVlS ''i;'cll"Sionof the .heavy brelilkdown tract.orr. ,P:wducl:io'lli of aU SGI.:)J.l1lJBe..lls·was, ver:lt.slnw due to their oom,plexJl.!y. The Churchill tank was due to' weigh weU iaexcess 0 J{) tons ond io;"lee·overy ''''a$ ex'pocl~d tebe beyond the ,ca.paclty o.f eq,en tile ia,eavier Scammell transporter. Whh [ fin:ure A20m mllld mannfacturers had b0rilO. asked to prnduc.e u.Eille:rtilcapllibk: of ~ryins II 40-'(on tank endthes p("Qvedemin.elItly su.ltab1e COifth~ Churchill,

'hepter 2 940-1941 The Campaigns in North and ". '-. .as-t· Af e . ".' an.·. '" Qln .emlporary E' . ,-rIC.a, ..... d C··· -. nte ':-'-" .-,~. =,qu,lpmeln-.t
II. -. .":

itain and Pa:aDi;,X;l :l];!,l<ljrlceil tb·t; onstructlen of rhe Suez nal and, af~ef Esypc\vas freed from Turkish domimnion Wo:dd \l;fa:r I; Bricain ebtalned ,i!lgTct:ment [0 l.be ,~O-Jliog;of.EIprotective 'm:i)iwry presence in the C~md me. Thiswas to ensure :ftoodom Q,f pasi!i~g.t: 'e'i):(nma and : Fa!:'&~tand i' with increasing importance, to the fields of Persia and Iraq, l\p.a:rt Irom India, Britain's largest oversees mil:itm:y mmlrment was the Middle ]E{lIl1!:. Besides Canal Zone ere was ,EI need to police Pales'tine in the tace of gro\v:tng ab- J~wis.h strife. The RAF guarded theoil pipelines in tq and sarrisoned Aden. Britain supervised the SudElin ~fel'lceForoc ~Unlc more than an internal s.et:m[Ly forte. !~.Kimgs AfriC8IllljJ)eEl! CKAl~)~ [he I.ocal re.gimern in l:&:Ic st Afric-!1iIJ (.lQlonh)s, was also ma.i:i1ly IIJl Intemal securi ty d ceremonial force, Bo:l:h~however] had been given &ome diticnal funds and. modernised. to a. degree when 100)' !lad~d .Etbjopia in the early 19·30;s. When. France surrendered and IUlly ent-ered the war the iddle EpSl situation was bleak: fur Britain, Its forces had w to contend 'lrilh the pro-Vichy French fOICI,,"$ in riEl··Lebencn i,no tae threat 'W the Suez Canal tl"Rffic posed .!wi~ns :lll.LJbya. andthe ImliaFJJ co.loui.es bordering ube :cl Sea. There was a fear lOO lhfil'~l'urk,ey migt.u enter the eallied 1:0 Germany as,in W'add.·Wa:r I, De5pire the threat invasion Britain had (0- send reinforcements, otl'wrili mmg (F.cunIndia Australia and New Zealand. A bu:ilcl up me Canal! Zone base b~gaili and d!li,:;!wouJd eventually :lude four base workshops), or.iginally RAOC '[hen :~31e.r ii\i.E. These and one each in Pa.les.ti:ne and Iraq between :ru were ttl prnvide a b.uge I'epall: and m3D1llfactudl11 iOUi'C:;! :for. [he aD.'lr1l11es. operating all over [he Middle Ea::llt] is:~ Africa aJld 'the Mooi'~ern'rJi~-a1l~tca, In. 1940 the 7th Armou.rOO.Div:is.ion,rrhe Desert Ram ~led carefully prepared but daclng campaign which h.:md nporarily eHm.inaUlid. the: ItllU1)n threat to Egypt: by lbruary 1941. Before the. whole of Libya could be apled rcin{(I~"Cme!ll$ hiJd 1"0 be SiCi:U to Greece where the ffruI.ns ad.Inrervenedje heJip II. fabering Indian invasion .• h te German ilir .and tank su:pe:riod£y soon caused the acuauon of the allied troops from G:reec,e to neiilrby Crete

me

German OT-O~Sunder General Erw]!I:lRommel ~Wilh new lwLwn reinfarcemente, '[Ook'[he :ini~i.iildv,~ MMCb 1'941. in The h3ndful of Vk:k!.lt"!! l:~g-]i'lltrtank.s. WO:[Il~lJl e.mlse!"'S "IUd cSIJmil:new and. untried E.:m:pi:~e troop$·"'i-...ere :110 match .for this, reeiralised ene'my. lvlimy ('if the B.l.'iltis['[ Ar.m~!l'S'l:Elnlk;s were W1de-rgoi~g ~orngl,..ov~rd.ue repM and o"~~r];ya:u]s ,and se desperatewas the :;;iturlJt:iofi cne tank regiment was in dUll the prl,l~..cl:l50f_re..equi:pping whit captured Italian tanks when Rommel launched. his attack, A1Hed 'lransport :lit !his timecomprised a mixrure of pre-w,ar :Bliidsh [}'Pes and 'US and. Canadian ,commclfciall vchic.les" some purehased from dealers in Egypt. By m.id·I941 the first Canadian 4-wheel drive vehicles ~~a;n '~'I)
arrive. Libersluse W~5 mllld~·of C'.l!IipltUf~d mmllan transport ~ which W~SW~·]]clesi![[ed;, robust and highly rC~~f!ded. Two

types-ofmnk began to reaehthe d~!l~f.tfrom. Br.hru.m later in 194·], IDe Inlfoouy Tank .Mark m" the V.a~emin\! and the Cruiser tank Mark VI, !lie Crus ..der .. Nrtlt A!fricu. comaJst!'l of a wide ,,'s.dety ofsolk and , urfaces. Inh.&bired areas have euhivated flelds~ but the desert il:JSdl includes .liml s-andy 50H 50:me0ll."l1es wkb rocky ou [crops~ soft sand" .areas of hard level gmtmd strewn with. lease boulders, marsh sud rocky areas often divided by da."P wruilis (dlJ'j,(;)-d,·u:p:dver bo.ds) seraetimes hundredsof'feet below the level of smm1.u:l(ung land. There are aJw moun tainous nreas,. The a.l::iilhyof wh~"Cled 1,eCQVery vehicles re d.ccd :wil:.h tank reeoverytasks in the early days was limited by the shifting 'v,mety 'oilf he terrain, Ill. suIt sand or marshy t gfoulldi the lIerove.ry vehicles themselves were liable to
.[jeW

!become casualities and a 'l m.ctor w.~s.n~!}d!XIl.ba'~ould c

gper~te successfully on sortground.

The RAOe LADs WI:l'C responsible togn·thl!l' ~'i:l:h thc.~r p8J:Ir:F.lIJ:. ,ElmlOIIJT'ed Ngimen1ts fOf t:llnk recovery. Other LADs and, i~ the .RASe COW;PBn]eS", the unit worhhop platoons dealr with B vehicles, The b,a,(;:.li::-up lI.af_ge~y rovided by was p t~~:()Vt':ry vehicles f'1'oml:he Ordnance mobile wor.kshops. The. huge dinances, over which formatioDs moved and
OOIl:8t."'q.ll.mt ·Iourn.c;y

times soon led to-the ereadon of

d then from
;S~S of

Crete hs~lf. In eaeh ease there w~te severe

men alld eq.m:p.m.ent. Furmer. ,relnfoue:mell'ts were' tinueusly :p'J)o\rid(ld for the lb:my in N erth M.r.iri:3.1111 1 reached the thinly heldfronr-llne before the fresh

:additional J~giscicll.lJlil8 to cover the L of C leading back to the Can ..l Zone b8S~. One sueh 1lIin.iJ.,ll L ofe recovery ,11Lit' Seetion, was to grow uno the .s·d}Army Recove'ry' Compa.ny. Wben ehe b~ttl~ moved .forwa:rd fts tasks Included reeaver.ingveh~des left behind ~s the .Cr·oot:·:I..i.n,e reoo'!i"lill)' teams
mJ::llWd. (o~OU'd. In addnioa to the extrication of damaged or bog_g-ed Ir~lilik~

[rom m-e :p~aoe wl'll-e;r'e [hey eemeta grid, there Wa'S ,21need to t::aIT}'these wbiCb could. Il,O[ 00 J!.'OWI.:.~,~in ;;my case a di(fj,cuLI. task with tracked vehicles, The usual means of lowing ranks was by steel wire ropes (cables) orby chaius. Steering an unpo 'e:red tt'liflk wllUe undertow was sometimes virtually impossible; Ropes and chains broke and some luckless CI>0'1Ol1'mar.! had to dismount and cry '[(I reconnectthe vehicles, 'a feat of some heroism when under fire, D~pite these
prob!eiiJs many suecessf
1L1I]recoverles WCI"e

There W~,ire Egypt: ~n :uart of the campaign Qnly a in the

LeY~Elnd.bre-akilblw.D. ganr:ry lorriee and om RASe units had their 0\\"11 compl~.[:nt of recovery vehicles, Atucb effort went into acquidng estra eqniipm,ent. Maximum use WiiI'S made of sUltE!lb[~t:i1IptuIed.. Italian lorries, mepCItrodal of Italian gl f~w RAOQlE.)
20-'[011 'tSIlilk transporter, tractors for recllvery !,lJ,I~ being disccvered eady in the battle .•The steady trickle of new rll!'~Vl~ry!lehldes. from t UK. was augmented by local conversions and byuhe widespread usc of AEC Matador gll.Ii tractors These wee issued to tank regim~ru LADs, !brigade workshops and '!It even used 00 pun the 'Us commercial heavy traiiers presse into service: then as tank transporters. The bulky' outliue rbe Mamd~1'rJ like [he 3-lOlil gantI)" lorn- was lUI, embarrai ment lnthe front line. LicU'I~nant (later Bdgadier) G .'W'_' Fellows RAOe, who cemmaeded 'We 31"d, Huss ..:r~tAD) pioneered 3, M~tad,or modificiniorJ.. The cab top !i!;,l'Hl removed and the bndy replaced by 1l1.igb.teT body fram a 15-cwl tntci;t. A crane W8!i fin'Cdusing ~n 'I' beam jib IUid "..inch .from ,B wrl,!c~ed Ita[~~n gun tractor" The modified Millitlilld.o.r ssa much: lower and less eonapicuoua veh:icJe. w
<

made.

The prototype served in the Tobruk bcldge}liead and

Imprruswn of tlie "lEG M (1.i(1il.fJr,no.ii'fi>&i ,to 'r:~ry .l'rd Hlt.<;l!lIr. U~D RAOG' {tl ,/ t;4 ,I.

fi.t::niuub)l

drawings of the: vehiclewere circulated to enable other examples Ita be built. One of'these originaJ dir,EIfwings survives in the REM.E M.lISCI.!LUl. Some h~lt.ad.ors were fit with Wc~ver-type cn:r:u::sand others with. a local design

the FWD R6T, Some Canudian Ford F60 recovery vehicles. Tne L of C R,eco,,·crl-' Section was equipped solely !toug.h local purchase, In !939 Brigadie'l' VI. W" Riehanls tirector ofOrdmtI!ce Services at Headquarters .Middle East
Oil

milar to that

-tnn 4x'4 lorries were also modified.into

Im'Jm,:lnd, dlseevered ,:'I fleet of US ManlKIiII He:ITillg'lon ~ 6 oi.lfield ]c(rn1!:5 b-elorl,ging to' ,th~SQ1i.1JthMedit'!l!rranea.1l ~ CQmpany , These .. cre purchased, stripped oftheir v ~pw:~tnlCtw:es and converted to r~covcry,,"e:hidrs,. Nearly ifet years l~ter the jib from ene ofthese was transferredta 1 ARC Mtltador which had been found abandoned in the ~s'en by 69 InJamry Bng-..de Wod ..~,bQP.The ·shorE~ of ~CI)Vm'Y vehicles for use intheCanal Zone WOUi equ~d]~ =~perate. Some obso1eleMon:is CC.llllmercJalLead:~r lerrles ere OOlIv:e::r'~,edo breakdown vehicles and also some t hevrolets, As the build-up of eql'iip:m.~nl:p.rogl"!t!ssedsome

more :Sdtigh 6 X 4gaJ.nry bodied 3.~tQIlim.en. and an llCl"e8Smg number of Scammells arrived. The firs~..new design recovery '1lehides 10 reach the 8th Army were based on Canadian dvilia....n p8!ttem trucks wilh minor modifICations. These were' the .FOM Em 9ST and CbeV'ro~et 1S,~3X2, Bu'tb carried RoLIn..:.$: l'l!(:n,,~ry~:uip... went lnn h.t'ld rJioxnal;i:lj chassis windt. .DlW.':'jngilie- 1910s the ev'I;,'i' CJI:paodmg use .of [IIOLOrvehicles in the' 111 .1JJ,la,wlI,ed SA. thousan ds of gar.age:.; or. ~!r.ISstatio'!ls' l !nOSt of whleh put
ODIe garag,e Brnesr Holme», built tile nllt 'twin 'boom. l~re~):er' with two ,wi.f.ig.i:llg j.ibs w bieb., linked. together, could Jift heBIvyvehicles a the rear or ~~ing]y,nligh'lc-r 'vehicle II!.'!: 0'.i'li.'IJ(lr side. Slmllar desigas wen! produced by Gar Wood Industries a:l'Iium~lDy US and Csnadian ret.'tIY'~ry vehicles were I.~ be .fil[oodw.itb th]s form of UniJliIll p.r. The gantrybooy) seen mo~dy 0J1 the Lej1Jand :&ell:nevcr 6x4 chassis at 'lhi~time, 1iIi'~S adopted by otherBmplre armies. The A ustralians used aver-MOll. of i'l: OEII 3-00[1 4v.Th~e~em FQrdJ Chev!olc'[ and! Inremationel chassis, a,s,wdl

'[Og~tlter . orne form of breakdown vehicle.

proprietor,

,as on some 6-whcded. chas.s,is ..In .1941.another AEC MaladO.'f V'3]wmt W,ElS produced in the Canru lone w rk8,ho:ps. This was filed with ,~!!l arm, ured rCalb., CanadianbY-ill steel truek 'body and girder crane. It is recorded itluu the Bri.lish Orcll'llm:t!ccoft'ii;;erwlth the Free Frenoh Rri.!;!:adl.!:
rcqu~tit,rd: 'm:3't this 'IIeh:i.cl.e be WIUi refused it, War ~(led to
iSEmed [0

Jriswo(rbho.p

but

Tbe US dt:vc]opmr:nt of the Holt U8C[O.l" be·fore Wo.r.1d iii range of tracked trectors a"... ilabl'l! fFilm. a va_r~ousmn.nuf3cru:l."er:s and in many sizes, Th.ey were intend,~d :t:oragrieuhural and construction sitewnrk and. in n940~8Qm~ uU,'erp:i1ln.r.iDS tractors of massive proportions and eenslderable power were purchased for RE. In N oeth Afri.ca, where the limiullions of wheeled .re~ovC:ty Vcll~cl,es 'we])e soon ebeieus, some DBs 'w.e'r,ejsn~e.dto EAOC(E) for tank recovery. Later, smaller D7 and. D4 uaerers ~~ usedin this, rale, together w.lin the InterWltioosl TD 1R and other. makes, The Ja.i:gcr tractors Wer~

me

v'ery C!l]J1I,'b.ie recovery IUc.bi les once fitted \vith ii,nim bE, winches. The Caterpillar versions remained in Use long atl(lT war, The tractor's drawback was lack of speed 00 that it could onJ.y be moved. to tecovery sires on a trailer ,A, 6~ t comm,r;;rci.!i!Hy d~siglJ..ed.Americ31:I trailers were used. m.en the rracror had winched or pulled a vehicle cruiiJ.ILdty om-a solid ground ~ SieCOnQ]\eCClvcry traercr !Or tr~nS:(XI:rt,cli' was DI!OOed [0. move it, as the: first usually pulled the D8;5, own

me

trailer. Despite ·this, and [he oilier severe lim]'EiilnIilD slDred witb.wheeledl'l.;oovc;ry ehicJ.es -no armour protection - the
tt':Jctors were unrivalled for tank recovery in soft ground, The Cine:rpillar D8 weigbed about 17 '(ons. Dlfferem win l,~ were·.fin·ed·some I'UlVj~"lg capacities o'up to 45 U)f!S. Afile:r the Getman A:rmy became .i.nvoh.1\~d.n the cunprugIl i some n8!lf··I1'a·cks were captured. The :Iarger versions ofdl,~ 'I'I'l!l:'eexne_melypl' ..crical reeovery vchides:!Ind. were used

cMatador

modified inw .armol~i'[~ breaidOWl1

vc!iide a!'4

whenever posslble.
Tenk recovery, ,as in F !Canc~,remained the province 9£ unarmoured wheeled recovery tractors and lorries (tn(;!

Works],,;?$' RA,OC ~~~ 94.1. 1

Gffl'!UI.ll

F{).moJ'8-t(m haif n'rack I1Sed by RAOC

CnBlllicr

61"9 a: l'u;lIk

r{'C~~/jK:la_.

rm:k (m Ifni!.

Mack EXBX

J &-lcn:!

tt.ansprlYler:

'u.;';rJ~ VMii1lilinelnJamry Tank

Murk .III. l11is lrant[)(jtl!lr ~IjSi tile 'b.ee.~ k~il1'e5'j~ld.l'ji!"r(mws tdpl'@c.ed ~'n.lalt.1r by Hmpk dqw.d'!ablc ron!py, NrJi.iJi Afti'll!

Noocmwr 1941.

,nodeu

,1J!ampUll(;f.

Ca'k¥:p11wrDR traaer .wwmg a Felkml20-llm la'j'~ l~homgrap,";NJ afTer tlur wcu III Malaya. TkesfjClr~ ,fJf~h~'m!.hicl~ !)'lJ't!5 ,f,tpWJ.lsd t~ I'\lo,#j Africa 1rJ 194211/3.
1]fe

The·wr,'l(.h equipped W1J.iteRi4XI«lIlMm:p-O~

tWo

with V'atm!l:rJI!l

UI:r.iA fir~d 'with !land ,.lIit..Jds,

dis,tiDctioll we" one of size) :I!,nd [be few wincl:i."eqrnpped Scmnm:e:Il11',anspo:rters until, toe DS uaete [5: were isseed, &f-Iy .imprnvisarionled to disab]ed ranks b ing carried on g[OS~~y overloaded 7V;l·to,nJjlllhtrecovery u,aHers ~ Oil
cemmercisl trailers, on heavy lorries of. br.::'ing towed '!by any vehicleheavy enough [I) taekle the job. ScammiiU tmn.sporle[ production remained nnaUy in.adequare to meet needs, By f\prlll941 oniy :Ilfooen of the JO-hm ''o''<ll!fiaO:t bad been built.and many of these remained in rhe UK for trials, and training .. L~:;l'i,~iU1 500 were to be produCA!d In, torolb:y the end of the war. Fuethee suppJiies '0

side of the front of the tank. The cables were tun up over guides 01[" pul1-ys Oil the ~~ide f the transporter and artmd o '[0 two larries ~uujoned to the front of it. When the lorric: diro'l!',efornrrun 'the nm'lli: WB:5i drawn up on to the 1:ransporlJ The process took ,t;It 1,~~stMtcl,'!n miumes, was wasteful of equipment and very difficult on uneven terrain •.Nenethe less, these me thods wert: .ncc~ssary ill the absence of

suffici,'~nt p'Il.r,po!le--ibuill rt:covery transporters. iue:r; in LI rCElmpBI:ignJ wben heavier 't(a:osportenl beeame i:li\raila,bh:. some Mi;1c'ksand Whites were re bodied as cargcvehicles,
[levi' a later ~recondkioned tanks fun'i'OiI:rd tlO [be border defence srea, as the eadiee esperience o[ the W,eslern Desert Fort

A c.OO5.t:l11 [ ilway line Jeadiug from the: Canal Z,Q,Il~ to I:l

rhe A>'l[lck and \Vhil:e "UIUUlportCrs erdered in 1940 became a:vmlElbl~ Wh.eIl.Bl!"ilIlLn took over the French coetracts after, the~ fall of iFI1UlOf!. J\1.any of these veilicklS' W~:i"firGq ui.l'cd :in theIl K fOot liOm.~,H:JdcniC~ forces and. in any case it took 'time to 'build the Ilnlll:s!l?orre:r bodies aad to ship C'Qmp]e[ed
vchides 00 the M.iddle EElsl. 01' three .~vaiJablenypes Mack . EXBX) White, Mod'lll]9'10 ,md 'Wh.i.l:e Rl'hXn.l]i} om:y the Lauer
.EllS it alone was ~5ttcdwith 3. Mach. The metbod !ldoptoo for loa,ding disabled tanks 0[1 ~I !the l\b·.k ,and: \Vlll:te was fora cable 'toO be anaehed to,e:!),n

19yp~ibl:n ~OW[l of Mellla ,Matruh was used to move

a:nrl the extenslve u3hlling undertaken

b~f.Qr:ewc-..anock c

was reaffiillysulredtn recovery

the Italians had shown up the problem of rapid u"ack wea in thCll desert. Wben me battles moved further west, beyc tLu::railway, the W ~i -Offi~ was ,~dv[scd by Headquartere Mjddi]e E~st Command of the need for lrall!iip;1!m·te.r~ :for'[1 &b'3!;i:giC movemen [ of wnks. EBfJier in September.' R940, three months after Dunki:

I.e id!~'11of

''hi:~~ ode'! 9200'W'as~e:ned in. dlis role ]n Britain hut M

using transporters to saVa.': track wear and driver tigue wasdiscussed in I::heW;a:r Of.lk:~ . .t\;$ oJ resultthe
waiil

Nord •.A[ljcan desert, B:ri[lsh forces u~d tanks Rlulli the Seuth Afric8iR Army'i the first of its JlJ;cm:[[y buill M8ImlO,ll

:iIlisidered ufl.suimblc .. N' otlliJlg: mnch WM achieved da,em lMCfram. id:eIlitifyiog It need for UIUlliPQr1rC:Jr,~ur.! 'I1l'il!~ f UK here rn.iI.way,s did notreach semetank 1.11:J1,t locations and :w [mining EI1'e~s.LEL[er .YOS was asked to IProclll~ :!1igps fyt ti'~n~p6rte[~OInd thJiii;WijS given8Q1me wg~ncy hM me'deman~s f~r these vehicles ,c~m~ fr-.o;m [he ,MiddJe
JS('

WhiLe the War Office Bind MOS procedures creaked iIi'CO :(1,1'):11, immediate the. MiddJ~ Ea:S'l requirements were melt rsending out Mm;;k,~t~to116>t4.MmieL NR ]ordes and'm-d AmlS'.rh::":QcU!IlID(;!',n:;iid lvpr.;:!':i purchased previom1y
j

He["rin;gto[] !Ull111;OY.nU em. 'f:ra.nspo!lt was the ,eolFltemp,or.u,y!nbr[1,M".e of ~pe!5i,:il'81 used In I!hcW~ttem D~~~l, Som~ em:iy CJ!i(p ullcm reached the are'a hefo.r,e me EaoiLAfrica:n ~amp3:ig]1 end:ed .. Her'(: as e:!st:w:he:rct ca:plur(ld I:talhm vc:hides were puttt'! ,goad use" Recovel}' vebicles: were scarce and rrnu::h impr(lvi;.l.il!!tlQ[l was called [Oir. The m.o1l.1IWil~ t8illu)U'.s areas necessitated tile use of :pa(lk anlim~~s ,iMlld!;Cilim$ of thesewere sQmet]mes USOO(O reooV,e:r vehicles, Squads,of ,:s.oJcl]er,~ liJ'-,u b!Y'l)r:~nd'~fii! '!i.-VoI;'im or ,ofte.!l :emplo:~d instead.
The ['Vi~O campaigns Oim the IHFjC~tI.contineut ~beth carried out In hostile climates and. Or.lo tezrainmost unsult-

able for tile bulk of the veaicles [provided

fOi[

the Anny)

(argo vehicles and held In Ordnance depees, The M~ck$ re fined wl'th 5JmpiL:l'~ranSPIJn:i;lF bodies whh de~Bcha:ble ding ramps. Being sm~lleI' thantbe _fiAacl\:: EX.BX the R.swere :r~~~dat B-i;ons c;lpacity bur in servicewere ql1ei!'[tlyoverteaded, These, mgctller with a handful of lck EXDX E!!lidWhile 9208 equipped '[:heearly RASe

seevcd eoreinferce the RAoe 'pred~c[~oi1~ abou[ the Diced fOir better equipment and mere technical suppo:rt fesOUiroeS, From mid 1941. dH:!EaS[ A:frkan theatre became oom.eth:ing 'Of a backwater save for tile brief build up for the alt::!lciton

M~.d~~ea:ri!!11911;2 to ~ak.e thfl Island from 'the Vichy

Freocb.Aflle,r thisthe l'na]!:lt8lskw~s the po1icin,g9f the

lk trim:sporren' cempanies, the firnt ofwbic:h became: er:,uioIl'lBln Nevember 19~]. \Vhenlate.r· supp&an:~C!:dI i by ger tr.m~pru:tCnl some of ealch type were: handed. oVlerto .RaOC to Iucresse lts numbers O'f!!~cQYGry n':,~n~]JOJten.,. In. 1940 an Italian itl".a!!~o:n of British Somalilandwas li-Sledby Bril$l}, and Bmpiretroeps .. 'The Italian fot!l;es re lilrgdy locally recruited bur were 1:1!0I: defested until ay 194-:l. Th~ terrain co:mpdi'l~-dldesert <!lndlIlO!l;lrltalnm..ILS as whh few roads and was as ha:u:don vehicles as the

fonl1}er ImliEl!n celenies. Eq uipmcn!~ used wa~ mostly dvilmn partem COJ}ad:i:Ul or US trucks, a few Br~en CairriCr:!1: 3.11d later l[iOr.L'ilif! ebsoleacent li;gh[[~Jlr;;;s.. For these :;;omll:]oCaUy bmh 'transporters were 1J;~1..'dcom:p.riiJing:FOIw(i M~mlOO Herrington 6·'wfuieeled trucks with. tim her uack,wIiIIYSElnd. dJ;\tachab[~ ramps. A,n,otn,er ~ot::p]impnlvlsi,l.titIl':i1 was Ii F()l]'d . 3-llJ<f.lJneffin.ecl with the US Mi ["ecovery eq1l:l1pJDent mare Ilm:m<!]]y fnuud OIl thlil GMC 6,::,< twck .. 6

Chapter 3 1941-1942 New Organisations and

New Equipment
\\"hile tile Empire armies Juught in North and Rain A:li"ica the steady build-up <;rf1-Igme Forces continued, 'Wi(h <I. diminished threa l of in 'l!'3s~";m aJt,l(:t 19'1,1,the expanding 'lm:l,y with, 41.1l'tll.dy, a strong: ceatingeut Iroru Canada, WEiS DOW formed inrn a-huge trninmg org;m:usaliDO .•.Rcoinforamerus were cuntlnually being sent overseas but the emphasis fOll Home Forces gTaJdu.E!l1y hanged frum defence of the Brirish Isles to preparation fbr an eventual Elua,ck on mainland Eu rope. There were still desperate equipment shnetages but gradtudly home output and p urcha SCi;. from the USA. Sind
Om~da began to cover most needs for general. transport.

vented in diverse 'ways and in i941 Prc$id~nt Roosevelt persuaded Congress to enact :iii law which, in theory ~aimed to combim! US and British military output, .apportionmg t, each that which it needed. At We time it would operate much in Britain's :f~VO'I!l:r • Britain leased defence bases in seme colonies to the USA ,in return fur-hardware, The new
SY:;ltll1l was

knownas Lend-Lease and ii1Il[ equipmdlI l'I'llppaiedto Britainunder the scheme remalned, '[lecluu:Cldl: lJS property, From this time a 1I11l..LC·]j ]arg:er milin'i:ll' liAisar. staff was es'wbHshed ill W;a:sb.ingltJn; taki.D:g'over [he Pu~h,as.ifii!:'l Comnrissicn'a rele, A number of factors in 1941 causedthe concepr of a.
sepe nne repair Corps for the Army 'to be re-examined. Till very poor performance of Britlsh armour in North Africa and the Jesses during withdrawals olrcpairahletanks led

Heavy we8J:p0 I'lS, and p.artic.l.dar!y l~J1:ks cuuld noit be acquired elsewhere 3'1. fl!ist amlthe construction of'some untried and pcerly designed armoured vehicles was cantinned on the pretext that Hi 'interrupt production while
: sctories were adapted £0 build new types would diepriYCLh,c Army of too many t~:rJ.k~. ~n [Cll'otpc,r.:[. U:tis :p['ilWt:'da dJoublfuJ argument since so maay II the e~r:ly 'types ~f lank. were unsound and I' in sc lion I wen: 8non lest to. l.h~A.l'1'l'lY

~I

anyway because I;l>fthcir Inadequacies, Britain's industrial capacity .Sit this time was prooigiQ\Ui but !1Qi enough [0 rope alone' wi th arming the Emplre on land - in the <IiI' and lit seaJ w n:Us[ [me same time manningthe arm ~clfj)l"ces, me.rchMl'l: noV)!' and clvll defence ~u~g1'ij]ha[iens" ID:ncrett's:il'llgly
there' fire dependence had to beplaced on imported -

equipment, Tbe W:arOffi~ during thls period was reorganised w cop~ with the expEI!'liiiog Army and in order to (k:vclup its technicalinfrastrucmre. Tl:'l:is. was needed to d:l'iillw'1(]P equlpm.,snt rt."t[wrl!l11e!tUs to liaise with be .MOS over desi,gn. and to C'alTY Q!Jt Lror~pI~i\ui:l'tg of protetypes. The .ME' ~ iOI't F~['nbomugll had passed to the MOS on its fO:l:'mation.i1l 193,'9. By 19--1-2a S<epj]_i'~.'t-L: MOS testing establishment fur figLuing vehicles was established itl Cbertseyand the two organi.s?lut!v.l:s. became the 'Wheeled Vehicle ExperirntmMI Establisbment (WVEE)m:ud the fighting Vehicle Proving Estabhshme,pr (FVPE) respecriVf:Jy.. The I rigilli!Ll Purchasing Commission sent tn the USA had w.:wged. production som-e vehicles [0 Brhish. spedficatams and invesied conslderable sums of money which c.ns.bled some US factoties to be ,expanded Ions before Amerit::a. becpm~ wre,ct!.)! involved jn the wu', The US pooJi j; of not sellin,1 weapons 11,'0 oolli.gerents \VU circum-

or

qUe8li(ms in Psrliamem. The RAGe came in for some uniustified criaici.s:m when .i"rseffOl'LS were compared by midIappoirued 'esperts' with those of the Germ.m rcpalr organisations. Significant factors poorly understood by m.01'IC' not ir.n.roh1OO were the ease of recovery when ira. pessessieu 'L~fthe battlefield after lh-e enemy had. withdraw, thenmore often an advanrage 1:0 the Germans: also. for securityreasuns, the Py~]jc W.:1S not Informed ab~lullb-e io!e.ffi.,cie:ncyofsome Sri tiS11 milk s nor the:: scarcity of spare parts, repair resources and D'~Cd,,·e.y ve.h,Ldes. . At (he same tum iii growing shortage ohkill"'d. fil8J~:p0W~ W8iS beginning to affect munitions pmdil.H;li{')n.~tany trained engineers and uadeJimcn who had.volu[lteered for been. conscripted imo the l'umy were nvt be.ins employed where l'he'.I"! skins could be bC8'[ used, There were Army tradesmen in di':~erern regiments and corps under [he pre-war of:;t!,llfii:sa:tion.In 1941 3. MifiLisuy of Labour cemmluee under Sir W.ill:la:l1l Beveridge drew attention to the Army's inefficient ~mpJQ<yme:ntof skilled 1abour, Subsli:qucII't War Office omminees led to the craation of n new Corps, REM,E !'vhich came i.tl'~O b~ing in October 1942, The first Aml'lriC:·luiLlank received ill quantity under the Lend-Lease scheme was 'the Light Tank. M3, giv~n the Britlsh name General Stuart but often known as the HODe Weighing 12 tor-I' it was ".as·t ut thil.d'i' armoured. [t was" b hnwevcr, rdi:itMe and \"'~,:;; slotted into the British tank categories as a fig.ln erulsez.Jt wasfcllowed soon by the.M Medh.!litl.Tank named the General Lee, another version oj with a British d:Ell>igncdturret being the General Grant. Ul

~2:

PAllT

l TI--I1i! s~.oONiti '\IoiIOi£.l_LLli WIU!.

mk8 were, lik cO'JJ!tempciraryBritish ones ~rear engined

11 [heir drive sprockets were ar the front with III drive shan Inning Iorward under the turret ItO the l:ransmlssi:ol1and ~-eringunit, Tills layout resultedIn a much his"ber tank, In

speed and with a greaJ strain onthe vehicle.

The MOS" in seeking: increased BrilisnprQducdQIl oC recovery U'ampd:rte.rs, had ordered from Albi.on A;\OlUI"S '0' [GI~5goW :il20~:tonnel!". The lfEu:(o:r 10r this, the ex 248" was Idosel.)"based on. [he finn's lO,1!on argo lorry;. "the (."Xl3 . 'he S(lmi"'lTaU~r bed was nearly ho.r.iz.Ql:1_tal.af'Jid~8 earried

.e:.M3

rue 75 mm ma~n gUI]

WIH.i

mcrull'ted in

sponson on

.e.rlght Sl.d.cof the .bun. 1'11~turret WCllUflltl:d a smallergun, ~1D11I1 and a machinegun. The' M3 MedrullJI, wejghed ~ : tons and thus addedto the d.Hlu::l;Iihi'li!sof tnt rl!::c~)Very iaoi~[~on. It was a very welcome addition [OJ the~l1i:li rmy' 8 fighting strength nonetheless. Afler Lend-Lease began .Br:lt1!11in centtnu __ for ...time to -d )tarn equipment of' non "standard US Army pattern by reer purchase. There remained .a great relnctance by

tin two IDI:.lawhose wheels were fitted ·wi,i;h 36 >::8 ty'Jit:Si it EI ]"ea8tlllably [ow leading height. lFoldi!lg ramps s;t [hf;; rear .;;JiUowed.IILDJ::s robe driven or winched on bo~:rd us iosJ:he tractor's 8 lon Scamltl.eLl winch. W'l.tlicn [hI.: need
giving
s

for more·tmmpoll"tc.rsarose.i.n.1941.

MOS ordered over. ~OO

W~S

of these vehicles even though they could on.!y carry the lighu::r It",,!]k~ c!l:rreiltly in sen-ice. The "Scale 0 this order

iIInlJf~cmre'rs or the US Army to accept Bruish 'Waf design • Ior spar'l: U1:s qua:nut:y assessmenrs and, in some cases, whole .tcgotie:; Clf equipment W~l'~ IltH. cu.nsi.dcrL-clnc:ccS!Slary.
:perienc-cs as guidelines for equipment beseviews often changed as dice US Army gained the same iPl;fiC'lJicC the bard. \"'".l}'. When. at the end of 1940 the War Office began Illsitiering lank transporters for more than Just recovery it .~hOj)l:d rh.itltffiomt: suitable vehicles .m.i.glu he Ohlo.ma.blc D([Il British 'n-)BIl ufacturers, A 1': this time tanks in service Oli

ro prove unwise. In 194·] MOS :ru~gud;,;iu:cl .ith"OS manufacturers [0 w ebtaln the necessary 40 .. on I;r3 D'SpO~I:~:rs, 'the P'nr.Cb3Si.ng t Ccmmlssiou foa:nd 1iRriOl1~ truck makers oeuld offer masaiv~ Wr:In:iclL"S virtually offthe shelf'bur many favoured rae tractor semi-rrailer onmbi neat-iolt which the MOoS _ with
cxp-.;ric!ll!
10 avekl
_:L

lder develcpmetu weighed frnm 11tons to nearly 40 tona, ,e:rn.oiorily being ill the 10- to lS-ton class, The War Office' '~.ck.e'~~.u[c ther 18 to 25 tuns ;j;lUOWill.g for theU S ] 8-ton ~g~
ansperters then being built. The 4O-1tOn capacitycovered
.e Churchill

fm this largest cDrlegOl'Y ti ve, tractor and full trailer, proposed by US mannfactarers .. lasalso rejected since the designswere based on comm~r'· " cial earth-moving :phm~ t:ar-ri<e:t".\i. fO;1:m of .Low leader or A.
d·L'l:I]l",fr,:;jmc

,or the height

restriction

Scammell, 50ught tl.""'.mlipo:ner, The alternaon the

trailer with.

SWiIJl Deck over

the ,from ... liI:'cle

and, fcnuitously, most other tanks ihar were

see service before the war ended, The system of vehicle

xation in Britain before fit: war had penalised large and

)we:rfuI engines so the motor Industry Iried lu' squeeze the ,j)S[ 01.1 [ of smaller engines by tile use of lOlli' gears, Firms e:ri;thus dissuaded [rom dl:~vdopi,ng the- t.ype of .Iarge

kgin~:>i 'ltidl.m.ight preve suitable fnrmnks. v;'cighi_Dg: meee w ,11[1 about 25 'tORS Or flJr the vehides which mis;ht I;;Ury' ,em. \xfhil.!St. the Scammell's Gardner diesel could oCrJP~
jib a laden 30~ton traasperter

turruable was offered by bod'! "lhl:."" Fruehauf Trailer CoI11pany !.IndRogers Brothers. In this design the tank wouJd b~ carried ana low bed between [h~ axles which, whilst givml,il guod srabiliry, lacked ground clearance and resulted in,~ very long vehicle w h seturniag citck would restrict its use on lioacls in Drira:i:n. At this time the expected main role fur transpnrters WIiiS the move men I) n~\\' tanka in the UK but the proposed trailers would have been useful if not ideali in N o,rt:h Afri,cQ. and .mighl have been S,YBl]a Me tiler!'; soonlo!r , As 'part of the 'buy Bri,!isb' l)DH,~y MOS!1:oughT. d,es.ig[l,

studies and ,1quarter-size model of II 4O-[on transporter

it was good for

[It

()'O

~yabout

; mph, The Clrurchlll could be carried but

reduced

trailer from Scammell Lorties td i,n Oc~obt;lt 1'940" :md. twn months knee Irem Cmn!::!> Dereham Ltd. A full-size of prototype of the CriJOC5 d~igR was .... vailable for d.eD.1!OIl-

:EltnuiDn ;u MEE 'on 30 AprH 1941 to MOS ..u"dWar Offioc : [cp~l:~nhl!ti:V'eS and twoPickfcrds .beZl:vy~.I:t;;l:tn1E1gc eKp~:r[Si whoseknowledge w;ElS,coIl:5.Jd.e:red valuable, The design fea tured a main fra.m,{:carrying ~w'oP;)1:l1!UC~
Ch:llln![M~]sec:~]on [rn.~k~wiillYswhfc'llii sloped doWIl! Rtme'f'ea:r and were fiued \l;':itt~ foldin,g l;arnp~'L ~~](ll\li the f:r;·~m~'s eross
!ipnl.fig;

8t~nd.ardlslil.don I1iIJOst B[iti~h trailers 'We[eret:1!in~d hl Brj'II~ Sind.US trailersweee senr '[01 tll~ Mici@hl E.a~'[, One Bri:[tsh 404QO trru.a~r W~S-,n,owevCT.; used. in a Canal Zone depet as ~J1eehassls for a masslvegirder cr~J.I,~.In M~rcb 1942. tile
War Office' dropped. the tank design criterion which bad ]irmilcd width to enable tfms!_XIn within 'the Britisb
~;li.i,ksdesigned

members at.the from a rumtable carried rwe arciculaced aad stub !l!;":]~ I!i:lntl!~t ~~chfit(!;,'dwith two twin whui.1[s. Two meh.liDes ofs:~~baxles were fined et the rear Oft \Vai~g beams 'giving: '~e appe::llranc~ of a normal tlIroc: !Ude trailer. 'The rear whee[!], were 11.1il'lSP(fIlI11g .. All 2'4 tyres wert:' Ups 811:: the eutslde edla:e of the tr~erwhkh limited :iUl USI: in its or:lgin.d fOIi1J] '1;0 m!l1l!l!;;s whh ~ wkh.h over t:r~.ckls ~.fni:lil;Jm 91t2 ~e~l.'1'h~ mtUerwm. put into production under rhe \Va.!:' Office cl~igl.1l~t~on T'[$il'L'.lf TUJI!k TJ;aniS'po:rt~r 40-t(J\O M.iu:k L Licensed pr.od'Lllc:[ic;'irny ed'D!l!r .lirms, [I£1tabBy DYSOIU::.:liOOf1 b fo~~"woo,A rlt:1 the Cr.mesttai1er W!l~demonstrated (be d.esi·gmuvim.S o:ffcred 00 US manuf'a'Crurers forp'ooduction bll \
place ofthe
:lI (}'!ll;:l'"lo(!]g

standard :railway loading gauge, This wasto meaIli~!tt8i;t Ol: S

thereafter eauld only be C:1lt.ri:~d! EnBritaln I

36><85, a ,commU[iI ~omm~r,ci9J vehicle ~iUllic.l!>tcdO"l'I u,:1i;c:k~wa.Y'51resulted ill.

size

;l~,

the time'..The

de;ll~!msthey had [Iffered.

:Rtogef&~rol:he:rs ;8idEipted.ile Cranes design a.mi produced t whichn due In theuse (:If ~m~.~]~'t Wlu~~I1ililnd :B.25xU ty.i'e:!'.,was s.Hg.h.tly lower. 10 the US design the
s:imi~ar u"8.iet l trac.kws:ys
lA1ere

not carried. so far forwaro8ison the British design and. the:~bsen.c~of ~dip !(ill wC-OUtsid.0 edgt:~1iliabled:

w[de:r~"Sto be' CSllL"riecl wirh d'u!'ITtracks ()rverl!ruang~g the trailer. As wiith theor:igill!id Bril·jts:h ,d-es:jgn ~ producl:iO'IDI wag [~~Ms~d ~9 otbe:rmaf.lufacru:ref!!: incJ.u.d~]lBl?omter~ ''WiilEmietme) Checker COIn, W'ime:r-'W'eiss and 'fruehi!l!lif. AU 'V~rsions in B:riti:shuse were known as Rog.e:rs trailers. Tille "IO·UlIl1railen were' odglf.laUy conceived Bi~IJ:",8i.ns:por·tern iI.'Il.d it '>V3'5 intended \'hi:1!t~![l,k!i ~d;D.QuJde ddven 0.1]. but b som~ were bEd {or as :reoo1liery rrallersto make up fOf' slow production Scammells, In asensible C1lffbn ~H

o'r

me

road) thus increElsing the need for transporters, FUl"l1lIe;rtrailer developmem in this ~r.i(ldres;\l]tecl in tl Trailer Tank Trao'spor[~1:" 40.:t,oll J!l.lsIrk.n. Tbi:\>WEIS d.csiigni;d.by lLA. Dyso.n and was of weLded eenstrucdcn, v,ery sJmila:r in eonce''p~:and. si:z~ 'to the Crsnes-designed MilJ:I:.::r bur :hl.eking [}le .Up on tbe edges; of the tr~ck,-wa,ys. !;';Ciwdmus' cauyw:ide'.r t:anlu; wITI;'Il!m;eCCS$Jl!fY. i\mong the :lmb~c(1mmc:t'gi!":'ifor B.dd~b 40.,00:1:1. trailers was the mlmici[ vehicle builder > Sl1JJdvg~e and Drev.ii:'j\ A [luther Cranes de~ign was an off-road 4O-mn trailer, This com.pte,,; vehicle comprised atheee-secticn m~~n fran each s~ct:il]:l'l 1:-ieMElig hin~~d '00 [he. next se that the:!lrticlIl:ilQi would take up .;i]Jny un .. venness jl\l 'the ground. Two rOWSe e wheels We're fitwcl [0 '~il.cJis!licliofi and. aU were steered usir an tklre.rman system father than turntables, The m~C'Jli[!l was s1lC"ce5'duU:y ~s:v~d but deemed [00 cemplieated for t\rm.V U:S~. I:Imury tractcrs :for the Ro~cn trailer 'W'ere ,offCll'cd.by a I:lllllll:llilr of U.S :f.intlS ~ in same cases ba~d on c:hassisaLre:~, ~~ prQd.'Ilction or Ol'rle:re.cl for. the British Army They :ind'luiedi II, heElVLe'f vasioll! of the Ma.ek LMSW. iii \Vhiui lvlodel !i!22 and ~1W!'Imd.LEi!Praaee, The v1ehiclc' eventuaJiy selected w:)s the n,iamundi T .M.,od~l9S0"a baUru;;[·bodied 6x4 nr.a"':~'1J:r with a long bonnet hOlismg a Hercules dieeel en;gine, EarLy models featuredan ~]l-$lt;;~-.I cab but later production io.d.u.ding the second wll:r.s~on.) .Modd 9'81, l,!I::::e\ f01dl:ng caavas topped cab to reduce 'the hcigh'[ for sh.i.ppl, Iltua,doIDca,lly the 'soft top' versions WC'If! malllily a.'\l'ailable
+

lime foc the oold. climate

c:al1l,paign. while the ,$t~gl-cah'bed 9:20'swere ]~ke mebile

ofth~ N arth-

W,t;lSI~E\i[l):P~

11i'e CWloItlCS 40'4rrJ;1 ~~,~Il!r Q~ die 'mck"'j:bill),.!:.

r:mil,"l' f;h~ing clrMr{v i1f1~o;r.m:;'\I'U:p

Crl'mes-4Q...ltm i!inicuUUoo ~~~i}f:H"liJ.rsboruil~ i[.I' ,£m-ar-liahlli CJ'IJ:!",v,WU'I~ lm)bili~. 'rJf/~Jaadis. ~ C~Ul\r;hlJl tll'alt,

ovens in the Norm .AJrica.1l desert, The important feature of the Diamond T was a tt;,8I:rlSverse m.ount~dwmch bebind the cab. Rated al lOCUS) (O,11S ('0 ,000 pounds» it ¢n~bled dl!! tractor to winch disabled tanksonto the trailer. Olli[il~e:' Model 981 fairJe:ads wen: fitil'ed aad ,BlLl ,9Jpert'~r..e c:m ill front bumper so tb.u tbe vehicle could wim;bJo:rwardat u lOiwer capacity, Tbb WI1S intended for :seU (c'cQVery.\'V[l!ell!l the Diamond T 'Was later 'taken into \lSC by the US Army it was giv.en the d_,(;ls;igmnion .!\UO MId.. with the Ragen, ttBJiier M9 ~the combination was knownae the ,MJ9. Becaase some 40-:torl trailerswere bi.ng buill: in Britain more tractors wet\~ :5[)'ughr: '[han trailers. The l'OtaJs. Of de red in 1'941!, W~!)ii! 4:85 tractors, 285 RogeT!lurailers 8Jl'ld200 Btil'Uih trailers. As the Wt:lf progressed the Brjtish rumy was to emp:lay w,~Uin excess of a d-tousand Diamond T tracrcrs witb. various rrailcrs \Vben deliveries begen in ,ea:ri:y 1942rrt-;ilUil[;lOl."'lerfl. were Imlin!y .11110(1.3;100 to RASe compaHnies, but some w.:n'[ '~Q [be RAOC whofirtad the trailers whh a s~I of 5,nai:!:hb.locks (pu.ile:fs) and cable to step up Ithe winching capacity of d~e tractor when rec "'e:ring heavier ranks, The imbalance of br.tl;'wr aDd trailer !lhi_pmerns rc the ,ltliddle Eas.t resulted in SUInt Ragen, tndh:rs being pulled by the a,dlillpitable,~C Matadm. Orders for two designs of wheeled ll"ecovery .... ·ehicl-e had been plBcedby the Pu.rcha.sing Commission in the USA to

me

meet parely British requirements. Tn!:' J-J~~,vyB~eakdov.::Q Tr.8I~Uir 'was virtlrnUy an Alnerica~:ised: Scammell, U~ing!he pet:m:!-engined, Mad.{ LMSW chassis with 14-.01]'><201tyree, 01:1.simlg]1ll wheels" this vehicle was fined. w~tb ,a) m~inwmli:h and El steel, bod~ wi' h eq uipment lockers 011 ,either :sid,cof a GarWood :sliding two sec~ion jib. This had 8 poweroperated winch. The ,Can:llldiln.f.l·l-\i:1IiY used this chuais w:it:h swmglng twin-boom recevery gear and .l!lOim<:of this versi,Do cnnre lute; 'Usc with RE..i\rn laoor in the' W,EI::Ii'. The secend UK &peci1icatioll vehicle WEtS;intended to supplem,ent the British chas:'ljs ~vilihib:le faf the standard 3~1iol1ga:nuy 'body. A US , Doo.ge M:ode1 WK60 ,6x4 chassis W3%) used nd featured 3
semi-fofflard contrel layout. The Thcnncn

~o'1Il!blr.::-drive

rear bogie was ,:!I simpler aerangemeat than the 'WD IY'P~. A Gar 'W'ood chassis ~vm-"hWOlI,s fined butthe budies were British b1l.]il~ ,:!I:nd. idel'il.t1CE1J~ to those 'Oil ,British ehassis. By the end of 1942 both tae Mtlick and Dodge were ill use in Brhaln and [he kliddle- Ea8~, N (."'\~anadian recovery vehicles began toreach the C B:li.tisb, Ar:m,y in late 1941. The Chevrolet and Ford CMP range u1'chlLd,ed. 11:numlx!r ;of .reoov,cry veniom on both 30 ..cwt and 3~ton 4)(: .,,eh~~'8is_Seme used lII.olmeswrecker gear and ethers the aimilsr Gar Wood instail8:tiall. The ,e!l.<1emJ'tiaJ ifference was in the shape of the lifting boom,B, d

1'htr. d;l'J;7I.iI!'IJ/1ld'~k IT(m:!'j1tlflar. macmrmd_ T Imam;!: 'lpi'll~ li(;u,g-n~ !rl!i!'er;l' plIm,(1wap4ed ~n,iJiJi~tlne 'ilwnl,y a!f,fJf ~Vm'ldWar Il,

M"llick ,l.i\fS'W H Ir~ Brtt{lkdC!W~ Trd'CW dut'i'1g 1'.1 rec!.WCI) aemiJJ.tJiI'dJiun: bej'r;ttJ Ike D";,r~a()J' ofM«'V.tFij(;a1 E nginmrril'lf.
MaiOI' Offl'>r41 RU'Ulcmjr
ti

1943,

which in the Ho,.lme:s version were tubular l' braced \V:iUl S't·ccl rods, whilsllhe G'ElT Wtud used oomD'8 C'DD'StS[mg of two parallel gil~e:rs cross- braced wiib a lattice of steel strips,

Both long :md sbon whecl.b!1i~eC MP 'Vehicles carried these ker b dies. There we're also 6-wh.eded versions of the eMF range. 'The Ford F60H was lin clI:tlti[!Jdcd.F604x4 wi~h all iilddJed. undden rear a :de. One version of this
w;r~

dla.ssm carried the standard 3~toD ganl'IY body~ another used 'the standard :~i~htwreek;:r body witl:'o. Holmes, gca1. When Lend-Leasecame inte operation, Britain was under' great p:re~~ill"t'(0 accept :i!D'~dard US Army ['Yf)tl' vehicles whjch included rIU:l.ny features not f~vg!Jued by the MOS and W'ar Offio~. Netable amo;ng these were twin rear tyres which, although ,couie;! often s,![];pp:orl mote weiglnJ lende:d to trEiP mud. and stones between them ,~nd ·ca.Ulted problems if the inner tyres were punctured, Non' of the winches o.n Am~r.iii;:.a.n-dd;ign~dtra.l:'t'l1r5 wa:s fined. wi,ln paying'-on gear 8U the cu.hi,es were wound o.n in a criss- . ross jumble: causing extra wear and crushing under load, with the result [hal cables oflen snapped in use. sometjmea wilb fata[ resn hs, 1.0 recovery crews .. The entry of jg1rp.an into tile war. ~.gaitrlsr Britain and the USA. in lJer;:~fflber 1941 h ..d;li number of effects on rhe ·supply of equipmeru from the USA" The need for the USA to mobilise fer tnt:: first tane a ful Iy mClc~Jmmsed iiIInny promPU!Q a sudder, and massjve call on tbe output (rom ill'S factories: Britain and ilieEnllpirc' wcrcthcn no longe:r tbe main benefici~:r.y of Lend-Lease but ha,d ttl, take a rura ~n the queue, It did hewever bring the USA into the war against Gem1.iJl:lY and iIliI:'CLQ;gDi tion nf the ]m1l1!ewlIl!tf! danger!> the USA assigned to BriUlir.i. ill 1942 mruu oriES new M4 medium tanks uamed by Britain the G!:ller,al, Sh'~Tfi1an. From Alamaln onwards the Shemmn inc['a:asingi'y became the main tEln~!>. f Briush ,~rmoUIed :r·egimenu apar-t frol[lll~e o

mey

Srmuli!rd' US .drfi'l.1J.1 issuf2 7imdo=4-tC:1n 6·x r5l)i~ul·t' M(~tld '9,1'59 Wr~~k,e,r lhuwing the iiWO boan~ beirlg :used mdepc:rrd~'llly. witl~ steel dosed cabs but, like mest US trucks , ~ later he '9,5~sbad '801ft- top cabs. . Durilig this period there were ID!11'1Yrecovery ~qulpmenl' developmerus in Ute i\-iiddte East. The base work.shop~ contlnuedto build inlprov:iscd recovery vehicles, illdudiDg iii fun of AEC J\bUltiOll'S tined with jibs taken from Ameri.c:iil built HystclI'worksho-p cranes, one 'Jf these .r~m3ining in

service intO the 1950:0;;n the Sudan. Another eXpt!!dmefl't i

snught (0 reduce ihe height of the standard g~ntry ·body. A pretorype was built with a lowered ~irde:r' structure reduc-

l[lg the hdsht to ~h;,lL of the 3-1:,oncareJo vehicle. As the 'I' beam could notthen be slid forward for. travellirrg 8ince: it 'Would i.nuude into the cab 5,paofl,. it was instead cut at the rear and hinged so thEIt it folded over onitself above tile

ArrnyT anI( Brigades which usedrhe !.)t~s were begInning

.hurchill,

body roof line. A'f> as is mcnvn 110 further ]JuOdUCl]OI1 Iar the medi ~i;!d gantry lorry l.oo.kplace, As a result of (he gr~.t Iuad of recovery expcriQnce in
the headquarters authorised localmals

of

At the time US ferces were being deployed 1n Britain with sumdiilfd S Army recovery vehicles, some of [be 'same
to

North Africa.) Headqnarrers MiddJe East Ct,m.m:lllid:soughl from the \l'ar Office in 1943 an armoured recovery vehicle,
In the meantime

as Lend- Lease issues. These-included the 'W;:l'oo UI Franee M 1 tmd Diamond Model 969 "wreckers' _ The most

reach Biflt ain and the .MiddiJe East

po:werfliJl US recovery vehicle ro cnrer Bri,ti:sh service, in 1943~ \Vas [he '\l:far.dl,,~ France Heavy \Vrecker 6x6 ML It
was powered hysn 8.Z-li'Lre pl,;'t!l'011 engine and was buill VI'itO anall Sli,.'cl. cab, The main Ilftlng gear was a :tingle !'n~:ii:nghlg boem and three: winches were fiued. These wen: a 2'O( S)- 'Q[!Jlnalllwinch.n the rear ,El1J(US)-Lon Irontmounted self-rceovery winch and a jib winch with :11 Hfu.DS'

cElpm::i~y of9 [;Ou'S.

The Diamond T 6)(.6 Model 969 used a chassis OOO,$CfVBtiwely rated !l'~.fII 4-l:Onner by the US AI'IJiJ.Y,. btu itwas II far more powerful vehicle th8il1 any British 3-Iollner. The Diamond T WfC· ker chassis Was a, "small brother' 10 '[he tanktrensponer traeter with. some CQI!:m:mn eompenents. I[s Lifling gear, Llf tile Holmes lwlnEboom.rype~ lVaS ah:eady IamiliBif from (he smaller Canadian vehi~k;s similarly equ jP,p00 . h. W8;S· powered by ,EI Jl~uQl engine aad fil ted wil.lll.. afront mounted 7{US)-u.m 'I.\',inch .. EarJyvcx-siolflLs werefnted
Mii ...AR·.r 3
. I-Ul.· ECON[ WOR.LD WAit

G~~yFBAX 3·~oti bri>ldui01J'.Jf.l gamry w:irh lla:perimetIJa.{ low heig/~r b~jdr and ·r~.:IrchiD fordidtn.ler ra"wm.'i'ail~,

One of (~ IJmcch,}j'i11JG ~l'la;l(jdqr!i fiUt;r1 rwi'lh us H.vnff iruiu,~lritJl

trmUJ]'ib s.

it Di'mlfrm.(i

Tphamgraphed in E.'asfAjrif.a il1 1949• .It if_ft,lllld with .u: r,ll't'uw"ry jib made /Ml1. pietn of raillmlJ .:.IIud htjd ,i're~m mfMli/lM prllv.iCfrlS'ly ~'II ~JM..Middle Ed!J1.
EV-eUlt1lli311y

willli a US M3 light tank, Documents in the .REME M.useum record that it coped <IS a tank tug with 't nks of gr(;,~ l",:rweight but at tile 1;~i'~'nM:of consldera ble cI uteh wear, No m;iliui!:"-moclificElitiol1:~ were app~['el1d;' made [0 th~ i'M liIok for these lrial!'i and no production Stuart AllV resulted .. The A]bi~n 2U~lOntanl .. transporters pr.oved U WIble 1[0 ~[j'pi: whh the rough 1!er.ra:in North Africa and were in :le-r~ted to lS-h:mt; capaci~YJ later being used <IS heavy cargu v!;l.hid,e~, alternative transporter ~ordered frOJ:nthe USA, An eame into usc larcr ill 1942. This comprised, OIl P'ede:ral Mlldd. 604 €I-wheeled tractor \l;']!h a Cummins diesclc.!1gjne: md a. Trailmoblle 20-10'0 dropft.[;"III:IIf: s.cmi~'[!railer. l\. robust md reliable vehicle it proved 10 he or onJy mar,gi_n,~. use in U intended role since, by the LU:i1!1: of :i'tl!! ar-rival [Host new' :anks were the US· built M35. and i\1.48 weighing Elppro;x~ .mawly 30 tons. Till! 8th J\_tm)1 Recovery CQmp;lIIny W;~S Itlic.k ro questlcn the vcl1ide's u!!efuln,t,:~s 'hu~ de.l:!:igned a 110dificiuion by fining ~redundam I S-~W[nude. body over
lie trailer's swan neck to C[')llty recovery gear. Later Federal ranspnrters were supplied widli purpose-bullt lockers.

bclt~:r cocrdlnation was laIc:rue,"' to maximise ed the use o!:;ijvahl:ab]e vcb,j,ch:s,l 1l1l1l.t!J. transporters returning after ~ ~Ilk delivery run could backlead casualties to the Canal Zone 'NUihhn~ for repa ir . .Additiomd ~~~~'Of :; -part u"dd,e were provided to eJl3b.lc ~11'tractors to w.in~h "dead'
tanks on tn trailers and when available, RASe transporters assisted with recovery as well as bhlickloa{l]l:lg. REME nsed the Diamond T for tank recovery alon,gs~~ the ScanmIeLL WlliJsI. (he i.a:UCf' had a better cress-eoantry perfunru.i.nt."C due to its large Imv-pI'eS:Sl4re lyn:s- il could nor easily be separated frum i!s semi-trailer, whereasthe Diamond T cou ld more easily leave Its full trailer ~mow off) winch .a: tlillnk into Iine \l\tit.h the rear of the trailer then repus.:itiun ii '~df at the Iront of [hit: Ltai.ije:r to' winch the Cl.Uj,llmJlY on board, This Oexi'bility was a bonus ~nd to further improve liu:tr use Ill! recovery vehicles the (ifficer c:o.mm;u:lliil],g 8th Ar.myRecovt:ry Company, M.iljOir Peter W~h~tdey, proposed th;,jJt ill! of tile stock of Diamund T h tractors should have recovery jibs; fitlc:cl uno [heir bBIl9S[ bodies.He had arranged such a conversion using rhe jib from a wrecked Scammell. Many Diamond T rraetors were .!Similarly modified in N orth Africa find latee in I m]y. Another esperimenr, aimed at improving the Diamond T's off-ro..<tdca:pa.biHry, in volved 'th . des~gn 'Of overall tracks for the rear 'Wheels as, had long been proviclcl (lOr Ihe Scammell.

,,<\!![henumbers of Diamond T tra.fisport'l:n increased orne ptebierns arose over their employment, The I$~y;e of lew or :recundiLignedi[3nks V;'i:LS RAOe function thuugh, all a~er, the RAe Armoured. Rep]acenlcnt Grmtp took ever 't:spcns.ibilil}' for their transit from RAoe depots into the m[]cis of ti3Jli~ units, In N erth Afri,ca. beyond the railhead, .l!Lis involved the RAse tank lram:po.ner units. also ~cldoodin,g. like recevery - was an RAOC (hw.:.: R ME.) 'l)'sponsibilily but there were insufficient transporters 1:0'1" all hese tasks tr.l he cerried out by each corps ill iso,hulon.
I

Tank tracks were used for [he DiBHKllId T as their centre tilt:' WI hH' S lViii'll ,lI)ew: ryres, To give clearance for these uacks the ballast hodic un some traerers ........ ralsed a reVlt inches by inserting steel girders ere between the body and chassis. .
gJl,ILde::;; l'i"OuJd fit between

Chapter 4 11941,-'1943 The Continued War in the M.idldle East and North Africa
1

FoUowing me d!ef~m, f the Italian Army In LibyaElt Itb~ o battle of Beda f\U[,UD, in Fe brnary 1941 tl:ieallill:d armies,
depleted by me reiDfQl\l;ement~. $~nI to Greece and Iraq t dC:!l;PdlJte.ly needed iI 'bre.Il.'[ilring space 1!O carr.y oU~C~St;;11IW~, maintenanee to I:hd bartle-wom equipmenr. A'S most Eanks were withdrawn for nv!Crna:uJrne newly ~rdv'e{j IG~nJlall forces (whi hwould ,eVCDI:tt!illlly become the Afrika Korps),

lOSC'lber W,ttb fresh h~i:;[i:i troops, struck in BriJtis.h POs':itlO!!1S

in M;an;:h ].941. The' ","'ithdrawal o,fFkutiS:h and allied troops cont]ngl,;fl't, mainly Austr,8Jlian- marecned at ToJbrnk. This feree, supplied by sea, remained cut mfbut fully operatioeal for mUl!/ny onths. Further iacreasesin m mapoW'eJ: and mli:~~"ri,81[ enabled the .El11i-es ceunter-etrack to

k:n a.slzeeble

available but there was, never enough. The constant w:itllJdrawa]s were characrcrised by tlte :5.ight of '!<l!i'-UL:k trains' recovery 0,1' other ]Ilq~evehicles p'l.1mnga long Iineet dis:a,bk-cl vehicl .. s on wheels .. trailers or' even tracks in r1I0 e eff.ort to bring them b~ek Ior repa i:r rather rhan.Iea vethem to be c:apUl:red or destroyed, E8;~h time EI wo rkshep mo!'·!;;.~ ,,-, k m h.ana nac to I~- transported .-I; m tlJJlS way. i d" . u.' DIS, 'WOIr m;; Reco'~cry crew's bad lhe g:!i:sly task of extrlceting the remains of crews from wrecked tanks wm~timt:s, lo.ng after ('hey had died. and REM,E workshops 'Were called uponte desJgn and manufacture disinfecting apparatus whichbeto)j

tame

EIIt!

8 nd

'ili Geii'i:t.GInsand their' Hies were driven back be.yom.d

tlJ

eni.'fluy'

addi tional piece of r~cover:v equipment. \t'hen tanks were Iound, ur :fIJ1iecienes which could 110t be

tile Tobruk garrison tu break OU[. Thle and fro across the desert ill which British ,gene:r,ii1sb:ip',equipmenr and logistic support aU carne' n fOtr
series ot bettles

B!1;Ilghm.aUowin:g

recovered q,uickly and nligh t fall ill [0 ~~y bands, it: Will!!, necessary 'til destruy them, '0 r-c~ov~l'ycrews were alw trained in the use of explosives, The Gem _Il stnnegy tor conqucrmg the i\~tiddl,eEai:lt Elm
d~pI'iving·Bri[~jn

criticism ended. "v!d:a,ll newGerman il)ffeRll~VC and another i allied retreat began in mid- 1'9.42. Theespanslonlsr poH,cy of JaplHl led lare in 1941[0 the withdrawal of some British units to reinforce the Army in BUmlR. o [her formations which might h3'VC fllvo!l1ra'bJ· influenced the desert war. had i-ilstc.ad 1!:0 be sent to SiD.!,l:Elpore.L~ er it becane necessary 'to return Ausu·:allim_ I:rOOP::iito the Far East 'm meet th~ new threar, This period saw Hule:impro\'cll'lem in the sc.-aJ,€: 0 recoveryservice», whkh remElhlled. huge1y as prcviowdy organised, Glr:J;duaUy moreaad b~uer. equipment became

O'f oil $U:p'p~ies ad become b

c:!!i,;a(

in 1941.

Rommel's forces advanced in North Africa and. FOUUWing Ope;ralion BARBAR,OSSA, strong German forc~s uccupiec southern R.I. '5i~, giv:ing 'Ell€; appearance nfol:carefully de~gncd pillcc_r movement, Orhe.r rhre ats existed, The pro-German V~~.by French government contrelled the colony of Syri.a and mtelLigci:'I!c,e suggested it was maiki-ng'its airfields av~i] able '(u Gernl~l'lait;ocraft. In the same year a pro-German govemment took over in Iraq andl attacks WCCi m~.de ou British Il:rcop!'i-:ill the couIItr-y. Ger.m~1I1 age'nts 'Wffi also at work .m Persia, the orherrnra:in source of aU in the

CopruredllalianStJa r:w 'f~lCM ltl'!.l!-ilijf,Crnn;fJS 'lYt-rol1lmill!f it"r~1i,caPl~jfM Gi!iml>lr.J'Uglu ~aJl-lrock {l,~tJUI'j 1rfliian ~u_-I:rmd car.

A cdpim'cd Gml,~llm 2J·-MJ-tl; lJmJ~,ftrtmsporUr 11'411wSd A h .116 ,c(J.~W (,i 8'ri!1~/i A9 (ffllJer ,r,~lIiIl~.

i\liddJe Easr, To prc·oempt this S[f'j,u.cgi.c d:'s,igo_ Britam formed in 1941 [he Persia and Iraq orce {fAIFORCE)., COil1ll>latin,g bil"'ge:Lyof Indian Army form~·ti·o[J8j.PAlFORCE uc~up:if;dthe vacuurn ufnortln m Anbw. TilliSdissidents in Iraq and Persia were arrested, T['OClp~,ofPAIF'ORCE o<ccupied Iraq and seuthcrn Persia whilst full north wall ~(lliwd by Russlu, A joint. Bridsh Empire and Free Ft-enc:h f!;l'ree:i"n,vaded and uecupied ~yda. From dl.·eiIlOil w:uth (be srea secured the main (ask became one ma.i:nll~:ning oo"u~ for B.dtish and US war material s.upp:li0'd to Russia, which also beganto benefit from 1Lend-Lease' . The e:OIT'ItCiY route for SU:Drpl-ying Russia :ran from l~e.rsh1n GulfpeJi'L~ across deserts Ieto the mflunu.i1'ls.in 11'10 Ql,li1'th of the COIID.tty and on W rhe R l]!)!S:i.SIIborder. A recovet;.l Infrastructure WIlS set up but dle units lacked sufficiem or suitable vehicles, FOl' maIDmIlID caJrl'yillg ca.paci.lY US lo,.ton trucks were mainly used rc ferry munitions itO Russia:; bur the ()llI]Y breakdown vehiclesevaila Ole were ~·wn C~mnjiBn Fords converted to recovery v·~h~·d~s 4 by BB.J>e o.rk~hop in Egypt,. 111 consequence impfO'l'fs.rn.tioo W became [he primary rather than secondary method .. Forturmrely nt-l.IlY US C:lfIO vehicles 'were lilted with winches; One instance :isrecorded of a d!iis.abled truck being backloaded roped mUD the back of another, pigg}lFbac:k fashi.on. Laterrwo L of C recovery sectionswere pro.vjtlicd !fortlli~:area, equipped with a total of24 heavy t(lcnvery vehicles in.eluding three Scamrnells, .A.1oorts last retreat [he 8m Army finally held off the i enemy a r the Baule of Alam Ha]f.a which begsnen.tbc 31 A~gtl,st 1942.. .By thls rime the I::nemy was being S'(3rvOO. of supplies and equipment mainly through me success of the RAF and Navy in th~ .~\edi,[cJ"raJleal'l.,.,A pause followed this ~!Inki dU.l'"ing· which both i!:ld'L;l~.r;;::pai<ed {or the nl!:X~. The p J:rr.i,,'a.l of GeIl1l,eral MQntgQme.ry It. this time coincided with Oi mere Iiberal slI1:pp.ly oJ equipment t much !:I{ it Lend-Lease from the USA. His particular gl:lrUu.swas W convince 8th !\rmytroops of their (Ilbil:.ity to winafter M) many defeats .. He placed gr{)~l'temph.a:sJs on training iJ.rld his med~odl!l were ro Je rewarded ln '[he hard of El AJameln.in Oeroher 1942. Ihereafrer 'theel'lemy Wall ar:iv;(ln. 0'1:1 ~ ef Egypt andlalcf Libya, 1'11:.1.11 fi.mtlpush cleared the West:em Desert of the enemy, lQ in early 19,B the \iI3y was dear for the Ui!lrundered and

or

IWO W("Ck!! larer ba:ving recovered over L A vehicles) several trucks, 60 POWs 311d :5t)IDJe [OSI B.dti1lh tank crews, This alse demonsuares he cult .of .indeP¢:Od.l!:ITCli; . bait 50me recovery units and individual crews had built up ln North Mr.i.cn, This was founded on.the ~biHty to be selfs\lppo:rulllg,carl'yi.ngr~doo__s water. weapons, first-aid suppli'G:l.Ulols .Blnd !iipue parts j, and Ort 3:fl! 'I;m:£~ Iiair for map reading ,and desert ru!!V'igation' en trai:l'l!.iiD.g a:nd' ,~)lp~rien·cein icl~:l1i11fyioJg and ~~ling with mines and booby trap's and .in o!i'e-rcoming Ci.i'emy resistance andi, Elr~er.il!Uthis the skiUs no mIT' out the .!.'"CCQvery task. Such ~:pQ;.rli:sl.:. 'b'red ,;1 unique kind of sol dier tradesman, Operation TURCHI was COI1[;.eI.v.ed.with me intentian J s~u<c;:~ang ROIJJID.eI.~s ~Nis fCII:res hClwe~n the 8th Anny ;MId a ~ji.\v]y ]s.lldlcd j int Britisn and US group of armies in North A(ri,ca. The additional aim was to deny to the axis the eeseurces of the French colonies of Mo.roCl"."O,AI.ga::riJi and

T unisia lind to persuade the French there to renounce the V.ichy govemmear and side yj·.hhGeneral de Ganlle's Free Frccnch forces. '11'1,(,; operation landed elements of British.

hTi.Army and a large Ame-I'ic;m force in AI,ger.ia.. These troops hod :mov d from Britain whi.Jcal1o .her Amecic-All. force, shipped direct frern the USA.laIDd.!::·cl_in Morm:co. The sites uf these landings w~re dictated partly by [hi!;; need Uo. provide air cover from Gibrahar. The degree of resistance se be ~~ct·r.:d frcm du: Vkby French was an'l.U1!Mown qUOIlltiry. The hopes of II rn.p]d uccupation o{Tunisil:1i were
frustrered t~·a rapid German response, poor road communieatiens, terrible weather and inexperience, paniculillirly IQf US U'O:O[l!.i at dtis s'l;;~g-e. French resistance to the landings varied but quite soon agreement was reached; the French ealonial fort\,;;8 joined 'the allied anti ies but outdated !eq.uipment and political problems initiai.ly blunted their cfftttivencss. The de·]ays in ll'lO"l]iD..i: allied forces eastwards ! gi,ve the .ne.my p:lenty of time to r·einiforce Tunisia 'bringing troops rrom France 31.1idItaly, III the urge to !!ib], allied

me

nll-scale recovery of aD.}' abandoned vellldt:!;l.lef[

behind El.'I.

~adjcl' h~u]C'J:O orin (he move 'Wcst'\;\"ards. Thefrem-tlne -ec()very units had to move forward to support the 8th !!,n:ny and be,bJnd the flghuilgroxmiHlons. there WU1! a huge ~r!..'1I. oonraining only s.i1pply tra.fiic and sm Uoccupation 'orces in the former Itali~:n towns. 'To cope witb the -ecovery workload addido.n.aI. units Were breught from tbe :arud Zone indud:ing tht'l Re(,."Uvery Win~g of I:h~ REM· !diddle East School. of In.st'.rm::.liorl, whose smdenlS wcr.e ~iVI.:Ilpractic.al experJenec in rt:lledes.crt. Prison.!:lnl o:fWar
j

fighting l:roops U~ Algeu:ia. IlliI:IlY [oIo);1s:tic: yuj'ts were removed room ships at [be last mimne in B,t"ila~nl and. for a lUgE; time: lU3J\tffi .[c'pres.e.Dlallo(J) in lsr Ar.my 'Y!'2iis..·Ill~ch [Ou'sma]]. Thli: Corps ha:ving be 11 ;t;Or-DlIC;':tIi nnly rust before the =>b.ipssailedi,. units were tlirg:ilni~d on the 1:I!i;;\V ant! untried War Office t"S:[aMisbed tabl, a, unlike 3d, Army REME units, wbo~ lot:aJly a_pp'Jilwted o'.rgrlI1lSaJjon W'~sthe result: of two years operatioeal expt:ri.cnJC~. The' Ist Army .RE M...Euaits Q,ft.en <litri ed depleted by those elements relegated to follow-up v
convoys b'iUlt were expected In funetion as though. complete, Eru-ly 'GC:~l,n success • .agau1sil the A~i\!ricmspanlcularly, eveurually e['lJI.li'lli':ecm to withdrnwalts as Rfimund remrned to Ge.rmany ~and th,en 8th Arm • b;r.oke lhrougb rl'l!c A.frjk~ Korps defenoes 'On tbe Libya- Y·llwsja border iiI!)id Jink1!d up 'W[Ul 1st Arm.}" Despite setbacl.{s [he·combined
SlU IJ

me

POW'g) were also emp~oyed.

An iIUereSlitlg s..idd:igJr~ on 'the recmr,e:ry slciUs arid ~I'Pllilsati.Q..l1 a:lWs [ime tells o:f t1;.l,IO a.ugIDl!nt.ed. recO\re:ry ~ctioni!ldis.appearing into the desert a.nd.returning neariy

sUiecl for 3!S, in dll]e coume. d.r01rC; the Gennam. and Iralimlls bilc:k on. ruo.ms wlt·e~ dIe), su.rrende:red in M.a., ] 943 , Tb~ ·vchid,es cmnmo.oly a\"I:iJabJe i[l B:ri:I8.i:nin ] 9· .2 weri! all:oca ttd to O:pc:ra:tio~ TORCH. bm Llh~·r,(l tOQ few iL~ were Uallsporters WilLI none 3:[ fit!;;t in REME hands tfl{XI.bJe,of

Olrry.i.J:Ig the U:IlJ.rcilill; this despltethe deplQym~:Qt ef Chu.rchiUiji;Viii,!;.h 5 m T ank Brigade, Evcnl ua1Jy addiuenal 1, 30·u:m;eransporters 'were' rem from the UK... There were however wo R_ASC '[an~ transporter' comp:ln]cs equipped with 4O-[c,nLrM1,arUlrler5. Ahhuugb rransportcrs were In short supp.[y the !lol;.:ib.I,t: feature II this opera'tinn was the use for the first time of- AR.'\,,);, l\vd,v~ Cl1'IJ.rchill. Mark Is Iermed part OfthiC A:l:1fiy'TaflkBcr,igade <Ind did ~m:rliug work but theabsence of ~,winch WII.!l a,great drawback, Tb€:

experirncural unit based in"il workshop, Varieus proj,ec:ts were undertaken i.nNorth A&ica~ nota:bly the up-gunning

of ClJil1:i'chil.bu&i.ng75mm guns and mamlet!S from w[ecb·d Shelml'lfiS. Another less. wen-known CR:ploi.t was the :IJi:;;l-alla, lion jn a M:irrk I ARV of a winch, This W~3,driven by the
tank's milln engine tlsio.g a dutch and a worm-drive to! ~k thepower thruugh :I, 9'0f1 angle, 1:.0 retate the v'~rtiGa1shaft 0;[ the winc.h which was mounted abolo'e the turret :ring" A.

development

of ARV:; .is Qove'f,c:d in Chapter 7 "

he REME leSSOl!lJ8,O' thl;!campaign were digested and some changes in organlsarion were made b~f()ru the [an.diugs ill. Sicily. The 'Lcc.h.o:icallessons led to the setting up of an

boll3l'd. at each corner of the hut[ ali19Wed[h~ wincb rope to be used ,!ilil ;,liny angle. This. expr![imen'[Q] AR Y 'suffered fro,1) Wit frequen t failure of winch -drlve COl'l.1.piJlli;;nls SiS,hey t were not robust enough to transmit the enfiline's power.
I

Chapter ,5 1942-1944 Further Developments in the I ...'_. .' ..' 'd United K·lllng· "..=. om-..
:-I .--:' •.•.. I"
The Home Forces in the-United Kingdom were g.r1tiltly reinforced Irem tht· be'gj.n:ni!1~ of 1942: b)' Amerkan troops includmgEl growing .slrforce comingent. The (iunny W~$ described at this timeas bein!1;"one big training C81~'lp', E;y ,roviding C'amps~U:"Eliinillg areas ~airfields ~admiaistrarive services and SQm~ domestic transpert far the [T S forces, Brl'tiliin wes able to discharge hs obHt>ll.don It) dJ.c 'lwo-w~y concept of LClld-LC""!'t'i!!', From mid-l942 pJanning had centred on Operation TORe] I. the in vasion of N mID Africa. With the successful accomplishment of lbis earnpa1sn themain cmpli:'i:.'i:ig~hifacd to an evenrual landing in,
FlI"8l1'J,ce.

procedure had to betelescopectc hastea the start preductien, When the W r Officewas persuaded

o.f 'ttl. ta

stock 'U S vehicle OOU Id meet I,(S needs l developenenr rime was saved and vehicles \:ve.r~tlbt~.:i:ttlJt:cl1h,rotlgh end-Lease. L Pt(ligI,e'5:ll~'!'~c development Hind improvement of B.r.i tis lw. tanks WllS pursued both b:;' the Wa:1: ffice; and MOS. The O Crusader umk Jed to a new series, Cavalier! oCellumr and la ter Cromwell, all similar in appeanmoc. Onlv he latter
rwe 'were to see operanonal service and [be Cremwell was [be first to us~'!:he new Meteor VIZ engiae, an adaptation of [he Rolls Royce Merlin. used in aircraft. Am:!!amemprogre sed through the l)apollode'( to a. dual purpos-e 75m.m,.gun whic]] could use lJ.t~ same ammunirien esthc liS guna in the G.ran'!; and S[-],-e:rman. The 'ChurdillJ tank bad by this time become :d much more reliable '~~hid.'CilJl!cl. after a bloodi[]g the Dieppe raid I1Ill1d. an U:I1ispe:ctlil1.1.1Iar lI.'ppe-am:nc.' ~n E.I AI:lrncili.il fin'l s,aw m~jo:rCljQ'1l in Tunisia, Many ~ spe iallsed veh:h::1eswere ,also deve.~Q~td inc.i'lJ:ding ampbi. hi~l!]j~, irpnrtOJ.ble light tanks and a variety ef armoured. a vehicles tailormade formajnr assaulta by Ii!:ndl f sea ag,OIlDsr O heavily defended positions, The W~J!Office Tank R,~p~i:r and. Recovery Committe-e, o.J'~llaU:y SU![. ill .1940, bad lapsed after ih", D'I1nki,rk up evacuation. It wus revivedin April. 1941urJide.r the new

The c:ffidency of [he~$y~tems. in Britain for devi':loptr.J,~ and p,mvidiug milltary e.qtl.i.pme.n~was slowly bdng improved ,'!',id'i. grQwing cooperation betweenthe War Offioc

and MOS and a gn:au_'l' awareaess of ~h·g :pr.a;c.ti~aJ Deeds of

the arrnies in [he field. The initial 'testing ofprounypt"i ~nd. Imported equipment was I::Q:rriedi om in 'the M S '[rials establishments followed by War Office troop lrialli befote acceptance for production, Often this more protracted

Direcrer of .;M_echa.ll:icaIMair.m.::.nao!.'{!t [aJt'~F [0 become Dire [or of MeCnaJI.ii.ca,l, EngineeLjng (DME), Its tasks Included the in vestigation of n:CO\'i,.'F)' ~cll.niq Yl;!~ and cquil mem. To assess such equipment an lIExperillle:nlaJ Ree very Section was et up;u Arbltficld near Rl;!ading 'in October 1. 941 neet te the ReCQillel:Y and AFV Repair TrainlngCentre RAGe, At first the: St;'c'uionwas concerned milinly wiih trials of fl'ew recovery tractors and transporters andthe dt:si.g~of impruvernents, Leter, completely n::a.ew vehicles were designed.and Pi"O'l:Cl-ypl:::'O built, By October 194,2, when the ERS was transferred 1:0 REJVrn it consisted OfIWO officers and ~w'!illY soldiers. III Wi\I:S- 1:.0 grow by me end! of the 'War 10 a strength of 182. Later ,:ilin xperimen tal E Beach Recovery S~'CU.(l\nERRS) \l.-":.<I,S fnrmedaad the two ll.Ilits worked in unison producing, among other lhing"
spadeanchors, for Scammellsand uther recovery vehicles a

:;;tUiI"i1'agetJ:rl!ll~ke[ the Sc:uNm.e]l spare wheel and p~:yin.g for O]]J gear. for winches .. ,An, 'I::;u:ly E.RS i!l;,u;;ntion, des tined 00'
<l. SfMd~ NC'.tqr
,(liIIC.h.i:tr

fl.'"

rk Expmm(JtlwlBeadi

aesl:gned for t,kf.!S tammfJU Pianeer bll"&kd~n.I1r1

Rm:O!l.l'lN01 SectiDn.

become standard equipment, was the HoUebunc drawbu:r. T[tL&Ihi.~g-oo. tubular > rigid IQ'W' hlElll enabled tracked vehicles . to be 1:.00W'·ed more effidently. II was :oCCSSSOl ry UJ make

~~l!talc vusJO!DS (or B.. ritiid'i and US tanks tot their clI]ffiermt standard lilwing si:tack]es. The name derived from Colonel J. ~. Hollebene, who had been Commandant of the R'I;:t:Ove:ry and AF\' Repair Trainin, Ce:ntr>e, S,lilid[y I ,~omt: of [be equipment D!e:signe:d. the lERS c(iu]d not be produced by in ,sufi'! knt ,t:!,lLBntity for wid,t;:spread issue before the 'Wa~ ended, Yhts W!U doc to the 1,;iI~k engineering capad:t:y In of )3,rieai.n and the :Iower p:rwri'ry gi en. [QI non- i:lghting equipllIli.ent: by the W:!1r O:ffil:e and M.OS. .Among, the vehicle dev'e~Qpmenn was a light recllvezy vehicle based Of! 'fh~chassis of tne Bedford QL I' X 4 tractor roc the Bofors UJhtanti~a:iJ:'(;I'Il!fl gun. In 19441 B new
mc;dlum recovery rr ..clOt was designed) intended to become a standard veh k:h~for the Likely protrac [00 war Blsa:inst Japan ..After tests of the US F\17D 4x4 and Di~mond T 6)·~6chassis rhe new mediumrecnvery '\itlrlcl;e was based on a:he·cha~isof the JI;,.\adt NM 6x6 gun tractor which wax already used by the Brltish Army, The dauble rear wheels were accepted as h was cbeape,r alnd easier to obtain a 5olano.ard vehicle, The r~i::overy gear was Ib~st':d on th used on the CaaadiOiJn version Mack LM\l;r. The vehicle ms, :fnl[~dw~lhB 7-n:m. wind. powered jib w~lI,chesand was designed. rum the' Sla1"t with winch-rope paying OEl ge'<1r.AU winch controls !;:ou]d be opera fed from (he cab. Twill, detacha ble gp!ld~ were fitted, ~OOlrill,g rather ~ike gun rrnill,egs. The ~,1e.hkle as accepted ror production w but beforemore [han Ill. handfulcould be rom:p]e·[ed[~·e' WM ended and comrnets l'i'ere cancelled. In 1943 a :rJiewchasB~5 was introduced rOT the standard ganlry 'body. The Au:;tin [(6 was a normal control VD!.iv.idc

more widely used till then urrderpowered

by the RAF. It used 'tbtl same

W.f1S,

e"J:lg]ne IS 'the smaller ,4-wJw;e:~ed Aust:ins and

therefore

twin- boom dcsigl'1lwitll boC!m~'siroihil: U::I

or me

me 'Gar 'Wcod

type

m,~m

An i'i1e(impl<l'~8 ,pro:tli'!>,Pil'.of lite M aer:k ,..ec~ery lfacto" dC5IfJil,ld by tbe Ii qerimqnral1?,~"OVfl)!Sj,,>tl!:iol'~ REME,

n~~ch:ines,:it WB,S of~gn issued to units ill lieu ,oflhdl' propel:' cl1titl.cment. Wb.i.lf: ERS worked. en .rfl,.overy'niaillii n~w [ll'BIfllSporte,1'5 were also (~sted at MOSestabl~shmt.Du,. At ~NEE a mod.i:fu:':d.Federal 604. the 'U·3!l:tOI;' fur the 2Q,.[on transporter, was fitted. with ;,t b:illia~nbod~" over 'the fifth whe el coupling and was used to tow a 4(j·lon tmnsport.e:r lI,aUer ~ itself modIfied {01" tbe c~rr.i&lg:e of I.engrns ,of railWl9.y line. Li;aiso~, was dose between ERS ,WVEm and FVPE,[he civilian manufacrurers and n:prcsen:uad'j,res of,ijl,[i"i:iclarmies. Oilier corps than REME bad vested interests in this experhnental WOrlL .ARV s were of concern. to the RAe and. tank transporters to tb~ 'RASC. Whl!nUS and Canadian vehicies were being tested their mili.mIY persenue! were to be found at ERS giving :i'[ a 'very C;O!lJ]],opnl]ti!lri l:dr. An ,AlrlbQI:ne 'or~c~ Developmem Centre was set up at Amesbury iii 1943 and. among it::;, many experiime:n Is was the air mO~'(mein(iJfvelli: Ies, Mudl parallel work was gomg Oil in Iadda, wher alr supply had been perieclcd to a nigh degree by the USAAP and ME' SlI.11)'piying units in Burma and a.ir.lifti:ng war material [0 China, The only available aircraft was till: C471, a CiIT!,!;'O v~:rf.lion of the Douglas DaJ:;,m:a. with ,11 double doorar the I,eft side nf the fU:ielage. The widtl ,of.this d:oQI"liVI¥ p~aood ,i!l :Iimit on what types of equipml,!.nt could be' carded and Jong irerns had lobe y~tY narrow ao dl'~Ycould be inserted into the doo;rw~y at an acute <Ingl~. The ocly wa.'y 11)Cflrl1" Vehid~io;, much bigger mao Jeeps ·WIIS lO dismande them. Ior reassembly on ;.lJl,"ri\ral. lIIlm.1:3·tQ;noer. modified. fpr m transport amounted -1O~hr~ a.ig.crafi: IaaclJ:l but .in the absenceof men: suitable p];i:il.es"this was adopted. ·he ~-maUes.tIlvElil,ab[,c t,eco,,~eryvehicle worth eonsiderlngwaa the Mom:s. Commercial CDSW and ,an airpertable version was designed" The complete chassis wit fear' we C!e'ulciled eeuld befiued in one airCr.9ifL~ wbile':a second carried the vehlcle 'body I' l'eColi'ery and 'Welding geElir and the crew, These proiects Wer~ optimisl1cnUy based O!ll the s~,I\earrival of all air'l;:li;';:tft nd ellis was likely omy wher.-e a 'mUlLair superiority had 'been ,esta'b]iiihoo. The later aV3ila'bmty of the Hamilcar glidie'!'enabled sume quite si7£able vehides. to 'be ,carned :mtElc'[,

forthe recovery role. It remained in Army service' jD:~nthe 1960s. By this lime, the 3~ton gantry ]ofrYj orig~nllll]y rated as a heavy breakdown vehicle, was rega!:d,~t1 as .iii medium v!!ll':lide bu'[ 1 due to shorta es of he3.'lt,ie:r

arm

Cnepter ,6
Ihe Campaigns in Sicily and

ltaly

D:leriil W~8 <lini[l:ev~ta:bJ.e 'Pat.l~~ afwr the cl~.fmH Oflbfll Alti~

~rces in Tunisia whilethe allied armies pre;paredw land in fi~ily,~ penIloD HUSKY. REME hail '!:!J su:peI:V:l5e the O

l{1Lierp.r:oo(ingofrnousancls of V'ehkl~s using kits and I:IrIIteria]sprod;uced 'EF!. Middte East base workshop!!,. 'the l1!r;,l'C was alsQ a: [:o,jos!lRI O''''{'I.'':ila'U1] task LOp'r.,~pare 'tile mn~e~wgm,vehilc:les of thelWO :British armiee fOl yc~ :nont~!:' C':.an1p3ign. Cembined-airbueneend seaborne landings oflrhisb .• ~ll11~diailand 'Us [roops bttJugh~ theW!:if to the ]t~liiOlili iomeland in July ]'94i3. The Brids.h ,Iandif,!gs over the eaehes were supported by REhm 'beaeh bzieks' ) induding

ecover)' detachmems whose normal .D-S~ra,cto,r$and

kmmm.eUswere w8ite:rprog{ed to exillc:ting s[and:uds, since o m'UclJi ep~f:ld~d On them andon the I:'!.!;IO d Churchill A1l.Vis rbic.b were also 11S'OO. The beach b!·ickswe:re des.~gned.ita ec:oc'l1'1..'f rc:pai:r ve-bidcll 1l:r!ci ~(]luiiPm,et.u dJuring tfiJ~ ,~nd
[Ulllilirags before .8inywarbibopiil. arrived,

The brief cOimpOIig.n on tbe isl..u;Ki. encl~d 'lii'ith tile arrender of SJUItalian for.c:e.s ,SlHd the escape OfEO!ITI.e 1!:l'mm troops aerossthe Strai'l:j.of ,M,es~]'n:ll millnl!lncl '[0 My. REMEr~ooV'ery' l:!:Il!]U in Sidly gained. :aforc'tasitC of "hot j[l1l.ly was '[.0 Qiffer~narrow reads ill sreep b:iJ~yareas ib,ere a, singlle breakdown CQry.ld\;:.~r!J~~ i1re;rin'!.l)1i,d~!;!:!y~ in the dYaoce,offigbHng fOrm8doirD.~ and in the m,O'v,ement of iUppJy eolumns. Furtber recemmendarieas wer-e made fO'1 l1ec~}D.vers.i.on ofD.i~mond T tr3CWiI'S[O enable diem It) be wed in a: dual r-Ole. Two main I.andm,gs placed allied. troops ashore In It:;l]Y. A

oint Br.itish/American.laLldmg IU SiI]eroo wassccempaaied )}'.I;I dir~c;t crossing Df the: S[ii'MU, of Mtss~:Qa by !fie :!!:Lh.
spread German forces 1''fS.1E1tedS'uc;m,glybut enV!~hhdn~w,A. l]egoli~tlKlsurrender of all It.i!I[iiuJ: orces f oClkp]ac;c at this butt the Gel'lruIJllsreiuforcedthe til1lltry and, being.in PQ6s~j,Qn of mosr 0·( it, were ableto ;mg out 'rne w]jr by iii. ~etie~ (I,f fighting withdr~w~~l'5 to,.:a ~tcess.kill.o.fd.efendedlil'l:e!>. At~h~t: time there' were few irnt~as~ lml('h; in 'ltdy ~:!1i~ tb~ maln Gem.'uln ddcnt\C~ '\I!,I,~lW!' Ii [he mou:Ilrninswhe.re communicetions were' Il;l:.their 1l10rs-t.The US 5th Army , .i.n.cJud~i!1!g .bu·g~ :nl(!m~1' of a ~dtis.h treops, operated. Qll, the. WeS'l:em sme: of ml!: country ;o;'h.i1ehe Brfusih .8th Army ~oveteci die Eassemside. ( The 'German. surrender came amy Hi few days befere the ,YiiI':' ended iII N-ormcm, :Duro.,!). l'h~· final y~,a('s bali;t]e~ were
\rrny. Thinly

rune

'(O[lstC!rn \viilidn,'W,ai's of men. ,~rnd~qw,pmet!t.~ fir:n fo,[' tha [!lV~s:loll off'.ran.oe in [944 andthen fOif Operation GOLDFLAKE in early 1945~,;;I direct tnLn!t[ervia S{uu]]~m f'l'am:~-e:,ofre:lnioroemel!liL's (or 21.!>l Anmy G.wup.in BelgilJlm :rnd Holland .. mil Italy ]o,gis[jc proM~ms ,arQse fl'om m.11:. I:er,ndili. the djma~e, avehicle :E1eelmeeh of which !\~d been worn QlQ,:!i:~ m Arri~.~ diffi.cuh ]a'lC'nd IXfnul1ooir.;:aJ.:i.cin& OV,f:li We meumains lind for same d:memeabsl!'.Ilce of base repEir facilities. '1.iIJill.s resulsed In dependence o~ the dis(liJi,'I: WUl"l~~hClI'p1S [n N'(}r~b A.fric~1 and M!gyplL, Enemya.ct!Ofll. seemed [P lake ill g'l',ear.e.r '[o~rnfequLip:m.ellt lntae more confined spaoo in wwch i'~ o could oper;r~C'compared [0 the desert. 'With.om. nearby 'base W1Qr:ks:.b.o:pl> a heavy llil,tiulIu(acturmg and Diooil]calio:n work1C1i<!;deU 'oti, the mobile Wf!]'.k:s~QP:!l ~ which. OOP,M o~Y' f because wllen. tl1.eir parent fO!r.lll.anioru; were rested VI"!lrksh!O]J5 carried on. Som~ nG:w!,!'~hic]e!\i w'ereshipped frnOl.micl.'l:am but mose carne fmmili.e USA and C3nada,., mt~cQnditio.[U!ed. vehicles c;!!:m,c frt.:lnl!ffi:gYPl and N uriCb AJri~ as U,.,,: wO/f.k;sJm;ojp:!i, thcrr: ·gr~liju~][yepaired the huge accumnlatien [lfw.8iii~dama;g'ed r vebieles fmul the 'e<,d~l'i!r cOImp,.:igns. N €fIN vehicles Were m05tly liihipptd c:r.aI!Jed. and n!td[~ 'be .ruJiisemb['i::d OEli ,arri:vaL .Anolh.e'r d!e]a;yjng factor waso:i':u::' d.e.s1i:rncUoo of the pOl't!i: by (~e J!eue.O'!!ting rr(;J[m_:a~;~. [.;!!.[~[ C'<litg(l' Vl!iS$~]Si ~;;ld,U!l~wait t merest'O(3110:l'l of the docks a! Naprue8!i1fl1d HMj. 'l1wtoughOlJl'l: the ,c~mp(lig1lT!'bht;:f~will; n :shor.nigc of ijl:""l1:rud~ lind ~o the rec<Jli'eryood rapid repair of casualties was V]t~t B:ritisb wnfbhQiP~ ~nd u::OO\f1~'l',Y compam;je;s w~rn 1:,0 become: mOorefamiliar here with UlSiiUlid. Canadi8ilm "wreckers' as the emphasi.:;l ~tI.,j~]JI[a~:em{,\![n v,~bk]es fi1:'!'Wi dt~Si~ countr:i!!:;!! iaereased, The standard iSS:l!Jie[JS Rna Canadian types. havebeen described, D:esphe (he a;y,ailiolli!i[ittyof some ef these wreekers '~Ilc;:re remained 3. :sihc:u:tage: otreco-v-ery

me

1I.lipm:a,~'Q im.:PiJ10V!Se. ,AmO<ri;g I,QI;;~I-oncv.~r8!1JtJ.5 Wet>ea ( ni;lm!iJ~HjT 980. tr..a:c:rror:fined witll. acom[)l,el!:e Sc:amm,eU breru;.dowJi1L body 'lind a Mil.clt NM 15xli tnlJ':l'O:r 8imiJ;~ily 'unired' . AnotilM~r .Mll,ek NoM. WIlI:S gi:ventbe bodyr:rom 3, CMPwICcke'f, .it:sGOll Woctd ge~flll.i.l!.kmg it ve~' '~~.iLl'Ifto
tlile vehicle under dev.dQpml!f~:I11::ill ERS; An unknown

vehicles and, as in NOnli M:rica,wo*snotps

were called

~oo:ev.iUed, .11.01

on1y by it'.eIl"f,8Iu'iand

weather but byrrh'e

Dumber' of .MilCk N M, iill1'lidD.LE!lmolld.T 963 g!1_Q l'r~c'~(!rs· ~l'~ fit~~d:Wlil1h [Ibs of lo€\Il1dcsii:g,Il"Q!fIie bei.ng (be wmik ofa R.EM.E welder EIiaHIed Crellin frem ,610 Axm:yRee.(i\1'~ry 'Company. So ,g!:"CliliI. W1ilS the need fDI'tb,c:se sdditional
'I~HP.:·c.r\MJ>'\I(JN'S IN SIC'L¥ hNP IT!'I.I..'I'

43

bateh eenverted in 'lh,~ Canal Zone base workshop:!, for the unitsin Italy, In SCl'JII.e i.nSU'Ul,Ct:S the original US gun traeror body was kept btu with parr ofth,o floor removed Wnet:€! jib was wclded [Q the chassis. On BlnothEr more elaborate versionthe Ql'igill1l bud.y was rephll~G.d by ::J. redundant ['.Jv[p lS-CWl Of 3,O-CWl steel body mouared forward en the chassis which was ~posed ,Bit rhe tear where .:he jib was f3:tted. Some of these

recovery velticles thill somewere

me

local

COin

versions remained

in use in to the I,950s in the

Middle EOSl and .A.u:stcia. ][[3 the app:illing winter conditions on the undeveloped ~tt1.il~m mountain roads. only Jeeps ceuld operate and ::;O{)[I imprevised recovery equipment was fitted to some: o:fmfD .r1n fmfrl,(},' ita!'itmfrom Italy, ... Mack NM 1
," t:~mpif~eS(i~11
J@aJ'lMtJi~,

HIm

rraf,;wrfiue.J ~rJ~

.A small. number of MlJnL~ Commercial CDSW Ught rocove:I'y tract ors was !i,till in set'lrlce In 1943 and proved useful in the' narrow mOU:i:)t;1l1n roads. The slow Mindcostly I1S&<lUU;S agsim: d'efof,!ndedlines in 1[3.1. contrasted sLtQlIlgi with the da~hing movement in [he desert and tanks We-Ji~ used far more in an inf:rn.try~S"upPQrt rele 111Italy. Tmn~1
ters were used far more for r~(.~'\o·ery and backloading and! less [uJ the mevernent of 'fh tanks te s.a vc track wear. Improvisation WIij.<S not con_llned to recovery tractors, In I~ some 20·1On semi-trailers lram the ill-~tar.red Albion CX2:

were fitted to Federalor

simil~r R.eo 6.,,;4 tractors, Linlli~

recorded of their empLoYlrlCot. At some timt after the wm some of these semi-trailers were 'to appear in French Arm' A M(Jdl.N M Ph(tlOff~hiJd:lrl Tries!'/! ifi about 19S(), TI!~ tv.fl~ au . oj lhe (""!oN ',liUJ1I:5 #lM I:" C tml1lZ fme /i(1$.f 1OO't'ksJIDp.~ urirljJ a ,1943144 far 'il'fe' iii I!~b',

woe fitted ro traerors 'using d!l,'~Diamond T 4-vun 6;:.;:6 chassis. Some Albinos dkl comiaue in weir original w,re Q at a reduced load C:!I.Pf.lltil,,)r. As ill North Africa captured . 'I' . i...l:' 'L GermWl recovery eq'lupmelllWas uttlJ!O(1· d;H"1l,C[Uwll,g' tJ~0

.t1 Dk!mOirld T 958 a:tli[kry lr~rL!1t CfJ 'lJerlm 10 !l"ll:W~ry w!J.icie' '11 cl'1il'ing t}u~ Itf11ian ciiJ~1pl1igt!,

cCi'ln:pJe-x Sd Alt 116 23~'~o.nuansporter U,"21iJer which. WBiS fill:t:ed, ~[11,81dc'tachabJe 4 wheeled hogit: 31 the r'(lU iJnd bore w a,'8up~:rficial resemhlance 10 the 19:2S RAOe A[d~r!ihm ~~rly til the halian c-.amprugn the US Army lntroduced its T2 (later .A131)ARV which iii! described in Chapter 1, Two CbU:l'~hiMARVs Mall:k 1 were sent te Mlilly from North Afrka, rOT iii. comparative trial a,gaimn the T.2 and Mowed up r~n:b r pOOdy. A M~c:bfil.i:ica] Warfare 'Expeliim.e.o.ta] EsmlbIishment had been sell:'Up lU Otta'viani! near N aples and one o:fit~ t'nsks.was the d.~'Vel,Gpm.t;.I1[ Ii wln,cIH!qll.ipped ARV. of Tills too used a Churehill hull and a wineh from a Dia_j}]QJJdI T tractor drivell by a,M.DIT1SIC(lmm.~rcia] engine. Prellmin,iU)" trials ", em! " ~;l)jtisfal!Lo;rj;' 'but there is .110 record of ,my subsequent conversions. In tl1)e meamrH!IJe sil'i: ef ·be US T2s weR"]ssued tn REM'E a1l!dwere wid.,~]y used, Larer design,

Shermnn based M32 ARV was also taken into 'lJI~ by rile British Anny. "'ome 'Grant tank lugs were alsoissued for recovery in [tidy ..There, as elsewhere I' unarmoured tracked, tractors were ~idely used,
J:n.lhf' USA before

me

The Lv-r 4 l1J J'ttl~fittfId chassis. witli i,1,,.irlc11 insidtl

me cargo W'ifll.

ilw il5

an. ,1RV u.ring agu'i true/iii'

amphibians, had been used. in the Flonda swamplands, Larer, militar ..·versleas called l ..anding V.chides Tracked (LVTs) were to form the \·~ng:uatd. of rbe m~ny US M role h't.1idlings in. the Pacific. The final wartime varil!lnlt".L VT 4.:1 'WaS Eli eargl) carrier w].1th a sealed rear ramp and} in sumo instaaces, Iight armour. It coul!]d cany small vehicles 0 up ( CO''ll! (lIlS, of cargo. A small number of LVT48 we~e issued ~ to .Britis.h forces towards the end of tLte opcI,a'llons. in Italy rot an ~u:li!clk~Iil the area of LUf: Cm:1!'UImc::!iltio. o.ltu,ewna,t S typ:ical]~ythe I1,citis,'I1 Army decided. to prcdhl e several 'modified versions l'lbmdy before the operation began, The work was mosdy carried OU[ in gr,el'[ haslI'e 'by 6$6 I!Il[IRtry Tr op:; Wurbhop and included a recovery v8.Iiilmlt.. The rode m.ame for aU ,L'VT:) in Iti.iDy ,,,as F",m~;il \~"het'ea::;;; in

me WlI r some

expenmentl!]

tracked fitting into the cargo well the truncated and. wheel-less chassis of a gun tractor; complete with its engim and bonnet'. A rtlU~:rwas tid up on a fum,e extended vertically so !lull the windl cable could operate clear of the raised rear ramp ohh!';':'LVT, Drive '[0 the winch was via th tracrcr's ncemel gearbox power take-otf, A few orlhe~ COD.'1rersionswere made toptQvid.e amplti'biolllls recovery expedientof

North W,est Europe LVT4s used by 79d). Armoured

Ui\ds.ion were called Buffaloes.

The Recovery Famail was created by the fair.ly :simple

support to t1pcradunal L VTs,. The official REM..E war his.l.llll:Ystares that Morrig guntractors were used btu phOLO show a eMF type, It is most Likely dial otherunrecorded recovery vehicle OOD.V:usio.llS " ok place in Italy but th"o~e described here gill,e Ot good ~xamplil'; ofthe ing,erullity of RB~\IE tradesmen when lef~ 't'o mnke 'their own tnels. Ann~herintf!l'(;ls.'ling aside was: the revelsuen 'by a GeTm3i POW' that two SbUlTI1l1l tanks captured in rhe Anzi,Q bridgehead were taken to R\Jmc and modified into turretle ,ARV5 and 1j;uccssfllUy used bvthe Ge.mums in this role.

Chspter 7
1942-1945 Armoured Recovery Vehicles and New Transporters
Afte.r '[he !iah'~ge tanks of'~,?!;~r1dWar land '!;'~riO'u5 nillf-heaI't,ed. pfOPOSfiliLs for such machines betweenthe wa:rs nothing much happened until :RAOC and R Aorn. experimoo Jed to exper,iments mam~y au Ar.bnrfiejd begin:n~ng'~!il February 1942., ThC"W~r O,tlk-ew~s ccnvinced ofdu:: need for a protected recovery vehicle bu t it was not tin 1942 tba t 4!!, ~umd.ent om put ol' tanks from Britain. Canada andme USA made if possibleto divert some earlier tanks for fXP~rimen'tl'iin non-:figJning roles. 1:Intially .. rests we're made using tnrrerless tanks as (owing '\!'chidiCl'i'but ll:U!cream.ng their coneddrawber pull by the me of ,3 pulley and cable, [ayom witb ground anchors wit 11 extracting another' tank from 11 :iifikuJt poshlon, Trials of a Churchill and a Ct'l~C',mmter tan.k En the j."\RV ['oll!:'began in A:pdl '1,9'42. The 'COV'l:llillJu.er was qukl\tly diS-CRrded as '!.mslli'[~bk and work eontinued with the Churchill. The design that became ARV Mark. I
used a turretless tank with the hwll~ghtjng compar men!:

tank compenents.

By OClo'ber 1914,2Crusader and Gram ARV.s were be~ tested. The Crusader too was discarded bur Q, f~w Gr~ts were converted and used mOliicly lor tr,atiWng ,. The Gr.ilI!Jll ,:;u. well as bell\g turretless h.Bd[he main gun f,~movcd [rom its shi,~ prnll'On. Recovery crews h.ad ta learn how to SpliL 'tf;adt8 so as, '[0 remove them [[{iUI damiiig~ tanks if
necessary, " avoid weal;'and tear some !:rack p·ms
fill

AKVs used for this training were adapted :fOor removal easy
,and me r:lppIl'Oo,pri:ilJt,e tmdt links palmed white, f'[ b!;:cilm~ol:wiou~ that {Of standardisanon it would be necessary to .make an ARV varisnt nf'cachmein type of gun rank so that the ARV was compatible for maier spare: pa..ss r s,llJIpply_ Cavalier, Centaur and 'C:rumw~]] ARVs ::5000]'1 cornlowed and both She:rmRI'D, nd Ram. varlants. AUexcepit the a Ram follewedihe uSl.1al dcsJ,gn but with the Canadian tank de'llldo'ped at Aroodidd with the Royal Canadlaa Ordnance Corps (ReOC), the turret was retained and <I manually operered wmch was: fitted, men the Camet tank ,cam~ lnrc service in 19.45 h.s. weight WaN linJe more than that of the Gr·omw,eR and U1e need for yet ,another ARV waisEI!vQided. Prod uctian of the Churchill ARV Mar!;;.I commeneed In campaign. The need ror B winch was reaiised bur .0.0 '!Ul'llifC!!: of !'Iuppl)r ~ot!:ldithen be found as all :British and US manufacturers were fully committed, mainly on naval contracts. i\f~r the firsr use of ARVs in Tunisia the wincb requirement became a high pdorhy. The ARVs M~rk II: WQ'Illdh~lve been Jess effective as recovery vehicles the

me

roofed over. A h..aH::bwIiY gave access forthe recovery erew, ~OInewhaI later an AA['Qacb.iIl~·gu:n moun'tio:g, de.'i:igned ia the ERS ~was fined ilmter:l'la]]y could beraised to fi.r-edie and wr.rs l:hm'U:gh the ha:tcb in th~ roo' wirhous exposing the
stowage bins and l~cks tbsloonedthe' rehicles and equipment carried irJ,du.d.ed hand tools, shen md. long cables, HoUebone drawbars, several s;llauih1tdocb 1good supply qf ground anchor plates and 'pin~' (an ~n<l:l,prop'fjall;.t' name fur a three f ol steeL bar w'ejghlngseveral pnunds), A di'sm6UDIII ble tubular steel de-trick was ~ar:.riot:d. whith co~]d. be erected at [he [mill of [he A R. V and rsed with .a b.lock ~U1:d.tackle or porrable winch [0 11ftmajor g'IIllIIler. Additional

mi.d-I,942 <lindW1;lfin.L d.o;!;c;n were used in the Norm

AIt-jc:e,

man

~ansfJ9rtff

"'UI Otai'il A,RV M (Jrk j uJI«;ing (,! DiltfrlflM T 98(} tan~ with Brilish 40~roll UiJu. P' tJ.ffll' Cium:.hilt latik.

CromwitU ANV Mark 1.

S~Jj:ARV
p'~~e
;jffl

J!I1;::j~! clr~ringN(}r-l1~We,MBi~ roft ,t!lIWtJ\m.

((UI.lpa:igti.

The ~cks {l~fil1£d'wi1~ cmu.ttrS'.

{'xtll'N$Jll1l

pf~~J ,w rndi/'~ik~ 'Vekid!!,"~gf(mnd'

Jill, tractor were it not fo.!:1:-beir' ~ rtct speed and proteetien, h In ,I, (143the ,EItS began to develop.a winch-equipped lRV Mark 'which would be built on three tanks :1'1:LH:,chiU,Sl1ec.rm,;llli1. and Ram,; !:he la,ncl illl::eildet1 fer :allodi::m use but built to II common design, The M:J.rk 11 eamred ill fixed structure over the turret SpOQi!. fined with (L tummy gu.n L'Odjsgll.Liseils.spli:C'udist role, This Iiil,:t1;Icl1Uf'C roused the winch, obtained from Croft!;) of]3,ra.dfoM; and he crew memhers hls..~the d.ii'"h~er who sat in the bun. he mii;;h t)f the Churchill version wahl driven by ehe ',""chIde's aglne and could exert fI, 2 5-~I)[tdirect pull, Tile cable paid lUi: to fh~ ·t~a:rthrough an aperture in 'the back Qof ~he uperstructere and pastied u'ilcr mpu]]~' on. a ~8Jl fixed jib rthe REl!' of lh· tank .. This jib provided a heavy' Ilft WlhCfC~S he de'[acha.bJe booms a the fron~, as fhted LO the Mark I, vere re[aln;:::d for Lighter nftafor m.sembly changes. A binged spadt.:: was fined at the rear of the hull and could.be owered, 'then driven ir.nl'i~bi;:groond by .reversing the 'thid~, whh::h was not then soh:ly depend!;;'n' (In iu: O'Wn 'fej:gh[ as nil iilirlchor when winching, A. selection of'reooV'ery

oruy~

experiments so as 'to coucenrrate en :8,11:111 tank developmeru but when the new' .ARVs were ready Cor preductian MOoS wo;r.ksh p.. Five hundred Mark n ARVs were ordered but ver~' few had been eomp[,eted when me W,Elf Il.!ndcd and commereial OOI1I::1",ElC!S. were t<l!.w:::~lh:d. FOIl some years :8irter the war many 1l1l]U~ had j'n make do witlI.Mark I ARV S 9.1" with nl)l1~ at all so some conversiens ofChur. bills .onUnued [Of a :few years at 13 .comm:iltlQ W Q'fRSihqp at AJdenhol. Parallel ARV development Look place in the USA where the 'we.re known 8S 'Tank Ditetcie'o'ers' or 'TBInk Reo!1very Vehides', The '51S'~ US ARV to see service was the T2 lM,~:l) based on the M9 lank (General Lee), Tbis was designedfrnm the start !ovfth3. winch ..The smaller M3 mrret was 'l\.It':IlM 1.0 the: rear and in pbu::c of the gun, 3. erane iib 'W~!l, tined. A dummy gU1l. was sometimes welded (0 what had been 'tllieturret rear. The turret cn~dd.·iir,m rotate so tbe ceane could be slewed to a.r,~yang]c. Stays. I'll the side uf the jih could 00 attaehedtc the tank :b.lld] '[,0 ~l1JiJ)Ort he.a.vy lifts to the rear 0.1' extended to gl'oUFl:d II!vel to l'luppon.lliftfi tnthe side. The main tlgh'in:gcl'lmp!u·l.rnem u:f me tlilnk housed the

arranged contracts. Due to a shofta,g,e of enginee.ring ~a,pacil.Y;m~nY of tne OQrJ,Y'lers~ons look plaee ]:n REMBEi

:qulpmem was carried as on the 1I43irk I. .Ax H.azely Heath, orne miles from Arborfield, a winch t1:5[ rig WU$ built )omprisin,g' a ramp with <I ~hjon le~]grb of railway line. The vinches WeI" t~&Ik"LI drawing a ballasted rail wagon up the amp. ERS built some pilot Abrk n ARVs, il'lcJudin,g four ~hh,e Chnrchllls .. MOS was g[8icl to be Ireed from these

~Pf](!l'~"C!l' ,,,/,liu.t!I

Tilt SMfilMal'; AR l'Mm"k II iU!4B,rruUPltthe- jCl~ristma& nehicie-.r..

tree;

w'iincb. In ,Ba:i'risb s~,H'v.iu the M31 \V8.Sknown asthe Grant AR,V Mar.k It One .m:iljordrawback of the vehicle wu tlie absence ef a spadeanchcr. Som~ Wh bad a dummy maiD gun on the ,~on on the right side of the hull, Altbo'Ugllli used operationaUy the M31 'LfII'iilS only an interim de!iign. The M3~ W[;'i$ ~ more eff:eC'tive Viehide based on ~n M4

wheel·s. The

umk-ca:rrymS bed was artached

'[0

the fmmI!:]1

(Sherman) :t:IliJl]l. k'e d"Ule[:l,n1isb. M.~ll.k II ARV this bad a U fix:ed Iiltn;!~t1!J;:r\; illl place of the turret, uhe sides Qf which were IUtgled, givrn,g.a coffin shap , in p~3jJiview. This W,IiIIS [0 accoIDmodi;ne the 1!l1."0 bOOD.l$ of a fixed A frame hi~g,ed t'o the lOop of the bu~Wat the' front ,ilJl.iI,d lowered 1[0 the rear for rravelling. The A frame prov ided a heavy [itt fo'l' nmj or .as$(:.;mbUes and could be used for eng~n~ 61" even turret CHanges. The vel icle WaS :lirh:di '~!i"i[h 30(nS)-ro.n msin a winch and th.e win.ch cable eoeld be run nUl to the front of the: 'IIeJliele fall"recevery orIi rtillg aod til the rear for ]jftiog:. No llixed :ijE'''.d]c asfirted 'but small detachable d!.:lJc~ W,elOO w c8Irt.1ed wmc:h were placed U.lJd~f It.i~,tracks as 'i"lI form of nehor, A liumbe:r a:f sub-varisncs of this vehicle eKLs'['ed
depending
011

such a WiiI;}f tb;Mit could. he ti]:red, bdnglll.g the rear d.o:te ro .he ground Go.~hBtl usi!\g two small. Mng~d ramps, tanks could be driven or winehed on board. As a tank reached III point of balance it: depressed Lhc front of the bed in·o its horizorrtal u,~\o'~UiJ:llg mede. The '~il.tingof an empty nailer 'W"Q);; achieved by 3, 8ing~e hydraulic .ram operated ib:{,tl hand-pump, A small production 'batch ofthese trallerswes buill by Eniat and GaHlt)d and they we-reused from 1(·1,~J t cany var.iO'Ul5'Xp,crimemaJi and captured Gennan ranks ElO ev,l:l:II:LtuaUy,for the Tortoise ..Some 70-to:n t:r,t!Jil·er.:;; CO,ntitlUf In use well into' the l'950a. Yet another preduct of Cranes. Wf,!S iii lO-tori capacity platform trailer tocar.ry the DB tractor. I l had ]I 'Wh.'~E:18 in. two rom of eight, 'the from n:l~ be.ing tumtablc steered, 'Inc suspeasien syst,em was s.:imiL to that of the 24~w[u;:e]ed 4O..'[on trailer,

the basic type of

Sherman used. fill" the

cenversicn.

t\ main armament

was. prov:id ed :iD 'ttb,~ sb.a;pe of

mertar. These were mWi!&ly discarded. Some' oHh,e M 32s, were issued to British units in
1;Iiifil~:XI:c'mail1ymounted 8lmm

The shor lligl;'! off-ruad recoverytransporters, due to L I;,w production of Scammells, led iea proposal to conver UiliC more ,readily a.!.ailable Diamend T tractor to take a. . semi-traller. Trllllia began in December 194211[ V:lVEE a.nl .later at ERS of ill tractor ,,.dtb :!Ii fifth wb~~, c(l'lilpliimg repfudng tile ballast body and ~ Scammell 30-1:On semi-

or

haJy and cQliltinued in use for some ye-a:_u ~lter rhe W,atr, particularly in [:me,MkLdJc East" ~md they were designared Sher:m.a:n ARV Mark In. The US T3DI/;'e(If medium tanks was to have been com.plam..en.tedi by aJWlilvy lank w,eighing IIDnut 50 tons lind d,esip led M6. Its d,esjgI1 found tilde favour with the US Army which "i!l';'l~.frequently at adds with ~h~US O:r(bil!ln,c~'
D partmeDl.,the des!~:n tlnd procurement agency, over

trn.iJer. The [[iils were successful and; since. Seammells

could
D..,OiE

semi-trailer

prnduction, anew 30-LOJl was designed and built by SllJelvQke-and Drewry. ThC!production ,pa,ck:a.g.e included the fifth wheel coupling and mountings so that eonversion was a relativel' simple task. Tw,!) hundred trailers WeI'1! produced and

increase seml-trailer

proi' cted equipment, ,el'::ilomgthe British situa:tiQ.fl betweem the W,8:r Office and MOS. The t ('!.nk.~ad ilgone inte h q,uilmity prodUC:LioD" \VJl'S earmarked for British USe through Lend-Lease. Otbelrll'ery hellVY8dds.h .EIIrm.otl1'l~dvehicles were projec'lleci and some, like the 7I1':-t:on Tortoise tank d1csuoyer. were evemwilly buih. Witb these: pwspecil:S jn
mind
JlI

heavy trailer

'W'IiI;ScaUed

for and, once

agruD~

Crnnes

p:r-oduc,~d 3, :rcma:r.k3ibh~diesigl1,
The prototype in-'lion tl"wer W~$, u]h in 19-43and b consisted of a twocp:an frame, hinged so a ' [0 croo~ llfIiJlill.l.atio.ns, the ground, The fro:r.!thalf carried. two rows in of [our wheels and rhe rear h.a1t three rmv of four wheels, A cl/ccrman Sli!ii!rmg operated on the four tlut~r raws of

TJ14Cl'lal'rej: 10,tlm fW b.. d lnmsporU:r ~rfiikr ligJftl{JI/ooaed + pro'IfJ'typ.e .420 ,!llInk htdl.

w.itA a

~IlVICI;"sIOIl

of thetractors

was undertaken

by ']"1'5. Wlu:1ll.

eme Sc.::amm.e[[ractors later b~C;l!Jle a~~iblb[e, due to a t

,1.iI

[piu!S' of 20-(j)iIl~:ia!J;llpol"[eI'~, some VI'ete fined \irilh the

halvoik,e and Drew.ry serni-trallers, M1lllY tank tram POl.'" 'Were usedfer the carriage of ers mcr nea,,",),equipment but {line: ovel use for 81 Rogers n :O-ool'lt11liler Wtl~ ~s the bilMs for 11.11ell:~r:imen'lld 90 )i!!uelJed rocket launcher built L945 at [fue School of \nillef.Y· 1['1.1942 tile US FtuehaufT.ra~ler C.o:mpany dlZSlgned 3 It'W front-llne articulated tank transporter. The o.rigina], raetor d,es:i.g~n sub-coetracted to the: Kmlckey Truck was ;o:mp~my but this smell concern Il~nd,ed over pmductiCJD to he larger P3!~m_ Car and Foundry Co.m,pa:n.y,The 'vehicle onsisted of an armoured 6 x 6 uacter unir, given the O[l'lpa.DY'S model num ber '.rR~ J and, US Ali':!nYdC::l]gmallolil 11:26 together with::l 40<US)-'~gn semi-trailer oM] 5" TLw Clm.bin:.liti,{).n.'was officially Truck TraUEt Transperter hUS IUt Ull(l:ffic:ialiy the DI'agon Wagon. The seml-trailer could Ie detached and the tractor driven iilW-a:y to recover BIUlnk:

Cfa.~ 4$~um;J'a~ JII(.!r~.!'Jl[mil'i' trf{;ler !'!}Wji'd by Q miJrufirul ,'f)ill."nrmd T rrwdd 980 fiued 'With S'~~re rear 'wlw.f!h.

l!llng its two main

Q{US)-tuns . .A detachable Ub structure enabled me tractor [I 'be used for suspended tows of B Vehicles. Later versions .fme semi-trailer were upratedm 450tons and lon~ dter the zar were u sed with newer traetors c:m:ymg well over S{I-[DIl

winches with

tI

co:mbi~led pull

of

Later versions of the P8c:itiC tri:!c'tur, designated M26Al,~ ocre unarmeured. ,Both £ypeifi Were powered by massive Ial] Scon six-cylinder petrol engines. In all over 1;300 were uilr. An unknown quantity was allocsted to the Britisb ,I'my and one was modi.fied at the FVPE as ill bElJU:ilSl tree [or n.dwas fitted wi til single w·heels with 2: 1.00 X 24 tyres, .eether stand.ard.,M2S W;i:s photographed just after the war 'ith a.Bridsn Army number. Some ex-We Pacifies had an !-a~ndeclme :1S h~avy haulB;ge tractors in. tlh~ Rober[ Wynns
eft.

:mas.

Jkrl' Ifarly ti'l1ak.edlrfl:ikt

wiih

ltil.ilf~in
mil)'

wi,r.rb.

b!!1fv: ~e!l. '4

Wiil·h gj

Clmn.mllhu:ik as a l(Jtld.rhi~ !i!"f'r.r;ip.!:!Wm (tlmet.

b'gthe {lrigiul ~'LB

l'u'V\',a:rds me 'end of the

'M

WHir ,il

new

lea",}, Cruiser tank

the A41w:hkh was Eater named :el]urriO'n. Thefirst productlon versions r~,iI:::h~dthe ttoQ'JJS ~GerllUllll.Yjmt [00 l:Iltc'[.()be: tested in action. The tank was
W:lii>.

developed, This

Ilwered by the Metoor engine :prcviouidy used in the romwell and Comet, Centurion weighed ne,ar.l:y,SOtons, reallng Eli need for EI he-avier.lmnsporuc:r, Crane produced rerotype b~' the: end. of 1945 which was esseolh:dJy a oi.de'J1edaJJid.lengl~U:fH:d 40-tnnne:r with the nU'.nta,bJe fitred 'itil two lines of stub I:IX]esIn!llea.d of a '!iingi,~]ine. There le,re, therefore, 32 wheels instead of 24. A very simllar 'ail,er was to be produced, by R. A. Dyson after the war. F~~d.buck from the camp!!!]g.i.L North Aftica, p.rovidc~ in mch of-the. impetus for early eR,~dm!::nt5 at ERS. The r>Dlblem.~ f tank recovery ln soft and uneven ground and o
je limitations of existing recovery ehieles and transporters :d to much ~fti:)n Inthe development efoff-road transpor~r&.An ear.ly Cranee designhas '1:;(;"G11described, A mh!'r :mues design for 3. 45-wn trailer was a great de.al s-imp[ef in aaeept and, througb the IJS!:: of massive 116.00X20 earth loving l)'Iu:i:pm~nl\tyres, 11.. was a useful off-read trailer. It

'1"h'eGrlJ:l1~del.;lgrHJd&w~ Bouium
re.rf:lt.'ery

(J.l1d

tJ1fJrfur,

P.l bib lm.-:k&J ~mdi:

had a built-in engine-powered winch but was exrr,emdy high due ill the h,u,gc 'tYll"'I1!S Wild as a result WR:'l pr:ob~lbl~'

I!,l!:rl!nilb]ewben loaded. TesIS had

tracked rransperrer

[11:\),0

beea carried

01JJ.

of

tr...lers. The earliest had e dgi.ilaUybee:u i

de-signed

"Of

In. France in 1939 much [l:mugnE had been given

u·Ot'l,:p:s.wou[d cross thefire-swept
gt,ound

an entirely difCereil,( enterprise

called 'Nellllle:'.
to

how

in frear ofthe

German Siegfried U!l~. Mr Churchill, once apin aAthe Admirnlr)', with echoes aifd~ earlier war, used Royal Nav)· resources 1:0 dlly,dIP a huge trench-digging mac;.bi:rle' which,

Ir was en visaged, would carve a u~,ndb six or more' f("el deep

enaMing assauhtroops 'to approach the line ~<lfefrom Uliill::hillec..gun fire. NelLi,{: was an acronym 'based on the letters N 'E, Naval Land Eql,lipmelU, and one machinewas built and succ:essfully rested. The fall of France saved il Cram operat ivnal use wher-e irs purpose might well have beenthwarted by plunging mortar and howitzer fire. The traj]ers made tu Gl!...I:ry compon~ms of N ellie ran on ttl'Hlll tracked bogies IIDd WC['e .ideal for testing the lIreory'of off-road tank ~ta;-l1sponer~.
An impreved ITl!1ii['uwa.... d,esigned b}, C ranes ,liInd hirer mass-preduced by Bow.ro;n nd Paul. an. aircndi. manu.fa& turer. This was fitted. wi ~h tro.ek.,ed bogies made hy the firm Roadless Tractioa, thl; [rm'U ones on ~ steering tnnnahle,

00 p.mductioD versions

ofthe lri,1jih::r11 housing

at th~ front

concealed am engine-driven wmchm enable the trailer 'to lead tiiln!ksindependen [ of the tractor, By the time this d_,cvdQipme:nl had progressed the ARV was in existence and
iI'r.!,s nhe OoO'll']OoU50 toWing 'l"~·hide. he trailer W.8:S offic:ia.lly T ,rated in 4S·[ollsloo.d but could c~r.ry much mot'!;:. h was i:l:sdi so beavy and unsuitable for u~ on roads, that it had to 'be COlIfried O~, a wheeled transperter. l'llis me! the prospect [If better off~I;Qadwheeled tr.anspon·ers meant tile tracked trailer was-little :uiwd.. One at 1~5t carried dlesel 'r.Qlhv3,:Y I.ocomoth{'e~, to France snd WEI:'; ~b[e HI U"aV'L'!:rse the beaches from a l.;!lnding,er.aCl with i~~heav burden. 'Dr:I'''v:i.ng'S held in the Tank Mw;e'lUIl and origiiniilltrn,g from lhe Schoal 'of "'fl,nl~T(.."Chl!!o[ogyshow 3 :numbc.1" of other off-road tank transport· r des.igi:UI whk]lare DOl known to have progressed b~)'uild the stage of thes~ concept skelu:;b~. Some o:hh,esc idea'S:were .ahiQ recorded in an ,early post-war monograph on REME hisrory, One scheme was for a tilt:

The common sohnionto inadequatcengtae-power In vehicles bad. long b~~n to mstlOlU two engines, Tbere were nt!!mc'rous e.1{E!m.plcs of'thia in \\j'o:rld War II find one directl ccncerning this SlJ bject was,aheaeytracror developed by A'lbi~fi MomiD's. This WBiS de~:ig:rt~das a safeguard ag~insl 'i1l:rcerl'upltltn:t.l>in 1D.e:n:rpply of Diamond T tractors. In [act this didnot ha.pprosD oniy the prot:ol.)'peCX33·.appearcd .. used rou:rdQs-e~mup,le4 axles flU ddl>'cil by the tWO AJbiorD engines bm in. la.teo experimwts drive to oot: axle was di:is.cmll'lJI:C1OO g.h·'iag it 3D ,~~ 6 drive line. Tile: vehidt.:· could low ~I 75- ton !o~ldand was fiUnd with til winch. the controls for which were in a cabi(l:!i:[ the rear, giving rnevehide II double ..ended appeariince, AnO'thc't" experimeru:a1 vehicle le$led. as ~ toml", tractor \!;'~lf,;a.,6>ivhed drive version of the Scammell Ploneer gun tractnr, Vehicle wfHerproo1i[lg experiments had b!i;;;gunwell befl): \~oddWar Il w.hh river crossing and ampbibious,land.ill!J!

in mind. Wi th tht:,~t;ltdll.g; up Qf;t Combined Opera rions Shill after D'uultirk these ex:pcrimenhjl lovee intensified anc r

mat

bed trail~r re.s-ting en two cenu:aJ:ly mouated

tracked bogies

but with a pall- uhQlid tvred stabilise! whcc~sar each end. The vehicle would have been towed by 'another UUIJt", Prc~lI..II1fi~blythe rear sU'IbiHs.er wheels would. fold :away 10 enable the trailer bed W lilt fOf ,Inading. A. seeond seheme proposed @I sI.Ill:ilar :rigwithout stabilisers bti'~,fiued with II massive SWfJIl n~~k which was artached to a fifth. whee[ coupling in ihc entre of the lurt~l. dng of a rurretless Chmd:illl" .An hydnn ..!lk' ram abcve the fifrh '1\rher!l wonld raise the SW~[l neck, thu stilting th.e trailer ,"yhose main frame tV3S pi\ mecl on the' transverse centre ]~n~of the trabk.ed bogi,e, Two stab.ilisiD.1gh~rd.muJic rams connected me u:aHer:frame ito the '~:r ofrne tank .Im.lt. he:dulrn scheme was for ~ three-quarter tmcktd 40-LOT:I transpnrter wi th foktifig rear ramps. The forward control truck cab was [0 be armoured and a steersble fmal aNI,e: ould have b "en w
7

M (,ld.ijiedSoorlJJ'i'!!tl1 .10-'lO'l'l s:emi-lrailcr with 11'a~k~dli(Jgws. The tr.n;ror IS 6: DilJ.'fOO:rui T witJi Inrnglt wJt(!.e.[;- and IJ'vIJrf1:lilracils, Ii Matilda li~fatilfj.' n,tk M,ark lJics lit, .l()'fld,

based on ~ Diamoilld
Co'

T r'~:lIr !I~.1e.The

main mmspon,er

f[,~mewould IUIV!! rested on the traeb and suspension of the S04QU S M6tank. The' proposed engine was the Bedfoed t'lv:in sin of '(he Ch urchill 'lank. One design shown in, the' sketches did rWi;:h tit .. I,1rorot::ype tagn, A ScaltlJIlell3JO-~pn semi-trailer whlll R.oadre~s Traction tracked oogit::s, Inplace
of I.mrear 'wheels was tested .in file l;;~l~I::iD'lLled. quest for an off-road t!l:"l.IlSp"u·[~r. The 't:rat::t,or WHiSa Diamond T w:ith 8ingle tyredrear viheclll and overall tracks.
I!'hlR ~ TIll! SECONb

Til ;~perimmral Scammdf l'i(JMin' 6 X 6,rr.untra,tM towu:g

Cn...!sfJd~rt.mk ~ilta~5(.II Ar.fim1i(!td..

{J'

52

WoRl..:n

WAR

vere tested in action in M3cl~!1l11scar ~laLC'r in, (he: various md:ings in the M;llol[erranean.. The big 'beS~ came al'l D Jay. 6 Iune 1944. A Wl{'ung over enemy heM beaches l()sed many tcoJ.:o",,'CI:J,I problems and it was decided (hal Pt~ial ARV .would be needed. :Expenments with cper(ionallechn.iqlles Sind specialised equipment wen: eonIuc ted by the roinlt N OlVyf Army CCilll.hm~d O~ntiQns ~pf:,tim~n;t,El1 stablishment (OQXE), 'W;adep:roofing trio ,Is, E mirs existed at lnstcw and Weymouth and many trials were arrierJ- out in Scotlend, .
..

..EM~E'slink with GOXE. HBR.S later moved to nudie~gh alterton, where ~molIg trials carried Uti~were those of [he radt:'proofed D8lrilCtO:t. huer named the Porpoise and rl e herman Beach Ar"TIloured Recovery Vehicle (BARV). Rotb 'ere dt:~igned to wade in d..e~f.l W.!!1le.r and to pl.JJll drowned " ehicles out of the sea, The OO.dCl:!pl for [he .BARV led, in I'Cto ber 1943) to. attempts to modify me ea.r.ly-Chu rchill and heJ'I111U.I ARV ~ oM. Rr.k ,]: by simply ,liuilllJ EI box OVtUr the u'J',t';:l ring [0 give clearance above .",.·avl:lc. el, The problems, f seaLi.ng'[he huechill ImU soon led. tDC'OIlCt::.I1i tration on the
I

In 1943 EBRS

WU:!i'

esrabllshed ~uAppled.ore and farmed

Trials- (1[ an N1'1)' Sherrmm .BARV.

henaan, 'X7ark on the ea.dy

!4A3 (British. Shermen ltIhrk [V) wa!!:net wu:vcd as the l'11are box. structure over the illIIl!T;e't space became the anda rd deep-w8iding ntmen[ for the normal Miilrk 1 ARV s squired 1:0 land over the b-e~c.h~$ill Normandy .. The design 0 111e definitive B.AR\~ commenced at ERS rbonield and was based Oil. the' Sherman Mark.IU (M4,t\l) ~'da,!~V!Il MC diesel !;!Ilgilles~chosen pl1t[Iy because these G mk'swere more readily a v ail3 bla from Lend-Lea sc allocaems, It featured. a, welded; boat-shaped armoured superructure ~~(J\le me level. of '[h,e hull. ,1\ 11archway di:r~~~tl.y
)OVethe rurrer ringwastlie on.! '\lV,iilY and QUI:.The in

ver$.lo;nl the

erd-engined

r~I),ft.~tJl tlj!rs:j"'!rJj'rJul B.ARV"fh'irlgi~ I)J\f£'s twff IIri lh ,da), mff.Ql)1 i1l E.li;lJ/W

~t'W de{wrea,

ri-dllS tJJ ~W!~!~fJ/i'k£

river's and co-driver's pm;i~ions which when wadiIJ.gJ.a.y ~Jowwater level.were sealed ,unci. fined 1I1idthsmall moure-a -gJa~.:;,'i/~sicm blocks. For ill] practical purposes riving the tank depended on the vehicle commander's view om above. Trials, whicb began on 22 December :1.'943. mn showed the need for .moiiiL1cOI'tlOD. ProduClicm vehicles ere given a spJ~.J:jhlip around the top of the superstructure id lined. with a "nosing· pl.ate" a form of buffer- at the front, l'tkb was padU(;1dwj[h rope and used for p,ushinS
moured vehicles or beached b.nding craft. The special ~Wl?m.e.ru within the vehlele included a bilge pump, In its [Jillform the Sherman BAR V could opr::rate in walu ~plhi[i HI feet with all 1g inch surge, The ideal of a u ailt-in winch 'Was sacrificed to help ·~:peed. p preductien. u ~lil A!rlllY Gro lI:P bid for 5-0BAR. V sand IliI.!Q a~kcd fdr
LOre,

warcr dii\·ing rig was developed for their use ,. It w~:s a

somewhat bulk.' ancestor of
I

mw~ca"bje5i to veluclehl 11blld.!;:rw.rI er l W ,3 special

shallow-

gear. Diving training was giv~rn by me Nn"l.'Y. The· Sherman B,ARV remained jn s.cr:vi~ long atter the war ended. The 'Ciuerpillar D8 tractor with it verylow g.ruund :preSSlll'e was ideal for wo["f<OD beaches and ~"[S ill Ui.'lISal use the EiiRS 8000 led to irs sele lion a$.an alternative to [he BARV" The wadcproefed tractor WiI'S fitl.ed with an

he present-day

scuba. djving

armoured body and Its win .. gave it 'Ollie adva mage over the ch BA.RV :ftlf recovery werk, Armoured bodies fur tbe D8 'Were buill at .5Cemmand \';furksbop REME at Buarlngfoed. SlJm.e of these UBi:mrs also remained in service long alter the

.!\iOSrgEtIllSed production a:Qd. y D-D Y 52 ve:n:icles b ere available; achieved only b:r' the loan of 80 REME :lIdc:l.Unl:tl 11;,1 firms buHdin,g them. 'Before :D-D!!LY the the !'$lpmdllcriol.1 vehicles I;i ad been used at the wadingend '1Itl:·rp.mofi.ng 'trials establlshmen Ls where their attributes ere invaluable ..HARV crews had to be able '[(l connect

wa.r with. the Army and RQ"yall\urm.es. RlEME. ot;ca:::ia:mdly ~~ed!other annoured tractors based. Oil the Caterpj]]a.r D7 and Internarinnal TD 18 tractors, bu tthese wert:' 0.0[ prilID'lrily inteaded elther 'for .rt.. "Ow~ryor bC!'l!ch work. Most ~ were usedas bl!l!lldQzer!) y the RE. These vehides had b
waterproofed engines but [he armoured sealed for dc(!p wPidin,g. cab'S were not

Chepter 8
D Day and the North West Europe Campaign
Ever.! betore the: USA ente-rcd 'the wllI[Br:itain had, begun [0 8. reiuen to the EUfO,I)f!ml mainland. Frem 1942 dile; Briti5n Combined Opemtioil5 St;:iffs expanded Into :1 special pJu:nn:ing ol'gan:isetiofi for 'What 'Was itO become: Operation OVERLORD ~.. m~ior ~aJlding fmm the sea 0, British, US lind Caaadiaa forces in NQrmnndy. The QVI;l!al[ t."()mnumd,~;r was Gen:eltal E:isenhoWI:J: but the bnl!dfooces comID!'i!nd,cf for the' invas:loDi was General ~Ji[J.[gomery. l!1~!!lIii.jj;g.!'lind prepau,'uon gathC'J:ed momentum ill early 1944 :and" after a 24-hour :postpone..m,entu· OJ)S were landed. on. the 6, June. TheBri'ti~h~iemem; 2bl Army Group, was to become
ptm known IlSt [be Bri'~ish Liberation Army (B.lA). The yean of planning for :REME had involved mainly the techniques of wat!erproofing vcli:icl,~s and the' preparnuon of eq,mpme~liI:and trained unirs for be-den recovery, The walls, had to be kept open ill aU COSL:S,. Drow.ne'd vehicles, ~ih:ich had sl.~ffered wat~;rp,fo()'fio.g failures amnunted '1:0 OlJ a fe",,~pe:i:' ent. MQ!:"e1;lSI..I8iUy thA;Y wen: vehicles which had c been landed in w.ater too deep. MI were collected tog~thel in special parks, where rheycould bedded out and .re,fu.rb.iished by follow-up workshops, P~rks iot· damaged

vehicles were also set up, all part ef tile hec tic actlvity of tl besch ret..'Over}t <ClrgaRis3[ion. AnotD,e:r 't<!&.k as w lowiml awe:y of beach d,efenc~s, steel gu:dt~t: used asbarnees to Imding craft and vehicles. Bodl the BAItVsi':lifILd D8s worked well. Reperts from II sectious suggeeted sorae :improvemems indudin~ rhe filtl ef a winch toO the BAR\', TheDa was veryslow and It WlIl difficult tocemmunicate with d.ri\,"erfrom outside gift

me

me:

the noise of ,th~ engine and the ~urroundj1ig, barrle, It was

IiUEME tradesmen

artaebed

1:0

the 27th Armound B,rLgadc

~r.ly on rue

(ruJlphibn.crlll,S, D'l:tiplexDrive (DO) uuiks)wcr~

beaches but the fi~t of :;!1l iE.i\tJE Ilrni,(s~ hore 0111, Do Day R were the beach recovery se\:tio!'!s equipped wi th Sherman :8,ARV:s" the wa.terproofli;-d D~ tractors and some UJlannoun:d Scammells. Their <crews carried ciu :m1i.LI:.:Jilof the initial reOQvery work, often under fire ~,ml ver ground
c:omm,ElIling mines. There were mevi,tabJy some f{EME

[pro:posi;;dthat an external t,ele:phO[i.t: s.hould bi! fi.ned as OIl 'tanks. Even on this ,grim afilj' '[here W'a,8 some Iight relief. The dri VC'J.' of a DB, W,a:'l: Injured in the band! by fragme:nts IOf bullets which. entered !his. cahthrough vision 'Idib;, Orden; [00 report to 1I. mS'!-aid post he: stopped to ask a Royal Nll"': b~ac::hmH!l.te:t he way. Tim august wan~Qr'l';'as. dj,U'ccringl t

oper-aLluns accompanied by his dog. The injured REME

cast131ties. The vita] task wt!:s to dear beaches of damaged or '<drownoo' vehicles :so they would OOt Impede the _mlow-up vehicles nor foul, 1andin,g: craft comlngin on a higher tide.
The

prepared exits iTllm beaelres, often narrow gaps in sea

driver W1!I5 dt'tailed. [0 [;lIte the dog for a l¥,al.k on his way'[ the first-a.i,d posU BARVs were later used during the Rhil crQ~s&nlgand DSs during the landings in the Scheid t 1'lS'[W The beach recovery :se~ti.'f;}nll were .r~o:!'g:llini!:led later 3.S

ormal recovery sections and re-equipped,

The success of 1:1:1# N;ormluJ:dy l:llullll.gS l!ll8:1ldll~ jnml nall measure to the speci,aEisoo vehicles designed by rita:in eo SUPP0I,"I: 'the armies m the difficuH period between ~iu:gafloat and being establisb~dJ ~nland fromrhe beaches, he C'ampa:ign folJg,wing' the: breakout from the N orman(ily' ridgebem.d aad, afle:r t.b;eFalaise battle, Involved a SWirL !U'SYl'1 Gen!\EI!l'l forces mto Belg.ium followed by the of tm8l fOl;"the Rhml;:'bt,idg,e!l~ with Operauon MARKET ARDEN c:u]minmiog in the tl!i~5'[e;r 0 Amhem. Oper~o[1J3cher.l cancentrated on deillrhlg the Seheldt ell!ili1,E!Ijt of [ ermans SO thai sltipping could ch:dive:r 5uppUes dlrecrte nrwerp and ~~., the cengesred suppJy lines s,till stnrt:chin,g tex to Normandy. FoUowing thed~ eat of Hitler's surprise f~-J]s:ivein the Ardennes in December. 194.4 the battles .ept Into Gerutmy up to the Hh£!le, The river was crossed ~ mini~NormaJldy io.W!';]0]11Hllnlil am.phihiolls vehicles)
IlIdin,gcraft and supported by ..nether massive airborne !:u:l!Ln\g. ~British rorces drove oninto N oirth GIi.lIflIlRllY Th bile the Canadian Anny liberated Northern Holland and S and French forces entered amt~,aland Souehem

GermlUlY. SaQdW]G;hed between Russians mov,ingwestw,ar-cl5and the Brirish Elnd US A:r.miesll'!ov.i;ng' ~Sl tae German nation eaplmlated in Mal}' 1945, endm~ the l'l'M in Europe, The n.nllt~ of the war in this theatre, varyillg from. ma,jor asssulrs 01.11weJ]~rortifi,ed dl;'f~nsi'r/l1e PQ~ilions to s~Vcif:t pUI'SUir a-ct:iomlpuncmated by short bloody em:1,gBgemef.l'~8, gar'l!l~ 'th,.~ :n:mve:ry W11ltS mu~hdQn~ou:sand difficult wo.rk. LADs and workshops and REME tradesmen ill olher onit:;; remained responsible for ranst front-Hne recoeery. The 13· REME recovery compiiWts 'clea(I:-d bal"tlr;ficldls ilnd, bac.k~ ]ouded damaged t~I!lks te the base wO~'k&ho~ ""hi.ch were Set
up by A ugusr 19#. 'Wh~h many fermadons me ... i~ 0:0 : p~'iiI[le~routes aU a:vailable roadls often sm~U eoumry lanes hadto be utilised r~surdl'i:iss of '~hl!h:;;1i!~l<lbility forthe mo'IJ.I~~~nlt 'Olf ,El!rrnQuJ)cd vehiclea. AiitempUi to pass, b:i'o!k~ndown vebiw ofl[en eaused we~k verges ttl eollapse imd

vehicles

deal with the task

topple into ditehes. Reer",,,.'l1fhad SOI]l 'how to Wii:hOUE 'bloc:K.ingthe route $·u!~further. Most, of the types of recove.ry vehicle d{,"V'~lop(,!d during the 'Wilt Y'l::'dlS plus the S'cammeU and 'Some gantry ~ornies 'Of
'W

pre-war designwere to be found aJtiong' 'I.H1.1:U. Qf thc' 2']:st A!i':lnY GrQU]J • No ,entirely new '~ype:sof wheeled recovery venide were issued dUrilig: tills .campaign lim the ·gantry vehicles in nsemcluded II number uf the newer Au;si:ir.u. A feWQf tb~ Improved version of tl1i.e' 'WElrd La Frence (US d¢l'li~]'lja.lion H~a.vyW reeker Ml A]) were used b:r British Army units. These Vi' re firh::·dwith CErflWIS-lOp,pOO cabs and. like the later :Oi~molld.T tank transp Mer tra.ctOfHJ tht::!i' were rated U:!> pneumaala 'i,l,"agons,.inrhe 'b'i~['e:r 194414:5 winter. .. Many old lessons were re-learned in tbis ciilmp;rign. one being the need to have cranes a,,~ai1abl,ein worksi:J;o,ps to
avoid tyillg up recovery vehicles inlhi~ ~ubs,id:iary role,

A &lII1'IU number of SCEI1nme[[u.oQ other heavy recovery ve'.Wdes had benefit'ted from the efForts lYe the :EF 31 ArbnrJie.ld and were eqm,ppcd with 9'P~d.~ IUI.chOf:O;.; and ·",'ad.oIls offiJUi.a[and l!W.offi~ifll:mOOjfications of vehleles too place ,. Some SC<lUtilt.'i~USwe'(\~fitted wid] armour p.liuc: over the e~llgine. [mod one at I.·easthad the ,cycle- type ro:nt mudguards replaced by ang-jed fixed mndguards, Some

me-

mndfnca'lioo kits were issued fOol fitting pendulum. paying on gear; for thewinches of US vehicles in an. effort [0' ~prese:n,re ,c~bks. In 22 Advam:cd Base \XrorkshQjJ Ii. very DIl''Ll.8'YiJ. Diamond! T 98:0 was used. In, its ballast body n 1m gi['cie.r crane was fitted which had be¢.i'.i eaken from a comme;rd~ Itl.fry-in UK. The need to move new ..nd recondhioned tanks-on trailers continued in thi theatre and nine RASe tank tra:m.portf:r ,eomparrn.i!l'lillfermedpart of 2hil. Army Group's ['ogiSliic support, The g:rea.t pressure on roads led tu schen

Ari ,!'\.w:rilil J-ml1 6x4 b.relJkd'lrnm.g4'ilQ' lorry U>l:!'Ra l'I'fil;ked ,am'bulan(;it tmdBedfimi OY J-trmtW'l' tm UJ'W photfJilMphel.1 ~

for earl'j':i.ng gTe~ne:rloads on feWl1:!f vehicles so a large number of 40':(0:1:1tI'Wlsp~I1er trailers were acla,pted for ]0: carrying, lJ'l.I.ll1€lcll.u):nti.tie:s ohmmulliliOll, 8i parlh."'lI1arl.y dense cemmodiry, cou Id be carried. . 0 :make the tr,otil,ers more suinl.ble 1'O,r his role iii numb~r were fined with t detachabl,e sides made or pierced i1ited plankinf,t; a materi intended fOorrunways on emergency airfl.c:ki:s. After u'ials
U'j

ihe 195tJs.

Nn,.. Landing

the U nitad Kingdom some uanspcrters were used to can GrilifL from I'he Channel pons to the Ri'\"er

tDiammlJ T
!'aJ~!

.Iraclof titled. wi.th a cm1fJll.enlal ~ran¢1 i'J ~U b(}dltm Tbe. c;ylin.arictl,l tkviC8 appearlrlff ill .Ihe t."!ld of lhtl· jlb f':'; a
l'OWr,W,

A, Mark' LMS 1l' breuMQtr.m ,~rffd~r ow. u modi,fif.id Rogm r 40-m'fl rrnutJT l'lUd {;isa 'a1uifl1gcrnfi rr(J,'f.j~pun.eT,

~'.rt~tW~Uir

,D ~a1!4('Hor!trtll1S.pormr rra.ilw~i'-lgIhled ~iI1j; ~'idepurU!h Iflr M as ~ cargo can! or; Tlds mdler is beilW modi I din' 21 .dtJmfcea Base WOfru'hvp i,~C{wmIJ1Jl.l~ Prance i"" 1944. In. hine to assist wi.tlJi[hl: crossing. In some cases tire craft ere c~itri~d O:l1 a ~w:ivelling cradle and could hoC.!. l::'l!.:liIl(;hed un a river OJ' canal direct. from the sidt: (iflbe trailer, The shortage of AR VS rnt!l!oL that they were issued L!;linly (0 arm, iured 'regiments .and armoured br:ignde orkshops.Tt soon 'became deu thar, a' infantry brigade 'Q:rl~;:ili(J'ps were f requenrly called on to support armoured nlts and provide recovery SUPPOIl, these workshops tculd acquire ARVs. Short-term expedients wt::,w captured
ermantanks. A Panzer TV WgJ::; used b:Y' ne workshop with o ie gun removed and [he aperture in the mantlet ~Elled with. :miJured gi ~~. The vehicle was decked out 'with. Jdll!ld oint .•allied ''i\,hjte stu mQ.rltings and recovery ge8if. A.nomer

A G.;m~G:I,1Sru;g III (,tnaul~guilc:aplr~r6d L,cctl'on; m Nm'J'!f4'1'idy (md adflpr.ed IU an AR'V:

oJ's:n H(1l1'Uy.Rgam.:,)'

Worksh:9pfl and units were} at this time , dependent on Mllrk I ARVs~ Cromwells and Shermans III armoured d.ivisiofl,!'l. end Churchills, mOi3~lyin the Army rank brigades, Any '['€:co,ver.ytask requiring iI winch :!l[.iil1 to the D8s) JL;]~ mai.nly unarmoured ...and me wheeled tractors. Some RE.ME officers and soldiers received decorations for carrymg ou,t recavety tasks under fire or in minefield and many casualties were suffered du.ring such actions. The first Churchill Mark 11 ARVs reached units [ust before the Rhj;~,1;'! crossing 8 Jew months before the WDr ended in Europ . Their greater usefulness was welcomed. A,s,the NI}r.l.h, West Europe ,cl,Jrnpa]gJ]:progressed and the outcome became more certain m:lJch.lh,(H;Jg:i!]! W3l; given [Q' me:evc!IHu$1 wi'thd:ri1r\I; al .of units and "their mU'lIsfer m the Far East far thewar a,gainS:,'llalPan. he US governmem began (g seem disim::liined '[0 meet Lend-Lease demands for ·vchici.t::sand l;;lqillip:[Qe!l'(''filh such open-handedness as before and ltu:miilssi'le reinforcements planned for Burma would mtlicfon~~n!;..'lil m uch refurbishmen t (I e:dsu:IlS equipment. There was an Incentive therefore tc recover and repaireverythlng' reusable not ofl~Ywith the requirements of the .immlcdiate· campaign in mind. III die. meaathne there was some biU.e.ro~s$ in thll: British ·camp at the seem.ingly .Iavish scale of equipment available to th.~US Army aDd the way in which it was so .~a:sili'discarded. This probably refiec red the facts that Britainhad been at ·Wilf longer than
O

'orbhQP cap:t;lIred a pre-war French Ietehkiss lank which SIll bL!CJ.'l. used bv the ,\1(l;ghrmHChl and ad,a..• ted if as an ARV. .ater ill the campaign aaorher Panzer IV Was used OIlnd kept r the workshop until the Rhine crossing. In AuguST: 1944 ,50 HeavyRecovery Section acquired il. German SElIg HI ssault gun and this, minus gun, became a temporary ARV" . beach rec{lvery section made use of two ex-French A.rmy ouma.1f1jCI..5 half u~u::I!t~. Another recovery section made ~eofa captured 18 ten half rrackand Ah U6lraH.er.
here were p.robably many ether unrecorded te use of ca pturcd' ... ehicles for recovery. ins'[ance:,;·of

USA~ its hom,eland! had been severely mauled and. both military and civilian alike had endured! for so longa level of austerity CQm.p~eEe]yunknown ro Americans. Forman}" soldiers release fi'tlm the Al'm'y W8:8 net ItO ~Q>ml;l for a year or more aft~r the war ended, The recevcry companies in Europe had a bUge Ul.:'lk banl:efield clearance of ail.d many Ge'rman armoured vehicles were' required back :in the UK for r,ee.bnical ,BS'lil~smenl. One joumcy, again b:YUS Hel3iVY Recovery Section, involved mmrlng a l~gdl'if)Jt:r. the beaviest German assauh gun, On an.adapted Rci,c:hsbahn (German miJw,alY:-l):S(l~id-ly.red 'fr.aii!e:rwhich w:!aswwed by ,81
the

DiafJlOnd( T. This trip LU I-Ia:m'bul",g;'where the vehicle was embarked, t!Qok several months including-loIlg w;u:tswhile wilI-dama,g,ed bddg~s were saenglliened OJ rc'buil t, Before the war had even ended i1iQmeTigers <and King Tigers were recovered from N o'l,~dyus;ing,the Cranes 70-tfiD,[:railen The end of the war in EUl'ope was offk:hll]y celebrated m the S M.ay 1945 but.emldst the ~u,phoda. many p~;o-pJe s;[ru.sg~,edto remind ilic'pu'blic that !he war i1gains:~Ja;pan oo.Dtinuecl. Even thosewho b0W ~:OOUI 1eaw,mk 'bomb d could Dot predict it'S die ton ]apanand there was no praspect then 9hn early end to the 'War.'

rh ·t·~ 9'·' ~ap·-elr _

Ihe War Against Japan: India and South

.. t A: ~ .ast Asia

Il~Indian, Army since )857 ~had been an indepe.ndem rce funded by the Indian Government. The officers and 0$[ technical personnel Were British and the ·['l.'IDaincies ere native-born lnd]ans. Uniits ofihe Brit.bh Army also rved in India. maint~l on the North 'West :Fromie'li' with :ghan1stan,. Although mete were diff erences of organlsion, .and! eqlLli]pm,el'lt b·elWQ~n the two armies these did n{J!~ event easy inlegralrOn.l where llteCessUyjo f units from armies i~LO a [oiru .for,ce. I[ js because of ~1:U8 level of t'~grol.'ion 'and the service of RE.NrlE persolflnd with the dum Electrical :m,d,M~dmn.icL:llEngineers (IEM.E) that e cq:wpment of the Indian Army is included in this book. ~pa:ir!;o equipment were largely the [e'5poDS:lbllity of !..be t disa .t\r.my Ordllat.i!l;2t'! Corps. (~AOC) whicb had absorbed ~entire n;pair orgauisa,don of Lb~ Royal Ind.i.an At.my rvice Corps (.R.IASC) in Ap,llil193,9. In 1943 IEME WliIi'l: "tnoo frum (h~\Vorkflhop Branch ofIAOC. The govem-m of Indla, lnesv.i.(ably a:5ir was part of th~ British npire,Il',~~ed 'to me cause whC'rl! war was declared in 193-9 d Indian ArlO.)·unita'were soon fi~lnulg ~dongside British. Hefore .IiI.pO.11 invaded BriD,i!lhposaessions in the f'itll' Eas~ H.941 Ih~ main -dep]oyment of Indian Ar-111 fnrmaliuns do been ill the MiddJ.Ii!.E'~1:1~and .Ee,st Afr.ktl. 1~h'~addhim:11l1 rnpower.need.t:d. t'D meet the threat from Japan was lic'i'cd by Ii massive expansion of the Indian Army. Tht:

Asrn Command (S EAC) was known

Empire forces lin notth Burma
[[\I]Ops.

8S Anied Land F OIlCr:S South. HOlMAsia, (ALF BE A.); C~loD-eratiDg with ~he II.",i't~!l.h

'W';re

a nuraber ofCllliwse

divhi-on!l-whose efforts were mainly caerdinared by US

By 1944, after
3 bortiVl;':

campaigns

in 1942-43 in the

1m

Ara:1mo J}C.Iti:ilSUJ~jJ the bulk of the 1JB.rj'l:ish and Indian formations were coacentrared in Assam wb :!1 '[he Japanese assaults feUl}1l.Kohima and Imph"J. Here, for the fits;t '[me;

'the enemy was. :!liQund1ydefeated andthe

allied armies. w.ent

over to the offensive which continued southwards without pause until , by mid- 1945. tbe Japn:nC'$ccArll'lY had, 'oren virmaUy destroyed. Rangoon, the main B1Urmc~e port, was re-occupied and, folbw'int! the use of atomic bombs ~tb,l;! war in the Far East ended in August ena'Ming , he p:tailined invasleu of MalaYEI, Operation Z~PPER! to take place mlgppo~ed. The, brunt of the war agauM3t Ja.pan wa borne lJyOS ferees which fought their ~;y from one P'a,c.ine island t,othe next reiilching Okina,v;'a not ~Ofig b~IQrc the ~1iII' ~dcd. Au!stra[ia]l[roop!li cleared the Japanese {.fum NC'w GuiltUea.it] jungle conditions.every bir ;15 dreadful .as,'[bose it!
BUmIa,

sanese invasien of Mal.a)ta ~Hong Kong and B'Ur:ma ulted ia 'Y,e'l ore disaster Mid defeat for Britain. The m nily expanded Indian .Army served and suffered in these mtrles and, in [he M:iI~~yacampaign Australian Bind itish reinforcemenrs arrived just intime to bt: captured in 19B. per C • Thereafter the main B:rit!t;Daction wm; in. Assam
j Northern

Burma. British troops, including same crans ~Jfthe early pert of the N orth African ~ampaigJ.I, tghta rearguard ... liu:D a's they withdrew northwards c

.'\8 the Indian Army eKpended<l4lcl.u the SBme' tim\1;l b~11 to be mechanised the nmou;o't of eq1l.lJipm,enl ,available frOID. die' UK in the crisis .ye..·U'Si from ]939 to 1941 was m:in.iim!!ll~ and most.'II'ehi,des hUild 't herefore to ceme fr-om the USA and C:ln:.uhl. ;veoturuJ.:ymost basic: tYpes were shipped CompIe'[e]y Knocked Down (CK.D) and ,:lIsscmbh:d in India, mosdy Wilh. focally buill. budies, Some CJ\1P v,ehi~kli were assembled W.A.ustndiji! and shipp~rl to India from there. Having csmbl.ffilled a supply route (1('1 China via.Burma the US·A had by 19'4.2 ,21 resdymade pipeline {or military sll1!ppli1t:s

fiugh Burma

1:0

the hoped. fol' sec urity of India. The:

rmese len,ain includes SOUle grassy plains much harded forest but, further north, tmJy 'u1'.lg]~covcn~d rnotmas, Roads were few and when the ~1!ied ·SlI rvi vor: crossed ~ Chiadwiu ri"cr most vehicles wereabandoned 'On the

and this 'was augMe.nled ltncier lend-JLl!i'l.Sc in order to equip theBriush and Indian Armies. Be:fo:ne the Wilf lh,~ rete ofmedu:iI:li$~tiun o{'t~e' Illdillil:l Army was far behind tha l or,the British. burrecovery Was. provided for 'lJiSjJlg vehicles of similar design to those in. Bri ish AIIDY we. Types used l:lj' IAOe and 1311:'1' IE.Nl.E
included Morris Commercial D Type 30·cwts with Harve

m1y side, ~¢:iDforoemenLS.li.ndud:ing 'US fceces, were rushed (0' :thcrn India in order to prcteet .supp]y routes te C.bJl)~ ough which the l!SA supplied the Chm,eoo Nstionalist
res ·in their Iong-atandlng war :!lJgain:.>ll he JElPBl"U:se. ntcolled from Ind:ia,[he Army element ofSoutb EElSl

Pr-os( cranes, ALbion 3o~(o.n 6x4 lorriea with Uvovgty CTlIlICS simihrr to the RASe pattern \Vearver erane and, later some SC3mmeU PioneeraThe Cra!:u~5 7 '1z-:LOO Ugb [ RJIi:(;o·veFy' Traile had also be-en SllppEied to fucUa in 191,g. Brhiah force's in beth Burma and MalaYII ill the early war !l'f:3:r5 were
equipped with the standard recovery vehicles of the period.

The rei[l:f{m:em~nu s,cnt in 1941 and (''c:lLr]y ]942 brought m.ore e~[uipme:lu but by dun: Lime few of the newer recove v,ehicie:8 had. become $Iv!li]abEe .. The O[Ul~ Ad'!(fllIl.oed BasG Workshop in Malaya in 1941142 oow.d muster but {line
Leyland gan.try lorry and a borrowed

Mse

bfeflkdown

lorry, The retreet :from Buntia culminated in tile' los'Solf t:hi vthick~S"of dw· B,riti-sh fo.rces there. New supplies were

an

received from the UK but. most new

t1.. ·t~ove:ry vehiclesuse

thereaftes 'came: feom the U SA of CU:WidE!.The$!;: included the Mack LMSW, DiamO,nd T 96'9 and 'W'ord La FmQ~' wreckers aiJ:eady described. The Cansdiaa Cbc'",~ro[etand Fmd eMF recovery "Vehides were also widely used in Burma and India, 'The 8:(,palling' ooI:u:litio.D's in the Norlh BUIrn13 lung]oo meanrthat v~.hic:1eswithou:t 4- or 6~wheel drivewere oJllelloorely ,able itO mQve~ especially in the my of the meusecn season. Narrow trails of len pr0c:luded the use or'!IJ~hk]es largf:fdl.a[l'~. The US !iI]'1.d Canadian Dodge ~A,·[on4·x4 aud US Ilh-i!:oll,6x6 rlnd,<,ii were most useful in iliegeconditions .:1l.Uid Opet~ti.o.l1.ZIPPER~~n for ,I1IU ..Jeep sud %-tOonvehide tlec't was specified,

.A .Mack NM traL~y 'WIthSoommti1t 2{)~r(jJli}iClj~a1iWl!ti' iftmi~rwi8er ph{j~til1?(JP,h(Jd.in Singu$Janilll-abQflll 1948.

l(j'{)~U;' tiW~Ufi~tf)~r .wlwelllJ.a mu:k ~fi:Qi:k~.wi'i: i'iII:(;lhs oi:t.lri'yitl.,g tlltldianA.rm-y VJ,Gk~ Li.gh~ Ta~.

!Despite tbcp;oo.r T%lo:!d.l'Jom,e tank l1'amiS;PIQ.rtieni were used s . Burma arid in 194:5 in 1(}B~8e Workshop R.EM,E in fudia ]lllCl'eSling conveI&i~JD t.ook p]a~ u:iifnga. batch of aIDm:e1l2Q· ton semi-trailers. These wereattached to

bn:ih from s[o.i(!;~gircle~in tll~ b~.c.kof a wincll~ql!.ipped tmc[lr,;which~VlI:!ii retii)med 8:SarecClvery vehicle 1:0 the end of
tlte:'WfilL

:···""N'M~'X~ u .,. L·-:'-·--d' ~ m-We:iHl i cit RC.Jii, ,. " v· .... acrer C~~a1881S all. :\jO~,.>I';; .. r_ __J~.. J1 Ja~~ lIIfwr the WRI"ended, nne is be[ieved to ha.vl.! been
ssed
ItO

.. 1;(1 the

late' 19408" Armtl1!!lf 'C!ltlvl~n!ifl.!J! was by the

me Dutch.

,A.H'llYfighting secessionatsin Indione-

ur.k:sh;op:a!tla~~li~d00 11. RIASC tran5~mfl ootn~nY wh~ch as equ,ippoo wi,1ii US Stl!,d>llbf!il~,t.':r6X'6, U"t!.ci!;,s. A J~ll Wjl!l

.Emdw[leeledreoovery v e'hfclesL were available (:or taak rooovelY. DuriD;g this time, however, IU1.A:R V was de"",cl]0fed m All!stralii:lb~!ied. 00 lbtl US .M3 Medium Tank but fiuoo wid'! a winl:b and spElde ~ul.cbDr. O'lth,el" .AU!lumlian
'fi~J!~:i'.i!l'lli.m'lal ,klltid0s Y

w;u no ARV:l; were used there ..OnJy

Tho!!offficiallllEME 'Vill' Report for Soutill EaSt Asia stares

YJ.lat.ol!.lLred.lractors

indud,~d :ilti~OVi.'!i1"]~ev~.

The Develop,lIIent ... Recovery Vehides S'ince 1.45,

Part 4

Chapter 7 The Post-War Situation: The 19405 and 1950s

The sUI"Ie;,ndel" of J a pam, in. Augyst 1945 bmug,M to an. end 'me' second and most catastropb:ic global war in Jhd:lfl:g memory. 11: did nm brill to, an end the deploymeilI of B:rit$h ll'llO'PS everseas.since they were still needed as uccupation forces, as. ai counter to guerillas. or sirop:~y to provide .1:1 measure of ceatrolpendlng the .re-estabtishmem elf pca"c::e'liime eolenial g,o"!e.rn.llu~ln. Despitii:' end-Lease aid from the U SA~the WID" bad come
close to bBnkmpting
1:0

ageing fiee'l o:p~r:;nl'Clfll,8& in d;euElim::e of what 'wday would

seem
SQUliId

Britain. and so lite Treasury

was quick

survi vIII, 'X'ith the arrival 'Of peace! the:. ,overriding need was fOf repsir awl :reJ1ewa[ i!il Britllin and the war-\V1,ack(.o{J parts

revert 10 V~ac~'lime aCC01.l1E1ting aft~r :sb::years of bei~g fon;~d to affordwharever wasneeessary fux natianal

.~ogistic8UP!pot't gr~r.U~~tion far the \Var Office. In consultation will] the Army~ various equipmenr d,evciopmer.n projec,rs were axed ~ tile war ended but alae were cenrlnned a,giilins'Ea need lei keep abreast o:fnevi' de·si~ and technology and in thelencwledge that wartime equipment would not kist fQ':r'~·er, The MO S t,etre:ncltmC'n't~ . Included in 1'952 the comibining of A and B Vehicle design and tdill:\1o;vorltm: one establlshment, The former A 'Yehle! censre at Chens.e)', FVPE. and me d'c=sign est:ablis,runenL established
asa

The IflinistTY

economics, Qr Supply

(-'dOS) was hl' 1945 ,,,,,eU

of the' Bmpire, There wasalso the need '1:[1 givcWid to Burope w.hiLst at tile ssme time pa3'ing off debts caused by thewar.
These consideradons r~suhed mevita,bJy in
:l'I

lOlIl.g period. of

austerity, Fin_aocing: the armed forces alwis lime Ci3IitU1.e iifl Inr very, lose scrutiny and~he 1!lIsiog ofwartlme' stock(l up seemed So n1lteansur saving defence funds, e hoing the
I

:siILl1li!icion:!lifter Wor~d. 'War. I. Thi:smay welill. ha.lI'eooen sound eccnamics or censumsbles but f.or equiipment it took little ,flCC'OUI1'l of several factors relevant to the wartime mili taor vehicle fleet, MoS,t vehicles were well lA'OrIJ nd required freqnem and eN.~ns:ive overhauls. Some desigirl.!iIbad been acc0pted for reasons 'oflex~~dlil!fiql'a[bet tll~n 5lli'laldlity. US-buill: equipment o:tiginlill1y provided free or cheap]y had now to

be mannained witb expcnsive hnpested '!lp3[~8. The reC'realion g,fthc TA, wIth i~s annual 't:r<:!iningexercises II

be LOO weak and iQme vehicles accepted by the "tar Office were ItO be notorjously dlllicllJlt 0 repair. Th,€: influeui;;1;l Qa:l reeovery vehicle desj~ 1Wl15 mare ,e.ffecti've since these' wen primarily REME operated. Tile oonc~p[by which a. fic:pru1l.£.e MIDis.uy WIS respensible for the design, dcvelop~ wlem and prov.isfolJl eCthe Anny's equipment might be. '[bou,glu an unnecessary Lu~uryonce the war ended, but b~ I1'SiLditi.on, c:i1tilianministnea, once cwwt.e:ct are difficult [(I di8e:miblish. The M.OS su.l'vivt:d. and 3;[ tlmeswas l'~[illoo and given different roles and respqn.sibilitie$.lt contlnued
to be the d'li!'sig!;l.and proeurement.sgeney fnr rhe Army un
j

(PVDE) combined with VlrvEE.w become me Fighti.ng Vehicles Research and D~'Veh]'pment ESlab:lishm..eut (FVRDE). RBME presence c'On,tinued~'tMOS cs,mblishments with me role of influencing designs 00 mal repair w'OII(. 'wQ1UJDd e sU:tl:p:!me.di. For n 'rimf: this ir.dl.'uence wa!l tob

q1l1ickty used. up stockscf fit vehicles as did the centinued presence or: V,ill,CS[ numbers 0 Briti8n 'I:too:ps overseas, These c{lmrni'lJl'1en~ we,reto be extended bj' the MaJaYiil~Cml':r~ciil· . y ~the beginning of preparations fur atomic weapons tests and the peed to reinforce di'e occup:atiO.li force in Gennll_ny, the B:dtish Atmy of We R.hin,e CHAOR), aR 'the 'cold w,ar" b~n. Besides the sheer numbers of military vell i,. les held at the end {If the war Md the luck of funds ~UlCilher factQr inhibirin g new purchases was the need to esport ~ mneh as possible of the mutor industry's QiU'EpU( in order te help pay fOf ,e.&setl.rial impo.r~sof food and raw materials. Tile Army strui!ll:!!l~ed nwith i~s,old vduJ::le fleet with .so'me' p<r.If:~'WIlI:I· o vehlel s surviving well mto the J, 950s and wartime ve,hides much Later. R.EliIffi resources in. the . K H!il:d in base wOlfbhnps overseas were largely d~VOlH:d ke:ep~JJigan to

1960 when these functions 'i'!'t::re~ mgetliler with staff and technical establishments, transferred to 'cl1,eWar Office reslOl:i(1!g to it at last wba,t il llQd lost in 1939. Another ~eh:van'rfi;o:rg,a;fil:!latimudnring this period was Phase U Of'lhcfomiatiQ'lI of ItEJ'!I.iE. The Corps now .;llbsorbe:d most of 'the unit tradesmen and WQfks.hops whie lrad continued threughout rhe war 1:Q be part of the corps and ]legiments operatingeq uipment. Now' the RASe
traDS]:lOrl complU"ly Vl,lorkshop' p,lalMn~ became: REME LAD and t.ro.rksJu~ps and the cxislin;s; LADs, with aenoueed and i;lJi'lm~ry reglments were: lncreased in size,

some' of tae regimental, uad!~m

Ne'!'cr develop,0l,enI8J both by MOS establlshments ,a.lltdi withill, the commercial vehlele industry, had render~d ma' wartime vehkJc:=l!obsolete. The difficu[ill' Qf maintaining '~hcm increased ,IiIS !!rp[JftlS wer!! u~oo up. The need! 'Ui te:ilct

transfe.r·w REME.

en la.kinS the opportunity

1~i1: Cold, Won' had led ee the oontinri,ifed. prodiiJctlo[!' of ::.entur-ion mnk:li and small :purclI:a.ses of essential B V ~hi~ des: It also led to the longer-term developmenr of other new \ Iil[ld 13Vehicles, The smrl o-fthe,I('OfCi'Lfi WJ3J:r' ]950 :ilnd in
h~ bllro£rutlg of Ru~sja,:n,,8,ttinldes ga!;'e some impetus to [he enewru ofthe Array's vehicle 1ieet.lnitiaIBd.t~shv~hicle 1~lg,ymil,."tit l.iJ f<Jot~. W,iilS, whh the ,exception of the :e.otuJiOll. eotir.ely 'of'W',or1d Wn.r II type:!!. These included 9;Jny vehicles of pre-war desigtlifDQI[ manufacture, New ~oo:Usn,s m.ergifJ,g from the F"ilRDE .and the motor industry e sere now hastened but few post-war vehicles w~r(;lto be ~ep.lnyed in Kore~ h~:~!;Itl;;' 1953, ceasefire, the Before and during World W'ar Hi each new t~k dl2:.sign !fa:;, glwn an Anum ber. No similar nu.mbermg sYStem was

soldlcrs ,Ind families. 'l"he:re ,""Usd/CQrl'y' ,[10 need for these vehicles 10 be el(pen.siv;e:lypes with an Off-'l'lldi capability. Therefore, in 19 ,9, as, new past-warvehicles were being: develeped, it War Office po~!,(:y.i!Ol:;lIWmoo.t decreed tfult there W'uuld b three classes of miHtru:y B vehicle:

me'

- The eombar (CT) range: standardised vehicleswith S, series eDg:~n~ and all 'We:ofher refiaeraents rl~scrib(;-d above, - The General Service (GS) range: i::o-IT:!merciall:y d!g-sii:gf.I~d li'tChidg:o;, usui'lM,y with ILU~wl'leel,-*-ive but w.itb

manufactrners' OI"Vfi.Cfi~ifi.-cS,m:mUl:ry bodies: and :sWsJ.e ~EIrr wheels with C[I."O:'lS-OOU01I'Y ryres, fhments foil' alltW
weaJtl'Ollfi etc,

:i.vento B Veb.id,(!s, thougb ·WVEEr!lrlloca.too 1.7mb DumiC~ ~ but when [hi: war ended and aJte',r, he coneenrratien.of t ',eh.ic:lee:xpedment&l WO.r.k at Chertsti:y t ;;. s~,g:~em of FV nrmbera was started and applied '[0 vehicle des.igns ..A edes IUJ1II01::]' was,given to th{]'$~ l~lp~Swhich. would be lkely to result in a vane[y of sub-types, New equiprm~nT l~sc:tibed.I:!;I;reafw:r.quu'-~s the PV number where lhi!],i_s :nOWIl. Some. equipmem wentinto service wi.th,oQ t ;;!. name

an

- The Civilian (CLj range: pu.rely ,commerdru vehicles, posmbly medined to that c;;xtent.of filting wea POll dips in. the COlli) and in. same cases millii(IUY style bedies, The concept -envisaged dmt the 'CT 'range would equip aIIi.Ii 'r~IilIt-Jine'uni 8, the OS range: would be used by supporring units aad the CL range by b~:;.ein!l:talhltions and. as domestlc

Ira.cuce is more common with 'US equipment wmdl is llocated 'an oM number, Some ofthese are used by the Jrids.1l Army, MiiDY decisions- on equipment policy made in 1944 and 945 were, it 'was realised ~unlikelytoreach fmid.O-J]in I:he ilar[[('!nn bnt 0'0 OIlII: [llJen knew how ]oogthe 'War wlOuld ~S[_. One scheme sought 3 gl'{'::ne:r level of standardis.Btio.n in quipme:ntJ So field in wh~ch Britain showed 'Upibad1l' l'Wli'lpart.."-d with SOmJ;; od.t.IC.[countries, Tbe 5nn~n:p W8iS to 'rodu,ce a .range of engine~ designed round ~ commOn ~'Ji1ld.et, size giving 4- J 6- and, S.·cytin.d.er ..rariants with mMly ther i.:ommolj (:!Cimpufi~ilts, These WI::T1l3 developed, by Ro]ls t'oyce ,and tti~l5; of the three 1.)'J;l'e8, B40, 860 and B8JO, in .EI ,luiety aif mainly Worl,d 'War J1 typevehicles, commenced 1 the late 1940s.. The new,,~nera,do'Fli vfhic:I.~9'Which WQuld se these ~figin,es w,~re to have mallY o'Ener common
emponeme -Bind were to be deep wadep.roQifcd with ~ngir.le lectries sUJ~,prei-is~d prevent .radio mterfer,en·ce" Some' of to ne range were to ha ve 24 ..volt eleetrlcal sy.s'H~ms l!U .Eli ti!fitgl th~!].man.yforeign dvilian vehicles were still being built nth onl!y 6=\'011:. [l.ysl;e.m:s. The c-omple:Ki~y thus ron 0,1 lese vehicles compared unfa.,\;r.QlLlra:b1ywllh that of thebasie

nd h£lsonly ever been known by in; FV

UlIlIl'l'il'OCl'.

This

v{:h!des in the UK training orr._garusada:o.In. practice this did not h3~ppe:n. Some of [he C r.illngenever reached prodnenon: most of l[tem proved (0 be f),nhy allnle better than the ,chea,p~r GS n_t.l.~ewhich wasfound to be perfectly ~dtq:~'1:'~ or most purposes in figbting units. The ccacept graduaUy faded but, in its place tb~ next ,geo,er-.etioll of GiS-v,c'nides W!lS far n\@;i"e ~o.mp[,ex.with more FVRDE design inpu~" TIli:s was part[y due 'w a new idea in thelare I950s that all . rent-line military vehicles shnuld bav:~ muhi~fue1 djesel engines, (see 1P1Ige 8.1). This l~dI '[,0 d.ev,e]opll"H;:nt'of the L60 V(;l't!l;:aLly epposed piston engine (or

cr

me:

the Chieftain tank and vehicles,

[0,

dJiesilJ dEvetopme[tt of one of the

B series spark igni'l'illn (petm]) engines forsma]]er. A.

I he designation 0 wheeled vcmdes had! unde'r:e;onc' a change IU about the- end the war, BO'frowiog from Americans It 'becrune the nonn ItO refer Hi all lY.P~ 3.1' trucks f~rdrnL"8!!i of !'i;[ze ..The use <0 the word 'lorry' beganto me {lUI. For a time h~vy recovery .. ~hic]~ r-efainedi the r dcs,ignadlln ~trn~tor' [I!.U rhis won became reserved JDr. those

or

me

veuictes intended

~no

Same time ~f.terthe war ,end,eci·l, the E RS ltEME was ,arbsQrhed into the Maintenance TedUl.iqucs Devd!opmcQl
Eatahlishment AUillungi:lTiit!:'Y (MTDE) R.EME,

tr~t~n.

p.dmo:l:iJy fur p,1!lJJlingtrailers 'or semi-

,Bxperim en tal work

COI1-

mrtimc vehicles and 'the simp]e.r

eing EIOMcO!lllm!f:I'cially by ime '[he pest-war Army used vast num hers of do,mesti.c e.hi tes far the mOV!;f.fi~n~,o{·~t(ire~~ household fuel,

CI08s-cm.lJItry vehicles mJ]['lufactllu:l',S. At 'he same

tinued and a hinged spade ancllO'! Wll'ti de:!iign-edfor the in 195,0.MTDE then moved ito Borden, where its mi.€!is. covered nO\\' by the :5.c11:001 ofEI,ectrilrilil, and MechameBl~E;ogioeering (SEME).

Chapter 2

Recovery Vehicles and Transporters in the 19,405 and 1'9505

The til'S!: new development stemmed from w~rlim-e rrials of :e_,6x6verslon ofthe Scammell Pioneer gun tractor. Scammell Lorries Ltd ofWa.tford prnduccd a [U:W prot('li[YJlC based Oil. the P.ioi!li~er Hru:vy ReC::O!'!lery Tracter but with a set bat:k. driven fl'ont axle, and after trials du: new tTaC'mr was imtrod1ll;c~ j]l 1951). This. was given maker's name E;xpl.orl:I' and FV numb-er ] 1301. I [ used a Meadow.s ]'O.3·Jj[Jr--e -cylind: r pe!tro] engine and it.SI 'body and recovery gear cl.(:I'!~eJyrese:mbledme eadier 6 x4 vehicle. his .all-\' be -I-drrh"~ Scamro~U had an ~xcoeU~nrr. cross-country performaace, Mml5-[O.Il.m81i[l WiDCh and NW,ered j'ib winch mad;;: it a v'ery ~..pa1:de n"Oovery vehicle and it was n.l&oImuch faster then its predecessor. Despite the overall large surplliJl~ wartime v'i;;~id~ there Wl~;S,~" 5e\"i!lre shen ;1Igc of h.e:!lvy reeovery vehid~ whieh continued into (be 19-608,.Many units were issued with med:ium recovery ve:Mc:les i:mnead and some sttl!I;iCW~lrk-shops and TAunit5 wCTepr--<nidoo wi.1ii ScammellPloneer ;;I.J'iliery (talC-let:;; '~('l bll used ~or recovery. ~he. justification for purchasiag the new' Scalll.meJ] was gr~at],ilic:l'eas~d by. I.h~' outbreal; of the Korean W8r. By 195,lrrhe first ofthc' new Scammellswere being issued to REME units and! by the lime' Qf[h~ or.:~s~fiwIn 19.53 some of them were' at worl 111Korea. A nnmber o tho se buil·· during the next few yM went I!o the RAF Re]a.tiv~ly few modifications were made in the Seammel 6>:::6recovery vebjde duting "iu lo~g s.ervice H!r~~. owever, h rbe Ma.r.:K 1~pp-=8:[ed wilh..i1tSifront to"wing h:opk; on a solid cross beam. instead of on ~ lea_[ :;;prnng m~,M.u;u.ing. Some, bt not till ,. used in Koree were fitted whh cal) Insulauon to
+

me:

or

4. ~I..!riou.l: G:iJn~.
rtttkti'

bt~r retami:ld

Orig/mll1}J as cammdl PWllCl1r ~m mB P'" lifaicroF'& &~I!'-d~b,r.r(ZY,

mu:tor tl;i$. f.l¥U' fimd wUA 1M J~b I:t!id

CIJ!~fil"'I"Weigir.~from

a h"ct!.k:d,{Hff~

01.!1nLertL1Cextreme cold of the Korean winter and ethers in ~astA rica had additional air intakes fitted to the touf'to elp eool die cab. A small nllmbt;:fo[I'he3t;;! vehidel'l·wflIs ;w.:d with folding rear spades :lmd etherscarried speelal 'Wing' gear for the 'Ccmur-Jcln mnk's mean-wheel fud railer. Soule of the ltAF Rxp~or,f!:t:'S ere sub 'cq uen tty w r-.msfet:n:.-d hJ the Army which was eventually to employ 8, otal of O"'C'l' 000. A fewExplorers w.lth c:Qlflml;'tcla] ~il[Ee:m fibs were exported U.l N e'WZealand for RNZEME and a lUro larger num ber of !'l~mU~r vehicles was purchased by he :egyptian Army. The rli:'\l,fScammells issued du ring the eiu:ly 1.950s Js,pliilciXlthe older Pioneer (),X 4, ve:bigc:i. whJiIC:h W~ then t;depJoyed to unlt8 whkh h~d been forced 'Eo manage wi th
"ton breakdown ..gllI'my lorries, Afn~:r R~g;uJa:r units WCJ'e' e-equipped MY surplus Pioneerswere 1i:l"B1lS erred to TA .!lits or trai.n.i.ng peels, Ma11)" old so.ldiC'fs still p.J1derI~d tbe tml'l.~r, plodding diesel version, which remains to this day !)[nernin,g like a: cherished fam1[y pc~ Within REM!. In the lISt two, de -~d.~san inCrea~T~Elgumber of :s.cammeU 6 x Ii n ~%p]orel'S.have been sold off and for some vears could 'be

NCen on be' erecourts of eivilian gal'~gcs- still in

Wjtbll1 the Iramework

IJ!~. II

of the CT vehicle concept

number of recovery vaciruu:s were Pfi)oposedi. WhB.[ bs;d been planned as a 3-too' IS-x: 6; ran,g-e of vehicles V!':8Is, .I:EL[) '~pgr3d~d 'r to Eli 5~t.o,n load capacit)'. A few cxpe:riID);'.n1a] chassis were bullt b" AI.biQlIJ _IDIornycrofE and V,BlIXltall.·WD aambers were aU.OCBllCd to recovery versi,on.~ of' he AJbio:n and Tl'!);omycmf[ chasais, inn there Is no Iedieation dun any .5'~[Q!Il.6x 6. recovery 'viIilhi;cle' ,aJ5 complered. One of the W Albion chassis was sil10WTI at the 195,6 :RritlSh Mijim:ry

V ~]l]i(:,leH"hibiliOin..
A parallel development in tbe 3-t:01!l4 X: 4 GS range was. 8 rec:m~ery vehicle imiLiaUy ·dassified iRS merl:i1.lrnD." when, but pb.!fl$ ro:r .iI preiected l-ton UgbtfecQ'.,f.!:lfY vddde wese
dropped tha 3-tooner 'look the '"light' ,ewsilicalion. The pI'ounype was built O.ll theCommer Q4 chassis then bcing used. Ier Gs. trueks, machinery lorries and RE uj::ipets. and was given tile d~s.ign numher FV 13218,.1'0 support :lI suspended I.oad !l 4 torrs normal single rear wbeels were rcpJa:ci:d by twia rear wheels, The ,,~cllicle's chassis, width
j.

tnt:

made smaller [yr,~snecessaryin order te retainthe standard

ever,f)]] vehicle width eo

the

re-cover}' versionused

9.00 X 20

or the wartime \'llard a France see Pan 3) lU!lving a single swin'giog and. elevating' [ib held in place by wire s,tays anaehed to ,BI frame ~n the from of the body, A powered [ib 'Winch was fitted and ,81, S-ilQIl chassis winch provided the maio means of recovery, To givpl)jtcha.~ when, winching '(Ii' ,dcw.chahh:: snchors or sprag legs were: carried similar to those used on the experimental """anim~Mack NM. The 'bodil";$ of n,~t~'prQml;y:pelii were- built hy Mmn Eg~.n:OI:'l L'[d" Aflcr' 1J'i.13Iis in the early 1950.:.; 'With tile Commer and an ,alternative v~bicle On <I $imilar]yr.nOOliijied B~dfordlRL ,c!lla~js (FV 131 J.5). it was decided in 19:5:5, use [he latrer to ,cilloslS,]s pecducdon 'V,ehicles. .Bodies were built by far

rryfe!l instead of the 11.00 X 20 U-Yi~~ used sio.,gly enmost 3·to!loers. The recovery gear resembled 1:.0. some degree that

MarS:balls of CalIlotidgt.l" A number of these vehicles wer~ supplieil to 'the Home Office feu" the post-war t\'IJ.Nm~ry Firl Sc:[vl,cg·. Some were also eKported ttl New Zealand for RNZE1\oLE. British Army Bedfords, origimdly designated Tractor 3-1:onGS Recovery Light, were issued during the 19501],to replace '\;'fa:rtime Au stln ,iJ:iIi!l1uy lorries (see Fa:r.t 3). AbDUL160 Bedford recovery vehicles were buill for the
Scammell the Bedford was used through entered seT\TioEl mOS'[ \\1D v~Jtides W~r.c p~i!L'Jledgloll~ Br{)n.;t.;!;; reen. Befere lioillg El G change was made to a tIl.ilJitt green with random p.m::nes oJ black which q'll.i,ckly wearheredto a dark grey, ]11 the Middle East and ,Medi[errancan a desert sand colgur ,"',a,s· used 'while lbos~ velrk:k:s serving with 'tho(: UN er carmar:ke for 1I.'ISIil: in Norway were plJirltli:d whi,te:. Despite the I:Jjrrivpl o:f tilt: new Sc.ammeJls in the ]'950s many p:r-obl.ems remained for REME workshops and recovery unks, The '~u!r"ivil.l~diesel Scammells were gI'aduaUy Wf'.~ring out but, ,IIlOl)C impu,rtautly. same of the
OU,II:

Amy . . ike L

me worLd. Whet!.1'[ originally

me; earlier

newervehicles b~~n,~ cl~veJop~, towards the end ofdl~ ]95\)s, VI.'et'G b~y(j:tlidthe recovery capactt" of either Scammell, A reenvery 't:rersiilln of the 1O-I:OTI 6 x 6.C'rossof :tie" Cl. nnl':C vehicleS W9£ therefore developed under the d~s:igr.Uil,liCin",TIElIl:.[o:r ] O-ton I Iea.vy Re~o\rery, Lejlmllid (FV 1119). It WQ,ill based ('I'D the chassis ~1ready used ((:;,r tlu gliLntractor 'but fined with II mO'I1!: QwC:i'ful winch, The P Uyl,~nd. was powered by 2RoU~ B Series 1181 !iitmi;g1u

me

cr

Sill~p~'B[on

~~cyli:nder :petrol ~[i.,gine.Tlie vehicle's transmb;sion and hlyout: resembled 'tll.::lJtnfrne- Scall:llDcil EXlP.Lor~

gear eonsisted ola 115~lionwo-speed hyd.raulic r rnflSsis winch and an hydraulic crane mounred O~ acentral pedeseal with a C]Ic:lW S!:lll't ::t.lld ccmrclset one side, The basic ~gn Oflnii: crane was simllar 'to [he Au~,tin Weste,l"lll!lmed

[tli· recovery

workshop eraee, Whh

suppertsd

me jibilixed!

i~the re8i..f[,liJiSition~

by S1.3ys·; Ilfts of up 10 10 rons we're: :poss:lib.~ewb:UJIi

n various US r-ec()vf'ry '!'e,hides ..Tbe gre.:!It adva:l1tagc ofth~ 'i'cllide's des.,i:,g:11wasthat itcauld be IJ:~OO recove:rYHr 1!I,1!:ilI, for

towing and ] 5 tons when' :-o~atiQ!lary.The n~l vehkJe 'Wa~ mere oom.pl!;1J1.IJila.n any ~ve:~r.y vcl1:l,r:1eused. up 1tO d1:m1:. time'. The o.rls:in~derder w,Eli~ fol' 280 vehielesand tbey Wlilf-e
d.epL'l'Iy.ed 'W(l~ld-w:id~. In thePersian Gu~f a1re!!l'lill~: .Leylao.d

was fined w-itllwide., :~ow-lPress\ll'esa:nd![yres. In, the UK~ triilh. were conducted ui&ing~ L~yJalld wii~bO'.p¢!l ,cug~J~~ a ~y~ind:dGal. ,e·xreitliSJ.o!IlSito the resrwheels toimproee stability an ~l;Elrdsl.ufm::e.s. n a ceaae rele, The' LeY[~J.ld ren:t~illS in i i1ii2:rIlk:eb1!1rt iSi sd1:ed1i.1l:~ed. for replacemenr soon by fl.f!W"efr gel]:emtioll rec-orvclL1\' ehide&, The imrodiuc'!:loWll; of the v Le:y:!and as a :b.e2Ivy reco¥el::y vehicle led H.'!' the dQ,wngradimQ:

'Of lldl SC9m~eU:!l(o, a m:ediwni;;~ilssifkatio'n. ~il:' LeY~s!!.wld w,as~:'lrn~diifl A 1UIstraJia by RAf..ME bu'D:WM no'~ ail.o(pred. 1"11.e.Leylmlfld Md. Bedfurd deslgm mok some ye<ll:.r5to
pmg-r,tlss ];hrol!l!g'h the MOS ,:,mdW ax OUic~ peace-rime design ...~estms lind prodlJi~tijQncytle,. O'Lhe:rexpedients had to be fou:nd l~' equip Unlt~ durin,g I.h~leady 1950$. Art: this time the USA was s;u',~p]yblig Western EI!JJropeml cQUntr.ies with military eqmpment under a ~Mni.liliryDefence Aid p~1]gra~'whi~h seugln [0. strengthen 11'l;~rmed roroes of a
what wnsU] become me Nortb ALiamic Treaty 'Ortll;m]S8IrD:QIl (N.ATO), AooJOng .mi.litary vcllicl~s ~upplied. W~l'i:l nUimfcmuSo

refurbished. ex~'WorJd W.ar n recovery voJlid,es.HAOR qlLl..~il:h=dJOlT :,;iUfflC /!l.lOl\P issuesaad 60 DiamoiJl]:a T 969
w.reekers were obtained, moslbd:il;g

dl~pi)~d

ElimdJfuI of 81!l!!l'VlVUl,g warrirne-issned wilhilll [,t!S'S than [C1.l years.

US recovery vehk.!.es

'or withE!

The onJy tractor a;y,OIllabLt:lhrr thellew trailersat first was rhe w;al'ti:m.e Diamond T'and over 1,,200 'o:ftbr:se. continued In servise, some

for anothertwo decades, SO:m~were re"e~Jrgil1i.~d. from .1. HJ 19..57 since spe1'es for tin: American ~;6

.B¥ 194~9the Army ""[',IS testing the new Lalla Rover and, (lksp.ite the dcvdopmCJ:n uf [flu Truck V,,·-DCJn CT 4;<4, Ihe AUSllil1 Ch,i;lmp, Land RO'!l,em were taken into sendee to.

short time REME had adapted eneas ,81 ;1)~CQvery. ehicle, A t-ubu~ar steel, A [rome was sttaehed [0 v tlu:-rear, steadied by cab:it:s. 3t.1d.;lporcab-de wi!1'i:::h carried, ,A, lig1utdummYEIde' of similar designm. those used in the .~.93o.!.'1 'CIuJd be: tow~d. trl!ki!!lg the weight of oueead ora C li£:ht vehicle ca£UU,I][Y.This, equipment w.a:;lnd:<l!p~d to fi( Inter versions of '!:I:iJJ~ Land R.QV'f1' and continued to p(l'\Qv~de
8.

:mJid-l'95Os. Wilhin

me

.ll:l ,~ii!:mm~ or ~ljrpolru~).~elIlluts. Berlin is div:lQ:cdbetweeli'l JOlM"OCC:l~pyin.g; powers,the llBr.i.llsb'Br:ii.I.1nBrigade" being fUficl~d on a 812]Jru.Ue basis fromBAOR. Dne result hns Lo.ng been the loc!llil prov.ts£Of:[ of
the· main ..means of .nlcovery

Hercules diesel engine becamescaree and ~xpen~i.v(!, he T :n1ew,enginl)!;~a Rnlls· R.oyc~ 'C6 NFL diesel, resulted ill a slightdtiJiirlgew the. este rrlJ,I,I,appr;:;u:ance of the Ir.~!l;;IOr, l['i.e right-haud bQ~Iit:::s.idcpaL'i.L;:l being modlfied UlaCC0rJ.11l10( date [be engine accesseries. AbOliJ;lGOadditional Diamculd T'E;arebelieved ~(l havtJ: been received JUnOD:£, .MDAP allecatians in the 195{18 These were-981~ :rehuilt with ;)l~ .. steel csbs, The [~&.tD~am{]fid'frrae't,ot" w,as net I'eiplace:d ui1t.il11 9,7 S, C]:Ul:ple:r 3in.cludes details of the hi~mzy i!l'nd die'l'~.~op.n'D.:en of lank-sin the FV .200 series (If armoured vehicles, culminatiJ!g lowe 65·[on Co.o.que'.l:'or Heavy Gun. Tank CFV 2U). To CEl.l',ry these taaks in the 60·wn plus weight mnge th~re wa:., aneed for anew rransporter.and II[was
intended mat this snouid heve a good cross-eounrry lin~:rfonJllOiJtlCtt •. ExpcrimeflIs had been conducted with []'1e l'o.w:I~l'icall.raci:lic Tractor (see Part :;!) and irs performance ]~d ~u thl;;'! s,p~dlJc'atiCi'n .of 6-whed drive Eor the u~ctor ofthl .~e'(.'l vehicle, MOSEIlso designed a serai-trailer (FV 33(1))

some vehlclesaad equipn:u:lril.L ID'n 19505 this .1ed 10 the the issue there of Mercedes 3~Wn 4x 11 recQ.''i,l'ery vehicles Iined with RUste:in cranes. In rhe Middle Eas ~~hody {wbjJe .Brium troops remained there) and ill Au:stda some ofthe W&rriI!l1l~ reeovery VE:lllie]l;':flconvened rF~m US gun tracrora survived inte the euly 19505, WhJen the war ended new u!.nk u·lll.lsporler[r.,:ul,ers were nndlu developmenr 10' IDl,."C[ the n~~cl~ljfthe I]jI!W and beavier tanks, coming imn service, Trials C.{)(iU:i!r'J.ued. with th~ 710~ton.ti]t-bi{,ld lU.i~f.;f.!,to move the Tm."I:Ol5e mnk de:nmyer~ six ofwbich were completed .after [he' WI:1[' ,:,L~d tCt:l,~~<li in BA.O:R,., 'Other ~x;per:im!';::m~]urai1m, seem '[0 have disii1ppeared le.avlin,gtile wartime ~J.O~[Ol:ltrailers, some srrcagthened iindml'Jdined, snd the !first 'Of theCraaes 5,O-tQiJl . [railers rocarrythe new Centurion ..Laser rCA. '[}y~(:Jir.! c~) .& of UVe<rpooJ d~eh)pild iilll improved SO-lOU version ef the wartime 4!J·[QIl .Mark 2 trailer; o:r.i,gin.uUya Dj'~~ln d~~ign (see P,ocI3). The new 'trailer W8iR s:umiLar illlIlppea.r:imc.e and (nnstnlc'!1on ~,othe Cranes 50~~pnd.e·!i-jgn, The 50-(cm trailers wereabom one: foot wider than []]e ~llr.:Li(;:i,'" '40~ tnanees an.d could accept 8[J,~ht crvll:rJoad:s.~ClDllihJillg lhem '[Q rope withl,81'[·e:r 'I heavier .MnrJilS of C~nu.l.don, The FV 'ilumher 3,60] Was a 1J000red. inilioill,:y to the Dyson trailer
design ..

who~e

CtJI.1,(:(';sH]Ons. to the- .nO~d.8 0 f off-rCIf!d m,~!v~ml;in~ ad~ m nts practlca! use somewhat suspect, The tractor 'Was given the des]gn numher FV 1003 ,r;!'nd Ell

p,I'\OU";)type W:.lS

width of the vehicle w.a~ same 13 :~ei;~ 'wld.~~:\the u~iler iumlfand ,~~ me tanks it weuldcarry, The need. for. such a 1oad-can:y:lng C~facity in the ~:rO!.c'tor '<I~parl[Y b~c~n.!s~· the d~~ign 'Of w of
[Y]I.Ies.I.lind 98 the tyre size was overall

bullr by Leyland. It WiilS fitted with tWill

.rt:~f

Ul·.OOx.z4[he

we semi-trailer. The ~e.sired. off-read perloemanceled to the IIse of the same m~~jve l)';r~(l,On the trailer ;'Iud the ej~h

wheels were moun ted on faut SHl..b mdes !Oll.it! 011 each end 01 two 'Wlsprung Vi.~~in.gbC':,]jms .. To sllow fOJ: ;:![tiCHlntjIT.u1 of rear bogf.es.t11e tl',ElekwlI.y:> Bcove the wheels were over '] feet from the grou nd nece1,ll$it-alingM{)tbreea:-l~C[iQn f'Oldmg r~t tE:im[)s. Tu~ow>er the centre ofgr'=1.vily oh ..lader.

we

trailer the: [r.aekwa:ys &lopedd.owJl.wan:ls fCi<fward frmu the hllilllp :at [he rear, the frame thea s.lop:in~rsha:rp]y uPw~:D1d![l (I the 5Wfl1'l m:d;.~ thus ='I. tank wOouJcl e carried tilted forward, b threwing more of its we~!;iu Gin~o thetractor. The d~s.iJn1 pr(lig~!i~ct but [o:U[ild~[t':d dILl!,: 10 outi1l:idi1 im11i11t:tH':e:i>, The

A d!'lHl,1l"~~r1ftkB propondFV lOOt) ~~'1i~~ M..f1T1!1 tlll:r£~ .'li$i4Ti{li,ler JUled 'Willz b'alliUl 'Wttglll!j.

1'1'1!j.¥prJr1ar.

Tke l..ey£~tlfi !rat:ro~ t(>W.,t &u:ib"mdrtlSIU ttJ~'~'h 51wt~ (J

.E h~d, set an upp~:r brridgmg Ijmit of 100 [OIl:!! and 'the

V 1003/3301 com bina tion when ~ aden with Conqueror was r,;;pectedwexceed this limit by a caesiderable m'll:l!'gi.Q., o(tuu!lldy an interim solutien to the pro bh~m of c::arryillS y 200 series tanks \'ireas at hand. The l_=1'\r 1000 serieswas m fiveinc! uded FV [00 L, a heavy U'~Cl:O!l' with ballast body I '1£1 F"V lOO4J ,111 hiilav~y'recovery vehicle, but li:i]ly 'D'~'lI!(~ oEire V 1003, was built. It was ~ft~n~,!;Lrdsceaverted to a radicnt slroJiJlation vehicle, being dlsposed Brin [976.
500:[1

as a lracmr for semi-trailer CFV 1200..2)and, foUo'l.mg the SCtl1P.pimgof'ilic FV 1000 series traaspcrter, became the standard Brj:ti~h .Army transportee . .FVDE, 'before its incorpo],I1'lio.1linro F'VRDE produced a sfBll-uailer design ,D)pablC'.of carrying
lh.e.FV 2:00 series tanks, Tliisrrn,iler,,~ V3.00J, had two rows of I!FI,ubi:lr]el:; B.tthe: rear canyiog a total of sj~u~en I ." .hceJs.ltil] 1.t." hwi~oD'taJ . ~.aCkWBYS werereached via. two folding rear ro.m.,P!i;;tanks pas.sing ~'v~r a sJighlt hump above

·Th·cA rmlI WOiISunnel' f

develeped

aft,er the war ended .Me!i!:ii'rsT]-~Q:r.l1}Tcrb.ft!il of sernl-trailers or in h;;lng \vhe-eJba1iieform,

asingstoke beg,all development of a massive tractor priIWY for useb ' oil companies in the .\lidd.l,e East, h was
I~gndt'd UI;iUJ",'" te

I1'ry leads of oil eX:phmltion equipm.ent. The vebicle ~

'lo",rn 18 me .\iigluy Antar; W~EI rested by the MOS and in i tractor form. it was adopted by 'the Arm;f a~ ill replaeemen t (J' the Diamond T. . The firsl A.ntan, in service in I 9 51 were [rl:lll..: ors .... h fixed r ,i:t eel ballaetbodies and were gjv·c.:n the dee sign number V 12001+ They could easily cope with rb'(l new SO·lon ailers. A 20~mn winch W3.!5 fitted behind 'the cab tor Lwin,g dead tanks onto the trai!C'1'hut for 'the early trials no Inches were :ilvail.abl-e 500 plans were made .fOil:' acla]::I'tin!; Inches taken from Diamond T iraclo:rs. The new tractoe 'l'Mfcd its predecessorwluch W8IS essentially a large nd·gOlU,g vehie'le. The Antar'sofficial designarien ~";El.S ractor :30-t n GS 6x4llind.its \1fidth oflOrt 6[0;8 '~'n8over 2 l:t more than theAmerlcan vehicle. The Antar's engine ~~ ;1 R.o'vct-buit't Meteorit.e V,S p~l1ol.ttngill;~, This WBlS~.in feet, a sawn- .ff Meteer lank engine, Commercial versions the I\teleor:ite were available u., diesels..

the fr'onl, giving adequate clearance lind'e.the hull Qf'~ne traasported tank, rath .. swan neck over e tractor's fifth wheel wup]]l.'l,g. Fg·ldlil'lg ]e.gs were fitted 1;.li.nd~rhe rrailer t

lbl!: rear wheels and mo,v:i:ng fOlrwa:rd on the [railer' 50 ·~S~,O spread the 1,:...·C'ight more ~ve.nJ~1between 'tl1el.:rn,cror nd tf."lil~ wheels, Later versions of this semi-trailer were desi!lln~~ed:1FV 3005. T~~ '!:rniklr r;r~me' s4ope.d gently lIJIiP at

me

fr.mil,{~;0 enable 1

i.l lO ::iltfi!l!lld

detached froUl. the tractor.

Foolbcxes were fixed under the Itra,ckways in produc ion Lf..aiIersand 3. !ilm.dl flQ,iSI O!i"l;!r the swan neck could lift or lower the :spare wheel. The smaller wheels and [ower tn~ck-wIIY ;made tins .. much more. stable trailer. T:ri~]8 of l.kI!eAn.lar With tbc new semi-trailer took place from 19'13l [0 i95 S aad included a test run by .ll9Tank Tn.!t1s;porter CQtDip:fi!l!{ RASe d:urin~ July 1953.. A['I.ornc!r semi~tr3i:l!.::r (.fV .30] 1) of general.l,y simiLu:r.Q.p'P~rn.n~[:o the GO"'I[{I,IlII.er

but rated

,!lit

SOtons was sdepted

LOf'

cilrryin.g the more

common Centurion tanik:sand other .Iighn~r armoured vehicles, FV 31011 featured il mere sharply sl.Qpingfl1llne up '10 the ;swan neck, slnaner whccl!;l;l.Jlci '[y;r.esaad WB.lS slighdy smaller th311 FV 3001. Both trailers were built by IQs~"b Sankey Ltd to start with bu subsequently me 50-toJlllers

,verI;';a1:s.obuilt by G KN and Taskers.

Later versions of the Antar .Mark 1 were buill with a lim her ballast bedv for use as tractors 11 the S Ow(OIl Dvson i:r trailer but crmld be canverted simply ra tractors f.or f_h,; 6Q,"'[onseml-uailer, FoUowmg Lilli: develeptuent (Jf the FV i000 tractoe ~ soml::tim-cs named the B.ronto!lau.rU5-, another :l,~~gc;': of:heavy tracrers 30·ton C1' wa~ JU'o[>lJ"sc.xi under the series heading FV 1200, Origi.lull~, design work 'W~I5undertaken in. 1950 by Dennis Beothers ofGuiJdford .•thefirm more rertowned for Ire engines, .After accepuing an MOS ~g'¥nract, .ca.rry,mg; om research and. prePlilring drlilwings. the oompf!llly found i't cou Id not exp~~d Irs f:u:.W11' sufficien l~Y'[0 CIlITY t tlJ'[ producrlon of the new range which wuuld have included iii heavy giin tractor, !II heavy tractor for 111, tEink transporter ~l1d Eli heavy recovery vehicle. MOS arnngedi in ]953 1.01 uUlisJer the work to Leyland Moturs but only a few FV 1200 series Leylands ,,",'erebUU[. One with .a PI:O~ot)fp~gt1n tractor b' dy FV l201, was U sed in ] 95 5 and 1956 for trials as a I fU'.Ibt U's,C1:or ~o!hQitJ.g wartlme trials 'Wi ttL a 6 X 6 Scammd[ iPi,llnt:cf. FV UOO vehic,lefl r~allt[\l'ld6~whed drive, Meleoriu:: :ng.i.tu::sand huge ,U.oox24 s:lngk lYlLSS.The 'OS[ OInd~i:;r£, of these machines 'Wi:!'! d1'~probable reason f'Or ~heil" demise, Parts qf (I'De of t:hem.survived In a 5cr,apyud in

The earliest post-wartrailer fu:l' this role was a replacement fnt tilt: pre-war designed. 'Cranes 7 Yl·'wn light recove lr.,.i]er ..The new trailer (FV 322:1) was rated Elt 1Olons anc

intended for carrying FV 61.10eries wheeled armoured s

vehicles (Saracen and Saladin), F'\r 4(}D vehicles, the Jast 0 the open-topped tracked .c~rr:icrs; and B. vehicles. The l;;'V JBO series, carriers including FV 4:31 (see Chapter 4.)

could be carried when the trailer was larer mod.ifi'ed" Tile

trailer on two axies featured. a 'Tont rurnrable and each 3~ carried twa twin wheels. Detacbable ramps for l!oad.iIlg Wf carried between 'Lhe uac-k-ways. The u.aUer 'was developec

19:81.

The: advamageof iOI full t.rtliJ.t:f for C9Jryin,g IlIn.dJef lj,'ehk:'Ie: CElsuah::ies h3:; always been that any suitable pnme mover could pull lt rather thana spechdi:s.l tri!!ic'l:.Ot • For this 1eeson 8J aumber oJ sm~l1transporters have been developedsnd sOm~cemmerelal trailers adopted b· dte Army over the
years.

Tht. I.~l:a:l'ld Fil iz.o1.II~(t'1Jj! TrtlC1W' bed], t~UJ Ultdng'i.'II ,gatt.,ll' GtlfI l'!l11k. A Cmtmiull A_R"V'M ark J IS (}rJ.lf~. ,1~ft.
CcmVlMWT H

and built by Rubery Owen in the ]9S0s hut did riDE fil'l:illly n ter service until 'I. 960.. Same prod UiQ;; don trailerswere be: t'),' J. Brockhouse. The 1:;,\.'"&DE IIIncli jls 8u~c,;t:!!lSOr:5.have always tested commercial vehi~ll!~ which [t1ight have some p,iJ!tenti.d fl)[' militaJ'}' emplc.uymenL 'DuTing the 1950s a neW name In heav.y haulag trac:ton; was Retinoff, The Rolinoff A'll.anti 6 x: ·4,tractor 'WELS aimed E1r filling the same role ~~'!P.the Di amend T 980/981 and the new 1 hOnj'(<.roft .Anlae. An Allan tic with LloUs 06 diesel engine was tested al»:I tractc: in 1954155 and was 'Used wlth the FV 300] on-ton semitraUe:r. A ~ear Or so Iater the vehicle wastested iliga.in, [hIs .. time as a ballast uactor w itlu a,mg~e rear wheels andwwin( the FV 3601 5()l.ion trailer. Ro1ino.ff then produced a Sup AlIa.nuc ,~nd a version was rested. in 1960\;;,:i[11iI:i1I AfJC engine, This vehicle was alse tried W4lh 3. 60-lOf.IJsemitrailer, No proeli1Llcdon Rotinotfs were w be used by tbe British A.rtny but Swil1J;::rland. ,1PUn::h3lU~dome as tank s transporters, Two other ve'biclcs taken inm useby the ,Army in the 1950s were verslons of a commercial (')x6'SCaoUllif!"]] developed for o:ilfield work and IW!1ivy ha.u1age. The SI".c.ammeUCon.strUCl{lf Was ~.big vehicle but.much smaUC'J than d'liCAUlU. The two versions ilrsL i~uoo weremainly rnr [h,e RE, The 20-000: ballast bodied tractor usulllly haul rhe drop fram,e:trailers commonly US'Cid. for carrying u'[:I~ki RE plant, dozers, [excavators etc, The tractor I:bassJs user three separate oXi.e'sather 'than the: rear transmisskm syst r oftne Explorer bu shared the latter's Meadov;'s petrel engine, The C.!1l~ Was V(;!:fY :Jil.il;rmW in relation [Q [he size of

:pre:55wgs from ,fl former Bedfard truek tedel. A timber ballasr body Wll~ fined, 'lyres, were !,00 x 20) twin On 'the rear axles. The overall width W31$ ~QU[ me same as that of the F,.xp.lortt, AI t.hough no esigned as a tank transporter this v'l1ioele was quite capab.L~ :M,uling smaller armoured "chides CI'n trailees. In; J S-'I:On ~nch gOliveh a useful recovery cSipadty if needed,
The other Co nstruc
WI' W!i!S Eli

l~'I.'uhide' alid used

Scam[[l,(:lI. ,COIii!itructors were being developed ,EII:nd. bulh,

There were a number ofe~-RA heavy tractor 1 Scamm.eU 'Pioneer and AJ.biofi CX22S and a sma]! D'l.unber of US t"pes Ibm ~ batlast-bodied tracter wa~ c:o!1:sid"ered mere useful, ~The:rewere ,at this time a lut of surplus Scammdl [n.m:spOi!1er·s the tra .. tors (['{lm tit!f;)i!iC W~~ eoneerted, so c :sU'Luh~\g 1953.n 27 Cor:tul1,and. Worksh!op R.EM-E. Above in the fifdl wheel coupling g, steel .f:rfllme ","'.as· built ~ll]lO which concrete blocks were stacked. A small jih atthe rear enabled the spare wm,l;el. 00 he lifted or. lowered to the- ground. The ma.jorityofinCanLr)' hatralions in the 1950s and 19605 were :semi'~mecluuti'sed, that is, with domestic ttanspott but dependent oa the provisicn of ~ddh.il},mll.troop carriers to move a.·Ii"Qne hol'(!_unit. To provide the [evi,' R EME soldiers w ma:i:nt:.lining [be barrallon's vehicles with ;'i means Ier

:W~wntractor

for

ill

30- ten

:mi~tTiili1er RE plant, The tractor chassll) WaS si milar to fer tconedC$c:rihed but was fitted with a Rolls RoyceCti NFL
esel engiil1.e. Larger lY.J'I!-S WU~ fiued, 14.00x 20 still

firmed Oil rear axle!)' ,resulting in a vehicle:8 inches wider Ia.n[hoeballast tractor, The Task!:l's lO'Hln drn:p~'r3D1e mi-Irailcr (FV 3541),1.1:500, very .:smaU lO.,(}Qx 15 Ly,r~ an I [!'\'O rear rows of'i,,,'hi;.'f,;Js S'Ll ~tWEllS poss ibEe [I:) build in: with mElJ llilor. t\ two-piece foldlug ["Un.·w~drn r,e:il:rramp mp.l:ifJ,ed the loading of plOllJl[ of any size or wid th, The ailer was J.O ft 6 ins wide and could thcwfun: ~rry quite rge armoured vehicles if' need be. An ualad en Thornycruft Aurar welghed abou 20 tons ld no in- service recovery vehicle could li.f£ one end 'of the
:hicle ro provl de a suspended tow. This was one reason hy supcr-hee 'Y r covery variants ofthe FV 1000 liIod Ii ]100 series ofvehidc$ were ceatemplated. SomeUlinIJ as.needed more quickly, III abeut 1952. a RASe pfik:t"J' in a.

reeovery, one or more 3-mll.tC!JIgo trackswere iS1iiuc:d fiu:cd with Cb3SlS.l'!il winches. A Wodd. W~J' U veb.wi'iE! hicb. w survived for mOTIli)l ye.lIP'; ~11,this role was the Karrier K 6. It W~s superseded in the late 19508 by the Biid.ford R.L .3,-I(m
truck with winch (F'V ]3]05),

Ilmity production s the problem. remained, InSlti;!,d it ~!'l decided to build 'a recovery dolly, or dumrayssle pable of taking the ,.,'eigln of either end ,of [he Antar. The !fie (I' this i.d'eLIcan be seen when considering COSI of :·\i1:1opi.ng superheavy ,r~v~ry vehicle soldy 'to cover the a liiltivdy small number of tlmes Vi(!Jell 8.11 Ant-ar would need ;u[i;pf::nd'L':dtow; ho'wDve:r the dU:IDmy :I/!:xlili: with ji,b did not .ter lieTvh::c.un Li.lm~ny years later. The need for heavy tractors to pun trailers ]'111 the 20-tfill lSS I mostly for RE eq uipment, had [Q be me ~while the

nk transperter Ct1.mpa:IlY d(.-v:i:red it bolt-on Jib which could : fitted W SJ] A.l1oo tra . ror ensbJj.ng ]'[ to tow ano ther c spendedAntar, The devicewas nULofficiaUy approvedfor

me

n:J'W

btlU4Jf

qf S r.{Jtm~JJ PionlZtN l'i2».k rnm.l:pvrt€'J'"!~'aCr~,'sr(1nvcnad ,LWdilJdmlClrm ftJr folltraikr!.

.fD

Chapter 3 The First Post-War AIRVs

The ARV !'l]mfjt~on inthe lasr lWOYi;lanofWorJd WflrU was described in Part 3. The maicrlty avaltable were Mark I types without winches. A rehtthi,d_: SiD,lU number ofM:ark 2:
Churcl1Hls <!:Il!dSI'n,.t~i':!D.Q:IU and, seme }.132 Sbermans were ill use. For many workshops me Caterpillar DS n:-arctuf centinued to be the: main tank reccvery vehicle assisted by
the Diamond
1.0

T tractor and SC3IIUlleUs. Fo'r ;uDRlely the

'LI.!i1;

rnpid run-down ill lhc: !;;iz~of WI;:Atmy enabled

best use

bemaileofMark11sin~u.mOl.uel.i workmops. and] lank regimerna bUll; lher~ W'Cf1'!: still [on few I1Ind. the seale of issue ofa]]uypes of ARV was frequently below entitlement. Fol," a tong time RA R~men't~ with self-propelled guns had no ARV s, A December 1954·report proposed the issue of Ram AIVs and Wille RA :~eginJiem LA Ds received Shermane, TA unirs we-Ie .lucky 00get MY A.R.Vs foru:ai.rung and some were expeeredto m8.l1:iligewith rurretless Stuart MS Jigi'll: tankswith such reCQVll,!TY ge1!!!: as OUl!ld be ~I'£owtd011 'hoard. With, the end of the war and the subsequem demise ·of the Expe'f,i.lllelltlil[ Recov.ery Section H,EME, respon,:;;ibml'Y Cor ARV design reverted tethe MOS but, althougl1 designs were ,pIloduced in the five years after VI Day. lin]e·p,rac.lical

.Kort,I(!" II S,ca!nl9'ilcU PirJ"'~~r hlJaik (,I ft'am ofScafnulldl EJo:plttfet'· liInd ,D;ililmand T w~r!~ .5,0-.1;011 DyS(};Il- tr~af1' ((;ll!,),ill'l/?Q C t.~Hur&rn JlRV Murk J. Fi4Ii" ~iJtJe!)' vflhicle-sj'o'l' 'tIit prir.-:e of om).

me

WIll;,

was pOS'llibb'~t gi:v,r;;'TIhi! greater prio.r:iry for deveL,oping t

the Inlew CeD[~.ILr.i.(l\[igl.tf.l

W,hi~~l still .aJ useful ARV during the 'W;!IIf] the Churchill by rn 9-50 was so underpowered and io'W' [Ji:uu its effectiveness in battle was questioned. Its d'l'il!\v"O!!t,cks ere to become aU [UQ w tlvid~f!J.tinlh.C' Korean Wer. Russiai's, last mwute declaration 0;[ war in ],945 OIl a J apan by then alread)1 Vl,)ty weakened :Ut:!;I' nea:rl.y fourteen years of 'war against China and four years, agruns:l the Allies. gil.ve the 'COIDm'uIDlSl ,giant ~ rel,adv'~ly e.a,sy victor . [apsnese forces in northern China, M.ld ]K.'QreB'l which had long been iii Japanese

tank and designing

lt5 successor,

'c::~:d!]:IlY" W-e'r.t:' close to defeat by the time: the empemr

decided to sue for peaceaftee the two atomic bombs bad been dr,opped. Inthe post-war 'carve up' of the Jppmc:Sie colo.n:res and cuter l!;iclands Rus:s:ian forces occupied North

US Ar.my lnfaoITy Division were holdii II smaU bddgchetld m:ofif.ldl the harbour f PU:S~U1 when II United Na'tkm.5 resolmien called ro:r all nations to iC11n LI:I oombil,uing 'the North Ktlret'Ln agg'IDeili-SlO[l, ,A.s US AIm), reinforcements were rushed from j'ilJpa:nand. the USAJ Britain took up the UN call ;[iiildcmp:uclled unlts fr('ll.iit Hong Kong and the UK. These were soon followed by oonti:ngem!l from Canada, AU5tr~Ha~New Zealand ana, mdJIl, w[liId, were ]Oil tel to form. a CQm:mo]'lWc.oallll Divisi'OI The subsequent defeat of N orth Korea. followed by '~bc forces. and the
OIU:l

(ROK) (SouEh Korean) army was slowly belngdeveloped, At tfiis point the ._ nnh Korean army ~3. larger and more mechanised force, W.RS launched across the 38th paf3iUdm oceupioo almest the whole ~Qumry, The slU''ilh'i:.ng ROK

Korea and US fon::es Sou t11KO'leil< The dividing line' fo·:r coml.uni.enG::C' was the 3,8(11parallel SiSit. bisected the conntry.
Vias supposedin be ill return toa single :tected Ko,r,-a_QgQvct.nml;n'~ but (he dJIl:i.ding line s on becameaa iolf:;I.LlJiltion8JR boundary as N erth Korea Sf'! li.~piit~own eemmunist gOIi'ef,IlIDC'U[ dntming 'to represeru 'ulfi,e who-]~ The intention

cauntry. By 195-0 the US oc:cg.patio'D forces had bc~n Iedu~edl'~ a

~ighll· .'armad mkcn force and a new Republic of Koeea

iuterventlon of Communist China and re:v'·rs~ls, for [he U1 and ROK r crces finally led to' ~l cease ..fire and truce in 195. whic:h :remains the offid.al. sitnJllu.ofll todsy. he Centurior; W~S to befirst usedin action in Keres. By 19'.50 the Jlrhi~k j version of the tank was in service; weighing in fighting trim about 52 tons, it scaled 10 ttln~"i arc than the heaviest British tank to see war m service 11p to 1945, . .An urge:in need rhcrefere arosefor an improved ARV. Asan interim solution some dilmalged Cenmrlons were canverred to turretless tra··tors similar ~n CODC~pil:to the: M~Jrk I ARV s of 1942" The Centurion jlll~

tarm

ret,e converted i:l1 the CO''[]lin'J;onwe,:j]ch B'a:se \':!o,rkshcp at Ul'~,J,ap::1!n.Tbi:ii hsd been.ser up or.igi.naUy ill. .1945 toO vidc!'f'pair Siup:pan to tlIeCornlD:(IJlwe:a]th O(;;c'lJpOl[lon !;lC~'"l:i, 'but by 195'(} i:J:U.ll'iC wel'(~al:most c~~i.iN~hl J\1iJs;u~1ia:ll. f.ith thestart of the. war in n:ei,g:hbQuri.ng Kon::a lhiis ork$hop w~s tH)( 18~eclby ,1.Iat'g~IREME contin:b~nl 'Om mained ,81 RAEME unit, The tugs in K,o:r,ea were run o]]]y used for reC(lvery but o as supply and smmunitlon c~ITiel!'grro exposed pos:l.ns, The CelnlJJlr.iqu with i:ts M,el-eor engine, ll:iBd a lElrk~l:llehill ..diiiibmg a.bmty which WaS ~hq~ed with: the wefgbil. of the turret, l1L1JSnmking it all ]llIva11!111,b]e eee ·of I;;':QJ!ipro~nt. Fur rC;;C'Oiv~ryt hfjw~'l,I'~!r,It. :nliffcr$d fliom i the same dmwba:c-lii;,sas its n94-2 Bnc:esitPfS:ilnd, So a pmpf'r :IV with a win,c[l ,on tbe Cq:nt~.tion hljill 'W~~ !,u:gerrtly l:Lglu.This ]ed!rrptbe buHdffig during 195 lin 13 . mmand.Wot'ksll;QP REME at AJdeIs..nm gf ~ PI1ot()1[~tpe lliiL11ri.OflAB.V fol.lowe:d rap.idly by ten prodnctlon vee]llS. These were Iliesigmtted C(;l1turion ARV ,M~J:'k 1. At ~same time MOS set about the 'of:f:icl.al' ctesign ora .nmriOifl A.RV which wcm]d become the M~i['k 2. The Mi:!r:k 1 drr{r'oVh~.!,tily {)I! Chu.n:hhll M:m.rk 2. teennnJ.r. Y and same of i,ts oom.ponems were silmilFtr~c:be prol1J1l.ype lnaUy using Chl1l:'Cfli]l (.--ompoIlent~. It wa.~not p~8'sib['~lo ~ [hie drive from tllemaillen~ill.easi.LiI.tbeChurdilll.!!ii.a a, dfcrd trli:!;;:k 1l:1IgiI1e hildtobe :squeez:t,od .in'to~hcli: winch and (,"'I.-'l compartmem .. The d:ll.Immy turret resembled that ef e Cb11n::lIilJ but was newJy l:mllt fOir.rfi,e Cenlu:r_ion. A setof
j

REME M1IJI5'eu!D.. Theneed

resulted in j,\ v-erycoml1ied

for

,::I ~p8i~'8l.e

space for

malor mruIlt~1f1,1U!iCe
turret
roCO!!fely

t~~ aCCf:S'S h~:td}!L~'S nd Wof'lir;il£l.!i: fr'9m~w Qut~ld~. The a Mark ] ARV was fi~tieQwith ,,:p U!~H)fi wil1!ch and ~l!u:::miJi!i'e'
,.~~lde layouts were required to acb"i'eve the
pulls

l'O th~

W~!l,qh bllvolw·ed reJ11.0\1,rng the

me ,I;;:I"6Wand mnst

willch I:ngine

neressm-y for ntlilJar win:d,1in:g-tas~S" 'Vc:lry lirtle enclosed Sl;oWB:ge' space w,:ilsp:revided for the hundred mild ene
d!~vJcesand stores needed for ])I;:Covci!1' ~J:1,d rhts was to he

corrected

m the Mad~ 2.. The i['St eleven Ccnmdo!l1.MVs. Mark [';llmduding th~

completed by d~ ~cl Q;f 1951..E.gl1.l11ie~ sent 'to Kotlrc.l :fIJIr:i:YlThg in kt:ru;'Ch 1'952! LVI''\) to BAOR ,!lind, one remained ill UK for. training .. Wo,rl:( soon began O!l'l! a further b::'.'fCh., hij.Uiii fol" which were' pmvided by llvithdr.t'Wiug moee o:fthe CeJ:li'tUrlOIl tug$. Th~iir~L r~po]'[5 from !Korea st!gg:est,~clthe need for impmved access to tbeC;:]lew compartmenr and called for vision dl!;l'Vjzes fOf the: vil::h:i~le .. ro.mmamler to 'c;):l.ablehim te OOIlUOJ 1J1C tank '!ivll,en i~was dosed d!Qwn. III ~flIer,a[ the ne'\1i'ARV was [Coogrli;5;w. as. II vast 1mprovemem Oirl du~ Cbul'cJd]]. The next batch of REME';huj]r ARV~ was mod]:fiedm oo:r:rec'tfm.dts and 3iiI:O,~eithel' over 170 clJ'l1versio[]s w~rl;l" made betweell]9S 1. aad 19S 1. Silt of the Mark 1s were liner moved from Korea to the Middle Eas tand me bu!k of d't~l!!!:t~r··b~jlrt: ~,,;:amp]c.s W~m t;o B-AOR. SQUl,j;':: Mark Is remained in' !lenl'a! tilhh!!' l.ear'ly .1960:6.tilen.fitlUihedi[he]f .. d,lYri. as rOO~W,tH"Y tr~ll:ing hulb arr~ul:rd nlrgl;;~~.
proI:Olyp.e~ 'Were

~ origi:nal. drawings

for. the ecneerslonis

held .in the

Wbilist 'lugs' had. be~'nbui]t. in Japan (or use in Korea [he eame idlea bad mk,ell root .in..Ew'Qp.e bUTthese wereuue:ncled [purely as interim recol'ery vehicles . .MOIrk '1J 2 .<lnti 3 [<Inks were ,modified at' 1.'1 'Command WO.rks.!lop fO'f UK Wi~d 7 in AitIlQyt~d WO'r!bhup fQl B,J:\;(lR. The turret was removed butthe traverse gear was, retained and U800. ttl- rotate a d.!rl1!!m-'~h~.ped (:~ble reel U~ the turret ring, Thi:'[;.was !limpiy a device Co]'s.towin;!i!Lhe cable and was ill .f.II!O way capable of bl."i:n.gnsed OIiS ~.n~UYcI)' winch, These Centurion tllgs ~like those in Korea, bad no means of ufid:i:rrchin-g ba.d.ly bogg,ed t<l~s. otherthaa by 'towimg, Their 0'!.dvamag1es were speed .into :!lcticn and cemmonalhy of d.c~ignwi[Fia:h;c gUfli~~:nks Il'liey supported, ~eelhms: problems and t'esting of I:.h~· protOL)'pe, 03ZR,52. Jed to ~i1I:~Lka] J\Elde:sign wOI"'.k .and thus 'toO d~l ..y~,. trials eoauluJing untll I 9'54. The L8!yOJ.:Lt the vehicle Wil~ &i:rn:Ulal:"tl af t ·th!OC~ the Mad.;: I but d:lC wi.ru;h ..:no !;few bousil1,~ was of sEgluJy I~r. Drive to the 3,(I-tu·:Dwinch was pW\lid~. ·by an electric meter aud CY!:Tem- was generated using [I Rolls-designed B81 engine. This mGre complex ,eq uipmen D. fllrtb~:r reducedthe crew Sp~iOi;l, AC!CeS08 tothe winch for :~amcmairuenanoe rasks involved removing theroof, In Eld.d.iti:O!ll~Qw:inclring to the rear, the nUlil'l wmch rope (;:1)1]]d bi:l I'tJuted 1;.0 rb~'f'ig~~ or iG:'f[ ufr.ho(;: v~h:ick pulling up [020
tOM

CItI'J'HmOJl. AR V Mt!rk

2 :dJMm1!Jl' dle r~r ;,;prade·;;;:ndWf

I'ttm}*-~.r rlilgdl'a'i.t~ p"Uillf[

mMch b{()(kJara twa lif11.wJ.P~U.

~'aw

and

tl\."!l'lm rope and .i'll!umg ffJfi a

The .MOS designed ARV Mark 2. (FV 4(06) had its

or ir could be

fed round e pulley

at

the: ii'fii.i! and

~V~t

~:h~

turret ,[oofm win..:::&! the from. T:~:l'i!j,waspr,im:'):l"ily '~I) inrended [Of u:'l,ing aeraue jib wh.ilih 'Wait> pro.v~df:cl:fur IJ~!: ARV bu Irardy used since i.t had [0 be carried on a- separare \ftbkJe. fro'!JtSlO:i'], wa£m~,dc ftll: using :;1 hea.vy l-imib(!tljl"op when ~pus.hillig·with the AR'V. Lockers were .fiuO:I to 001[[1 ~id~ of rb~ vehicle and on d~ern1'!1'~nf the cr~'I.l;' ompartc mear, Lt became the practice in some HA.OR units to ~m\i"ide ~ t"rew l'ihehe.F under C~[j.V~S in the w~·Uover the ,cJ]gWe deck and between the sideJockers, This.was Iine uatil an ,c;;ID!gincr~i!JJJ:t ro:1i'ul1:icd!n!;! :r.l~d to lif1 the engine i covers. A :n~:ui,d'1mere sabstantial sPiiJIdeanchor \-'lE.S dc£igliled :for the Mark 1 ARV J1es:embling rha ~used on 'the wartime
Germ!ln Panther AR.V. As [lin the MIlI.r.k 1 th is wasraised 0'1' lGJ1'l'lerodsing the main winch cable. 11'roducti.on of Ma~k 2 u ARVs- w~sstar.fed by Vick-etfl, in 1955 and initially hu]]!> Weri(: ('lovi/ded by u!iimg gild nmk ru,gs cyrear.'ly :madt,s 0;[ gu:~ntank, 1[[L[t!ti:din.ion these buill for tbl;l'.Army manywere CXPQlrloo, to

Theflest came inro service ~.t'I.19S.6nd m~ny ~ ere S'biJI in a ... service in 1998. F,ew maier modificll·~.iQn::; ere iO be cOimoo 0'1.1 [to tbe w Murk 2: but one.resulted ill a number of IlAOR examples having their locker layoUTS ~har!gect to enable them 'too r.mr.e' spare L7 lOS:Dlm tank gun b8!rrel~ so that one:.. fWorn aut could be l:hEl:ngeC1i in the fidd. The inlJenniQow8.s. [.0 S:1IVC' rrrulB'porLiJl~the barrels. wc.:.ighhlg ever a ton I un trucks. or trailers B.Dcirl:l.Inr[o reduce the number of vehlclee needed fot I:.ht:pr.ilC!tl'iS. Th,L:!co.tiClif'pt, hOWe:ve;f ~ fell into disuse because the AR;V was 11.01 equipped lQ carry out the: bu:rr~l change itself since, even if 'the: cn!."l1/Cattachment o:ri,ginaUy provided had been used, it W:ElS, ill [he wrong place to beahl ITO Hit the gul.!]. andl'i fl)nm the.il positions .u the' side of the b vehicle. In practice ,il ha]!-·tr,8ic.kfit:ters'verucle or [he FV 43 Carriflf. 'Eu]J Tracked M a intenaace OJ: some wheeled reeovery vehicle was needed to Hit: the barrel from '[he A.RV. O[l~ [hill: bjcft~fl came into service usinS alonger and C ilea ~ielt gun the Idea was droppoo. tl.tuir~~.:y iiI:ndsome .A.RV~ had I~he.ir locker layouts restored to the ari:g.i:nal design, Mo~t r;:Clunni.c.,-;\,,·hic:h :purdl~s!:i1 Cenrudon woo also bouglittt .:!I number of AJ1'lV so tlre combat IJperaliCl'ns of llle' is Cenruricn ARV J\.la:rk 2 have <1m intcrn~r[ii"JnSil history, R.J\E~\tE used thevehicle :un Vie[TI3.m IiII1id ethers are believed 1:0 hsve beenused in various Middl!;l Etjsl war!>. A proposed. Cenrurien ARV .Mark .3 would> like the CO!l1que.ro:r .Ma:rk 1 and Chieftain, [HIVe had I h~ bull g~ac.is:;p1,a.H OlJuli§,!1.,1ed Hl Jorm the fronr of the winch and crew comparuaent, piaciugLhe drivet in with tbr; rest (if I!:be crew, This V<l.ri~J1tdld not ma~eri.aJiEe as a Centurieri. "I'he O~'E.limdon Dank A4.ll was developed in ] 94414, 115 jJ. heavy cruiser tank.and, M J complemerrtary infantry tank, an eve
j

big:ger vehicle wasproduced under the designation A45 , In 1.'945 Ute WEIr Offic;:c. pub]i~boo h::\i.p,I;Ui:lrofor rUml.N~ tm d>t;;v·!;:]optnt:1u: the Cen turlon (A41) would become .a V ru!le[ sal T~m,k m.spe:ll&ing wiJh~ll;e oopmilm~rni~rmld lnf~nn'y tank ~I:,[!t:(l'p~s.n WOIU.ld also form the bas.is for .many

pccialisl A\~elud,li!S~most uf which had origin:ally bG~n fuil~011 the Churchill hull. Daub ts wet-e SOO.1l cast on the uitahil:i'ty af the Cc:n'rUf~gn ~or SiUI1~ of tbespec iaJist' 'rnJc!!i so
:was decidod ttl replaceir with a heavier universal tank.

was cancelled in 1951 with the main universal

wink eencept,

~he,llienes'\1;'3:$ a.Uoeatcd rhe dLSSigl.l f.l.umber FV 200 and was

ssed lh~ earlier A45. Plans for Ill. range nf vehicles 011 a. ammon hull were sonu 8crapped when it was fOIll[Jd rhill ame equipment would.not fit and in !IoIDl: cases acomplete

on

ehicle was too biS for standard J!Uldin,g c:i'iift. The new
::!.l1versiilltEl:nk was therefere discarded and the developmenr [Centurion proceeded. In practice ,it was SO(lIl.1, dear iliBl !I~ Cenrurion could in rac~ accommodate most of the pecJ,disl equipment, confounding' the earlier doubters. The .e\'i' FV 200 series Ai/chide development did however entinue Ii! fr;;:\ybulls, being fined with Cen'tutlonl turrets and iven (he name Caernervon. These were used [or nia]s,

The ARV was illimrevi.ved as the suppon vehicle for Conqueree :lind in view of the changed specifh-::adon was given a new number, FV 219. Tbe Conqueror ARV Max,k 1 was iol:aYOIL1t.simillBr to rhe Centurion with a fixed box S:I:l1JCl1Jireto house winch and crew in place (]if the retaring I turret of the gun rank. The driver sar in the buH as in the gu n tali):.. 1['he winch, with a direct pull of 4,5 tons was dri en by 'the main engine, wb.id'l. \"'II~ rue.l-injc red a
developm!:ll!'l ef
t'i'U

the .M.elem; gh,dng 11 greatly

wlerea!l;ed

[pO-WI;;I'

lduding twn buifl.g tested il1lib.ya;~~'Vhilc work oo.l1u:nued nthe flrst of the few vehicles in the FV 200 series which 11m: destined te gQ itn proouCu1Ql'l. Ttu;:~e had long been a fe~r thatno in-!lCl'vice tank -or iIlti-nmk weapon eauld d~tfei1'ltile armour of the Soviet !fiili'i'Y tank Joseph Stalin III. Torestore th(!,balance III heavy un tank was. developed 'bils-edon the :Ei"V 200 bull and wi,lh cast turret m01.U"u[ing; n American designed l20r!:l1m a gtIfl. "his eventually emerged ;IS Conqueror (F'V 2] 4). An ARV
:lr the series had b~i2'.o planned as FV 20.9 and develcprnent

put. A hlngedfl~ spade provided. an anchor when winching. Sm.~Hequlpment eauld be carried in the SlOwa.~ bins 011 each side of the wi!lch houslng. Also c~rt'iil:d.lin sections, W,~5 a small box gi.rder ji b \!":hkh could. be fiUOOlO the ~]Jade supported 'by stlliY:S fo:r nse as a rear crane. A.lollg clevelopmem period preceded acceptance for issue in 1959, whkh '\V,aSII few years aJ'tt:r the gun tanks were d~plQy,t:d. A year Later the linn M~rk 2 version was y-pdergo:mg trials, at Bardon. This. v,~rs1on used .. Ievjs~d hulll;ilfY01.1I::simila.r -(I the projected Ct:'DI urion A.R V ;Mark .3 'Wi ~h the driver seated in the main crew and winch compartlIlCllL It was given II-hc design_!1umher FV 222, and mechanieally it w"lJi!i ~imm3j"tn the hlark, 1. The FewConqueror ARV~ Wen; wcllreoeivedi because we PQwcr of the winch enQ.bled many recoverytasks to be aOOQmplislt~cl with a straight pull thus avoiding the need to

ARVs were reralned, OIl!{.1i Mark 2: €'vc.nlJ.:uillybemg rernrued ~'m n.Ao.R. for the REME M useum cuUt!cliQ!E! A Mark 1 _ sl.irv.ive:dw mOVe ~g:'gels enthe :t,anges at Shoect]ry.lless and may yet be rescued for preservaticn,

becsuse of Irs width, .l'i,~1'id.y2 feet more than. CeIli.tudciI]. 'Whe:n the' COl'lq ueror's snort.re.igll ended In. 1966 ~lfe.w

me Co!lf;J.iJ.eJ1Jn~

setup G:omp[e:lil:laYOUlSof snatch blocks andc aMe. 'il ike all

'the AIRV proved difficuJtml::ra;I:iI.:::pO'f.1

A~ the orher end of the scale a fJleW'light tank ~1;'J:ie:s. W~i!l, b~£EI;g eveloped in the war y'eJi~ d~signa!t~d. .1;\46; revived i d
[946 under the I~ number 300~,it's proposed. ARV variant 'jews FV 306 ,1'he OO.l1t.empor,EU]1 developmem of the new

6;"w:hee~ed:Sa]adin .U·'111iourt:cl car, and: the Saracen 8l'nlOUOO personrrel tar-tier (APe) may have led 00 [he c~nc.0\I]~uionQ the FV .300 :se:rles since a quite hC',s:yygmil, 76mm> could be
fine:di[o'

tp~ Saladin

which

weighed olL1iy'

;~bgult half 'a!l-.rnIU.c

WIth, tiglU 't~nl . A seriesef an1:phi1.J,lOU$ cargo carriers,

'm.ilar ln appea.f",.m.oe00 tb~ US L VT (Buffalo or Famail), ..'as developed during the-war under the name Neptune. Devclupment !;;;Q:]itlltmued 8f~~r tl:1:eW,!;U"UEldC1l FV ITlIJJmber 500and Q recovery mriant: FV 503 was propo$cd. Somem~;1;:5'1J!l)eOn~l!;;aJimprcviserion eontlmied after the ~'llr,t;;lspedally in overseas theatres, Armoured e.a:requip ped econnaissance Ufi:it~ have always !lufferod .from the .I.a:ckof 8 'covery vehicle which would g]ve REl\ItE tradesraen some imte~tio.n in recovery operations under fire. In M,ala.ya ome·imprc:wi5i!Xl armoured cabs- :a.ppearoo It recovery
,lihicles but in general the LADs depended
ClOIUit"Carsor went wii[:.bollllt: • .As a. r~1.dt some
011 escorting

Jre!lll" ib and a rotating a.r:rn'1,Quredove-r O\ll;;r the turretriag, i c Dilly one was built d;;_~pi!Jli:its repnrted SUCCf.:1iS. The .immi[u:nlt eeplac 'me'llit of the ABC and .Daimler _Armo\1lIl!:d Cal's .in the regim ent by S.a1adiu.$ mayexp.lruu the demise-of I:niH :pmmising design .. In. :1953 EME Branch .at the War om.eli: :~porEed Ilfoposals f.or 11 wheeled ARV based on the :5.' faJr::enOUl there is no indicatie» dUlL .liIfny designs were

REME !lo!dJiers

cempleted, By the hJ' ~ !9S0s the wartime Sherman Beach AftV needed replacing. Tile obvlC1u8 solution W::IS [0 usc the :hul of the. u(:[en't main battle tank, the Centudan. A d:es1gn W"lJS prcldu,ced 'by Pording Trials B:r:iilIl'lcn REM E based on the
supersereerure shape used onthe
,I'L

Sherman,

A mock-up 'WllS

ied in terrorist ambushes., Faced a tew sears earlier whh a similar guerilla e']]IaIlytne ,.lf~Gu,arcis in Palestine dC\'cl;oped ,awheeled ARV which !'Dill in ess ence a turretless ABC armoured car. It was !,I.!joo mp:I~'asa tug having no winch, It did at least provide crew rotection. The [lnit later moved to B,AOltaDd~ toge~her

builtand then

prototype with a mild :::;lJe-e:] upper hull, based on a Centurion 'tug. It Waf: demonsrreted ar lli1s:ttlW' then taken UJ FVIRD'E fo.rtrut~.li'i in ]'960. By- th.. end oh:1'1laT: e year the entire preductlon b&l!tch of twehre bad been cumple:lOO:Elt the ROYEd Ordn.r:m~e~Fi!lc[o:ry ROF, Leeds. C Llke its predctE'iSQr the Centurion BARV had no. winch
bur relied on pm.hiog

'hh ,its LAD~ d,eveloped the idea fu.rther wing another

.EC,[bis

lime: with an internally meunied pewared winch,

vehic-1es or beached Imding cr:arr. These-vehicles were based

QI: direc[

pulls

tolJlIlslkk

drowneill

OiD Mnrk :3 hulls and the superstrucrure o~'producuon vehlcles was in 1U'lln,ml.f phue. The BARV colitld wade up to '9ft 6m5. In s.hfllUg""" water the drive,r hEld direct vision du:o'l:ligb an armoured g[a.<;,st'i.sion block: in ~keper W1Ue:r he '

Britain

wa.s dependent

on directions frum the veh.icle oommandet

A set: of li.r[ing gear wss de:;;i,g:n6d for the BAR V wh:kh cou.ld be auached to Ithe hull and c01Jl~llifl. on liES own engine £or rc:pain,n.:miniscent of the wartime ALbe.rt'oll. turret boise. A. BARV was carried on 'the major assanlt Iz,lnding sbip~ and
ethers wert 'USed at Instow, L8Jl:e1"~ asthe mmph~bkDlllS role W,8IS passedto the Royal Marines, [he Centurion BARVs Wl!rt also handed OVitT. Two Cenmrion BARVs ~(:comP"· rued IhtBdtis:n forces to the Falkland Islands in i9'82, In 19S5 a Churchill tankw'3, rested in fi BARV role by tin: RoE. This was a sealed hull with a (3H ylindricul tower over [h,e turret zing ..Notbi.ng more l!'!known ofdlis experiment. A~warlimc lri:.dfi had tested and disCOIidlca the Churchill ill this role it is not known what prompted a second alwmplt.

During 'Wodd V:;'ar n the close cooperation between ,I:}Pd. Canada on vehid~ deSigli' and praductjon ledtc the Canadian Snnmobile oversnow vehicle 'bemgado:pted or the British Army Ior use in Arctic warfare, since plannin.g had 1:0 C(W4;f the possibili ty of a campaign 'to wive lhe Germans out of Norway, Vcry.fe\l,;' SnomohHes were delivered bdore the \Va.1:" ended. Afn~'r extensive trials cf vehicles on the Canadian tundra during 194Q'~known as, th Camp Chu [chill project, a proposal was made in UK for an AiRV variant of the armoured SnomobUt;:. N {;Idling fU.irther lras been di~co",,'e:rl;;d 011 this proposal. By the end of the 19505. tbe concept of re:pa:i.[i[~g tanks 111
.ttUj

and li1e expected short duration efa future war

re:mOV(1

the need for much backlaading lo 'Wo:rl>:;:-;heps. The rcrn:;dn· in1:lwork of this sort was passed 10 the Rl\.SC tank transporter companies and REM E':i cperation of the hea-vk transporters thereafter was limited to a re'i'l in wor k:5hops f( the carriage (If Al::tVto.

Chapter 4 The 19605: New Philosophies and New Designs

Ibe .1 950s·endf.:d widl the 'Cold 'War' at an intense stage and vith .BAOR taking a considerable proportion of the Army's
'eSoUte~5. At the same time rhere remained sorneterrerisr mi vity in i\!a]Jlya and CYiJflUi and increasing ccmmltmems n the Middl~ &5,[ and Persiun Gul[ areas, Durjl.lB 111.1t1;l~.1tl en years there was W be muclatroop redeployment as' 3-ritilinwithdrew fmm areas of the Commeuwealth but .nteredIn ~o I'll!!;'\!;' regional defence aUil'u'lC:csand military :L""illn~ng agreemente with I;':wl!!fgm,g independent naunns, Jr~dl,Jally the more distant uvcr~o1~ commi tments n:;dUiUCd 1:11. not before a majnr COIllliCI. euph,emi$[i.c<lJJy called confroruarion' ~with Indonesia 00 the borders !'v~d]Boruen Jl.d later a bin!;::£, anti-terrcrlst campelgn in Ad,en. Thr~C' IlUljOI: Q,rS8iniSalion~.l dn:J.11ges jm this decade w("r~ to HCCl [he llsage ofml!lnuy equipmcm.Tn ]%3 the casting ystem was started. This, using 'l'li:rmiTIo~og! frum the days If the military horse, involved the disposal of'vehicles when heir COmLJ;lUedrepair and maintenaecebeeame uneeononlcal and ""'<1::; applied. 0]'1: II basis of ~lg~~,]fmJ:le8ige 10 most ammon vehicles but initially not m spt.~.c.i:disl ~ypes, The lco!lomie.... wert: considerabfe since it was ne longer neees-

military d::ivisioDS with all sU'ppui'li.f.lg

U'(l!,lp~.

The new

sLimlin' reserve comprised onlythese units necessary to bring the Regular A rmy up til strength in wartime, A ccnsiderable reductien was made In RE.AotEunits hut these

remaining iut.'ludf:cl a num~r of .r~c;:over"y companies, The T.&AVR required ress equipment for lrahllng l1.nd gt,aduii'!!1b' the sw -ks u vebi JeJ; held in depots or this purpose were run down. The intentioa was that the reserve' Cllmponel\l,t (If th e Army would no longer be a poor relatian and wou.!d. bl: provided witt! the $$Im~equipmern as the Regular llIniu. II \1i'O'U~d some years before iit was possible to achieve this be Wilh. recovery vehicles,
The new technical phenomenon of tin: 1960s·~~~mmed from 0. cm:J:Cl:]?E bnrn in l:hC' 1950~. There wss cencera 1:1m1: in a wall"fuel stocks and distribu uon would become great pto,~Jc:ms ..nd therefore aU vehiCles sbouldbe ,capable of run:llling om.any available fueL :~UI!!:iSfound po:;::.sible to adapt eo.mprcssion igni tion (die:ld.) ,engll1e:so [Q run 0:11 must fuels

iUlC 00 the requirement

was tb.:!I:t

to hoj,d :;;]J~n'e5for all types and models of vehicle mull he last exam 'p.~t:Wr~5 fina lIy d~st.P{lisedof. In g'C neral (II II
at')'

x[:):mples. of a ~iven batch were disposed of at about

rue

arne L:lm~.The tither gn:a.1 saving was a n:Juct101l in lorksh(lps required for tilt:" eunstant everhsul of old

me

ehicles. ThG::'~1lr~tiIj,g system quicklysaw off most remain19 wiircirne and early pest-war !",eh~dcs but the cost

eplacing spccialiM vehicles meant tb.a:tno overniglrt re,J acemem occurred

or

of the: oldc r recover« tractors, The second change was the end of cun!mriplion in ]963 nd rhe establishment uf asmaller all-Regular Arn::ty. Thi» ~d w the disbandrnent of some unhs aadwss .[JULd.cf~9:!lLblc DIy b)r reduced 'J'IN:~rli!:: L.:ommnlmenrs. The uther man.. tI'w~rresource avaiis.bJe to replace the National Service onseript was the '-ivilian. The Army had a_h",.t,~y!:!employed iv~liSJn::l~uLin lheli960iii ~h~.num hers were ilH':fMlS,Cd. in tatic unl 1£ .. Ont! result was that ",dtbln (he: .Fkitidl h1es

1~!nY REM..E recovery l'e~ouroet'i were entirely civilian Oflt;n by C'X·REME tradesmen. 'flu;: next change was the disbandment oJ the Army :mergeO!cy RC&t;;ne (illER) and the TCiI"n'!:,orial Army and l'rn replacement by a !n,L:'W mUl:a Ilmal]er reserve and rganisanoo, the T rritorial and] Army Velunreer Reserve r&A VIt). TIlle old]T A had be n organised a, cflm]Jl!!1!~
IDIlIlOOlhollgh

h a ve diesel engine '. The >Chieft.Bin lank, wLti,chwas de .... eloped origiJ''::lU~! lo. thf; 195,0:;, was powered by tilt: l£yl'-lJi1d 60 vertically opposed piston diesel engine which had soma: basic design features in l.'OIT.'i.m.UI] wi.LI1 'Ihe' W.eJj~~lMU: German Iuukers ]mtLO ain:::mf( engine. DU:l"mg the 1960s rhe CMefHtin and a number of new diesel-eugined trucks came into service. By Ibis: Iimc ahc;;increased use of motor vehicles In Europe meant lh~l petrol and diesel fuel srccks ..... at 'en any lime likelyto be higher and the need for .Eldiilprobl,e engines was lessened, The greater ~rnciC'nci'rJf.ld economy o( the diesel were to en urc irs continued favtmr for more lleW Army vehicles .. f1 r this lime and ver the D1c,n 1;W!'i decades, the MeLoor [M],J.\t engine' Sind Rons ,B seriespetml ~jjg.iT!ieo were ;gf~d'Ll.aHy eclipsed. A:nodl,cr decision 1.00 e put ima operation during [ae b 1960 . was th.€: wider t:mpioymen~ of APCs .. Prio.r Ul lb.h;. (hey were operated main]y by the RAe andalloca redto .infantry units for specifi« operatinns or exercl ses, The ]- tn~ truck of ~J.UtCT nmg-e bui It by Humber, had been ~e8ted with an armoured body in [he late 19508 and proved to bes cheap and simple interim ArC. Itceuld r:~lO'yl) section of inf.arnt_ry or ill support wespcu and crew, Several hundred or these ,,'chk:les were buill. in the c8Ili"ly 1961.::1s, scene of th~m on. tile Cb.:ilSS[S of the unarrnou red trucks which were withdrawn [rom depor stocks Ior conversion .. ~'hil!rt. thL'S.t: vehicleswere l~i:ing provided wo,rk W<!:iJ

an new "Vi:hicles should

Ill'! the purpese-desjgncrl tracked APe· pan: of the: FV 430 series, The basie APe var:ia[lt FV 432, W';1S [0 have been namedjhe Trojan but this W3::.! a commercisl vell;kdem:ilke at 1J1C time so the name wastberefeee .mopped . Issuesof the 3,2 began in the ,e~:rly 1960:0; lind.it is l .still in servk:c. IL waS.BI box-sha.ped Lr~,ck:ed. !.':8.rrie;r widil a :sloping glacis plate and \."I!T'lkal rear with a fling,le: door. Tll€: engine, mounted at the front nil. the I,en, drove the sprockets. at lhe.front of the '1:;lI,,;Ik, The driver's position was on the rig'h'l, br.::;;idc [b,e'englt'l'iZ, and da.e vehicle commander sat to Ms rear. The APC w~igbed .approxi m.uely 14, tons, Early versions were powered by the RoBs B Series 8-cyimd'(:!r petrol !:!ngme b [Jf[ later ty!pc~ used . RoUs, ROO muhl-fuel diesel. Several, variants of the basic A_fC' were provided, ]FJi UlI'lll.1)' cases diffcrlllg. on:ly in !'iUWi.f,~gefor each separate ro'le but one more modified A.PC was a recovery vehicle deve:loped from [962, which came iruo service III Lhe bc:gi.nnmg cfthe 19'708. T1':u:' recovery gear W.ilii providedas a

prosressil1J~

akpo:rtablc recovery vehicles were Land . Rovr:.::rsfor which the 3,lh-LQEL ~en{;t was :somedu.mg or a band II:d.The ARV based on a Ferrel M.a:rk 2. \V hh its roof p![iI'(!e andrurret n.:r.!,o"'ed.~YiHIS fi ~ted with .il. rear iib~towi:llg hook" :nrnt.s to block the. rear suspension \l;'beonEOwil1,g and I TidQl" hand winch rigged to dl·t jib, Oflrler recovery gearw~s arried and ,iii pedesral-m01.uued ,30. inch llrownin;g' M~lcb.iD.e Gun wa;s finedw give ,cQvcr.i.o.gfire clu.:dng recovery ta ks, The 'I;'~llid.cW3!> uoc:essfllH~t~t;;Stcdend when the regimem ehanged roles Ibe s,a:meveh.icl,e with irs turret :rt' ·lU!,."(i continued to undergo trials 'LlIlder REME TcchiJ]i~.mJ.Group cornrol. No further versions 0,( tills die!li~' ' centempcrary
j

In I,962 the Roy;}l Horse Gl]ard:::;LAD met lb.,€: need for recovery crew protection 'by oouverting, with Wu Ofike approval, a Ferret scout car '1:0 an ARV. The reglment was atthe time :m all airportable reconnaissance role but the

'kit" Bod eonsisted of a 6 !/z-ton wi [Ich"I:ai.er upested to 8 'tons, driven through a POW!!·!:' mke'-offh_y the APC's main enGine. At. the rearwere attachments fora tfo.kling spBde anchor. As this prevented the rear door from opening Ihc.:·

were built ,except for a replica of the original in its later rurreted form,wh~dl now stands outside (hI;: REA1E Museum. During 1965 the 4th Roy:d Tauk.Regimem 'Wasdeploye,

ill Bo

.DeQ.

Snr-:.w.ak,~mdBrunei in a

tcCO!l1IU1.[SSlm!;;e

role ..

conversion involved shorteniag the dootand. fitwJIjl H, bhrnJciJ.!g· bne below i" p with an apc:rtu re for the w:iillch rope, It was intended tJt1il1!; the.APC. fined 'with th~ winch and.
anchor lcil~sh'l'mld
.til]

the recovery role .itt .APe Infsnrry

There, anuther recovery variant of tlle Ferret was used wh~ a fi.xoo jib uached [u Lhe engine 'deckiing and, again, uisLFI,g pona.ole winch. This eems to have been iii much less elaborate eonversir m. It is. Ilt)'llu:u.Jwn whether it was designed by Lbi.! lI'I~girn.em' LAD OF by the HCBdqlulr'Lcr~

Baualioasand those RA :lJIegim~ms equipped wuhthe Abbot self·pfoOpdl.'cd ~1.1n. The recovery APC, never offic.iaLK J:~l'"dl!5igIli.w~dll ARV, \Y1Unll:l]JlJipular., Its 'l.Yinch\w~ a insuflkienlJypgw.e:rfut for major ,tII:ndi~d:u,ing;asks withom t l1aIy:iing oltt ree ov~ry' tackle for a three to ene pull, 'J his W:1.iS alwa'Y~Ii difficuh and '~i[nl:=c:::on8,u:mirng per~niun and usually o D. heavy wheeled reeoveryvehicle or AR,V ceuld clothe jab
straight capacitv,
!;!lith ill
p'lJ,!il~I' thatls,

dcsi,gned and built

F~r Easr Landi Forees iIII S:i~g~pore. Since the end of\Wodd '1l'laf 11 'Brita..i:n has depended ftlr self- propeU.cd medium and h~\:Fy ~rLill~ry On Americaneql1li~pm,enlt.W'oen the

l\U07 self-

within i[:swinch', b;l,,,,ic

propelled l75mm ,gun W0!i5 ta.k1i!iu Into use in the 1960s pSitt of rht: package was lhe M578 ARV which used the same carriage as the gun .. The main fe,auJI]\e of this vehicle Wl;l.$ a crane whose jib was raised and lowered hydr.auLkeUy. crane alldli~s wincb gear ..vere moused in an armoured turn:
sea'ltd Oil the turret ring which would take '[he gun mounting on (_ltl!i: M.l 07 itself. The crane could lift over

n,C'

].2 tens 'Y,ctthe eemplete vchic:~C'w,eigh,ed only 2-2 tons, Th

T'ilJ! rB'urtli'e!'..!.I f)j'FV 4'12. widJ ~t!(k and tlincl!i;J kil ,oonglutul inlt'ritff r.md ~J~tl8hllr1e"ted reflNttll1r.

shuwWg I.hoil

K,'_':e~"I'alilfIlf'"Praplhd guns.

n" us M5'J8

rer.ollHl'ry'£larimuClf,a

b(l.si~ I;hru!,ii~;dt!;igrJ

Q:"tlmmmi

nain wincl COlldd exert 111Z8·ILOllpull. One of me roles of the \1.578 was k~cuny (lU~ barrel cha:llg£:s,for tbe gunS'. When

he towed 8-illchl10'l'l.i12.'eI'S used :illll, :\lomeRA regim~nls were

ater con vened to SP' guns, usi.ng the' ..me chassis as M107'~ he 11.1.$78ecame an ~ippl:'o'PriateARV for these ~qiJJIipmen!ts b I~, Th.is range of guns and the M57~, haive mainly been Ieployed ill BAOR, The ,Cs11sdian Snemohile .M1d its projected t\RV vjlLria1.!'t veredescribed in Chapter 3. When Btiu.im later look on ..rAT role of a:cpJ..oyiug forces in Norway forexercises and .p~nti<']lJ].s, various Swedish d.1ilfi;ignt.':d oversnow vehicles vere adopted, The VO]'iI'O BV 202: articulated tracked
L

'Chide was used from. 1968 and htM:::r he Ha,ggl.unds BV t :06 .Winch-!...!tlUipped versions of these vehicleswere used 'Y RE.M.E fox recoverytasks, N ei ther of the Swedish-buih reh.~el:e:s, ,~i:l :atm!','Un.>d. "The :lBV202 proved 1) verY·l!.1.S'efuj W 'ehicle in the boggy terrain the F~lklBind ls!,and:s:. In. 1961 Vid"crs began development IJf:a commeocilyl

or

(~'edjum or Main Bartle Tank U5mg the l05m:Ifi gun ohlu: aterCenturicnsbut the automotive components of the :bidtain" The tank WtlS in lhe 30-ton class then being'

advocated by some centinental cou:Ji1,tciet'!. Sales of thetan k to "[o.di~,~ ,AJr:~~OIand rile Middl.e East fol.lfI"W,ecl.. In. m.diH lire lank WllIS Jecally manufactured U:!;the V:ij~~nl:a ina JiI.C'(ory ;;!t AVOIdiDieil:r Ute sj re r the :REME B;SSi! Workshop of 1944/415. Later Vl kers \'o'erI;' to pr lduce an ARV derivative of [his. lank. Althuugh tested, these V.k;~ersm]'l:ks, were tJ:!il~ operated by the British Army but RAe and REME personnel were inV'o1""'l!d training preiecrs in ;Siom'e in ooUiuries whicb h~d purchased lh,em . As Leyland !tea,,)' i't:C'OV'~ry '\,f,enidc-.:;! came into service in 'the ] %UR 'the Army and .Iffil\ffi were reducing in, s:i:1,c. Despite this there W;)1!l. II ;i:II~"t"-d for ]a:rg~number:s of recovery vehicles to' main [11m WI'! r stocks and equip TA units for ur.adJliilg. By mal Ll:ic diesel SlCrlmm:ens~a I:ew o'whielhl were actually pre.... vehicles, weee obselete md h!'ltd pl'~~e:d W W81 C.oO.1:Ie netenly with recovery loads but also madera tactical movement U'a:iUeS. Producticn uf lh~ 6 x 6- St'aoomcll h_a.d ceased i!I:I1d therefore a new medium :rec:O"I"e[y" vehicle was needed in order to cosn lete thcr-eplaoc.ment the old vehicles,

or

f}rflflrlWTi

Re-co"tery 'V.r;1tkl~ Wiuded AlIedi!.l1f.t AEC tuirh aadil.ltmal "g/, i,~ No~IIH~lll J'nd~id. A Sarnct!1'l:.AFC I.t(JtJ: tf.IW.

AIE'CLid. then the r-cnow:tH~cl. truck ,IDItld bus manufseture:I".had developed, d.mif.lg\VorJ.d W'af Il, a 6-wl'l:eelcd version of me Matado'f wmch w.ai>, main ...y used as an AAF l alreraft refueller. Other experlmental vehicles on Lhi;l> ,c:l:t~ssis led [0 the Tnn:ks <and Tr-:.Jl::[,{Jrs, 1O~lon.'GS6X4 and 6 X 6 of the 1950s~ SCJm.e larer examples. of which remain in 8erv.icc:~liU. The next generation of ht:~IIi'Y cargo vchide WEl!S based on 'the AEC MUi.HUU Mark 2} an upchncd ,,'C'rsiol1 of the 1950~. series, A NWinuI1 based 6X6, tractnr chassis.
desigll~:nt:d MiiihUlt: Mark 3 was selected as ,abasis (0 the
DCW Recovery Ve'hicb,,:Me.diw-n (F'V l ]044) delllgn of which began ln 1964. Tria Is ef p:rnll"l"YPC .. toak place between 1967 al'JJd1969, A'biJil.H 200 were evenruallv parch ased, ~(jmi.ll.ginto service rrom 1971.

A diff erent cantender for the Scammell replacernent underwent uials in ] 965 and 19M, In 1964 ;JJ collaborative :mgreemtrJA was started belw'I'l~.iI:i Alvls Ltd of Covl'!n'lry and ine French firm B<t;:[I.iCL, 11 was intended that the Smh"'iu'U :Elnlphibian liikm'wd he licence buill for the ..French Anny sne Bedie'l offered iii () X 6 medium recovery veb,idc fur the Bti1ish Army; (}IlC':ilp!pear.ed <It '~h1;: ].964 Commecciel Mow Show. Two TEU 1S 'CLD {<I;lcove:ry ehicles \VC!r~ puechase v and tested ~one .in BAOR. Despite successful trials [be French 'Vehicle was not adopted :aodrne cooperation E1g:r,eeme.r.nWItS terminated, possibly tor fiscal or po.l:itkB'l reasons. Al'lo!;hm:-.I.ikdy ressen is lJ:!!:! diffi,milly ofhaving UJI nan-standard vehicle lype in the Al'R1Y 'wil..O attendant
problems of spat~s ·supply. Once ihe AEC ~11000V designated

The ABC used a sim~l;'Jrhydraullc crane to that of the Leyland. 1t could :!ift a rnaximum '0 41f.! tons. The ehassls wus.fl'l.ted with a mechank:aJliy dri.vc]] i5-t!Ul chassis winch. The 'eng~n~, OlD. A_EC A.V '760 12..47· Iiire d~-e:sd!'J.::ot.itin.m~d the trend away from spark ignitlun engines for heevier veilides. DUrm,g trials of the new AEC, one fDlml'l;g whi,ch

me

C3UN~d

probJ.ef:us W8.S 8. tendency Jor the' frenr of ihe vehicle

LU boJd. cliown rhe::

lift when moving ,C;I!!iU :!bl.ti!lil::;l, fill suspended tow up hills .. In order [0 cure this preblem an ingenious cable openlwd
to

rompc:o.s:nmg gear or 'reacicr' was fiut:d

{110m end of the vehicle, This

.pitm\.'e"rod ,a~ the Mii ..tary ¥ehide Engineeri ng Esmbl.ishmc!'lt (M,VE IE) l and ~U1d the df.I!CI of ~:r:(![y iner·easm,g me weight [ir could be su5[ll~t!:d~d t:J'.11 the move; however, i,t ~fOl!~ ,l\l, time(O'f.I:!\u..min8hor-e LO set up the equipment and this could c (limy be done a:ftt:'rthe cmmaily W~58·1i:I6pend~d. a earhee I days a -simi.ltlf problem had been solved by steel counterw,e~ghUion the Iront of the vehicle (S I;:m:lm~~:~,x" and 6 Au:uin 6x4 recovery vehicles) (3"[ evenin some cases fillin.g a :Scammdl's front (!l."rcs with water instead of air! hl'lCs, came into liif'rvice in the 1'97(5) some I' bu ( 11m all, being .. fined with the reactor gear. M:an~iof Lhe:m remain in service today. N () :majo:r vio'll'~~mt!i the vehicle have been "jJfod.il6ed. bur '[hose of used in NO!1"the,[O I:lI'e1imd h.~Vc oec:l'11 fitted with stoue guardS" (steel mesh) o,"'(;rwindows and sometimes .fi.!;lrtgnass armour on the eah,
eqrupmentli'ir,1lI5

Recovery Vehide Wheeled. M(.:dium. was de'p~(1ycd.. many ScanlHleU Ex;pJu:!'Iersbecame S1vajjOlhie to TA units. One Or two Pioneers even managed to SOId:iC'f on in temot~' places the ~::I5[ in Be-1izc where lrwas withdrawn from active: US'I;; if about 1.980. ltfiinaJi]y came bae k to Britain, to be restored for the REMEMuseum eellection, In Berlin, the Mercedes 3-ton recovery vehicles and Scammell Pio:oet!rs hEl'l'ln,g become obsolete, toWO new he:ilv recovery vehiclee were purchased (rom M.agirus Deu tz if! "W'esit Germany. .. Based 01:11. tbe Ifranus 'c:hElssi:s they incoeporated massive gi:rdt'!r cranes which. couJd carry om. ,com.ple~ lifts of vehid.eg involved in accidents, Wi.th the Cl'ane in till t:ravcmng made, jib forward ill smaller jib could be used, c suspended LOWS,
Shortly afl~r \Vml.d 'W~r II the US ,f'U:m.jf Ordnance Dep.1.tLme1'lt began the development of a. series of srandardlsed 21/.Honi5X.o and 5~lOtl6X6 trucks lQn:Ji~aoe the

various makes in eachclass used tn ,\,,(,'or.ld W:;rr U. E~ch T,;1ng_c>Jthou.gh manufacmred a b'i' dlfferent firm W::IS a to common dlt."Sig.nand eatured many 5Ulodatd components. Wilhfrn each rarrge there WiiIIS a recovery varlanr :{;:;: iring L1 •. a type of pedesraj-mounted .bydraul.ic Cf<!I!"Ie which was later be 1U~d on British vehieles, & '[be Brulsh Army adopted II
succession of

Us. missile 5ysu~m'S ulirial1y COtpOJ::a.I then

took p,IIIQeilU )r5) Cellitrnl 'l:imr;:iEl '~L;i t:'..ldy 19\fi:Q!1i. This w.a.rs d].c ada!;,I[lnion of;!l SCAIl:UII(;',L1 Fion.eel'gun tractor m'toa rec:o,"'cry vehicle. The traetor's steel body W:1lS retained, less
il'll'Irt:::teS rrlugco!,JNersion
;!;I.l·80m~

\Vo:rk:sh:op REME

An

t ralHJ.e if 00

~n~ ~al].op'Yand

the reeovery crane find coumerweights

frem a presumaihiy

worn

{1'lJt

b:I;'Cnkdio'Wli ti'aerOii.

Wherll thCWl1i" Office inherited 1:111:: former MOS·f!Ufill..· lishments, lh'cir domestic and SOiMe test vehides came Inro me m:i]lUllry Y'lilhide orbit. M:tIny wert.~ aUoc~)[oo Army

· ,BrtU1;l WOffls1wp £lHH:iat, t.~e l1i:fac,inr.'! Dtiu~ u:.~.!'tU$ ~~rw~~ll'at:ing its abiti{\llo l:ilt a t:iJ'I'J~piiJtf1SccrmnwllEx.plfJrcr.

num~~'rii31 this tim~. nlOllrlly Inthe series EP. "-rhey included .a Yllrirely of rec[)very vehil;h;~~ some bci~g w.:urWn~ [}'];i'Ciii. Among tl1:0:ile'~e'rh,:~H,:1iJ1'I.vermd~ were ::II numbee Bedford QL ll~tonJlef5, and AEC hLlwdl,,1!:' ,111::tol1.l illIucd U WiTh H~rvey .rrns~. !i't:covery cranes, There is nn lndirC~ni{lr,) that any of these, a Itholclg.hlfchni.c.'1Uy miJiuu-y vehicles, were Q[ler.nfil lDylhc .J\.nmy within its W1Q,rkslwps or r-r::covery unirs .1'wo reoove:ry v!i::Wcles cl~5pos~d(~fn 197<:1 i bt."ar1ng Anny numbers wbich r;~U:;;i:r.;. pr.ob~lIily from ex-MOS C'.sLlTIlbHshmen[s were a Tho.rnycl'ofl. AntRf anda Scamm-e][ Censtrueter 20-to!1 tr<!JtDOJ' both filt~d 'i.l,'hhr't.·~ovcry gear.

or

In the c!:1d.jI 19605 the [Blew Miilrk 3;'1'(:rs.~![}i1 tbe of Tho.!,:l:lycroft A.nHIT br;giiiti cnttl:dng service. Given theFV

numberI 2>0:04. til!; new vehicle was des~gn~cl Jur-both the 50·~[ln and 60-mn semi-trailers and eould m: enaverted to .iii biBllJJ16t~b~it.-d tracrcr, FV l21000, fO'.r. tin: DY~QJl50·~o~ full

S TrueR 5 -ltlJ,lc1)x6 &1246 c.omb·il'lmg' a rrat::~i9rrJr ~'!l'mlolt:r:milw / f1l, rec~ery (lr. 'WfJf1tshop ,:;rat~" "Dieit f})${ie USl.1d ,RA !pd~i1c i'Pl

imen.rs.
(fn~sr [ohn and later Lance, ,iii: wilri~ty of US SUPPOf[ 1llc:ICfl came into Bdutih use including (he' 5-to.l.1 () x 6 reeker .M14·6. This was a '~ong wheelbase vl!lti~~uof c:1').~ ;tIndard 5-l(lU 6 X () chassis t:om.kii11irlg the fUflCl]On of ~ror for se:mi~rtndle.r~a fifth ,;vnl'el coup Iing bdf.1G; flrred at .erearnf lilechaiS8is,~ wi~h rthm of recoveryvehicle and

\..i,tili~cda.ir.eddy OI1~Q1'1'H: '~borny[:ron cemmereia] veh.iides. Underthe bonnet in ]:i.lace (]if the M'et'e.o::ri,[e peltO] eogine lb.!: Mj;1i,k.3 useda Rons 16. 2-I.i:lre CSNFt. diese], The Mark 3 Mlars, rtma.iIled in s!:'r'\i'~,ce \Vlth. tank t!;8II!JJ.lponer sq,u.m:dnJrn;;;; of the Roy.~i Corps of Transpcrt (RC1') liIutillhc .rn.iid.-lSlSDs. .A:ssochned. Commercial Ve.hick:s, thepal'I:'D1: company (If .!lEe, bad taken OVe'f Thon'!ly,crofl]J:I i960. Amongm<1ny
ton:i~.qu.c!tl.,;~s; 1 this venture was 0
WOl1'l ZI.

t,!:',ai1c:r. These versions ·iJf the Ant<!f were given. a more s,treEin'Jiinedii!ip~~... anee USlng 3.w:tdlcnlfcl VCfSI.Q!l ,or ~ cab r

one-off eonverslou

or.a

Medii: :2 A.nUll". This had [he frame extended at the

[[Upt

find.

with

fiued with;!irl ,r\EC 6-cy:l.inder di~~l ~.ngi[jj~ .fio.rma!y used in thefirm's dumper truek. T.iIis eX.pe.rillle!l'lu'!.lvehide,
]ts p[l~mij].crnlexteaded

bennet ~·w~:-; l<!ke.l1 ltl.ILO useby

usual A;!l]sthli W'estern byd!U"El;uli'~crane \.~,u~ OWlted.luidway a.IQngrh,'i: di:!asl'kis, The L;;;tnd RO>;'ltr contieued to pro,vide the' only rooov~ry eans [CHi parachute UTI]Ui a:I tlumgh much heavier v ehieles rld be carried in ain:;;rdt for ~.ir-:I:nnbiLe formarions, bl }52a number of Land R'O'!!eT!!. werefirted wi~h Turner inches at tile fruB\: of the d:HIifS.:.,;;lloi. d.r:ive:n. via a d.og; dutch nn nh~C[1i11,l-;:sWL, was llu.ellded 10 replacc the origi_._nal It neratiou of I-ton vehicles Wilh multi-fuel diesel-engined
iilf.!C, The

tlt~ Army a fn:r rrials in11jli63~ .!In:a]ty ~ei.llg sold. in 197]. Otlu;r vehidcs, net prialtHrily intended as transporters have been fQund! 'l,i"el1i~uitablll: 3( l:im~c5. En the ln~d-]960!l d~~' Army Wiit~ I;¢s'tl.og.m i\EC :IO~·t9inl:nld!t fiued whh 3. :'lc]id3n,g tilt-bed body. This. used a normal bytfi:nnilic. [ippioggeru to elevace the body fr-.am.cun which. the body i,[seH cOUliLd slid!:'
[0

tb;~ fl~ar I,.uuil.in CQ,nt9CI: with the !jw-.:wd. SmuIUveh:i.cles

could men bewiuched G:IlW the 'body and the .IYfOc.eS5 reversed to bci]J[g~htlvehicle body into a hOfi:i!O'Jjr~"J p~aflc for ~u]1!s;pari!;ii1tiull. illJ.a-imecequ.ip['o.crlLWrlS 11:>00. on ['his vl'!'h.ide.

hiclee but .atli~rill J'e1:l,l' of die AlI~lin, versions o.rthese

W~.D}t

e prOO1~ctiol'l. Exp~:rimen~~ !ioughrt. to achieve standars;l.'t'io!:Tl with the %-to.I1 Land Rover to pIO'v;icie an Ep{lr[ltahle snd amphi.biou~ l·~!!.!n deriv';luve but these 'temp'[:i w·t::re il:'!l!L::orl(.::lJl,18:i'v~. One' of these aifpo;nEIJb~11: tonners WB.,s tested witt! a fnmt-mnunred Tm1"L~'rwinch as;
recovery

'fhe virtues uf ~h~dlLl!mtl'!lY have been clest:ri'IJed in axle Pan 2, Gha'p~e:t".3, This solution to the problem efrecoveru~,gvery hea.vy w'hee:lud y·eh1c]c!Iwas, fi:mmci.i'lILy more attractive than the pnJrvi-s::i,o:n cf ~L!]~~f-ht:avy reco .... ery vehicles but" for'ii!rel;;lti.vr(~ly s.imple equipment, ll!.l1.!lJJd,1 Juog grJ~mHionperiod, Flrol th.!Jrllgi1u..of lhjs so.llLItim:1l [0 ~lea.vy vehieleeeeoveev fd]la'\Io'ed the cancetlatien of (he r>il:Ipn-

v~hid~ in 19.62163.

Hc:1lVY recovery vehicles in the 19S0s.Design of Dummj Axle Rccav,ery 10/.30 [on -(FV 3:5,61 began in rJi'Jiearly 1'9608, e lrn.A~ ddl{ ugh !lprol(lly])c W;JS u.nd~rcons ruction in 1962 it ~ WtIS DOl dn 1971 [hun the equipment was accepted andl :PfOOUCliufI begun. The device w~:s originalJy de,·dQiped by TbomycroflS" 1'[consisted of'a :swglic'UmJ;pnln,g axle: with t~l,i'(] l w:i~ \vhc,t:!:[i$. ;!TIiirtd10.00 X 15 tyre8. The chassis carried II complex girder crane, the jib of whkh could. be lowered und raised using ..,buih-in powered hydrau lie winch, thus hfting
the from of the casualty. The ralsed vehh Ie was secured b

, 11 A Irame. The' pmductiun version of the 'frailer Dummy Axle was 'lined ''i',i'lllmudguards and the power unit for the hydraulic systtm was changed 'W a,diesel engine from Lb· p~lrol engine ef'rhe protutype, Any heavy truck 0.1: tractor could (OW this v~hidC'. W:itb the demise of Thornycroft ROF N ottlngharn b~ am~ :L1:Iivoh!l!d with this ~h:v:ic¢"Not lo.n,gEI&l~rhe: distrlbution of this Dummy Ax]e tile 'Use: of t the Eta reeaverv gc..r tIP heavy tractors largelymade .it

obsolete,

'hese d~~d.e@ Were eharacterised for the Army by iii more ::lDril;lUOiIJ!S quest: £0[" eeonomies, One MSljor pj!obl.cm had eenthat 'Wanr<lC( sutlidem men lam all ;sU-Regrnllr ;army ithe 1960s,·3. time offuLi employ-lnem mild. aJfiue!:tiJ!:::~~ Army a]"had te increased. It hadin come:ql]e'nce becomethe 19gesl. single. ·e1emem ·lZ!flJle annual b'l1l!d.~~~ Oi:ndcoli ld g;tdy ~I!~du(l~d by havinlil fewer sokliC'fS. A$ the 197[)s antinued with oons~de.ra.b'lere'l:re!1cltmc.m in indu:su'y and l!;:re~~inglu1;elnplQyme.m and thus at last ,8: re~dy SIlPP]Y of umprJw,(;r for the Armed FQI:''Cet3.~ there WIiIS parndox:i.cs.ftly rest pressure te.llmit or reduce .militiilty S'treJ.lgthill in onhn:

oe

) p[ovidJe51Jffid~m fund:~ for newequipraenr,

Se'i!er:llilway'!> for lh~ Army I:oaffa:.rdncw Gqll.liipmen!: were dopred ..Pirsdy qU<Ulidties ,.ow;:e jJ..l8,tified.l we're sometlmes urchased OVCi:IlI'l. c:;iHe'nded period making theee:t1Uipm~Jlt rocess 101lg drawn out 8Jldlshdng a. longer p erlod with old. and fieW typ@~, i'emaim:i:ng in setvice side by de. to consequence spare parta holdings and U'aining ~li1J li~ repair of the old d.~S]g:nhadte Cf.lintmuc .. Theextended !nice (If olcle'r equipment often prod ueed a d.i:llpropo'l'tio.n),;.J)!3pair wo:d<h')~d. A secend Way of
l Car a'S possible

&!:Ivms ea new
wru.

:juj.p.mre:fI.t, not ;lP'p]Ie~.h.I.;, to' we~pon ~yS~L'lIIlW,

'~:'otake

off-the-sh,elfeOmJ,ll.€£clal. vehicles. Another L;.'vicewas the pro!:nol~(ln of overseas Stli~(!() r Bn li~h o rlliHlry eg,mpmeJu which helped to defmy d.eve]op~~!!1it ),~b~, ~U;:)j C bomtiv~ p[ojec~~, with o[he;r NATO conntries ::rv:edthesame purpose .. Aji~nyt!ffw iwms C!if equipmem came into service during' le 1-9708,and developmem ci(}luinued~bm Jor wh.ee!lcd ahicles there begE!!ll ~ g:radulll~. chiilIl:gll: tc greater reLiEIII1IllC' on 'e manufacmrers [0.1: the luitiatlb,rJj of designs, thus Lowing the FVRDE (M VEE from 1970) to ceaeenrrste ere on srmouredandspeelallsr 've~dd'i:l desi.~_],!li!l'J,d the s[]ngof prototypes. l'he increasing cQmp]erity'Qf JII:i]itary Uip:m.u.Ill cojndd~d whhim:;r-C8i!i.ing drummdJ5 for filil:orndal Ylogs, iL1¥'Ol~rgely incomparible leq lJ.ir.e:m.~·f.lJt~. the A~
netime fOll!: gte~~{;'!rm.liha8i~ W.i1iS:p:J3oed du ring the d~~gl] c a~,eon ['CI:i:abiH1:y. In 197.1 wb.eeted. reenvery vehiclc.iii w¢rc

rn.]96'9 ef metrie 11:I1]t::;.; thus !h¢!lC'WH~e[w~~ '~obe inl~:~o:n.!lel.4~oo:nn~. g-tOru:'i~l 16"mnne and 20c,tol[[neload c8ip8icid'es." The CT, G,S and C.L vehicle cb.!l~P[ VI,f,;;I!S Sl),lP~1sedcdby GS ~:fildCL vemde-s m two cl!I~eg!JIrie.s:;Low .MD,bwlty 1lIlU Medium Mobil:hy. The: . Iormer Were ,~~~n'[i;l]~y m!,uiifiIr.:d ~:ivjJian. V'dllJ!:leS while Ute. latter irt most cases fealur.ed,al1,:w[Thee:l-drJve. The sol.cHlgh. MobUiwwllId Utl':Ii'ier in ~c:r;,rke was the .A~;1i'isStillwatr~. The successee t.o the Cenmr.io.!l. Milk. the Chicrtai:r.i~ F'V 421U, was designed Ul, the I 950l):,..By R9.59 M AR.V had b'L;!~~i~cl!!Jd.{!d in the f'4Qg~~;f vll'h]clesusing the Chie.rt~in lmll but for a time .il v,ros,decided riot to pro~li:dJ ",:11111. tbe desJgn:l:S t:11:~ Cenurrion .ARV MiI.1'k 1was iu;stcomi[J;~ ]:Dlilt;o service ;~lid\viliS quire 3Jd;equate fC]r the [eb, h 19M the .new Mfflii;f~I!Yof Pe-JelJoe' (A:rmy). 5UCCt;lSOOJ:~ ro the W~:t OlfJi~, llwdil.ll;c:ed. Ill. Gli:rJi~fa.l St:itff Opemti.O<Dr.1d Reqmrem.t:lnl for a Chic'ftmn ARV in order ItO b~[I~'.6·t fromth~ c.o:mmoIli.dj-~y Qif design and spaees .•De'S~gn began at the ltOF :Ell Leeds MD, oonjm:lciion wirll FVRBEwhich aUiQc:t!led.l:he. munber FV 4;204. Two piJ,Qt moo.c.~ wem I~!"~rbuih, OO~gmiflg awil;llllbk~ foil:'trials in 1971. The die.s'igim,(mIlAM! JUst time in ill B.rhis]] A!R V!. prgll':ided fo:rw.indllng from '[heI"rolu C1ifdu,Iiil·llfebic!.:e.j, il!i. s:p;lcl~ alf1<:ihLot d.Ciiuh.iing as u dQ.i!l~:r b!~dJ~, Tnl;) .1;!!Y'IJ'U,rh~d been [8iVO!ll['oo in. earliel'lJS aadccednental des,igned. ARV:<; •. ]1.: Il!iJ!dth(l :;ldv~:!l'lil:ge: that we crew we!")! fOBiC'ing tb~ C35uruly which sJ:mpLiiled eentrol. The C]:lidrnilil"s. 3 Q-.[ofl main WiDiCIl wa~ m-i!;!cl!;~nic~Uydriven ililndw~:s of true dQJ1iIIbLe capstan lype"[n this the 8.tr~~:nls.takcn b_Y',a s~ capst. witb one l.i!:::rel'of winchwp~ OJ] j~. Behind. i~ bulk 'of the m~
vehicles fo,!]owed theedoption
1

is slo.rebil 0:0 all unstressed drum. geared. 10 the (;;!IiPS;1:8f.1. 'Ihis, pl'e-v.e-lltscrushing 'Of the rope under '[he ~rnm of winching. IL'lJ3.d.d:itioit1l. to this ma]l!'l wInch I!smalle.r 3Vi~telll capacity hydraulically driven winch. was Jacorpora:u::d which. rope

'ouglu into [he- c~ffiling s.y~[Cmwitb a derugnau:d .Iif-ewne of venteef.liyears ..This partly r.el1e~'H~d dn::frHiettbM. they H~I!Umor-e tim~ mil:n C'i:lirgt! vehicles 8WUQIIary, 3Vi ai.ting an n:e.tgfmc:y, and also took. ,;:LCC(llmt of me ttig.h cost i:,I![ ~ac:C'me'nu"
f

could bc us~d ~Odr.aw iDut the h1cav)' :main wind" fO~, relieving the :recovery wecbwcs ofa tim.e-OOL1:1'-l:;l.mg~ ardueustaek, This ilI1Uixi]i,IrY wim::h could ;aiso beused for :minor recovery jobs. The c{l.n.lDlander'st11J1.[poLa in iilltf:' new AR'VWl:il de!si,gn.ed ttogive a g'Md all-round vie'w when closed diown and inoorpQltaJrted l!'lig!litl:!1icwmg devires. [0
Pf,i3iC

[i~e ~he duul'!Jof

winch rope gtI]d.~s and other

necessary

:pI1lJiaphernal.Ia ·on the !!,Ie;hicle'!lroo[ some:WMI: limitied the V~iil1jV. Trials of the n!l~wARV took pliilte. 01'1;
rlIt S.E.i\lE

F'\lRDR and

During the i 970s

:iI

review of future req uiremencs for B

after some design cl1;a~g'esthe vii:hk1e wasaccepted moo. servlee in :]973, fJodu~ti0.11 foHo!!ll'id, vehicles being based

evera period of about two yea:rs~i.lld

on the Chiettain .M,ln~k5 :t.n:lUwid b 't979 fi~H.l'Y 40 ARVs had 'been issued, ' The Cbieftain's engine weighed about .4j.lf.J: [. ns, much

17~,p(l1mdier gun. Ir,an I1Hd purchased ehiefl:ain tanks ftlJ'Ill

.lnn.r,cthali1'rhe Cenrn'l'i~n"!! M.cteojj', The e-r,.8JGe OIl the C~~riJer Majjn~enmcc, FV 434" wa s[r~lIll¢telled~o cupe with. thls but there loomed on ·the hori.UUl a new t3nik in which! for the first time', the engine BIJ:]/d geltrbox"'f;;um·!jl~(;~;ri:r.i;g unit would be changed as ill comp,Jcl.e assem.b~y 0:1" power pac"k wcighin:g abo 1,1.[. 6. torrs, The new Hml'( W3JI developed
originally for Iran and was named the 8MI' Iran. After the

:r'C!!'ohuioll ill mu:ch improved version o' the Shir w;a!!i adopted by the ~B.riuis:b. Army as tl"!!· Challm11I1'Ct ,revivmg a nsm e used during 'Wor1d W:ar n fot alengrhened Cro.mwdl·wj~h a

Britain and. the associated ARVs were modifled to (:('rpe W,il engin.:" changes 0 the projected Shir by fittLu:l!g them with 8r crane, To cove with. Challenger Xlwas decided to simibrly modify British l1:rm_y ChLefmin A'RVs,. The altered vehidel were des.igni:l!~Jed.o\rmouf,ed Rep~il ii1'!1ld • . Recovery Vehid~$ (ARRVs) .. They were fitted 'witb Au8.5 AK600Q hydraulic 'r,l!lin.e 1:1 the kft side of the rear [he hull. and with cradh ever dill: engine .r;:O:JlTI,~run~ri.1:.which were dcsign,,-d Ui CarT! spare power pa~ks. Vickers proclUIl::~-d..ooll.versi{)nkitll. and! the m,odifit;atiQus were made in 3:8 Ceatrel \l;"orkshop REME in UK and in ]5 Base W9rksh,op.' REL\{t in Germany. \l'llile·Cbie:ftilin ARVs were.wirhdrawn for !l1Qdffi.,cat1ofil.,units 'Wct:f't: issued with Ce!1.Ul1:iun. Mar.k " ARVs which had previously been withdrawn from service, These proved still to be' v,en' effective and some remainin

or

use some EhirllY years afterthey were o!rigillally designed. 'fhe- new ChBlle.ll,gcr. ~ank pioneered the use of compo:~' artnour de~;"eln[X!d the .Royali ~\rllrnmenlResearch and <lilt

Dev'Ciop,i:t.ij! Es.1tablishment CRA.RDE) and known

Cho:bhrun armeur. Thevehicle was

ala.

powered by a conven-

GhMftt1ifil:AI"i~i{}lii'ed. R~ir o.I1d- ReciJ'W1j! Y!9hk:/1!' 1L-itiJ lh6 '6~ilmnc mme jib ,:fti.ted and: s.hou1u:g JIlt! I.;fudlqfor cm-ryil'lg' a
~r.ll ,fiillf'll'l'-e.

tianal V ] 2-cylindcr ,li.~8el ngine of Rolls RoyoC~de~i.g,n e which piiuved to 'b'IC ""try reliable. The tank's suspension system was new but the best feature ,ofthe Cbiefnlin~ its gun ~'Wasincorpereted inro ChaUl:ngl!r. This time the l\RV d.eveJopm,enl was mere in step w]th the peln!1l1 lank. and a Challcngl:f ARR V WIiIS called for prtlmptly I develcpmeru by Vick~["SDefence 8ys-terns begiJ rung early in [b~ 19808 . In August 1987 '[he first of six pre-·prodm:::tio.n .AIU'tVs WH$ ecmpleted, Two were SOOt'I 11vailabh:· fOF REM.Etriais ..The new vchlele's meehanical cow.PIlne~l.S were eommen to the gun lank ..Irs recovery

quipment consisted 'of a Router Treihmetie cap$tan winch; 'ydrauHcaUy dti"~!.1 ,and with g 50-'t nne direct pull. An UxiUEUi' winch was fitted ,a.liid also an Atlas AK 6000 MS ydrauli,e ClIl!ll'e.The rom mounted dozer blade, forwil.td rmdu.ng'JIl}.IIOU[ltthl rear-rnenn oc'd crane all served te give lis A.RRV <ii, superficial resemblance to irs predecessor, bm .was ill ];@lctamueh more powerful "'ehi(;;l~ w:i:~hm~[JJy more Jphi.stic8Jted fe~tlJres under the skin. 'Whj]e the Challenger ARRV \'Vasunder development for te British Army Vkkers Defence SYSICttH! were ,0000plying: il entirely IliC!!W concept iethe :\RV. This involved iii simp~c onversion of any gun tank byfitfing it with an ARV turret 'hkh contained a -winch and V!'.<I5, litted 'with a lifting buem if n:,pair tasks. This eon versiee ~ti'l ¥!~ aimed it eemmerW

tasks ~tW8S neeessarvm

lay om leduc uon UlcikLeand! lin

extra-long winch f"o',P~ was p.1:' vided for "this purpose. One ,re'srrh of thls W:II once again 8 verY cramped intericr. The two epiJI,ai!:~!re,arSpades ~rcquir-cd, to preserve access to the

mk chassiffi.

ia& 8i1e'S. A model shewed thetureet

based

01'1 a

US M48

The British Army Dearly bad yet :R1l.oU1er AR.v when evelopment of 'hi:l sd'f·projJ'elkd it - rsion of the FH 70 oWltzer wasprngressing. This equipment: was 9! joi]lt rolecr with Germany and Il~.dy" nd in 1978 it waa suggested. a 18;lt there should be an A:RV version, bun instead the
:quUement for later ARVs included an ability [0 recover ie SP 70..This became Uf..iiilCC(ilSSatj' whea the JOWl venture as abandoned. in 1964 F'VRDE began development of 8 new range of 'aiked light recounaissance vehicles to replace lP1lIi' A.lv18

'lAlh:icie':lI.n8.l deer, were ,prov:id·ed wid'l II clel.achablJe bridging blade, The H;gh~\-\1'ei!!:ht of !:he: vehicle frt!quc.ruly r-esu.l~W in the frorrt end ]Jiunl::!' when 'wint:~," It rubu:lar steel j]b kit was carried and could be fitted 'tI:i,th,-e' vehicl~'s roof and held ln place b~ wire S:l:llI.ys wh~1.Iin use. An. array of recovery tools and SU}l,eSwere stowed in and on this very sma]1 vehicle, One of i~5 di ,rtLnctions m.stl~:;1t S.~mpson was· the newest REArn ARV 10 sec war service ..one being used during the FalkJands "War, D ulI'i:n'gthe camp3fgn it feU film .a drainage ditch. and was unceremoniously heisted om by the ·surviving Chinook hdircoptcr, Ahhnugh ~t~minJ~ from a 1960s series design, Samjpson did not e:f.I!re:r :semce "UD [i the early' 19180s. During the 196.os and cady 1970s US experience in Vietnarn began In reflect [he long-hejd German VitlW wt the APe should be i\lI fig'btlilg vehicle rather than aID, armouredjransport vehicle, Taere followed in most C-OlUltnes 8. new generation! Infan ry COIDb!'ll~ VehLIC!) with
larger tU!:ret-mll'l..m.wd guns in place of rhe.eazller machineguns aad IiIpe:nuJ\es [Qr the en-board infantl)' section UJ fire irs 'wea,po;ns from ill·siaet:b,e vehicle, M.trer ~ lou,g period of studies 8IId developmem st{ll."ting lJflthe lli~:[~~.900:s.B·dUlin' contender ~the Wa.triur (FV 500 series). was u~~v,e1]ed. j IS 'by' builder, 'GKN S1lIlkey~ in 19S()- Some HI lOOS heavier dll1i~ the FV 4.32, one ve.rs.i.onof the new vehicle carried a Rarden

V 600 range nf wheeled vehicles, SaMadw and Saracen,

Jv],t;were awarded the

ceatract Jor production ofthe new

W3:S
j

~ries in 1967. The basic vehicle

officialLy ~H Gam bat

chicle Reeonuaisanee (T!!1lt:~t:d.) CVR~T} btl was in racrical renns a. light tank. The Scorpion (FV 101) was .med !i!jT;i'th a 76mm gunwhile the similar Seimitas

N 107")carried a 30'JlUll single shot or burst fire: Rarde.n

un,

'~mppOrlvehicles. Two were proposed, ItD.AR;R.V which ""'ould lUlve a 20~ItODIliewinch and it 6-(on~~ hyd~3iu1ic rane

gun anda machille-gu1'l. in its turret, E dy in its de!lei'opmelll thought was gh'eil to "1:1 REME e

whkb bad been loneered in the OSA with, in particular, ehe Ml13 APe. 11.L~ power unit, mounted acme front of the hull beside the
Iht::'iI;,.~n~.:;;used I:"

ul.l;I:minlurn armou

1IDd! also .. forw,~;rd -re:pur ve.hic.lel fClirhe &all1e rele as tile t ltV ~~3.::j., which would h.ave::Qcri]y the crane •. De'ii'do;pm,enlt of

river, was a J :.lguar·4. Z·]itre petrol. engine. The vehicles '~[iB very cornpac; and weighed in tile region of 7 toms. ,.:II 'he small size madethe vehleles somi~wh~'[ r~mpCd, the t partan APC being able m tarry only fou.r men in addition
l

in. crew. The diminutive s,i7..c and high speed 'Were ;lJ1siden::d impostant assers in the reconnalssance rele, The ~gjily I,',ar.i"'l.l]:tsf 'Ihe .FV Jr(jQ series i:llduded an ,ARV which o ';liS developed from 1970 and.named S8JiifiPilll:i,.1l (VV' 1{)6). 'his was based On the Spat'tillrl A1:oChull bu I fitted with fli tnn capstan winch, In order 'to carry ou t most recovery

thesevehicles continues .. The Humber 'Pigs" used. in. N orthern Irelead were already long Inthe tooth when inthe e(!l"I:r H:nOs, GKN began to d.eve]op a wheeled armoured carrier for·aJ simila» role, Ewnmally a version ofthis priv~ne venUlr-e was selec ed b.y MOD(.A) to equip mechanised Infantry banalLoP.sfor those tasks net involving the direct support of tanks, rOt wh]ch the WtLn'"iOf W,aJ8. intended ..The new wh,.eeJii.'d. .FC; named S·:ilXO:ll was brought into !-le("v:lccin tilt!l A ~:8:r[)' 198015 and amo:lJig ]'[S dedv.u.iv'es was 3. wbedoo. A.R \l
jr

with

En':!

e~w:rnaUy mounted wil.1,ch..

Sam[Mrm ligln AR~' lilhe C\i1~' serresShOiWj ar l:J'QriSulr~'l.:;y"l rlfe-F~kla'1lds, ilJJJ~g tC'lJ1.I h~'tilllm (i1~i mt"! f.i~ ofdw "VIl:hklfJ. .

Fh-p···.t;--e--r' 6' _ a, . _ _ -urther Progress in Wheel1ed Recovery /ehides and Transporters

lie multi fut:l, L;PJiii!l(i: cal!1!::ep~of the [Olite~. 50s c:o~ndded 9 irh Hi need. fQr 1'1. rejJhl!~e!nen( OfLl1~ hll$~c !n:lit:k 3-1:lorilGS
m

lfigJ~

of vg;h~ds5 produced

in me ,early and .mid-l950s ...

fter oompetitive trials in. the mid-1900.s" 011 Bc.r;;dfordMood. ~K w..s selected ill ] 9.68.andbegan to erster sesvice SOlon 1:erl classed as a 4 wn truck, 1m!A977~hc speclilJ:iM vehicle TIdbooybul1ders R~yno]ds Bou;ghlo'f.l were ,rildVterds:i:n~: ~ muuerdlllirecO\:reii'Y vehlele with an hydraulle crane and ~secl OiD the new Bedford 1\1K chwis, iu abour thisrime l~ Army dlfl!i:~cl~d replace the Bedfa,vd RL '~]!ilhrt '~IJ I:coove:ry
n

vehicleand ~.ull"jed ou llria~8' of ~'i;,"""'O Bedfrard IhJY,~b:[ons in l~Hm.. Thesingh~.re3:[ whee~!>ofthe mmmer,du] p~o[OtY'pe were l1!]}hloedwith twin rear wheels~ aJS had featured on the

TM44 chass:isbl,n '~.he modm~d MK chas~i,i\ was e'V~'i'JI'l:lI~U!l

aeeepted and put into preductlou

~ille:1; Bedfeed, At one stage duringrhe m:ds there-were L110~gb:t:s of b8i!ijng the vehicle OiD the ,larger Bedford 8~t:O:llIIe [)srn.eBedford MJ. The

vehicle was fiued wlrlh

.i!'L

6-1[{)[lne W [Iln wi~r:h. 'h be-gan to

:EI lii:Ostiillll'UliS!J.Jiid

enrer service in 1981. At !lame time inthe hnf[ 1915(l'S. 1 ~70s Of

L~flld Rover W.8iS produced for use in amph.i.lbiol:.ls,trials at Tnsoow...This was fined with a winch and buill in fiotQ LOU lP~lIIleb.It is noi kl10wn .iJ this vehicle was jm·~IDId·~d s a a
beach recovery vehicle. TOVl'i1Jds ·[h,[.! .f!dof nJIH: .]9-60s, a vehicle w.as ~

;fli;---oo;ed a UitC'l:or 3S

fOIr the

new 1.05ntm. .lighr

~D:f.I. The

u.rg.endy Rover

special arrangements for ob'tEliningn~w equipment, Berlin Bri.gade acquired four Volvo F,88 x 4 recovery tractors fitted with Eklll1eCovcry :gear. These.weee used armo.l1g Cltlu tnt,,!::;. for recovering b mkeadownmilitaryend allied eivilian ve·hkJes on the autobahnbetween Berlin and Wesr Germany. Local pr.·o'll'is:ioning was <lbio extended to CaW'ldl1

company had ea.dic.r bull [ 8. 1'A.-ton fO:riNudcom.t"o] vehicle for·commer,eia] use ad··pt·ed b)r the A.[my as .B fire tender. A lighter, W;icierfdeve!otpment foUowed wid:!) fgr ·the:first time, il.S ~oadlcapacity rated in m~t.ri.c unlts, Jt 'IJ sed .many Range Rover components .llIint"i was·piltted for trials jn 1971 gail1HiltB. 'Vo.JVQ truck basedaa the . aplander Iurwaed-conrrel vehicle used by the SW'ed~sh Army'. The truck J-tonne ",,>=4 RQv€f was m;~ClCt~d for production in ]973. Be\!jo~dies its gtI..I1 tractor role, some were allocated ·tc.:' REME units ill S"uppOIM of airbeme and a~orHI'b~e- forrnatious and workshops began
[hei:r 0\1;'11. experiments
LO

produce special versions, the

['cclilvery vehicle ha tng 3. (Qld-aw:.ay j,ib.. This enabled .it 10 ~ cargo when not req uired for t·l;lcovcr]lu.sks.
There have been.
.()C(:::'ll>~Ol!lS

in SOO"ll1::: operational

areas

"thC:!i~for. secnll'.llyreasons R.EME have operated civilian

pattern

miJ~talr-Yctl,l!lnecilnnscoul,d

recovery ve:bJic..lcs10 lOW cEI:way ather vehicles whose tlQ~ be advertised, Keeping: [0 its

rhere tae RE.ME workshop ~t $uIfidd tra:iniug area WHS quipped wuh a number of C;:m:adiEll1·b1iJintWe~teIrJ. S~I[ -ton (], 6 recovery vehicles, These ill!;: basically commerX Md types with Holmes rwtn-boorn wrecker gem" (see l'an: .3
nd 'were produced
5

me

:lIei."yjl,;i.:;iiI.~oduring

commerc.mL sales, had "1:0 be berne en.'lirdy by the armed the 19708 the i\10D be;ga;n ·IO]OOk. mere

clesely at what commercial firms. were pl"'odu.d.mgand uslng

'to iii

specificstien drawn up in Canada.

)n~ of these vehic Ie'Shas been pbotographed

in colour and

shown to be painted red, pre1rlJ!wab['y (I.g as 'lO m!lk.e h. learl)' vi:s:ihle. nthe pl~in when catryimg om uerr-tactieal e

ecevery taaks in danger areas .. , .In h971lhe-re were till 3"30 Scammell &p.I.(j;rcr~ and 'io.neer-s in service, though f~w of the Janer" Despite the ~i]ii;1t ~.JrlIm:of LeyJands and [Je'wly ~l:r:iving ARC:!!,. there faS still a Deed to repla.ce these aged Seammells. At this ime t.he ct)llnUy was in the throes. of l1t fin;r_ncial, cr:i.si~ and. ~[OD budg~t5 were bard nit, The' AEC had been 50mewh:at c-ili> successful than hoped and tbe '~al::~ ever (lif dIe oo:m:p8ny )y Leyland in 1962 bad. led by the 1'970.8 to much 1l11.1("lna1is,nionf products so there W.i3JS ~oon no chance 0: o ~btru.oin~ more A ~Q,The cost of ~pedally developed -ec(}veJ;jt Ychi,chlS., w'ltic:1l were rarely cheap el:u)U,gh for

for recovery. True, many were using ex~WD vehicles VI'iili which genemtions ofREME rec:ove!rYmechanics would IlR~ b~gp f~lrnUia.rt, 'but Sffill:ct new concept'S were appeming:, based en [~,emcr.,eas.m,g use of hydrsullc cranes ~I!Id reco,very gear .. be. 'kn comp:!Ii'l r of Sreekholm, Sweden, had des:igned a n 'W IYpe of re~ov~ry vehicle in which ;~tn onl.-r were all meveruerus o:f [i.fUlig gea.r aad the main wineh itse,lf actuated by by,dra'~lIics btu al~l;he two rear spl1!!d e~or :mUdlO'rriL Al:m herunusual feaw.rc !WaS, that [he whole nl.Slanatioliil~ inelud·i.nr the main winch, formed Plln of the rec","el)' body I' thus simpLifying ilS fining to 3. variety of chassis, The 1J~£kc'O:mpo:I':U;:ilit was a cranked iib, raised by b;yd·n!.uJ:ic rams so as 110 lift casual ties for suspend ... tows iil1 contrast to -d the more COIJDmO:fi system o· 8 fixed ji.band a winchto raise the' casuahy, A variety on.i'Em~nlL$could. be auached '[0 me end !Qf the Eka j.ib to suit attaehmem poin!.::'> the from or at rear of any vehicle casualty. The main winch cable cr!u~dbe used for recovery or over I,h!;;': ji b initsralsed position •.as .'3i crane hoist. Th~ j.ib when raised in the suspendedJmw mode 'WS.S]0 ked Into 'POFtilion by steel pine, The main dlsadvan~:ilgc i[J Ihe. crane role 'W3S the hllt::,k of slewing movemem. MaximUDl .!ill em, the G:IQVeWllU; ;inth~' {1I::gi:On 1. 5. tonnes oif depending en the ehassis 'to which tile equipment WH ]jjned. In 1970 an Eka crane on a 6 x 4 Vol.yo ,chassIs was pnrchased for tnah:. Afler ir had been tested ill, among uthe-[ pl~t.'~l'i.Northern Ireland, it was decided ill Hlt72 to purchase the bodies only for fiuil]g' to the' 64 $C3mm.e.1:J Crusader chassis then coming: into use as atractor for

classed ~~ :;a dvUim or [ow~mob.ilil' -'\.~eh.ic~edille ~

~ oj' fire ,Berlin llolv(} Fsa <I X'" .Ti?.ooVt.'l)' f.!,?/ritiu with 13~a
p«pmtmt. and adequate for
[ltH:

equipment carrying semi-trailers (see page 95). The SC'ruu~ mell Eka lacked drive to I he frum wheels and 'WoliIS lherefOiN
'[(I ]ts restrlcted cross-ccuntryperformance but hs n:C().'I,.ICry gear made' hsuitahle for the peace-time recovery urganisation

l!I

reate-clearance

'!'OLe in war,

hs. ,;]f:dval

on1y sped :.:lOme of the older petrol e'.nglm:iiI ScammeUI 00. rhclr wayto retirement but, after the AECand LC':':y]and, it revivedthe name of l.~l:' flrm which had for so mruty yeaJE'S been ~yl1l:JIDy:mOIJS.with military recovery Vehid.GS4 The: ti~W' vehicle' ,""as fitted wi'th a20-'~(lli1fiC main '!.-~ri.DC.b ,oold front mounted 'f-T.Ollll'i.t: seLf-recQvery winch, TL1!emaximum liIt for suspended tows was eriginally listed ;,I.S se'i!1'e:f.! and oil b3ilf rom; but inservice far greaterloads were moved, A proto'l:~rpc Smmmdi Crusader Eka was demons lr:~t'ed. q;bJ! at .1976 Ceramercisl Motoll' Show and ] 30 v,!i:;hidcs were mdi~r~cl itl 1977. These were completed iiflG dC!:ployed (0,
unite bymid- 11)80, As. [:hI! 1970s progressed, the Leyland heavy recovery vehicle became obsolescent. Its p _uo[ engine was both

'he Cc),·tW.CIi4tl ,:We,stcmStar 6:<(5

rlcM!el)'

1Jtlhic.l1lflJiIIl:Hoimcf

i"(ckerGear.

.,a neeaamical and. .1:100 .Ioillge.r powerful Ii:n01b~gh present Jor l!'[o(!oos.Th.e AEC WllI,S also '~IJbeceme il IYI,oblem. as a product of a now dd1ll!pt:: t company. FoUowing the ado-p·tion of the Sca:mme'll Crusader Ek[JILow .MobiJi'!::y RL~OVc;try Vehicle, me solutien to a L::yland and AEC .re-phl.oem-em seemed W

A rmu ,dr: ~JT£. it S &t:lffllil'l.,.ll C:rusadet Blue lV'l:llii'lg. MpenJed" (V'ni!.mar ill1Il~l>hw.db'~~mrI'J~~~" filII 5~will ~1i'1J"I:i·il:ra;it~(;arrie5 4 f!rO'IIJWW SP 'lO f J 'Seif-pJitJjWlled lunmtzer. ThfSr;.(.mrmtJI it lifting lS:...:z0 ~'rm$,u;wl rQv!~ a~ouf 90 llJ11!!.

Eka gear allied to :II. modern IiX 6~h!:lssis. F'ltdens, of Sandbach in Cheshire were an old-establi bed :6nn whidl pioneered ilj'tt:'aJi;!.lurti,es the nlneteenth in, lie

in

me excellent

century. ,Du:rl([g '\~o:d.d Wu II they hiildsu.ppJje:d IO-u!!" 6x4ll!l:!J.d '6-LOn 4x 1chassis, to' lhkl Anny but not rill the 1970s were 'th~.Yonce again '[0 supply military vehicles. Tbe
first :IlCW Fodens were baaically civilian, pattern &-wbed(!d 8x4 types 0' 20·'w'nnc cargo and fuel carriers! but c'lfcuruu]ly a 6 x I) vehicle 'was devl!loped. mainlv as 21 tractor

for lh.e new 155m.m FH70 field gun, The com:pany had beet'! utk.l!f.I. ever by the US Psccar company at about this lime but cond.D1.lI,edj marke ' its vehicles under the: Foden ntune. te
The .gU~ tractor cila's!>lsWB,3 adapted ~Q take the Eka body and :IDi vehicles Were PUPCh,E1Kd[ot lci~. It bad JO!llg 'Deena RE_Ai\E requiremem !.halo wbee:Jed recovery vehieje should be rauhipuepose and eapa,b1e of use as a erane, The Jack ,of BI !ilewi~g crane onthe S~';[j.mD:'leU hadbeen accepted due E~a ill its restricted role and the speed of ,intr(lducliofi of <I commercial equipmenr, Production verslons of the Foden Eka Wl,lrc m use an adaptation of the origina'~ Jlec<:nTe[ji' body featuring riM more CO!lll.vffiltion:ill Ad:ilS.designed pedestal-mounted hydrn,uli,c crane, This, hcwever, w:as menmed above the cranked rec very j1b. The larter was li ted now by the tr'~fie's '~Iinch rope Instead of in own llydrdulic rams. Once the CBisuruEY had been raised 'thr:r~co-vcry jib- was locked imopo:sitio:[!. as inthe o.ribin:li des.ign: mus, Ihe cqui,p:ment retained the best fearures of the basic design plus .:iIi crane, The '!'dude WaS powle:r~d. y a Rolls (now Perkins) Eagle di~sd 1;l11l,ginc. 11:1t! b

b,dtm 'rad4~r$ 2'O-ltmn.e 'railrr. rite 1()(:rJto;.ai1 ARC filt;~d "wit.ll Ii I A 13 ~'IYUli1!,

TIt, Podlm Ek(J M"c-diwz M (}bililj!

Re((Jt~1

Vchit>l:i lawiflg
lO~101J

€i

truck

suspended

load, 'When Itlov'ing. :[n tonnes. The tyrt:ll We're 16.00x2Q., Two side-meunted hydiriliulie~Uy=exil.el1,ded sto:b: lisers, together 'i-'!;i.rh therear spade anchor, provid(;-d a solid

first of 333 F ooe,1'Il M'cruum MobililY Recovery Vehiclea Well; b~gi1.ming to entef-5~]j",,'·i.oc. 'he'ylhen began te replace [h~ surviving I Scammell Explcrers and Leylands, Scammell had for many yean! ijJ(;:e;n Leyland. SlI bsidiary :It
~:rl!d alterthe rake over of AEC~ Leyland,
COR{:~ntrared

base for crane W~'lrk.. By 19:86 and arIel ell £ ensive trials the

al1

Rl.l!tzler-des~gned main \\finch. was rated at 25-lm:mes 'Ilild the Tumerfro'n'l wlnch ar 10 tonnes. Maximum lift ofthe crane wim the vii!I:Udestatienary W~f!, 12 tonneaandthe :IllBximiLlm

hea:"1' and ~p. elalist '!'ehic]e devcl[)p.m~.tt at Watford. F'lJJlowing the high]y successful Co nstrucmr, SCEl:mll1eJ]
produceda new6x4 hf::lIvyhaulage lfi;lc'tor with
II. stream-