Army Vehicles - 1960s

What was those Old Soldiers favourtie Army vehicle. I can remember back in '64 28 (BR) Sig Regt; had a number of old WW2 German Wermacht Ford Box Body Trucks that were used as part of the Comcen and Tape Factory setup. I understand that these ex-Wermacht vehicles were part of the war booty that the Brits got with what was left in 1945. Curious that these old German Fords were still going strong all those years since the war ended.

A few other vehicles that were around in the unit were Austin Champs that were used by Squadron Commanders and Toop OCs as perosnal transport when on exercise. There were also a few long wheelbase Landrovers being issued to the unit. If anyone can remember these Autin Champs - were they as reliable as the Landrovers that were to eventually replace them?

Other vehicles way back then was the ubiquitous Beford 3 Tonne Truck used as the general workhorse of the Army. I can also remember the CO's Staff Car, which was a Ford Zephyr if memory serves me correct.

Does anyone have fond memories of a favourite vehicle way back in the day. Appologies if this topic has been done before.

I'm old enough to have driven the Champ but don't recall them being very reliable. It didn't help that they were driven on that crappy MT74 petrol.
A similar drive was the Humber 1ton which we had as a third command post veh, it carried that huge radio that I forget the number of-it had two fans on the front of it.
I was one of those blokes that had to learn how to handle the pre-select gearbox on the Saracen command post, the Ferret too.
Most enjoyable drive for me was the FV 432 Mk 2.

`The Champ looked the part, we had a number of these in our regiment, It proved very
difficult to maintain, and needed a bit more knowledge to maintain and service.

Unclevanya, in the post war period up to about the 1960s, the British Army had a large number of Ford box body vehicles used for a wide range of specialist roles such as stores, sigs, machy, office. They were powered by a standard Ford V8 engine of American design and were most definitely built in the UK and were not inherited from German war time stock, these were replaced in the 60s by the Bedford RL box body.

BobG

Bedford QL ... good old wagon.

Len (Ciphers)

I only drove a vehicle once during my service (I couldn't drive) -100 yds from the cpl's club
after a Sunday session straight into the cookhouse wall in Glamorgan barracks. Fortunately I had friends in 4 Inf Wksps who quickly repaired the minor damage and next morning the OC was none the wiser although his German driver always reckoned the front bumper was slightly out of alignment! I suppose by default, that has to be my favourite army vehicle to drive!!

For my sins I was a Bty MT Sgt for 10 years, didn't have a favourite vehicle, in fact, I hated the sight of them - especially around PRE time!!

len but did the ql make a noise , the screamers they called them ,

Biggest prob with the Champs were the drivers! It was an easy vehicle to roll...

Yes they were noisy but its like a nagging wife (I don't have one by the way) you got used to it.
Found it reliable and a great vehicle for a Signal Centre.
If its noise you want, then the 'Beast' could accommodate you :-

The 'Beast'

Len (Ciphers)

alan8376 wrote:

Biggest prob with the Champs were the drivers! It was an easy vehicle to roll...

Easy to pinch as well, I remember ! There was some sort of junction box on the rear offside of the bodywork. Can't recall what we did exactly, now, but swapping over a couple of the push in plugs by-passed the key switch. Useful to know when you had to move one around in the MT sheds......... And once on one of those night raiding exercise things we nicked the opposing troop commander's Champ rather than walk back.

I remember seeing Centurion Target Tanks. This was in England (Salisbury Plain) not BAOR. It was a load of Jocks from various infantry outfits who were the drivers. Uparmoured to 80 ton but with the same pack and gearbox. It seems the main fault with them was the reduction of main brakepower to 4 seconds of foot on pedal which made for some interesting downhill journeys along Sack Hill, Warminster (if anyone remembers that particular elevation?), particularly if the unfortunate Scottish chappie driving the panzer happened to miss the downchange on the non-synchro box.

[quote="cartav"]

alan8376 wrote:

Easy to pinch as well, I remember ! There was some sort of junction box on the rear offside of the bodywork. Can't recall what we did exactly, now, but swapping over a couple of the push in plugs by-passed the key switch. Useful to know when you had to move one around in the MT sheds......... And once on one of those night raiding exercise things we nicked the opposing troop commander's Champ rather than walk back.

That forward/reverse lever was good for baffling fledgling drivers.
Knock it into neutral and no amount of clutch work would move that vehicle.
I can hear the Bty Commander now-"come on, get a bloody move on !"
Oh we signallers DID larf !

Hussar100 wrote:

I remember seeing Centurion Target Tanks. This was in England (Salisbury Plain) not BAOR. It was a load of Jocks from various infantry outfits who were the drivers. Uparmoured to 80 ton but with the same pack and gearbox. It seems the main fault with them was the reduction of main brakepower to 4 seconds of foot on pedal which made for some interesting downhill journeys along Sack Hill, Warminster (if anyone remembers that particular elevation?), particularly if the unfortunate Scottish chappie driving the panzer happened to miss the downchange on the non-synchro box.

This is 1 of 2 Cent Target tanks that we had in Albuhera Barracks in 1982. The strangest feeling, driving around the range and getting fired at!

the good old Maggi

Nobby wrote:

Hussar100 wrote:

I remember seeing Centurion Target Tanks. This was in England (Salisbury Plain) not BAOR. It was a load of Jocks from various infantry outfits who were the drivers. Uparmoured to 80 ton but with the same pack and gearbox. It seems the main fault with them was the reduction of main brakepower to 4 seconds of foot on pedal which made for some interesting downhill journeys along Sack Hill, Warminster (if anyone remembers that particular elevation?), particularly if the unfortunate Scottish chappie driving the panzer happened to miss the downchange on the non-synchro box.

This is 1 of 2 Cent Target tanks that we had in Albuhera Barracks in 1982. The strangest feeling, driving around the range and getting fired at!

Fantastic picture Nobby.

You're dead right - it is often quite unsettling when people are shooting at you which is why we often wondered why anyone would volunteer for the job!

Bit before the '60 r, but still going strong in the late '50s was the short wheel based Bedford MWD 15cwt we had and which was WW2 issue. Only 2- wheel drive and originally our bty.Sigs. Mike truck with an "FFW" suffix to its name ( Fitted For Wireless). My mate Jock Cairney and I inherited it for dvr,instruction. The cab was canvas topped, we rarely had it closed. Driving position with low seats, legs straight out, was more akin to something sporty.
The crash box with a short, stiff gear lever and none of that cissy synchromesh made double-deeing a necessity, but those gears were on its big brother the QL ,too, something which had to be learned.

I'd signed the book, had it on charge nominally whilst employed in other things. This led to a problem when I had to get rid to go on the advance party when the regt moved back to UK. Once a sigs wagon, the back which we filled with half a dozen drivers under training had been kitted out with folding tablea & chairs, battery charging stuff and cradles for a couple of 19 sets. Some frantic searching unearthed most the bits which hadn't been used since VE -Day or there abouts, I managed to get the clearance chit signed.

those bedford 15 cwts we had a few of them as water bowsers , terrible things bomb along the road brake and the water used to push you along a bit further , remember in the 50s anti freeze was a modern fingy and not many depots had it , when we took off the rotor arms at night to deter thieves , we also had to empty the radiator , that was a pain in the neck , ginger

The bedford RL was an easy one to "hotwire" as well, the fuse box was in the left hand footwell, against the engine bay wall. just cross the fuses over and you had ignition. Favourite army vehicles, Austin 1800. NOT

Some old models here

The museum is located on the site of the World War 2 and post-war Weybourne Anti Aircraft Training Camp. Weybourne Camp is north west of the coastal village of Weybourne.
During World War 2, the camp was surrounded by a perimeter anti-tank ditch and defended by a system of gun emplacements and barbed wire. The interior of the camp consisted of groups of Nissen huts, barracks and other military buildings. The cliff top to the north was covered by a line of heavy anti-aircraft guns and batteries, slit trenches and pillboxes.
After the war, the camp became known as the AA permanent Range and Radar Training Wing[1] and gunnery training continued until 1958. The site still has a RAF radar receiving station and is the location of the University of East Anglia Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory and a Metrological Station.
The site is owned by Sir Peter de Savary

part two

What an amazing place, DeeZ, such a variety of kit !

My compliments on the quality of the video footage, by the way.

Great videos as usual, Jack.

cartav wrote:

Bit before the '60 r, but still going strong in the late '50s was the short wheel based Bedford MWD  15cwt we had and which was WW2 issue. Only 2- wheel  drive and originally our bty.Sigs. Mike truck with an "FFW" suffix to its name ( Fitted For Wireless). My mate Jock Cairney and I inherited it for dvr,instruction. The cab was canvas topped, we rarely had it closed. Driving position with low seats, legs straight out, was more akin to something sporty.
The crash box with a short, stiff gear lever and none of that cissy synchromesh made double-deeing a necessity, but those gears were on its big brother the QL ,too, something which had to be learned.

I'd signed  the book, had it on charge nominally whilst employed in other things. This led to a problem when I had to get rid to go on the advance party when the regt moved back to UK. Once a sigs wagon,  the back which we filled with half a dozen drivers under training had been kitted out with folding tablea & chairs, battery charging stuff and cradles for a couple of 19 sets. Some frantic searching unearthed most the bits which hadn't been used since VE -Day or there abouts, I managed to get the clearance chit signed.

As an Army brat, the Bedford 15 cwt MWD ('Mickey Mouse') was my school bus in BAOR and, later, in East Africa. Two wooden benches in the back, a knotted rope to swing into or out of the vehicle - bliss! My favourite army vehicle by far - although I always had a soft spot for the Saracen after my younger brother (when 9) drove one onto the parade ground just before the GOC's inspection! The band provided a distraction while the MT section rescued our kid and the armoured hulk.