General Purpose Army Vehicles.

Which were the better vehicles used by the Army over the past 40 or so years? Were the old Bedford 3 Tonner vehicles used by many units more robust and easier to maintain than the Bedford vehicles that replaced them in the later years, and those that are used today. I seem to recall in cold weather, the air activated braking system on the Bedfords often seized up, causing much discomfort to anyone riding in the back. Of course there were no seat belts in them even in the drivers cab.

Are the vehicles today easier to drive with all the upgrades over the years? As for the smaller vehicles, did anyone drive Austin champs in the 1960s. I seem to recall them being used by squadron commanders as personal vehicles when I was first posted to 28 (BR) Sigs at St Tonis in Germany. These were gradually withdrawn and replaced with short and long wheeled Landrovers.

It was strange at 28 Sigs in the mid 1960s, we were still using German Ford boxbody trucks that had been used by the German army during the war 20 years after it ended.

Oh how these memories come back, some good, some bad particularly some of the mad drivers in the unit who somehow managed to wind the long wheel based Landies up to around 70 or 80 miles an hour on the autobahns, or were they capable of being driven at that speed?

We did have at least one Champ down at Marchwood covered the Port Admin area but mainly I think used as a runabout

As a Boy Soldier I learned to drive in a Champ, I think at that time (1962) they were on their way out being replaced in most Regular regiments with the Land Rover. The Bedford RL was, in my opinion, pretty useless, driver and passenger comfort was greatly improved with the introduction of the MK in the early 70s.

As I recall the Champ had a RR engine which was only serviceable by Bielefeld,(maybe REME). iT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO DRIVE. OSSIFERS LOVED IT. and in my Gds bde unit only NS could keep it on the Road. They were, generally more eduacated than us. Thanks.

Most of my early service (1951 - 57) it was the Willys Ford or Jeep as it was generally named. Bloody things could just about climb walls, did everything from Signals Dispatch to field line work. On joining the TA in the 60's we used the Champ initially and as stated officers loved it. Of course they did not to have to drive it off road line laying down some of the impossible grades we encountered, thats when the RR engine became a hazard for many a Signals Liney due to its weight which made it unmanageable and could in extreme cases cause it to 'cartwheel' .... tell me about it. Its crew capacity was also limited for a line crew. By about 1963 they were withdrawn from line use and replaced by the more practical Land Rover.

Hi Ciphers, When I joined my first working unit in Shorncliffe, Folkstone  in 1959 Easter the unit had lots of odd vehicles; including champs, half-tracks of some vintage, Ferrets and Sarisons, motorbikes and a Bugler ("come to the cookhouse door"). I think they were the remnants of your Suez op ? not forgetting the Eye Flash. !!!

By the way Ciphers, when you were in Japan did you visit the Palace of the 7 Heavens. I heard a tale which led me to think that it was related to Zen or something of that nature. Apparently Westerns only got as far as the first Heaven. Could you possibly comment ?

Hi Dulaigh, I was in Japan in 1954/5 on attachment to the Aussies in Kure and doing the odd courier run to my home base in Seoul (Biritcom Z Signals Sqn). Unfortunately I never strayed too far from the Nakadori/Hondori bar scene so the cultural opportunities that abounded in Japan were lost on me.
Zen that's another story if you will excuse the pun.

I was surprised that on the Suez do what good shape our equipment was in, then again we never got off the ship - I was hoping that as I was in 1st Guards Bde we would get into a bit of action .. closest we got was the Gut in Valletta.

Well taken ciphers, I had a great mentor, Neil McGinn who was the Brigs Wop and L at the time and after Korea he rejoined Civvy St. However, he was completely pissed off by the banality and felt he had to rejoin the Mob. We had many nice pints in the Black Bull in Salisbury which had a beautiful carpet and a Barmaid with well flavoured Tits and the comfort of the Coal Fire and Carpet was very beguiling to myself. He had been the Brigs op in Korea and ,unfortunately, the Brig drove himself and Neil into extreme positions...often the Gooks had overrun the home positions and after beating a hasty retreat Neil (in the back with a morse key and headphones) experienced the bullets flying. I believe he suffered PTSD. He was an artist Morse Telegraphist. He regaled me with tales of his Uncles coming out of the Pub and pissing in the street in Fife (I think) which was the Norm at the time.

Yes, they didn't get flush toilets until 1984 I believe.

Think they are still doing it - Gordon will know!!