Planet Rugby Forum

Edit: Last page folks

Nieghorn wrote:Could be Canucks. Our lads wore wedge caps like that, and that looks like one of those gun pulling lorries in the back ground Britain, Commonwealth used. Chevrolet CGT artillery truck, it's called.



Before this goes too far, though, I discovered an 108 page thread with people who know tanks who didn't come up with the answer! Might want to start another before this goes too far!

(Trying to find an image, but I have the feeling the Canadian War Museum has something like this in the basement, but stuck in the middle where I didn't often go ... not as sexy as Panthers, T-34s, etc.)

You ever get the inclination to have another look through there? *hint hint*





It's in reference to this:



If anyone is interested

Looks like you're going to be shit out of luck with this one. Just found several threads on different forums and languages about the same picture. Complete mystery it seems.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=87443

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... -id-4.html

I just remembered the Bombardier snow 'tank' I was thinking of, but the tracks are much lower. Our Kangaroo APC was based on a Sherman chasis, so not it either.


I just found a 187 page thread on army.ca on 'name that tank/vehicle' ... I'm tempted to browse through it.

As mentioned by others, it's very close to the Water Buffalo

Just posted here in case anyone really wants to see if there's a follow-up, or if they've already covered: http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/ ... .2825.html

I did a quick search and someone did post this before as an LVT2 (possibly LVT(A)2), possibly looking at it from the rear?

Looking again, it would seem the lads are standing at the front and that the steep part is way too steep to be a mod of the LVT ... not that I know how much engineering would go into such a project, or why.

Stumped, I am. See if the military geeks at army.ca have a clue.

It's like a Buffalo that reversed into a wall.


This is going to do my head in.

I volunteer at a naval and military museum. I might unleash it on them, or maybe send it to the guys who run the vehicle section at the Canadian War Museum.

Hell, why not ... ?

Nieghorn wrote:I volunteer at a naval and military museum. I might unleash it on them, or maybe send it to the guys who run the vehicle section at the Canadian War Museum.

Hell, why not ... ?

Precisely. Someone must know.

hp18 wrote:

Nieghorn wrote:I volunteer at a naval and military museum. I might unleash it on them, or maybe send it to the guys who run the vehicle section at the Canadian War Museum.

Hell, why not ... ?

Precisely. Someone must know.

Sent the museum's "transportation and artillery" manager an email with the link. Last time I did something like this was to a public TV network trying to find the name of a show and they were only too happy to get in on the puzzle ... though couldn't remember the name, either. (We were trying to get it for school.) As someone who loves reference requests in my job, I'd be all over a request like that if I had the right resources.

I wish we had some fun requests at the museum. I've been working on a photo digitisation project, and there are some great ones which won't make the displays or probably be interesting to people writing articles or books. Eventually, I hope they upload them all to the Web and tag them well enough so ordinary people stumble upon them.

I've found a couple of "rugby team" (might be football as it was called rugby here well after the adoption of the line of scrimmage and pads, but these guys look proper rugby). I'll scan and post them next time I'm in.

Grand



Go for it, can't beat random old photos. You can put them in this thread if you like, where you're allowed to discuss them

Looking for that vehicle earlier, I ended up trawling through the web looking wartime details of relatives. Came across a bit of a goldmine with pictures of my grandmother's brother including this one in Holland in WW2 with 4 Commando (Bill Johnson - at front with rifle)



http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdo ... n.jpg.html

Really is fascinating stuff. He emigrated to Toronto after the war and was involved in local politics I think. I met him a few times as a kid in the late 80's / early 90's.

Okay, you Anoraks. - Here's a possible clue from the ww2talk.com link I saw here yesterday ...

• See the wheeled vehicle in the background on the left? - It's one of these:
  
  Guy Quad Ant (gun tractor): show

  Via www.oldcmp.net:
  
  Ian Styles is a well known military vehicle collector and restorer based in the New South Wales Riverina town of Temora.
  
  Although Ian's passion is for Ford vehicles, he has been waiting 10 years to buy the substantial remains of this Guy, which he picked up in early 2005. Of the five known Guy Quad Ant tractors in Australia, this is easily the most complete and restorable, which is just what Ian is doing.
  
  
  
  Guy "Quad Ant": Several of these British gun tractors came to Australia when our troops returned from fighting in the Western Desert. As far as is known, they were relegated to training duties and many were disposed of during the war. Fitted with a 58 BHP Meadows 4 cylinder engine, mechanical brakes and an awkward driving position, not to mention the reversed gearshift pattern, these were not popular vehicles.
  In the photos below, some of the same (German?) soldiers are standing in front of the "Quad Ant" as are posed with the mystery vehicle. There is even a visible registration plate number on the front. Happy hunting!

• • hp18 wrote:You can put them in this thread if you like, where you're allowed to discuss them

    HP, you should rename this "The Rugby Military History Thread (Hey Neighorn)", - customisable, for sausage bandit protection.

Bodston wrote:It is a British Guy Quad Ant.. like this beaut one. Is it me, or do one or two of these fellas look familiar?

Margin_Walker wrote:Looking for that vehicle earlier, I ended up trawling through the web looking wartime details of relatives. Came across a bit of a goldmine with pictures of my grandmother's brother including this one in Holland in WW2 with 4 Commando (Bill Johnson - at front with rifle)



http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdo ... n.jpg.html

Really is fascinating stuff. He emigrated to Toronto after the war and was involved in local politics I think. I met him a few times as a kid in the late 80's / early 90's.

Weird what you can find at times.



Sniper? Or am I just seeing things.

kiap wrote:Okay, you Anoraks. - Here's a possible clue from the ww2talk.com link I saw here yesterday ...

• See the wheeled vehicle in the background on the left? - It's one of these:
  
  Guy Quad Ant (gun tractor): show

  Via www.oldcmp.net:
  
  Ian Styles is a well known military vehicle collector and restorer based in the New South Wales Riverina town of Temora.
  
  Although Ian's passion is for Ford vehicles, he has been waiting 10 years to buy the substantial remains of this Guy, which he picked up in early 2005. Of the five known Guy Quad Ant tractors in Australia, this is easily the most complete and restorable, which is just what Ian is doing.
  
  
  
  Guy "Quad Ant": Several of these British gun tractors came to Australia when our troops returned from fighting in the Western Desert. As far as is known, they were relegated to training duties and many were disposed of during the war. Fitted with a 58 BHP Meadows 4 cylinder engine, mechanical brakes and an awkward driving position, not to mention the reversed gearshift pattern, these were not popular vehicles.
  In the photos below, some of the same (German?) soldiers are standing in front of the "Quad Ant" as are posed with the mystery vehicle. There is even a visible registration plate number on the front. Happy hunting!

• • hp18 wrote:You can put them in this thread if you like, where you're allowed to discuss them

    HP, you should rename this "The Rugby Military History Thread (Hey Neighorn)", - customisable, for sausage bandit protection.

Bodston wrote:It is a British Guy Quad Ant.. like this beaut one. Is it me, or do one or two of these fellas look familiar?

Good suggestion Kiap



I'd read that very forum, can't remember the story behind the plate though.

hp18 wrote:

Margin_Walker wrote:Looking for that vehicle earlier, I ended up trawling through the web looking wartime details of relatives. Came across a bit of a goldmine with pictures of my grandmother's brother including this one in Holland in WW2 with 4 Commando (Bill Johnson - at front with rifle)



http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdo ... n.jpg.html

Really is fascinating stuff. He emigrated to Toronto after the war and was involved in local politics I think. I met him a few times as a kid in the late 80's / early 90's.

Weird what you can find at times.



Sniper? Or am I just seeing things.

It's the HT version - heavy barrel, telescopic sight of the old Mk4.

hp18 wrote:Good suggestion Kiap

Nice Work. - Don't think I can add much on the mystery tank, but here are a couple of German "Goliath", ahem, ... mini-tanks:


Click pic to embiggen

Turbogoat wrote:

hp18 wrote:

Margin_Walker wrote:Looking for that vehicle earlier, I ended up trawling through the web looking wartime details of relatives. Came across a bit of a goldmine with pictures of my grandmother's brother including this one in Holland in WW2 with 4 Commando (Bill Johnson - at front with rifle)

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdo ... n.jpg.html

Really is fascinating stuff. He emigrated to Toronto after the war and was involved in local politics I think. I met him a few times as a kid in the late 80's / early 90's.

Weird what you can find at times.



Sniper? Or am I just seeing things.

It's the HT version - heavy barrel, telescopic sight of the old Mk4.

If you say so. A few more of him training the year before (1943)

Crouching with rifle



Front row, second from left

In other words, don't mess with your family?




First mystery solved. It appears to be a Bagtignolles Chatillion DP 3. Additional pics will appear soon

DP 2 was a different configuration and utter pish, DP3 was made in 39? and captured in 1940, hence the weird pics.

hp18 wrote:In other words, don't mess with your family?




First mystery solved. It appears to be a Bagtignolles Chatillion DP 3. Additional pics will appear soon

DP 2 was a different configuration and utter pish, DP3 was made in 39? and captured in 1940, hence the weird pics.

Good effort if you have. You can probably rest again. It had me stumped and I'm usually pretty persistent with these things. Albeit in a fairly amateur and haphazard way.

hp18 wrote:In other words, don't mess with your family?




First mystery solved. It appears to be a Bagtignolles Chatillion DP 3. Additional pics will appear soon

DP 2 was a different configuration and utter pish, DP3 was made in 39? and captured in 1940, hence the weird pics.

Well done whoever tracked that down.

Margin_Walker wrote:

hp18 wrote:In other words, don't mess with your family?




First mystery solved. It appears to be a Bagtignolles Chatillion DP 3. Additional pics will appear soon

DP 2 was a different configuration and utter pish, DP3 was made in 39? and captured in 1940, hence the weird pics.

Good effort if you have. You can probably rest again. It had me stumped and I'm usually pretty persistent with these things. Albeit in a fairly amateur and haphazard way.

Wish I could take the credit. Twas one of the lads on twitter, seems he got hold of some French lads with access to more stuff.

Which is your favourite war and battle? A few of my favs:

Six Day War (incredible feat by Israel)

Falklands War (sending a task force to the other side of the planet to fight a war that no-one thought we'd win)

Vietnam War (Yank: "when are you Brits gonna come a fight?", Brit: "well, we'd would love to, but the Viet Cong are doing well enough without us!"

WW2 (particularly the Battle of Britain and Battle of Stalingrad. Knife-edge stuff)

Battle of Rourke's Drift (5 Welshmen with muskets against 3 million ZuLus)

America-Spanish War (A "splendid little war!", exclaimed the then-US president, on his countries first win over a great power)

Russo-Japanese War (1905. Japan thumps the big bear!)

Russo-Finish War (Finland at their finest!)

Battle of Hastings (not so much for the outcome. The Normans were horrible wit kant. But it's historical importance)

Battle of Jutland (only the 3rd ever metal-ship battle. A win for Germany, but fascinating nonetheless. Britain risked everything!)




I don't really like WW1. It was horrible. Fascinating, but those trenches were pits of hell. The role of aviation (having only been invented 10 years prior) is interesting though.

And now without tarp

hp18 wrote:And now without tarp

Cheers for that! That was some good work indeed on whomever found it. I'll post that over on army.ca ... I won't bother registering for that other thread, but after 100 odd pages, they'd probably have a meltdown.

Nice work. Is there a story to go with the pic?

hp18 wrote:And now without tarp

Not the most graceful or sleekest of vehicles was it?

Gotta say though, that this one:



is growing on me. Looks like a very early version of the old Humvee. That could be a lot of fun in which to rark about the desert.

Yeah, I'd love one of those 'gun tractors'. Looks like there's enough grit to tackle some rough terrain, and enough space to take a few mates, some food, bevvies, and camping gear for a long haul.

What I can't tell though, is if the sloped area behind the rear seats (of which there appear to be four) is for storage or is closed off?

Found this while searching, though:

Nieghorn wrote:Yeah, I'd love one of those 'gun tractors'. Looks like there's enough grit to tackle some rough terrain, and enough space to take a few mates, some food, bevvies, and camping gear for a long haul.

What I can't tell though, is if the sloped area behind the rear seats (of which there appear to be four) is for storage or is closed off?

Found this while searching, though:

That is so damn cool.

I would hope the rear area would have an aft facing gun port so I could take up my customary trunk monkey position.

As an artillery support vehicle it's most likely a storage area, but for some reason I think I've seen a soft top version of this thing before, like a more traditional truck bed, so it's probably got a few variations or at least fairly adaptable.

SPA TL 37 artillery tractor, Italy, 1937.
That one is great too, even if less known. Four wheels steer and drive, great in offroad even when towing a mountain artillery gun.

Found a site of some total obsessive with hundreds of pics of one.

Back seats:




http://svsm.org/gallery/chevrolet_cgt_fat_cab12?page=1

There seem to be only little doors at the side and back, which seems to be very limiting given how much space is behind the seats, as can be seen in this wreck: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ic-005.JPG

Now this looks fun.

Margin_Walker wrote:Now this looks fun.

God I hope that thing isn't loaded.

That is an epic shot.

kiap wrote: Nice work. Is there a story to go with the pic?

The first one? From what we know, it was a newer and better version of the DP 2, and found to be a good piece of kit in trials. However that was 1939. Seems the French ditched it in a river, the germans eventually found it and hauled it out. Presuming the first pic is not long after, along with the Morris Quad. After that, no one knows.

Nieghorn wrote:Yeah, I'd love one of those 'gun tractors'. Looks like there's enough grit to tackle some rough terrain, and enough space to take a few mates, some food, bevvies, and camping gear for a long haul.

What I can't tell though, is if the sloped area behind the rear seats (of which there appear to be four) is for storage or is closed off?

You'd love some of the stuff in the land warfare hanger at Duxford then. If you ever get the chance, go round the whole place. It's open for 8 hours a day, I was in it for 7hrs 41mins. Fascinating exhibits.

One of the Bren gun carriers used by Australian light horse troops in Northern Africa, on January 7, 1941.

Would probably feel a bit vulnerable in an open environment in one of these.

I've been up close with one. The armour isn't too thick either. Reckon they'd be heaps of fun to drive around, though!

A good friend of mine lives in the farm house of some rich dude who no longer occupies the property but uses the barns to store stuff. Though I didn't feel right sneaking a peak he has some kind of tank under a tarp, but out in the open is one of those Fox / Ferret - like scout cars.

How I'd LOVE to take something like that for a drive.


The aforementioned Canadian War Museum has this, which someone from where I grew up had been using as a logging tractor:

Only a small number of these tanks are still known to exist. The War Museum’s M1917, one of only two in Canada, was used to train Canadian tank crews at Camp Borden. After being sold as surplus, it was heavily modified and used as a logging tractor near Bracebridge, Ontario. The Museum acquired the vehicle, incomplete and in very poor condition, in 1997.

The majority of the funds required for this restoration came from Richard Thorman, a long-time supporter of the Canadian War Museum and member of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum, which provided the balance of funding. The hands-on restoration and reproduction work was completed by DEW Engineering and volunteers from the Friends of the Canadian War Museum.

Picture of it as it was and a little story here: http://www.whatsupmuskoka.com/sitepages ... connection

I'd be reticent about sneaking round on the property of the kind of person that collects serious military hardware...

Interesting link. I always find it amazing, the amount of man hours and expense people are willing to put in to restore these things.

Margin_Walker wrote:I'd be reticent about sneaking round on the property of the kind of person that collects serious military hardware...

Exactly.

Nieghorn wrote:

Margin_Walker wrote:I'd be reticent about sneaking round on the property of the kind of person that collects serious military hardware...

Exactly.

Near where I grew up was this cantankerous old bastard with a hangar full of old, unrestored aircraft... including a mosquito. He was violently (literally) opposed to people showing up and asking to see his collection.