Speed limits during WWII in Australia.
 

I recently came across this lovely little book. "Standing Orders for Drivers of Mechanical Vehicles 1945." So I thought I would share some of it with you.

Attachment 110701

There is an Amendment No. 1 inside the front cover.

Attachment 110702

A slow trip in convoy for some.

Attachment 110703

Enjoy, Rick.

Surprised by the low speeds for towing the 2Pdr and 25Pdr Short; 12 mph and 10mph respectively.

Can understand now the need to develop the 2Pdr Portee concept.

There is no suspension on those/most guns, making them very susceptible to rollover.

When I was in the CMF (Reserve) as a kid in the 60's convoy speeds used to be 30mph mainly because the few Blitz water trucks could not keep up with the GMC and Studebaker gun tractors.

Running in small groups or individually with a 25 pounder (no limbers used by that time) it was whatever you could get out of them (although the dash placard said 45mph). Often saw 50mph down hill and the guns towed effortlessly. I did notice the NDT tyres used to scallop badly on the guns while the same tread on the trucks wore evenly. Might have had something to do with suspension - or lack thereof.

Lang

Speed
 

No Restrictions to Universal Carriers that I can see.

SWW Speed Limits in Canada
 

Here are the wartime speed limits as set by the Canadian Army.

Attachment 110818

Attachment 110819

BEF Convoy Speeds.
 

From a BEF GHQ diary.

Article in KVE News
 

The latest issue of KVE News includes an article on Australian Army MV speeds during the 40s and 50s.

https://935018b6-3e94-4904-91ad-69b2...3693131782.pdf

Pages 12 to 15.

Mike

Some Canadian maximum cruising speed limits from the war diaries.

It's amusing as you go on to later dates they keep dropping the allowed speed and harsher language if anyone caught exceeding them or heaven forbid tampering with the engine governor.

https://i.imgur.com/WAuvgc2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RMhYy8J.jpg