New Gun Tractor spoiling Gunners
 

Here is a picture of one of the new Cdn military truck. This truck is huge and is probably the new gun tractor for the Guns. There is a large cab with an extension and then they added the crew compartment. Massive truck, now the gunner will be in a heated truck instead of freezing in the back. Enjoy

The Hammond Barn boys need one of these. We can make arrangements to pick up the donated truck at a suitable point. No credit will be given for the donation in case Her Majesty's servants think that the truck should have been sent to their storage yard instead of ours. Once we have it kitted out, including a stealthier paint job so it looks like a roads department "what's yellow and sleeps six?" truck, watch out for more recoveries or border raids.....
More seriously, I've seen several of this variant driving around east end Ottawa. I'm often in the area of the International dealer, the storage yard used for the trucks and DEW Engineering. I don't remember seeing any of this version with bodies yet to take guess what the end use for this cab model is. Another useful variant, with a more "normal" cab was a wrecker with a more or less standard commercial wrecker/tow kit.

Domestic Gunners
 

Speaking from experience, it's about time! Even in summer, late at night after a hot day of live firing, it got really cool in the back of the old deuce and a half. I won't even begin to rant about winter...nice to see some new trucks coming along.

That's what I call a CREW cab.....
 

...man that would be nice parked next to the barn..... we could drive to the East Coast and raid every CMP in one Summer.....


We should be able to borrow it..... shit we are already paying for it....

Bob

It looks very nice, but it would be no good here. It looks like you'd need a small continent to turn it around :D

Yes Lynn You have that one right, I have a civilian version(much smaller) and the biggest problem with these trucks is the turning radius. It stinks but the remainder of the truck is very nice. Gilles

Giles
 

It does look a nice truck, and I imagine very suited to the vast Canadian highways.

Can someone who knows better enlighten me a little here?
I would question the feasability of these new tactical vehs in service. Larger is not better especially with regards to congested urban environs, narrow foreign roads and highways, swamps, deserts, jungles, mountain ranges etc.
When the US decided to scrap the infamous jeep for the HMMVW they found out very quickly that the nimble quality of the jeep was lost forever. I would suppose that todays military opts for protective and load handling qualitites over those that were imparted by the jeep? Of course I am not comparing a 10 ton truck to that of a lightweight mv but it seems that the days of small tactical vehicles are dwindling...

The military mind set is if something makes sense do a 180 from it. Least thats what I've seen in my sort few years in so far.

I'll Try
 

I will have a chat with the project officer for these vehicles to confirm my theory, but in the meanwhile here goes: This was the truck selected to best address the many training needs of the army in Canada. It is not meant to go on ops. It is a logistics vehicle that is being used for tactical training.

The size of this vehicle may raise some eyebrows, but this truck takes as much space to turn around as the MLVW - better turning radius and other improvements help in this regard. Some of the in theatre trucks are bigger than this beast, so route planning and recces become extremely important. In any case, this is but one of the many vehicles being pursued by the army. The other vehicles will be true tactical vehicles that offer the levels of protection required on operations.

I for one am very happy that the gunners have finally gotten a vehicle that offers some comforts (read heat) to the detachment.

Not really. The USMC first kept the M151A2 in service and then replaced them with Mercedes Geländewagens :thup:

smaller MVs
 

The days of the smaller MVs are numbered. In the older days crew confort was secondary to utility. The older trucks were cramped, freezing in the winter time and like an oven in the summer. For those that have done it, remember those long road moves from Calgary to Wainwright, Pet to Gagetown, oh my aching butt and back.
Today the emphasis is on the soldier and the vehicle role, make the soldier more comfortable and he will perform his tasks in a more efficient manner????
I try and look forward to see where the hobby will be in 10-15 years and I see a bleak future, there will be no more smaller MVs to be had and the larger ones will require massive parking spaces.
For those that know me; you know the fight I am having trying to get the MLVW registered for the road. As I get older banging my head against the wall hurts a lot more. :bang: :bang:
In the future collectors will only have the big trucks to choose from, if we can get them. i.e. the jeep replaced by the Humvee and they will not be sold to the public when retired?
In the near future the Fiats that are in Cdn military service are going to be retired, my bet is no registration for the road. The Mercedes G-Wagons are having turret problems and are being parked by many units because of long delay times for repairs, What is their fate for the future???
Yea I know I sound like a doomsday prophet, but what the heck it's January, it's cold outside and I have a captive audience. All I can say is "to those diehard enthusiasts," The hell with everyone else, I like what I do and I do what I like, get out of the way because this old army truck will run you over."
Boy am I getting poetic or is that pathetic??? :yappy:
On a lighter note you will be saddened by my absence next week as I have to go on a cruise with my wife. Gilles

I can understand the theory here although I still question the logic. By no means do I think that our Forces don't warrant new vehs, rather I question in times of tight economy the idea of buying job specific vehs rather than ones that are able to cover many tasks....
Rob you stated that these were being used as logistics vehs with training in tactical roles. I would hate to get stuck in a traffic jam in a tight alley with a bunch of insurgents firing from rooftops.... Lessons learned the hardway by troops in the US Forces in Iraq trapped in HMMVWs and 5 and 10 tonners...

A Friend of mine was one of the fellows that tested these..he told me the big problem is when they crest a steep hill they can get hung up on the frame, due to the length...he thought it was a serious problem..but as usual no one listed as they had already decieded to buy them.

Dean