[Jared Archibald]

G'day everyone,

I have been doing research recently on the military buildup in the Northern Territory prior to WW2.
This started with an artillery unit called the Darwin Detachment in the mid 1930s which installed and manned a number of 6 inch naval guns to protect the harbour.
In the late 1930s, the Darwin Mobile Force moved to Darwin and with them came four 18 pounder guns. Later again, with more troop movements, the Darwin Infantry Battalion was formed which included an artillery unit equipped with both 18 pounders and 4.5 inch howitzers.

I had always assumed that these guns were pulled by the standard type Marmon Herrington gun tractor (No.3 & 3A), and the few photos I have seen seem to bear this out (although now I am not so sure and these pics could be from later in the war).

The reason for this is that I have just read in Mike Cecil's booklet Field Artillery 1939-45 (of the Aust. Mil. Equipment Profiles - pg 24) that there was a second design of gun tractor - the LP2 & LP2A - that were built in limited numbers and only issued to the Darwin Mobile Force and units in the 7 Military District (Northern Territory). He states no other info about these two models apart from being built on a 30 cwt 134 inch Ford wheelbase chassis.

Does anyone know anything about these models of MH gun tractor, and what sets them apart from the No.3 and 3As?

Does anyone have any photos of these types?

Please share your knowledge as this has me stumped.

Jared - in hot & humid Humpty Doo