Australian purchase of Mechanical Mules

[Mike K]

Another file I found , is about the Aust. purchase of 4 Mechanical Mules in the early 1960s.

In the file, there is a letter written to the Australian attache in Washington, inquiring about spare parts .

[chris vickery]

Mike, I would be most interested to see this documentation.
I currently own 4 Mules myself here in Canada.
There are a couple floating around with collectors in Australia and I’m wondering if they might be from this purchase. The United States produced over 11,000 units and at least half of them were abandoned in Vietnam.
They have a huge cult following in the US and in the last few years up here in Canada as well.

[Mike K]

Hi Chris

The President of the MV club here owns one, he has taken the Mule along to many displays. Most of them here , I reckon, would be later imports by enthusiasts.

Get the impression that the initial four Australian Mules were well used and needed some repairs , maybe they were acquired in second hand condition. Looks like there was a Aust. order for eighty Mules in Nov. 1960.

Here is the file: go to naa.gov.au

and do a search for the item ( 2 parts ) with term ' M274 ' or the item nr. 956755

[chris vickery]

Very interesting thanks

[Mike Cecil]

The order for 80 was withdrawn, as I understand it, after the death or serious injury of an operator.

The four that were acquired were registered:
107069 written off 4/5/1965, disposal: M274-11510
107070 written off 5/66, disposal: M27411503
107071 written off but retained as training aid: M27411501
107072 written off but retained as training aid: M27411505

There were a couple of trials reports, one against the Land Rover SWB.

Mike

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The order for 80 was withdrawn, as I understand it, after the death or serious injury of an operator.

The four that were acquired were registered:
107069 written off 4/5/1965, disposal: M274-11510
107070 written off 5/66, disposal: M27411503
107071 written off but retained as training aid: M27411501
107072 written off but retained as training aid: M27411505

There were a couple of trials reports, one against the Land Rover SWB.

Mike

That's very useful info.

I'll pass the Mule info onto Rod (VMVC President). If I ever get around to it, I will put together a short article for the newsletter, acknowledging the contributors, of course.

[Mike K]

Australian Army (National : 1959 -1980), Thursday 10 March 1960, page 1

'MECHANICAL MULE' GETS TOUGH TESTS

The revolutionary "Mechanical Mule," which could eventually take the slogging out of foot-slogging, is making an impressive showing at user trials being held at JungleTraining Centre, Canungra, Qld. The "Mule'', a half-ton weapons carrier, has been designed to carry infantry equipment to forward battle areas — over all types of country.

Four of the vehicles were bought by the Australian Army and are being sub-jected to rigorous trials to establish their suitability for Australian require-ments. Australia is the first country outside the United States to test them.

Many hazards

Last week the "Mules" went through their paces before a battery of Press and TV cameras and the reaction was: "amazing". The vehicles climbed 45-degree grades fully loaded, pushed through deep mud, and climbed over fallen trees. With a pay-load of 1000lbs. — 100lbs. more than the vehicle's weight — the mighty midget is understood to do the work of 30 men. Driver walks It can carry up to four litter cases out of the toughest situations. The driver sits on a small seat on the platformand the foot controls are in a tubular basket in front of the vehicle. The steering mechanism is adjustable to three posi-tions so the driver can control the vehicle while walking behind it. The "Mule" was re-viewed on the technical page of ARMY (Page 9, Feb. 11, 1960).

|| Soupy going at Canungra, where the "Mule" is being put through its paces. Here an Australian Army
driver finds the "Mule" is at home in rough going and as happy as a pig in deep mud. With barely a snort the "Mule" plunged in, plough-ed through and came out without sign of effort. HEADNOTE: The driver is wearing an American-type helmet expected to be in service in the Australian Army soon. The wearing of the Rising Sun badge on the helmet is under con-sideration. ||