Aust master general of ordnance 1942

[cliff]

just recieved from Shane Lovell a copy of the above report on vehicles both 'A' and 'B' type. Below (hopefully) will appear the trucks in the report. These are taken from the AWM data files which Shane is researching from.

MGO Bulletin No 6 November 1942

Tractors 3.7 AA gun

48 AEC Matador tractors were allocated to Australia from NA production, during August, 20 of these vehicles have arrived in Australia, and the balance are enroute. It has been decided to standardise on this vehicle for the towing of 3.7” AA guns and an order has been placed for a further 18 ex UK production, which, with those vehicles brought back by the AIF, will cover the requirements of this tractor.

Tractors Light AA gun

184 Bedford, 4 x 4 tractors were allocated from UK production in the months of July and August. 22 of these vehicles have now been received in Australia and tests proved them satisfactory. In view of the fact that deliveries from local production will not take place until early next year, efforts are being made to secure a further 120 vehicles from UK production at the earliest possible date.


Conversion – Tk Atk Portees to 3 Ton 4x4 GS
353 Tk Atk Portees are to be converted to Trucks 3 ton 4x4 GS. The necessary body parts will be produced in South Australia and forwarded to Melbourne for assemble by GMH. Assembled bodies will be held at 1 Aust COD and associated winches, power take offs, and other equipment, comprising the complete conversion kit.



this is also my first knowledge that the AIF had numbers of Matadors & Bedfords assigned. I assume the bedfords were 'QL' type.

thanks
Cliff

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I assume that the Portees were the Australian version rather than the 2-pdr MCC or Chevrolet versions which were 30-cwt?
The Bedfords must have been QLs.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by cliff

48 AEC Matador tractors were allocated to Australia from NA production, during August, 20 of these vehicles have arrived in Australia

This is a little odd, does the NA refer to "North America"? If so, where were Matadors being produced in the US. I find this a little hard to believe and think it must be a mistake.

Regarding the QLB Bofors tractor, I believe they were assembled at the Fishermens Bend Plant. A number have surfaced over the years bearing Australian army serials.

Richard

[Bill Murray]

I am not real good on AEC and have been racking my brain to come up with "what could NA mean". Nothing....

I am upstairs for the moment and too lazy to go to the cellar to check my reference materiel, which is scant on AEC but I have come up with one theory.

Perhaps it is a typo error, not an unknown problem with military clerk/typists and it should have been SA instead of NA. SA in this case being South Africa. Anyone know if AEC built a series of Matadors for SA?
Bill

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
Perhaps it is a typo error, not an unknown problem with military clerk/typists and it should have been SA instead of NA. SA in this case being South Africa. Anyone know if AEC built a series of Matadors for SA?

Bill,
I am certain that Matadors were only built in England, so it must have been a mistake, but it does give the impression the initial batch were from somewhere other than UK. Hmmm.....

Richard

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

'NA' = NORTH AFRICA! Or rather North African supply. The description 'American' was applied it seems in the UK to US and Canadian production.

[Bill Murray]

Richard/David:

I agree with Richard that no such production would have taken place in "NA", not even Canada.

David: That was my first thought but I was scared off by the rather late date, August, 1942.

What the hell, maybe the batch was for South Africans in North Africa.



Bill

[Bill Murray]

Just as a by the way:

Don't you people over there ever sleep???
If I can calculate correctly it is nigh on 2400 hours in your neck of the woods. I am done by 2200.
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

It's 23:13 here. Not long got back from the hospital where our 13-year old son is recuperating from a major leg op. I have been known to work on until the early hours and answer the phone from Aussies trying in vain to fax me! Like 03.00!! It takes a brain that does its best at 22.01 and beyond to work out military acronyms!

[Keith Webb]

I have NOS workshop manuals for these vehicles:



You can even order one for $A30 - just PM me.