MARMON HERRINGTON trucks of FFL

[Attilio]

Have ypu any informations about the Marmon Herrington trucks
used by the Free french Libre Forces in Nort Africa?

Thanks
Attilio

[nuyt]

Attilio,
It is true the FF forces in Africa (Leclerc Column) had 4x4 Ford/M-H trucks (several as portee guntrucks) in the 1942-43 period (Tunisia).
Do you have any pictures?

Nuyt

[AKosion]

Folks,

Although I couldn't recognize a Ford-Marmon-Herrington to save my life (and thank God it has never come to it, too), mention of Leclerc jogged my memory a bit.
Would the following image be of a F-M-H? They're in service with the Grouppe Nomade de Tibesti in Tunisia.

Aris

[nuyt]

Hi Akosion,
your GNT trucks are regular 4x2 trucks. your picture appears in the excellent and well-documented "L'Odyssee de la Colonne Leclerc", source of my information.
The 15th battery of the artillery of Force L in 1943 had 12 Marmon-Herrington trucks (page 167), the portee trucks (with 1897 75mm guns are mentioned on page 162 (artillery of Colonne Leclerc). No piccies of the trucks in this book.
Would it also be posible they had come from the French forces that had previously been at Bir Hakeim? I have checked the equally good (but more sentimental) "Bir Hakeim. la France renaissante book", to no avail.
Maybe on another francophone Forum?

Nuyt

Added later:
What we might be looking for is pictures of the vehicle nearest the camera (a 1942 Ford) but with front wheel drive by M-H.
That would make the truck sit much higher at the front. The front mudguards might be different ("shaved") to allow for more space for the front wheels.

Added even later:
Bart Vanderveen's post-war vehicles book mentions the French postwar army having 4x4 Ford/M-H trucks named 09W, which means they are of 1940 vintage (!) and must be related to the US Marine Corps' 09T as featured here: http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...&threadid=3339
The trucks might have been delivered in 1940 to the French or either the Free or Vichy French troops somewhere in Africa or the Middle East.

[Attilio]

On a french site on the battle of Bir hacheim I have found this poor photo of a truck mounted gun
Is it a Marmon Herrington?

Thanks

Attilio

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Attilio
Is it a Marmon Herrington?

Is it a Ford, but rather than one with a Marmon-Herrington All-Wheel Drive conversion, I think it is a Canadian built Modified Conventional Pattern Ford FC60L.

H.

[Bill Murray]

On the last one, I agree with Hanno (I try to do that from time to time since he is a moderator.)

Not to play expert, but some ID tips are that MH vehicles had a distinctive front hub design compared to the normal run of MCP vehicles. Secondly, the MH setup almost always had a lot more clearance for the front tyres relative to the front wings.
Bill

[cliff]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
Secondly, the MH setup almost always had a lot more clearance for the front tyres relative to the front wings.

Wings, WINGS are we talking about planes or trucks here LOL

[Bill Murray]

Cliff, Cliff, Cliff::

I spent the most productive years of my life in climes where, due to the "former" influence of the British Empire, I learned the hard way to refer to a fender as a wing, a hood as a bonnet, a roof as a hood, ah....heck, I cannot remember all the derivatives.

This is a Canadian based forum and as I at least have a fair hand on the lingo, I will do my best.
Bill

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
This is a Canadian based forum and as I at least have a fair hand on the lingo, I will do my best.

Bill
Don't forget the "Strangler valve"...(Choke)

[Bill Murray]

Thanks Alex


Not to totally hijack Attilio's thread, but I never did find out why a trunk is called a boot. The others are fairly simple to sort out.

As well, I have done some postings on other boards I belong to to try to get him an answer.
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

ENGINE = MOTOR! TYRE= TIRE.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
On the last one, I agree with Hanno (I try to do that from time to time since he is a moderator.)

Very good, Bill - another brownie point for you.

Hanno

[nuyt]

This website: http://www.chars-francais.net/archiv...herrington.htm

has some reference to Attilio's trucks: In Egypt, the French forces fromed a squadron of 12 Ford 4x4 trucks with a 75mm gun, protected by turrets from Italian M13 tanks!

Should look interesting...

Here's the full texte:
"En même temps, un dispositif était inventé par le sous-lieutenant Contas, officier de réserve venant d’A.E.F. où il était chasseur de fauves (on dirait aujourd’hui guide de safari). Il consistait à monter des canons de 75 mm français sur des camions 3,5 T Ford 4x4, abrités par des tourelles ouvertes provenant de chars italiens M13 Ces engins furent appelés "canons Conus" : ils pouvaient tirer sous tous les angles des obus explosifs et perforants. Ce fut le capitaine de Courcel qui eût la responsabilité de former un escadron à quatre pelotons de chacun trois auto-canons. Ce sera le nouveau 3e escadron."

Greetings,
Nuyt

[nuyt]

or what's the third truck in this pic:
better picture here:
http://www.chars-francais.net/images...onus-gun_2.jpg

[nuyt]

There was also a fargo, (well, according to the name of the pic).
Can someone confrim this?

[cliff]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
There was also a fargo, (well, according to the name of the pic).
Can someone confrim this?

sorry pic is too small and I cannot say for sure if it is a Fargo

cheers
Cliff

[Keith Webb]

Looks like a cab 13 with some serious mods.

Source

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Added even later:
Bart Vanderveen's post-war vehicles book mentions the French postwar army having 4x4 Ford/M-H trucks named 09W, which means they are of 1940 vintage (!) and must be related to the US Marine Corps' 09T as featured here: http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...&threadid=3339
The trucks might have been delivered in 1940 to the French or either the Free or Vichy French troops somewhere in Africa or the Middle East.

The 09W is a 1940 cab-over 134"wb truck and would have looked quite impressive with a Marmon-Herrington conversion!

[Bill Murray]

Eric/Cliff:

That photo is definitely a Dodge or a Fargo. As I recall, both were available in that area of the world and it is a civilian vehicle adapted to military use. Not sure of the model/year but would guess 1936/1937.
Bill

[Attilio]

Some clarifications!

The Conus guns are French 75 mm mod 1897-38 mounted on the the rear of CMP (Ford or Chevrolet Truck) using the turret races from captured M13/40 Italian tanks. The vehicle was similar to the Italian autocannoni.

My first question refers insteat to MARMON HERRINGTON trucks
used by free french libre to transport the gun that was dismounted for the fire.

In the book L'Odyssee de la Colonne Leclerc", from Histoire&Collections the author stated that the free french forces used MARMON HERRINGTON trucks in this role but no pics is showed.

Regards

Attilio

[nuyt]

enlarged from the previous picture

[Attilio]

I have received this pics of an autocanon de GSAM (groupe spécial Autocanon du Maroc)

What is this? a Dodge 1940 3 ton. VK series or a Fargo 4x2 T-118 1 1/2 ton?

Thanks
Attilio

[Davidedwardmawer]

If anybody is still interested after all this time.....1941 Leclerc brought 30 Matfords (possibly V8-81’s) from Chad into the Fezzan despite differential problems, together with Laffly S20T six-wheelers with weak gearboxes so only eight out of the original 24 Laffleys made it beyond Koro Toro. Two Laffly S15R reconnaissance cars also made it.
Later joined by more Matfords from Moussoro then by legionnaires with Bredford MWD 15cwt trucks and Bedford OY 30cwt lorries.