Unusual use for a Cab 12 C60L

[Keith Webb]

I've never seen this before, imagine the call for volunteers! The image came from the NSW Jeep Facebook page posted by Cam Finlay with the info:

A special remote controlled mine-detecting lorry intended for the Mareth line battles. The spiked concrete rollers were intended to detect the start of a minefield, after which the vehicle was removed and engineers took over the task of locating and lifting the mines.

[Howard]

I love the driver/crew protection! Bags not me driving!
H

[Ryan]

yikes. Was the vehicle removed or the 'remains' of the vehicle removed after it found the minefield.

[Lynn Eades]

Is the high bit armour for the driver? I see a spare "roller" on the back. (made of concrete?)
I think the roller was built to be somewhat "sacrificial"
The "spikes" are quite long, which would "tend" to make any blast more of an "air" blast (more bang, less damage)
The whole lot looks rather "jerry rigged". Something that was made from a sheet of corrugated iron and imagination. Something that the C.O. asked for, but was not on the CQMS's CES.
(Commanding Officer, Chief quarter Master's Store, Complete Equipment Schedule)
Hows that Mike? .....come to think of it, it has an Australian look to it.

[Mike Cecil]

Pretty good, Lynn, but 'CES' is a post-war term in the Aust Army: it was 'VOL' in those days.

Mike C

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Guys

There was one of these previously posted on MLU which may shed some light on the driver position.



I suspect that what looks like another roller in the bed of other truck may be a different approach to driver protection.

Just found another old MLU posted picture showing the rear of the truck.



Looking at the pictures more closely I now notice that the rig may have actually been set up to be driven backward through the mine field.

Cheers Phil

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

I suspect that what looks like another roller in the bed of other truck may be a different approach to driver protection.

That's the single roller towed behind, which would be hauled up for normal driving. The front rollers would be elevated for normal driving. That vehicle appears to be a more developed version of the one seen at work in the desert, which as you say Phil is driven in reverse. The twin rollers clear a path for the wheels, and the single towed roller clears in between. Surprisingly little protection at the front though, you'd want to keep your head down! I'd much prefer to operate the other one, which drives forward and has plenty of protection.

I'm reminded of a similarly improvised vehicle, used by Australians to clear the infamous Dat Do minefield in Vietnam, which they themselves had laid earlier, but was raided by VC for mines which were used to devastating effect against Australians. The vehicle used was an APC with a row of sheet metal clad tyres rigged up, can't find a pic of the vehicle but these are the tyres used, which look to be 12.00 x 20 for the Inters. Hopefully these two guys aren't testing them!