CMPs in Swiss Army use

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's a period picture of a Ford F60S in Swiss Army service. Looks like they fitted a cargo body of their own design.

Picture source: http://www.mmvsgogr.ch/

[gordon]

Indeed they did.

Appartently the Swiss Army did a special body for all their large vehicles so they could be driven or railled through the standard tunnel size.

Look at that body - same height but narrower and with rounded top - perfect cross-section for tunnel work... 8~)

Gordon

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by gordon
Appartently the Swiss Army did a special body for all their large vehicles so they could be driven or railled through the standard tunnel size.

Gosh, and then they say the Germans are well known for their gründlichkeit....

H.

[Bill Murray]

Hi Guys:
I have two Swiss Army Data Books for vehicles dated 1960 and 1971.
The Ford was still on duty in 1960 as were a range of Dodge 3/4 tonners and a number of heavier vehicles.

In the 1970 edition the GMC 2 1/2 tonner was still there as were Kenworth and Ward La France wreckers.

The photos are pretty bad so I will not post them and aside from the GMC, the bodies etc. seem to be ex US.

Just a little postscript.
Bill

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's a pic I got from Terry Johns, showing an ex-Swiss Army F60S imported into the USA. Looks like it had a modified Derrick body. Note the rounded top bows to maximise internal space, but still fitting the train tunnel contours.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Looks like it had a modified Derrick body.

The more I look into it, the Swiss 10,5 cm Howitzer tractors were fitted with:

1) a body - see above - adapted from the Derrick or Engineers/Winch type:


2) a purpose-built Swiss body:


Does anybody know if, next to this 10,5 cm howitzer tractor, the Swiss Army also used the standard LAAT with the 40-mm Bofors?

- Hanno

[zemsi]

... I just came across a short manual for the Blitzes the Swiss Army used in the 50's/60s. Unfortunately, it's only in German It's a pdf and the size is 3,6 MB. Here are 2 preview pics.

[Bill Murray]

Sorry to break in on a CMP thread, but I have been trying to figure out if the attached photo represents a Swiss Chevrolet.

I spent a small fortune buying the two books that I know of regarding Swiss vehicles, "Motorfahrzeuge in der Schweizer Armee 1898-1937" by Hildebrandt and "Fahrzeuge der Schweizer Armee" by Hofmann.

In both cases, I would have to say that the period 1935-1945 was very poorly covered to say the least.

So, I continue to hunt photos and identification of a wide range of mainly US and German sourced vehicles that were purchased by the Swiss Armed Forces during this period.

Hopefully Kuno or Zemsi can help out.

Bill

[zemsi]

Hi Bill

Glad to hear that you're interested in Swiss Army MV's. I thought I'd be the only one You've got some good books, however there are more on that subject.

You're correct, the period '35 - '45 is not covered well. The Swiss Army was really undersourced at that time. E.g. the Swiss just had 24 Praga Tanks at the outbreak of war. Most MV's were bought after the war of American origine. My Grandad was a scrappie and scrapped thousands of them in the '60 - '80s.

Your pic shows as German Officer and probably an NCO sitting in front of an unknown truck. Definitely not belonging to the Swiss Army.

Greetings
Chris

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another pic from Terry Johns showing another ex-Swiss Army F60S imported into the USA. This one seems to have a standard GS body.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See http://www.mmgz.ch/Oldtimer/Fahrzeuge.htm

Fz-Marke Ford
Fz-Typ Kanada
Mil Lastw gl 2t 4x4
Jahrgang 1944
Hubraum 3922
Zylinder V8
PS 96
V max km/h 55
Treibstoff Benzin

Besonderes:
Gaspedal zwischen Brems- und Kupplungspedal
Pluspol an Masse
Schraubtriebanlasser Bendix

Kanada.jpg

[zemsi]

... and here's another one. She is based at the Armeemotorfahrzeugpark Burgdorf (Army Motor Park). They store quite some old trucks etc. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public

Source

[zemsi]

... I took this pic in 2004 at Convoy to Remember in Birmenstorf, Switzerland. This one was based in the French part of Switzerland, but I haven't seen her since.

[zemsi]

... looks like the Blitz from the thread before is still around in Switzerland. There was a static military show in the middle of September in Switzerland. More pics at picasa: GMC DUKW, T16, Weasel, Praga Tank. Dodges, GMCs etc.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by zemsi

More pics at picasa: GMC DUKW, T16, Weasel, Praga Tank. Dodges, GMCs etc.

Thanks! Those pictures include one of the owner: "Alain Cuendet en démonstration sur son Ford Canada"

[zemsi]

Originally Posted by zemsi

... and here's another one. She is based at the Armeemotorfahrzeugpark Burgdorf (Army Motor Park). They store quite some old trucks etc. Unfortunately, it's not open to the public

Here are 2 better pics of this truck from my posting #8. You can also clearly see the rear body. Sorry, in German only.

On www.militaerfahrzeuge.ch you will find a lot of technical data of tanks, trucks etc. in Swiss Army use.

Greetings
Chris

[zemsi]

... well, the Swiss Army never used F15A's, but evidentially there's one in Switzerland. It was imported some 10 - 15 years ago from Austria, but I've never seen it on a public display. Yesterday, there was a chance to see it, as it's only 3km from my place away.

She looks like a 44 or 45 model, think she's running as the battery was connected. Looks in very good shape.

greetings
Chris

[zemsi]

... here's another rare period picture of a F60S in Swiss Army use. It's most likely the original pic of the one in posting #17.. Source

According to militaerfahrzeuge.ch the Swiss Army only used 71 Fords.