M152 Interior Layout

Jason Ginn · #1 19-08-10, 06:37

I know that this may be a tall order but I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide me with a bit of guidance on the interior layout of the M152 in the attached images. The CFR for the truck is 55-45873.

The vehicle is posing a bit of a problem in that I cannot seem to match the existing holes and marks to any of the specialist kit installations that I have seen pubs for.

So far I have checked the 19/19, C42, Msg Centre/Staff Office, Sigs Centre RCA and Electronic Equip. Line and Repair pubs but all seem to use the standard tables. I so far have been unable to locate any primary source documentation or interior images for the Unit Commander/ Staff Officer Office Kit or or the EOD truck, but exterior images of the EOD truck and a brief description of the official Office Kit in Andrew Iarocci's SMP book do not seem to match this installation.

The truck has holes on the fenders for the Chorehorse mounting plate and the cab heater but the blanking plate for the heater tube is still fitted to the cowl. The passenger side rear body above the passenger door has been drilled for an antenna mount but no antenna mount holes are present on the rear of the body.

The side panels have a number of holes for different mounts but none appear to be for BB46 battery trays or the large stowage rack or tables. What is still present is an angle iron bracket that held a basic table across the front but this appears to be slightly higher and less deep than the standard tables.

Also present in the rear are four large holes on each side of the body that are directly below the angle brackets. These holes go through both inner and outer body panels and the passenger side holes have nuts and bolts in them with large square washers on the outside.The floor or and wheelhouses are free of any holes or marks that would indicate the installation of a folding table or other floor mounted kit.

The vehicle also does not appear to have been fitted with a gas can holder or penthouse. but does have brackets on the inside of the rear door that may hold the folding stairs.

If anyone has any thoughts on the kit that was fitted to this truck I would be most appreciative. I know that most of the office installs were at the discretion of individual Officers but I though I would try in case this is something different.

Also if anyone has any has any images of the interior of 152's while in service I would love to see them. I did locate one image on the Canadian Guards Regimental Association website but it appears to be a bare 152 being used as a regimental CP.

Thanks,

Jason

Jason Ginn · #2 19-08-10, 06:38

This is the image from the Can Guards website.

derk derin · #3 19-08-10, 07:20

Hi Jason,
One of the MLU members on this site has a Photo album of M152 communication vans and you should be able to find some photo's with interior shots of unrestored and restored interiors to help you out with your project.You can view it here;
http://http://www.signaltelecom.ca/M152%20I.html
If this link doesn't work,do a SEARCH and type in M152 pictures wanted by J.D. Baillie in the post war military vehicles forum
Hope this helps,
Derk.

Jason Ginn · #4 20-08-10, 23:39

Thanks Derk,

I had a look throgh the site a while back and did find an image of one truck with a similar bolt pattern on the outside of the body, but the holes are behind the axle as opposed to in front of it.

Hopefully somebody will recognize the patterns as being for specific installation or type of kit.

J

markcos · #5 23-08-10, 05:43

are the bolt holes on the driver side for the axe and shovel kit ?? try the rack on for size , it would look way better than in the bottom door box .

JD Baillie · #6 19-09-10, 08:37

Hi Jason,

Have you looked at the top two downloadable pubs provided by the kind folks at militarytrucks.ca?

http://www.militarytrucks.ca/m152.htm

I would love to have pics of your truck on my site.

Are you sure the bolt patern on the left fender is from a heater and not the C42 AMU bracket?

Cheers
JD

Jason Ginn · #7 22-09-10, 04:35

I double checked and the holes do not appear to match the pioneer tools rack. They were definitely associated with an interior mounting as you can see witness marks in the paint on the inside from the brackets they once retained.

JD you are correct the holes on the left fender appear to be from the AMU base for the 42 set. If you would like to add the images to your site please feel free to just note that the vehicle is part of the collection of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

From what I can see it appears that the truck may have had a non-standard C42 set install but it still has a enough unexplained holes on the inside of the side panels to fill the Albert Hall.

Thanks for all the help so far!

J

JD Baillie · #8 23-09-10, 03:52

Jason,

If there is any unit history available the information will go a long way to figuring out what the holes would have been made for. Pioneer racks for this truck are found in the underneath side to side storage compartment on the left side. Most of the holes I can see in your pictures look pretty standard except for the four on the driver's side. Each unit would modify the truck just about any which way but loose. But pic by pic here are my thoughts

ic 1 TA 43 holder;

Pic 2 Charging Panels and Corner "L" Table over top of the BB46 batts;

Pic 3 External Map Board?? Fold Down Table??;

Pic 4 HF Whip Antenna Mount - looks like there's a center hole inside the four bolt pattern - HF whip wouldn't have an AMU up there; and

Pic 5 Could be lots of things. But likely something like the AM-1780 intercom junction box.

C42 radios would sit on the table (missing) not be bolted to the bulhead wall... particularly where the door slides interiorly.

Did you follow the link to the C42 installation manual?

JD

Eric B · #9 10-11-10, 17:24

Hello Jason

I have a copy of the instructions for the Electronic Equipment, Radio and Line repair. modification.
Some of the holes seem to match.

The holes on the outside could be the bolting holes for the interior shelf.
This mod had two long shelves across the front and on the right side.

The left side had a tall shelf over the left wheel well.

I will try with photos in a moment.
Eric

Eric B · #10 10-11-10, 17:29

Here are the photos. i hope it works

Eric