M38A1 in Aust. army

Mike K · #1 08-10-11, 03:14

Must be an evaluation vehicle ?

http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemD...x?itemID=98112

Mike Cecil · #2 08-10-11, 03:45

Yes: only two procured by Army for the 1/4 ton truck trials of the late 1950s.

It didn't win: the Aust Army purchased 1/4 ton Land Rovers, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Mike C

Richard Coutts-Smith · #3 08-10-11, 04:02

Mike's,
according to this:
http://www.remlr.com/Army-Trials.html
M38A1 was trialed in '58/'59, along with the Landy, Gipsy,CJ-3B (RAF got these), and the Freighter.
This page also has some terrific photo's of the trial vehicles, particulary in the '60's.

Some more info on the trial in question:
http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Mili...tArmyTest.html
(Although they got the Champ date wrong)

Thanks for pointing me in this direction. Found it very interesting.
Rich.

Mike Cecil · #4 08-10-11, 04:16

Richard,

No probs: you'll even see some of my article text about the trials reproduced from the DMO website there as well.

The Army kept the M38A1, using them for various specials, such as the air-drop test shown in the image Mike K posted the link to. I think I have an image somewhere of it actually being extracted from the C130 hercules. They also test-dropped an L5 105mm Pack Howitzer at the same time.

The RAAF acquired a number of jeeps in the late 50s and early 60s in various configurations: CJ3B, CJ5.

Mike C

Mike K · #5 08-10-11, 04:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

The RAAF acquired a number of jeeps in the late 50s and early 60s in various configurations: CJ3B, CJ5.

here you go Mike

http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3b/Worl...raliaRAAF.html

Richard Coutts-Smith · #6 08-10-11, 04:29

The reference to the Freighter has got the old grey matter working, the proto-type was on E-bay years ago.
Yup, here it is:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ight=Freighter
Interesting story in itself.
Wonder who has it now.

Rich.

AUSM38A1 · #7 13-10-11, 04:57

Hi Guys heres some more photos of Ozzies using jeeps after WW2...In one of the photos is what looks like a cj5 flanked by 2 cj3bs ...also when they dropped the M38A1 out of the plane they also dropped this....It must of been a political decision to choose the Landrover over the M38A1?....also to search all of the photo data base i use this

http://trove.nla.gov.au/

So many great photos to be seen on there..cheers mick

Ryan · #8 13-10-11, 10:40

I read some time ago about Willys Australia production numbers in Australia post war and it included 10 M38A1s made. Is this correct? If so, if the army only recieved two where did the other 8 go?
An ex-Army M38A1 was listed several years ago on ebay near me but didn't sell at the time. The owners were asking about $6-7.000 at the time. It is now in the hands of a jeep enthuiast and still near me being restored.

Dianaa · #9 13-10-11, 10:56

A mate was in the Australian Training Team mentoring the Montenards, one day they went to the local US Px and when they came out there was a US Military Police M38A1 parked outside, so they jumped into it and drove back to their lines. Apparently, by the end of the day it had red rats and ARN plates. They used it for the rest of their tour.

AUSM38A1 · #10 14-10-11, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianaa

A mate was in the Australian Training Team mentoring the Montenards, one day they went to the local US Px and when they came out there was a US Military Police M38A1 parked outside, so they jumped into it and drove back to their lines. Apparently, by the end of the day it had red rats and ARN plates. They used it for the rest of their tour.

Hi Dianaa, Yeah there is a few photos of ozzies driving M38A1s in Vietnam with the red rat stuck on them..cheers mick

Mike Cecil · #11 14-10-11, 00:31

All,

The RAAF operated (ie registered as RAAF property) various numbers of the following Willys models:

CJ3B
CJ5
CJ6
FC170
Gladiator J2600

.... and at least ten vehicles stated as being 'M38A1'.

The Army obtained two M38A1 for trials: described at the time as 'the current model 1/4 ton truck in US service.' The projected price per unit was A1500 pounds (which would include 12 months maintenance spares, I assume)

Mike C

AUSM38A1 · #12 14-10-11, 01:21

Mike thanks for the great info..Here are a few photos of mine ...something abit different with the M38A1 was the tool stowage inside the jeep the reason they say was when they where on the outside they would get snagged and tools would be lost....the shovel is under the hood strange place for a shovel

and the axe is on the rear wheel arch...cheers mick

AUSM38A1 · #13 13-10-11, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

I read some time ago about Willys Australia production numbers in Australia post war and it included 10 M38A1s made. Is this correct? If so, if the army only recieved two where did the other 8 go?
An ex-Army M38A1 was listed several years ago on ebay near me but didn't sell at the time. The owners were asking about $6-7.000 at the time. It is now in the hands of a jeep enthuiast and still near me being restored.

Hi Ryan i have read the same list i think there is a copy on the CJ3B page and it was also in jeep action im not sure how acurate it is it was compiled by a worker at the willys assembly plant.I have seen photos of one other that was in australia but it now resides in NZ i think, but from the photos it looked to have a cj5 tub onit...Other than the air dropped jeep at Williamstown airbase and the other evaluation jeep the others could of been M606s the military version of a cj5 which is what the US sent out for export purposes an kept the A1 for them selves (Canadians,Nekaf) ..cheers Mick