60 " Search Light Tow Vehicle

[David Dunlop]

Does anyone know what vehicle was used by Royal Canadian Artillery units in Canada and overseas for towing the 60 " Search Lights built by GE and Sperry, and their associated Gen Trailers during WW2? Was it a purpose built vehicle or a standard GS?

David

[Phil Waterman]

Hi David

There was an entire searchlight unit all the equipment for sale in restored operating condition within the last year. I can dig out the info if your interested?

Cheers Phil

[Stew Robertson]

I believe it was a commercial chev. Dually
If you are looking for one contact me

[David Dunlop]

Phil:

I will pass on that for the moment, but will definitely get in touch when I win the lottery!

Stew:

Thanks for the input. This part of the RCA history seems to have lost a lot more information over time than the ones who made all the noise!

David

[rob love]

In a perfect world, the funds would exist to permanently preserve and display all the support and fire control systems to the guns. But funds are not unlimited, and the interest of the general public would not support it. You could put the (insert equipment here: ie radar train/searchlight/ranging device etc) into a state of the art climate controlled building, but who would come? Now a gun on the other hand.......

[David Dunlop]

Gee, Rob, with the following specs, I would love to see one of these lights in action again:

Lamp Type: Carbon Arc (no light bulb!)
Candlepower: 800,000,000
Effective Beam Length: 5.6 miles
Effective Beam Visibility: 28–35 miles
Mirror Type: Parabolic

The carbon rods burn at 3,000 degrees and last about 2 hours. If you left it on at night in your back yard, that would be more than enough time to run to the pub, get drunk and still be able to find your way home!

David