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.

025166 AWM Large.jpg

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.

025165 AWM.jpg

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