Dutch Half Track conversion

[hansheesakkers]

After WW II the Royal Netherlands Airforce used two Diamond-T M-3 half tracks as "bombservice" vehicles. After several years these M-3's came to their end. A Hanomag ALO 28, 2,5 ton 4x4 truck, 1961 vintage, was converted into a half track using the M-3's halftrach suspension. The conversion was done by the firm "Kuiphuis" from Oldenzaal. The vehicle fullfilled its duties until 1976. This time the Airforce took one of their DAF V-1600 DD538, 4 ton, 4x4 trucks (1964 vintage) and rebuilt it, once again with the suspension of the M-3, into a half track. The conversion and modification of the suspension was preformed by the company "Terberg Benschop B.V. " The half track was equipped with a DAF dieselengine, 6 cylinder in line, 5750 cc which gace it a 120 hp- 1400 rpm. The vehicle was shipped to the target practice area at the island "Vlieland" but did not preform so well. It was then send to the recovery unit of the airforcebase "Gilze-Rijen", here it was used uintill 1988. In this year it was retired and handed over to the Royal Airforce Museum at "Soesterberg".

Here it is still in an old wartime hangar waiting was transport to the museum in 1988.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for the details and picture, Hans. It is a well-known one-off.

Attached goes a picture of another well-known Dutch half track conversion, albeit a civilian one of which quite a number were once constructed. Half tracks have been used for a long time by power line construction companies in Holland; rear armour cut of and a couple of winches fitted on the back. In fact such a vehicle was one of the first historical military vehicles I chased down some 23 years ago (which was the trigger to my discovery of a Kettenkrad, but that's another story).
Last year I was very much surprised to see another one of these still in use. Mind you, Holland is not the sort of country where you can expect to find old warriors still earning their keep. I photographed it when parked close to the A2 motorway, near Maarssen, in June 2004. Note it´s an International half track - imagine this one was once in use with the Canadian Army?!?

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
another well-known Dutch half track conversion, albeit a civilian one of which quite a number were once constructed. Half tracks have been used for a long time by power line construction companies in Holland; rear armour cut of and a couple of winches fitted on the back.

One of these has been put up for sale on MilWeb - it could even be the same one I spotted last year.

Halftrack M5 (International) 1942
Running vehicle with all major parts there. The current missing rear armour can be produced with relatively easy tools. In this respect a nice object to restore. Vehicle will be delivered as is (ex works Holland). Fixed price € 3.850,-. Normally only the engine and axles will cost you more than this!
+31 6 518 22 502
Ivo Rigter 30 May '05