ACCO Information Required

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - a mate of mine has aquired a 1963 Mk3 Acco 4x4 No. 1505. It has a rebuild plate dated 1970 Maribyrnong. Any information would be useful.

Bob

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but that would be an AACO then, not an ACCO.
Seem to be a few of these for sale at the moment, and coming back down to a more realistic price, it seemed to go through the roof a few years back. Always wanted one of them, but it came down to a choice between one of these beasties and a matsterpeice of Pommy engineering.
AULRO.com has a bit to do with these, probably a good spot to start.

Rich.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Lets try an International 4x4 whether it be ACCO or AACO.

Bob

[Dianaa]

Bob

Is it an International Harvester "Truck Cargo, 2 1/2 Ton 4X4 GS with Winch, Aust. No.1 MK3?



If Yes then it is neither a Australian "A" series Cab Over (AACO) nor an Australian "C" series Cab Over (ACCO) although many people mistakenly call them AACO or ACCO. The civvy AACO is very similar to the army variant in the cab, has the same fibreglass bonnet but has rubber mounted windscreens and a vertical bars in front of the radiator. The ACCO has the same metal bonnet as the Mk4 but has step through doors and a single full width windscreen. (Not to be confused with the ACCO B series etc which have tilt cabs.

- ARN - Date/Contract - Model - Census - Nomenaclature - Engine - Chassis - Body -Tyresize - REMLR No.- Notes - Disposal -Vehicle Name
171-446 1966 - Mk.3 - 6389A -Truck Firefighting, 2 1/2 Ton, GS, WW, Tank & Spray AGD282.10925 -1505 - 12.00x20 - Chassis replaced with 564 - -

The re-build plate may in fact mean that it saw overseas service. Borneo or Vietnam in particular. On return to Oz most of the trucks went through the re-build line and most lost their Mk3 nose for a Mk4 nose. The interesting thing is that the chassis replaced the chassis 1453 on 171-415 which had known SVN service and so is likely that both trucks were in the re-build line at about the same time and so highly probable that they both returned from SVN at the same time.

The pic above is a Mk3 with a Mk4 cab and nose. The image below is mine the day the drop side hinges were replaced, still an ongoing project though.


Anything else you want to know?
Diana

[Mike Cecil]

Bob,

Reference the ARNs quoted above:

171446 was converted to an F5 fire fighting truck in 1973. It was a GS vehicle before that and, if it served overseas, was in that configuration. It was rebuilt in 1970 as job number 166/70 as a GS, and converted later. Disposal was 1985.

171415, which was also a GS, was also rebuilt in 1970 as job number 167/70, and for some strange reason, it received the chassis from 171446 during that process.

I am unable to cross-check if either of these ARNs served in SVN, but will be able to do so next week when I get back to the office. I seem to remember that the Fire Fighting variant was a later conversion (hence the late 'F' series nomenclature), and did not see service in SVN, but again, can check data next week and post a more definitive answer then.

Regards

Mike C

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Mike - this is great information. We are getting more from you now whilst you are roaming around the US of A than when you were at the AWM.

My friend will be very happy with this information as he is dedicated to fire appliances. He is a South Australian Country Fire Service life member, is in charge of a yearly truck and stationary engine weekend in Milang, SA and was instrumental in the establishment of a fire appliance museum in Milang.

Bob

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi - it wasn't until I saw Mike's response that I realised the depth of information on your post. Having the ARN transcribed as a telephone number threw me. Collating both yours and Mike's information gave a clear picture. One question though is, is 1505 the VIN of the truck with 171446 being its ARN.

I rang my friend with all the available information and he was very thankful. It gives his truck a good provenance.

Bob

[Mike Cecil]

1515 is the chassis number suffix (its unique to the vehicle) and 171446 is the Army's registration number.

I have more time on my hands so I can subscribe to forums and enjoy them, whereas before it was full on each day, 20 staff to manage, etc etc.... retirement's just soooo hard to take! I mean, take today for example: we are off on a float trip along the Yellowstone River with friends .... tough, eh?

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

ooops: that's 1505, of course, but should now be 564 as per Dianna's post.

Must be in a hurry to get on the river!!

Mike C

[Dianaa]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi - it wasn't until I saw Mike's response that I realised the depth of information on your post. Having the ARN transcribed as a telephone number threw me. Collating both yours and Mike's information gave a clear picture. One question though is, is 1505 the VIN of the truck with 171446 being its ARN.

I rang my friend with all the available information and he was very thankful. It gives his truck a good provenance.

Bob

Bob

Mike Cecil has provided the info on ARN Vs chassis number.

A mate who was a RAEME mechanic and spent time at 2 base workshop in Moorebank (his truck is the first image) suggested that when the trucks returned from Vietnam they had seen hard service and many had chassis damage or needed re-riveting, if this was the case the chassis would be sent to another area of the workshops and they would use a chassis that had already been repaired.

AFAIK this would mean that all the components from one truck would end up sitting on a chassis from another. So in respect of taking the history of the truck from it's current chassis is only half of the truth.

The truck with chassis 4X4 1505 after the rebuild was ARN 171-415 (and likely still at disposal)

Diana

BTW The chassis number of a Mk3 is usually 4X4 ??? (at least that is true of the first contract - 600 units) with the later vehicles particularly the Mk4 having ADE stamped above or before the 4X4 making a Mk4 chassis number e.g. ADE 4X4 2345 or ADE 6X6 3456 for the F1/F2 (Mk5) the term VIN is an international convention that identifies, country of origin/manufacturer/model and serial number that was only introduced in the 1980's so well after the Army Inters. But yes VIN and chassis number are equivalent even though the Au Army identified the truck by it's ARN and the chassis was treated as a spare part.

[Dianaa]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Bob,

Reference the ARNs quoted above:
<snip>
I am unable to cross-check if either of these ARNs served in SVN, but will be able to do so next week when I get back to the office.
<snip>

Regards

Mike C

Mike

I know it's not quite this thread, but are you able to confirm if 88" RCL Land Rover ARN 112-723 served in SVN? I came across a comment on the internet suggesting another website made a statement that it did, but the link to the site is now broken so I am left with a hint that it did but no confirmation. (Maybe I don't want to know if it didn't!)

Also my Mk3 ARN 170-437, but considering it still has an original Mk3 cab I rather suspect it didn't go to SVN. One thing that is odd about the truck is that it has personal markings on the drivers door over the deep bronze green and under the olive drab, so definitely applied early in service. I thought door markings on soft skinned vehicles was a no no? At least in RASC/RACT or infantry. Any idea what unit it may have been? There has been a suggestion of one of the reserve cav squadrons 8/13 VMR or 4/19 PWLH out of Watsonia in Victoria.



The markings are a pair of daggers or Scottish derks points togther. The words above "The Derkers" and the words "Brash" and "Walshy" below and either side of the daggers.

[Mike Cecil]

Sorry, can't look till next week: will answer then when I get back to the office.

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

OK: back in the office after a very pleasant trip to the Yellowstone region of the USA. Even the drive home along Interstate 90 was pleasant - much easier than 20 plus hours in airports and aeroplanes (sorry 'airplanes'!) Fantastic scenery!

Dianna, to answer your questions:

112723 and 170437: I hold no records that indicate overseas service for either of these two vehicles.

The 'personal' sign on the side of the truck: these are often Troop/sub-unit signs for which there is little, if any, record. The only way you might crack this open is to locate the perpetrators! I agree this may be an RAAC unit, so why not try putting the image up on the 3Cav/3/4 Cav and 1Armd Regt websites/forums, and ask? Can't do any harm, and you may well find out some interesting info about the 'Bods' involved. Don't think 8/13 and 4/19 have web forums.

Bob: ref the Inter (the original subject of this thread):

171446 and 171415 both had service in South Vietnam 1966-68, both returned to Australia in late 1968 (and apparently, both 'processed' along the rebuild line sequentially as well).

Regards

Mike C

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Mike - thank you for the conclusion of my Acco saga, it will please my mate very much. Now you have to stop enjoying yourself so much and get back into the real world.

How is the famous half of your partnership going. We need some updates on her.

Bob