Canadian Tracked Jeep

[servicepub (RIP)]

A new article at MilArt, by Roger Lucy, on the tracked jeep
http://servicepub.wordpress.com/2014...d-jeep-willys/

[Larry Hayward]

What a co-incidence! I was just about to post a thread on this as I found a photo I took in early 1980's of such a vehicle which I think I took at an MV show at Knebworth UK. Where is it now I wonder?

[servicepub (RIP)]

Larry,
May I add your photo to the article?
C

[Hans Mulder]

There was an article in the MVPA magazine a year or two ago as well... Now who is going to build a repro?

[servicepub (RIP)]

Hi Hans,
Same article. Copyright resides with the author who permitted its posting on MilArt.
C

[Larry Hayward]

Dear servicepub,

Yes, I'm happy to share my photo for you to use in your article / blog

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's some footage of the Tracked Jeep posted above:
https://vimeo.com/9185388#t=890s

It was filmed in the late 60's to 1970 at Guy’s Yard, Exeter.

Enjoy,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Photos by Steven Theobald of his father's Tracked Jeep in the UK:


Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8596...56221474447299

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Larry Hayward

What a co-incidence! I was just about to post a thread on this as I found a photo I took in early 1980's of such a vehicle which I think I took at an MV show at Knebworth UK. Where is it now I wonder?

After Jeff Theobald it passed on to Jim Dowdell , who later sold it to the Canadian War Museum:

Read more here https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1053237 about this "RECONNAISSANCE CARRIER"

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more pics I found on an old hard-drive. These photos must have come from Marmon-Herrington records as I found them in a folder related to my
Marmon-Herrington military vehicles website. Read more about the involvement of M-H in Roger Lucy's article linked at the top of this thread.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

After Jeff Theobald it passed on to Jim Dowdell , who later sold it to the Canadian War Museum:

I remember seeing Jim Dowdall with it at the MVCG D-Day Show at Knebworth Park in 1983, will have a photo somewhere.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

I remember seeing Jim Dowdall with it at the MVCG D-Day Show at Knebworth Park in 1983, will have a photo somewhere.

That would be great to see.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Mk.II Tracked Jeep on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario:



See the CWM record here: https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1300075/

[Ed Storey]

This photograph of a tracked Jeep with a DUKW was taken at Churchill, Manitoba in 1946. The tracked Jeep has had 45 gallon drums attached to the bow and stern to increase buoyancy when crossing the Churchill River.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Didn't Andre Guibeault have a hand in one of the Tracked "Jeeps" at CWM?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Didn't Andre Guibeault have a hand in one of the Tracked "Jeeps" at CWM?

Andre Gibeault had two known surviors of the Tracked Jeep Mk.II. The restored one seen in post 13 above is on display in the Canadian War Museum. The second one, which was been found by the late Jim Fraser and used to help restore the CWM one, is now in England being restored by Fred Smith who collects prototype jeeps.


See http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...5470#post5470:

Originally Posted by Robert Dabkowski

I could be mistaken but I believe that Andre Gibeault donated his restored version of one of these to the CWM about a year ago and he has the remains of another donor vehicle still at his farm.

And Tobin Jones wrote:

I bought one from Andre gibault in Canada a few years back. Marmon Harrington tracked jeep, seven or eight made I think. Andre had rebuilt the one in the Canadian war museum, my hull, track, suspension and controls was the remainder from that project. I passed it the Fred Smith several years ago. One was armoured and used in a film as German vehicle, mine was number two or three and soft skin. The internal bracing frame was tubular and formed a reservoir for air to operate the steering rams.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

This photograph of a tracked Jeep with a DUKW was taken at Churchill, Manitoba in 1946. The tracked Jeep has had 45 gallon drums attached to the bow and stern to increase buoyancy when crossing the Churchill River.

Thanks Ed, looks like they continued testing them postwar.

Here's another picture of a Mk II in use/under test, as featured in the Western Command July 2013 newsletter

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

I remember seeing Jim Dowdall with it at the MVCG D-Day Show at Knebworth Park in 1983, will have a photo somewhere.

Is it this photo?

Here is a photo of the Tracked Jeep at the MVT show, Knebworth 1983. According to the note in my album it was entered by Jim Dowdall.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Is it this photo?

Yes, that is the one, taken at Knebworth, 1983

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Andre Gibeault had two known surviors of the Tracked Jeep Mk.II. The restored one seen in post 13 above is on display in the Canadian War Museum. The second one, which was been found by the late Jim Fraser and used to help restore the CWM one, is now in England being restored by Fred Smith who collects prototype jeeps.


See http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...5470#post5470:


And Tobin Jones wrote:

As always, happy to get clarification on an interesting story. Andre, rest his soul, was great man.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Thanks Ed, looks like they continued testing them postwar.

Here's another picture of a Mk II in use/under test, as featured in the Western Command July 2013 newsletter

Attachment 118906

Yes, it is the same vehicle taken during the same Churchill exercise and shows a tracked trailer being towed by a tracked Jeep bogged in vehicle ruts.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Via Craig Moore: Car 5cwt armoured tracked Willys at the National Archives at Kew

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And Tobin Jones wrote:

Here are some photos from Tobin: "I brought one back from Canada a few years back. It’s the one Fred smith has now. I found some pics of it the other day."