CMPs in Swiss Army use

[serge]

Hello

I would like to know the kind and the aim of the body of the truck. At first glance, the truck seems to be a F 60S but the body of F60S as gun tractor are very different.

regards

[zemsi]

According to swissmotor.ch the used Blitzes were F-60 S-01 and F-60-II BIW. I've got no clue what types they are. The Swiss army changed the front axle so that the steering angle was much shorter (8750mm to 10400mm), and the width was wider.

The original payload was 3 tonnes, but reduced to just 2 tonnes. The Blitzes were mainly used for towing the 10,5cm howitzers and as troop movers (2+15 seats), because the special designed Saurer M4 was only available in small numbers.

They were out of service after 1966.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by zemsi

According to swissmotor.ch the used Blitzes were F-60 S-01 and F-60-II BIW. I've got no clue what types they are. The Swiss army changed the front axle so that the steering angle was much shorter (8750mm to 10400mm), and the width was wider.

Chris,

I read the text (quoted below) as two type of front axles were found to be fitted, not that they were changed.
This could be explained by the fact that the Swiss were most likely supplied with a mixture of F60S and F30 trucks. Both had a 134 1/4" wheelbase. The first had a 3-ton rating and heavy axles (with 6" Front Axle Knuckles) and drive line components, while the F30 was rated at 1.5-tons and had lighter axles (with 4 7/8" Front Axle Knuckles) and drive line components.

I cannot explain the differences in transfer cases and winches, though. But someone on this forum will, surely.

HTH,
Hanno

Es gab zwei Typen, F-60 S-01 und F-60-II BIW. Die beiden Ausführungen hatten verschiedene Vorderachsen, mit kleinen Achsköpfen (Durchmesser 124 mm), oder grösseren (Durchmesser 175 mm). Die Achse mit den grösseren Achsköpfen ergab eine breitere Spur, aber einen besseren Radeinschlag und somit einen kleineren Lenkradius, 8750 mm zu 10400 mm. Ausserdem gab es einzelne Fahrzeuge mit einem kleineren Zwischengetriebe, das die Zuschaltung des Vorderradantriebes nur im Geländegang zuliess, im Gegensatz zum grossen Zwischengetriebe, das analog dem Jeep die Verwendung des Vierradantriebs im Strassen- und im Geländegang ermöglichte.

Der Unterschied war bei Fahrzeugen mit Seilwinde noch markanter, da dort die Seilwinde beim kleinen Zwischengetriebe durch einen weiteren (dritten) Schalthebel betätigt werden musste, während beim grossen Zwischengetriebe sowohl Vierradantrieb, Geländegang und Seilwinde mit einem Hebel geschaltet werden konnte. Die Nutzlast betrug ursprünglich drei Tonnen, in der Schweizer Armee wurde sie auf zwei Tonnen festgelegt.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more period pictures found here.

H.

[zemsi]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Some more period pictures found here.

... Hanno, great link. A lot of period images from GMC's, Diamonds, Ward la France's etc. I haven't seen before. I guess they were copied from books.

[zemsi]

Referring to the posts #15 and 16 the Swiss Army christianed their types as "F-60 S-01 and F-60-II BIW". Does anybody know what that means, especially BIW? Was that an official description or just a Swiss invention?

I did a lot of research with a friend in archives concerning the sourcing of mil vehicles for the Swiss Army (from the 30s onwards), and looked through some manuals/books about the Swiss Blitz's but nowhere is mentioned what the 2 different Blitz types means. It looks like the Swiss also used Chev Blitz's but haven't seen a pic yet, only Ford pics available. The Blitz's were sold in the 70s abroad because nobody wanted them here!

Greetings
Chris

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Chris,

I read the text (quoted below) as two type of front axles were found to be fitted, not that they were changed.
This could be explained by the fact that the Swiss were most likely supplied with a mixture of F60S and F30 trucks. Both had a 134 1/4" wheelbase. The first had a 3-ton rating and heavy axles (with 6" Front Axle Knuckles) and drive line components, while the F30 was rated at 1.5-tons and had lighter axles (with 4 7/8" Front Axle Knuckles) and drive line components.

I cannot explain the differences in transfer cases and winches, though. But someone on this forum will, surely.

HTH,
Hanno

[zemsi]

... here is a period pic from the "Handbuch für Truppensattler" (manual for saddlers), dated 1954. It shows a Blitz with registration no M+37125.

Greetings
Chris

[zemsi]

... a parked F60S along a Saurer/FBW/Berna and GMC. Notice the Sherman tank between the Blitz and Saurer. Therefore pic (most likely) taken in Thun.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Still in use in1968. From FB:

WK 1968 mit Ford Canada F-60 S / Geländelastwagen 2,0 t 4x4
694860D1-80EE-4979-AFDE-FA2BF109C7AD.jpeg