Radar Van for Corowa event

[Jan Thompson]

Here are 2 more photos taken today. We are interested in what information people can supply us on these Radar Vans

[Jan Thompson]

Here is a picture of the roof.

[Richard Farrant]

Here is a short history of this type of trailer that I put together for an article in a recent KVE News :

The history of the trailer

The trailer was one of two consigned to a GL3( c ) radar convoy built in Canada. GL3( c ) was an Anti-Aircraft Gun Laying Radar system, the first mobile microwave frequency radar to be mass produced anywhere in the world. It was originated and designed in the UK, but also developed in Canada and the USA simultaneously. The trailer that KVE have been given was the Zone Position Indicator, the other trailer of a different design was the Accurate Position Finder. The convoy sets consisted of one each of these trailers and two FWD HAR1 towing trucks fitted with Cummins powered generators, also a CMP Chevrolet C60L for carrying equipment.

The trailer was built by Truck Engineering of Canada, at Woodstock. The equipment was produced by Research Enterprises Ltd of Leaside, Toronto to a Supply Mech Contract no. 2828. By December 1942, 314 convoy sets had been delivered, much of these sent to the UK for AA gun sites. Due to manufacturing problems this system was not able to be built in time in the UK and they were reliant on Canada to produce them. By the end of 1943 a total of 667 radar convoy sets had been made by REL under the Lend Lease agreement.

[Jan Thompson]

Dutchy has continued work on the Radar Van found the following on a plate underneath the van:
Truck Engineering Limited
Trailers and Truck Equipment
Woodstock Ontario
Model 22FW
Serial number 759

He has put some rust converter on the bottom and the wheel arches. Parking break arm needs welding. One side has tyres on and he has taken the other tyres are off and will be back on next week.

[hrpearce]

Once all the tyres are on I need to know the height from the ground to the bottom of the door and the width of the door. The length of the van and centre of door from either end would also help thank you.

[Jan Thompson]

Dutchy phoned me today and mentioned the wheels are back on the Radar Van and Laurie Winnie donated 3 clamps. We are now up to Stage 2.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Jan Thompson

Here are 2 more photos taken today. We are interested in what information people can supply us on these Radar Vans

Jan, see THIS THREAD from 2005 on this particular trailer.

[Jan Thompson]

Thanks Tony I had a look at the thread you mentioned today.

It sounds like there were a few people who have been interested in it recently so we feel very fortunate to have it and once it is done up it will be used as our Site Office at Corowa. At this stage we should have it for the 2015 event.

[alamotex]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Jan, see THIS THREAD from 2005 on this particular trailer.

Hi Tony I guess this is the radar trailer you once owned and the subject of e-mails we exchanged in 2005. Nice to see that the piece I wrote for the IEEE Canadian Review issue #69 has been cited in Richard Farrant's post #3. If approached, I will try to assist the project organisers. All the best, mate, Cheers Brian Mendes ( Canada )

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by alamotex

Hi Tony I guess this is the radar trailer you once owned and the subject of e-mails we exchanged in 2005. Nice to see that the piece I wrote for the IEEE Canadian Review issue #69 has been cited in Richard Farrant's post #3. If approached, I will try to assist the project organisers. All the best, mate, Cheers Brian Mendes ( Canada )

Hi Brian,
It is all my fault ...... I was the one who spotted the trailer in a thread on here amongst some other vehicles and as a committee member of KVE, knew there was interest in having our own site office for the Corowa event ....... the ball started to roll ! I think the intention is to try and maintain the outward appearance, but internally fitted out to suit the groups purpose. Jan will no doubt be on here at some point.
Your article was brilliant, up until then I had found very little info. There are several more of these trailers in the locality of where this one was.
regards Richard

[Jan Thompson]

Hi Brian
Wonderful to hear from you. Any help we can get would be greatly appreciated. I am the Vice President of the Australian Ex-Military Vehicle Collectors Society and last night at our meeting I talked about the Radar Van and gave a few people the information from the IEEE Canadian Review issue #69 as it contains some very interesting information. Can I use this article in our AMVCS newsletter and our KVE Newsletter as Richard is the editor of the KVE newsletter please?

One of the AMVCS members offered us some things from his collection including a 50 foot aerial. We would like more information on internal and external items.

[alamotex]

Hi Jan You may certainly reprint all or sections of the IEEE Canadian Review article. I would expect you to credit the source. I would like to correct the statement which implies that the GL III(c) AA gunlaying radar was a Canadian built version of the British GL 3B. The accurate statement should read that it was a Canadian development based upon a set of British design specifications for a GL 3 radar. There was significant technical cooperation with both the British and US Radar Research Establishments throughout the project.

Apart from a PPI display console, I am unaware of any original cabin interior components having been located in OZ. You might consider creating a photo gallery for the cabin interior. I do have some digital images that you may wish to look at. I take it that you want it to serve as a site office at the Corowa event.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by alamotex

Hi Jan You may certainly reprint all or sections of the IEEE Canadian Review article. I would expect you to credit the source. I would like to correct the statement which implies that the GL III(c) AA gunlaying radar was a Canadian built version of the British GL 3B. The accurate statement should read that it was a Canadian development based upon a set of British design specifications for a GL 3 radar. There was significant technical cooperation with both the British and US Radar Research Establishments throughout the project.

Apart from a PPI display console, I am unaware of any original cabin interior components having been located in OZ. You might consider creating a photo gallery for the cabin interior. I do have some digital images that you may wish to look at. I take it that you want it to serve as a site office at the Corowa event.

Hi Brian,
Jan is having to rush off to a meeting and asked me to respond to you. My fault regarding inaccurate statement, thanks for correcting me. A photo gallery of the trailer internally and externally as they were originally would be an excellent idea. As it will be used as a store for display boards and other kit during off season and with office accommodation as well, there would be no way any original equipment could be fitted internally. At present we are loaned a site office from the local council, but that cannot always be depended on and to be able to store our kit within the trailer is an asset.

Thank you for the permission to use your article, I will give you and the periodical full credit. If you send me your email address via a PM I will make sure our newsletter is sent to you. Many thanks.
regards, Richard

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Jan Thompson

We would like more information on internal and external items.

Here's some info on the large external item at the front:


TONY6765 - Copy - Copy.jpg

TONY7957 - Copy.jpg

TONY7930 - Copy.jpg

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

Here's some info on the large external item at the front:


Attachment 64596

Attachment 64597

Attachment 64598

Hi Tony,
This Blitz was not the designated towing vehicle for the two radar trailers. Each outfit consisted of two FWD trucks and trailers, and the Blitz which carried equipment and cables. See the article I put in KVE News last year, and another which Brian Mendes from Canada wrote.

Nice to see one of these has survived.

regards, Richard