Tail Light Assembly

[BSM]

Thanks Richard and Mike. Yes I would agree to a point. Strickly speaking not part of the CES per Field Specification however it was part of the Bofors CES or tools etc. which were carried in the No.6. per the relevant documents I have here so not to split hairs I would still like to have one for our gun which is a registered on the road display piece. As you have both intimated, similar or the same were used on other Arty. examples which may well assist the search etc. and on the other hand it is not a do or die item on the shopping list. Regards.... Rod

[Dave Mills]

Hello BSM, from my Arty days, 1970's to the early 90's on the gun lines the M2A2 had a small strap on taillight assembly for travelling on public roads with the plug attached. It was one that resembled the tail light assemblies of the time. This was strapped onto the muzzle and then the cable clipped into the aiming post clamps, wound around the lunette and attached to the Gun Tractor. As described in an earlier thread. The regiments converted to a large white and red striped "On Tow" board with standard off the shelf tail/ brake light assemblies in the 90's the same as any civvy trailer. These attached to the muzzle by a ratchet strap, hard wired and secured along the trails the same way and into the plug of the Gun Tractor.

Will go through my old photos and see if I can find any "out of action" shots of the battery ready for the road trip back from the ranges.

Plenty of shots of being "in action" but by this time the tail light assembly had been long buried in the Gun Tractor.

Cheers,

Dave.

[motto]

I seem to recall that the canvas cover for the 25 pdr which incorporated a sleeve to go over the barrel had a large reflector on the muzzle end. No provision was made for lighting.

David

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by motto

I seem to recall that the canvas cover for the 25 pdr which incorporated a sleeve to go over the barrel had a large reflector on the muzzle end. No provision was made for lighting.

David

Yep, I have one here somewhere . If I can find it ,I'd donate it to somebody with the use for it . The local Warragul Aussie disposals also had a plotting board canvas cover marked GMH 1943 , in as new cond.

[Mike Cecil]

Dave,

I agree with you. I suspect that wartime and immediate post-war 25-pdr equipment did not include a rear tail lamp for mounting on the gun, with the reflector on the muzzle cover sufficing, though when that was introduced I don't know (the reflector, not the cover!). Neither the wartime (Brit/Aust amended, and Canadian) or the Aust post-war (1950s) 25 pdr handbooks include a tail lamp assembly in the CES. But they were certainly around by the 1960s when the 105mm guns were introduced into service. The one I referred to above was made with the 37 Pattern-type strapping as per Rod's diagram (with that funny later pattern buckle). The one I remember from the No.1 Mk.1 105mm CES was painted gloss Deep Bronze Green, which went out of favour for field equipment in the early to mid 60s.

Since Rod has referred to the 40mm LAA gun, I'll take a look at the Aust handbooks and see if one is listed. In any event, I gather from Rod's comments he wants a tail lamp assembly for towing that at least looks the part.

Mike