Jeeps in RCN and RCAF service

Mike Cecil · #1 23-02-13, 01:16

Gents,

Excuse my ignorance of Canadian matters, but I wonder just how many jeeps the RCN were officially allocated during the Second World War. The humble jeep was in great demand by all the allies, and I know that in Australia's case, very very few of them were acquired by the RAN during the war - it was not until the end of the war when the Army said 'we have enough for peacetime, thanks' that sufficient became available for official allocations to the RAN, who used them in the immediate post war period. There were some exceptions - all traceable to being allocated by local Army authorities to RAN staff serving on islands in the SWPA.

So in the case of the RCN, why would that arm of service have needed jeeps during the war years? Would that need have been sufficient to have been a greater priority for allocation than the RCAF and the Army? Is there actual proof available of jeeps being officially allocated to the RCN during WW2, as opposed to post-WW2?

I'm curious to compare the two countries in this respect.

Mike C (that Australian bloke....)

servicepub (RIP) · #2 23-02-13, 03:33

Navy, Army, Air Force jeeps on parade.

Mike Cecil · #3 23-02-13, 03:51

Clive,

Any idea of a date for this image, please?

Mike C

servicepub (RIP) · #4 23-02-13, 05:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Any idea of a date for this image, please?

Mike,
No date on the photo or in the album from which it was harvested. However, the soldiers are wearing respirators on their chests and sporting STEN guns in their right hands so 1942-43 would be my educated guess.

Clive

servicepub (RIP) · #5 23-02-13, 05:13

Two more RCN jeeps, at the far end of the line. Note the slightly darker colour (as well as the matelot standing on the jeep).

http://www.servicepub.com/images/dsc02432.jpg

servicepub (RIP) · #6 23-02-13, 05:24

I don't know much about RCAF vehicle census numbers so cannot state that these are in Canada, UK or...?

http://www.servicepub.com/images/rcafjeep.jpg

http://www.servicepub.com/images/rds77-108.jpg

http://www.servicepub.com/images/rcafjeep2.jpg

servicepub (RIP) · #7 23-02-13, 05:35

Note the roundel. No Canadian markings but the photo comes from the RCAF archives collection

http://www.servicepub.com/images/file0236a.jpg

Colin Macgregor Stevens · #8 15-09-13, 23:12

The photo of the jeep with the markings
"R.C.A.F. 35-689" is almost certainly in Canada.
This is the 1943 style DND number system used in Canada which replaced the earlier system e.g. 42-1-1234.

Normally an RCAF station would also show two letters with the DND number to indicate the station the vehicle was attached to e.g.
Comox = CX
Sea Island = SI

The RCAF did ship at least one HUP overseas in WWII with the DND number still in place but overseas they usually adopted a British registration number.

Colin

Quote:

Originally Posted by servicepub

I don't know much about RCAF vehicle census numbers so cannot state that these are in Canada, UK or...?

Bruce Parker (RIP) · #9 15-01-21, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by servicepub (RIP)

Navy, Army, Air Force jeeps on parade.

If ever a photograph need colourizing it is this one. My humble attempt:

Hanno Spoelstra · #10 24-01-21, 16:47

Another Jeep next to a C60L in service with 126 wing 403 Squadron, RCAF:

42279495960_0c512f237b_o.jpg
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britis...57688051774645