Radar Van for Corowa event

[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

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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

[Tony Wheeler]

Thanks Richard, I read Brian's article previously but I must have missed yours somehow. Can you tell me which edition it appeared in?

Also are you able to decipher the REL data plate for me? I didn't know there was an extra truck, I had assumed it was a towing vehicle like these.


067915 MOOREBANK, NSW 1944-07-31. GL Mk III RADAR. TRUCK C AND TRAILER B (ZP1), NO.3 SUB DEPOT,.jpg

[alamotex]

Tony This photo of the parked ZPI radar trailers hooked up to the Chev towing vehicles is very misleading. Terry Hanes who was one of the Canadians who went to OZ in 1944 as one of the technical support detachment assures me that these Chev tow vehicles were intended for use as cable trucks. Two FWD trucks per convoy were assigned as the prime movers for both the ZPI and APF cabins. The trucks shown in the AWM photo did not have the power or traction to tow either of the radar cabins. Terry can only guess what the Aussies had in mind.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

Thanks Richard, I read Brian's article previously but I must have missed yours somehow. Can you tell me which edition it appeared in?

Also are you able to decipher the REL data plate for me? I didn't know there was an extra truck, I had assumed it was a towing vehicle like these.

Hi Tony,
It was not in the issue which had Brian's article, but the previous one:
http://corowaswim-in.org/docs/Corowa...May%202013.pdf on page 23.
I gathered info on the vehicles and trailers. They were all supplied on the same Canadian S/M contract number, both to Australia and UK. I think the late David Hayward brought the subject up on here some years ago. There is one of the FWD HAR trucks in preservation in the UK, I wonder if any have survived in Australia?

As Brian says, the Chev would not have been a heavy enough towing vehicle for the trailers, I have seen the photo before, but as it looks like a storage area, it may not be significant.

regards, Richard

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

As Brian says, the Chev would not have been a heavy enough towing vehicle for the trailers, I have seen the photo before, but as it looks like a storage area, it may not be significant.

The other reason I assumed they were the towing vehicles (aside from actually being hooked up to the trailers!) is that they are C60Ls fitted with 16" wheels.

I can think of several reasons why CMPs might finish up towing these trailers in Australia so I'm yet to be convinced they didn't. However I don't know much about the subject so I shall read up on it before engaging in too much speculation.

BTW what kind of trailer is this one:

081677.jpg

[alamotex]

I am not even sure that it is a radar trailer. Its not a GL 1 Tx or Rx cabin nor is it a GL 2...Could possibly be some kind of GCI. Have seen mobile command caravans or radio communications vans that look like that.

[Richard Farrant]

Here is a photo of the restored FWD HAR tractor which was part of the radar outfit. This one is Truck No.3 on the REL plate. This was taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year.

[Richard Farrant]

Here is a thread from 9 years ago that should explain more, especially the later posts.
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ghlight=SM2828

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Ghost

I have a REL blitz as well in the back yard.

Regards
Robert

The data plate looks to be a 1941 Cab 12 C60L one... what shape are the vents in yours?

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Ghost

G'day Kieth,
The vents are the same as the ones on Tony's Blitz, (same as a ford) & it has a checker-plate floor inside the cab which is different to an aussie made Holden floor.

Regards,
Robert.

It's definitely an import as opposed to a Holden cab then... and quite an early cab 13 too.