Bridging Trays on Staghound Armoured Car

[Kurtis Tsang]

Hi,

I saw some pictures that the New Zealand and Canadian Staghounds equipped with bridging trays(look like ladders) on both sides during 1943-1944 in Italy. Does anyone have more info and picture about the Bridging Trays ? Thanks in advance.

Kurtis

[Kurtis Tsang]

Hi,

Found a picture for easy understanding. Could anyone help to provide more info about the bridging ramps ? Thanks.

Kurtis


http://www.nzetc.org/etexts/WH2DiCa/WH2DiCaP030b.jpg

From:
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH...DiCaP030b.html

[Roger Lucy]

They were devised by 12 Manitoba Dragoons while still in the UK in Februiary 1944, using two 12 foot lengths of No.9 track. They were then fitted to both 12 MD and to RCD Stags. It's described, and illustrated in my forthcoming "The Staghound in Canadian Service" www.servicepub.com
here is a shot from the February, 1944 trials
Roger

[Kurtis Tsang]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for photo. Can't wait to see your new book.

Cheers,
Kurtis

[marco]

Hello Kurtis and Roger,

Here is another photo from a 12MD Stag sporting this equipment during the winter from 1944-45 somewhere in the Maas area.

Strangely, it seems that these bridges were no longer carried after the Rhine crossing, at least I never have seen a photo from this moment on from Staghounds still carrying these bridges.

Roger: can you let us know when the book becomes available?
I would certainly want one.

Best regards,

Marco

[marco]

Another photo which puzzles me:

What is the "device" constructed around the left muffler on this 12MD B-Squadron Staghound?
It seems to be ment to heat things although it doesn't look watertight.

Marco

[Roger Lucy]

[Roger: can you let us know when the book becomes available?
I would certainly want one.

Best regards,

Marco [/B][/QUOTE]
----------------------------------------------------------
Marco,
You will have to ask Clive about that, I believe it will be in the not too distnat future.
Roger

[servicepub (RIP)]

The staghound book will probably be released in the Fall. The next two titles scheduled for publication are the long-overdue "2-Pdr Anti-Tank Gun in Canadian Service" and "The Jeep in Canadian Service". Unfortunately, Roger researches and writes faster than I can print.
A complimentary copy will be going to you Marco, as thanks for the photos you sent me last year.

[Kurtis Tsang]

Hi Marco,

Thanks for photos ! I never seen the Staghound in snow before.

Best Regards,
Kurtis

[marco]

Clive and Roger: thanks for sending me a copy from the book and spending all that time and effort in compiling such a book.

Kurtis: 12MD spent about the whole winter 44-45 along the southern bank from the Maas river.
This winter was quite severe, either cold and wet or wet and cold..

Marco

[T17E1]

Hi Marco,

Re the muffler heater, it is definately a mod for heating something, but what I don't know. It would have got very warm? I was looking at the exhauist outlets and they point prety much downwards. The Cadman Stag is the same but it chucks up dust like a bastard. I have seen pics of sideways pointing outlets which seem more sensible. Any ideas if there was a mod or change in the design for this reason?
Tobin

[T17E1]

Also, whats the second box on the tyre chain box?
Tobin

[marco]

Tobin,

Looks like a box for 25 pounder ammo.

Marco

[marco]

Concerning the bridging equipment the following:

Citated from “The Canadian Summer’ by J.A. Roberts (commander of 12th Manitoba Dragoons) page 85:

“However, one Staghound in each of the two troops carried a set of steel trackways and they were brought into play” .

From XII Manitoba Dragoons: A tribute” by Bruce Tascona, page 110 some information which originates around March/April 1944:

“The idea of manufacturing two lightweight ladder tracks approximately 12 feet long was adopted and designed as a bridging device. Lt Col Roberts accepted this idea and managed to have manufactured several sets for use by each Squadron. Later on while in action, these ladders would prove very useful.”

From 12MD veterans I have heard that each troop had one set of these bridges and that this set was carried by the “Sergeants Car”
The other armoured car within a troop was refered to as the "Officers Car".

Marco

[Hanno Spoelstra]

As far as I can see this Polar Bears Half Track is carrying the bridging trays shown in this thread above.

It is one of a few photos taken during the liberation of Rheden, The Netherlands, on 16 April 1945.

[Kurtis Tsang]

Nice photo ! Thanks for sharing