Bulldozer Question

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by sapper740

Not according to the Directory of US ARMY "G" Numbers which I've copied here:


G126 Caterpillar, D7 M3 Tractor, crawler, heavy

Derek,

What G number was a D8 then?

D8 was classed as a Heavy, see;
www.armyvehicles.dk/caterpillard8.htm

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Derek,

What G number was a D8 then?

D8 was classed as a Heavy, see;
www.armyvehicles.dk/caterpillard8.htm

Good question Richard. As we all know during WW II the U.S. Army used D8s throughout the world, from the Alcan Highway to Australia, yet I have found no "G" number for the big Cat. The list I posted was from a non-official web-site and may therefore not be complete, but a further search has only turned up a recent NATO stock number.

Tractor, Full Tracked, Low Speed DOZER D8,TRACTOR NSN 2410010000008

Any ideas Boys?


CHIMO! Derek.

[Noel Burgess]

Revisiting the subject of different designs of Dozer Blade lifting here are two dozers (unknown type) the first has the more normal winch system - Le Tourneau I think

[Noel Burgess]

This second is a new one to me - it's an er.. Triangular arrangement of winch superstructure
Both pictures from http://www.dogfacesoldiers.org/comba...eers/index.htm

[George McKenzie]

The second one is also a LeTourneau .The difference is that the first one is a D7 and the second one is a D4 .They have a Le Tourneau unit on the back for lifting . I have a old cat with a Le Tourneau unit on it in my collection.They were pretty crude .When they got wet they wouldnt lift a pail of water .The cone shape clutches would have to be dry to work properly .In the winter we would try to keep the unit coverd to keep the snow off of it .The biggest advantage was they could lift the blade higher than all the other dozers and the over head frame would give you some protection from falling objects george

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Noel Burgess

This second is a new one to me - it's an er.. Triangular arrangement of winch superstructure
Both pictures from http://www.dogfacesoldiers.org/comba...eers/index.htm

Thanks for the link Noel, that website had many great pictures including the destruction of the giant swastika at Nuremburg by the 120th Combat Engineers.


CHIMO! Derek.

[Noel Burgess]

Thanks fo that information George. Now here's another "different" Dozer. from the website of 117 Combat Engineers http://www.baysweb.com/117th_combat_engineers.htm. I presume that's a "tree smasher" on the front - would it be a local modification or a standard fitting?
Also the blade appears to be V shaped but I supose that could be an illusion caused by the camera angle - what do you guys think?
Noel

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Noel Burgess

Thanks fo that information George. Now here's another "different" Dozer. from the website of 117 Combat Engineers http://www.baysweb.com/117th_combat_engineers.htm. I presume that's a "tree smasher" on the front - would it be a local modification or a standard fitting?
Also the blade appears to be V shaped but I supose that could be an illusion caused by the camera angle - what do you guys think?
Noel

Noel..Looks like it is a de-mining blade..
Once the mines are dug up..the upper blade could be lowered to trap the mine and move it ,giving some protection to the operator//..
Just a guess ....

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Noel Burgess

Thanks fo that information George. Now here's another "different" Dozer. from the website of 117 Combat Engineers http://www.baysweb.com/117th_combat_engineers.htm. I presume that's a "tree smasher" on the front - would it be a local modification or a standard fitting?
Also the blade appears to be V shaped but I supose that could be an illusion caused by the camera angle - what do you guys think?
Noel

Noel, you're correct in identifying the attachment as for pushing over trees. The horizontal bar jutting out in front of the dozer is a dead giveaway. Observe the same type bar on the LeTourneau Tree Crusher used to clear the valley that became Williston Lake after the W.A.C. Bennet dam was built in B.C. Coincidentally, that tree crusher was built not too far from where I presently live. Must have been quite a job transporting it to MacKenzie. Further, substantial overhead protection has been provided for falling limbs and "Widow Makers". Alex is quite correct in assuming the "V" shaped blade could be used for demining as "V" shaped mine ploughs are common on modern Engineer vehicles such as Canada's DAREOD but I have only seen one such blade on a WW II vehicle. I've included a pic of a Panther with a similar blade.

CHIMO! Derek.