M216 Cdn

Ken Smith · #1 21-10-18, 03:52

I have been fussing around with my GMC M216 Cdn 54-56169, even though it is not a viable restoration project in Australia, as the transfer case and the radiator were removed from it before I was able to take delivery.
I discovered on the top of the rear axle housing a rebuild tag, it states;
REBUILT BY
JAPAN ORDNANCE COMMAND
SHOP O O D
DATE 7 23 56 JO# 5 56
Does this mean anything, possibly a U S Army rebuild, or did Canada have a rebuild depot in Japan.
I am thinking of just tidying it up as a static display because of the rarity of the truck in Australia.
Ken

David Dunlop · #2 21-10-18, 04:23

Ken, my money would be on a major US Military rebuild facility in Japan that had that item on inventory. There used to be a surplus dealer here in Winnipeg years ago that had crates of rebuilt MB axles all tagged as having come out of a similar Japanese facility.

Not sure it still exists but I think it was active back in the Korean War days and probably lasted through the Vietnam War at least.

Way too aggressive an idea for Canada to maintain large military overhaul facilities around the world.

David

rob love · #3 21-10-18, 05:45

A quick google search turns up Oppama Ord Depot. While it would have been primarily in support of the US, there likely would have been agreements for support for Canadian operations. It's also possible that US held spares eventually made their way into Canadian stock in North America. I remember getting (used) body panels from supply that had the US stars on them.

Are there any markings on the truck indicating it's usage?

Ken Smith · #4 21-10-18, 07:13

Thanks to both David and Rob for your input. Oppama Ord Depot has some interesting information on google.
The only markings on the truck are a 6 inch white hollow square on each door under the registration # and white 17 on the top front of the hood on the left hand side, the right hand side had a Maple Leaf on a square which I see has disappeared over the years.
It is also marked inside the doors for speed limits on the autobahn 40mph and other roads 30mph.
I have asked the question a few times in various places but nobody has answered, did Canada have the autobahn speeds in all vehicles or just vehicles that served in Europe.
Ken

Ed Storey · #5 21-10-18, 18:53

Kevin, what is the serial number of your M216CDN?

David Herbert · #6 21-10-18, 20:35

I would have thought it should not be that hard to acquire a rad and transfer box from the US or Canada as there are lots of those trucks lying around unloved.

David

rob love · #7 22-10-18, 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I have asked the question a few times in various places but nobody has answered, did Canada have the autobahn speeds in all vehicles or just vehicles that served in Europe.
Ken

There wouldn't be much point to putting the marking on anything that wasn't in Germany.

Ed Storey · #8 22-10-18, 02:58

Thank you, your M216 is one I do not have a record of.

Dan Martel · #9 24-10-18, 01:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

The only markings on the truck are a 6 inch white hollow square on each door under the registration # and white 17 on the top front of the hood on the left hand side, the right hand side had a Maple Leaf on a square which I see has disappeared over the years.

A white serial '17' on a blue rectangle was the vehicle unit sign for an engineer squadron within an infantry brigade group. The red rectangle with a gold maple leaf was the formation sign of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.

For those vehicles located in Canada, the red rectangle would have been replaced by late 1966. For those in Europe, by 1970.

I have no idea what the six inch white hollow square is for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

It is also marked inside the doors for speed limits on the autobahn 40mph and other roads 30mph. I have asked the question a few times in various places but nobody has answered, did Canada have the autobahn speeds in all vehicles or just vehicles that served in Europe.

I don't have an answer to your autobahn speed limit question, but is the fact it has an autobahn speed limit the only reason to think the vehicle may have been in Germany?

Cheers,
Dan.

Ed Storey · #10 24-10-18, 15:58

Perhaps it is the same marking as seen on the door of this M51 5 ton Dump photographed in 1968?

M51 5 ton Dump 07124.jpg