US-built Ford 1942-model trucks in Allied service

[Hanno Spoelstra]

In earlier threads we discussed the use of the FC60L. This was a Modified Conventional Pattern 3-ton 4x2 GS truck with 158in wheelbase and 95-hp V8 engine and a two-speed rear axle. It had typical MCP features like right-hand drive, 10.50-16 tyres on British split rims and a Canadian-built cargo body. This type was widely used in North Africa.

Interestingly, the WW2 Photo Diary - Heavy Equipment features a picture of a US-built Ford 2G8T 1½ Ton Cargo Truck in service with the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and/or 4th Queens Own Hussars in North Africa.

Who has seen more of these Ford 2G8T's in Commonwealth service?

Thanks,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
US-built Ford 2G8T 1½ Ton Cargo Truck

Here's a picture of another Ford in use with 3 Squadron RAAF, though I think this is an FC60L.

H.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Did anyone apart from the British use the CMP-based F602S and L?

[nuyt]

Hi Hanno, interesting thread...
here's a picture from the Dutch beeldbank with a Ford trooper truck in Sumatra. This truck might be ex-Indian Army, as you suggested in an earlier thread, or it was delivered in some stage to the Dutch in the NEI and bodied locally.
Regards,
Nuyt


Linked from Ford/Marmon-Herrington MGT's

[cliff]

while not having a lot of knowledge of the difference between the Canadian and US made trucks I do have a few AWM photos of this model Ford which here in Australia and in New Zealand the common name was "Jail bar Ford".

cheers
Cliff

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cliff
difference between the Canadian and US made trucks

For good measure, here´s a drawing from a TM (courtesy of Dirk Leegwater) of a US-built 1942 Ford Truck, 1½ Ton, 4x2, Cargo Body and Closed Cab. It's model designation 2G8T means it was a 1942 model 4x2 1½ Ton Truck, with 158in wheelbase chassis and 90-hp 6-cyl. engine. Note 7.50-20 tyres and standard US military cargo body.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

And here is a picture from Vanderveen showing the Canadian-built 1942 model Ford FC60L (or C298TFS), a 3 -ton 4x2 GS truck with 158in wheelbase and 95-hp V8 engine and a two-speed rear axle.
It had typical MCP features like right-hand drive, 10.50-16 tyres on British split rims and a Canadian-built cargo body.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by ericnuyt
Ford trooper truck in Sumatra. This truck might be ex-Indian Army

It could be one from this batch: "SM 2251 3-TON 4 X 2 158” W.B. C298TFS? 2,112"

Originally posted by cliff
this model Ford which here in Australia and in New Zealand the common name was "Jail bar Ford"

While originally not the subject of this thread, the "third category" Fords - i.e. not built in the US or Canada - are an interesting subject as well.

Let's rephrase the question (I have altered the subject title): who has seen evidence of US-built Ford 1942-model trucks in Allied service, including any Marmon-Herrington converted ones? (Hans? Nuyt?)

H.

[Tony Smith]

The Australian Army had a "Two Engine" policy which saw most vehicles fitted with the Chev 216 6cyl or Ford 239 V8 (or Dodge 230 6. Go figure!) The Ford 6 was a very rare unit here and most trucks of this type were the 218TF truck which was a 21T 158"wb truck fitted with the 239 V8. Even sedans which appeared overseas with the Ford 6, were ordered here with the V8.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
The Australian Army had a "Two Engine" policy which saw most vehicles fitted with the Chev 216 6cyl or Ford 239 V8

A similar thing happened in North Africa too. In an effort to keep the inventory list down, Kuno Stockelbach (a civilian employee of Ford Canada, supervising all vehicle assembly and major overhaul facilities for the British Army in North Africa and the Middle East) put Canadian 95-hp Ford V8 engines in anything(!) that had room under the hood.
Engines did not last long in the North African desert; Universal Carrier engines were changed every 2,000-3,000 miles and transport vehicles after 10,000 miles. So even if the US-built Ford shown at the top of this thread was originally delivered with a 6-cylinder enigne, in North Africa it would have been retrofitted with a Canadian V8 the first time it came up for an overhaul.

H.

[nuyt]

or possibly the same truck:

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

L 5290559 to 5292158 SM 2669 Lorry 3 ton 4x2 GS Also for EGYPT C298TFS FC60L?

L 5585936 5586000 SM 2871 Lorry 3 ton 4x2 Petrol 800 gallons #13 cab 158” w.b. April 1943
2-speed rear axles GM banjo design with shifting arm mechanically linked to shift mechanism in # 13 cab C298WFS

L 5587201 5587300 SM 2670 Lorry 3 ton 4x2 GS
C298TFS 2 speed rear axle, tire pump booster brakes and towing hook installed

A 5809058 5809257 SM 2972 Ambulance 3 ton 4x2 4-stretcher EC098TFS or C298TFS FC60L?

L 6225703 6225732 SM 6041 Lorry 30 cwt 4x2
Column Rescue C298TFS FC60L?

L 6233340 6233389 S 2520 Lorry 3 ton 4x2 GSC298TFS FC60L?

L 6239420 ACO Lorry 3 ton 4x2 GS C298TFS FC60L?


Plus:

SM 2409 Ford Model Number C298TFS FC60L? 160” 4 x 2 EGYPT AND DUALA [300] and SIERRE LEONE [600]

SM 2458 Ford Model Number C298TFS FC60L? 160” 4 x 2 [for EGYPT ALSO AUSTRALIA]

SM 2671 Ford Model Number C298TFS

SM 2871 Ford Model Number C298TFS

[cliff]

I found this picture as well but am unsure where it came from.

cheers
Cliff

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cliff
I found this picture as well but am unsure where it came from.

Cliff, Nigel posted it in the thread Ford US trucks for RAF, Egypt. Actually, being a bone stock US-built 2G8T, it would be more at home in the thread US-built Ford 1942-model trucks in Allied service?

H.

[cliff]

sorry Nigel I must be going more senile then what I thought

My opologies to you too Hanno as the other thread was where this was suppose to go

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by cliff
My opologies to you too Hanno as the other thread was where this was suppose to go

No problem, mate! I've split and merged the messages into here.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This looks like one of the thousands of Fords 2G8T supplied to the Soviets, pressed into service by its German captors ... hmm, may it should be posted in the thread Under New Management.

Source: http://www.ww2incolor.com/

[Nigel Watson]

I know the truck on the right in the distance heading this way is a G8T, but the two rear views nearest the camera? Not G8T me thinks!!!!! Not according to their WD Nos!!

Nigel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
thousands of Fords 2G8T supplied to the Soviets

And here´s a pic of a Ford G8T in use by the Soviet Army. Note it has six-stud wheels, whereas civilian Ford trucks have five.



See http://ef.1939-1945.net/008_lend_lease_01.shtml for plenty of pictures of Studebaker US6 trucks, too.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
And here´s a pic of a Ford G8T in use by the Soviet Army.

Same pic can be found on Oliver Missing's Lend-Lease site: http://www.o5m6.de/ford_g8t.html
He's made some nice drawings, too!
Never realised with some 61,000 delivered to the Soviets, the »Ford-6« was the second most delivered truck!

H.

[jeff davis]

Looked at 2 Ford Trucks outside a tool supply dealership today I was told they are bolth 1941 Mercury they both sport fadded O/D paint under their civy colours.
the 2 ton serial # is 450h4760591
The 3 ton is of a tandem axle configuration the rear axe is a float one and does not drive its # is 520h4780/51
bolth have model # m-1800-b
trim for the 3 ton isM18001j
regards
Jeff

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
...thousands of Fords 2G8T supplied to the Soviets...

Here's another couple of Ford trucks:

"Units of 1st Ukranian Front on the march near town of Rozenberg, January 1945."
Source: http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/englis...cgku/index.htm

[jeff davis]

i HAVE A MANUAL FOR THESE FORD TRUCKS ANYONE INTERESTED

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by jeff davis
i HAVE A MANUAL FOR THESE FORD TRUCKS ANYONE INTERESTED

Jeff,

Could you please list the exact manual title and number?

Thanks,
Hanno

[jeff davis]

Maintanance Manual for Ford Truck 11/2 ton Model 2G8T
contract # W-398-QM12874
TM 10 1539 May 1st 1942

The manual includes photos of 5 stud wheels

[Les Freathy]

HI Guys

To add a bit more flavour to the debate here are some shots of Fords

1) conventional stake model 2G8T factory fresh

2) a grand tour of the underside

3) Now on to the1.5 ton 7ft stake truck note the tilt frame

4) and a good rear chassis cab shot

5) finally the panelvan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The following quote was found in Wheels & Tracks magazine no.53, p.37: "I [R.D.(Dick) Okill] went out to the Middle East for El Alamein and joined the 37th LAA which had come down from Syria and we re-equipped with American Bofors guns and some 6x6 GMCs as towers, with American Ford 3-tonners and one Morris artillery tractor."

H.

[Nigel Watson]

This is a great thread for me guys, keep the thing going with lots more pics please. I am presently rebuilding a 2G8T. Its right hand drive from South Africa. Hanno/David which order do you think that may have come from? Whats interesting is i've found that the steering parts are marked with the "F" for right hand drive, and I think are Australian because of a "D" with the arrow in it which I've found as well.

Nigel

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Not sure for certain on which order it could be if it was British Ministry of Supply for South Africa BUT it could be one of these that I picked out of Canadian deliveries from the Canadian DND papers from 1942:

SOUTH AFRICA

SM 2356 3-TON 4 X 2 158” W.B. EC098T or C298TFS
SM 2368 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. F.60L and/or C.60L
SM 2369 15-CWT. 4 X 2 101” W.B. F.15 and/or C.15
SM 2370 F.A.T. 4 X 4 F.-GT and/or C.-G.T. 141
SM 2371 STATION WAGONS FORD?
SM 2457 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. C018QF F.60L
SM 2462 ½ -TON 4 X 2 116” W.B. DODGE T-116 DD-1
SM 2597 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. F.60L and/or C.60L
SM 2598 30-CWT. 4 X 4 134” W.B. F.30 and/or C.30
SM 2599 15-CWT. 4 X 2 F.15 and/or C.15 E.g. # XG8421160??

[Nigel Watson]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Not sure for certain on which order it could be if it was British Ministry of Supply for South Africa BUT it could be one of these that I picked out of Canadian deliveries from the Canadian DND papers from 1942:

SOUTH AFRICA

SM 2356 3-TON 4 X 2 158” W.B. EC098T or C298TFS
SM 2368 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. F.60L and/or C.60L
SM 2369 15-CWT. 4 X 2 101” W.B. F.15 and/or C.15
SM 2370 F.A.T. 4 X 4 F.-GT and/or C.-G.T. 141
SM 2371 STATION WAGONS FORD?
SM 2457 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. C018QF F.60L
SM 2462 ½ -TON 4 X 2 116” W.B. DODGE T-116 DD-1
SM 2597 3-TON 4 X 4 158” W.B. F.60L and/or C.60L
SM 2598 30-CWT. 4 X 4 134” W.B. F.30 and/or C.30
SM 2599 15-CWT. 4 X 2 F.15 and/or C.15 E.g. # XG8421160??

If any it would be the first one David as it is a 4x2. The 1940 Ford 6x4 is still puzzling me as to where it came from and its designation.
Thanks for this anyhow
Nigel