Information please

[ron]

Hi Guys,
Can any one tell me the name of the towing attachment that the British army used to tow broken down vehicles, it was a two wheeled afair I think that was attached to the towing vehicle,instead of using a wrecker, also does any one have any pictures of them being used?
Regards,
Ron,

[Grant Bowker]

I'm away from references at the moment but will try to scan what I think you are talking about tonight. The piece of kit I'm thinking of came in two sizes, attached to the pintle of the towing vehicle, had one axle and an a-frame to lift the towed vehicle as well as a device to hold distance between the two. The name that comes to mind for the device is "dummy axle". If I recall comments correctly, it wasn't much loved by users.

[Noel Burgess]

I think the correct term for them is "Ambulance". I am also at work at the moment but will have a look tonight - I have some photo's of a "tracked ambulance" somewhere.

[Noel Burgess]

Tracked Ambulance: -
Owing to the fact that small wheels have a bad cross-country performanse, a tracked ambulance was developed employing bogie wheels and a track of standard pattern
The frame of the amulance supports a turntabe on which is mounted an "I" beam. at each end of the beam is a crutch, adjustable in height, which is clamped onto the axle of the casualty.


From a REME training guide available http://www.aecmilitant.co.uk/index2.html on the downloads page

[Les Freathy]

Hi Ron

Is this the towing ambulance you had in mind, like Noels tracked ambulance most of the photos show them in use pre war or in the very early years of WW2 i personally have not seen any in photos during the later stages. Funny thing though the British army did use two types in the late 1950s and 60s
Les

[Les Freathy]

2nd

[Grant Bowker]

The "Trailer, Dummy Axle, Recovery" existed in 2 sizes. FV3561 was described as 10/30 tonne, FV2692 was 1/5 tonne. In each case I think that the first number is the lifting capacity of the device and the second the GVW of the towed vehicle (but this isn't certain).

FV3561
Made by Royal Ordnance
wt.=3250 kg
l=3.628m
w=2.667m
h=3.25m
engine 7.5 hp diesel
tires 10.00x15 (dolly wheels 4.00x8)
brakes=air, mechanical parking.

[Grant Bowker]

FV2692

Made by Rubery Owen
wt.=1883kg
l=3.47m
w=2.362m
h=2.31m
power=human
tires 8.25x15
brakes air when laden, overrun when unladen and mechanical parking.

Both types were listed as "in service" in Janes Military Logistics 1990-91.

[ron]

Thanks Grant Les and Noel, Yes that is what I was looking for I am going to build a smaller version of these to move my spare parts around attached to my Land Rover, might save busting a gut,
Many thanks fellows for your prompt reply,
Regards,
Ron,