Redhill Steam Fair - Military vehicle ID

[adrian roberts]

I mentioned in a previous post thread that I was going to Redhill Steam Fair on Saturday 11/8.
It is well worth it - quite a small event, just a couple of fields, but it only costs a fiver to get in and its very friendly and informal; you can get right up to the exhibits.
There was a considerable Military Vehicle contingent there (being driven, not just static), as well as Steam Traction engines and classic cars.

Can anyone ID these two? One is obviously a WW2 half-track; can anyone be more specific?
The other, a lorry possibly just post-war, has the name "FAUN" on the maker's badge on the bonnet. Never heard of that. Possibly French?

I said previously that I was taking my two daughters. I'm sure they loved the traction engines and the tanks - at least, they didn't say they didn't.
They certainly loved the candy-floss and the helter-skelter.....

Adrian

[spidge]

Originally Posted by adrian roberts

I said previously that I was taking my two daughters. I'm sure they loved the traction engines and the tanks - at least, they didn't say they didn't.
They certainly loved the candy-floss and the helter-skelter.....
Adrian

And having dad all to themselves!!!!

[KriegsmarineFreak]

Sounds like its a very fun place to be! Is it an annual event or is this the first time its been around?

[spidge]

Originally Posted by adrian roberts

The other, a lorry possibly just post-war, has the name "FAUN" on the maker's badge on the bonnet. Never heard of that. Possibly French.
Adrian

This company?

Mobil cranes - FAUN GmbH

[Owen]

The half track is either the basic M3 or it could be an M5 .

M3 Half-track - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

M3 - White Half-Track with White 160AX engine. Fitted with either an M32 anti-aircraft machine gun mount or a pedestal mount, both featuring an M2HB machine gun.

M3E2/M5 - International Harvester Half-Track, externally virtually identical to the M3, but with an IHC RED-450-B engine and a different drive train. The M5 is heavier than the M3. The M5 was primarily for lend-lease. Vehicles were sent to Britain, Canada, and Russia.


What is that badge, red/black/red with a spanner?

[Owen]

The Faun is a Faun L 908/425A.
First generation heavy transport for the Bundeswehr.

>>>>>Der Tanker<<<<<<

Dodgey translation.

The L 908/425A was a special heavy load-TRUCK of the Federal Armed Forces that was made after at that time usages with the covering and the lid cash windshield. It was procured and was more weakly motorized from 1957 to 1971 that version of the L 912/45A and had therefore also a gerringere Geländegängigkeit. Relatedly it became as a heavy vehicle, Abschleppfahrzeug, train machine, bowser and saddle tractor. You ONE were replaced of that N 4540.

[adrian roberts]

Owen and Spidge
Thanks for this. I'd never heard of FAUN, obviously not well known outside Germany - though with a Japanese partner now.

The badge with the spanner appears on several of these vehicles; I imagine its the badge of a local military vehicle owners group, rather than a genuine service badge. Otherwise, a WW2 US half-track and a 1950's Bundeswehr lorry would never have belonged to the same unit!

Sounds like its a very fun place to be! Is it an annual event or is this the first time its been around?

Its been held annually since about 1985, but this was the first time I have been. It seems to be the project of one man, so a local event rather than national and not widely advertised. But I'm sure I'll go again.

We're going on holiday tomorrow, back August 28th, so I'll be offline for a while. Flying to the Isle of Man, staying in a friends house.

[Bodston]

The half-track is without a doubt an International Harvester built M5. It doesn't appear to have a ring mount for the .50 cal. This would rule out it being an M5A1 or M9A1 (no M9's were built). It does have a winch. So it becomes one of 2,431 vehicles built to that specification, between 9/11/42 and 13/8/43, 57% of the total production of 4,265.
The M3 series and M5/M9 are no where near as similar as most of the references (and Owen) would suggest. Apart from the engine and armour differences, the M5's were of welded construction so appear much smoother in appearance. They also have rounded rear corners to the fighting compartment and very distinctive flat section front mudguards, as opposed to the larger rounded, 1930's style, front mudguards of the M3. The M3 also has a triangular fillet at the trailing edge of the front mudguard. This is absent on the M5.

PS: The truck in the background is an US M54/55 5-tonner. Built in the late 1950's

[Owen]

Cheers Bod.
I wondered why you rivet counters hadn't joined in this one.
Any idea what club badge that is, the one with the spanner?