BEF Movement and Maintenance.

Discussion in '1940' started by Trux, Sep 22, 2022.

  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    RAOC VEHICLES.

    The most numerous body fitted to RAOC vehicles used in Workshops was the Workshop No 4 Body. This was a flat floor body on which the central part of the body sides were of the double fold type. These could be lowered to form a narrow work bench at a suitable height for the crew to use when standing on the ground, or they could be lowered to form a wide extension to the floor of the vehicle. The latter was needed for some of the larger items of machinery. Power was provided by a 7½ kw generator powered by a power take off driven from the lorry gearbox.

    For smaller machinery and for work which needed an enclosed space there was the house type Machinery No 7 Body. This had benches down both sides. These were fitted with the appropriate machinery and work benches. The part of the body sides above the level of the benches could be opened outwards. Power came from a 7½ kw generator in the front part of the body. This was powered by a power take off driven from the lorry gearbox.

    A problem with all these earlier machinery and workshop vehicles was the power take off. Power could only be provided when the lorry engine was running at low speed. This caused problems with the spark plugs and the lubrication of the engine. Later in the war separate trailer mounted power units were introduced.


    GHQ Troops Workshop.

    Workshop No 4 Body

    2 X Workshop Type A.
    7 inch short bed lathe, 5/8 inch drill bench, grinding bench, battery charging board.

    1 X Workshop Type B.
    1 inch pillar drill, horizontal milling table 22 inch by 7 inch.

    1 X Workshop Type C.
    7 inch long bed lathe.

    1 X Workshop Type D.
    5 inch lathe, grinding bench, 5/8 inch drill bench, battery charging board.

    1 X Workshop Type F.
    Battery charging board, 5/8 inch drill bench, electric drying oven, grinding and polishing bench, valve refacing, valve seat grinding, electric test bench, demagnetiser.

    4 X Workshop Type H.
    8 inch short bed lathe.

    1 X Workshop Type J.
    Dry air charging, 3 stage air compressor.

    1 X Workshop type K.
    Electric welding controller, electric cutting and welding outfits, welding plant engine, portable forges, blacksmiths kits, anvil blocks.


    Machinery No 7 House type.
    1 X Workshop Type D2.
    4½ inch semi precision lathe, grinding and polishing, 5/8 inch drill bench, battery charging board.


    Army Field Workshop.

    Workshop No 4 Body.

    5 X Workshop Type A.
    7 inch short bed lathe, 5/8 inch drill bench, grinding bench, battery charging board.

    1 X Workshop Type B.
    1 inch pillar drill, horizontal milling table 22 inch by 7 inch.

    1 X Workshop Type C.
    7 inch long bed lathe.

    3 X Workshop Type D.
    5 inch lathe, grinding bench, 5/8 inch drill bench, battery charging board.

    4 X Workshop Type F. Internal combustion engine repair.
    Battery charging board, 5/8 inch drill bench, electric drying oven, grinding and polishing bench, valve refacing, valve seat grinding, electric test bench, demagnetiser.

    1 X Workshop Type G.
    Pedestal grinding machine, radial drilling bench.

    2 X Workshop Type I.
    Battery charging plant.

    1 X Workshop Type J.
    Dry air charging, 3 stage air compressor.

    2 X Workshop type K.
    Electric welding controller, electric cutting and welding outfits, welding plant engine, portable forges, blacksmiths kits, anvil blocks.

    1 X Workshop Type L.
    Woodworking tools, circular saw, planing bench.


    Machinery No 7 House Type.
    1 X Machinery Type Z.
    Wireless testing and repair.


    upload_2023-2-1_8-33-37.png

    Machinery Type A on Workshop Body No 4.

    upload_2023-2-1_8-35-13.png

    Same vehicle. One of several photos taken at the same time of this vehicle.

    upload_2023-2-1_8-37-39.png

    Machinery lorry working in the docks at Cherbourg.

    (I like these photos. They are so natural and unposed.)

    Many of the vehicles were fitted with simple canvas shelters which could be fitted to the sides of the roof and extended over the work area. More elaborate shelters could be erected to cover the space between two vehicles and thus form a covered space some ten foot wide. This was often used when two similar vehicles were working together or when a workshop lorry and its associated store lorry were linked together.

    Larger shelters were carried on 3 ton GS lorries and included:

    Shelter, portable No 4 which was a simple square tent with a wooden frame.

    The Aldershot Shelter, or Mobile Workshop Shelter Type A, which was a more elaborate and sturdier shelter with canvas over a steel tube frame. This gave a forty foot square working space.

    A Romney hut which was an even more elaborate and spacious shelter with a framework of curved metal tubes on the sides and again with a canvas cover. This came in eight foot sections with a total length of ninety six foot being normal.


    Stores lorry.
    6 X 4 General Service lorries were modified for the stores role by having the floor strengthened and wire mesh screens fitted. The screens were fastened to the inside of the tilts tubular structure and were to prevent pilfering. At the rear there were screens which could be folded back to allow access when working. The body was fitted with bins for spare parts along both sides, leaving a space in the centre of each side for a writing desk and a stationary rack. Record keeping was important for stock control.


    Derrick lorry.
    This had a platform body with low chock sides. At the rear there was a 3 ton A frame which could be folded forward in transit. There were jacks under each rear corner to support the body when lifting heavy loads. A 5 ton chassis winch provided the power for lifting via rope and pulleys. In workshops the derrick was used to lift and transport heavy crates and assemblies.


    Breakdown and Recovery.

    Breakdown Gantry Lorry.
    This was the most common breakdown and recovery vehicle, being found in all Light Aid Detachments and in recovery units. The chassis and body were shorter than other vehicles in the 3ton 6 X 4 class. The body was mounted high and had a flat floor with a well running from the mid point to the rear. This was to allow the gantry to be used. In stead of the normal tilt the gantry lorry had a sturdy steel superstructure to support the gantry, which was a steel rail with a travelling block at the rear end. When travelling the gantry was slid fprward over the cab. In operation the gantry could be used in three positions: If slid so that it projected three foot to the rear it could lift two and a half tons. This might be a suspended tow or for lifting engines or other heavy components. If slid so that it projected six foot to the rear it could lift one ton. For a higher lift, but a capacity of only 15 cwt, the forward end of the gantry could be lowered to the floor of the well. Whichever position was selected the lift was effected by hand using a chain operated travelling block.

    There was a five ton winch for recovering stranded vehicles or for loading a trailer. There were rollers for the winch cable at the rear and at the front nearside.

    The Breakdown Gantry Lorry was very well equipped and carried the following:

    In the well:
    4 X 6 foot by one foot gun planks.
    A 6 foot by 6 inch ground roller.
    2 X 3 foot by 6 inch ground roller.
    4 X 3 foot by 6 inch by 3 inch skids.
    15 ton snatch blocks.
    8 ton pulley snatch blocks.

    Elsewhere in the body or fastened inside the superstructure.
    2 skid pans.
    A bench vice.
    1 10lb sledge hammers.
    2 pickaxe.
    A felling axe.
    2 shovels.
    A towbar.
    Various ropes.
    Hand tools in a cupboard at the front of the body.

    Some carried a two wheeled dolly to support a vehicle with front end damage when being towed.

    A recovery trailer capable of carrying Carriers, light tanks or 15 cwt trucks could be towed.


    upload_2023-2-1_8-44-12.png

    Some of the equipment carried in the 6 X 4 Breakdown Lorry. One of a series of more than 30 photographs of equipment loads for various recovery vehicles.


    upload_2023-2-1_8-45-35.png

    Hoisting the engine out of a lorry using the gantry and chain hoist of a Breakdown Gantry Lorry.

    Heavier recovery vehicles, particularly for use in recovering artillery and armoured vehicles, were in short supply. There were a small number of FWD recovery tractors and the Scammel SV1 was in production and being delivered when available. Shortages were made up by using artillery tractors although these were also in short supply. The Scammel Heavy Artillery Tractor was used as was the AEC Matador.


    The personnel.
    In the early days the great majority of the RAOC maintenance and repair personnel were pre war volunteers for the Special Reserve. On mobilisation they reported to Reporting Centres and almost immediately joined units and went to France. They were from the motor industry and were skilled craftsmen but had no military training, weapons training or even uniforms until they reported. One criticism made was that they were prone to spend to much time on repairing vehicles, often manufacturing parts from scratch, when they should have replaced an entire assembly or sub assembly and sent the faulty item to the base workshops. This of course supposed that replacement assemblies were available.


    Mike.

    That seems to be all I have at the moment. I know that there will be many forum members waiting to make additions or corrections, and many who will have photographs they wish to share.

    I hope that I have shown that although there was no fighting for the first nine months of the BEFs time in France there was plenty of everyday activity involved in simply maintaining an army (I have not even mentioned the RAF. One day perhaps.)
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2023
    PackRat, Aixman and morrisc8 like this.
  2. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    I found these.


    upload_2023-2-3_10-46-4.png

    Stores lorries issuing stores.
    Not with the BEF. The rear axles suggest a 4 X 4 which was not available yet.

    upload_2023-2-3_10-49-19.png

    Interior of a Store Lorry.
    Very comfortable. Note the rug under the desk.

    upload_2023-2-3_10-51-15.png

    Derrick Lorry.

    Mike
     
    PackRat and Aixman like this.
  3. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Nothing much changes. First line maintenance on transport 1810.

    upload_2023-2-5_15-45-16.png


    upload_2023-2-5_15-46-15.png

    French Napoleonic field forge by Historex that I assembled and painted 40 years ago.

    Mike
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    IWM O282 includes a Leyland Retriever workshop with pillar drill visible. A couple of 'impressed' motorcycles there- an AJS in the foreground and an overhead camshaft Norton at the rear. I guarantee that even a Base Workshop didn't have the spare parts and the competence to set one of those up properly ! Centre is a WD16H Norton with 1st Infantry Division sign.

    large_O_000282.jpg
     
    PackRat likes this.
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    :)"(I like these photos. They are so natural and unposed.)"

    You don't say ?

    A closer look at this photo shows the movement serial 2125H on the civilian 1939 model Norton..It was allocated to No.3 Workshop Detachment at Cherbourg...so they were fiddling with their own kit for the photographer. Lots of nice detail though.

    A 1939 Civ Imp 16H 2125H with  No.3 Workshop Det.  Cherbourg 29.9.39 IWM O64 (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2023
    Trux likes this.
  6. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Rich,

    Nice clear photos. Obviously by the same person who took those in my Post 81. John Keating, War Office official photographer. Although I make fun of his carefully arranged and posed photos the detail is as clear and crisp as one could wish.

    Mike
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2023
    morrisc8 likes this.
  7. Philip W

    Philip W Active Member

    Would you happen to know the name of the Royal Navy Port Officer for St. Malo at the time of the evacuations in 1940? My interest lies in the final days before the German army entered St Malo and, in particular, the Operation XD demolition party that were landed there from HMS Wild Swan on 17th June 1940.

    Many thanks,

    Philip






     
  8. billh35

    billh35 Active Member

    Trux - Given this amazing detail what information is there on the Formation of the Motor Coach Companies of the RASC?

    In addition do you have any idea what became of the encyclopedic records of the Vehicle Census Branch of the RASC for impressed vehicles?
     
  9. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Philip,
    I am afraid that my interests lay more with organisation than with individuals. I do not have any material which would contain the answer to your question. Sorry.

    Bill,
    Apart from a brief mention that The BEF employed motor coaches in troop carrying companies on the Line of Communication and a single batch of replacement coaches being shipped I have not seen anything helpful.

    Mike
     
    Philip W likes this.
  10. billh35

    billh35 Active Member

    Can you tell me more about the single batch of replacement coaches? 62 vehicles were impressed from the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board in early 1940, were shipped out of N.I. and never heard of again...could these be the same vehicles?
     
  11. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Bill,

    Unfortunately the records of sailings do not always specify the type of vehicles but simply say '126 vehicles for No2 Base Ordnance Depot' or similar.

    The only specific mention of buses is 6 buses 28 seater sailing on 8 April for 2 Base Ordnance Depot.

    Mike
     
    Rich Payne likes this.

Share This Page