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Ward LaFrance Model 1000, 6 x 6, 6V (Front view, left side)

 
 

Front view, left side

Picture courtesy of Danish Army Material Command


Danish Army Specific: A total of 11 vehicles were delivered as part of the MDAP 1951 - 55. Shown vehicle is probably a 1942 series 2.
Historical
: The common layout for US military trucks had been established in the 1930s and the favoured design was a normal control (long bonnet) truck with, in most cases, 6 wheel drive. Load capacity was usually underquoted to allow a large overload in emergencies. Dual rear wheels were the norm.
A huge range of such trucks was produced in load capacities ranging from 2½ tons to 12 tons. The heavier trucks often filled the role of tractors for artillery or in some cases tank transporters.
One such heavy duty 6 wheeled truck was built by Ward LaFrance (1941 - 45) and, unusually, only a recovery variant appeared. The first type, the M1 which was standardised in July 1941, used a civilian pattern sheet metal cab (designed by Brockway) but a later version produced from 1943, the
M1A1, used an open cab with folding canvas top. With the arrival of the M1A1, the M1-version was classified as "limited standard".
The M1 was produced in four different models (Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4). The Series 1 used 11.25 - 20 tires and lacked the rear drag winch. The Series 2 had its spare tires mounting changed to one diagonally behind the cab and the other on the passengers side of the crane base. The Series 3 which lacked the front and rear trailer connecters found on earlier models were produced for Lend-Lease to the Commonwealth nations. The Series 4 had a Gar Wood US5G crane readily identifiable by its curved boom. To ad to the confusion the M1A1 was also known as the M1 Series 5.
Production of the wreckers was shared between Ward LaFrance and
Kenworth. The Kenworth models were known as the 570, 571, 572 and 573 respectively.
Both variants were used by Denmark.
The powerful 10 ton front winch, the 20 ton rear winch and 5-ton hand-operated swinging-boom crane with manual boom control (all mfg. by Gar Wood) made the Ward LaFrance a very capable recovery vehicle much favoured by those who used it.
However, the twin rear wheels of the Ward LaFrance caused problems in rough terrain. Stones and battle debris became lodged between the tyres and if the inner wheel was punctured, removing and replacing it was complicated. For this reason many in the British Army preferred the less sophisticated
Scammell whose cross country performance on single tyres was much better although its winch could not match that on the US vehicle.
Length: 7.92 m (276 inches).
Width: 2.51 m (100 inches).
Height: 3.10 m (120 inches).
Weight: 15.900 kg (34.980 lb.).
Engine
: 6-cylinder Continental, type 22R, 8.211 cm3 (501 cubic inches) displacement, liquid cooled.
Horsepower: 145 at 2.400 rpm.
Transmission: 5-speed, Fuller type 5A620.
Transfer case: 2-speed, Timken type T77-3-3.
Electrical system: 12 volt, positive ground.
Brakes: Air (Bendix-Westinghouse).
Tyres: 11.00 - 20.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 1.01 m (40 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Petrol.
Fuel capacity: 378 liter (83 gallons).
Range: 400 km (250 miles).
Crew: 1 + 1.
Additional: As a factory supplied option, some of the vehicles had 14.00 - 20 single tyres. A little more than 2.000 M1´s were produced. Other users were Austria, Canada, France, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.


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