From: notmanr7@comcast.net
Date: Mon Jun 28 2004 - 05:26:03 PDT
I have just joined the list after listening to one of the members at the MVPA convention
in Mobile talk it up. I quickly read the "rules", forgive me if this is quite correct for my
first posting...
There is a discussion going on about maintenance levels. I don't know anything about
50s, 60s, etc on how it was done. However, I have studied how it was done in WW2.
There were five levels or echelons of maintenance during WW2.
First Echelon(company) - "A vehicle in combat service receives prescribed daily and
weekly preventive maintenance from the driver and assistant driver..."
Second Echelon (company) - "...with more thorough preventive maintenance monthly
from the company mechanic, who also makes minor repairs and adjustment" This would
be the guy or team of guys that would remove your busted transmission and install a
new or repaired one. The would not be the crew that would rebuild major components,
except under unusual circumstances.
Second Echelon (battalion or regimental) - "Semi-annually it receives preventive
maintenance from the battalion or regimental mechanic, who has more equipment and a
little more time to use it."
Third Echelon Light Maintenance (divisional) - "If major repairs are found necessary, a
recovery truck from the Ordnance light maintenance company hauls it back to the light
maintenance mobile repair shop in the division bivouac area for replacement of the
defective unit."
Third Echelon Medium Maintenance (corps or army) - "If time and facilities here are not
enough for the job, a recovery truck from the Ordnance medium maintenance company
(corps of troops) hauls it back to a larger medium maintenance semi-mobile repair shop.
Here, unit assemblies may be replaced and small accessory assemblies may be
overhauled."
Fourth Echelon Heavy Maintenance (army) - "IF the vehicle's condition is very bad, a
recovery truck from the Ordnance heavy maintenance company hauls it back to the
heavy maintenance semi-mobile repair shop in the army service area. There its usable
parts and assemblies are combined with those of other disabled vehicles in a process
called "cannibalizing," by which serviceable vehicles are created."
Fifth Echelon (motor base) - "Finally, the faulty assemblies replaced by third and fourth
echelons are shipped to the motor base in the communications zone or zone of the
interior for precision production-line rebuilding. They will then be sent back to the third
and fourth echelons for repair of other vehicles."
The above is a "birds eye view of the echelons at work..this illustrates what happens to
a vehicle in an Infantry Division--the echelons through which it passes and the work
each echelon does on it. Almost the same plan holds for the other types of division."
This was taken from the June 1943 Army Motors. There is also another great article
from January 1941, AM entitled "A Guide Through The Maintenance Maze." That helps
one understand how all the echelons work.
As I said I'm new to the list so I will introduce myself if that's okay. I have been a mv
collector since about 1980, a member of the MVPA since about 1983..well, at any rate
I'm member no. 4249.
I have had my present 1942 Ford GPW since about 1981. I have dragged the jeep
from Panama City, FL to Vandenberg AFB, CA, to Minot AFB, ND, Eielson AFB, AK and
back to Panama City (Tyndall AFB) over a span of 16 years-until I retired from the AF in
1995. There is nothing quite as fun as driving a vehicle...a WW2 jeep in the winters in
ND and AK. I especially enjoyed driving my jeep in AK at -45F (no windchill) because I
had to get to work and my primary vehicle wouldn't start. No that was a blast. I had a
fully enclosed top that was modelled on the post-war top and two heaters (that was
before I had learned WW2 jeeps could have heaters installed during the war-I finally got
one last year). WW2 defrosters on the windshield let me see as well as the ice fog
would let me. All that and dressed in parka, bunny pants, mukluks and it was quite a
toasty ride to the base-about 15 miles or so in the dark and ice fog..only seeing the
white line painted on the road. Hairy but fun! So as not to tie up the list any more you
can see my jeep on my website should you be interested www.42FordGPW.com and
there you can also read about other jeep items from WW2. I have a fondness for WW2
modifications like the T1 Air Compressor, Vac wipers and such.
Bob N.
www.42FordGPW.com
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