I've come across 3 military cranes/wreckers, of WWII vintage I think,
recently in my travels. They are all just sitting in various equipment
yards, I don't think they've moved in a long, long, time. They are (from
biggest to smallest):
Unknown vehicle model number, but the chassis is based on a 7 1/2 ton Mack
6x6 chassis. The truck from the cab forward looks identical to the Mack
Model NO, 7 1/2 ton prime mover as pictured in Crimson's "US Military
Wheeled Vehicles" book on page 377. The name plate in the cab indicated
Mack, 7 1/2 ton prime mover and a DOD of '45 I believe. This truck is huge!
My first thoughts were of someone stretching a standard Mack prime mover,
but I saw no evidence of obvious frame lengthening, and the wheelbase was
much longer than the standard prime mover. On the back was what looked like
a standard rotating crane assembly. The crane itself was similar in design
and function to the Quick Way, just a lot bigger. The main parts of the
vehicle are, more or less, all there with the exception of the windshield
and cab top.
A Model C666. It utilizes a standardized 6 ton 6x6 chassis built by White,
Corbitt, Brockway, and FWD, and a Quick Way rotating crane assembly. This
vehicle is pictured in Crimson's book on page 431. The vehicle is, more or
less, all there, but looks like it was rode hard and put away wet. The
windshield is also missing.
Basically an airplane wrecker based on Oshkosh's own commercial Model W709.
This vehicle is pictured in Crimson's book on page 281. It's basically a 5
ton 4x4, with a Gar Wood swinging boom type crane rated at 5 tons. It also
had a fifth wheel hitch on back for towing a flat bed trailer. The vehicle
looked rough from my viewing distance of about 50 feet.
I need a crane like I need a hole in the head, but I can't stop thinking
about these vehicles. At this point I'm just searching for information.
Anybody out there into or doing restorations on a Mack, Standardized 6 Ton,
or Oshkosh trucks that could give me some advice on how difficult
restorations of these type of trucks are? Before I jump in with both feet,
I'd really like to know how deep the water is!
I've asked Santa for Bart's new book on Macks, maybe that will provide more
information on the big monster. Hearing from anyone with further
information about these vehicles (or where I can go to get it) would be
greatly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Mike Bennett '44 DUKW, amphibious 2.5 ton transport truck
Fresno, California
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