Theatre Conversion of Cargo GMC to Dump Truck

[Robbo]

I recently came across a photo-history of the Coopers Plains Ordnance Depot here in Brisbane Australia by Roger Marks see:

http://members.dodo.net.au/qaww2/

Roger has done a lot of research in the NARA photo archives for WW2 pictures of US Forces in Australia. Anyone who can support his wonderful efforts please do so.

Of the many experimental vehicle projects undertaken at this base, there was one by the 99th Ordnance (Heavy Mtce) Company of a cargo-bodied GMC to a dump truck. This involved the fitting of an underbody hoist and top-hinged tailgate. The fuel tank and spare wheel apparently had to be lowered. Whether this was a one-off or a pilot model for a conversion kit to meet local demand is unknown although I have seen another photo of a similar conversion taken outside the factory of a local engineering company so there may have been a run of these conversions done.

Two pictures are reproduced in the book of the conversion (NARA - Group RG111SC- Negs 291428 & 291429) dated 29 December, 1943. The truck had a USA number of 4534320 and belonged to the 4656 Engineers.

The recent photographs in Army Motors of a jeep fitted with a capstan winch are from the same source. Captured Japanese vehicles and equipment were examined at this base by the Technical Inteligence Unit.

Sadly, nothing remains of this base except a mundane housing estate, although another collector did manage to save the igloo building where a lot of this work was done as well as the base's air raid siren. He has written an article for a future edition of Army Motors.

So your apparently civilian-converted dump truck may not necessarily be non-military, If they did it here, they may have done similar conversions in Europe as well.