529 Company RASC Vehicle Numbers

Discussion in 'Vehicle Names and Census Numbers' started by Tom OBrien, Jun 1, 2016.

  1. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    Within the war diary of 529 Coy RASC (52 Division)there are a series of Daily Orders which include congratulations to drivers for presenting the best vehicle in local or REME inspections. The unit was one of the RASC companies under command of 52 Infantry Division and I believe was equipped with 3-ton load vehicles.

    I copied a random selection of vehicle numbers and wondered if anyone could identify the type? I was hoping they would be Austin K5 3-tonners but sadly I don't think the numbers match up.

    M5397800
    L159493
    L512101
    L217051
    L512048
    C65943
    L4880870
    C936113
    L238319
    L199722


    All help gratefully received.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  2. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Tom,

    Nice to see your posts again. I am afraid only one looks to be what you are looking for:-

    M5397800 - Austin 3 ton 4 x 2 GS, M5394641-M5400640
    L159493 - this is just listed as various L150001-L166709
    L512101 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS + Open Workshop L510001-L513939
    L217051 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS + Slave L216852-L217170
    C65943 - Matchless 350cc solo C63586-C67585
    L4880870 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS L4876349-L4886339
    C936113 - Matchless 350cc solo C934001-C93859
    L238319 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS + Open Workshop L238086-239017
    L199722 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS L199580-L200304

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
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  3. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Kevin,

    Thanks for details - as always very useful. I have a few more if you are interested. Unfortunately, I read on through the diary this evening and found a reference to: 13 Aug 44 "complete set of new vehicles taken over' and later entries show that these were still 3-tonners, despite a bout of Jeep training before departing for the continent. The last Daily Orders I copied was, as Sod's Law ensured, dated from the middle of July so that I'll have to go back to the file and see if Daily Orders after mid-August make reference to vehicle numbers as well. I was surprised to see that an infantry division RASC company would have 3-ton 4x2's so I'm thinking that the change in August would have been to 4x4's. So there is still hope of a K5!!!

    Additional numbers were:
    C936193
    M5397800
    L512048
    L215590
    L491592

    L199715
    L199739
    L199714
    C936134

    Last 4 were all noted as belonging to "B" Platoon - which suggests that before Aug 44 the unit's load vehicles were Bedford 3-ton 4x2 GS.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  4. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Tom,

    Thanks for the additional numbers. Please continue to post them.

    The majority of the extra numbers are already covered by the number ranges I posted earlier with 2 exceptions:-

    L215590 - Bedford 3 ton 4 x 2 GS + Open Workshop. L213102-L216201. Another Bedford I am afraid.
    L491592 - interestingly I have 465375-500000 as not being taken up. I have come across other "not taken up" numbers in the past though.

    If it is a help these are the number ranges I have for Austin 3 ton GS 4 x 4's
    L761100-761150
    L4474235-4474235
    L4891340-4892639
    L5130713-5130812
    L5192103-5194198
    L5822868-5825367

    There are others but they cover air portable, AT portees, water as well as loads of 4 x 2's.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
    Aixman likes this.
  5. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Kevin,

    I found a couple of vehicle numbers in the war diary for later that year (November 1944), not Austin K5's though:

    L5434210
    L5434787

    Any ideas?

    I'd hoped they might be air-portable K5's as 52 Division was air-portable!

    Regards

    Tom
     
  6. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Hi Tom,

    Sorry they are Fords, but at least they are 4 x 4's

    L5432051-5437050 Ford 3 ton 4 x 4 GS


    The Air-Portable number ranges I have are:-

    L6161001-L6164000
    L6239421-L6243420

    Please keep posting any numbers you find.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     
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