Amphibious Bantam

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Tom OBrien, Mar 16, 2021.

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  1. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    In the Landing Tables for 167 Brigade HQ for Operation Avalanche at Salerno in Sep 43, there is a reference to an "Amph Bantam". Does anyone have any more information about what kind of vehicle that could have been?

    A Ford GPA? I hadn't thought the British used them until Normandy.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    is this it

    The Ford GPA 'Seep' (Government 'P' Amphibious, where 'P' stood for its 80-inch wheelbase) was an amphibious version of the World War II Ford GPW jeep. Unlike the jeep, the seep was not a successful design; it was considered too slow and heavy on land, and lacked sufficient seagoing abilities in open water.[1] The design features of the much larger and more successful DUKW amphibious truck were used on the GPA.

    After having commissioned Willys, Ford and Bantam to build the first 4,500 jeeps (1500 each) in March 1941, the US Motor Transport Board set up a project under the direction of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) to be designated "QMC-4 1/4 Ton Truck Light Amphibian".[1]

    Ford GPA
     
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  3. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    It could well be, but I didn’t realise that the British had used them in the Mediterranean campaign. And the “Bantam” title throw me as well - I’ll see if there are any more references in other landing tables.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  4. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    This is “just” before D Day, I’m looking to see if I can spot it’s use earlier also


    Vehicle used by the British Army before D-Day, on 1st May 1944. Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey, GOC-in-C Second Army (left), with Major-General Percy Hobart, GOC 79th Armoured Division, during an invasion exercise

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    "After having commissioned Willys, Ford and Bantam to build the first 4,500 jeeps"
    one assumes it quotesthe amphib jeeps in the landing tables because it was produced by Bantam
     
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  6. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Looks to have been subject to an intensive test programme prior to September '43.

    Please see link within post here;

    Terrapin

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
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  7. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Thanks, I missed that clue. Doh!

    Fascinating footage - thanks.

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  8. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    They did appear briefly on the 1942 US Tables of Organization, mostly via amendment if I recall. I think I did happen across a photo of an amphib 1-4-ton truck in the Med theatre in 1943, when trying to establish if they were ever actually issued to US units involved in Sicily. It may simply have been borrowed by/lent to a British unit if the US had them available.

    Gary
     
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  9. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    The unit that the "Amph Bantam" is assigned to in the landing table is noted as:

    Att Bde HQ (DAQMG(M))

    Not sure if that makes it from 56 Div HQ or 10 Corps HQ? Only 1 in number personnel noted with it.

    Noted as LST serial no. 166 landing at approx 1400 hrs.

    I'll make a mental note to look out for other references - an unusual subject that might make a modeller's day!

    Regards

    Tom
     
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  10. Ian Grieve

    Ian Grieve Member

    Hi Tom, Ian from Australia and a GPA man and am just wondering if you have a scan/pic of that page of the Landing Table. Any reference to GPA in the table would be most appreciated. Aside and of interest, I have a comprehensive table of British GPA landings to France on D-Day.
     
  11. Ian Grieve

    Ian Grieve Member

    Tom, Normandy was the first location where the British used the GPA on the Fighting Front, however, their interest stems back to February 18, 1942, when Major A.E. Cambridge, British Army Staff and representative for the British Military Mission and Mr. H.M. Cole, representative for the British Purchasing Commission witnessed the first demonstration of the Ford # 1 pilot amphibian vehicle in the Huron River at Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S.A. I have upwards of a dozen pages written on the history of British involvement with the Ford GPA Amphibian Jeep prior to D-Day, June 6, 1944.
     
  12. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Ian,

    I’ll have a rummage on my old laptop and see if I can find the original.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  13. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi Ian,

    I've had a look in the transcription that I made of the war diary (WO169/8966) and it contains plenty of references to "Bantams" but only one to an "Amph Bantam". It's in the same loading list as references to simple "Bantams". There are no references to "GPA" though.

    Regards

    Tom
     

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