AT WORK ON THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER.
Page 10
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Remarkable Performances by Thornycroft Lorries in India.
A LITIOETCH there is a considerable
number of British vehicles in service in various parts of the world, it is a curious fact that, with the exception of one or two makes, very few details are received in this country of their performances.
From time to time some manufacturers do get news of the doings of vehicles in different parts of the world, but very rarely do they obtain such an interesting story as that which has just been received by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., from Sergt. B. C. Tinton, of the No. 4 (Indian) A.S.C.M.T. Company with the Bazmak Field Force
Our readers will recall that in our last issue we published an illustration of an X-type Thornycroft lorry -towing an ambulance across the River Tochi whilst engaged in operations on the N.W. Frontier, and the additional pictures which we publish on this page, together with the details of the working of the vehicle, are intended to supplement this first-published picture. The sergeant. in command of this -column opens his letter by referring to the splendid work carried out by the X-type Thornycroft lorries during the operations against Bazmak and Ayakim. He mentions that the nearest railhead to the front in this part is some 70 miles distant, and that although many hundreds of lorries of various types and makes are in use it is necessary to work at the highest possible pressure in order to maintain supplies. '
The greatest drawback which has to be encountered is the crossing of the River Mehl smith of Pal. This is effected by means of a causeway which, in normal times, would be covered by 3 ins. or 4 ins. of water. During the -recent operations, however, it had been rendered impassable for almost any type of motor vehicle owing to excessive floods caused by heavy rains and the For three days po attempt was made to cross with the lorries, although a certain amount of stores was carried over on camels. This procedure proved very slow and inconvenient, as there are about 19 miles to COM7ey the stores after crossing the river, and, in spite of the fact that about 400 camels were used, stores could not be passed through quickly enough, On the third day Serge Tinton suggested to his commanding officer that the Thornycroft lorries with their comparatively high-plated carburetters and magnetos would he able to negotiate the stream. Permission was granted for an attempt to be made, but after reaching mid-stream the vehicle gave out the water penetrated into the jet of the carburetter, although, after taking down the cal-buretter and cleaning and drying it it was found possible to start the engine again, after which the other side of the stream was reached without further mishap. It. was thought, after this first experience, that if something could be done to stop the water reaching the induction pipe via the extra-air inlet, all would 1Fas well. Sergt. Tinton thereupon waded back through the river holding on to a wire hawser, and after reaching the other side he wrapped bits of cloth, etc., round the carburetter of the second vehicle, which was driven across the stream without any trouble. The fly-wheel churned up gallons of water through the footboards, so that the driver's view was often blotted out.
Fifteen lorries were driven across that day, out of which only three stuck with water-logged carburetters. With 15 vehicles on the other side of the stream it VMS found possible to maintain a better supply of stores to Asad KleI by using the camels for carrying them across the river.
The river showed no signs of subsiding after several days, and it was eventually decided to use six Thornycroft vehicles for towing vehicles of other " Makes across, and about 50 vehicles of two different snakes carrying their fullrated loads of 3 tons were successfully dealt with in this manner. All earInsrotters and magnetos had to be taken down after towing the lorries through the stream, but this proved more expedient than the job of off-loading from the lorries to the camels.
In speaking of the efficiency and reliability of vehicles in difficult circumstances. Sergi Tinton closes his letter by