French Standardized Type ca Field Ambulance.
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Generally a Fiat Chassis with Wood Body for Five Stretchers.
standardized type of field ambulance has been adopted for the French army, as the result of two years' 'practical experience, and is a very fine example of practicability and simplicity. The Chassis generallk adopted is the15-20 h.p. Fiat, which has a fourcylinder monobloe motor of 80 num. by 140 mm. It is known as the I,ton _type, but with the exception of a reinforced rear axle, stronger frame Members, and twin tires on the rear, is similar to the touring car model. The final 'gear reduc
tion on this Model is .5 to 1. .
The outstanding feature of this ambulance is the provisicir for carrying five stretchers and the ease of loading and Unloading. The addition of an extra stretcher on a vehicle of such moderate dimensions is very valuable, for in work at the Front stretcher cases are not only the most urgent, but those which present the greatest difficulties' and are so. largely responsible for congesting the ambulance sera-ice. In ease of great activity, it is always possible to press a few lorries into servicefor the removal of the more slightly wounded. On some portions of the Front this is very frequently done, the lorry with its capacity of 30 or 40 sitters doing as much work as three or four ordinary ambulances. Such aid, however, cannot be considered when the wounded men have to be removed on stretchers,
One of the illustrations shows that there are five pairs of rails in this ambulance, one pair being just below the top front edge of the seats, and the four pairs against the walls and down the centre of the vehicle. On each rail is a pair of stretcher-arm carriers, the forward one of each pair being mounted on a roller, and both having coil spring suspension. When the forward stretcher arms have
been •pushed into, carriers, the stretcher can e pushed ahead without any difficulty, and when fully in the two rear carriers are slipped over the end of the stretcher. This method is decidedly better than rails, for experience has shown that loaded stretchers never will slide easily on rails, with the result that oneman has to be inside the ambulance to take a little of the load and one or two at the rear.
It will be noticed, also, that the space under the seat is boxed -in. This, is a valuable economy of space, for it was rarely that the men put their kit under the seat, and there are now provided central rails on which various articles of equipment can be hung or laid. The central portion under theseat is occupied by the rear wheels, for the body is the fall Width of the chassis. At each end, and opening from the outside, is a spacious locker, thus providing four very spacious compartments in Which the driver can keep l,ii tools, sup'plies and personal kit, The body' is all wood, a single thickness of plank, dovetailed and forming a smooth surface inside. The two centre panels an each side, directly above the rear wheels, are' hinged' and can be locked against the corresponding end panels, thus giving plenty of air in hot weather. The rear door is of wood, in two parts, hinged top and bottom. This is a more satisfactory method than doors hinged in the ordinary way. -It is found that an all-wood body is much more satisfactory than one of wood and canvas. In addition to the difficulty of keeping this latter clean, canvas is very liable to be tarn by the branehes of overhanging trees and minor collisions with other Vehicles, or with overhanging loads froin vehicles. There are no
side windows, but instead two in the front and two in the rear.
The lighting system is acetylene for the two headlights and a pair of oil side lamps. These latter do double duty, tor they are mounted on the front of the body, to left and right of the driver, and their rear disc illuminates the inside of the ambulance through a small glass window cut in the body. This obviates any necessity for a lamp inside the antbulance. The position or these lamps makes it possible for the driver to cover the glass face without leaving his seat, when working from trent line positions where tights must not be shown, yet at the same thne the interior need not be deprived of all light. This is only a detail, but one of great importance to men who have done much front dressing station work
The driver can have a completely enclosed cab, but the roof is not so low as to make night driving the horror it is on some low-topped vehicles. There are waterproof side curtains and a waterproof apron rolling on the top of the dash. Demountable steel disc wheels are employed, the tire size being 820 mm. by 120 mm., with twins at the rear. Each driver carries a couple of spare wheels mounted above the short running board on the right. Spare tubes are hot carried, for it is exceptional for a driver to have more than two punctures on any single trip. Petrol is carried under the front seat, with a. spare petrol carrier on the left-hand running board. Each ambulance is fitted with a Pyretic fire extinguisher.
Although it seems a simple matter to deSign an ambulance, it is surprising how many poor types were employed before this stan, dardized design was adopted, and, indeed, how many defective models are still in service The ono here aescribed has been developed as the outcome of practical service, and, as•the writer can testify after much front line dressing station work, is a wonderfully efficient model. A chassis of this size is very. economical, both under the heading of original cost and maintenance; it is sufficientky light and small to travel anywhere, and yet it is not overloaded with eight sitters ; and it can carry five stretcher cases, which is one more than can be put aboard some very much larger ambulances now used in France.
The interior dimensions of this body are 7 ft. 6 ins. by 4 ft. 8 ins:, with a height of 5 ft. 3 ins. Artificial heating is provided from the exhaust, this being by means of a metal pan down the middle of the floor, and fiush with it, into Which the exhaust gases can be turned when desired.