Motor Lorries 2

Daimler CB Type

The Daimler Company of Coventry was a prolific builder of military vehicles, supplying buses, lorries, staff cars and ambulances. Daimler built over two and half thousand Y type trucks for the war department in a joint venture with AEC who built the chassis. Daimler also built the lighter CB a 3 ton truck down rated to 2 tons and 30 cwt in hot climates. The Daimlers operated by the 801st were the lighter 30cwt CB type.

Image – Daimler 30cwt CB type.

Karrier WDS 3 Ton

The Karrier WDS 3 ton lorry was built by Clayton and Company of Huddersfield. Clayton and Company had won approval for their design in the war department trials of 1913 and by the end of 1918 had supplied over 1500 to the war department. Other Karrier Motor Lorries such as the B type from 1911 were not directly supplied to the war department by Claytons for war work but found service when commandeered from civilian owners.

Image – Karrier WDS 3 ton Lorry.

FWD B Type

The FWD B type Motor Lorry was manufactured by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company in Cintonville Wisconsin USA. FWDs were supplied to both the British and US armies during the First World War. Due to it’s exceptional traction the FWD was mainly used for hauling artillery and howitzers including the BL8 which weighed nearly 9 tons. The 801st had two FWDs temporarily attached in October 1918 after the advance into Bulgaria to help move supplies from Doiran through the Kosturino pass to Strumica.

Image – FWD B type in its more usual role hauling a Howitzer

Packard Model 5A

The 801st MT Company had one 5 ton lorry and although the diary doesn’t specify what make it was, it was quite likely to have been a Packard Model 5A. The Mechanical Transport work horses of the Great War were the 3 tonners such as the Thorneycroft type J, but a number of 5 tonners such as the Packard Model 5A were used. The Packard Model 5A as well as hauling heavy loads, was found to be ideally suited as a platform for an anti aircraft gun.

Image – Packard Model 5A