CCKWS WITH PORTABLE TRACKS

[joel gopan]

Which one?

[retro-roco]

The CCKW version of the Chevy M6 bomb truck had a similar overhead crane or bomb hoist, and a portable track system for moving the really heavy ordnance. Is this the one you're talking about??

[joel gopan]

Hey,
This guy is sharp, the CCKW M-27 Bomb Service Truck has a bomb dolley and several sections of track for it as part of its equipment.
I was hoping I could award the General Patton Shovel to, along with a free bus ticket to Louisiana, but it ain't gonna happen this round.
Joel

[dr deuce]

Had a chance to buy one in 2000 for $600 that was all there (truck wise) and I didn't get it. It was in GA and I am in NH.

I still kick myself...

They are quite rare. I have never personally seen one in 25 years either in the US or Europe.

[joel gopan]

There was an intact one in Texas in the middle of GM Wilsons yard in Gladewater, which was full of nice WWII vehicles. He passed away. My good friend Lawrence Nabholtz got a lot of nice surplus out of there. Lawrence told me a person could not have gotten it out of there no matter how bad it was wanted, as it was surrounded by Army equipment. This was late 60s, early 70s. Those days are over. The M-27 was a complicated machine, winch and PTO wise.
Joel

[Matt]

Unitil recently I thought the M-27 was not used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK but after watching Target for Today again there are at least two brief shots of a M-27 bombing up a B17.there are probably M-27's or at least parts somwhere over here,just a case of finding them!

[joel gopan]

I have NOS Floorboards for them, all M-27s were Open Cabs, the floorboards had two locations for PTO levers, one for the front winch, the other to operate the rear winch. I have one Operators Manual for the M-27, TM9-766, I have some of the Specialized Tools used with the M-26, the lifting Bars for the Bombs, there is a long and a short, they are hing from the block on the hoist. The M-27B1 weighs 2100lb more than the Wood Bodied LWB CCKW w/wood cargo body.
Joel

[joel gopan]

I have NOS Floorboards for them, all M-27s were Open Cabs, the floorboards had two locations for PTO levers, one for the front winch, the other to operate the rear winch. I have one Operators Manual for the M-27, TM9-766, I have some of the Specialized Tools used with the M-26, the lifting Bars for the Bombs, there is a long and a short, they are hung from the block on the hoist, I also have a NOS M1 Bomb Lift Dolley. The M-27B1 weighs 2100 lb more than the Wood Bodied LWB CCKW w/wood cargo body. There were two versions of the M-27, the M27 (Steel Cargo body) and M-27B1 (Wood Cargo Body). All had front winch.
Joel

[joel gopan]

Should one of these M-27 Bomb Service Trucks ever appear as surplus to the US Military, it most likely would have to be demilled. Whether the followers of this site realize it or not, all GI equipment and their repair parts still in Military use and getting support from the DOD has been assigned the long winded 13 digit FSN of the TARES System that started in the mid 50s. The M-27 is part of a weapons system and the components that allow it to handle Ordnance would now be a demil item. This is why Halftracks, and other WWII Armored equipment such as the dragon Wagon, and the High Speed tractors (M-18) are not allowed to be sold intact for return to the US. This has been in effect for a number of years. I doubt that the M-27 is in use anywhere. In the 50s, the USAF discovered that the new M-108 2 1/2 Ton 6X6 Crane Truck with the Austin Western Hydraulic Boom was ideal and much more efficient for handling Bombs. The M-108 went out with the 60s.During and since Viet Nam, the USAF has been using a machine called the "Jammer" for handling bombs.
Joel

[Matt]

Joel,probably the best bet for finding an M-27 which has not been demilled is in the UK,one that was sold in the late forties as surplus.

The Eighth took very little in the way of ground equipment home with them,it still turns up in barns,yards and hedges from time to time.

Matt.

[Matt]

I just watched Target For Today again and the truck which I thought was an M-27 is in fact a closed cab 353 Chemical Service truck towing an M5 trailer.my mistake.there are also shots of a CCKW Wrecker with Set 7.

Matt.

[joel gopan]

The set No. 7 structures still turn up at machinery auctions from time to time, less the chainfalls. I have a waiting list for the chainfalls.
Joel

[Matt]

I have a complete set 7,the chainfall (block to us Brits) is post war French.interesting to note the CCKW with set 7 in the manual illustration on the main page is of a CCKWX with set 7,winch and gun mount.it has the hood number W-425919.

[joel gopan]

That early CCKWX No. 7 Photo is well published. That is what many Battalion Motor Pools had as part of its equipment, not all line companies had the DT Wrecker, they were more numerous at support units.
Joel

[Matt]

Interesting to see it has a cargo truck hood number,according to my CCKWX parts book the wreckers all had W-00**** numbers.they must have started retro fitting the set 7 into cargo trucks.

I will get my manual and post the numbers later.

Matt.

[joel gopan]

The Set 7 was also a kit, the USA Number on a Truck is permanent, and they did not get renumbered. There werre Contract numbers for the "00" USA Numbers, and the Truck was delivered as a Maintenance Truck with equipment. The "00" CCKWS were few. You can check "GMC Trucks at War" for the Numbers, if any.
Joel