Resources Search Results - full record

Title CHARLES PRICE. THE DIAMOND T TANK TRANSPORTER

Description
The Diamond T Tank Transporter was a heavy tank transporter, used in World War II and the following years. Designed as a heavy prime mover for tank transporting, the Diamond T 980 was the product of the Diamond T Company in Chicago. In 1940 the British Purchasing Commission, looking to equip the British Army with a vehicle capable of transporting larger and heavier tanks, approached a number of American truck manufacturers to assess their models. The Diamond T Company had a long history of building rugged, military vehicles for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and had recently produced a prototype heavy vehicle for the US Army which, with a few slight modifications met British requirements and an initial order for 200 was very quickly filled.

The result was the Diamond T 980, a 12-ton hard-cab 6x4 vehicle which proved to be one of the most successful and memorable in its class. Powered by a Hercules DXFE OHV inline six diesel engine developing, and proved capable of the task of moving the heaviest tanks then in service. It had a four-speed manual constant-mesh transmission plus a similar three-speed auxiliary gearbox, for a total of twelve forward and three reverse speeds, and airbrakes.
Source: The Museum of Learning

Charles Price drove one of these transporters during World War 11. He describes the bonnet as being long enough to sleep on. The gear was so low that you get out on a gradient and walk round to get in the other side to change drivers. Twenty four volt batteries were used to start the engine and lights.

The picture shows the type 11 trailer, driven by Charles in France. There was no comfort here as it did not have wind up windows like the older version.
The trailer is American, built by Rogers.

Read Charles Prices's story in a separate file.

Keywords Diamond T Company Chicago; Herculese diesel engine; Museum of Learning

Collection Overseas Battle Fronts

Place France

Year !944-5

Conflict World War Two

File type html

Record ID number 184

Return to the search results?

Can you add any more information to this resource?

If so please complete this form and we will be in touch

Change text size -

Title	CHARLES PRICE. THE DIAMOND T TANK TRANSPORTER
Description	The Diamond T Tank Transporter was a heavy tank transporter, used in World War II and the following years. Designed as a heavy prime mover for tank transporting, the Diamond T 980 was the product of the Diamond T Company in Chicago. In 1940 the British Purchasing Commission, looking to equip the British Army with a vehicle capable of transporting larger and heavier tanks, approached a number of American truck manufacturers to assess their models. The Diamond T Company had a long history of building rugged, military vehicles for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and had recently produced a prototype heavy vehicle for the US Army which, with a few slight modifications met British requirements and an initial order for 200 was very quickly filled. The result was the Diamond T 980, a 12-ton hard-cab 6x4 vehicle which proved to be one of the most successful and memorable in its class. Powered by a Hercules DXFE OHV inline six diesel engine developing, and proved capable of the task of moving the heaviest tanks then in service. It had a four-speed manual constant-mesh transmission plus a similar three-speed auxiliary gearbox, for a total of twelve forward and three reverse speeds, and airbrakes. Source: The Museum of Learning Charles Price drove one of these transporters during World War 11. He describes the bonnet as being long enough to sleep on. The gear was so low that you get out on a gradient and walk round to get in the other side to change drivers. Twenty four volt batteries were used to start the engine and lights. The picture shows the type 11 trailer, driven by Charles in France. There was no comfort here as it did not have wind up windows like the older version. The trailer is American, built by Rogers. Read Charles Prices's story in a separate file.
Keywords	Diamond T Company Chicago; Herculese diesel engine; Museum of Learning
Collection	Overseas Battle Fronts
Place	France
Year	!944-5
Conflict	World War Two
File type	html
Record ID number	184