LVT 4 in Australia 1973

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Back in the '70s, there was a requirement for a new bridge near where I lived.

An LVT-4 was used to conduct the soil/bedrock survey before a new bridge was built alongside the original.

I was still at high school at the time; living not far from the northern end of the bridge.

With my trusty "Instamatic" in hand, I got a ride with my sister to watch the beast "do its thing". Then it drove up onto the beach at the Brighton (southern) end.

I managed to get permission from the operator to climb aboard and get some photos.

Here they are.

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[browningautorifle]

I wonder where that was hiding? They must have found it lying around after the US pulled out...just kind of abandoned like...

[Bruce_in_Oz]

The Australian Army had a few of these (probably traded for beer with the Yanks, who were "officially" DRY). They were used in the nasty little campaign of mopping-up the remnant Japanese forces left behind the main withdrawal.

My father, who was a WW2 Staff-Sargeant Motor mechanic had a few stories about how his unit in North Queensland "traded" for parts to keep their Marmon-Herrington gun tractors going. The story goes that they had officially traded their M-H's for nice new British "Quads". These were quickly assessed as "not capable of pulling the skin off a rice-pudding", and the Marmon-Herringtons were "retrieved".

This particular LVT was last seen in 1978 in a "car-recycler" yard near a north Brisbane suburb called Bald Hills. It was still very yellow but the drilling rig appeared to have been removed. If Australian history ran to form, it was probably gas-axed for beer money.

If you go here: Melbourne Tank Museum Auction AFV Listing | Australian Military Modelling Society, there is/was one for sale in Melbourne, along with a few other goodies, including the "assault" version, the LVTA4.

And for the Kiwis..............Heavy metal Buffalo needs a little TLC | Stuff.co.nz

For the Canadians, there is the Flamethrower version of the A4, allegedly called the "Ronson".

UK 79th Div, "The Funnies" also operated LVT4s in all manner of operations across Europe in the last great unpleasantness.

[browningautorifle]

north Brisbane suburb called Bald Hills

That wouldn't be out behind Enoggera Barracks by chance?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

No, Ball Hills is north of there, between Aspley / Carsledine and Strathpine. During WW2 Strathpine was yet another huge military encampment and airfield. Major landmark of Bald Hills today is the enormous antenna tower for the local ABC radio transmitter; (50 KW up the stick)

I live about 1 Km out the back of said barracks, however. What is now part of my suburb, was the close-training area for the barracks during WW1 and 2 and backed onto market gardens, themselves now turned into a trendy housing development.

[browningautorifle]

I was in Enoggera for a bit during '77...it's changed a bit according to Google Earth...

[Peter Laidler]

Enoggera......... Yep, me too! Prior to Canungra

[browningautorifle]

Exactly...drinking Brisbane Bitter in the Kevin Wheatley(VC) club in Canungra...watching the Platypus in the Yalu...chasing lizards through tent city...