Simple question: has anyone got info on the Ford GPA (amphibious jeep) in British service ?

TIA
R

I think, Google will be best helper for You !

For example:

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/gpa.htm
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1049106234/1049538247/British+use+of+Ford+GPA+Amphibian---


And here:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/jeep_thrills/message/16379

This last link have about 10 messages about GPA - simply scroll down the page, and on it's bottom You can see blue letters;
click on these letters and read.

And so on !

Thanks, Eduard.

As you might have imagined, I did a google search before posting this question.
(I should have mentioned that but I believed it was obvious anyone would do that.)
Apart from that one tiny photograph that you refer too as well, I didn't find anything useful enough to build a model.

So I rephrase my question:
has anyone got pictures of the the Ford GPA (amphibious jeep) in British service apart from the one in the link below?


TIA
Rob

Here's what I have, in more or less chronological order:

IWM H38215
"Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey, GOC-in-C Second Army (left), with Major-General Percy Hobart, GOC 79th Armoured Division, during an invasion exercise, 1 May 1944. A Ford GPA amphibious jeep can be seen behind."

The 79 Armd Div emblem is visible on the windscreen... plus a lifebuoy on the bonnet! Hobo must have been diffident of his ability to swim with a dufflecoat on...
?action=d


Now a series of photos of another vehicle, identified by the Landing Table as part of 1 pl, 'A' Coy, 5 KINGS (part of the Beach Group):

In convoy to embarkation area (IWM H38989, 38990 or 38993):


Uncropped photo:


Embarking aboard LCT 610 (serial 212) (IWM H39000):


On board LCT 610 (IWM B5110), with its two crew members wearing the Beach Group anchor emblem:
?action=d

and a close-up (courtesy Archer Fine Transfers / Bob Gregory), were we can see that the large wooden box contains an "APPARATUS, LOUDSPEAKER":


Another (?) GPA at Exit 18 behind COD Stongpoint of SWORD (see the famous "Twin Villas" in the background), probably on D-Day. The WD number reads something like 'P 5219796', but a better print would be welcome:


The uncropped photo shows it in good company:


And finally, a GPA on a British beach, possibly SWORD again. The WD no. is '5219707', but the prefix looks more like an 'N' (for 'Navy' ?) than like an 'M' (IWM A24012):


Uncropped photo:


Michel


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I have seen the first two, & know the next two but funny never noticed the GPA amoungst the Shermans of 13/18 Hussars before, I always just studied '10' Balaclava as it is a future Sherman project.
& guess the last one is 13/18 Hussars too?

The Crusader/Bofors SP looks to have 1st Corp markings

Thanks for the pics

Cheers Elliott

Same here Elliott - I must have looked at that photo 100s of times and never noticed the GPA before.

I agree, I think the Crusader has the 1 Corps marking, just like the one on the 3rd pics in this older thread, which shows a "gun 40mm SP Crusader" of 218/73 LAA Regt (40 mm) (AoS 206 underlined over red over blue):

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1188135062/1188263925/Crusader+mounted+Bofors.

but this one has a different AoS.


As for your guessing "the last one is 13/18 Hussars too?", you're right, all tanks (including the ARV) in LCT 610 were 13/18 Hussars. The last tank in LCT 610, rightmost in the LCT tank hold on the photo, is Sherman III No.11, which failed to start when LCT 610 touched down and so went back to the UK!

Michel


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Michel,
many thanks. I never could have dreamt so many pictures of the vehicle in British service existed.
Greetings,
Rob

GPA P 5219942 in Rob's second post above ("Google") is from 21 A Gp MC Pool (21st Army Group Movement Control Pool), as testified by the Unit Serial 39609.

The 5 KINGS GPA of LCT 610 (212) also displays a Unit Serial (24774), just above the "T(4)" part of the "212 LCT4" marking on the "front bumper" - or rather "bow" . The AoS "67" is on the right hand side of the windscreen, while the chalk number "21" is some sort of individual vehicle landing number - not quite strictly adhered to as there are several discrepancies in the sequence (e.g. "24" Sherman III No.11, "26" No.10 BALACLAVA, "30" No.69...). There should be a WD number somewhere, as well as (probably) a Beach Group anchor?

Here are all the GPA listed in the Landing Tables for GOLD (1st & 2nd Tides) and SWORD (1st Tide) (I don't have those for JUNO). Notice that the description varies depending on the unit issuing the table!


GOLD - total = 5x GPA

Det Mov Control Pool 21 Army Group
1x Amphibious Jeep H+90 Jig Green East side 39609/2163 LCT (4) - 3 Veh. Parties
1x Jeep Amphibian H+90 King Red 39609/2555 LCT IV - 3 Veh. Parties

6 BORDER
1x Amphibious Jeep + 1x 3 Ton GS H+3½ King Sector 24844/2183 LCT (4)

2 HERTS
2x Jeeps Amphibian H+120 King Red 23074/2562 LCT IV - 2 Veh. Parties



SWORD - total = 18 GPA

'F' RN Beach Commando
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+45 QUEEN WHITE /211 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. Party

17 RN Beach Sig Sec
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+45 QUEEN RED /221 LCT(4) - 2 Veh. + 4 Marching Parties

'A' Coy 5 KINGS
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+45 QUEEN WHITE 24774/212 LCT(4) - 2 Veh. + 23 Marching Parties, 2x handcarts - part 1st pl
'C' Coy KINGS
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+45 QUEEN RED 24774/221 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. + 4 Marching Parties, 1x bicycle, 1x handcart
HQ 5 KINGS (HQ 5 Beach Gp)
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+120 QUEEN RED 24774/301 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. + 2 Marching Parties - Adjt RSM
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+120 QUEEN RED 24774/303 LCT(4) - 2 Veh. + 5 Marching Parties, 1x handcart - incl 2IC batman and sjt, Padre, IO and IO's batman

21 FDS
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+120 QUEEN WHITE 36004/296 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. Party - to proceed to QUEEN RED on landing
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+120 QUEEN RED 36004/304 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. Party

20 FDS incl Surgical Team
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+120 QUEEN WHITE 36003/297 LCT(4) - 1 Veh. Party
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) + 1x 3-ton GS 4x4 H+120 QUEEN RED 36003/305 LCT(4) - 3 Veh. + 7 Marching Parties

HQ 101 Beach Sub Area
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+240 QUEEN WHITE 36175/337 LCT(4) - 2 Veh. + 4 Marching Parties
HQ 101 Beach Sub Area Sigs
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+240 QUEEN RED 39096/348 LCT(4) - 3 Veh. Parties - incl 1 offr for recce
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) + 15 cwt GS 4x4 HUP H+240 QUEEN WHITE 39096/351 LCT(4) - 8 Veh. + 13 Marching Parties, 2x handcarts WT

S & T rep incr (5 Beach Gp)
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+240 QUEEN RED 36108/345 LCT(4) - 4 Veh. Parties

CRASC 21 L of C
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+240 QUEEN RED 36108/348 LCT(4) - 3 Veh. Parties

Nucleus BAN Sec
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+330 QUEEN SECTOR /381 LST(2) - 2 Veh. + 22 Marching Parties, 3x handcarts WT, 1 bicycle, 1x MC - for MBSS

L/T Sec
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+360 QUEEN WHITE /402 LCT(4) - 3 Veh. Parties
1x car 5 cwt 4x4 (amphibian) H+360 QUEEN RED /408 LCT(4) - 3 Veh. Parties



Michel


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"An Amphibian Jeep at a Petrol Pump
Private Irene Bacon, of Sheffield, formely a stockroom assistant, operates a petrol pump at an R.A.O.C. depot in the Midlands of England. She is filling the tank of the Amphibian jeep driven by Lily Bradshaw of Bishopswood, Staffs, England. | Location: Midlands, UK. May 9th 1944"

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/HU011148/an-amphibian-jeep-at-a-petrol-pump

Michel


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