2782A - Section 32

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Mechanical Transport AP2782A (Section 32) - Unclassified Vehicles

Commer, 15 cwt, 4x2, Type Q2, Mk 3, preheater van Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/456
Engine	Commer, 6 cyl, petrol, side-valve. Bore: 75mm (2.95 in), Stroke: 120mm (4.72 in), Capacity: 3.18 litres (194.04 cu in). Compression ratio - 5.7 to 1. Max BHP - 66 at 3,250 rpm; Max torque - 1,600 lbs/ins. RAC Rating - 20.92 hp.
Transmission	Clutch - Single dry plate 11 in dia. Gearbox - 4 speed and 1 reverse. Helical constant mesh. Ratios: 1st - 6.414 to 1, 2nd - 3.366 to 1, 3rd - 1.788 to 1, 4th - 1 to 1, reverse - 8.246 to 1: Front axle - Reversed Elliott Rear axle - Full-floating, spiral bevel, ratio - 6.86 to 1. Overall ratios - 44 to 1, 23.09 to 1, 12.26 to 1, 6.86 to 1, Reverse - 54.96 to 1.
Performance	Max Speed - not stated; MPG - 12; Radius of Action - 192 miles
Dimensions	Length - 15 ft 4 in (internal 8 ft 3 in); Width - 6 ft 6 in (internal - 3 ft 8 in); Height - 8 ft 0 in (internal - 4ft 2 in); WB - 10 ft 0 in; G/C - 9 in (rear axle - laden); TC - 40 ft; Track - 5 ft 4 in (front), 5 ft 3¾ in (rear)
Weights	Laden - 2 tons 19 cwt.
Body	Cab - All metal enclosed, seating driver and one passenger Body - All metal construction, metal panels, 8 in wheel arches. Hinged flap in near-side of body for access to fan drive. Hinged flap in rear of body for access to heater controls. Three-way manifold on roof for attachment of hot-air hoses. Equipment - Preheater unit, comprising centrifugal fan driven by a multi-Vee belt from a PTO on the near-side of the engine gearbox, fuel pump and magneto belt driven from the fan shaft, fuel burner and combustion chamber. Three 45 ft lengths of 7 in diameter fabric hoses with fishtail nozzles are stowed on the roof when not in use. Delivery capacity 4,000 cu ft of air per minute. Working temperature 525^o F. Fuel consumption 3.2 gallons per hour.
Suspension	Semi elliptical, front and rear with hydraulic shock absorbers.
Brakes	Foot, hydraulic on all wheels. Hand brake - mechanical on rear wheels.
Wheels/Tyres	2 piece split disc type 6.00 x 16/10.5-16 singles
Notes	To provide a supply of hot air for de-frosting propellers and wing surfaces, drying out aircraft and warming external surfaces of the engine. Steering - Worm and wheel type. Also shown in AP2782, Group 4.

Dennis, 5 ton, 4x2, 750 gallon sullage tender Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/528
Engine	Dennis, 4 cyl, petrol. Bore: 100mm (3.937 in), Stroke: 120mm (4.728 in), Capacity: 3.77 litres (230.18 cu in). Max BHP - 75 at 3,000 rpm (governed to 2,800 rpm); Max torque - 1,850 lbs/ins at 1,500 rpm. RAC Rating - 24.8 hp
Transmission	Clutch - Single plate, running in oil Gearbox (Main) - 4 speed and 1 reverse. Ratios: 1st - 6.29 to 1, 2nd - 3.16 to 1, 3rd - 1.74 to 1, 4th - 1 to 1, reverse - 8.14 to 1: Front axle - 'H' Section beam. Rear axle - Full-floating, spiral bevel, ratio 7.0 to 1: Overall ratios - 44 to 1, 22.1 to 1, 12.2 to 1, 7.0 to 1, Reverse - 56.9 to 1.
Performance	Max Speed - 40 mph (governed); MPG - 8; Radius of Action - 160 miles
Dimensions	Length -22 ft 4 in; Width - 7 ft 4 in; Height - 8 ft 2 in; WB - 13 ft 6 in; G/C - not stated; TC - 47 ft; Track - 5 ft 5 in (front), 5 ft 4 in (rear)
Weights	Unladen - 3 tons 10 cwt; Laden - 7 tons 0 cwt.
Body	Cab - Fully enclosed steel panelled, seating driver and one passenger. Spare wheel mounted behind cab. Equipment - 750-gallon cylindrical section tank, fitted with an external night soil filling tank and hose connections for cesspool emptying. A 10-gallon deodorant tank fitted on the off-side of the chassis is connected to the main inlet valve. A rotary type air pump fitted with a reversing valve, is used as a exhauster to fill the tank, or as a compressor to clean the hose after use, or to assist the discharge of the tank contents. The air pump is driven by a power take off on the nearside of the engine gearbox. An automatic cut-out valve, which operates when the tank is full and an air filter are situated in the air line between the tank and the air pump. 10 ft lengths of 3 in diameter suction hose are carried in lockers along each side of the tank.
Suspension	Semi elliptical, front and rear.
Brakes	Foot, hydraulic on all wheels. Hand brake - mechanical on rear wheels. Trailer brake connections - Single line vacuum.
Wheels/Tyres	Three piece/34-7 dual rear.
Notes	Steering - Worm and nut. Also shown in AP2782A, Section 32.

Eagle, 2 ton, 2-wheeled, trailer/GCA rest room Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1186 (Vehicle); 16A/1566 (Chassis); 16A/1187 (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Eagle, 2-wheel, 300 gallon sullage trailer Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1138
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Hillman, 10 cwt, 4x2, GS van with ladder Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/380
Engine
Gearbox
Performance	Max Speed - ; MPG - ; Radius of Action -
Length
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; G/C - ; TC
Height
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Body
Tyres
Notes

AEC, Model 0853 chassis, equipped for air traffic control Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1222 (Vehicle - Short Range); 16A/1223 (Vehicle - VLR); 16A/524 (Chassis); 16A/1519 (Body - SR); 16A/1520 (Body - VLR)
Engine
Gearbox
Performance	Max Speed - ; MPG - ; Radius of Action -
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; G/C - ; TC
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Body
Tyres
Notes

Sitemaster Major, 30 cwt, 2-wheel caravan Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1663
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Car Cruiser, 4-wheel trailer, equipped for air traffic control Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1247
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Car Cruiser, 20 cwt, 2-wheel, 4-berth caravan Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/600
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Eagle, 30 cwt, 2-wheel, 8-berth caravan Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1183
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes	Introduced after June 1948, withdrawn after February 1954 (AL108)

Trailer, 10 cwt, 2-wheel glider transportation Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1300 (Vehicle); (Chassis); (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Glider launching Trailer Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1285 (Vehicle); 16A/1119 (Chassis); 16A/1576 (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes

Brockhouse, 5 ton, 4-wheel trailer Mk 2, equipped for air traffic control Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1248 (Vehicle); 16A/1116 (Chassis); 16A/1061 (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes	Moved to AP2782C, Section 18

Eagle, 5 ton, 4-wheel trailer, equipped for air traffic control Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1281 (Vehicle); 16A/1117 (Chassis); 16A/1061 (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes	Moved to AP2782C, Section 18

Tasker semi-trailer, 8 ton, 2-wheel, drop frame, equipped as bacteriological trailer Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1397 (Vehicle); 16A/1071 (Chassis); 16A991 (Body):
General Information
Chassis type
Body
Suspension, Wheels & Tyres
Equipment
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; WB - ; G/C - ; TC - :
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Notes	Moved to AP2782C, Section 18

Karrier, 2 ton 4x2, Bantam Mk 3, equipped with refuse collecting body Crown Copyright^©
RAF Ref No	16A/1624 (Vehicle); 16A/1562 (Chassis); 16A/1622 (Body):
Engine
Gearbox
Performance	Max Speed - ; MPG - ; Radius of Action -
Dimensions	Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; G/C - ; TC
Weights	Unladen - ; Laden - :
Body
Tyres
Notes

This page was last updated on 18/03/25^©