In Service Hardtop Workshop 1989

[Tommy]

This photo, showing a S2A hardtop Workshop (ARN unknown), was taken during ADF exercise, Kangaroo '89.



Although not the same Workshop, this vehicle appears to be similar in configuration as that of the Workshop held by the Australian War Memorial, 113-852. It has the same full length top hinged side metal panel doors with a fixed metal plate next to the rear storage compartment door. The rear door however, is different. It is a smaller, centrally positioned, LHS hinged, metal tube and sheet construction with a fixed panel either side. Both vehicles retain the canvas soft top.

 

Of interest are the following mods to the Workshop in the top photo:

1. It has the plywood office bookshelf set-up. To the bottom RHS shelf there appears to be six Repair Parts Scale files.

2. Under the wheel arch is a bracket set-up very similar to 111-378. Not sure what this is used for.



3. Top mounted metal pipe constraint rail to RHS and back of hardtop.

4. Orange rear facing light mounted to back restraint rail.

5. Square tube storage 'roof rack' mounted above cab. Four fixture points to door gutters.

6. Orange rotating beacon attached to 'roof rack'.

7. What appears to be a MX-6707 antenna mast base affixed to 'roof rack'. This would suggest that the vehicle was supporting a PRC 77 set or similar. One thing that I did notice about this mast base is the apparent absence of the automatic antenna tuner underneath. It could be an optical illusion but not sure. Any ideas Diana?

8. The mattock handle is missing. In it's place is something that resembles a 1 inch? metal rod?.

9. If you look closely at the rear section of the guard side panel you will see a wire/strap/rope attached to this object. It appears to drop down the side panel and attach to the panel skin half way down. Not sure what this is for etc. You will note that the white UN Workshop has a black patch at the same location (shown by arrow) where paint has been stripped/peeled off due to the removal of something. This patch appears on both sides and are virtually identical in shape. I may be drawing a long bow but it is an interesting anomaly.

You will also note a cable or hose laying on the ground that is shown exiting from the rear of the vehicle.

As there are only nine S2As listed in the REMLR Hardtop ARNs, so it is quite conceivable that this Workshop still exists in the hands of a REMLR member.

[Greg & Tony Egretz]

Hi as Anthony has noted every hard top wksp L/R is different in many ways look at the rear of the first photo not the same as the rear of the second photo. So it not the awm wkspl/r, not my sons as his doors in the middle and not mine my door is on the opposite side try master chief as he has similar side boxes.
Cheers Greg Egretz   

[Phoenix]

The AWM workshop that black patch looks like yogi bear with a spanner over his shoulder to me.  And that rings a bell from somewhere.

[aussiegregmac]

"A little Bear will fix it"   A RAEME unit from 1ATF in VN.  (which one ??)

[Diana Alan]

The AWM workshop that black patch looks like yogi bear with a spanner over his shoulder to me.  And that rings a bell from somewhere.

Is the Yogi Bear with spanner the 102 Field Workshops RAEME?  I seem to remember it has its origins in SVN.

The other field workshop 106 were the workshops behind the armoured formations and had a boxing glove logo with a motto "the punch behind"

[Diana Alan]

"A little Bear will fix it"   A RAEME unit from 1ATF in VN.  (which one ??)

"A little bear will fix it" was 17 Construction Sqn RAE.  Their attached RAEME also used the same logo, but only to identify themselves with 17 Cnst Sqn.

Just an interesting pic 17 Const RAEME workshop landy.

[Tommy]

The AWM workshop that black patch looks like yogi bear with a spanner over his shoulder to me.  And that rings a bell from somewhere.

Thanks Richard. I looked at that patch a few times and never saw a Yogi Bear image . Now I can see it clearly.

[Diana Alan]

Cookey has a Land Rover door with a full sized coloured Yogi bear over the RAEME colours.

This is the text of an email reply some time ago from Wal H, an ex-RAEME WO artificer and vollie from the AAMME.

Dianna, Further to our brief chat last night, I then remembered that there were two bear mascots at 17 Construction
The squadron had the bear from the bear adnesive/tape commercial. "A little bear can fix it" This can be seen on the drivers door of our white UN landrover.
The workshop had Yogi Bear, standing up right with a spanner on one shoulders. Yogi is one the drivers door of the second 816 wrecker in the Cust Hut

So I am still of the opinion that the Yogi belonged to the RAEME 102 Field Workshops or maybe 17 Construction Workshops RAEME.

[master chief]

Top pic Tommy, Thanks!,
I'm afraid its not my'n Greg as 114105 has a full single piece hard top over cab and all.

MC

[Greg & Tony Egretz]

Than Watson we have a mystery to solve who owns it, where it is now, what’s its ARN and what role did serve as
Cheers Greg Egretz

[Tommy]

Top pic Tommy, Thanks!,
I'm afraid its not my'n Greg as 114105 has a full single piece hard top over cab and all.

MC

The REMLR ARNs show that all but one of the S2A hardtops are owned by REMLR members or the AWM. The only one that isn't is 113-813. This Workshops current owner and location is unknown.

I believe the photo below is of 113-813 awaiting disposal at Broadmeadows. Interestingly it has the same full length top hinged side panel doors. If you look closely, you can just see the RHS door in the open position. It also has the ACCO side mirrors.

The vehicle has recently been painted in AUSCAM camouflage as the paint looks fresh, unfaded and undamaged. The top hinges to the side doors have been protected by rubber mats. The soft top canvas appears to have been replaced by a more rigid sheet metal material. The paint and mods could be late service changes undertaken between the years 1989 and 1993 (when 813 was disposed of).

This Workshop may be the the same vehicle as shown in the original photo I posted. Evidence points to it being 113-813.

[Greg & Tony Egretz]

looks almost the same but it can't be it look above the side door see how the photo shows sharp edge to make a box shape the camo wksp has rounded corners.
Cheers greg egretz

[Tommy]

looks almost the same but it can't be it look above the side door see how the photo shows sharp edge to make a box shape the camo wksp has rounded corners.
Cheers greg egretz

G'day Greg

Enlarge the photo and you will note that the rounded corner is rubber matting. Probably cut from a 6-8mm conveyor belt or similar. It would have been installed to render the hinged joint waterproof. The original square edge with hinge is under the rubber. Shame we don't have a rear view of this vehicle as that would confirm the rear door size etc.

Have you any photos of other (unknown) hardtop Workshops Greg?

[Tommy]

Although this photo shows the rear door from a Workshop trailer, the door on the vehicle in the original photo would have been identical. Left hand hinged central door with side panels.

[Diana Alan]

This is the rear of my W/S trailer, they seem to have had a dropdown and lift up top tailgates.



The lower one is missing.