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Fire Engine Photos
The models of the Mark 6 Crash tender
Alvis had worked with what became the Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (F.V.R.D.E.) in 1936.
What became F.V.R.D.E. had put Alvis together with Hungarian Nicholas Straussler in 1936, to provide a better engine for Nicholas' 4x4 armoured car, the AC I. This car featured Nicholas' design for the H drive, later used in the Daimler scout and armoured cars.
In 1947, FVRDE asked Alvis to be involved in the development of a new 6x6 armoured car, to replace the Daimler armoured cars of WW2. FVRDE wanted to use the same type of H drive on the new 6x6. Due to the major commonality issues during WW2, they wanted as many types of vehicles as possible built on this 6x6 chassis. With Alvis, they produced what became the F.V.600 hull.
The Malayan Emergency started in 1948, and so an Armoured Personnel Carrier was brought into the project, and took priority over the Armoured car. The Armoured car research being passed over to Crosley Motors, whilst priority was given to what became the Saracen.
Saracen came into production from 1952, and the Saladin in 1958.
But in the background, Alvis were asking themself as to what else the F.V.600 hull could be used for.
Alvis had started work on a joint Private Venture of a Crash Tender, with Pyrene of Brentford. By 1954, the Pilot crash tender that became the F.V.6001 had been submitted to the M.O.D., so that Alvis could have authorisation/permission to use the F.V.600 hull as a crash tender, and so that Pyrene could have permission to build a Crash tender body and water/foam system as submitted.
Remember that Foamite and Pyrene also offered the Mark 6 on Thornycroft chassis.
F.V.R.D.E. made some recommendations, and gave permission.
Alvis and Pyrene then produced the first Prototype, which became 22AG54 F.V.651. This vehicle had a kick out step on the Right hand door.
F.V.R.D.E. trialled the vehicle and made other recommendations.
The first batch of 32 all carry the registration 23AG, and are F.V.651 A model Mk 6, with 2500 gallons per minute (G.P.M.)foam monitors.
The chassis of this batch were completed in 1958, the same year that the Saladin started rolling off the production line.
They originally had roll out hose reels at the back, with Chlorobromomethane (CBM) as the secondary extinguishment medium. The CBM was changed to Bromochlorodifluromethane (BCF) as the extinguishment medium, as the CBM is poisonous, and kills.
MOD then requested a further batch of 32. These had the secondary medium hose reels flacked, rather than on reels. They still had the 2500 G.P.M. monitors, but had a Split Power Take Off (P.T.O.), which was supposed to allow the vehicle to produce foam whilst driving.
The chassis for this order were all completed by 1961, and had the allocation F.V.602. These carry the 03AG registration, and are mark 6 A.
The M.O.D. ordered a batch of 9 Mk 6 A, with 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors fitted. The chassis for this order had been completed early in 1963, and with registrations of 26AG, became the mark 6 C.
It is presumed that the trials with one of these 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors is what led to a number of the mark 6 and mark 6 A being retrofitted with the 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors. They were modified in 1963.
The mark 6 became the mark 6 B
The mark 6 A became the mark 6 D.
There were also 3 FV652 chassis made (because Alvis don't go back to make older versions of hulls), which were made into Driver training vehicles. The registration of 26AG shows us that they came online during the same period as the mark 6 C - end of 1962, beginning of 1963.
The Pilot, F.V.6001 was modified, and had the centre wheels removed. It became the Runway friction test vehicle, and was used by NASA as well as the British Aviation Authority. It received the name of Juggernaut. It was displayed at F.V.R.D.E.'s exhibition in 1962.
Some years later it was sold and shipped to a private owner in Queensland, a somewhat massive area. I'm still trying to trace the owner of Juggernaut.
I'm looking for any images of the mark 6 Salamander, which have the 23 AG or 03 AG registration, and have the large monitor. This proves which vehicles were upgraded in service. I already have photos of the reg numbers in the columns with orange background, but there must be more.
I hope that explains a few things, and people enjoy it.
Alvis had worked with what became the Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (F.V.R.D.E.) in 1936.
What became F.V.R.D.E. had put Alvis together with Hungarian Nicholas Straussler in 1936, to provide a better engine for Nicholas' 4x4 armoured car, the AC I. This car featured Nicholas' design for the H drive, later used in the Daimler scout and armoured cars.
In 1947, FVRDE asked Alvis to be involved in the development of a new 6x6 armoured car, to replace the Daimler armoured cars of WW2. FVRDE wanted to use the same type of H drive on the new 6x6. Due to the major commonality issues during WW2, they wanted as many types of vehicles as possible built on this 6x6 chassis. With Alvis, they produced what became the F.V.600 hull.
The Malayan Emergency started in 1948, and so an Armoured Personnel Carrier was brought into the project, and took priority over the Armoured car. The Armoured car research being passed over to Crosley Motors, whilst priority was given to what became the Saracen.
Saracen came into production from 1952, and the Saladin in 1958.
But in the background, Alvis were asking themself as to what else the F.V.600 hull could be used for.
Alvis had started work on a joint Private Venture of a Crash Tender, with Pyrene of Brentford. By 1954, the Pilot crash tender that became the F.V.6001 had been submitted to the M.O.D., so that Alvis could have authorisation/permission to use the F.V.600 hull as a crash tender, and so that Pyrene could have permission to build a Crash tender body and water/foam system as submitted.
Remember that Foamite and Pyrene also offered the Mark 6 on Thornycroft chassis.
F.V.R.D.E. made some recommendations, and gave permission.
Alvis and Pyrene then produced the first Prototype, which became 22AG54 F.V.651. This vehicle had a kick out step on the Right hand door.
F.V.R.D.E. trialled the vehicle and made other recommendations.
The first batch of 32 all carry the registration 23AG, and are F.V.651 A model Mk 6, with 2500 gallons per minute (G.P.M.)foam monitors.
The chassis of this batch were completed in 1958, the same year that the Saladin started rolling off the production line.
They originally had roll out hose reels at the back, with Chlorobromomethane (CBM) as the secondary extinguishment medium. The CBM was changed to Bromochlorodifluromethane (BCF) as the extinguishment medium, as the CBM is poisonous, and kills.
MOD then requested a further batch of 32. These had the secondary medium hose reels flacked, rather than on reels. They still had the 2500 G.P.M. monitors, but had a Split Power Take Off (P.T.O.), which was supposed to allow the vehicle to produce foam whilst driving.
The chassis for this order were all completed by 1961, and had the allocation F.V.602. These carry the 03AG registration, and are mark 6 A.
The M.O.D. ordered a batch of 9 Mk 6 A, with 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors fitted. The chassis for this order had been completed early in 1963, and with registrations of 26AG, became the mark 6 C.
It is presumed that the trials with one of these 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors is what led to a number of the mark 6 and mark 6 A being retrofitted with the 2500/5000 G.P.M. monitors. They were modified in 1963.
The mark 6 became the mark 6 B
The mark 6 A became the mark 6 D.
There were also 3 FV652 chassis made (because Alvis don't go back to make older versions of hulls), which were made into Driver training vehicles. The registration of 26AG shows us that they came online during the same period as the mark 6 C - end of 1962, beginning of 1963.
The Pilot, F.V.6001 was modified, and had the centre wheels removed. It became the Runway friction test vehicle, and was used by NASA as well as the British Aviation Authority. It received the name of Juggernaut. It was displayed at F.V.R.D.E.'s exhibition in 1962.
Some years later it was sold and shipped to a private owner in Queensland, a somewhat massive area. I'm still trying to trace the owner of Juggernaut.
I'm looking for any images of the mark 6 Salamander, which have the 23 AG or 03 AG registration, and have the large monitor. This proves which vehicles were upgraded in service. I already have photos of the reg numbers in the columns with orange background, but there must be more.
I hope that explains a few things, and people enjoy it.
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