Antique Tracked Fire Truck for Arctic? or Wilderness?

[Melensdad]

All I have is this photo.

Anyone have any history or knowledge of this (or similar) fire rescue vehicles. Snow/Arctic region use? Rural region use? Just trying to find out about this, it is the first half-track fire truck I've seen.

Side of the truck clearly says Philadelphia Fire Deptartment. I can't imagine the tracks and rugged lugged front tires are needed for urban areas. So is there another Philadelphia somewhere in the US that is far more rural?

 

[Kevlar]

My first thoughts were it looked like WW2 era so googled WW2 fire trucks and that picture came up along with several others. My guess it was brought over from Europe and is merely a parade show truck. My guess would be from England and survived the blitzkreg (sp??)

 

[J5 Bombardier]

Nice International made M9 halftrack , lots of them available after the war to be modded for other uses ,where going off road with a heavy vehicle was unheard of . I've seen pics of one with a water tank used on bombing range in Canada to control fires ,but nothing elaborate like this . Quite a few Fire Jeeps out there , a buddy of mine had one ,practical ,not so sure ,but heavy on the cool factor .

 

[Cidertom]

Several of these were in the Eastern seaboard of US. Brush firefighting. That heavy bumper in front was used to push over small trees.
Pine Barrens of NJ and Long Island NY had some as I remember.

 

[300 H and H]

Nice International made M9 halftrack , lots of them available after the war to be modded for other uses ,where going off road with a heavy vehicle was unheard of . I've seen pics of one with a water tank used on bombing range in Canada to control fires ,but nothing elaborate like this . Quite a few Fire Jeeps out there , a buddy of mine had one ,practical ,not so sure ,but heavy on the cool factor .

Surely, they have a powered front axle to aid in skidding the tracks while turning?
In the picture I am not sure.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

Surely, they have a powered front axle to aid in skidding the tracks while turning?
In the picture I am not sure.

Definitely a powered Timken front axle , International made 1/2 tracks had the front winch and the White 1/2 tracks had the more common un ditching roller mounted up front

 

[Mtn-Track]

The WWII Halftracks were made by White, Autocar, Diamond T, then International entered the mix due to demand. The first three had interchangeable parts while International made them with International-specific parts. The firetruck conversion above has the automotive-style front fenders so that makes it one of the first three listed as the International had flat fenders. Many went on to see Korea but most ended up in Europe as lend-lease units. Israel was the last to actively use them up into the 1990's. Yes, the front axle is driven. No, they aren't for deep snow or mud as they weigh 8 tons!

Mine is a 1943 White M3A1....

 

[J5 Bombardier]

So not a " Binder" going by the fenders .

 

[vintagebike]

As I have been traveling between the west coast and Idaho for the last 7 or 8 years have passed this one many times. It is sitting just off Hwy 55/ ION Highway between Nampa and Marsing. Finally stopped today and took a look. If interested better act fast...New development is quickly taking up any and all available land. 208-459-3823 looks to be the current number.

 

[Bennyboy1337]

As I have been traveling between the west coast and Idaho for the last 7 or 8 years have passed this one many times. It is sitting just off Hwy 55/ ION Highway between Nampa and Marsing. Finally stopped today and took a look. If interested better act fast...New development is quickly taking up any and all available land. 208-459-3823 looks to be the current number.

I've seen that M3A there for as long as I can remember (so at least 25 years). Wish someone would pick it up and restore it. Hard to find unmolested chassis of these since they were often stripped down by logging companies after the war to make haulers.