Ex Royal Marines Snow Trac for sale in UK

[Snowcat Operations]

Hello,
Below are some pictures of an Ex Royal Marines Snow Trac for sale. The vehicle has had the motor rebuilt and then placed in storage. If anyone is interested PM me and I will send you his email address. He is asking 3500 pounds.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

I was not able to attach the other two photos. Pm me and I will email the other photos to you.

 

[Melensdad]

It would be nice to see the front end of that Snow Trac. All of military issue STs I've seen have an interesting front hitch arrangement on them. It looks like a short pipe welded to a flat plate on the front end. I'm not really sure what it was used for.

Also notice the fuel tank is moved outboard, it also appears that the rear doors are full width, so I wonder if there are any bench seats inside the unit.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Bob I too was looking at the doors and figured the bench seats must be out. That front hitch you desribed is spot on. It is used for attaching a winch or a tow / recovery point. Here are those other pictures.

 

[Melensdad]

Any chance you can get Ian to tell us all a bit more about some of the features and provide some additional photos? What is the silver ball over the center of the windshield? Also there appear to be two hooking points (one on either side of the front hood) and I'm curious if those were used for helecopter attachment points? The helecopter photos I've seen had cables attached to the front bumper, plus 2 on the track area where the center of the leaf spring comes out of the undercarriage. I'd also like to see come interior photos and a close up of the front hitch.

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Bob,
I will email Ian today. I am currently packing for my trip. I also just got a call from my Customs broker and all should go easy at the border. Its been snowing pretty good but has finaly stopped. I believe this system went from here to my destination in Colorado. I called the shop and they said it was snowing pretty good.

 

[Melensdad]

Have a safe drive up to Canada and back, I gather you will go to Colorado then Canada then back to Nevada? Do I remember you are making the trip twice to pick up 4 Snow Tracs/Snow Masters or can you manage it all in one trip like you originally had planned?

 

[Snowcat Operations]

No I will have to make the two trips. I will leave for Colorado at 4 am Friday. Its been snowing so it will delay me a bit.

 

[Tommo]

I may well be able to help find more photos of the Royal Marines Snow tracs in action as i was myself a British Commando, serving some 15 yrs withs 7 Norway deployments under my belt. i will see the lads who are still serving and see what they can get from the museum and office archieves etc. Would you be able to send me the email address of the person selling this RM Snow trac, is the other one for sale as well in the dack ground??

Tommo

 

[Melensdad]

Tommo, the Snow Trac shown in this thread is owned by a guy named Ian. You can look him up by clicking on the "Members List" button near the top of the screen. Then look under the "W" section. He signs into the forums under the name "Wreckerman" and visits the forum about once a week, there is a link to his email address so you can send him an email.

As for the photos, PLEASE see what you can find. They will be appreciated. Ice Queen is in need of some ideas as she wants to convert her unit to a Snow Camo military unit. I too am considering converting mine to have a Snow Camo military paint scheme as well as the appropriate front hitch, etc.

 

[Tommo]

OK i will see what is what and may well be ableto anwser the questions reference the Snow trac's being under slung beneath helicopters has that was our main mode of transport in Norway, so should be able to come up with photos of the vehicles flying and with the winches fitted on the fronts, the winches were put over the tube and held in position by a large pin on a chain etc.

Do you know how many people are from the UK on this forum site as i would like to get some thing doing in the way of a small club for meeting or shows etc?

I work in Baghdad and only get back to the UK every 9 weeks for 3 weeks so will do what i can for all.

So until later

 

[Tommo]

Hi all again!!,

The Royal Marines Snow Tracs where moved around Norway, not only under there own power, but under slung from the Wessex and Sea king helicopters operating within 3 Commando Brigade at that time. They where hooked up useing a 4 legged lifting chain system where by you had to count the number of links and then hook the C hook onto the required link so when the vehicle was lifted it hung within its own centre of gravity and caused less of a pendulem motion when flying forward at speed.

Some were cut away during flight and dropped from a very high hight due to loss of stability and danger to the helicopter. The chains would go from each side of the engine bay and L/R of the rear lower section of the chassis and went through the rear doors and over a peace of wood to take the load of the rear section of the floor.

The bench seats were normaly left in situ and a peace of wood put a cross to make a large shelf so tool and boxes of kit could be stowed, has this vehicle would have been a VM's (Vehicle Mechanic's)Snow trac used as a support and maintainace field work shop. Thats why the Amber flashing caution lamp is mounted in a high visable position out the way of the helicopter chain etc.

All fuel tanks were put out side on the near side rear of all military Snow tracs due to the very cold temerature experienced in Norway, they could not have people sitting on and working next to a time bomb!! It produced more room inside for much needed equipment and personnel etc.

The winches where put on the front over the tube bracket and held in place by a large thick pin secured to the bracket by a chain for easy removel/attachment etc. The towing device would have been a draw bar which would have been mounted just like the winch. Notice the standard NATO tow hitch on the rear which was always fixed to the rear chassis and was not quick release.

These snow tracs were de-mobed for the more powerful and stronger BV 202E Petrol, which was a leap forward for British Commando forces deploying to Northern Norway every year for 3 months i can tell ya!

When and if i can get back to my old unit i will hunt down some photos and post them for all to see

Until later

 

[Ice Queen]

Interesting pictures, looks like a Scammell Pioneer in the back ground, I think the tank transporter possibly, as the cab looks quite large, but what is behind that - is it a Foden lurking or what?? Nice collection of military vehicles anyway - more, more, more!!! I likes lorries!!

 

[Crackingday]

Necro post! This is mine!

Here it is now:

 

[redsqwrl]

great you found this link.

now fix that photo