Author Topic: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier  (Read 177 times)

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Offline DennisM

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112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« on: August 11, 2016, 04:19:08 am »
This little gem came along whilst I working on 114-194, I snapped it up very quickly as they are super rare, only 45 S2A gunbuggies/sportscars were ever made, so I had to have it, it was listed on ebay and it went begging, move along 11 years and it would have been a fight to get it, anyway it has been in my care since, I bought it from the chap who purchased it whilst still serving with the Aust/Army, he used it as his personal transport until he retired.
It didn't need a full restoration as I didn't want to destroy it's 'patina', it needed some remedial work to get it registered

the brakes were ordinary so I had them sleeved in stainless steel.
These little machines served with troops in Sth Vietnam as convoy escorts, here is an image of my mate Wayne R standing in the back of a Series 2
gunbuggy fitted with a GPMG M60, at the gate in Nui Dat Sth Vietnam circa 1968, note the International trucks in the background, these were designed by the ADE (army defense establishment)our answer to the WW2 'Blitz', a very desirable vehicle, sadly now I'm too old to even contemplate one.

note the front wings as the S2A is different in shape, the 106mm RCL was removed from the vehicles whilst O/seas and deployed as perimeter defence
weapon, very effective when firing anti-personnel rounds

This is what they looked like when being deployed as anti tank weapon

they carried 5 HEAT rounds 1 anti-personnel round and a heap of kit, here is an image of 2 of the 4 empty 106 shell cases that I own

sadly in this country (NSW in particular) I can't have a de-activated weapon or anything that looks like a weapon without the express permission of the Minister of Police what utter bullshit that is, the Gov't has no idea, just for interest sake, the primer in the 106 shell case is the size of a 20 gauge shotgun
cartridge, the propellant is gun cotton, yeah sure you can get it at any corner shop LOL, raant over.
Here is a look around the vehicle

not a great of change from the usual dash, but fire ext mounted top left dash, medical kit to the right of S/wheel (held in by the strap visible, no kit insitu)
barrel clamp between small aero screens, start button choke etc have been moved as well,



storage space for 4 day ration packs on the bulkhead, and provision for spare ammunition in lhs footwell space

radio bracket for a PRC 10 can be seen as well, I have a PRC 10 radio, but no gear is left on the vehicle, it is stored away from thieves.
The front wings were cut away even more than the usual S2A cutwings were, this was to eliminate damage caused by the air pressure
blast from the muzzle

the rear was also modified to accommodate the 6 rounds that it carried along with 'gardening tools' Pick/shovel/axe  as
well as other gear that had to be stowed in the back

and another view, other than not having a 106, the only item missing from the vehicle is a ramp that allows the wheel on the106 to travel up
and be locked into place between the front seats, you can also see the cover plate for the barrel brush

the right side rear

the front area was crammed with gear, I only have a tow rope in place, the small tube is the mount for the muzzle of the passenger's
SLR 7.62mm L1A1 rifle, the driver had a 9mm SMG and it mounted vertically next to his right shoulder

the vehicle during it's early development utilised a crew of 4, but that changed at some point and it was crewed with 3, anyway
this is what they sat on with a small cushion, very rudimentary at the least

The only other issues that I have had with it in the 12 years or so that I have owned it, I have replaced the clutch M/cyl & slave cylinders
the Solex got a complete overhaul about 2 years ago


you get an awful lot of funny looks when out n about in it, as not many people would have seen one, my thoughts are if you could drive to
Monte Carlo like Steve P and his mates did in their S1's mixing it with all the fancy cars, but the amount of people who took pix of their Land Rovers
LOL, this out at Broke, not Monte Carlo

and along a quiet bush track deep in the 'Pokolbin State Forest NSW'

here is a short utube clip, my son Kyle driving just to let you all have a run in him

anyway cheers Dennis  dgs




« Last Edit: August 11, 2016, 04:56:41 am by DennisM »

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Offline 1960SeriesII

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2016, 09:09:42 am »
My favourite Australian LR conversion, love the amount of practical modifications they were able to squeeze into the otherwise rather impractically-sized SWB - love it, thanks for the insight!
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Offline Viamphie

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2016, 11:42:24 am »
Another great post. Thanks Dennis. I saw something a little similar on eBay last week. I think it's in the eBay section on here. That's only the second I've ever seen with those kind of front wings.
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Offline Puddlejumper

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2016, 11:54:31 am »
Just keeps getting better...........jealous?........moi?........you bet I am yrck
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Offline Gossamer

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2016, 08:20:01 pm »
Thanks for the posts, Dennis, keep 'em coming, please.
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Offline hippydave

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2016, 09:37:29 pm »
That is made of pure want. I love reading about the history of your motors Dennis.
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Offline DennisM

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Re: 112-655 Series 2A recoiless rifle carrier
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2016, 10:20:33 am »
Mate, if you had this Land Rover in the UK, you would be the only one with a S2A gunbuggy and maybe you could fit it with a 106 and display it as it should be shown, cheers n thanks for all the kind words, Dennis
ps The gunbuggy in any condition is very much sought after down under as well, all up with S2 & S2A there were 69 in total
a link to REMLR page on gunbuggies click on left of page Series 2A, this will open the page further, on the left of page again click on
Land Rover Series 2 & 2A 1/4ton gunbuggy that will open a page specifically about the machine, cheers dennis

http://www.remlr.com/
« Last Edit: August 12, 2016, 10:23:21 am by DennisM »