MOTOR TRANSPORT IN WARFARE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 50, 18 February 1944, Page 3

MOTOR TRANSPORT IN WARFARE

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service

South Pacific, Feb. 6

All types of Avork—from the distribution of petrol to the provision at short notice of essential motor transport for the speedy move men t of 111 ilitary personnel and equipment —are included in the elastic syllabus governing the employment of Army ScrA 7 ice Corps personnel on actrvc service. And in the Pacific theatre, despite the amphibious nature of Avar operations, the 29th M.T. Coy., N.Z.A.S.C., N.ZE.F. 1.P., functions like a well-oiled machine. It is on call for any duty relating to transport. Commanded by Major T. P. 11 ev-. ell, of Auckland, this unit is capable of attending to the full requirements in supplies', ammuni-j tion and petrol of a brigade group. Ifn fact, it can be likened to a large scale, general carrying company, concerned mainly Avitli transport, breaking out and distribution o? rations, including meat, to all units in its" area. With a front approximating !«")() miles, the company is confronted Avith a very difficult task. Long haulage is required, and 011 bad roads the going is very hard on drivers., who are on call at all limes. Their Avorking hours Aary, although the aA r erage, day is from nine to ten hours. In the aggregate, A'ehiclcs aA'erage about 50,000 miles per Aveek.

Self-contained detachments, with 1 individual administration under section officers, are used for transporting all cargoes' for the Third Division from' ship-side to the appropriate .stores. AVhen ships., are be-ing-worked the men take their tents, bed cots and blankets with them, and bivouac near the. sccnc of their duties. They do their own cooking. The importance attached to the unloading of ships is never forgotten, and when occasions warrant it the work is. carried on for 24 hours a day. A vehicle is allotted three drivers, each one. of whom works for eight, hours. Duty is non-stop until the particular ship is finished. Rations and petrol are supplied to all New Zealand formations stationed on the island, and to servicc vehicles on the road P.O.L.'s (petrol, oil and lubrication detachments) fulfil important roles.. ,To keep mobile a large flee', of vehicles requires a great deal of supervision, and maintenance provides the unit's most knotty problem. Every driver is responsible for his own truck, and. is required to perform on it such maintenance, as will keep the vehicle roadworthy. To cope with repairs beyond the scope of drivers, headquarters of the company is equipped with an efficient workshop section on a scale large enough to undertake repairs of any nature. It is staffed lathe machinists, blacksmiths and other technical personnel who might be required, for any major overhaul. This section undertakes work that civilian garages would not attempt to do, and does the job thoroughly. There, have been occasions when shortage of spare parts has provided a major difficulty, but the workshops personnel* have improvised to such good purpose that most problems have been overcome. In the successful organisation and control of an M.T. company physical fiitness is essential, and to achieve this end officers insist that, all ranks, take part in organised .sport. And as a result the men are fit, and in really excellent health. They are well equipped, mentally and physically, for whatver calls may be made upon them.