M109A3 Medic/ Ambulance conversion?

[GunnersHusband]

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a shop van being used "and painted up for use as" an ambulance or the like? Reason I ask is the wife wants to paint a big red cross on the side of one of the 109s.

Rob

 

[ida34]

I have never heard about it or seen it.

 

[maddawg308]

I'm sure there's been one somewhere. With over 100,000 deuces made, there has to be every version the mind can imagine!

 

[CARNAC]

I am with 99.9999999...% certainty the 109 has never been used as an ambulance or mobile surgical facility since the mid-80's. Before the mid-80's, not sure but doubt it.

The 109 was a part of the maintenance section within the C Company of the forward support medical companies in armor and mech infantry divisions. This vehicle would not carry a large red cross on the sides.

The 5 ton expando vans were used as mobile surgical and dental suites within the C Companies. All of these that I have seen were 900 series 5 tons. There's one up for auction on GL starting in a week or two. Even then, no large red cross.

The decision to display the red cross markings is at the discretion of the battalion commander. If he chooses to have the vehicles marked they are protected by the Geneva Convention (yeah right) but most either choose not to mark them or modify the markings to assist in camouflage. I've seen red crosses on green and tan backgrounds and also the red in the cross replaced by black. Markings are more commonly applied to actual ambulances and not the support vehicles. My C Company had all ambulances and our M577's with red crosses but I don't recall any of our other vehicles having them. My medical platoon in the armor battalion I was in had red crosses on the M35 doors front bumper and rear tailgate. I'll try to find and post some pictures when I get a chance.

 

[gringeltaube]

Re: RE: M109A3 Medic/ Ambulance conversion?

I am with 99.9999999...% certainty the 109 has never been used as an ambulance or mobile surgical facility since the mid-80's. Before the mid-80's, not sure but doubt it.

I still have the chassis of an ('58?) M109 gasser that was used as a dental suite or there-like. To bad I sold the box for cheap, it was perfectly well preserved!
At the backside it had a very sturdy fold down platform and inside there even was a kind of waiting room or reception!
The rear bumperettes are much longer and square, made of heavy flat iron. I think it was to support the platform when folded down. The aluminum latter was the same as all.
Outside, the box was painted blue (Air Force?) and I don't remember any special markings or red cross painted on sides or roof.

Gerhard

 

[GunnersHusband]

that's great, thank you gentlemen! Just what I was looking for!

 

[FrankUSMC]

In one of my books there are photos of the WWII 6x6 (CCKW) van body with Red Crosses on it. One is a Dental truck and the other one is in a medical unit.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET.

 

[FreightTrain]

I saw a 5 ton expando van body painted up in solid nam green and a big red and white cross on the sides.It was at Shortys several years ago(Well before the Yankee Hord invasion).It may have been on a chassis but I am not sure.I know there was all kinda stuff inside of it.It is long since been shreded.

 

[DDoyle]

Better late than never - but I bet this is what you were looking for.....

Regards,
David Doyle

 

[gimpyrobb]

M128 medical van "RESTRICTED". Thats cool Dave, thanks for sharing.

 

[GunnersHusband]

Mr. Doyle you never cease to amaze!

 

[Srjeeper]

Mr. Doyle you never cease to amaze!

X2.......but what's the "RESTRICTED" mean

 

[jasonjc]

How I'm I ever too get one of each if you keep comeing up with more

 

[peecook]

posting just for documentation. doing some ambulance research and came across this site with a bunch of pics

WW2 US Medical Research Centre :: WW2 US Army Ambulances