The first Australian Army Land-Rover Fire Tender Series 2 variants were built around 1961-62 (5 units supplied) and by 1965 the Series 2A variants were in service and much more numerous by a factor of ten (55 units supplied). These fire fighting Land-Rovers are rare since the total ever made -using ARN references- is only a few dozen units and there are not many left in one piece. How many are there? Good question. Anyway, they are very interesting and so are their capabilities. The following details about the Australian military Land-Rover Series 2A Fire Tender are quoted from Stephen Stansfield:

"The cab/chassis was the standard military modified Series 2A Land-Rover ¾ ton with canvas hood over the cab and a fibre glass body on the rear to store ancillary equipment.

"...Electrical and lighting equipment was considerable with a combined reversing/work light, 2 long range driving lights to supplement the vehicles main headlights, 1 red revolving beacon, audible warning siren, adjustable spot light, detachable search light on the body able to be mounted on a stowed tripod, and 3 channel radio transceiver..."

In 2003, Ross O. from South Australia (see 'Roseworthy Collection' - REMLR member 112), scanned the Army Technical Instruction manual -all of 50 pages- for this Land-Rover variant. The scanned pages (.jpg files) are archived on the REMLR CD-ROM. Thanks Ross! Here is the blurb from the introduction to the manual:

"The TRUCK, FIRE FIGHTING, ¾ Ton, GS, Fire Engine is basically a standard TRUCK, UTILITY, ¾ Ton, GS, Land-Rover, Series 2A, 109 WB, modified, and equipped with a high capacity water pump, water tank, boom spray and miscellaneous fire fighting equipment permitting the employment of pumped water and hand extinguishers to combat fires. The vehicle is capable of highway and cross-country operation. It has a range of approximately 250 miles on first class roads at a GVW of 5859lb. Fully equipped, it is capable of towing a trailer of 6732lb GVW (2244lb cross-country)."

Ross O. met up with Wayne E. who owns a Series 2A Fire Tender and later in 2004 Wayne joined us here on REMLR. Wayne E. would appreciate any Fire Tender parts, hose and old type fire extinguishers that you may have found at swap meets etc.

See more about Fire Tender Landy restoration:

• Wayne's shed - 1965 delivered Series 2A Fire Tender
• 112-183 housed at the Australian Army Museum of Military Engineering

   

  It should be noted that the Army 'Land-Rover pattern' N°5 trailers also existed. Fitted with Fire fighting equipment, and probably hooked behind the Land-Rover Tender using the standard pintle hook.

  The all up weight of the Tender and Trailer would have made for quite a load. The photo on the right appears to have been taken at the Army Museum Bandiana, however the trailer no longer resides there.

    

  Here are some pics of an Australian ex-military Series 2A Fire Tender. Perhaps it is the unit purchased and later refurbished for work in an South Australian vineyard (picture on Wayne's page).