Mini Moke military version

[1ely]

Just wondered what the story was ref this brochure, did the Moke ever get produced in this form? Or was it just a BMC military pipe dream!

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[Peter Laidler]

I am sure that others will point you to the various articles that cover their military use but to be honest, and there at the time, any notion that the moke - or any of the mini family could be used outside the clean confines of a camp somewhere was the stuff of fasiry tales. If Land-Rovers, the big 4wd Bedfords could soon get bogged in, then a mini moke stood absolutely no chance, even when parachuted in. Unless it was freighted and parachuted onto a half decent grassy dropping zone - Eveleigh and Watchfiield they were dropped.

The only ones I ever saw....., about 3 all-in - had BT or SP type numbers such as 15BT60 or 16SP77

Nope. A bit like a mickey mouse watch I'd say. Look good but not so good when it comes to telling the time

[1ely]

Reading about it they made a prototype, which had a shorter wheelbase, Strange that they should produce a brochure before they had got past the prototype stage!

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[Tim]

My understanding is that there was a small batch of them built around 1962 and shipped out to either South Africa or Rhodesia. A couple of them seem to have survived and have turned up on the Moke club forum, but not much is known for certain.

Tim

[251 ENG]

I did read somewhere that a few were also sent to the USA for the American army to trial

[iain1967s]

The Australian army had a production fleet of 316 Mokes, ordered after 8 prototypes (pictured) were extensively field trialled in 1969/70 with various experimental add-ons such as snorkels and trailers. Full details here:
https://www.keymilitary.com/article/calledd

[Spider]

Just wondered what the story was ref this brochure, did the Moke ever get produced in this form? Or was it just a BMC military pipe dream!
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They made about 20 of these in 3 versions.

The idea of making them shorter was to help with ground clearance, which was the UK Army's gripe with them.

A few were send to South Africa, presumably in the hope of getting interest there with the Army.

There's quite a few survivors still about in private hands.

It's odd that in the UK they never looked to bigger wheels for better ground clearance. First thing the American Army did with them and the Twinie Moke they were sent was to but 12" wheels on them. We did that here in Australia, shortly after the Mini Moke went in to production here in early 66, later that same year, they started work on the big wheelers, being released in 68.

For off road use, putting bigger wheels on them totally transforms them to something quite useful.

[Peter Laidler]

Hi Chris, I just said to Iain re his Australia comment above, that I never saw an Army moke when I was in Oz? Where were that based - if at all?

[timmy201]

Here’s info on the Aussie mokes

https://www.remlr.com/Moke/Army%20Mokes.pdf

https://www.remlr.com/Moke/moke.html

[Spider]

Hi Chris, I just said to Iain re his Australia comment above, that I never saw an Army moke when I was in Oz? Where were that based - if at all?

Hey Pete !

That photo if I recall was taken around 1969 before the Army actually officially placed an order, they procured 8 that they used for trials and evaluation, with 3 or 4 trailers (these were genuine BMC and are listed in the parts book as SPO39). Note the 'stack type' air filter inlets (which come under SPO18) and also if you carefully look to the sides of the windscreen, the wind deflectors are actually solid vinyl hood material - hardly see through !

2 of these were sent to the Tropical Trials Establishment in my Mum's home town of Inisfail, Queenland, the other 6 were sent to Papua New Guinea. The photo in Ian's psot was taken at the Zetland BMC Factory.

Of those bought for service, it seems most were deployed all over the country to Supply Battalions and they were used in service up to at least the Mid 80's, in Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Wagga, Melbourne, Perth and no doubt other centres. They were allocated a NATO Stock Code.

The RAAF also bought about 30 (I saw 3 or 4 of these at Richmond Airforce Base) and the Navy had at least 2 (I saw one at Garden Island and the other at Penguin).

I had one for a very short time, it was immaculate, the private owner cooked the engine, at which time I bought it from him for double his asking price (which was a struggle !) overhauled the engine & gearbox and sold it on a few weeks later to fund my business.

My late brother had one for a few years, before it's previous owner bought it back.



The tray isn't original, that was made and fitted by the previous owner.

[Peter Laidler]

Thanks for that Chris and Tim. That explains it all. None at Caungra or Bandiana or Enoggera in my time - and certainly none in Vung Tau!. JUST after my time. Heve a great rest of the week in Oz
Pete the Pom; 8 RAR

[Tim]

My brother in law remembers them on the bases when he was first recruited (probably ~1985) he reckons they were mostly just used for running around the bases and rarely went any further than into town. They had a lot of Series 2A and 3 Land Rovers for operational duties at that time.

cheers
Tim