Truck, Cargo, 2.5 ton GS International No.I Mk III : Australian Army

Olive drab, International No. I Mk III, 2.5 ton, 4x4 general service truck. Attached to the front bumper bar are two swinging steel shackles and a steel rod frame to protect the muffler and exhaust pipe. The winch is centrally mounted in the truck chassis with fairleads and rollers so that the winch rope can be threaded to the front and rear of the truck. There is a steel framed, steel mesh screen fitted above the bumper bar offering some protection for the radiator and headlight lenses. The cabin is fully enclosed with a two piece windscreen and rectangular side mirrors. The vehicle has a six cylinder, 282 cubic inch, liquid cooled petrol engine, which develops a maximum of 148 horse power at 3800 rpm. The vehicle uses 12 volt electrics, has a five speed gearbox and uses 12.00-20 tyres. Two rectangular shaped storage bins with hinging doors are fitted to both sides of the vehicle underneath the tray and on either side of the rear tyres. Fitted to the starboard side of the vehicle is a forty four gallon rectangular shaped fuel tank. The vehicle has rigid axles with all round semi elliptical leaf spring suspension. The rear tray has drop down sides and a tailgate. A canvas canopy has been fitted to the steel sided body. The army registration number for this vehicle is 170-138.

The International 2.5 ton, general service truck was Australia's first locally designed tactical military truck and was developed during the mid 1950's as the result of close collaboration between the Australian Army Design Directorate and the International Harvester Company. In April 1959, the first 100 International No.I Mk 1 trucks commenced troop trials with the Australian Army. An order for 600 Mk 3 vehicles was announced by the Australian Government in December 1962 and a further order for 650 more, announced in September 1963. The Australian Army used the 2.5 ton 4x4 vehicle and the larger 5 ton 6x6 types throughout the Vietnam War for carrying troops, cargo and as a gun tractor for the 105mm M2A2 Howitzer. A total of 114 GS variants were deployed to Vietnam. This vehicle was the 121st built by International Harvester and it entered service with the Australian Army on 21 March 1963. The vehicle's original engine has been replaced and the current engine number is 'AGD 282-9342'.

The truck was disposed of by 21 Supply Battalion in June 1984 and subsequently acquired by the Australian War Memorial. The International No.I Mk III truck officially entered service with the Australian Army in July 1963 and was declared obsolete in November 1988, being replaced by the Mercedes Benz 4x4 UNIMOG U1700L.