![mack_army_lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/mack_army_lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
"G'day Brian," says AtkiPete Lynch in that chirpy 'she'll be right' manner which we've all come to know and love. "Have been out enjoying the sunshine lately and got some photos of these trucks down at the HMAS Cerberus open day.The 6x6 Mack looks like it can handle the rough going." Indeed I'd suggest it could be used to cart Gary Richards around while he's got his gammy leg---some invalid carriage eh 'Two Hats'?
![atkinson_ergo_fire_truck_lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/atkinson_ergo_fire_truck_lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
Pete continues: "And the best looking fire truck...not that I am biased!" Of course not Pete although surely this is a wind-up. An AEC/Leyland 'Ergo' cab on an Atkinson...is it a joke or am I not getting something? Now click through here for morer Aussie army kity (and pie quiz too for all you armament experts)
![bushmaster_lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/bushmaster_lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
Pete adds: "Aussie built Bushmaster, has auto transmission, mid mounted winch, coil springs and other goodies..."
![blitzs_lo_res[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/blitzs_lo_res%5B1%5D.jpg)
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"...a few older warriors." Ane for a pie a) what are they and b) what's the weapon on top of the main one..."
![land_rover_6x6_lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/land_rover_6x6_lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
"The 6x6 Landrover houses a mobile workshop."
![Mercedes_Unimog_wrecker_Lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Mercedes_Unimog_wrecker_Lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
"....the crane behind it actually belongs to this Unimog 6x6 wrecker, replacement for the Inter Mk5 ( ACCO ) and the Merc got the chance to show its muscles later in the day when the Cerberus fire truck crew somehow managed to find a soft patch in the car park....
![winching_truck_out_lr[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/winching_truck_out_lr%5B1%5D.jpg)
"...have bogged trucks in some embarrassing places myself and was not about to offer any advice.the Army lads soon had things moving again! Cheers Pete."
The Ergomatic Atkinson was one of a pair built for the Melbourne brigade in about 1968. They had Detroit Diesel engines (probably 8V71s) and the cabs were locally built with a rear facing crew seat and no rear panel. There was a story that a senior manager in Atkinson Australia had recently moved from Leyland Australia and he was able to obtain some Ergo front panels and doors to use in the cabs.
Brian, that fire truck isn't a wind-up. It's not a Leyland/AEC/Albion with a big "A" stuck to the grille either. It is an Aussie Atkinson, one of two built for the Melbourne Fire Brigade which was fitted with an extended version of the Ergomatic tilt cab capable of seating 6 firemen. It has a 6V71 Detroit engine and (of course) a Roadranger gearbox.
How do I know all this, you may ask. It is taken from an excellent book "Atkinson Down Under" written by someone called Peter Lynch!
The two trucks in the pie quiz are CMP "Blitz" wagons; the one on the right of the picture is a Chev and the other one is a Ford. You can't tell that by looking at this photo but I have seen another photo of these 2 trucks which shows the front of both of them on the excellent Australian HCVC forum http://hcvc.com.au/forum/YaBB.pl
The Atki has an 8V71, ten speed Roadranger and Kirkstall rear axle. Around 25hp to the ton, back in 1968 this was a real mover. I still don't understand why Atkinson UK could not market vehicles like this.