Fire Engines Photos

An interesting contrast with the British heavy units being built at the same time. The German approach was to continue to build limited numbers of prewar designs, which were expensive to build in specialized factories and required complicated components and construction methods. The British approach was instead to build huge numbers of very basic, simple pumpers which could be issued in large numbers and would do the job without much in the way of custom bodywork, and were very quick and easy to assemble and - when necessary - to repair.

A similar contrast was to be seen in military vehicle production. Germany built comparatively small numbers of expensive, complicated vehicles while the allies - exemplified by US products like the Jeep, the GMC 6X6 and the Sherman tank - built vast fleets of very simple, standardized, cheap and easily manufactured alternatives.

Added by Rob Johnson on 22 October 2025.

This contrast is perhaps even more emphasized by the NFS focus on ATVs and trailer pumps. Germany also took this route, but much later and in smaller numbers.

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 October 2025.

I think it was Patten that said “quantity has a quality all of its own”

Added by Peter McCombie on 24 October 2025.

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