G

FIRE TRUCKS AT WAR

Fire Apparatus built by the Motor
Transport Depot, Camp Holabird,
Baltimore, Maryland, 1925-1942

Standard Pumping Engines

Camp History

U.S. Army activity at Camp Holabird began in December 1917 with the purchase of 96 acres of land
on Colgate Creek, in the southeastern section of Baltimore City, approximately 6 1/2 miles from
downtown Baltimore. The first Army unit to locate there was the 306th Mechanical Repair Shop,
Quartermaster Corps. The following year the post was named "Camp Holabird", in honor of Brigadier
General Samuel B. Holabird, Army Quartermaster General from 1883 to 1890.

Camp Holabird was the Army's first large motor vehicle base. During 1919, Camp Holabird served the
Motor Transport Corps in the following capacities; Repair and rebuilding of motor equipment, storage
of motor equipment, storage of repair parts, training school for mechanics and operators of motor
equipment and housing of personnel to operate the camp.

During WW I, Camp Holabird was the receiving and shipping point for all automotive transportation
equipment and spare parts to the American Expeditionary Forces in France. It was also the training
and organization point during the war for all military transport units and thousands of drivers,
mechanics and transportation experts stationed there. Camp Holabird also maintained a driving
course for testing new vehicles.

After World War I, important automotive transportation work was continued at Camp Holabird. In
1920, the installation was renamed "Holabird Quartermaster Depot".

Fire Apparatus

Prior to 1925, the Army had little fire fighting apparatus and that which it had was homemade or standard commercial
equipment procured locally by individual post. Several large orders of apparatus were placed during WW I from Ahrens-Fox,
Howe, Seagrave and American LaFrance, but the majority of fire apparatus was still procured locally. Getting parts when
breakdowns occurred became a problem with so many types of equipment in service at so many posts spread throughout the
country.

In 1925 the Army decided to began building it's own fire apparatus. This decision was made for two reasons, first, it was
cheaper to build it's own using surplus WW I truck chassis as basic elements, second, it would keep all it's Army trucks
standardized, allowing parts to be obtained from the post motor pool when a breakdown did occur.

The personnel at the Holabird Quartermaster Depot were given the task of designing the new fire truck. Since many of the
WW I "Liberty Truck" chassis, which had preformed so well in France were still in storage at Holabird, it was the logical choice
in which to construct the new fire truck.

The Liberty 4x2 chassis had metal spoke wheels with solid rubber tires. It was powered by a 425 cu. in., 4 cylinder, 53 hp
engine with a 4 speed transmission. It featured a long mulit-louvered engine hood and the letters USA were cast into the
upper portion of the two-piece raditor.

First type of pumper built by the Holabird Transport
Depot. This rig served at Camp Meade, MD

The first version of the Holabird built fire truck was constructed in 1925 on the "Standard B" Liberty truck, 3-5 ton chassis.
Full front fenders and running boards were added and a 400 gpm rotary gear pump was mounted midship on the vehicles
chassis. An open hose body was affixed to the chassis just behind the pump. Various fire fighting tools and appliances, hard
tubes and ladders were mounted. The completed fire truck was known a Class BF Fire Pumper. The letters USA were cast
into the upper portion of the radiator. This first series was manufactured until 1932 and it is unknown how many were
produced. FTAW has been able to document about 15 of these early rigs.

Class 510 Holabird Pumper USA 5059 Aberdeen Proving Ground FD

The second version of the Holabird fire truck appeared in 1932. It was more modern in appearance then the earlier truck. It
was constructed on the 3rd series Standard B, a 5 ton chassis. The second version was equipped with a 6 cylinder, 105 hp
Continental engine. It featured contoured fenders, pneumatic tires and duel rear wheels. The vehicle was now equipped
with a two-stage 500 gpm. pump and it carried 150 gals of water. !50 ft. of 1 in. hose was carried in a basket mounted over
the fire pump. It was equipped with a tools and appliances needed for structural fire fighting. It was know as the Class BF
510 and some 35 of these rigs have been documented by FTAW.

1941 Class BF 750 Holabird Pumper USA 50401 Aberdeen Proving Ground FD

The third and final version of the Holabird fire truck appeared in 1938. It also used the Contiental engine and was equipped
with a single stage 750 gpm. pump. The letters USA were cast onto the upper portion of the now one-piece radiator. It was
even more modern in appearance and sported large military type tires. A chrome handrail was also fitted to the entire engine
cowl. All versions of the Holabird pumper were of open cab design and none were equipped with windshields. It was
equipped with a 150 gal. water tank and 150 ft. of 1 in. hose was carried in a basket mounted over the fire pump. The hose
bed could carry 800 ft. of 2 1/2 hose. The final version of the Holabird pumper was know as the Class BF 750. Research by
FTAW has been able to document some 100 of these rigs.

With the onset of World War II the production of the Holabird pumper came to a end. The Army's need for fire apparatus was
far greater then what the Quartermaster Depot could supply. Commercial truck and fire apparatus manufactures were
mobilized by the government to meet the needs of the Army for fire equipment. These manufactures built over 8500 fire
engines of every type for the Army's war effort.

Nomenclature plate from Holabird Class BF
750. USA 50298 Built 10 Feb 1941
Morris Army Airfield, N.C.

Nomenclature plate from Holabird Class
510 USA 50314 Built 1940
Fort Warren, WY

Comments and Suggestions
Are Always Welcomed
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