Contract numbers?
 

I have one f15 4x2 but no contract id number plates.

And i have a chev C15 4x2 with id plates with contract number starting with SM ????.
Matching number vehicle id plates engine and doar number still on.
Build on british contract number.

There are 2 more chev C15 4x2 on my yard without id plates and i have one in bits and peaces with out id plates as wel.

Do you have id plates with contract numbers?

Ours also has a British contract number.

groet

Hendrik

HI all; the British/ commonwealth units in Egypt had 4X2's of '39 and '40 mfg. Civilian cabs with wide tyres. These trucks are pictured in Ford Trucks publication of the Early V8 Ford Club. Newc

I do agree that 4 x 2 were used but did the Canadian army use Cab 13 4x2 's ??

Groeten

Hendrik

That question is the very subject of this thread. We need to collect information from data plates, period photos and production orders to find the answer. I know one of the vehicles used to liberate my home town was a Cab 13 4x2 15-cwt truck. But that in itself is not enough proof. Let's keep searching!

Here's another picture of another F15, taken at Amsterdam, 8 May 1945, when Canadian units were entering the town to liberate it.

Attachment 90414

Location: Noorder Amstellaan (Churchill-laan); photo by Mr. Chris de Keijzer
Source: http://www.zuidelijkewandelweg.nl/ar...ding/index.htm

Photographic proof, not in abundance, but clearly Canadian units used 4x2 CMP trucks....

In the background, here's another 15-cwt 4x2 truck with British GS body, picture was taken somewhere in Normandy on 13 August 1944.

Attachment 97535 Attachment 97536

© IWM (B 9093), source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205202473

Another 15-cwt 4x2 CMP with British wooden GS body
 

Here's another Ford F15 4x2 GS truck with British wooden GS body, pictured on the road from Wassenaar to The Hague on 8 May 1945.

Attachment 100363 Attachment 100365

Attachment 100364

Source: https://libertytour.nl/

Another 4x2 CMP in Europe, via Keith Webb: "Spitfire pilots of 111 Sqn RAF in France, 1944 with a Ford 15CWT in the background."

Attachment 101729

Air force
 

The RAF and RAAF squadrons in the Desert Air Force used F15s in some numbers.

They sure did, but the challenge here is to find 4x2 CMPs in use in Europe during 1944/1945. That’s why I posted your photo here - thanks!

Desert Squadrons
 

They also moved into Europe and took their vehicles with them.

Here's a 92 Squadron RAF Ford F15 in some difficulties in Sicily after being transported from Egypt.

Uh oh, did the distributor got wet?!? Now the fly-boys have to get their feet wet....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teb8KUb3UuE&t=323s

I was looking at the same footage yesterday. The white bar on top of the AoS indicates corps troops. "54" Transport company. Maybe British XXX Corps???

Alex

Attachment 103063 Attachment 103064

It may well be!

Here's a 4x2 15-cwt CMP in action in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands.

According to the caption these are vehicles of the Belgian 5th SAS Regiment. In that case, the picture must have been taken during Operation Larkswood (read more here: https://www.saak.nl/battlefield%20to...herst%20en.htm).

The Belgian SAS were supporting 2nd Canadian Corps during that Operation. As far as I know the SAS did not have 15-cwt trucks, so possibly it belonged to a unit from 2nd Canadian Corps.

Attachment 103752

Caption: A motorized column of the Belgian SAS Para Regiment operating in the north of the Netherlands, equipped with Jeeps equipped with air target machine guns.
Place: Oosterhesselen, Drenthe, the Netherlands

Souce: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

That would make an interesting ‘Then and Now” photo set, Hanno, if the location could be traced.

There are probably not many roads in that area with a rail line crossing it at such a sharp angle, followed almost immediately by a spur line that seems to head off parallel to the road.

David

CMP 4x2 15-cwt with British wooden GS body
 

Here’s a screenshot of one of these trucks. Odon Valley, Normandy, France, 21 June 1944.

Attachment 104203
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060019591

Canadian troops on the Market Square, Middelburg, The Netherlands, 1945. Note the Terrapins, DUKW and CMP 4x2 truck.

Attachment 106263

Source: https://digitaal.dezb.nl/foto/c59ea5...0-cb43733749f8

Great photo Hanno.
I have never seen a photo of Terrapins in action and there are four in that picture !
Kevin Wheatcroft used to have one (no idea if he still has it) and that is the only one I have ever seen.

David

Off-topic Terrapin
 

Hello David,

Reportedly Terrapins were used extensively during the Battle for the Scheldt. While M29C Weasels proved to be worthless, the bigger amphibians like LVT, DUKW and Terrapin proved to be decisive for the operations.

Here's another picture taken in Middelburg during November 1944. You can find more here: https://digitaal.dezb.nl/beeldbank/s...field=terrapin

Not sure Mr. Wheatcroft still has the Terrapin, I read he is currently having ten(!) Sherman tanks restored. Hopefully he will (also) spend his resources on a really rare vehicles like the Terrapin ;-)

H.


Attachment 106265

Source: https://digitaal.dezb.nl/foto/0932ca...c-634b75bf90ec

CMP 4x2 15-cwt with British wooden GS body
 

And here are a couple more, maybe even three.

Two Ford F15 4x2 trucks passing Sherman Crab flail tanks. Note they are fitted with wooden cargo bodies like on most British 15-cwt trucks. The third one may have had a wooden body too, as not much is left after it burned.

Attachment 108518 Attachment 108517 Attachment 108515

Source of screenshots: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060019710

CMP 4x2 15-cwt with British wooden GS body?
 

Alex spotted this C15 in a film clip recently. On 1 October 1944, shortly after Eindhoven was liberated, a volunteer of the Red Cross collects money.

Note the spare wheel: it sits low on a shelf, just like the F15s with British 15-cwt body as seen in this thread. This would be the first confirmed C15 with this body.

According to the Chilwell list Z5354431 was one of the following batch: "Z5353961-5354980 SM2689 Chevrolet truck 15cwt 4x2 G/S"

Attachment 109514 Attachment 109515

Source: http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/collectie...864/false/true

Just came across this 4x2. Picture taken in Haaren 1944 (Brabant, south part of the Netherlands)


Does that say "CZ" on the door?

source: https://www.bhic.nl

Great find again, Mr. eagle eye!

I'd say it does say CZ. Now, is it a Ford or Chevrolet?

Yes......most likely a Chevrolet or Ford :D

But seriously; very hard to tell.....mirror support or brush guard can't be seen.
The same picture turns up twice in the archive, but the other scan is even worse.

Alex

Two things, the picture is blurred because it's going very fast.

And the front hubcap appears to be a small cap casting a long, thin shadow.

Both of these things would indicate Ford. :devil:

Must be going backwards than.... :D

Two more....First is probably British though (Dodges with British bodies). Picture taken in Eindhoven
source: http://www.eindhoven-in-beeld.nl/

And second.....two partial shots of a 4x2 in a Canadian camp in Rotterdam. Ford by the looks of it......and in Canadian service, even though we still haven't found the "smoking gun" of a 4x2 actually sporting Canadian registration!
source:https://stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/

Alex

F15 in British service
 

Look at the right, an F15 4x2 in British service in Normandy.

Caption: "British Sherman Firefly on a road in France 27th July 1944"

Attachment 112564
Source: https://flic.kr/p/dJudE4

"British soldiers at rest camp in Normandy take a break from the war."
 

And another CMP with British 15-cwt body. Its census number reads Z5346754.


Attachment 114739 Attachment 114740

Source: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/time-off-from-war