Gun Tractor for Polsten Quad
 

Can anyone help with what vehicle was assigned as the gun tractor for the Quad Polsten anti aircraft gun towards the end of the war ?

Polsten Prime Mover
 

http://www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/polstenquad.html provides some clues. It mentions the Skink, which suffered extinction at the hands of the Allied Airforce, which gained air supremacy over Europe (and thus reduced the need for ground based air defence - many units were converted or re-converted to infantry units). Given the overall weight of the full up configuration (6895lb) I suspect that a C60 Cargo truck would have been the prime mover. It would make sense that a LAAT (light anti aircraft tractor) would be a good fit for this gun as the truck is configured for storage of tools, ammunition and personnel.

Other than that, I found nothing definitive (yet). I am looking for the book by a french author about Canada's Army in WWII - it has organization charts that indicates vehicle/weapon system paring.

I was thinking on the lines of the LAAT aswell, but it would be nice to be sure. James

Definitive Answer
 

Jean Bouchery’s book “The Canadian Soldier” does not provide the answer that we were seeking. I’d bet on the C60 or the F60 in both cargo and LAAT configurations. I guess we will have to wait until a few other knowledgeable ones chime in.

Quads and Skinks
 

Unfortunately this web-site is a bit confused. The Skink and Inglis Quad mountings were designed separately, and neither was initially intended to take the Polsten.
The first Skink prototype turrets were designed to mount Hispano-Suiza cannon, while Inglis' Quad and its single and double mountings were were intended for a 20mm cannon of Inglis design which used Hispano-Suiza ammunition. The choice was based on 1942 War Office assurances that it preferred the Hispano-Suiza to the Oerlikon. Unfortunately for Canadian efforts, the British Ministry of Supply preferred the Polsten (based on the Oerlikon) for obvious reasons of economy. In February 1944 21st Army Group decided it would no longer give space in the supply chain for Hispano-Suiza ammunition. The Skink turret therefore had to be redesigned to take the Polsten (fatally delaying the project), and the Inglis mounts were also adapted to accommodate this gun. Efforts were made to modify the Inglis 20mm gun to take Oerlikon ammunition, but the War had ended before the prototypes had completed their firing trials.

Attached are pictures of the Inglis Quad and the Skink with Hispano-Siza guns. For more information on the Inglis 20mm gun see Secret Weapons of the Canadian Army available from Service Publications.

Here's one on a Ford from Military Vehicle Profiles.

One on a C60X

Hmm, never seen that one. Quite unusual with those shock absorbers and smaller wheels (10:50-16??)

Alex

Experimental SP Mount
 

Here is one on DND's experimental Low Silhouette 6x6 SP Mount