Chev 15cwt Com Van with Fibre Board Roof Strips
 

Our 1944 15cwt Communications Van has all the original roof vents and handles but every 6" or so there are strips of about 1" fibre board running across the vehicle's top from side to side. They are screwed to the roof.

Why? Can anyone tell us what they were for or why they were there..

The cab top and sides are aluminum. Is there a reason?

Thanks

Pictures of Chev Com Van
 

Hello Edwin,

Are you able to post some pictures of the roof, sides and front of your Com Van?

Regards, Richard

I'm only guessing but they could be a form of anti-slip for personal if they have cause to be on the roof for tasks like installing antenna or camouflage. On a cold, wet, icy day, walking on an aluminum roof would be akin to suicide.

Right you are, Rob. The fibreboard strips provided grip for personnel attending to aerial matters on top of the wireless box.

Typically the fibreboard is manufactured with a smooth, glossy finish on one side and a rough, checkerboard pattern pressed into the backside. In this particular application as grip strips on the roof, it is important to mount the strips rough side up, otherwise it completely defeats the purpose of safe footing. Over the years I have seen a number of these boxes where the strips were replaced with plywood ones and according to a former signals vetern I talked to once, the plywood idea proved just as dangerous when wet, or with mud on your boots, as the plain aluminum roof would have been.

David

Words which kill my lovely wife to say. Thanks David.

Edwin
 

Sorry I missed your second question, when I first read this thread.

Aluminum was used primarily to save weight. IIRC, the first iteration of the 15-cwt Wireless Box used steel sheeting for the exterior of the box and the weight was excessive. Although aluminum was a prime aviation material during the war, I suspect concerns over supply of this in North America at least had probably dropped off enough that the limited production run of these Wireless boxes was deemed acceptable by CD Howe's team.

David