[David_Hayward (RIP)]

You must be right!!!

In a letter of 31 July 1940 from Carr to the D.M.S. “the British” had made a further enquiry regarding the possible production of 39,200 additional vehicles. Consequently Carr queried as to whether the tooling contemplated for 200 vehicles per day was sufficient and the motor industry should review the situation to see whether bottlenecks at that production rate could be relieved with advantage, though they might not be able to do so until tooling for 100 units/day had advanced beyond the state at that time. Carr thought that the aim was 100 units/day but under pressure 125 could be achieved. However, spare parts demand for large orders shortly beforehand was such that the 100 units/day completed vehicles could only be maintained if the outside limit of 125 sets of components could also be maintained As this would preclude elasticity or buffer in production, he suggested that the companies decide whether they could create some reserve capacity greater than then contemplated

However it was late June '40 and the British production did not start until 26th August (Ford) and 3rd September (GM of Canada). The initial production envisaged comprised 21,000 units and of those initially 12,000 were to be delivered to the U.K. and 1,970 for Egypt, though this rapidly changed. One of the first shipments consisted of 70 15-cwt. Chevrolets and 25 Ford 3-Ton trucks, which was a tiny portion of the overall demand of course.

I am going to wade through the Australian papers relating to release of WD vehicles in 1941 to see if I can add anything further.