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Old 10-03-21, 10:10
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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Default Truck, 30-cwt, 4x4, Gun Tractor (Maple Leaf)?

The thread Canadian Chevrolet Maple Leaf 4x4 artillery tractors? has some info on what this most likely is:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
I have not heard before of Maple Leaf trucks being supplied to the KNIL. I have looked through my references and found a vehicle which fits your description in Bart Vanderveen's The Observer's Fighting Vehicles Directory World War II (revised edition), p. 233:

"Truck, 30-cwt, 4x4, Gun Tractor (Maple Leaf)
6-cyl., 80 bhp, 4F1Rx2, wb 134 in. The Maple Leaf was a product of GM Products of Canada Ltd and could be described as a heavy-duty Chevrolet. This unit was produced for Australia, where it was fitted with GM-H cab and fixed-side body."

The picture (sorry, no scanner) shows a chassis/cowl (front end sheet metal plus windscreen) on large (20"?) tyres and a spare tyre fitted behind where the cab would be.
As noted by Vanderveen, "this unit was produced for Australia", but I cannot recall seeing pictures or references of these in Australian Army use. Did GM Holden deliver vehicles to the KNIL?
Now with the picture from Vanderveen side by side with the finished truck:

Click image for larger version

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ID:	120724 Click image for larger version

Name:	nla.obj-52802709-4_mapleleaf4x4.jpg
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Last edited by Hanno Spoelstra; 10-03-21 at 18:16. Reason: added picture
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