[servicepub (RIP)]

Eric,
in 2003 Colin Stevens posted this on the Canuck site. I will ask him if we can use it.

Before I left Saskatchewan in 1986, I saw a bunch of brand new military issue CJ-7 jeeps at CFB Moose Jaw with radiator canvas cold weather covers - and yes I took a photo through the fence. I have other photos of CJ-7 jeeps in military service.

Later I saw more of these jeeps at CFB Chilliwack (before the Feds closed it down - so now Canada has NO army base on the whole West Coast). Here are the CFR and VIN numbers of those I saw at CFB Chilliwack.

Licence # (mil) Serial No#(VIN)
79100 2BCHL81J8HB519082
79105 2BCHL81J8HB519115
79106 2BCHL81J8HB5119136?

The Equipment Code Configuration (ECC) for all of the 1983 and 1985 batches of CJ-7 jeeps appears to be 121526, and the 1987 batch has ECC 141103.

Fifty-three (53) military CJ-7 jeeps that I know of are listed here at end of message. This is likely all of those on issue in Western Canada but I cannot guarantee it.
-- MB = 15;
-- SK = 5;
-- AB = 9;
-- BC = 24;
-- There would have been more in ON (at least 50?), Quebec (at least 50?), and the Maritimes (perhaps 25?). Total procured? Perhaps a couple of hundred?
Some were used by the Military Police and at CFB Chilliwack. I remember the MPs getting nervous and challenging me outside the front gate of CFB Chilliwack (back when we still had a real army base here!) as I was writing down the VIN number of a CJ-7 parked by the MP gate shack! Suspicious activity! It might have been simpler to say that I was crazy rather than explain that I was doing research to help FUTURE MV collectors! I think they probably figured I was a harmless lunatic.

In the army's terminology in their "LAND ORDNANCE MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM MARK II" the first CJ-7 above is listed as:
CFR No. 87-79100; Equipment Code Configuration (ECC) 141103; Make American Motors; Nomenclature - Truck Utility; Base/Station - CFB Chilliwack; Unit Name - CFB Chilliwack; HUIC - 0122. According to the record, of which I have a 1993 Jun 14 copy, 87-79100, 79101, 79102, 79103, 79104, 79105 and 79106 were all held by CFB Chilliwack. This record can be confusing as vehicles on issue to militia units, tend to simply show as being on the charge of the local base. Regular force vehicles (e.g. 3 PPCLI) were identified as such.

12 MP Platoon (of 12 Svc Bn) had 83-56997, 56998, and 5699 on strength in 1990 April 24 (re: PMA Vehicle Control System) and were describeed therin as ECC 121526 TRUCK, UTILITY, 1/4 TON, CJ-7, W/AKEE REMARKS: MP KIT RADIOS: 46; ACCT: DX. 22 Svc Bn MPs had at least one CJ-7 at MILCON 88 at Meaford with wire cutter bar, light, sign etc. re: a photo in THE RESERVIST (CFR not visible in photo).

Until enough Iltis were available, some CJ-7 jeeps were issued to milita armoured corps units. The BCRs got some e.g. CFR 57683 (had been on issue in 1990 Apr 24 to HQ Pacific Militia Area and held at 12 Svc Bn). I was told by a soldier that they were TERRBILE out in the field and had no traction (slipped on wet grass was the likely description) unlike the old M38A1CDN 2 & CDN 3 and M151A2CDN 1/4 tons.

Later when the BCR got their Iltis vehicles, the CJ-7 jeeps were reallocated. My regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, got one for use by the Orderly Room Clerk. This was CFR 56994. I later saw it in a used car lot, and it had been civilianized with a coat of BLUE (echhhh!) paint. The military radio mounting holes were still there (so water would spray up into the interior!) and I confirmed its ID from its VIN number which I had recorded while it was in service. They wanted $3,400 for it in 1994 Feb. 11. 56993 was with the RWestR. 57025 served with 12 Med Co in Vancouver. 76562 was rolled and I photographed it at CFB Chilliwack in 1989 and was sold surplus for $1,500 (re: Ian Newby). 1983 AMC CJ7 VIN 1JCCM87E5DT075085 CFR 83-56990 sold in October 1993 for $1,580.

Ian Newby bought one surplus and original (I think it is CFR 56999 VIN 1JCCM87E6DT075094) and it was one of the MP jeeps. It was used in the X-Files episode where Mulder and Scully are cocooned like caterpillars in the back of a jeep.

In summary - they WERE used in the field as recce jeeps, but were mainly used as administrative runabouts, and Military Police (MP) vehicles. They were sold off after about only 10 years of service. Mileage was likely low. Most parts would be standard civilian I suspect, but military green tops, seat cushions, radiator covers (cold weather areas), radio mounts, wire cutter bars, military lighting, and 24 V system add-on (?) and MP kits (red light and siren).

These ARE CANADIAN MILITARY JEEPS! If I had the spare money, I would not mind one as a daily driver.

CFR Number Unit Prov ECC
83-56975 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56976 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56978 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
83-56979 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56980 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56981 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56983 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
83-56984 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56986 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56987 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56988 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56989 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
83-56990 44 FD ENGR SQN BC 121526
83-56991 44 FD ENGR SQN BC 121526
83-56992 44 FD ENGR SQN BC 121526
83-56993 R WESTMR R BC 121526
83-56994 SEAFORTH OF C BC 121526
83-56995 12 SVC BN BC 121526
83-56996 12 SVC BN BC 121526
83-56997 12 MP PL BC 121526
83-56998 12 MP PL BC 121526
83-56999 12 MP PL BC 121526
83-57000 12 MED COY BC 121526
83-57001 RM RANGERS BC 121526
83-57014 RM RANGERS BC 121526
83-57025 RM RANGERS BC 121526
83-57089 CFB Moose Jaw SK 121526
83-57090 CFB Moose Jaw SK 121526
83-57092 CFB Moose Jaw SK 121526
83-57093 CFB Moose Jaw SK 121526
83-57683 HQ PAC MIL AREA BC 121526
85-76556 ARTS Vernon BC 121526
85-76557 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
85-76558 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
85-76559 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
85-76560 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
85-76561 CFB Moose Jaw SK 121526
85-76563 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
85-76564 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
85-76565 HQ PAC MIL AREA BC 121526
85-76566 CFB Edmonton AB 121526
85-76567 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
85-76568 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
85-76570 CFB Winnipeg MB 121526
87-78998 CFB Cold Lake AB 141103
87-79100 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79101 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79102 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79103 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79104 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79105 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79106 CFB Chilliwack BC 141103
87-79121 CFB Calgary AB 141111
TOTAL = 53 listed here

I am not sure it the last one is a CJ-7. It is an American Motors vehicle and has the same NDID as the CJ-7 listed before it, but a different ECC. The descriptions of the vehicles varied between provinces. They are listed as AMERICAN MOTORS, not as JEEP.