40-mm Bofors Tractors

[Bren]

I was wondering if someone could help me with some tractor info.

From what I understand, the primary Bofors puller in the first period of the war (Sep 39 -Jun 40) was the Morris CDSW.

a) was this job generally taken over by the Morris C8 afterwards?

b) was the Morris C8 used much during the Battle of France?

c) how prevalent was the CMP FAT and CMP Bofors SPAA in the British Army?



Thanks

[Alan McGuinness]

The Morris Commercial C8 was intended to be a field artillery tractor, although there was a variant (the C9/B) which was a self-propelled bofors gun. The C8 FAT was introduced in the 1930s, so did see service during the Battle of France. Many were left behind during the evacuation in 1940.

As well as the Morris Commercial CDSW, other bofors tractors included the Bedford QL (in QLB form) and CMP based tractors built on the Ford F30 and F60S, and Chevrolet C30 and C60S chassis - often called LAATs (light anti-aircraft tractors).

I assume experience in the field led to the higher rated CMP chassis being used? Who knows more?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello "Bren",

First of all, welcome to this forum!
Please use your first and last name here, we are among friends.

Originally Posted by Bren

From what I understand, the primary Bofors puller in the first period of the war (Sep 39 -Jun 40) was the Morris CDSW.
a) was this job generally taken over by the Morris C8 afterwards?

No, the Morris-Commercial C8 is a Field Artillery Tractor (FAT), not a Light Artillery Tractor (LAAT).

The replacement for the CDSW must have been the Bedford QLB or Ford/Chevrolet LAAT.

b) was the Morris C8 used much during the Battle of France?

I don´t have exact numbers, but I would say the C8 was the main FAT during the early days of WW2.

c) how prevalent was the CMP FAT and CMP Bofors SPAA in the British Army?

Again, no exact numbers available, but CMPs were used in great numbers by the British Army.

HTH,
Hanno

[chrisgrove]

I don't have numbers either, but both Guy QuadAnt FATs and Morris CDSW FATs (different from the CDSW LAAT) were in use in the BEF.

Chris

[Bren]

Thanks for the help, everyone.

No need for quotation marks Hanno Spoelstra, Bren is my name hehe.