French Navy reserve CMP trucks

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I think most of us will have read about the CMP vehicles which were supplied to the French government by Canada. Most if not all were taken on charge by the French Navy which placed them in storage as strategic reserve.

Most of them were converted with French lighting, and a registration number. Otherwise they remained in as-delivered condition complete with delivery stenciling.

They were stored in Brest from where they were auctioned off in the mid 1980s. Many were bought by collectors and most were placed in storage again. Every now and then one resurfaces.

This thread is to collect information and photos of these trucks.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here’s a nice Machinery truck for sale in France:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/utilitaires/2899690671

This is the description of the advertisement and the photos. Note the stenciling like "Port of discharge Cherbourg" and "FMO 107/57" on the front bumper.
The Canadian registration number 78-387 is on the door and the French "Marine Nationale" registration number is 548 962.

Ford canada atelier C M P F60L 1944
Étampes • 1960 • 800 km • Essence
16 000 €
14/12/2024 à 18:16

Description
Vend Ford Canada, Atelier électricité . Canadian Military Pattern . CMP. Idem Gmc, atelier, workshop. Sorti de chaîne 3 juin 1944. Caisse arrière entièrement équipée du matériel de réparation d'origine, y compris un four. Etat stockage armée. Toujours stationné au sec. Moteur V8 essence. Pneus Good-year 1050x20 datés 43, 44.
Visible Région Etampes Essonne 91 Idem Chevrolet mais moteur Ford V8

[Ed Storey]

What an exceptional time capsule that should be preserved as is and not restored/repainted as you just don't find wartime era vehicles in this state or with such an interesting backstory any more.

[Bob Carriere]

.....and all the equipment onboard!!!!! I agree with Ed preserve as is.... should not be restored......

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Here’s a nice Machinery truck for sale in France:
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/utilitaires/2899690671

Second set of photos showing the interior. Very rare indeed to see a truck like this with most if not all of the equipment inside. I hope it finds a new home where it can be put on display as-is.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another French Navy CMP which came out of the woodwork recently. Now, what use would the French Navy haven for a Chevrolet CGT?

Still, it was fitted with an upgraded lighting system using standard US lights and was assigned Marine Nationale number 741 872. It spent most of it service in storage, after which it was sold off to a private person.

In december 2023, it was offered for sale by a large military vehicle collector in France and has since been sold to a Aalderson Vehicles, dealer/ collector in the Netherlands. They had it running in no time: https://www.facebook.com/10009194959...5345686684652/

Lys Tout Terrain
A vendre , Chevrolet Canada 1944 tracteur artillerie , dans son jus entierement d'origine A remettre en route : prix 28000 €

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Mapl...4368102174868/

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Here is the description of the advertisement and the photos. Note the stenciling like "Port of discharge Cherbourg" and "FMO 107/57" on the front bumper.
The Canadian registration number 78-387 is on the door and the French "Marine Nationale" registration number is 548 962.

78-387 Also appeared in Wheels & Tracks magazine 55.....pictured at the Brest auction in 1980!




Edit: and here it is on display at the "Auto-Moto-Retro" show in Rouen in 2012. pictures from Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/xavnco...-8xxjks-RE9d6a

[Ed Storey]

I too was wondering what the French Navy thought that they were going to do with a bunch of 10-year old CMPs when they took reciept of them in the mid to late 1950s. By the mid-1950s the Canadian Army was switching over to US style SMP vehicles and was disposing of CMPs as they became redundant so I would be curious to know what sort of deal was struck with France for these vehicles.

To take a bunch of used left hand drive CMPs and to not use them, but assign them to storage as war stocks, says something about never throwing anything out! So what would the French Navy do with a FAT?

[Alex van de Wetering]

A little over a year ago Hanno, Egbert and I went to view a Ford Ambulance in Belgium; another ex-French Navy CMP with only 576 miles on the clock! It was on display at the For Freedom museum in Knokke-Heist for a while, but it's now for sale.

"342 714" on the Navy licence plate.

Pictures are a mix of Hanno's and my own. The truck was also offered on Milweb.

[Alex van de Wetering]

This F60L Machinery M mkII was pictured at Saumur, France in 2012.

Ex French Navy, "78-370", "641 897", FMO 107/57 (?)

Another time capsule.

source: http://maquettegarden.free.fr/Vehicu...lier/index.xml

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Second set of photos showing the interior. Very rare indeed to see a truck like this with most if not all of the equipment inside. I hope it finds a new home where it can be put on display as-is.

Attached are a couple of images taken from the November 1944 Manual Supplement.

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

This F60L Machinery M mkII was pictured at Saumur, France in 2012.

Ex French Navy, "78-370", "641 897", FMO 107/57 (?)

Another time capsule.

source: http://maquettegarden.free.fr/Vehicu...lier/index.xml

These are some attached scans from the May 1944 Manual.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

Attached are a couple of images taken from the November 1944 Manual Supplement.

Thanks for posting these images from the manuals, Ed!

[Alex van de Wetering]

A sister to the Ambulance for sale in Belgium is the one that used to be in Leo de Groot's collection. It was for sale on el alamein/milmarket for a while, went to forum member Auke, then offered for sale again by forum member Roy.....and I am not sure, but I have a feeling it's the one that was for sale, repainted, in Aalsmeer and advertised on Milweb about a year ago.

At the moment I only have the first picture that was posted by serge on the forum....and the low res images that Peter Geert Hommes posted more than 10 years ago.

Does that read "342 716" on the licence plate (?)

[Bob Phillips]

Amazing that these vehicles have survived intact. In post #6 t here are some great interior shots. While I cannot identify all of the power tools I do see a #19 set power supply ( under the fan) and even more interesting in the next photo a generator from a continental r975 radial engine sitting on the bench. What a time capsule!

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Bob Phillips

Amazing that these vehicles have survived intact. In post #6 t here are some great interior shots. While I cannot identify all of the power tools I do see a #19 set power supply ( under the fan) and even more interesting in the next photo a generator from a continental r975 radial engine sitting on the bench. What a time capsule!

Attached are the equipment lists for the Machinery 'M' Mk II.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

A sister to the Ambulance for sale in Belgium is the one that used to be in Leo de Groot's collection. It was for sale on el alamein/milmarket for a while, went to forum member Auke, then offered for sale again by forum member Roy..... and I am not sure, but I have a feeling it's the one that was for sale, repainted, in Aalsmeer and advertised on Milweb about a year ago.

You may well be right about the F60L Ambulance in Aalsmeer being the same one as the ex-Dieffenbach/ ex-De Groot Collection example:

"the entire exterior paintwork has been stripped and re painted in olive drab. Vehicle has been dry stored for more than four decades. Underside in reasonably good condition but with light rust spots."

Source: https://milweb.net/webvert/a7633/106752

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

A little over a year ago Hanno, Egbert and I went to view a Ford Ambulance in Belgium; another ex-French Navy CMP with only 576 miles on the clock! It was on display at the For Freedom museum in Knokke-Heist for a while, but it's now for sale.

"342 714" on the Navy licence plate.

Pictures are a mix of Hanno's and my own. The truck was also offered on Milweb.

See pictures of 342-714 when it was in display at the For Freedom Museum at Knokke, Belgium here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...038#post172038

It is still for sale - e-mail me for direct contact with the owner; or see the proxy advertisement here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...068#post289068

[Alex van de Wetering]

This is the Ford at the Overlord museum in Colleville, Normandy.
No clear visible door numbers or licence plate, but pictures do show a glimpse of the lettering "DISCHARGE CHERBOURG" on the rear body, the maple leaf on the door and number "3049" on the bumper. I presume that it's ex-Franch navy, but I am not sure.

It's a Machinery body, but on this example the tools have been removed.

source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/michae...-YWMgtf-BTEMAW

https://www.alamyimages.fr/vehicules...551323334.html

[Alex van de Wetering]

Two tankers, Chevrolets this time.....the "desert" coloured one, I think, is from the Saumur tank museum, but currently displayed at the "Mémorial du Général De Gaulle". It shows French navy number "641 895" on the bumper.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/65005481@N06/6895502370 | https://servimg.com/view/18800623/6213#

The other is one we have seen on the forum before: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...951#post294951
It's for sale on MilWeb, apparently in Belgium.
Door number "82 058" (?) with a maple leaf and number 2065 (?) on the bumper, same style as the Ford Machinery in the Overlord Museum.
source: https://milweb.net/webvert/a3239/93877

[Alex van de Wetering]

A couple of CMP pictures from the French Defence Archive: https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/

First F60L shows "86 097" on the door and some weird telescope thing in the back. I guess this pictures also shows where the low mileage on these trucks came from.....only used for parades(?)
source: https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/nem...litaire-5.html

Two more pictures of a pair of 60CWT's. The front one a F60L with stirrup step. the one behind it seems to have a roof painted white or yellow. No other markings visible.
source: https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/dep...terarmees.html
source: https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/dep...rarmees-1.html

Last picture shows that life didn't end well for all CMPs in french service.
source:https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/

[David Dunlop]

It does seem odd all these vehicles were under French Navy control on some form of long term basis. Also seems odd such a high number of them were essentially field support vehicles and the larger GS CMP's.

If we look at the immediate 20 postwar years, many countries that emerged from World War Two were desperately trying to reassert their colonial interests. France was one of them. So is it possible at that point in time, the French Navy/Marines would have been the service tasked with getting combat troops into their former colonies not only equipped for fighting but equipped for maintenance of their equipment and large scale casualty clearing, knowing the normal military infrastructures for dealing with these issues on the ground in their former colonies were badly damaged, or none existent after the war?

Perhaps the situations in their various colonies unfolded faster than they could effectively respond to, fast enough, so the vehicles ended up just sitting in storage un til sold off.

David