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

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[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.

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[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 €

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

[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.

Cover - Machinery Lorry 'F' Mk II copy.jpg Machinery Lorry 'F' Mk II - Interior View copy.jpg Machinery Lorry 'F' Mk II copy.jpg

[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 (?)

FORD_AMB_1.jpg

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[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!

Wheels Tracks.jpg


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

F60L Radio repair-1.jpg F60L Radio repair-2.jpg F60L Radio repair-3.jpg Screenshot 2025-01-05 212915.jpg

[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.

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[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

Ford Canada Atelier 03.JPG

Ford Canada Atelier 02.JPG Ford Canada Atelier 04.JPG

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[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.

Machinery 'Lorry' M Mk II - General Information - 1944 copy.jpg Machinery Lorry 'M' Mk II Interior - Front copy.jpg Machinery Lorry 'M' Mk II Showing Interior copy.jpg

[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

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[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

22.jpg Screenshot 2025-01-06 at 22-19-56 All sizes 26-07-2013 106 Flickr - Photo Sharing!.jpg

military-vehicles-on-display-in-the-overlord-museum-normandy-france-2R0XXF2.jpg Cherbourg.JPG