Tower for 17-pdr

[Larry Hayward]

A photo in the IWM archives in London, (NA7702) shows a line of GMC CCKW-353 (or similar GMC CCKW 352's) towing Mk I 17pdrs, waiting for the attack over the River Volturno, Italy, Oct 1943. The photo shows only the rear of the trucks, so I couldn't say which model they were. The rear vehicle carries the unit serial 64 and a vehicle number '53099???. The vehicles and guns are painted in a light colour over which a darker grey or green has been painted in a disruptive pattern. I doubt the unit was Canadian but at least it confirms the GMC's use as an Artillery Tractor. From various photos it is apparent that in the Sicilian & Italian Campaign the 17pdr AT gun was towed intially by the Morris Quad and Ford WOT 8 (seen towing a 17pdr 'Mk II' on 25pdr carriage) then GMC's until finally the M5A1 & M9A1 half tracks became available.

Larry Hayward

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