F15A project

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

I think a clearer statement could be made, canvas hatch covers were used in North Africa on some Patter 11 and 12.

I've reviewed many of the photos of North Africa that have been posted over the years on MLU and I can not find a sample, I do distinctly remember having seen a photo of improvised hatches with a canvas cover.

That would be the thread Canvas-covered square roof hatch. These were retrofitted in North Africa, any sort of closed cab truck could be subjected to the treatment, including Cab 11 and Cab 12 CMPs which did not have a factory-fitted hatch.

But back to Bills original question concerning the Round Hatch on Pattern 13, does any body know when that was introduced?

The round hatch was a 1944/1945 production feature, the square one was fitted to most Cab 13's, but not all - what is hardly known is that the "cab with hatched roof was optional on all models"

HTH,
Hanno


Source: Interesting pic of CMP