CMP vehicles in service with the Royal Netherlands Army

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This thread is a placeholder to gather available information about CMP vehicles in service with the Royal Netherlands Army, both in the Netherlands and abroad in the former Netherlands East Indies.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A long time ago Dutchman Bernard van Meurs published a basic overview of CMP trucks in Dutch service on his webpage: http://www.bernardvanmeurs.nl/index....ge=cmp-info-en

He made use of Army archive pictures and listed the following:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Netherlands Army image library hosts a good number of photographs which are accessible online:

https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/beeldbank

Not all captions are correct, which means some creative searching is needed to find them. Many pictures are official photographs used for inventory listing and publication purposes.

Searching for "Canadian Military Pattern" returns only 7 hits, including hits C60X workshop:

"Werkplaatsauto GMC ( Canadian Military Pattern) 3ton, 6x6, met vaste opbouw."

https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some other interesting finds:

Earth borer: "Grondboorauto Chevrolet C60S, 3 ton, 4x4"

https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

"Bureauauto Chevrolet, C60L , 3ton, 4x4."

https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

"Een GMC Otter gepantserd verkenningvoertuig. Gebruikt bij de Koninklijke Marechaussee tot 1970."

https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...e-b71cf033d065

The Otter was in service with the Netherlands Military Police until 1970. That is one reason why a fair percentage of surviving Otters are ex-Dutch.

More to follow later!

Enjoy,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is where many if not all CMPs for the Dutch army came from - the Deelen dump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-2H...utu.be&t=6m25s

105.5 Army Vehicles Demobbed
Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers classify trucks as they drive by; close-ups of shields, signs, numbers on vehicles. Trucks, armoured cars, tanks, jeeps and other military vehicles parked on large military vehicle parking lot at the Arnhem Airport, Holland.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The thread CMP history - in Dutch has links to three articles in Dutch with more information about CMP trucks of the Royal Netherlands Army after WW2.

Some statistics:

• About 900 C60L's in use until 1960;
• The Artillery had 165 CGT's plus 101 FGTs on strength;
• In 1951, 338 C15A's were listed on strength, but undoubtedly more were in service early after WW2.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Couple of C15's pictured in use with the Dutch Army. With thanks to Alex for pointing them out.

"Beauty shots" used to catalogue and document the vehicle inventory:


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614 and https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...1-13966e870614

Here's one pictured during maintenance out in the open ("backyard mechanics?"):

Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/m...9-665851298ea1

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

Is there a logic, or system, that you are aware of for the 5-digit numbering system showing up on these RNA vehicles?

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

Is there a logic, or system, that you are aware of for the 5-digit numbering system showing up on these RNA vehicles?

David,

Someone once told me that the 5 digits were just the last 5 of the original Canadian Census numbers, but I have never checked if this is indeed the case.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Colonel Schafroth directing maneuvers at Oldebroek, The Netherlands. Date: 8 april 1948

Note this C15A Cab 13 is fitted with a 2B1 body, not common on C15A’s. Part of the Foliage Pattern (a.k.a. Mickey Mouse) camouflage is still visible on the tilt. Also note two “aftermarket” headlights fitted instead of the original ones.



Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8b500...8-003048976d84

[Alex van de Wetering]

Note this C15A Cab 13 is fitted with a 2B1 body, not common on C15A’s.

Any ideas on the second in line??? C8A, like the HUW behind? D-rings and bumper seem different from the C15A in front.

Alex

[David Dunlop]

Also, what is that white angular arm mounted where the original Chev mirror bracket was located on the upper door hinge assembly?

I thought it was a folding mirror bracket but cannot see any mirror fitted, round or rectangular.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

Also, what is that white angular arm mounted where the original Chev mirror bracket was located on the upper door hinge assembly

David, looks like a trafficator (indicator). I think some late war British softskins came with these fitted as standard(?).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The Otter was in service with the Netherlands Military Police until 1970. That is one reason why a fair percentage of surviving Otters are ex-Dutch.

An Otter of the Military Police in front of the "Concertgebouw" (Concert hall) during a military parade, Museumplein, Amsterdam, 27 March 1952 (Foto Ben van Meerendonk / AHF, collectie IISG, Amsterdam)



Not much later an another Otter serving as a target in the 1950's on the aircraft gunnery range on Vlieland, the Netherlands. The vehicle has sank into the sand, caused by a high tide.


Source: https://flic.kr/p/qdtBkZ

[Hanno Spoelstra]

C30 LAAT with Dutch census 32910:



Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...7-f88749ccc403

[Alex van de Wetering]

C30 LAAT with Dutch census 32910:

Sometimes the background is just as interesting as the foreground.....A Staghound AA and carrier on the right and a Standard Beaverette on the left, which has possibly been cut down(?)

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here is another fascinating picture from the NIMH archives. According to the description it shows a Ford CMP, in which case it would be a rare F60H......but on closer inspection, it looks more like a GM C60X, judging from the brush guard, prop shafts and brake booster fittings. The truck has been fitted with an engine and winch to control moving targets on the Vliehors firing range. Any ideas on the engine ???......possibly a 6-71 Detroit diesel....or half of a GM diesel Sherman M4A2 power pack??

Alex

source:https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...a-4b0b1dd58a6a

[David Herbert]

Alex,
Yes I think you are right about the engine mounted on the CMP. I am certain that it is a GM 6-71 out of a Sherman or M10. They have even mounted the radiator as it would be in the tank installation so that the pipes could be re used. The generator mounting is the same too.
It looks as if the engine is mounted well off centre on the truck which might suggest that this is a complete 6046 twin set but I don't think that I see the transfer box that joins the two engines, though it may have been removed to get at the clutches, quite a common job if the engines are not properly synchronized.
I think that that is a M41 light tank behind it on the left of the photo.
I am puzzled about why a moving target range needed its power unit to be mobile, usually they are in a protected bunker at one end of the target track.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

I am certain that it is a GM 6-71 out of a Sherman or M10.

Hi David,

Thanks for your confirmation on the GM Diesel! That's quite the engine to sit on the back of a CMP!

I am puzzled about why a moving target range needed its power unit to be mobile, usually they are in a protected bunker at one end of the target track.

There was no further explanation on this with the photo in the archive.....the only reason I can think of is the fact that the Vliehors range is at a beach and the range might change with high-low tides, making a mobile unit a better choice (?)
According to the picture description the tank in the background is an M24 (and probably another standing in front of it), which sounds logical as the Dutch army did have M24's, but no M41's that I know of.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Derrick truck, captioned as "'Bokauto', Ford, F60S, 3 ton, 4x4".
In use with the Royal Netherlands Army, 1955.


Source

And some snaphots from Mr. Leen Boshuizen who drove these when he was serving as a conscript in 1946:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ford F60L with reg.no. 67202
Towing Dutch-made 1-ton trailer
Source Dutch National Archives

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ford F60L parading with Hispano-Suiza AA gun in the back in 1955. I have never seen this configuration before.

Defilé te Haarlem met vooraan een Ford F60L welk een Hispano-Suiza luchtdoelkanon in de laadbak heeft, gevolgd door een Dodge T110L ook voorzien van een Hispano-Suiza luchtdoelkanon.
NHA De Boer

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Humber Scout Car and Chevrolet C15 or C15A with registration number "58407" during an Army exercise near the Maas river, Venlo, June 1951.


Source: Noord-Hollands Archief, collectie Fotopersbureau De Boer, NL-HlmNHA_1478_01730C02_01

[David Dunlop]

Was the bicycle part of that Exercise, Hanno?

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Was the bicycle part of that Exercise, Hanno?

I don't think so David. It doesn't look like a military bike. And in Holland it is hard to take a photo without a bicycle showing up in it

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ford F60L Ambulances and GS trucks in use during a Dutch Army exercise in 1951.

Most photos I've found of Dutch CMPs to date are those taken in depots, so I am happy to have found pics of CMPs in actual use. For good measure, I've thrown in pic of a Willys MB / Ford GPW too.



Source: United #### manoeuvre Veluwe, Noord-Hollands Archief, collectie Fotopersbureau De Boer, NL-HlmNHA_1478_00954A03

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

These are as large as the images get I'm afraid, but I haven't seen this setup before. Images came from the Dutch Defence research site http://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/be...archfield=Ford
The link is to search for Ford, you can also search for Chevrolet

These photos are dated 1951 and the Royal Netherlands Army registration number "32505" denotes it was taken up in service. The only reference*) I can find is an entry "Ford F60S motoraffuit 2 tl" which stands for "Ford F60S motor gun carriage, 20-mm, anti air targets". The census noted six were on strength on the stock taking dates 31 May 1948 and 5 April 1951. In 1951 all six were struck off strength and sold for scrap.


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...6-7c6b316506d1


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...d-cb687bb9f330

*) Sander Ruys: Wiel en Rups, 2021 (https://www.walburgpers.nl/nl/book/9...2/wiel-en-rups)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Canadian Army did use the F60B during the liberation of the Netherlands and this type was used by the postwar NL Army, too.

A Netherlands census entry for "Ford F60B motoraffuit 4 tl" - which stands for "Ford F60B motor gun carriage, 40-mm, anti air targets" - notes that fifty-three (53) were on strength on 1 November 1954. These may have come from later Canadian Military Aid (CMA) supplies as non were shown on strength on the stock taking dates 31 May 1948 and 5 April 1951, even though the photo below is dated 1951 and the Canadian Army left theirs behind in 1945.

The caption of this photo in the NL MoD image bank dated 1951 notes "this equipment was received as Canadian military aid and was assigned to 25 and 35 Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division".

Een Ford CMP (3 ton, 4x4) motoraffuit met Bofors 40 mm luchtdoelkanon. Datum: 1951
Deze motoraffuit is als Canadese militaire hulp ontvangen en was ingedeeld bij 25 en 35 Afdeling lichte luchtdoelartillerie.


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-cd331fcafb9c | https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...8-59c8d51eb10c

[Ed Storey]

That F60B was indeed supplied by Canadian Military Aid as it still carriers its Canadian Army Registration 83-099.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

That F60B was indeed supplied by Canadian Military Aid as it still carriers its Canadian Army Registration 83-099.

So this F60B is likely to have been shipped from NWE to Canada shortly after WW2, refurbished and then sent back to NW Europe as CMA in the early 1950s?