Roofless CMPs

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Even though CMP trucks were built with a fixed roof (albeit bolted on), every now and then one can seen them in use roofless (or topless, whatever rocks your boat).

Here are some examples:

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

More Rotterdam.
Stills from this movie: http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/collectie...178/false/true

Two different early CMP's can clearly be seen in the movie, a cab 11 Ford F15A and a Cab 12 Chevrolet C15A. Both show the same modification to the roof....or rather the removal of the steel roof in favor of a canvas cover. I am guessing the roofs were removed in warm Italy and after the unit moved to Holland, the weather required a new cover???

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here are two more. These trucks were used by the Dutch Army in Indonesia at a place called Batoe in 1948. A 3-tonner on the left and a 15-cwt on the right.

The tropics and the desert are of course obvious places where a roof would be removed (although it also was a means of protection against the sun).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

No roof, no doors, no windscreen even. 1st Cdn Div vehicle from Italy, I guess.

From http://www.thememoryproject.com/educ...he-netherlands

Liberation Parade in Witteveen, Netherlands.
Clifford Hobbis

[Mike K]

Another one

[Tony Smith]

3 in this photo:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205205562

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is an example of a roofless CMP ex-works / as assembled from new.

Ford F60H Wrecker for the Indian Army:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

An example of a CMP which was converted in the field.

F15A, Amsterdam, 1945:

[M.Morren]

I found this one on Reddit in r/wwiipics. Picture was taken in Burma according to the caption.

Looks like an F30 / F60 with a canvas, or at least modified roof.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Via Nick Balmer: "Here is an interesting film shot by Sergeant Higgins in the last month of WWII as the 14th Army approached Rangoon from the north. Lots of CMP's with Indian pattern bodies, Jeeps, Federals & M3A1's of the 7th Light Cavalry."

ROAD SCENES ON THE PUSH TOWARDS RANGOON
Object description: Armoured vehicles and motor transport of 63 Brigade, 17th Indian Division, seen on the road to Rangoon, Burma.

Full description: A low-loader carrying a bulldozer passes camera. A column of motor transport and Stuart ('Honey') light tanks (7th Light Cavalry?). A lorry drives across an open field; a pagoda spire can be seen in the background. A Chevrolet CMP lorry towing a small (and presumably captured Japanese) field gun on an archaic-looking wheeled carriage. A signpost gives directions to Rangoon (127 miles), Ananbaw (8 miles) and Mandalay (315 miles). Motor transport passes. Close-ups of the signpost. Stuart tanks kicking up clouds of dust as they pass. Lorries pass a sign for Rangoon.


Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060030386

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ford F15 Cab 12, ex-Indian Army in use by Netherlands East-Indies Army, Indonesia 1945-1949

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Restored C8AX in New Zealand.

It looks well made but I reckon the soft top cab isn’t original?

[chris vickery]

When I restored my 1941 Ford 12 cab I didn’t complete the roof. The original roof was in very bad condition so zo never bothered. At the time I starting hunting for a replacement but then I came across various pics of CMPs in service without roofs. Many of these were from service in N Africa.
My truck was painted up in mickey mouse pattern with Lightstone as the base to represent a truck from that theatre.
Without much room in a 12 cab, the lack of a roof made for a less claustrophobic atmosphere.
I have lost my original info but I do recall coming across directions for a field mod that was constructed of a pipe
frame and simple canvas cover, more of a sun shield than a roof.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Restored C8AX in New Zealand.

It looks well made but I reckon the soft top cab isn’t original?

Well known vehicle in the South, I'm certain it has featured in a couple of international publications.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...102#post127102

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for that link, Tony.

Chris, if you ever come across those directions for a field mod that was constructed of a pipe, please let us know. Apart from the practicalities of a soft top cab, they have a certain charm, too.

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

Are there not also a pair of factory built Ford 30-cwt Gun Platforms that lacked cab roofs and perhaps even windshields? Quad 20mm and 40mm perhaps?

I often wondered how the gun crews coped with those two vehicles in the rainy seasons and winters.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi David,

Yes you are right, the F60B with 40-mm Bofors has the Cab no. 43, which was widened and has a soft top (left).

There is also the Lorry, 3-ton, Anti-Tank Portee which has a Cab No. 13 with soft top (right).

These vehicles were built in an era when many ships ships still had an open bridge - hardy men they were....


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-cd331fcafb9c

[Ed Landstrom]

My CMP is a Seagrave fire truck with an open cab. Not too surprising, since most old fire trucks had open cabs, even in the Canadian climate. It was used at Camp Borden to extinguish grass fires on shooting ranges. Apparently, there was a problem of tracers setting fire to the grass. I don't know its earlier history, so I can't say whether it was shipped to Seagraves in a chassis-cowl configuration for completion, or whether it had a previous life with some other type of body before being converted.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ed Landstrom

My CMP is a Seagrave fire truck with an open cab. Not too surprising, since most old fire trucks had open cabs, even in the Canadian climate. It was used at Camp Borden to extinguish grass fires on shooting ranges. Apparently, there was a problem of tracers setting fire to the grass. I don't know its earlier history, so I can't say whether it was shipped to Seagraves in a chassis-cowl configuration for completion, or whether it had a previous life with some other type of body before being converted.

Hi Ed,

I recall Brian Gough showing me a picture of a very attractive CMP fire truck, who knows it may have been yours.

It looked a like this one in New Zealand (ref. http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=16783) - definitely an attractive type of roofless CMP.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

Just wanted to add a comment about driving CMPs without the roof, it is significantly quieter, the noise of the engine an transmission goes by your ears only once instead of bouncing around inside the cab. I've driven both my Pattern 12 and 13 extensively without the steel cap top. In fact I have never permanently installed the roof on my Pat 12.

Did try and make a soft top for the Pat 13, but found the problem to be getting the fabric tight enough to drive more 30-35 MPH. Also never tried driving it in the rain.

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Just wanted to add a comment about driving CMPs without the roof, it is significantly quieter, the noise of the engine an transmission goes by your ears only once instead of bouncing around inside the cab. I've driven both my Pattern 12 and 13 extensively without the steel cap top. In fact I have never permanently installed the roof on my Pat 12.

Did try and make a soft top for the Pat 13, but found the problem to be getting the fabric tight enough to drive more 30-35 MPH. Also never tried driving it in the rain.

I can imagine there are pros and cons regarding having a metal roof or not. In the Dutch climate, I am often happy to have a real roof over my head rather than a piece of flapping and dripping canvas

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Under that pile of PoW's there is a roofless C15 Cab 13 somewhere.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Under that pile of PoW's there is a roofless C15 Cab 13 somewhere.

Attachment 125938

Modified for "Blackout" conditions!

There is no bulb or lens in the headlight, and the wiring for the sidelight has been removed, while the Ford in the background has no headlights at all!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another pair of 15-cwts entering the city of Amsterdam, 8 May 1945. If you look closely under the piled up people, you'll see these have had their roofs taken off. A 1st Cdn Div vehicle from Italy? The vehicles coming over from Italy were in a particularly bad shape.


Source: https://archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/...7-895a127de9c7

[jeff davis]

Many years ago a Veteran of North Africa ,Italy told Me.

"We took the roofs off so if you drove over a land mine you would get blown clear"

He also stated that they placed filled sand bags on the floor as well.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

This is an example of a roofless CMP ex-works / as assembled from new.

Ford F60H Wrecker for the Indian Army:

Two more pics of an Indian Army F60H Wrecker