1941 Chevrolet Portee

[Rookie]

Just introducing myself as a newbie am rebuilding a 41 Portee
No doubt will be searching for advice ffrom you all

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Rookie

Just introducing myself as a newbie am rebuilding a 41 Portee.

Ready for the road yet, Eric? These might come in handy!

[Rookie]

Tony

Beleive it or not I could have had that plate for $300 when I registered a 1975 Chev Corvette (since turned into a bathroom, kitchen and chev portee). Being smart as I bought the Corvette for my wife for our 25th anniversary I got the plates 25THAN (dumb) as she hated the car as much as the rifle I bought her for her birthday (she bought me a sewing machine).

Still working on it. Its in chassis and engine phase, all going, still learning to weld so I can finish the body, as usual lack of money and the bloody weather have slowed things a lot. Have completed two wheels which were a real bastard getting the tyres off we have now had the problem of lots of trees (big bastards) falling down around us in recent storms. Time is spent on clearing them. Totally unusual as the trees had stood for 30+ years. My neighbours were also hit bad so time off is spent on fixing things.

Appreciate your interest. Have now a camera will try to show progress as at about three months ago

Rookie bugger didnt work

[Attilio]

Hello,

There is any evidence that the Chev NZ portee was used in North Africa Campaign?

I haven't found any photo of this kind of Chev portee with the two ramps for loading and unloading the 2pdr gun in North Africa

Thanks

Attilio

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

If you mean the 2-pounder No. 42 Cab Portee based on the CGT, I have no definitive proof but can say that they were acquired under Demand S/M 2028, and then a large proportion were sent to the Middle Wast. This must have been direct, and involved assembly in Alexandria. From AIF records, we know of L 4623008, L 4623053, L 4623061, L 4623452, L 4623541 being issued to the AIF. In addition thanks to Shane Lovell, we also know of the following AIF 'Portees' that were in the Mid-East undergoing repairs:
L4516072 L14418712 L4516466 L4514359 L4516492 L4413524 L4514782 L4514865 L4514809 L4514803 L4412964 L4412889 L4514860 L4412893 L4516467, although this could of course include trucks converted to carry the 2-pounder en portee.

If the AIF had them, for which they would have subsequently paid the British, then is it reasonable to assume that the NZEF had a quantity issued that they then paid for?

[Attilio]

Thanks David for your very detailed response.

In my opinion there is a reason for the scarce use of this vehicle in North Africa. The trucks were shippend form Canada to Britain in early 1942 when the 2 pounder gun was obsolete as AT gun. Furthermore the gun cannot fire directly from the platform of the CGT chassis.

Well, in North Africa the gun of portees was more frequently used directly from the truck though the HQs recommended the fire only after the gun was dismounted from the trucks.

The CGT was probably unpratical in North Africa battlefield.

Regards

Attilio

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Buongiorno! I am not sure when the Portees arrived in the UK. The official photos were taken in the snow, so winter time? Or autumn? 1941 or 1942? I suggest late 1941 but may be wrong. By then I think Regina Industries, GM's Regina, Saskatchewan, plant had been turned over to munitions work and I think 6-pdr production work had started there.