CMP Roof Hatches

[Grant Bowker]

I have understood that the rectangular hatch was early production, round came later and once they felt air superiority was achieved (or for domestic use where the wasn't much air threat) no hatch. Of course, no hatch had another benefit besides saving materials - no rain on the co-driver's head.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi David

You've asked an interesting question, which is as Grant suggest probably has a varied answer. Which will take some digging through period photos to find information.

To add to the question was Australian and Canadian hatch introduction and practice the same?

Cheers Phil

[Grant Bowker]

As follow-up to Phil's comment about Australian/Canadian differences, some of the parts books also make mention of differences for British army contracts as opposed to Canadian but I don't remember if this is Ford or Chevrolet (or what component it applied to).

[Ian McColl]

Hi David,

The answer to your question is yes. Ford CMPs did come equipped with round roof hatches like their Chevrolet counterparts. I have a late 1944 F60L with a round hatch and have seen many other late model Fords with them as well (both in person and in photos). Like the Chevrolet's they came into production in the 1944 time frame; however, which hatch (or lack therof) a truck was supplied with often depended on the specific contract. I have never personally seen a 1944 or newer truck with no hatch (round or square - aside from those removed once in civilian hands).

Ian

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Ian McColl

The answer to your question is yes. Ford CMPs did come equipped with round roof hatches like their Chevrolet counterparts. I have a late 1944 F60L with a round hatch and have seen many other late model Fords with them as well (both in person and in photos). Like the Chevrolet's they came into production in the 1944 time frame; however, which hatch (or lack therof) a truck was supplied with often depended on the specific contract. I have never personally seen a 1944 or newer truck with no hatch (round or square - aside from those removed once in civilian hands).

Ian,

I concur with that. Canadian production configurations were indeed the same for Ford (see first pic) and Chevrolet. Actually, the square roof hatch was optional on all models, See second picture; but I recon in practice it was fitted to many if not most mid-war production CMPs, and it was superseded by the round one in 1944/1945 production. It was not so much of a hatch, more a round hole with canvas cover.

Keith is referring to the Australian assembled CMPs, which differ from the Canadian ones in this respect.

Hanno

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