Balkans Campaign: CMPs in Greece?

[Peter Mossong]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

In New Zealand in the Second World War - To Greece I found some pictures proving the New Zealanders did use CMP trucks in Greece.

Who knows which types they were supplied with: 15, 30, 60-cwt? Ford, Chevrolet or both makes?

H.

Hi Hanno. The following are some photos from my late grandfather's album taken both before, and during the Greek campaign.
He was the Regimental Sergeant Major/Quartermaster NCO of No.6 Field Regiment, NZA. I have posted another photo showing my granddad in the relatives threads.

These are all scans of those small 2"x2" prints that most early albums have. Some are not the greatest quality, but I've managed to clean them up a bit.

The first shot, and a close-up show CMP's of No.6 Field lined up ready for embarkation to Greece. They appear to be in one of the 'Caunter' schemes.
Note also the 'dead soldiers' (empty beer bottles) lying in the sand!
Unfortunately I can't get a clear enough enlargement to pick any census numbers.

The next shot is FAT's, limbers and 25lbers taken in Athens on the way up to the front.

The last two show the FAT's near Mt.Olympus. They do appear to be Fords from enlarged scans of the photo.

Cheers,
Pete M.

[Keith Webb]

Excellent images, thanks for sharing them Peter.

I think the FATs in the lower picture may all be Morris...the one facing certainly is and the front hubs don't look CMP.

[Peter Mossong]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Excellent images, thanks for sharing them Peter.

I think the FATs in the lower picture may all be Morris...the one facing certainly is and the front hubs don't look CMP.

Hi Keith. You may well be correct regarding the FAT's in my photo.
I'll have another go at scanning that tiny photo again!

Cheers,
Pete M.

[Peter Mossong]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Excellent images, thanks for sharing them Peter.

I think the FATs in the lower picture may all be Morris...the one facing certainly is and the front hubs don't look CMP.

Hi Keith. After having another look at my higher resolution scans of these, I think you are correct in that they are Morris Mk.II 'Beetle back' FATs, as the two roof mounted ventilators can just be made out. The nose of the bodies also appear to be Morris rather than CMP's.

I did some further 'digging' in my archives for information on 6th Field Regiment's vehicles pre-Greece, and found they were issued 36 Morris FAT's just before they embarked for Greece. Needless to say, none of these made it back to Egypt!

Post Greece, the Western desert, Tunisia then Italy, they all appear to be CMP based vehicles.

Cheers,
Pete M.

[Ilian Filipov]

Hello Gents,
Yet another pic of F15 abandoned in Greece was found into my PC. Regretfully I can't recall the source but apparently it was some magazine or book.
6th Australian Division again, this time not "D2" but "F1" on the windshield (and probably on the door too?)

[Ilian Filipov]

Hi all,
I just found in a magazine two pictures. Sorry if no news for you. Sorry also for the quality.
Not Greece but still the Balkans. Both pics were taken in Yugoslavia, on the second the CMP is captured by the partisans.



Is it possible the CMPs were "imported" by the Germans from Greece?
BTW, in both captions the vehicles are stated as F60s but I don't think they are 3-tonners. Anyway enjoy!
Cheers!

[Keith Webb]

They appear to be Ford F15 Cab 11s. Lower one definitely cab 11.

Originally Posted by Ilian Filipov

Hi all,
I just found in a magazine two pictures. Sorry if no news for you. Sorry also for the quality.
Not Greece but still the Balkans. Both pics were taken in Yugoslavia, on the second the CMP is captured by the partisans.



Is it possible the CMPs were "imported" by the Germans from Greece?
BTW, in both captions the vehicles are stated as F60s but I don't think they are 3-tonners. Anyway enjoy!
Cheers!