Australian CGT mystery

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Tony, excellent points, and this is where I apologise for my seeming confusion. Also correction about allowing the reference to 2-pdr. Portees being fudged with the F30/C30 30-cwt. 134" w.b. Portees. I am glad to be corrected but for consideration the evidence as regards the FAT 4 x 4 capacity rating I put forward is:

1. Richard has indicated:

The difference between unladen and laden weight on an early CMP FAT is 27 cwt and on a Morris C8 FAT it is 30 cwt.

2. War Department Specification 36 of December 1935 as amended up to spring 1939 refers to 15-cwt. GS 4-wheel Trucks, conversions of Anti-tank Tractor bodies for these and also Cavalry Portee bodies. The British Gun Tractors built to Spec. 36 were either to be 15-cwt. chassis or 30-cwt. 6 x 4 although 3-ton 6 x 4 chassis are also covered, with GS etc. bodies. The 30-cwt. Ford-Scammell and Chevrolet-Scammell FATs of 1938 were never proceeded with into production, and the Canadian FATs were intended as a direct replacement thereof. It might be argued that the 4 x 4 FATs were also be intended to be '30-cwt.' capacity although there is no documentary evidence so far to confirm either way.
3. British contract S/M 2028 was a mixed one for Chevrolet Gun Tractors, and also 2-pounder Portees, equivalent of the MCC C8/MG Portees. British survivors were as you know converted to either 17-pdr. Tractors or GS Trucks. These were officially classed by the BRITISH as 'LORRY 30 CWT. 4 X 4 A/TK PORTEE'. These used the C-GT chassis of course and in theory were therefore on the face of it of 30-cwt. capacity and not 3-tons.

The above would seem to suggest that the F-GT and C-GT had a 30-cwt. capacity. However, I am going to go by new evidence I just found:

1. DND Specification No. O.A. 85 dated 26-11-41 refers to the :
'60441-M-POTE#1' body on 'Portee Anti-tank [on FAT Chassis with DND Chassis Winch]' as well as the previously mentioned:
2. DND Specification as before:
'60441-M...Field Artillery Tractor - 101" W.B.'.
3. As Bart Vanderveen confirmed in WHEELS & TRACKS # 33: 'Axles, drive line and engine were the same as on the 3-ton 4 x 4 CMP vehicles....'.

The DND therefore quote in two places the FAT chassis as having a 60-cwt. classification. Others may disagree, and the very welcome comments by Richard about double-skinned chassis rails are noted, but I now suggest that the DND rating is correct.

There is no confusion as regards the British order 'LORRY 3 TON 4 x 4 A/TK PORTEE' C60L 6-pdr. Portees to S/M 2613, which were rebuilt of course as 3-tonner GS trucks.