Roofless CMPs

[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.

IWM JFU 218_screenshot.jpg
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

CE14E042-AD25-4CEB-836B-5D7146874258.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Restored C8AX in New Zealand.

It looks well made but the soft top cab isn’t original to this type of CMP.

BD095550-75C2-4FFF-AFDF-882B88E78AC4.jpeg 601B4903-F548-4673-AC84-49E4D1B19565.jpeg IMG_2784.jpeg

[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....

AKL046336.jpg scannen0001.jpg
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...f-cd331fcafb9c