Did Canadian army in ETO use 4x2 CMPs?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And another CMP with British 15-cwt body. Its census number reads Z5346754.

Hmm, cannot find a listing, other than the block "529607 - 550000 | Not taken up".

Surely this block of 20394 census numbers must have been assigned to some contracts?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Hmm, cannot find a listing, other than the block "529607 - 550000 | Not taken up".

Surely this block of 20394 census numbers must have been assigned to some contracts?

Part of this block of census numbers was assigned to "Z5353961-5354980 | SM2689 | Chevrolet truck 15cwt 4x2 G/S", but the subject vehicle's census number Z5346754 just precedes this block.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Alex found another picture of one of those CMP 4x2 15-cwts with British GS body - but it is a Chevrolet C15 this time!

This is the first C15 for sure, another likely candidate can be found in post #53.



"Tanks under repair in an open air REME tank recovery and repair workshop."



Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205417942, refers to https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205417938

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Alex found another picture of one of those CMP 4x2 15-cwts with British GS body - but it is a Chevrolet C15 this time!

Hanno, the funny thing is that you always find these sort of things when you are looking for something else! I was actually looking for pictures with REME and RCEME markings!

Also note the white star painted on the canvas sides....not the most common place to put it.

a side note...this is a C15 in British service

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

An F15 in this British Pathe movie, 2101.05
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWEjpu2YX8A&t=45s

In all honesty....this seems to be another one in British service, not Canadian

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Looks like a Chevrolet C15 4x2, but I cannot discern the type of Cab.

"Allied column, between Delft and the Hoornbrug bridge in Rijswijk. Date: 8 May 1945."


Source: https://haagsgemeentearchief.nl/medi...d-cb3cf452b570


Next picture shows it crossing the Hoornbrug bridge at Rijswijk. After WW2 my mother's family lived in one of the houses behind the bridge on the left.


Source: https://haagsgemeentearchief.nl/medi...d-a05304b9a164

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Granted, this truck seems to be in use with the British Army and not the Canadian Army.

These Cab 13's with British 15-cwt body could well be chassis/cabs delivered for completion as Polsten AA trucks, which were no longer needed when the Allies gained air superiority, and converted into GS trucks.

I found a third picture showing a partial rear view of the wooden body of what is likely to be the same truck as posted above:


Source: https://flic.kr/p/7DmNs3

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

On p. 246 of Les Freaty's British Military Trucks of WW2 I found this interesting picture of a Ford CMP F15 4x2 truck fitted with a British-built cargo body.

My hypothesis is that these trucks were originally assembled as Truck, 15-cwt, 4x2, AA, Mk II, more often referred to as a 15-cwt Polsten AA truck (or similar).
When due to Allied air superiority this type of AA truck was not needed anymore, they were re-bodied with GS type bodies commonly found on British 15-cwt trucks.

A new picture of this rare variant of the F15. It was recently published in a French magazine:

[Alex van de Wetering]

Two 4x2's (C15's I think based on the bumper brush and mirror location) in a parade in my old hometown of Haarlem, May 1945.

Again I am not 100% sure these are Canadian trucks.

source:https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl/bee...ding&miview=ff

From about 18:23

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Nice find, Alex.

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

A new picture of this rare variant of the F15.

And another one, photographed in Norway in the summer of 1945.

Census number Z 5347285 is for Ford F15/C291W No.13 Cab 15cwt 4x2 Truck GS from contract SM2680 with WD No. Z 5345144 - 5348449


Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8596...5188826550553/

[Alex van de Wetering]

Ford F15, I think, in Holland 1945:

source: https://youtu.be/fOf1M50VFZ4?t=554

I did take the liberty of adjusting the width of the screen caps a bit.....(2 caps of same vehicle...British wooden body with rounded wheel arch)

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hanno, Sanne......Chevrolet C15 in Naaldwijk, Holland 1945

source:https://youtu.be/3gLCxMAhLYs?t=11

Is that a horn in the "Ford" location? or is it the expansion tank?

This thread started with Maurice's question if the Canadian army used (C15, F15) 4x2's in NW Europe.....and to be fair some of the pictures in this thread show British vehicles....however the C15 in this post seems to be Canadian.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Hanno, Sanne......Chevrolet C15 in Naaldwijk, Holland 1945

source:https://youtu.be/3gLCxMAhLYs?t=11

Is that a horn in the "Ford" location? or is it the expansion tank?

This thread started with Maurice's question if the Canadian army used (C15, F15) 4x2's in NW Europe.....and to be fair some of the pictures in this thread show British vehicles....however the C15 in this post seems to be Canadian.

Nice find Alex!

I've searched for the original which can be found here: https://youtu.be/tPqbc1u0-C8

These are Canadian troops, so there is at least some proof the Canadian Army used 4x2 CMP trucks.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here’s a photo of a pair of 4x2 CMPs in Bayeux (via Bruno Bamdé):

[Alex van de Wetering]

F15 4x2 in Haarlem may 1945. According to the description the truck is part of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The 1st Canadian Infantry division Formation can be seen on the nose.


source:noord-hollandsarchief.nl
https://hdl.handle.net/21.12102/C92F...82D61F5CB73DF2


The Census number "4982034" is described as "M/E" (middle east) in the Chilwell list. 4970101-4990100 M/E "Various types".

The same photographer took two more pictures, one showing the jeep in front of...and the other also showing the jeep with the Ford in the Background.


https://hdl.handle.net/21.12102/FDA9...AC13EFEEAD5A8F


https://hdl.handle.net/21.12102/D420...1E74951EBEB73D

The jeep has a formation sign with number "76"; 5th Canadian Field Ambulance??

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

F15 4x2 in Haarlem may 1945. According to the description the truck is part of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The 1st Canadian Infantry division Formation can be seen on the nose.
*snip*
The Census number "4982034" is described as "M/E" (middle east) in the Chilwell list. 4970101-4990100 M/E "Various types".

Great find, Alex! Possibly an ex-Italian theatre vehicle?

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Possibly an ex-Italian theatre vehicle?

Most likely Hanno; 1st Can Inf Div after transfer from Italy. Possibly previously owned by another Allied force (?).....shame we can't see what style of body is fitted!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

C15 in Netherlands Army service in 1948. As we know the Netherlands Army took over much of the equipment of the Canadian army. Granted, it is indirect proof of Canadian Army use.


Source: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie (NIMH) image bank - https://beeldbank.nimh.nl/foto-s/det...0-021971e347ab