LAAT production: F30, C30, F60S only?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I question if there ever were any C60S LAATs produced; I think Bill Gregg does mention them in his publications, but I haven't seen any in period pictures so far. So my theory is that LAATs were only built as F30, C30 and F60S....and the latter might not have seen active service in NWE before the end of the war (also based on the lack of period pictures, the fact that several were sold post-war with very low mileage and original paint.... and a comment made earlier by Richard Farrant.) Any ideas on this?

Alex,

I quoted your topic from a for sale thread. I agree with your analysis, including that of the F60S not having seen active service in WW2. Many of those ended up in civilian service in the UK, like many other other unissued vehicles stockpiled for assembly at e.g. Pearsons when WW2 ended.

Others were supplied under MDAP to e.g. the French Navy after WW2. They stored them as strategic reserve, hence many survive today.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's an C30 LAAT in service at the closing days of WW2, ca. 8 May 1945 when the west of Holland was liberated without fighting after the German surrender.

Caption: "A column of Canadian military vehicles crosses the Blauwpoorts bridge in Leiden under great public interest."


Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...4-109725f4071a

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is some LAAT contract info by the late David Hayward.

Note his remark: "So it would appear on the face of it that the switch from 30-cwt to 3-ton swb was using Ford chassis, whereas they stuck with the C30S. Interesting!"

Originally Posted by David_Hayward (RIP)

H 4999629 to 4999724 SM 2573 TRACTOR 4 X 4 LT. AA ARTICIZED. Known C.30- 444-M LAAT 2 Serial # 2844122313 Built 20/8/42

E.G. H 4999629 IWM PHOTO KID 1416

On checking my 1942 DND War Contracts file I see that 48 trucks were delivered by October 1942 to S/M 2573. So, these were built summer '42 onwards.

Then we have another batch:

H 5582513 to 5582612 SM 6065 TRACTOR 4 X 4 LIGHT AA
POSSIBLY IWM PHOTO KID 2923 Erroneously captioned 'S/M 6106' which was an articized Tipping C60S.

On F30 chassis we have an earlier contract:
H 5589105 to 5589404 SM 2487 Tractor 4x4 Light AA e.g. IWM PHOTO KID 1968 then

H 6100201 to 6100448 & H 6243634 to 6244553 SM 6111 Tractor 4x4 Light AA e.g. H6100380 assembled by Pearson’s, Liverpool
1944: photo Diamond T book P.27 ..I believe[d] that this was a F60S chassis
and also

H 6100505 to 6101404 SM 6143 Tractor 4x4 Light AA



E.g. FORD F 60-LAAT-1 CHASSIS F 60 CAF/3
CHASSIS SERIAL 197541 ENGINE SERIAL 4G-47804
SM6143 BUILT JULY 27 -44 [F60S Model C29QF]

So it would appear on the face of it that the switch from 30-cwt to 3-ton swb was using Ford chassis, whereas they stuck with the C30S. Interesting!

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

I posted a series, of photos years ago that I bought off eBay taken in British Columbia during the war many of the trucks appear to be LAATs.



There are some 18 photos with links to high resolution versions on http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/C...20Columbia.htm

If people think the photos belong in this thread to I'll copy them over to MLU.

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

I posted a series, of photos years ago that I bought off eBay taken in British Columbia during the war many of the trucks appear to be LAATs.

Thanks Phil, they are LAATs indeed, towing the 40mm "Boffer" AA guns. As far as I can see they are C30s.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Two pictures of the F60S LAAT in Danish Army service. It looks like these have been modified with extra lockers on top of the side lockers, hence the tarpaulin being cut back.





The parade picture with M109 in the background proves these LAATs had a long service life.



Source

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Two pictures of the F60S LAAT in Danish Army service. It looks like these have been modified with extra lockers on top of the side lockers, hence the tarpaulin being cut back.

The parade picture with M109 in the background proves these LAATs had a long service life.

Source

Hi Hanno

Looking at the pictures it appears that the all have 20 inch rims and tires, looking under the first two pictures it looks like they have the smaller brake drums. Which might make braking interesting with a full load and towing a gun, but if they had good speed discipline that should not have been a problem. But then again the BC photos I have of them off the road in snow shows they probably were a handful to drive.

Do all LAATs have the tow hitch up between the frame rails? Or do some of them have two hitch under slung like normal C60S or C60L with 20 inch rims?

Cheers Phil

[Alex van de Wetering]

Alex,

I quoted your topic from a for sale thread

A dedicated LAAT thread; excellent idea Hanno.

Attached is a picture of a C30 LAAT in Falaise, august 17 1944.
Source: PhotosNormandie on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photos...2-H7Yje-x8imNP

Do all LAATs have the tow hitch up between the frame rails? Or do some of them have two hitch under slung like normal C60S or C60L with 20 inch rims?

Phil, I think the underslung winch would interfere with the winch fairleads (?)

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here are a couple of F30 LAATs in Netherlands Army service, they served from 1945 till at least 1955:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...199#post298199