CMP Umbau-Wagen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From Paul Hocking's MVT Windscreen articles "German WWII Beute-Fahrzeuge and Umbau-Wagen (Britisch)":

One can basically split German ownership of captured vehicles into two categories. The category I and II titles that I use to describe the two main levels of German activity with captured vehicles are of my own invention. The Germans of course used their own words:
- Beute-Fahrzeuge, "booty" or "loot" vehicle, pretty much my Category I: where the vehicles have been literally picked up of the battlefield, maybe some crosses applied, are immediately reused and very likely discarded again within a short time;
- also Cat II and Umbau-Wagen, "rebuilt" vehicle, my Category II: where captured vehicles are properly incorporated into the German forces, this usually includes a full overhaul and repaint to German colours, the Notek light system added, WH, WL, WM or SS registration added with either the body left as it was, partly modified or fully modified from the scuttle rearwards. Most likely German service and parts books were issued for these vehicles. Category II work needs sufficient quantities to make it worthwhile and plenty of time to accomplish.
The only photos of Category II vehicles that I have are all in the Windscreen Magazine Issue 90, page 56, which shows Canadian C15 GS trucks, some have small body mods and some have major conversions.

Here's a nice example of an F15 Umbau-Wagen with the body left as it was, most likely repainted to German colours, the Notek light system added and WL (Wehrmacht Luftwaffe) registration added (source).

luftwaffe_beute_123.jpg