Canadian WC52 1944

[Nick T236]

Hi,
can anyone help
I am booked into several parades in Normandy2014 particularly Bayeux (British and Canadian vehicles only) and need to put correct division markings on my vehicle, particularly as I do not wish to offend any veterans present.
My dodge appears to be the earliest 'wide bodied' I can find possibly March 1944 from various opinions and details.
It shows signs of having been waterproofed for deep water wading.
The only markings taken from a similar vehicle which are original are 41 Division Royal Armoured Corps ( white numbers on black background)
I favour 2nd armoured Canadian wide were at Juno Beach.
I am also short on time.

[Ed Storey]

Unfortunately WC 52s were not used by the Canadian Army in Normandy.

[Nick T236]

Hi

what info do you have please?

Regards Nick

[Ed Storey]

Just check some of the other posts on this forum which discussed vehicle. Unfortunately you have a Canadian manufactured vehicle that really did not see any wartime service with Canada. This vehicle type did see some post-WWII service with the Canadian Army in Canada.

Sadly, this is not what you wanted to hear.

[Maurice Donckers]

when the Dodge's arrived in 1945 in Antwerp , they where donated to the Dutch , Norwegian , and Italian army, most Dutch dodges went to the conflict in Indonesia.

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

I still think the Dodge in the Hamilcar glider at operation Varsity is a Canadian dodge.

Hendrik

[Larry Hayward]

Show us a photo please!

[Frank v R]

sounds like you have a 44 WC 52 not a Canadian Dodge 3/4 APT , the APT was built with only the narrow box and only in 1945 , total built was 6500 units even though the parts book indicates 12,000 serial numbers allotted , there were at one point I believe some US units attached to First Canadian Army , again not what you wanted to hear,
regards Frank

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

Operation varsity was on march 27 1945, there is a piece of film with the Dodge in it, http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/859...Section=videos at 1.21 you can see the Dodge, it looks like the Bridge classification sign is about 1 til 2 inch in front of the mudguard. With the Canadian Dodge the grill? stands before the mudguard, so the plate will also be in front of it. With the US Dodge the front of the grill is in line with the mudguard , so the plate should touch the mudguard. I know it is not very good to see, but I believe it is Canadian and brand new.

Hendrik

[Ed Storey]

Okay, so even if 6 AB Div had one for the Rhine crossing, how does that relate to the initial question about Canadian use of this vehicle type in Normandy?

[chris vickery]

So if it's a WC52, mark it as American, or British if they used them and call it a day.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Nick,

This site gives you lots of illustrations to help you determine if you have an APT or WC52:

http://www.wheelsofvictory.com/Canad...4%20dodge.html

http://www.wheelsofvictory.com/Canad...20vervolg.html

http://www.wheelsofvictory.com/diffe...sa-canada.html

But, as Frank mentioned the APT is the one with the narrow box.

APT or WC52, I have to agree with the others that both are unlikely to have seen action in Normandy with Canadian units.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hendrik van Oorspronk

Operation varsity was on march 27 1945, there is a piece of film with the Dodge in it, http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/859...Section=videos at 1.21 you can see the Dodge, it looks like the Bridge classification sign is about 1 til 2 inch in front of the mudguard. With the Canadian Dodge the grill? stands before the mudguard, so the plate will also be in front of it. With the US Dodge the front of the grill is in line with the mudguard , so the plate should touch the mudguard. I know it is not very good to see, but I believe it is Canadian and brand new.

It's a Dodge alright, but the footage was shot during training before the operation....

H.

[Maurice Donckers]

I just put a bridge classification plate as a match on my american dodge , and it sits the same as the one in the picture , so it is an american dodge , the canadian grille is mounted a lot more forward .

[Alex van de Wetering]

so it is an american dodge , the canadian grille is mounted a lot more forward

My idea exactly. Hanno's screendump illustrates it nicely... the frontmost edge of the fender lines up with the grille. With an APT there would have been a considerable difference.

[Nick T236]

Hi,
my dodge is definitely original,has correct APT, chassis body and relevant serial data plates and earlier 'wide body' about 3/4" different to US model.
I have limited knowledge on this vehicle, but have photo graphs of an original one, about produced approx. 1550 later than mine, guy recons it was in or about Normandy from markings found when taking off orig. finish.
Found Black 6"x8" with white 41 on it on bumpers right hand (passenger) on front, opposite on rear he kindly sent pics.
I have read that in '44 division markings were painted out and unit markings painted on black back grounds so as to present less of a target?
Mine has also had the bonnet cut and bent back around air filter for a snorkel,
and then gas welded back shut. They were not used as for as I am aware in the pacific?
regards Nick

[Maurice Donckers]

here we go again, when they were produced and shipped to Europe , d day was already long past , the markings may be from an earlier restoration. Bart Vanderveen had a list with shipping details , in that lot were also all the APT Chevrolet 3 ton trucks which are also all built after the Surrender of Germany most seem to come from august 45 , these were also supplied direct to French navy ,Dutch lifeboat institutes , and some to UNRA. So none had markings and invasion stars.
Bart had a list with how many went to whom , list must be now somewhere in Army cars museum archive. The APT Dodges were also listed in there .