Hatches added to CMP's in service

[david moore]

I recall several threads regarding the presence or lack of roof hatches in CMP's.

After Jason Ginn with the help of Mark Tonner had researched the details of markings I had chosen for my jeep - 62 Light Aid (RCEME) Detachment attached to the 7th Cdn Recce Regt. 3rd Can Inf Div. I found an interesting item in the regimental war diary - thanks again to Mark for giving the reference.

The entry for 12 Jun 1944 while the unit was in Sussex awaiting transport to France reads as follows[....."Crew commander hatches were cut and installed on all lorries". These "lorries" were presumably C/F60 CMP's? So these guys had the means - and the hatches - available at short notice. Wonder if they were round or rectangular hatches?!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

David,

A very interesting tidbit. Mike Kelly shared this photo years ago, proving not all cab roofs were fitted with a hatch as standard. Indeed quite a few photos can be found of plain roofs.

Hanno

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

CAB with hatched roof - optional all models ?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another refererence to roof hatches being added while the trucks were in service was provided by Richard Farrant in Canvas-covered square roof hatch:

No. 4 Base Workshops REME in the Middle East, based around Cairo, produced 38,700 observation hatches for B vehicles in the period between Jan 42 and Aug 44.

Going by the photographic evidence, these were of the canvas variety and added to all sorts of wheeled vehicles, ranging from trucks to staff cars - anything with a roof.