C15 enigma

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Whilst looking up WHEELS & TRACKS # 17 regarding GM Continental, I noticed a reference that I had forgotten, namely that Bart refers to a C15 acquired in 1985 by Ronald Devroe of Knokke-Heist, Belgium reputedly ex-British Army that may have served with thew Wehrmacht 'because its engine had been rebuilt by GM France (Order No. A22870) on September 28, 1943. The plate attched to it carries the name of Heeres Kraftfahr Park 656, 41 Rue Emile Mernier, Paris, and states that the engine was supplied via Z.E.L. 46, Paris'. Unless the truck was fitted post-war with an ex-Wehrmacht engine then this suggests that this C15 was captured at some time.

I am very certain that the only CMPs in France in 1940 (that were then captured despite being put out of action) were Canadian F15s, and no C15s were sent over. That leaves a possibility of capture in say North Africa or Greece. I cannot see that any # 11 Cab C15s were sent out to the Mid-East under S/M 2002 although F15s were as we know. That tends to rule out Greece as well unless any British CMPs were shipped direct rather than from Egypt.

Contract BM/2V83.WS6 (D) OR BM/2783.WS6(D) covered some ex-Canadian C15s I think and I assumed that this contract related to CMPs that were sold to the Ministry of Supply from Canadian orders assembled in the UK, and then shipped to the Mid-East. So that is a possibility otherwise it's a mystery!

Any thoughts please?

[Harry Moon]

Could have been captured from the Russians!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I was not aware that any # 11 Cabs were supplied to the Soviets. Perhaps there were!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
reputedly ex-British Army that may have served with the Wehrmacht 'because its engine had been rebuilt by GM France

The key words here are "may have". A C15 captured by the Germans is unlikely, as you stated. The vehicles captured in North Africa stayed there when they German troops retreated. As far as I know no CMP 15-cwts were shipped to the Soviet Union.
More likely is that the engine was fitted to the C15 in a workshop in post-war Germany where many vehicles of the occupying forces were rebuilt.

H.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Glad that someone else agrees with my private thoughts!