Identification of vehicle and location wanted
 

Hi all,

I'm sure I've seen this picture;

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data...02_smaller.jpg

before, in a book ?? does anyone know what the CMP's are, and the location? Italy comes to mind, but not sure, just bought this picture in Normandy.

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

Hi Lex,
The truck in the foreground is a Chevrolet 30cwt Anti-Tank Portee, according to its census number.

It was on the cover of World War Two Military Vehicles-Transport and Halftracks, by G.N.Georgano. This was the first reference book I bought, and the photo was the reason. It began my journey...
Rich.

The back one is a Chev, likely a 60 cwt.
You can tell the front one is a portee by the doors.

Did they make a SWB portee? I thought they were F30 or C30. This looks like a FAT chassis to me. It also looks Indian pattern. My guess would have been India/Burma monsoon season. Only a guess of course.

Tractor, 4x4, Anti-Tank, 17-pdr
 

Lex,

This is an ex-Portee which was rebuilt into a 17-pdr gun tractor. IIRC, W&T 33 features the same photo, stating it was taken in Italy.

HTH,
Hanno

The New Zealand Army had a lot of these 12 cab portee's in the middle East and Italy. I too would say that this photo was taken in Italy.

The NZ forces took all these portee's home and made them into GS trucks by rebuilding the rear body. :)

Hi all,

Thanks for the quick identifications, it also says "LST 152" on the windscreen of the first truck, so first thought Normandy, but indeed Italy used LST's too.

Nobody mentioned the bikes, they are not clear enough to see, but I lean towards Triumph 3HW's.

Cheers,

Lex

ps, Hanno, will look up the W&T article!

Fascinating! I never knew they built a CGT based portee. Do we have any pics? I guess it would be much like the Morris...?


Attachment 66030

Tony,

As stated, read Wheels & Tracks issue no. 33 for the full story and photos.

H.

Here the complete caption of the picture:

"Transport struggling through the surging waters which overrun a division in the Cesena area, October 1944"

Picture IWM NA 19787.

Bart added; "Cesena is in Italy, south of Ravenna and the loaded CGT AT tractor was an ex-AT Portee, note the rearranged canvas cover, obviating the peculiar "two-tier" windscreens, and the H-prefixed WD number"

Scanned the next page, just saw there are 2 more, email me if you want the prev. 2 aswell.

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data...ium/001151.jpg

Cheers,

Lex

Thanks very much Lex.

...and one for sale recently: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...?t=8093&page=7

Nz
 

Some of these chev portees have been found in NZ

Source of this photo is the Imperial War Museum London: “NA 19787 4th Bn moving up in Bucine”

See https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205013522

And https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205534028

Attachment 122373 Attachment 122374

Attachment 122375 Attachment 122376