Kiwi Ants
Nothing so far but it would seem likely at this stage without delving further that they were part of any North African deliveries sold to the NZ Government in 1941, that were then shipped out after the campaign, or were sold around 1944 along with surplus MCC and Chevrolet trucks. By then the Ministry of Supply had settled on 4 x 4 trucks, and conversions were under way for older 4 x 4 FATs to G/S trucks.
David Fletcher of the Tank Museum mentions:
S4532 which is dated 21.9.43 was for the conversion of 1. No WD number is given but the card reads Prototype conversion of “Quad” Ant 4x4 FAT to truck 15cwt 4x4 (Tractor ex-Guys Contract T12774) To be consigned to WVEE Farnbororough, Hamoshire.
S4882 is dated 29.10.43 for 12 vehicles described as Tractor 4x4 (6 Pdr) A/T; Tyres 10.50x20. It then says Chassis for these vehicles are to be produced ex-WD current production for FA Tractors from Contract T12774. and WD number group is H5330808 to 5330819. Chassis nos. QA 26708 – 26719.
Contract T12774 is dated 10.4.42 for some 700 vehicles described as Truck 15 cwt 4x4 GS (body all steel) “Quad Ant”. WD numbers are Z5330073, 083, 092-807 and in this case the notes read 20 extra vehicles produced under same contract as Tractors 4x4 FA. 1 extra vehicle converted, see contract S4532 WD No. Z 5330095. So what we seem to have here is a contract for four-wheel drive 15 cwt trucks replacing Quad Ant Field Artillery Tractors, none of which explains anything about S4882 except that those 12 vehicles came from the earlier contract."
I believe that the Ministry were ordering rebuilds and conversions of obsolete Guy Quad Ant tractors at the same time as the MCC CS8 quads and derivatives, as well as the Chevrolet 2-pdr and 6-pdr Portees. We know that NZ got MCC CS8s and 2-pdr Chevrolets, which were obviously not required, so 4 x 2 Ants would have been truly surplus...getting rid of them to the colonials makes a whole lot of sense.
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