First Australian CMPs?

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Whilst doing some research for the other thread I found:

[Colonel N.O. ]Carr had also been informed by G.M. of Canada that they had received an inquiry from Australia for 1,900 4 x 4 “National Defence specification” and was asked what reply G.M. should give. He claimed he was at a loss to give any constructive advice.

This was from a meeting at the DND 27th June 1940.

Why at a loss? They had enough problems with dealing with the massive contracts placed through the British Supply Board in Ottawa that month!

[Keith Webb]

Possibly that was just his reaction to another large potential order: "Oh, flippin 'eck! Not more!"

Those Canadian plants must have been going flat out by 1941!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

You must be right!!!

In a letter of 31 July 1940 from Carr to the D.M.S. “the British” had made a further enquiry regarding the possible production of 39,200 additional vehicles. Consequently Carr queried as to whether the tooling contemplated for 200 vehicles per day was sufficient and the motor industry should review the situation to see whether bottlenecks at that production rate could be relieved with advantage, though they might not be able to do so until tooling for 100 units/day had advanced beyond the state at that time. Carr thought that the aim was 100 units/day but under pressure 125 could be achieved. However, spare parts demand for large orders shortly beforehand was such that the 100 units/day completed vehicles could only be maintained if the outside limit of 125 sets of components could also be maintained As this would preclude elasticity or buffer in production, he suggested that the companies decide whether they could create some reserve capacity greater than then contemplated

However it was late June '40 and the British production did not start until 26th August (Ford) and 3rd September (GM of Canada). The initial production envisaged comprised 21,000 units and of those initially 12,000 were to be delivered to the U.K. and 1,970 for Egypt, though this rapidly changed. One of the first shipments consisted of 70 15-cwt. Chevrolets and 25 Ford 3-Ton trucks, which was a tiny portion of the overall demand of course.

I am going to wade through the Australian papers relating to release of WD vehicles in 1941 to see if I can add anything further.

[Max Hedges]

David, It will be interesting to see what you find, you might even come across the chev cab 11 30 cwt that we have here.
Max

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

That would be S/M 2003! Originally it was to be a delivery:

1,500 30-cwt. Fords for Bombay and 1,500 Chevrolets for England and this was changed a short time later: 1,200 30-cwt. Fords for Egypt and 300 for Mombasa, with 1,500 Chevrolets for England

This would have been one sent out from England, I was going to suggest being shipped out with the AIF sent to the Mid-East but I don't think that there was enough time to get from Oshawa to England, be assembled and then shipped off under a change of plan whilst the AIF sailed say in December '40? Unless there was a switch of destination at sea, this truck would have been sent out I would say in the new year, possibly February '41? Perhaps even later?