Early war gun tractors

[Bob Carriere]

From the factory Ford had what the hot rodders call "louvres" or slits cut horizontal and Chev had circular screen covered round holes.

Nothing would prevent sheet metal from being swapped in forward repair stations or due to shipping losses assembled in England or Australia with what was available.

There is evidence of mix and match pieces on Ford archival pictures.... supporting the F15a with various GM front axles or even both axles being GM on a Ford..... evidence of hatches round and square being mixed as well as cab 11 with opening windshield of a cab 12.........

Almost anything is possible.... we have to remember that this was a planned parts flexibility when they asked Ford and GM to cooperate in designing the CMP.

How else can we explain the late 1944 Aussie PE 197-12 contracts that a week apart had circular guages in one and 1940 instrument clusters in the other..... or was it local workshop changes....

Bob

[CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé]

The Artillery Trailer No.24 Mark I, I have never seen one, the only thing I have is the 18 Pounder Ordonance Q.F. 25 Pr Mark I on Carriages, 25/18 Pr handbook.
This manual is dated 1940 and it only show the attached plate for the No.24.
If someone has picture or image of the No.24. 25. & 29 trailer please poste them.
UBIQUE

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The Chevrolet GT at the top is obviously a # 12 cab, so was 1941/2 delivery. I am sure that the census numnber appears to start with an 'L' instead of an 'H'? The number seems to then '454' ETC. That would fit into:

H 4546194 to 4546693 supplied under S/M 2020 and also 2028/ British contract V/4299, which would have meant assembly in he UK.

[chrisgrove]

Guys

I will see what I have on these various artillery trailers, but it may take me a while to get organised!

Never say never! In the course of looking up some pics of the No 24 trailer, I came across a pic of (according to the caption) Canadian gunners training on the Martin Parry conversion of the pole trail 18 pounder - and the limbers are clearly the No 27. Mix and match was obviously the order of the day!

Chris

[chrisgrove]

Hi guys

If this works, you ought to see, or at least get a link to, some pics of the No 24 limber. As far as I can ascertain, this was in fact the first 25 pounder limber, thus the gun behind it should be an 18/25 pounder. However, numerous pics are captioned as 18 pounders. It is very hard (to me) to tell the difference on some of the versions, so I am not entirely sure!

Please note, I got all mixed up and called it the No 23 limber sometimes, and since it is on CD, I can't change it!

Chris

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...berno23-03.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...berno23-02.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...berNo24-01.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...berno23-04.jpg

[CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé]

Thanks Chris for the pictures now it is clear.
Gilles

[mudeng]

Looking at the photos, the gun being towed is the 4.5" Howitzer.
It has the Martin Parry conversion to fit pneumatic tyres.
The axletree was fitted with a stub axle on a "hanger", so a smaller diameter wheel could be fitted, but the gun remained at the same height.

It has a very distinctive cut out on the left to take the "bar sight".

The limber is also for the 4.5, and very distinctive, as it has two compartments, front and rear, with a horizontal bar, and vertical bars.

These Limbers, like the guns were adapted from WWI stocks.

From data I have, limbers were classified as follows:

Type 23 for the 3.7" Howitzer
Type 24 pre war use for the 18/25pdr, obsolete by 1940.
Type 27 replaced the type 24, and the most commom limber seen with the 25pdr.
Type 26, used for the 4.5" howitzer. similar to WWI pattern.
Type 29, used for the 18pdr, again, WWI pattern, fitted with pneumatic wheels.

How can I be sure, well Resicast are about to bring out 1/35th models of the equipment, and I made the masters for them, see attached.
Apologies for the "free publicity", but if any-one has any other info on these limbers as used in WWII, there are still a few minor details that need clarification.

Thanks

George