Canadian Mutual Aid Programme: WW2 equipment supplied to NATO Allies

[rob love]

I wonder if that was repainted to the 50s colour before sending to France, or if that was the original late war colour of the truck. Amazing condition...one that perhaps should not be touched as Ed says.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Awesome find. Also nice to see an FWD still with the original body fitted!

Hopefully the owner will join MLU soon.

Alex

[Harry Moon]

20 years ago I knew of one in Washington state being sold for the big block chevy that was in it. lost track of it.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Mike Cecil:

The Canadian Mutual Aid program dates from 20 May 1943 when it became law in Canada (so well after the start of US Lend Lease). The Canadian Mutual Aid Board was then established to 'contribute, exchange, deliver, transfer title to or possession of or otherwise make available war supplies to any of the United Nations other than Canada.' The primary purpose was stated to be 'to enable those of the UN who are short on Canadian dollars to continue to draw supplies from Canada to meet their essential wartime needs.' (Paras 1&2, Canadian Mutual Aid: Procurement of Supplies from Canada, Aust Treasury circular No.1943/25, 16 October 1943.)

Colin McGregor Stevens:

55-256 is the 5,256th vehicle assigned a Department of National Defence (DND) number in Canada. The new numbering system started about January 1943 for Canadian Army vehicles, at 50,000. There was no “,” so they used a “-“ or a “.” Motorcycles and Royal Canadian Air Force vehicles were in different number series.

Canadian Army vehicles in World War II were assigned British War Department Census numbers when they were sent to the UK e.g. CM4212345.

[rob love]

55-256 is the 5,256th vehicle assigned a Department of National Defence (DND) number in Canada. The new numbering system started about January 1943 for Canadian Army vehicles, at 50,000. There was no “,” so they used a “-“ or a “.” Motorcycles and Royal Canadian Air Force vehicles were in different number series.

I am not so sure the above is quite true. I believe the numbers may have been assigned locally or regionally out of blocks given form higher formation as opposed to going to a National central registry to be assigned.

[Ed Storey]

Here are a couple of Canadian Army Journals images of two Diamond T 4-ton Chassis that were destined for France under the Canadian Mutual Aid program.

190-4 88-881 Mutual Aid copy.jpg 190-5 88-791 Mutual Aid copy.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Go to https://archives.nato.int/ and search for "Canadian Mutual Aid Programme" to find some interesting information on WW2 equipment being offered to NATO allies in the 1950s.

That's an interesting link Hanno! Thanks. I have seen lots of interesting vehicles in the lists. Now only to find the pictures!

I found this one interesting......Foxes, Lynx, Otter, CMP's Diamonds.....but also Grizzlies....and 55 Grizzly APC's!

source: https://archives.nato.int/uploads/r/...55_ENG_PDP.pdf