AIF and AMF Mid-East vehicle supplies

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

AMF

The suggested impressment scheme was reported to have an availability of new and used units which would permit of approximately a 25% coverage together with approximately 50% of their total tractor requirements. There were 3,600 units in the AMF arriving through April.

GM:
CHEVROLET 1941 MODELS: no further orders could be placed with the factory.
15-cwt WAR OFFICE TYPE: 1,300 units were available against immeidate order for August [1941] shipment.
The only one I know of that might relate to this is SM 2196 "15 CWT. 4 X 4 101 IN. AUSTRALIAN DELIVERED", although these were evidently 1942 deliveries. These may have then become 1943 W.O.73 models when assembled in 1943 by Holden's or could be an earlier order.
WAR OFFICE TYPE OTHER MODELS: Orders were required to be placed immediately to secure October shipments subject to priority of the Canadian Government. This would give delivery date to the Army of approximately the middle of December.

FORD:
The following were available but had to be ordered immediately:
1941 CONVENTIONAL TYPES:
a) 1,700 available with shipment in July, with delivery commencing July and September at best.
b) 1,500 available with shipment in August, with delivery commencing August and October at best.
WAR OFFICE TYPE: 6,600 available in 8 cwt and 15 cwt models only; delivery as above.
MARMON-HERRINGTON: Available at the rate of 100 per week; shipment commencing 1st week in June.

Provided the 4,329 were released, the AMF would be 33% equipped. No stock was available from either GM or Ford in Conventional Types earlier than late September, seven months hence they said,

without General Motors are successful in their American Plant. They are endevaouring to do this and are investigating the possibility of having available either:

a) 6,000 or any part of it, 4 x 4 Chevrolet as supplied to the US Army
b) 6,000 or any part of it, Standard Chevrolet American models packed to Australian material specifications and complete with the heavy 4,500 lb front axle.
The "4 x 4" reference suggests that these were "Yankie Joe" Model YPs, as being orderded also by the Netherlands East Indies Purchasing Commission in NYC. Note also the conventional Chevroelts offered by Holden's with a heavy bumper: this might explain the photos that we have discussed on MLU before.

Further advice by cable is awaited. It will be noted that the 15-cwt War Office model is available from both GM and Ford and that Ford have also the 8-cwt unit with August as the shipping month for both companies". Was this because Ford were producing F.8s to S/M 2030 at the time? Or was it because they were plugging the new F.8A that had been prototyped with # 12 Cab by then?