CMP Umbau-Wagen

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Sounds as though these were late S/M 2002 F15s assembled in Alexandria, sent to Greece then captured. Then sent to the Russian Front amd the cold!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From Paul Hocking's MVT Windscreen articles "German WWII Beute-Fahrzeuge and Umbau-Wagen (Britisch)":

One can basically split German ownership of captured vehicles into two categories. The category I and II titles that I use to describe the two main levels of German activity with captured vehicles are of my own invention. The Germans of course used their own words:
- Beute-Fahrzeuge, "booty" or "loot" vehicle, pretty much my Category I: where the vehicles have been literally picked up of the battlefield, maybe some crosses applied, are immediately reused and very likely discarded again within a short time;
- also Cat II and Umbau-Wagen, "rebuilt" vehicle, my Category II: where captured vehicles are properly incorporated into the German forces, this usually includes a full overhaul and repaint to German colours, the Notek light system added, WH, WL, WM or SS registration added with either the body left as it was, partly modified or fully modified from the scuttle rearwards. Most likely German service and parts books were issued for these vehicles. Category II work needs sufficient quantities to make it worthwhile and plenty of time to accomplish.
The only photos of Category II vehicles that I have are all in the Windscreen Magazine Issue 90, page 56, which shows Canadian C15 GS trucks, some have small body mods and some have major conversions.

Here's a nice example of an F15 Umbau-Wagen with the body left as it was, most likely repainted to German colours, the Notek light system added and WL (Wehrmacht Luftwaffe) registration added (source).

luftwaffe_beute_123.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Another picture, found on the Axis History Forum. Writing on the back suggests this vehicle was left behind in Russia in 1943.

Taking a closer look at this picture, I noted it is in use as a radio truck or Fernsprech- bzw. Funk-Kraftwagen (Kfz. 16). The rear boot apparently has a fold down hatch instead of a fold-up hatch or two hatches opening the the left and right as on some other German trucks.

Also, the headlights have been replaced by more conventional ones (could they be the same as the ones on the Chev C8 in Australia )

beuteumbauwagenmitfunkpic10sp-total-resized.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Taking a closer look at this picture, I noted it is in use as a radio truck or Fernsprech- bzw. Funk-Kraftwagen (Kfz. 16). The rear boot apparently has a fold down hatch instead of a fold-up hatch or two hatches opening the the left and right as on some other German trucks.

Here's a better rear view of the body. It indeed has a fold-down rear hatch to serve as a radio table:

CMP-F15-Kfz15-Umbauwagen-rear-view.JPG

[Keith Webb]

Here's one from the 1970s... although mounted differently and a slightly different shape, they look to be borrowed from another make.

http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/F60L/Waynef60l_1.jpg

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's a couple of pix I came up with off a Polish site.

kettenfahrzeugiCMPDer24PzDivision_Baydeww2.jpg cmpWL_Afrikakorps_Baydeww2.jpg

[cletrac (RIP)]

I downloaded a book titled German Trucks and Cars in WW2 - Ford at War and came across this page.

Ford_at_War_-_LKW.jpg

[cletrac (RIP)]

These are from the same book and should fit in this thread. Those Carden Loyd carriers sure underwent major changes! How many would the Germans have captured anyway? To make 3000 of these halftracks they must have started reproducing the track assemblies somewhere along the line.

[Bob Carriere]

Hi David

Can you send me a high res version of these latest pictures.... particularly the staff car version so I can study them by enlarging the details.

Will send you my email by PM

Thanks

[RichCam]

Can someone out there check through their library to see if there is a copy of Ford im Kriege that you might want to sell? I would like to create a SdkFz15 from a 1941 F-15A and the documentation in the book by Reinhard Frank would be helpful.

[James P]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/294229664283...gAAOSwvFxgyfz5

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I’ll have to check my copy but IIRC it doesn’t have more information than what can be found in this thread on here: CMP Umbauwagen

[RichCam]

Hello Hanno,
Thanks for the link, I have tried to research more information about the F-15A Umbauwagen version from this thread. In particular, I am looking for dimensional information regarding the body and any information regarding the soft cover retractable roof. Does Mr. Frank list any footnotes with regards to his section of the SdKfz.15?
Cheers, Richard

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Richard,

All that is in Mr. Frank’s book can be found in posts #11 (http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...5398#post15398), 18 and 19 (http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...1752#post21752) in the CMP Umbauwagen thread. That thread has the most complete info available known to me - believe me, I have looked wide and far. What is good about the sketches is that they give you the basic body dimensions. I reckon the rest can be gleaned from studying the available photos and measuring up the F15 chassis.

Note: the original was based on a Cab 11 F15 4x2, not an F15A. For the general construction method (sheet metal over wooden frame) you would best have a close look at the other German Kfz.15’s. Same for the folding hood.

Many have pondered over and planned for it; I hope someone like you recreates this interesting conversion one day!