LAAT production: F30, C30, F60S only?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I question if there ever were any C60S LAATs produced; I think Bill Gregg does mention them in his publications, but I haven't seen any in period pictures so far. So my theory is that LAATs were only built as F30, C30 and F60S....and the latter might not have seen active service in NWE before the end of the war (also based on the lack of period pictures, the fact that several were sold post-war with very low mileage and original paint.... and a comment made earlier by Richard Farrant.) Any ideas on this?

Alex,

I quoted your topic from a for sale thread. I agree with your analysis, including that of the F60S not having seen active service in WW2. Many of those ended up in civilian service in the UK, like many other other unissued vehicles stockpiled for assembly at e.g. Pearsons when WW2 ended.

Others were supplied under MDAP to e.g. the French Navy after WW2. They stored them as strategic reserve, hence many survive today.

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's an C30 LAAT in service at the closing days of WW2, ca. 8 May 1945 when the west of Holland was liberated without fighting after the German surrender.

Caption: "A column of Canadian military vehicles crosses the Blauwpoorts bridge in Leiden under great public interest."

AKL500219.jpg.jpg
Source: https://nimh-beeldbank.defensie.nl/f...4-109725f4071a

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is some LAAT contract info by the late David Hayward.

Note his remark: "So it would appear on the face of it that the switch from 30-cwt to 3-ton swb was using Ford chassis, whereas they stuck with the C30S. Interesting!"

Originally Posted by David_Hayward (RIP)

H 4999629 to 4999724 SM 2573 TRACTOR 4 X 4 LT. AA ARTICIZED. Known C.30- 444-M LAAT 2 Serial # 2844122313 Built 20/8/42

E.G. H 4999629 IWM PHOTO KID 1416

On checking my 1942 DND War Contracts file I see that 48 trucks were delivered by October 1942 to S/M 2573. So, these were built summer '42 onwards.

Then we have another batch:

H 5582513 to 5582612 SM 6065 TRACTOR 4 X 4 LIGHT AA
POSSIBLY IWM PHOTO KID 2923 Erroneously captioned 'S/M 6106' which was an articized Tipping C60S.

On F30 chassis we have an earlier contract:
H 5589105 to 5589404 SM 2487 Tractor 4x4 Light AA e.g. IWM PHOTO KID 1968 then

H 6100201 to 6100448 & H 6243634 to 6244553 SM 6111 Tractor 4x4 Light AA e.g. H6100380 assembled by Pearson’s, Liverpool
1944: photo Diamond T book P.27 ..I believe[d] that this was a F60S chassis
and also

H 6100505 to 6101404 SM 6143 Tractor 4x4 Light AA



E.g. FORD F 60-LAAT-1 CHASSIS F 60 CAF/3
CHASSIS SERIAL 197541 ENGINE SERIAL 4G-47804
SM6143 BUILT JULY 27 -44 [F60S Model C29QF]

So it would appear on the face of it that the switch from 30-cwt to 3-ton swb was using Ford chassis, whereas they stuck with the C30S. Interesting!

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

I posted a series, of photos years ago that I bought off eBay taken in British Columbia during the war many of the trucks appear to be LAATs.

CMP service photos 10-20-06 3.1 with text.JPG.jpeg

There are some 18 photos with links to high resolution versions on http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/C...20Columbia.htm

If people think the photos belong in this thread to I'll copy them over to MLU.

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

I posted a series, of photos years ago that I bought off eBay taken in British Columbia during the war many of the trucks appear to be LAATs.

Thanks Phil, they are LAATs indeed, towing the 40mm "Boffer" AA guns. As far as I can see they are C30s.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Two pictures of the F60S LAAT in Danish Army service. It looks like these have been modified with extra lockers on top of the side lockers, hence the tarpaulin being cut back.


80436835_10222109571031769_7259792819680706560_o.jpg 80116885_10222109570311751_9002412968956133376_o.jpg


The parade picture with M109 in the background proves these LAATs had a long service life.

81362255_10222109576711911_8343301455146385408_n.jpg 81116009_10222109576071895_54514331965980672_n.jpg

Source