Roofless CMPs

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Even though CMP trucks were built with a fixed roof (albeit bolted on), every now and then one can seen them in use roofless (or topless, whatever rocks your boat).

Here are some examples:

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

More Rotterdam.
Stills from this movie: http://in.beeldengeluid.nl/collectie...178/false/true

Two different early CMP's can clearly be seen in the movie, a cab 11 Ford F15A and a Cab 12 Chevrolet C15A. Both show the same modification to the roof....or rather the removal of the steel roof in favor of a canvas cover. I am guessing the roofs were removed in warm Italy and after the unit moved to Holland, the weather required a new cover???

C15A Rotterdam2.jpg 69B5EED5-AF06-4B60-A420-95071BC5E802.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here are two more. These trucks were used by the Dutch Army in Indonesia at a place called Batoe in 1948. A 3-tonner on the left and a 15-cwt on the right.

The tropics and the desert are of course obvious places where a roof would be removed (although it also was a means of protection against the sun).

36327584_1466613300111833_5908120402076368896_o (Batoe 1948).jpg 36327434_1466617903444706_2124552770362015744_o (Batoe 1948).jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

No roof, no windscreen even. 1st Cdn Div vehicle from Italy, I guess.

From http://www.thememoryproject.com/educ...he-netherlands

Liberation Parade in Witteveen, Netherlands.
Clifford Hobbis

50_original.jpg

[Mike Kelly]

Another one

[Tony Smith]

3 in this photo:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205205562

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is an example of a roofless CMP ex-works / as assembled from new.

Ford F60H Wrecker for the Indian Army:

CMP16.jpg CRANLORRY.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

An example of a CMP which was converted in the field.

F15A, Amsterdam, 1945:

adam_1945_2a1.jpg

[M.Morren]

I found this one on Reddit in r/wwiipics. Picture was taken in Burma according to the caption.

Looks like an F30 / F60 with a canvas, or at least modified roof.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Via Nick Balmer: "Here is an interesting film shot by Sergeant Higgins in the last month of WWII as the 14th Army approached Rangoon from the north. Lots of CMP's with Indian pattern bodies, Jeeps, Federals & M3A1's of the 7th Light Cavalry."

ROAD SCENES ON THE PUSH TOWARDS RANGOON
Object description: Armoured vehicles and motor transport of 63 Brigade, 17th Indian Division, seen on the road to Rangoon, Burma.

Full description: A low-loader carrying a bulldozer passes camera. A column of motor transport and Stuart ('Honey') light tanks (7th Light Cavalry?). A lorry drives across an open field; a pagoda spire can be seen in the background. A Chevrolet CMP lorry towing a small (and presumably captured Japanese) field gun on an archaic-looking wheeled carriage. A signpost gives directions to Rangoon (127 miles), Ananbaw (8 miles) and Mandalay (315 miles). Motor transport passes. Close-ups of the signpost. Stuart tanks kicking up clouds of dust as they pass. Lorries pass a sign for Rangoon.

IWM JFU 218_screenshot.jpg
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060030386

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ford F15 Cab 12, ex-Indian Army in use by Netherlands East-Indies Army, Indonesia 1945-1949

CE14E042-AD25-4CEB-836B-5D7146874258.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Restored C8AX in New Zealand.

It looks well made but I reckon the soft top cab isn’t original?

BD095550-75C2-4FFF-AFDF-882B88E78AC4.jpeg 601B4903-F548-4673-AC84-49E4D1B19565.jpeg

[chris vickery]

When I restored my 1941 Ford 12 cab I didn’t complete the roof. The original roof was in very bad condition so zo never bothered. At the time I starting hunting for a replacement but then I came across various pics of CMPs in service without roofs. Many of these were from service in N Africa.
My truck was painted up in mickey mouse pattern with Lightstone as the base to represent a truck from that theatre.
Without much room in a 12 cab, the lack of a roof made for a less claustrophobic atmosphere.
I have lost my original info but I do recall coming across directions for a field mod that was constructed of a pipe
frame and simple canvas cover, more of a sun shield than a roof.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Restored C8AX in New Zealand.

It looks well made but I reckon the soft top cab isn’t original?

Well known vehicle in the South, I'm certain it has featured in a couple of international publications.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...102#post127102

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for that link, Tony.

Chris, if you ever come across those directions for a field mod that was constructed of a pipe, please let us know. Apart from the practicalities of a soft top cab, they have a certain charm, too.

[jeff davis]

Many years ago a Veteran of North Africa ,Italy told Me.

"We took the roofs off so if you drove over a land mine you would get blown clear"

He also stated that they placed filled sand bags on the floor as well.