Chevrolet-Scammell & Ford-Scammell FATs

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I am just writing a very precised item about these and have had the advantage in recent times of reading about the Bedford-Scammell and Dennis-Scammell one-offs that used the identical Scammel bogies and Morris-Commercial bodies as fitted to the CDSW FATs. The British counterparts were never proceeded-with as they weighed 17 cwt and 10 cwt (over 3/4 ton and 1/2ton) more than the standard 4x2 chassis they were converted from. Can anyone add anything about the DND's versions after the Petawawa trials in 1938? Which unit[s] had them allocated post-1938?

[Gunner]

Hi David:

Canada's regular army (Permanent Force) during the 20's and 30's was abysmally small... the regualr artillery was three field batteries in the RCHA Brigade (A- Quebec City, B- Kingston and C- Winnipeg). There was also an anti-aircraft battery and a howitzer battery. These regulars did all the trials and testing on new equipment and, unless returned to the manufacturer, the gear usually went to a pool in Petawawa for use by units training there.

There is lots of info in the book "Gunners of Canada" by Nicholson.

Some websites which might help:

http://www.gunner.ca/English/Great%20Gunners/plow.htm

http://www.artillery.net/English/history.htm

UBIQUE!

Mike

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thanks Mike! I know that at least the Ford was displayed in Toronto in 1939. Without checking I cannot be certain both weren't.

In many respects the Ford-Scammell was the direct ancestor of the CMPs, as it was the first vehicle to have the front end that was with modfiications, subsequently adopted for series production in the # 11 cabs. This narrower front end compraed with the 1937 Ford 15-cwt G/S prototype was dictated by the (probably 811-W) imported COE US Ford chassis which Sid Swallow's team adopted: the 1937 truck was a Model 79 chassis. The front end of the Ford-Scammell was then virtually 'cloned' for the 1939-40 Ford 15-cwt G/S trucks, and then improved further with the integral fenders for production. The Chevrolet-Scammell alternative was a 'dead end' and regrettably it became obvious that the 216 Chevy six was not man enough. My personal opinion is that the DND should have elected for the 33.2 hp GMC 248 cu in which Oshawa was suggesting for production CMPs, and this engine of course went into production in 1940.

David