CMP FAT on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The CMP FAT (Field Artillery Tractor), was a Canadian Military Pattern vehicle manufactured by Ford and 
CMP stood for Canadian Military Pattern and was applied to a number of trucks, artillery tractors and utility vehicles built in Canada that combined British design requirements with North American automotive engineering.
As with other FATs, the CMP was usually used to tow either the 25-pounder
CMP FAT at armyvehicles.dk
{{WWIIBritishSoftVeh Military trucks of Canada Artillery tractors Off-road vehicles Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944 Soft-skinned vehicles World War II military equipment of Canada
Chevrolet
Chevrolet ( ) is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM). In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks. Due to the promi ...
. The FAT was an artillery tractor
An artillery tractor, also referred to as a gun tractor, is a specialized heavy-duty form of tractor unit used to tow artillery pieces of varying weights and calibres. It may be wheeled, tracked, or half-tracked.
Traction
There are two m ...
of the British and Commonwealth forces during World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Several models were produced by the two manufactures as CGT (Chevrolet Gun Tractor) and FGT (Ford Gun Tractor).
CMP stood for Canadian Military Pattern and was applied to a number of trucks, artillery tractors and utility vehicles built in Canada that combined British design requirements with North American automotive engineering.
As with other FATs, the CMP was usually used to tow either the 25-pounder gun-howitzer
Gun-howitzer (also referred to as gun howitzer) is a type of artillery weapon that is intended to fulfill the roles of both an ordinary cannon or field gun, and of a howitzer. It is thus able to convey both direct fire, direct and indirect fire. Mo ...
or the 17-pounder anti-tank
Anti-tank warfare refers to the military strategies, tactics, and weapon systems designed to counter and destroy enemy armored vehicles, particularly tanks. It originated during World War I following the first deployment of tanks in 1916, and ...
gun. A power winch was located above the rear axle for maneuvering the gun or unbogging the vehicle.
History
Specification was based on the successful BritishMorris C8
The Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Field Artillery Tractor), commonly known as a ''(Beetle-back) Quad'', is an artillery tractor used by the British and Commonwealth (including Canadian forces), during the Second World War., first published in Classi ...
FAT developed before the war, even incorporating right-hand-drive steering. The first models were produced in 1940/41 and the body went through a number of design changes throughout the war. Being based on the British vehicle, CMPs were used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces replacing lost stocks after the Dunkirk evacuation
The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo and also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, or just Dunkirk, was the evacuation of more than 338,000 Allied soldiers during the Second World War from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the ...
.
Post-war examples were supplied to Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
who provided their own bodywork.Bart Vanderveen (1989) 'Historic Military Vehicles Directory'. P. 52
Variants
Main vehicles were produced as : *Chevrolet 8440/CGT Tractor, 4x4, Field Artillery *Ford C291Q FGT Tractor, 4x4, Field Artillery These could be fitted with different bodies: *7A1 beetle-back body with two doors and solid roof *7A2 beetle back body with two doors and open (canvas
Canvas is an extremely durable Plain weave, plain-woven Cloth, fabric used for making sails, tents, Tent#Marquees and larger tents, marquees, backpacks, Shelter (building), shelters, as a Support (art), support for oil painting and for other ite ...
covered) centre roof section
*7B1 beetle-back body with four doors and open (canvas covered) centre roof section
*7B2 beetle-back body with four doors and open (canvas covered) centre roof section. Tyre carrier on rear sloped roof.
*7B3 Open body canvas roof with four doors Tyre carrier on rear upper cargo body.
FATs made locally in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
had different bodies.
FATs supplied to India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
were shipped as bare chassis. Bodies were locally made upon delivery. Some vehicles had armoured bodies locally made, while the majority were of wooden construction.
See also
* Canadian Military Pattern trucks *Morris C8
The Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Field Artillery Tractor), commonly known as a ''(Beetle-back) Quad'', is an artillery tractor used by the British and Commonwealth (including Canadian forces), during the Second World War., first published in Classi ...
, a similar British vehicle by Morris. This had very similar bodywork to the early CMP FAT, but can be identified by a five-sided windscreen glass, with the upper corner cut away, compared to the four-sided CMP screen.
* List of military equipment of the Canadian Army during the Second World War
References
External links
CMP FAT at armyvehicles.dk
{{WWIIBritishSoftVeh Military trucks of Canada Artillery tractors Off-road vehicles Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944 Soft-skinned vehicles World War II military equipment of Canada