- Yes
- No
- 1.0
- 1.3
- 1.7
- 2.0
- I said no!
Hey folks,
Today I wanted to suggest the 15cwt. 20 m.m. Anti-aircraft, or the 15cwt CMP (20mm) for short. This vehicle was designed to provide close, mobile air defence of allied convoys and rear assets. Vehicles of this type were built by the Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario - with mounting provided by Frost and Wood Co. of Smith Falls, Ontario. The vehicle was based on the CMP 15 cwt. 101-inch wheelbase chassis, and fitted a 20mm Polsten automatic cannon.
Commonwealth L.A.A. gunner sits on their vehicle-mounted 20mm Polsten gun.
Background:
Background
The Commonwealth required low-level air defence for its rear-assets, to protect them against air attack. A requirement was made by the British Army, and was developed for a British chassis. This design would be iterated on by the Canadians, resulting in their own design on the 15 cwt Ford CMP chassis. While the Axis air threat was minimal by 1944, these vehicles saw service with the Canadian Army Overseas, the United Kingdom, and other Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand.
Ford 15cwt CMP truck with right-hand drive.
The Canadian Military Pattern truck was a crucial part of the Allied war effort, “putting the Allies on wheels.” By September 1945, Canada had delivered 409,000 CMP pattern trucks. 69,000 of these would be of the 15 cwt. 4x4 variety. These trucks filled numerous second-line roles; general purpose, logistics, command post, ambulance, dental, engineering, bridge-carrying, water tanker, fuel tanker, ammunition depot, portable shower, officer’s accommodations, cable-laying, gun-towing, and anti-aircraft. The introduction of the CMP significantly simplified allied logistics, and provided a common platform for many purposes.
A modern restoration of the 15cwt CMP (20mm).
Part of the CMP effort was Ford Motor Company of Canada in Windsor, Ontario, today part of the broader Ford Motor Company. For the 15cwt CMP (20mm), they provided a modified CMP pattern truck. Fitting and mounting the 20mm Polsten was Frost and Wood Co., of Smith Falls, Ontario. Frost and Wood Co. were a farming equipment manufacturer, who built mowers and reapers. Frost and Wood Co. closed down in 1955 after 116 years of operation.
Drawing of the Frost and Wood Co. factory.
The 20mm Polsten was a Polish development of the Oerlikon 20mm automatic cannon. It saw significant service with Canada and the Commonwealth. John Inglis Limited (now Whirpool, making washing machines), manufactured thousands of these cannons, including quadruple anti-aircraft mountings. The Polsten fired 20x110mm RB ammunition, the same as its Oerlikon predecessor.
Diagram of the 20mm Polsten automatic cannon.
On the 15 cwt CMP (20mm), the operator sits at the rear of the vehicle, on a swivel mount that has been bolted to the CMP’s chassis. On the back of the cab, are ammunition lockers offering space for 4 x 60rd drum magazines, of 8 x 20 rd box magazines. The Ford 15cwt had right-hand drive - the driver sits on the right-hand side, and commander in the left-hand passenger seat.
Side profile of the 15cwt CMP (20mm).
Specifications:
Specifications:
General:
Operator Country: Canada
Crew: 3 - Driver, Commander, Gunner
Dimensions:
Length: 170"
Width: 88"
Height: 90"
Curb Weight: 7515 lbs
Gross Weight: 9640 lbs
Performance:
Engine: Ford V8 Displacing 238 cubic inches. 95hp at 3600rpm
Transmission: 4-forward/1-reverse gear
Speed: 84 km/h
Protection:
- None, soft-skin body
Armament:
1 x 20mm Polsten automatic cannon
- Belt Capacity: 60 rounds
- Ammunition Capacity: 240 rounds
- Reload: 6 seconds
- Rate of fire: 450 shots/minute
- Vertical Guidance: -5/+85 degrees
- Vertical Traverse: 30-45 degrees/second (per Ystervark)
- Horizontal Guidance: 360 degrees unimpeded
- Horizontal Traverse: 21-30 degrees/second (per Ystervark)
Ammunition available to the 15cwt CMP 20mm.
Extra technical documentation:
Extra technical documentation:
Ford Motor Company 15 cwt. CMP 4x4 technical details (without cab).
15 cwt. 4 x 4 20 m.m. anti-aircraft technical details.
Usage in Game:
I’m mainly suggesting this to build the meat of a Canadian Ground Forces Tree. This would ideally be the tree’s Rank I SPAA piece. It would precede 4x20mm Polsten, and 1x40mm Bofors armed CMP F60 vehicles, building the CMP’s DNA into a Canadian tree. The 15cwt CMP (20mm) would be a fun, fast, and nimble anti-aircraft truck that will do serious damage if it hits - while being extremely vulnerable to any form of air attack. The Polsten itself is a mediocre anti-aircraft gun, as many who play the Skink might find. Low velocity on the gun makes it much harder to get hits at range. When it does hit, it can be extremely effective however, clipping off wings and rudders with ease. I think it should be a 1.3 BR vehicle. Comparable would be the BR 1.0 GAZ (DshK), the BR 1.3 Sd.Kfz 222, or more closely the 1.3 BR AS42 (excepting the HVAP ammunition).
Owner of a 15cwt CMP having a bit of fun with the gun.
Let me know what you think! I hope that one day we’ll have a Canadian tree in War Thunder, and I hope that this can be a part of it.
Thanks,
Hydroxideblue
References:
https://captainstevens.com/military/weapons/20mm-aa-guns/
https://www.communitystories.ca/v1/pm_v2.php?lg=English&ex=00000770&fl=0&id=exhibit_home