- Yes
- No
- 2.0
- 2.3
- 2.7
- 3.0
- I said no!
CMP F60 Bofors with levellers lowered, side profile.
Hi folks,
Today I wanted to suggest the CMP 3-ton 4x4 Bofors in Canadian service, or F60S (40mm) for short. As the name suggests, this vehicle consists of a 3-ton Canadian Military Pattern truck chassis, fitted with a 40mm L/60 Bofors anti-aircraft gun. This vehicle was designed during WW2, to fulfill a requirement for short-range air defence for allied convoys and rear-assets.
CMP Bofors in the United Kingdom
Background
Background:
During WW2, Allied truck production vastly outpaced the Axis. One component of this was Canada’s military industry. As the United States was able to pump out tanks and other heavy equipment, Canada specialized in the production of standardized trucks for the British Commonwealth - fitting the requirements of the British Army Standard (Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply, 1945a). These would be needed in a multitude of roles - from basic bodies, to bodies for fuel, ammunition, communications equipment, troops, showers, office space, officer’s quarters, artillery tractors, and in this case - air defence. To achieve this the task fell to Canada’s ‘Big Three’ - General Motors of Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada, and Chrysler Corporation of Canada - to design and build a standardized truck platform.
CMP F60 Bofors with a different leveller arrangement, and no gun shield.
Several challenges presented themselves. First, that these manufacturers had predominantly been focused on building trucks for civilian applications, not military ones. Civilian cabs and bodies for passenger cars were the norm, and factories were set-up for this purpose - often inconsistently. Second, truck bodies were often built with woodworking as platform-stake type. Lastly, the tooling, methods, and designs currently in production all varied - some quite drastically. All of these challenges would have to be overcome; not just by the big three, but by all of their subcontractors, and suppliers as well. To meet the immense needs of war, “all plants, large or small, meagrely or well equipped, could utilize their production facilities to full capacity. This was difficult, and owing to the urgent need for bodies, it was impossible to attain this objective immediately, but early in 1941, this result was achieved” (Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply, 1945b).
The result was the Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) truck platform. Ruggedly built, with semi-cab over engine, large wheels, and (in most cases), right-hand drive. Commercial components were used as much as possible to streamline manufacturing, and get vehicles into the soldier’s hands quickly.
CMP 4x4 3-ton F60 owned by Ian Waite.
It came with 5 different types of General Service bodies - All Welded - All Steel, Composite Wood and Steel, Bolted All Steel, Light Weight Steel, and Aluminum. As of September 1st, 1945, the following quantities of CMP trucks would be produced:
8 cwt. 4x2 - 9837
Heavy Utility 4x4 - 12967
15 cwt 4x2 - 34195
15 cwt 4x4 - 69227
30 cwt 4x4 - 19319
3-ton 4x2 - 6000
3-ton 4x4 - 209004
Field Artillery Tractor 4x4 - 22891
3-ton 6x4 - 4123
3-ton 6x6 - 2710
Trailers - 19663
Total - 409936
This does not include the 306357 modified conventional trucks, 3961 armoured trucks, or the 81942 miscellaneous staff cars/other vehicles.
Ford F60 with Bofors mount, stripped of accessories sold in Auburn, Indiana.
One of the required vehicles was a self-propelled light anti-aircraft gun mounted on the 3-ton chassis. It was required to work as area and convoy air defence, with the secondary role of direct fire support. The result was the 3-Ton 4x4 Bofors, which was designed and tested in 1943. It featured a Ford V8 L-head displacing 239 cubic inches, generating 95 horsepower at 3600rpm. It had a Ford F60 134" wheelbase chassis, open cab seating 4 (left to right: loader, commander, driver, loader), and reinforced axles. Meanwhile, the gun was the Ordnance Q.F. 40 M.M. C.M.K.1 on Mounting 40mm Bofors S.P. 40 M.M. C.M.K.1 The chassis was manufactured by Ford Motor Company of Canada in Windsor, while the Bofors gun was made by Otis Fensom Co. of Hamilton, Ontario.
Closeup of the CMP 3-ton Bofors cab and seats.
The mounting has power traverse and elevation, with energy provided by the transfer case. Ammunition and spare parts are mounted on the extended platform aft, including a spare barrel. This included 6 C216 cans with 24 rounds in 6 clips, totaling 144 rounds of ammunition not including that loaded in the gun/on the platform. More ammunition could be held on the platform, but this would affect the firing angles. Levelling jacks to stabilize the vehicle when firing are mounted on the side, front, and rear. The gun is fitted with a shield, and traverse is offered 270 degrees around the vehicle at 0 degrees of elevation - only interfered with in the front by the cab. In service, this vehicle was well liked by its crews - despite the limited aerial threat by the time of the Allied landings in Normandy and the last two years of the war.
Gunners aboard their CMP 3-ton 4x4 Bofors.
Specifications:
Specifications:
General:
Operator Country: Canada
Crew: 6 - Driver, Commander, Gunner, Assistant Gunner, 2 x Loader
Rank: II
Dimensions:
Length: 244"
Width: 94"
Height: 92"
Curb Weight: 13400 lbs
Gross Weight: 15600 lbs
Performance:
Engine: Ford V8 Displacing 239 cubic inches. 95hp at 3600rpm
Transmission: 4-forward/1-reverse gear
Speed: 80 km/h at 3400RPM
HP/T: 13.4 hp/t
Protection:
- None, soft-skin body
Armament:
1 x 40mm Ordnance Q.F. 40mm C.M.K.1. Bofors automatic cannon
- Belt Capacity: 8 rounds
- Ammunition Capacity: 152 rounds
- Reload: 0.6 seconds
- Rate of fire: 120 shots/minute
- Vertical Guidance: -6/+87 degrees
- Vertical Traverse: 14-20 degrees/second (per CCKW 353 AA)
- Horizontal Guidance: 360 degrees, impeded in front
- Horizontal Traverse: 24.5-35 degrees/second (per CCKW 353 AA)
Ammunition:
Additional technical documentation:
Usage in game::
I’m adding this to give some meat to a prospective Canadian Ground Forces tree, which currently sits at 65 suggested plus 5 vehicles implemented. Smaller trees in game like China and Sweden have around 95-115 ground vehicles. This vehicle would ideally sit at BR 2.3 like the CCKW 353 AA. It would be preceded by the CMP 15 cwt 4x4 Polsten (CMP with single 20mm Polsten), and would lead into the CMP 3-ton 4x4 (4x20mm) at 3.0.
CMP Bofors with side levelers in place.
Compared with the CCKW 353 AA, the CMP is a bit more nimble at 13.4 hp/t while weighing just over 7 tons (vs 11.1 and 8.5 respectively). The ammunition storage is a little shorter, but it should last unless one is committed to shooting at everything in the sky regardless of range. At 2.3 the Bofors is a devastating gun. Able to shred medium and light tanks at its BR. The vehicle should not be played with hunkering-down in mind, you must be mobile and deceptive with it.
Let me know what you think! I’m a huge fan of fast and nimble vehicles that can deliver devastating firepower. The CCKW 353 AA was one of my favourite vehicles of the early French tree, injecting some desperately needed mobility.
References:
Refernces:
Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. (1945a). Design record of Canadian-developed military vehicles in WW2, volume 1, general index. Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. Retrieved from: Design Record of Canadian-Developed Military Vehicles in WW 2, Volume 1, General and Index : Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. (1945b). Design record of Canadian-developed military vehicles in WW2, volume 4, self-propelled mechanical transport chassis. Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. Retrieved from: Design Record, Canadian Developed Military Vehicles, WW 2, Volume 4, Self-propelled Mechanical Transport Chassis : Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. (1945c). Design record of Canadian-developed military vehicles in WW2, volume 5, basic bodies and non-technical vehicles. Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply. Retrieved from: Design Record, Canadian-Developed Military Vehicles, WW 2, Volume 5, Basic Bodies and Non-technical Vehicles : Army Engineering Design Branch, Canadian Department of Munitions and Supply : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Canadian Military Headquarters. (December, 1944). Vehicle data book - Canadian Army Overseas. Quartermaster General of Canada. Retrieved from: Canadian Army Overseas Vehicle Data Book : Canadian Army Overseas : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Command of the Army Council. (October 15, 1946). Maintenance manual for the ordnance qf-40mm., A.A. marks 1 and 1/2. The War Office. Retrieved from: www.scribd .com/document/729518164/40-Mm-Bofors-Maint-Manual-1946