- Yes
- No
- 2.7
- 3.0
- 3.3
- 3.7
- I said no!
Hey everyone!
Today I wanted to suggest the Lorry, 3-ton, 20mm Quad, Self Propelled. For brevity, I will be calling this the CMP F60S 4x20mm. This consists of a Ford F60S Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) truck, with a quad 20-mm anti-aircraft turret mounted on its flatbed.
The CMP F60S 4x20mm from the rear.
Background:
In the Second World War, one of Canada’s main contributions to the Allied war effort consisted of the Canadian Military Pattern truck, a range of military trucks for members of the British Commonwealth, and the Soviet Union. These trucks served to motorize British Commonwealth armies, of which 750,000 were built by the end of the war. This total was greater than the truck output of all Axis nations combined.
Meanwhile, John Inglis and Company were in the process of designing the Inglis 20mm cannon, a gun built around the Hispano-Suiza 20x110mm round. Drawings were completed in April 1942, and a automatic test fire was completed in September 1942. In February 1944, the Inglis 20mm gun met Directorate of Development of Vehicles and Small Arms standards. Simultaneously, development was underway on the Inglis quad mount, a system which would carry 4 20mm Inglis guns in an hydraulically operated turret. The system displayed minimal movement while firing from the high mobility 6x6 chassis.
The CMP F60S 4x20mm from the front.
However, the Inglis was doomed as the 21st Army Group changed its policy regarding 20mm ammunition, dictating that its supply chains would no longer support Hispano-Suiza ammunition. This notice was received in February 1944. In response, the quad mounts had to be modified to carry Polsten guns, instead of the original Inglis guns. The Polsten 20mm gun was a simplified derivative of the Oerlikon gun, firing 20x110mm RB ammunition instead of the 20x110mm fired by the Hispano-Suiza guns. In this configuration 250 Quad Polsten guns were fitted to Ford F60S vehicles, 60 of which were sold to the British. These vehicles mainly served to engage V-1 rockets attacking Britain, while also forming part of LAA regiments in Europe.
Vehicle data sheet for the Lorry, 3-ton, 20mm Quad, Self-Propelled.
The Chassis: Ford F60S:
Chassis
This vehicle weighs 6.7 tons, and is driven by a 95hp Ford V8 engine giving it a power to weight ratio of 16.2 hp/t. The vehicle has seats for 5 crewmembers, Driver, Commander, Gunner and 2 loaders. The vehicle has negligible armour, and an open cab. At the rear of the bed is the ammunition stowage, containing space for 16 60-round drum magazines of 20x110mm RB ammunition
Highlight of the CMP F60S’s storage of 20mm ammunition.
The Turret: T227 Anti-Aircraft Mount with Quad Polsten:
Turret
The T227 Mount was manufactured by Inglis company. It sports 4x20mm Polsten guns in an arrangement identical to the Skink. During trials in 1944, this mount was found to be highly unsatisfactory, as it would stick in extremely high angles of elevation. After 30 minutes of use, the slew rate of the turret decreased from 11.5 revolutions per minute (69 degrees per second), to 6.5 (39 degrees per second). Following this, the turret was modified and improved.
The T227 Quad Polsten mount as a trailer.
Specifications:
Specifications
General:
Country of Origin: Canada
Crew: 3 - Commander, Gunner, Driver
Dimensions:
Length: 5.35m
Width: 2.5m
Height: 2.7m
Weight: 6.7 tons
Performance:
Engine: 95hp at 3600rpm Ford V8
Transmission: 4-speed
Speed: Max 70 km/h
Protection:
Minimum, soft-skin vehicle.
Armament:
4 x 20mm Polsten Automatic Cannon
- Ammunition Capacity: 1200 rounds (20 x 60 rds)
- Belt Capacity: 60 rounds
- Reload: 5 seconds per magazine
- Vertical Guidance: +80/-3
- Vertical Traverse: 30 degrees per second
- Horizontal Guidance: 360 degrees unimpeded
- Horizontal Traverse: 69 degrees per second
Ammunition Types:
Identical to Grizzly
Usage in Game:
This vehicle is essentially a Skink turret on a truck. Average gun handling and accuracy, but great performance on a hit. Incredibly vulnerable, but fast and can deliver devastating damage to aircraft. Limited performance against armour holds it back however. I would compare it to a ZIS-12 (94KM) in terms of performance, without the anti-armour bite of the 25mm.
Let me know what you think, and what BR you think this vehicle should be placed at.
Thanks!
Hydroxideblue
References:
References
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Montague, P. J. (1944). Vehicle data book: Canadian Army Overseas: Armoured tracked vehicles, armoured wheeled vehicles, tractors, transporters, “B” vehicles, trailers . London: Branch of QMG, Canadian Military Headquarters.
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Taylor, P. S. (2016, April 20). The trucks that beat Hitler. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from https://nationalpost.com/opinion/peter-shawn-taylor-the-trucks-that-beat-hitler
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Lucy, R. V. (2006). Secret weapons of the Canadian army . Ottawa, Ontario: Service Publications.
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Boyd, D. (2009, January 1). 20mm Hispano AP Ammunition. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from http://www.wwiiequipment.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:hispano-20mm-armour-piercing-ammunition&catid=44:gunsrockets&Itemid=60
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Canadian Department of National Defence. (n.d.). 110 Army Numerical 11850-31114 [PDF]. Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada.
Available at http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=5266310&lang=eng