I don't know how I would have managed with a Canadian wartime vehicle after having been brought up using the old Scammel recovery tractors and Before lights
Yes, the Scammel was a monster and no CMP was comparable to its towing capacity as the largest motor installed in a CMP was the gasoline powered 270 cu. in. inline six while the Scammel had a huge diesel powered 510 cu. in. inline six. I'm willing to bet the Scammel had 4 to 5 times the torque of the largest CMP motor. The Scammel was king of towing until the Diamond T tank transporters came along with their monster 855 cu. in. DFXE motors. The CMPs had their roles, numerous roles actually and had the advantage of a top speed if required of over twice that of the Scammel. I hope to eventually post all of the almost unending number of versions of the CMP on this thread.
Clearly a matter of opinion. The reference was made to the appearance of it's front end, not it's mechanics.
Mechanically I was thinking.
The CMP cab resembles the Quad gun tractor to my eye.
Probably just as well the Germans got most of the Morrises. No doubt they lived to curse their 2WD in the Russian mud.
Curious fact that the BEF and subsequent formations in North Africa, Italy and Europe were much more highly mechanized than the German Army.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
While we were in Malaya in the mid/late 60's, one of our NS Lieutenants (Lt 'flip' McEwan as I recall.....) would take us interested blokes out for a week or so to follow the retreat of the Brits and Aussies et al South down the Malay peninsula. One of his little gems was the jungle clad wreckage of Marmon Herrington gun tractors etc etc, down a ravine where they were destroyed. I believe that they were fairly well South but the only bridge, at the Muar river crossing at Parit Sulong had been taken so no MT could move south any more.
'Flip' was interesting because he was a History Grad who could speak a bit of Malay and speak to the villagers. Bearing in mind that it was only 25 or so tears afterwards. They knew where all the 'stuff' was to be found.
Pre-war British automotive industry had very little experience of building heavy commercial vehicles, partly due to the well-developed railway network that made them unnecessary, partly due to the high rates of road tax said vehicles attracted, again at the behest of the railway lobby. The desirable characteristics of commercial vehicles (fuel economy, low body for loading/unloading, 2-w drive) were at odds with military requirements (4-w drive, cross-country performance, high ground clearance)
That kind of looks like the entrance to Rideau Hall. I wouldn't be surprised if these AA portees were posted around government facilities during the war.
wartime vehicle after having been brought up using the old Scammel recovery tractors and Before lights
Originally Posted by 
PM
