b"found new roles in forestry, farming (Department of National Defenceand all manner of agricultural and Pattern), but when it was decided thatconstruction roles. One was even the vehicles would be used widely indriven by the legendary Tom Cruise other countries, the class of truckson his outback mail run from was redesignated CMP (CanadianOodnadatta to Birdsville. Military Pattern).The Blitz was officially the Chevrolet Most CMP trucks were manufacturedCMP C15, a 15-cwt 4x2 truck, by the Chevrolet division of Generalpowered by a 216ci 6-cylinder over- Motors and also by the Ford Motorhead valve liquid cooled petrol Company of Canada. There was aengine. Maximum output was 63.4kW degree of inter-company collabora-(85bhp) at 3400 rpm. In standard tion, which included the use of inter-form it was rear-wheel drive, via a 4- changeable parts as both companiesspeed gearbox. It had leaf suspen- 4x2commercial, 4x4, 4x6, 6x4, ramped up production.sion and hydraulic brakes. A 101-inch armoured vehicles wheeled and A number of CMP trucks werewheelbase and overall dimensions of tracked and some 19,000 trailers. All assembled from Canadian made170x85x95-inches and an approxi- of thesevehicles were supplied to chassis and parts in Britain, Australia,mate weight of 7,300 Ibs. Tyre size the Canadian armed services and the New Zealand and South Africa, Indiawas 9.00-16. allies. and Egypt. The British insisted thatDuring WWII General Motors-Holden Australia was one of the main the CMP trucks had right-hand drive.imported large numbers of chassis customers, with many vehicles More than 400,000 CMP trucks wereand other components from Canada shipped in CKD (knocked down form) built in Canada. The Chevrolet builtfor local assembly. Cabs were made for local assembly and part manufac- CMP Blitz had a 215ci (3.5-litre),in Australia and while resembling the ture, along with the fitting of indige- straight six overhead valve engine,Canadian Pattern, had a few nous bodywork. The Canadians while the Ford built CMP trucks had adistinguishing features. These themselves used vehicles from other 239ci (3.9-litre), 71kW V8 engine.included differently shaped vent countries, including Jeeps and Both the brands trucks shared adoors in the sides of the scuttle, and Diamond Ts from the USA, and standard cab design, which evolvedinitially canvas tops over steel frames Bedfords and Leylands from Britain. over time, with main differences beingwere used. There were numerous The CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) the evolution of a two part radiator,body configurations, most locally truck was built to British Army and a two flat pane windscreendesigned and manufactured. specifications, generally with North angled slightly downward to minimiseThe Chevrolet C15A was a four-wheel American automotive engineering. sun glare.drive version, with single speed The program of Canadian CMP All of the CMP cab designs had atransfer box with front axle disconnect. production of military vehicles short pug nose profile, specified by6.5:1 axle gear ratio, rigid axles, semi- commenced in 1937 when Ford Motor the British for more efficient transportelliptic leaf springs, 6-volt electrics Company and General Motors of by ship. Panels were flat with hardand 25 gallon fuel capacity. Canada were each invited by the edges, and the cabin was relativelyChevrolet Blitz - Canadian Canadian Department of National cramped to accommodate the largerThe Second World War Defence to produce a American engines.put Canada on localised proto- Today you don't have to travel far tothe map as a type of a 15- still find a 'Blitz' at work in Australiamajor supplier of hundredweight with numerous still on the job, and inmilitary vehicles light infantry private collectors hands.of many types. truck that had Brian TannerUp until been adoptedSeptember 1, by the British1945, no War Office.fewer that These trucks857,970 were initiallyvehicles designatedwere DNDpro-duced,including24 SEPTEMBER2021 TRACKWATCH"