AUSTRALIAN CMP BASED
ARMOURED VEHICLES
In addition to large numbers of very high
quality trucks in numerous models, the Canadian Military Pattern family also
included a significant number of Armoured and Scout Cars. On this page we have
included information on the three known Australian developed CMP based armoured
vehicles. None of these vehicles saw combat service but they were still an
important piece of Australian military history.
HEAVY ARMOURED CAR
"RHINO"
Click on this picture
for a larger view.
In mid to late 1941, the
Australian Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production issued a
specification for a Heavy Armoured Car. A prototype vehicle, designated Car,
Armoured, Heavy (Aust) and with the type name of "Rhino" commenced
testing in August 1942. The vehicle was built on a General Motors of Canada
Model 8446 chassis with a wheelbase of 101". The Rhino was powered by a
rear mounted GMC Model 270 engine as fitted to the GM C60X truck and several other
Click on this picture
for a larger view.
The Rhino was not a successful design and the project
was cancelled in early 1943 after only 1 or 2 prototypes had been built. The
main problem was that the completed vehicle was some 1400 lbs too heavy for the
supplied chassis and suspension. Interestingly, weight was a major problem in
the life of the Canadian Fox armoured car as well. An Armoured Personnel
Carrier similar in appearance to the Rhino was also designed but again only one
pilot model was built.
Click on this
picture for a larger view.
The Australian Army had however, ordered a large
number of the rear engined Model 8446 chassis. At least 150 of these chassis
were used to manufacture mobile cranes by Peter Brothers of
6 X 6 ARMOURED CAR
Due to the weight problems with the Rhino project, the
Australian Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production decided to
order 120 Model 8660 6x6 chassis and to fit a redesigned Rhino hull to it. The
8660 chassis were complete with all running gear and all were delivered by early
in 1943. Ultimately, the Rhino project and it’s 6x6 cousin was cancelled. The
120 6x6 chassis were used by GMH to build C60X trucks and fitted with breakdown
bodies for the Australian Army.
SCOUT CAR S1
(AMERICAN)
The United States Army Force in Australia (USAFIA)
issued a requirement in early 1942 for a lightly armoured vehicle for use in
airfield defence and patrolling. Australian industry responded and the vehicles
were supplied to the United States Army Services of Supply (USASOS)
organization under a reciprocal Lend Lease scheme.
The Scout Car S1 (American) was built on a Ford F15 4
x 2 chassis although a single F15A 4 x 4 version was built in 1943 when it was
realised that the cross country capability of the 4 x 2 version was limited.
Click on this picture for a
larger view.
The S1 was armed with one .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun
and two .30 cal Medium Machine Guns mounted on skate rails around the perimeter
of the open topped fighting compartment similar to the M3 White Scout Car.
Only 46 S1 Scout Cars (45 4 x 2 & one 4 x 4) were
built and they saw limited service with the USAFIA. Presumably they were
replaced with the M3 Scout Car when sufficient became available. Most were
returned to the Australian Department of Supply and disposed of at auction. One
of these vehicles has apparently survived and is reputed to be with the Beck
Collection in Mareeba,
LIGHT ARMOURED CAR
"ROVER"
The Light Armoured Car (Aust) Rover was built by
Ruskin Motor Bodies Pty Ltd of
Click on this
picture for a larger view.
The Rover was built on the Ford F60L and F60S chassis
and mechanical components. The first 40 vehicles built were built on the 158
1/4" F60L wheelbase while the remainder were on either a F60S chassis or
an F60L chassis shortened to the 134 1/4" wheel base of the F60S. There
were numerous small detail differences in the vehicles depending on whether it
was built on a 1941 or a 1942 chassis, these differences being mainly
instrumentation and engines.
The Rover gained the nickname of the "Mobile Slit
Trench" due to the long narrow opening at the top of it's fighting compartment.
No Rovers remained in Australian Army use post war. Most were auctioned off
with a large number being bought back by the Ford Motor Company, presumably to
use for parts in supporting the Army's Ford CMP truck fleet. At least two
complete restored Rovers survive in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have obtained the information on this page from the following sources.
Australian Military Equipment Profiles, Vol 3, Australian Scout and
Armoured Cars 1933 to 1945, Michael K Cecil, 1993
Australian Light Armoured Car (Rover) by Paul Handel. AFV NEWS, 1978
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Rod Diery 1997 - 2007 All rights
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