📌 Morris Commercial C8 15-cwt 4x4 GS Truck, Clacton-on-Sea.

In 1937 the British Army was looking for a new vehicle to replace their old trucks, mainly Morris CDSW's and Light Dragons. They made up a specification for a four wheel drive vehicle with a winch and a short wheelbase. Two companies responded, at first Guy with a small truck called the ''ANT'' and Morris Commercial with the ''C8''.

 

Morris Commercial delivered the first C8 Quads in October 1939 and they stayed in production untill 1945. The chassis and engine were also used as a base for the C8 4x4 GS truck which was developed in 1943 and came into production in February 1944. The Quad was used to pull the 18 and 25 pounder guns and 4.5-inch Howitzers and was manned by a driver and five personnel. It was capable of transporting thirty two cases of ammunition apart from all other equipment. Morris Commercial built five versions on the C chassis, three Quad versions, one GS (General Service) and a airlanding version.

 

▪︎FAT Mk.I - 200 built with a full metal cabin and sloped back.

 

▪︎FAT Mk.II / Mk.III - 4,000 built of which the first 3,000 with a full metal body and a less sloped back. the last 1,000 had a canvas roof. The Mk.III has the option to switch of the 4 wheel drive and has smaller wheels. Another significant difference between the Mk.II and the Mk.III was the number of doors, the Mk.II had two large doors and the Mk.III had four doors.

 

▪︎FAT Mk.V - 6,000 built with a more box like cabin and a full canvas roof.

 

▪︎C8 4x4 GS - was built on the same chassis and the nose was the same as the Quads. But the back was completely different, it had a truck body for General Service. It was driven on all wheels. This truck was built with different body options, a Radio / Office body, Water Bowser and Air Compressor. This truck became available in larger numbers after the war and was used untill the 1950's.

 

▪︎C8 / AT Mk.III - was used for towing the 17-pounder Anti-tank gun. These were basicly conversions of the standard C8 FAT that were made for the airborne by removing the canvas roof, supports, sides, doors, tail board and tool boxes. By doing this the weight reduced to approx. 4.5 ton so it could be transported with its 17-pounder gun, ammunition and crew in a Hamilcar Glider. These we put into action during ''Operation Market Garden'' during the D-Day Landings, but these proved to be unreliable during operation and were withdrawn from service afterwards.

 

 

General characteristics:

 

▪︎Type: General Service vehicle

▪︎Model: C8 15-cwt 4×4 GS (C8 / GS)

▪︎Manufacturer: Morris Commercial Cars Ltd

▪︎Produced: 1939 to 1945

▪︎PlaceofOrigin: Birmingham, United Kingdom

▪︎Crew: 1 x driver / 5 x personnel

▪︎Powerplant: 4-cylinder, L-head Morris EH, 3.5-liter petrol engine, 70bhp

▪︎Transmission: Driving rear or all wheels via 5-speed gearbox and single-speed transfer box

▪︎Suspension: Leaf-spring suspension 4x4

▪︎Brakes: Hydraulic

▪︎Tyre Size: 9.00 x 16

▪︎Length: 14ft 8¾in / Width: 7ft 3in / Height: 7ft 5in

▪︎Weight: 3.3 long tons

▪︎Max Speed: 55 mph

▪︎Operational Range: 160 miles

▪︎Armour: none.

 

 

Sourced from:

www.panzerknacker.nl/morris/history.html

www.baiv.nl/1943-truck-15-cwt-4x4-g-s-c8-gs-morris-commer...

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