Soldiers!!
New project, new building based on photographs found on the Internet. This time, our character is the Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT, captured by the Germans and transformed into self-propelled artillery, with ta field adaptation of a light infantry gun of 75mm, based in real pics digged in internet.
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT restaured |
The Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT was first developed in 1934. Great Britain’s War Department had the need for a general purpose vehicle.
Using the specs outlined by the War Department, the Morris Car Company designed a truck using many of the components from their 1933 civilian ‘C series’ range.
It carried a wide variety of different bodies and served all over the world. It was used by all three of the British Services as well as a number of the civilian services including the Fire Services. It remained in British Military service until about 1955.
The newly designed truck was designated CS8, (S denoting 6 cylinder and 8 denoting an approximate 8’ wheel base) it had a short stubby appearance with a high ground clearance. It became the workhorse of the British Army. The original design CS8 evolved into three Series, the Mark I (early, with separated windshields) , II (mid, with full windshield and canvas doors) & III ( late, with full windshield and metal doors).
The CS8 continued development and production through 1942, being produced under contract by various British manufacturers. The CS8 was replaced in 1942 by a 4 cylinder variant designated the C4. The early CS8 has a small windscreen and canvas doors. These were replaced by a full windscreen and metal skinned half doors in 1941. The CS8 was powered by a 6 cylinder 25 HP side valve engine.
The CS8 was adapted to many different uses during it’s life. Examples include a water tanker, petrol tanker, compressor truck, office truck and/or wireless truck.
There was even a production of 100 armored cars Morris CS9 based on the lengthened chassis of the CS8.
It was also used in large numbers by the armed forces of all the Commonwealth Forces during WWII and was also supplied to the U.S. Forces in Britain under Reverse Lease Lend.
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT |
It carried a wide variety of different bodies and served all over the world. It was used by all three of the British Services as well as a number of the civilian services including the Fire Services. It remained in British Military service until about 1955.
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) France, before Dunkirk. |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) Palestinian Desert - 1940 Notice the Caunter cammo |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) troop transport |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) Notice the brits with gas masks in desert... |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (late) restored |
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| Morris 6 cyl 25 HP side valve - petrol engine |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 petrol tanker (early) |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid) in German hands - wireless car Norway, 1941 |
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| Morris CS9 armoured car |
The Germans captured large quantities of these vehicles during the Fall of France. So many that the vehicles were modified to German specifications and put on general issue to all types of units.
Many were rebodied as tractors of anti tank guns, Kubelwagen and other types of body. These all were known generally as Umbau-Wagen and were given their own Kfz Numbers mostly in the Kfz 12 to 15 range. Most appear to have been converted during the period 1940/42. They remained in service to the end of the War. A true testimony to the robustness and solidity of the vehicle.
The object of this arctic is precisely a representation of one of the vehicles, which was adapted to be a carrier of a light infantry gun of 75mm, the 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18).
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| Dunkirk. In foreground, a Morris CS8 partialy destroyed |
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| A rare pic of rare Morris; petrol tanker |
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| The Dunkirk booty; Line of Morris Commercial ready for the German use |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid) in German hands - Anti-aircraft gunners truck trainer |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) in German hands - caravan tractor |
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| Morris Commercial MCC PU 8 Cwt (late) in German hands - Russian front |
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| Morris Commercial MCC PU 8 Cwt (late) in German hands - Russian front |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) in German hands - French occupation |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid) in German hands - Russian front |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early) in German hands - with Fallschirmjägers Crete, 1941 |
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| Captured Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) |
Post War many were sold into civilian hands. All kinds of conversions took place, the most popular being as breakdown trucks for garages. Many of these can still be found in use today.
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| Morris Commercial Wrecker |
Specs (lorry):
| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT 4x2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | General purpose vehicle |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Morris |
| No. built | 21.319 (many versions) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3,050 kg |
| Length | 4,22 m |
| Width | 1,98 m |
| Height Wheelbase | 2.26 m 2,49 m |
| Crew | 2 |
| Armour | none |
| Engine | Morris 6 cyl 25 HP side valve petrol engine |
| Suspension | semi-eliptical |
Cargo load
| 762 Kg |
| Speed | 80 km/h |
History (gun):
These were typically assigned at two to each mountain battalion. Six 7.5 cm le.IG 18F were manufactured in 1939. These were airborne guns, capable of being broken down into four 140 kg loads. The airborne variant had smaller wheels and no shield.
There was also an infantry support gun, known as the 7.5 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/13 and designed as a replacement for the le.IG 18, which could be broken into four to six loads. However, though prototypes were tested, the German army felt that it did not improve on the existing design sufficiently to merit introduction and the army stayed with the earlier gun.
It was one of the most widely used German artillery pieces used on all battle fronts 1939-45 with over 12,000 manufactured. It was originally designed to be horse drawn, but was later towed by field cars and light trucks.
The 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) was an infantry support gun of the German Wehrmacht used during World War II.
In 1927 the German Army issued a requirement for a new light weight infantry gun, A prototype gun was manufactured by Rheinmetall and designated the 7.5cm Leightes Infanteriegeshutz 18. It weighed 400kg and was mounted on a split-trail carriage with armored shield and large diameter spoke wheels.
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| 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) complete crew |
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| The 7,5 cm le.IG 18 was heavy... The five gunners doing workout... |
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| 7.5cm Leightes Infanteriegeshutz 18 early version - spoked wheels |
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| 7.5cm Leightes Infanteriegeshutz 18 early version - spoked wheels |
The short barrel could fire a 6kg HE shell out to 3,550 meters. It was relatively heavy and required a 5-man crew, but trials were successful and the gun entered service in 1932.
There was a mountain gun variant, the 7.5 cm le.GebIG 18. For transport, the mountain variant could be broken down into six to ten packs, the heaviest weighing 74.9 kg.
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| 7,5 cm le.GebIG 18 |
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| 7,5 cm le.IG 18 - airbone variation |
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| 7,5 cm le.IG 18 - Normandy, 1943. |
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| 7,5 cm le.IG 18 with horses... |
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| 7,5 cm le.IG 18 with 3 ton truck (Ford?) Panzerwerfer.. Hmmm... a nice future project!! |
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| The 7,5 cm le.IG 18 in action The short barrel explain the shot flash... |
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| 7,5 cm le.IG 18 in use at Normandy, 1944. |
Specs (gun):
The project:
The pictures I found on the internet were these:
The Morris in these pics must have been caught when Dunkerk was withdrawn. The Germans have extensively used these dependable vehicles such as artillery tugs, scout vehicles, and some have been adapted to carry light artillery. There are many pictures of vehicles in German hands and allied hands with different adaptations on the robust chassis.
I found a 15CWT (Austin, Morris or Ant??) with Pak 36 in her back, in German hands... Notice the cargo bed is standard...
Another example, this time, allied: Morris Commercial 15CWT with french 25mmAT gun
Well...my project will be the SAME vehicle of the pics above, but BASED in these pics. my idea is the use os the same light infantry gun, but the vehicle showing the standard cargo bed. But the historiucal period is interesting and I research about the "Prancing Pony" badge:
My friend Mikko Heikkinen help me with some links (Thanks a lot, Mikko...) and we stumbled on this: 254. Infanterie-Division, the Springendes Pferd (Jumping Horse) - (18th Army- Wehrmacht).
As usual, I like to do a profile for the markings: Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun; Wehrmacht - 18th Army - 254th Infantry Division - Eastern front, northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941.
| 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 - 7,5 cm le.IG 18 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Infantry gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1932–45 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall |
| Designed | 1927 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall |
| Produced | 1932–45 |
| No. built | ~ 12.000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 400 kilograms |
| Barrel length | 88 cm (3 ft) L/11.2 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | cased cartridge |
| Shell weight | 6 kilograms |
| Caliber | 75 millimetres |
| Breech | Shotgun-type block |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | -10° to 73° |
| Traverse | 12° |
| Rate of fire | 8-12 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 210 m/s |
| Maximum firing range | 3,550 m |
The project:
The pictures I found on the internet were these:
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| Morris Commercial 15CWT with 7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18) in his back. Notice the Division Badge the horse facing front and the modified cargo bed |
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| Another pic...another vehicle Notice the Badge with the horse facing rear |
I found a 15CWT (Austin, Morris or Ant??) with Pak 36 in her back, in German hands... Notice the cargo bed is standard...
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| A "German" 15 CWT used as ATSPG, with Pak 36 . |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT with 25mm AT gun Standard cargo bed and baloon tyres for sand |
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| Prancing Pony badge. |
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| 254. Infanterie-Division the Springendes Pferd (Jumping Horse). |
A doubt arose as to the positioning of the horse, but the photos found show the horse jumping back and forth ...Bingo: 254. Infanterie-Division (18th Army- Wehrmacht).
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| Horses jumping back and forward ... |
The 254th Infantry Division fought in France, at the Dunkirk area, in 1940. Hurrah!! ... One more piece of the puzzle embedded ... Good ... We already delimited the time and space of the vehicle in question.
My choice to build the Morris Commercial with the standard cargo bed is due to the time factor: I'm going to travel next week and I want to travel with the project ready. A modification in the rear structure would require an extensive modification of the (metal) chassis of the kit. This would greatly delay in my timeline. The idea is that vehicle was captured and rescued in the beaches of Dunkirk and immediately adapted for the use of the 75mm light gun. Later, the Germans modified the Morris cargo bed in search of more space for the gunners. My kit would be the "pilot project" of this modification.
But I wish this "pilot-prototype" had seen some action in the fields ... And as the Germans did not waste anything, I imagined that this girl would be transferred to the Eastern Front, when the 254th infantry Division was moved to Operation Barbarossa. In this case, the Germans marked the captured vehicles with big markings, to avoid friendly fire.
Therefore, my girl will bear the markings of the 254th Infantry Division (18th Army- Wehrmacht) in Eastern front, northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941.
My choice to build the Morris Commercial with the standard cargo bed is due to the time factor: I'm going to travel next week and I want to travel with the project ready. A modification in the rear structure would require an extensive modification of the (metal) chassis of the kit. This would greatly delay in my timeline. The idea is that vehicle was captured and rescued in the beaches of Dunkirk and immediately adapted for the use of the 75mm light gun. Later, the Germans modified the Morris cargo bed in search of more space for the gunners. My kit would be the "pilot project" of this modification.
But I wish this "pilot-prototype" had seen some action in the fields ... And as the Germans did not waste anything, I imagined that this girl would be transferred to the Eastern Front, when the 254th infantry Division was moved to Operation Barbarossa. In this case, the Germans marked the captured vehicles with big markings, to avoid friendly fire.
Therefore, my girl will bear the markings of the 254th Infantry Division (18th Army- Wehrmacht) in Eastern front, northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941.
Ufff... after this introduction, we go to the characters of this project. Two very, very old ladies, queens of my closet: A Pre-cambrian Lead Sled resin and metal kit and another jurassic kit from Esci.
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| Lead Sled Morris CS8 15CWT resin and metal kit |
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| Esci 7,5 cm Light Infantry Gun |
But you must be screaming: Why use these old and primitive things, if there are already better things on the market ??
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| The amazing new Vision Models 75 mm leIG 18 light infantry gun |
Simply because I ALREADY HAVE THESE KITS and for me, modeling is FUN, not competition. Maybe some colleague get motivated and does a similar project with more modern kits. I'll try to make a silk purse with sow's ear !!
Let's have some sun: The heresy stars by the light gun; the esci kit is simply horrible, full of burrs and pin injection marks, but very simple to be built ... represents fairly well the weapon in question ...
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| Esci kit; A true representative of the Dark Ages of Modeling |
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| The little gun ready. Oh, Gods |
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| Notice the in jection pin marks... A Spiritual Travel!! |
The only positive thing about this kit is that it builds quickly ... Really, the Old Times was not so, so good. But it's even fun to get water from a rock !! And to continue with the "Spiritual Journey", let's attack the Morris !!
Instructions;
The resin parts are very, very well injected (1993), but the metal parts are a nightmare !!!
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| The snout (very good) in resin and metal (eeww) parts. Changing the shift lever ... |
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| A little upgrade in the hose of oil radiator. |
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| Resin and white metal playing togheter... Cyanoacrilate and epoxi glue... |
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| Amazing materials... OMG!!! |
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| Belly view!!! |
I redesigned the profile as a guidance:
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| The Brit girl with cargo bed in place: Notice the surgery in the front part of cargo bay: 75mm gun cradle!! |
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| The gun in place... Testing...testing... |
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| Hmmm... The spade must be removed!!! |
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| Much better!! |
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| I'm a naughty girl!! |
I thought about changing the metal wheels (which weigh a ton ...) for resin wheels that I have in my stock, but I decided to keep the originality of the model kit:
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| Metal shoes!!! |
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| The front fenders under construction |
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| The little beast!!! |
Let's build the gun's cradle:
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| Plastruct !!! Nectar of the Gods!!! |
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| The gun in position... |
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| Ok...Cradle ok... |
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| Details in the Morris front... |
Now, the best part: Markings. first of all, white primer.
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| white primer |
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| white in the gun and details... |
Panzer-gray:
As usual, I like to do a profile for the markings: Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun; Wehrmacht - 18th Army - 254th Infantry Division - Eastern front, northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941.
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| The glossy aspect is the Future, to prevent silvering... |
Weathering...
And the Anglo-German girl was ready: Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun; Wehrmacht - 18th Army - 254th Infantry Division (vehicle 4) - Eastern front, northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941.
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun Wehrmacht - 18th Army - 254th Infantry Division - Eastern front, Northern sector (Operation Barbarossa), in the fall of 1941. |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT - left side |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT - right side |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT with Kojak and Rover, the dog. |
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| The bald one is very proud!!! |
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| Panzer IV Ausf F2 with Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT for size comparisom |
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| Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun Wehrmacht - 18th Army - 254th Infantry Division - Eastern front, Northern sector (Operation Barbarossa) - fall of 1941. |
I really enjoyed turning these two old and very Spartan kits into unique and rare piece in my collection. Modeling for me is this: fun with historical research ... and all at low cost !!!
You are always welcome to my bunker.
See you on the next adventure !!!
