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The publication of any images or informations related to nazism, fascism or any other totalitarian regimes must be understood as the reproduction of historical accuracy and not as apology to these regimes, leaders or symbols.
ATENÇÃO:
A publicação de qualquer imagem ou informação referentes ao nazismo, fascismo ou quaisquer outros regimes totalitários deve ser entendida como reprodução do rigor histórico e não como apologia a estes regimes, líderes ou símbolos.

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT mit 7,5 cm light infantry gun - case report.

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.


Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT
restaured
History (lorry):
      The Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT was first developed in 1934. Great Britain’s War Department had the need for a general purpose vehicle.
Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT
      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.
Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
France, before Dunkirk.

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
Palestinian Desert - 1940
Notice the Caunter cammo

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
troop transport

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
Notice the brits with gas masks in desert...
      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).
Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (late)
restored
      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.
Morris 6 cyl 25 HP side valve - petrol 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.
Morris Commercial CS8 petrol tanker (early)


Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid)
in German hands - wireless car
Norway, 1941
    There was even a production of 100 armored cars Morris CS9 based on the lengthened chassis of the CS8.
Morris CS9 armoured car
      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. 

      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.
Dunkirk. In foreground, a Morris CS8 partialy destroyed

A rare pic of rare Morris; petrol tanker

The Dunkirk booty;
Line of Morris Commercial ready for the German use
     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.
Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid)
in German hands - Anti-aircraft gunners truck trainer

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
in German hands - caravan tractor

Morris Commercial MCC PU 8 Cwt (late)
in German hands  - Russian front

Morris Commercial MCC PU 8 Cwt (late)
in German hands  - Russian front

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
in German hands  - French occupation

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (mid)
in German hands  - Russian front

Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT (early)
in German hands  -  with Fallschirmjägers
Crete, 1941
      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).
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.
Morris Commercial Wrecker
Specs (lorry):


Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT 4x2
TypeGeneral purpose vehicle
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
ManufacturerMorris 
No. built21.319 (many versions)
Specifications
Weight3,050 kg
Length4,22 m
Width1,98 m
Height
Wheelbase
2.26 m
2,49 m
Crew2

Armournone
EngineMorris
6 cyl 25 HP side valve
petrol engine
Suspensionsemi-eliptical
Cargo load
762 Kg
Speed80 km/h

History (gun):
      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.
7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 (7,5 cm le.IG 18)
complete crew
      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. 
The 7,5 cm le.IG 18 was heavy...
The five gunners doing workout...

7.5cm Leightes Infanteriegeshutz 18
early version - spoked wheels

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.
7,5 cm le.GebIG 18
      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.
7,5 cm le.IG 18 - airbone variation
      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.


7,5 cm le.IG 18 - Normandy, 1943.
      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.
7,5 cm le.IG 18 with horses...
7,5 cm le.IG 18 with 3 ton truck (Ford?) Panzerwerfer..
Hmmm... a nice future project!!

The 7,5 cm le.IG 18 in action
The short barrel explain the shot flash...

7,5 cm le.IG 18 in use at Normandy, 1944.
Specs (gun):


7,5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18 - 7,5 cm le.IG 18
TypeInfantry gun
Place of originNazi Germany
Service history
In service1932–45
Used byNazi Germany
WarsSecond World War
Production history
DesignerRheinmetall
Designed1927
ManufacturerRheinmetall
Produced1932–45
No. built~ 12.000
Specifications
Weight400 kilograms 
Barrel length88 cm (3 ft) L/11.2
Crew5

Shellcased cartridge
Shell weight6 kilograms 
Caliber75 millimetres 
BreechShotgun-type block
Carriagesplit trail
Elevation-10° to 73°
Traverse12°
Rate of fire8-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity210 m/s 
Maximum firing range3,550 m 

The project:
      The pictures I found on the internet were these:
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

Another pic...another vehicle
Notice the Badge with the horse
facing rear
      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...
A "German" 15 CWT used as ATSPG, with Pak 36 .
      Another example, this time, allied: Morris Commercial 15CWT with french 25mmAT gun
Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT with 25mm AT gun
Standard cargo bed and baloon tyres for sand
      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:
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).
 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).
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.

      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.
Lead Sled Morris CS8 15CWT resin and metal kit

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 ??

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 ...
Esci kit; A true representative of the Dark Ages of Modeling

The little gun ready. Oh, Gods

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 !!!
The snout (very good) in resin and
metal (eeww) parts.
Changing the shift lever ...

A little upgrade in the hose
of oil radiator.

Resin and white metal playing togheter...
Cyanoacrilate and epoxi glue...

Amazing materials... OMG!!!

Belly view!!!
       I redesigned the profile as a guidance:

The Brit girl with cargo bed in place:
Notice the surgery in the front part of cargo bay:
75mm gun cradle!!


The gun in place...
Testing...testing...

Hmmm... The spade must be removed!!!

Much better!!

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:
Metal shoes!!!

The front fenders under construction

The little beast!!!
      Let's build the gun's cradle:
Plastruct !!!  Nectar of the Gods!!!


The gun in position...

Ok...Cradle ok...

Details in the Morris front...
      Now, the best part: Markings. first of all, white primer. 
white primer

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.
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.
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.



Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT - left side






Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT - right side


Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT with Kojak
and Rover, the dog.

The bald one is very proud!!!

Panzer IV Ausf F2  with Morris Commercial CS8 15 CWT
for size comparisom


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 !!!

17 comentários:

  1. Perfeito! Morris na minha opinião tem um perfil marcante! :)

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    Respostas
    1. O estilo retrô dos carros ingleses é tipico neste modelo... Um abração, Gercino!!!

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  2. Great, Marcos.
    You're a real idea joiner, always finds new, and a complete report too...

    ResponderExcluir
    Respostas
    1. Hi, my dear finn friend!!! Thanks for your incentive. Take care and hugs!!!

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  3. Great job as always! What references did you use for the gun's cradle? Thank you.
    Cesare
    http://cecetotoy.blogspot.it

    ResponderExcluir
    Respostas
    1. Hi... For gun cradle, I used "reverse engineering". No references...used materials that could be found in a battlefield: rails and reinforcing structures. My best guess... Hugs!!

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  4. Hi, Cliff..Thanks for your care and support...Thank you very much for your words. They are very important, even more so in the impersonal days of today. I always see modeling as a way to create and cement new friendships. And the articles in the Bunker are just right for that. I am very pleased to think that I may be helping new and old (but not as old as we are ... I am 58 ...) modelers.
    I am a modeler of the old ones, who has many kits in stock ... and some kits are almost as old as me. I even regret thinking about changing the old ones to the new ones ... so let's bring to light the old ladies who have been sleeping in the boxes for so long.
    Kojak sends a hello and Rover (the dog) waves his tail for you, friendly ... And I send you a big hug ... I live in Brazil, but now I'm on vacation in Spain, where my children study. Olé, my friend!

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  5. Great conversion - very nice work.

    ResponderExcluir
  6. Normal heraldry would imply the the horse would be facing forward on the sides not to the rear

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    Respostas
    1. Fire at Will, thanks for the visit and contribuition... As you may have seen in the text of the report, the prancing pony comes in both forms, but when researching the 254. Infanterie-Division, the Springendes Pferd (Jumping Horse) - (18th Army- Wehrmacht), it was found that the horse it really looks backwards. Bunker's goal is to be as accurate as possible historically. And speaking of Heraldica, we must not forget the most famous brand that uses a prancing pony as a symbol: Ferrari ... and in Ferrari, the horse is looking back !! In these cases, tradition is worth it, not heraldry ...
      Hugs and all the best!!

      Excluir
  7. Nice work on the Morris. Especially as these conversions were not well know or documented. Word of caution on your photo sets showing the eastern front. Two of the vehicles are MCC PU 8 Cwt. ( These always have full windscreen and half metal doors.) Check the tyres out, large balloon 9.00x13. Same front end and 6 Cyl engine.

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    Respostas
    1. Thanks for the incentive and the tip, my friend!! All the best !!!

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