MILIFAX
Canadian Army Vehicle Markings 1939-1945
 Bridging Markings Photopage
soldier mechanics at work on trucks



 The exception proves the rule.  Here are pair of identical Modified Conventional Ford 01T 3-tonners.  One has a bridge classification of '6' and the other '7'.  It must had driven the Provosts mad !
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
C60L (bridge Class 9) stuck in the mud


(left)A firmly bogged C60L 3-ton GS shows the typical placement of the bridging marking on Cab 13 CMP trucks.

(right) A Canadian-contract Willys MB Jeep (or Car, 5-cwt, 4x4) displays the typical placement of the bridging marking.
 Canadian-contract Willys MB Jeep in an Italian town 1943  
                                                                                                                
 
GM workers attend to CMP Cab 13
(Left) Note the 'sprayed-on'
background for the bridging marking.  It has been moved to between the headlight and the grille.  Oshawa 1942

(Right) Some people can cross any damn bridge they feel like.  General B.L. Montgomery, OC 21 Army Group Crosses the Seine River on Bailey Pontoon bridge.
 Gen B.L. Montgomery crossing Seine river, August 1944

Diamond T 40-ton transporter tractor
Diamond T 980 40 ton transporter tractor of 1st Recovery Company RCEME.  Notice the bridging plate displays a '70' only.  No references to unladen trailers as set out in the official documents.  An ex-RCASC soldier told me that Diamond T transporters NEVER travelled empty.  They were too few in number to let them go anywhere without a full load of tanks or ammunition.  Therefore, the bridge class was ALWAYS '70'
Ford Gun Tractor on assembly line 1940
Ford Gun Tractor stuck in mud
Chevrolet Gun Tractor, front view



Yet more variations on a theme:
(above left) The Ford FAT-2 on the production line in Windsor in 1940  bears a divided bridging marking, showing Class 6 for the tractor alone, yet with the class for tractor and gun is blank.
(above center) More mud, Italian this time.  A Ford FAT-4 of 1 RCHA bears a bridge marking of '5',  with no reference to a combined class for tractor and gun.
((above right) A factory shot of a Chev FAT-4.  The bridging mark of '9' may represent the weight of tractor and gun.

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