View source for CMP FAT

{{Short description|Canadian artillery tractor}}
{{Infobox weapon
|          name=CMP ''Quad''
| image= Bridgehead Bussum Chevrolet artillerietrekker.jpg
| image_size = 300
|      caption= Seen at Bridgehead, Bussum (Netherlands)
|origin= Canada
|type=[[Artillery tractor]]
|is_vehicle=yes
|is_UK=
|       length=14 feet 1 inch
|        width=7 feet 6 inches
|       height=8 feet
|       weight=10,880 pounds (empty) 13,200 pounds (gross)
|   suspension=Wheel, 4 x 4
|   speed=
|        vehicle_range=
|    payload_capacity=
|       armour=none
|       engine=Chevrolet, 6-cyl 216 cubic inch [[petrol]]
|           engine_power={{convert|85|bhp|kW|abbr=on}}
|         crew=1 + 5 passengers
}}

The '''CMP FAT''' (Field Artillery Tractor), was a [[Canadian Military Pattern truck|Canadian Military Pattern]] vehicle manufactured by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[Chevrolet]]. The FAT was an [[artillery tractor]] of the British and Commonwealth forces during [[World War II]]. Several models were produced by the two manufactures as '''CGT''' (Chevrolet Gun Tractor) and '''FGT''' (Ford Gun Tractor).

[[File:The British Army in North Africa 1943 E22289.jpg|thumb|The early 'Quad' bodywork, parading in Tripoli in February 1943]]
CMP stood for [[Canadian Military Pattern truck|Canadian Military Pattern]] and was applied to a number of trucks, artillery tractors and utility vehicles built in Canada that combined British design requirements with North American automotive engineering.<ref>Bart Vanderveen (1989) 'Historic Military Vehicles Directory'. P. 40</ref>

As with other FATs, the CMP was usually used to tow either the [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|25-pounder]] [[gun-howitzer]] or the [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder|17-pounder]] [[anti-tank]] gun. A power winch was located above the rear axle for maneuvering the gun or unbogging the vehicle.

==History==
{{expand section|date=September 2014}}

Specification was based on the successful British [[Morris C8]] FAT developed before the war, even incorporating right-hand-drive steering. The first models were produced in 1940/41 and the body went through a number of design changes throughout the war. Being based on the British vehicle, CMPs were used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces replacing lost stocks after the [[Dunkirk evacuation]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Post-war examples were supplied to [[Denmark]] who provided their own bodywork.<ref>Bart Vanderveen (1989) 'Historic Military Vehicles Directory'. P. 52</ref>

==Variants==
Main vehicles were produced as :
*Chevrolet 8440/CGT Tractor, 4x4, Field Artillery
*Ford C291Q FGT Tractor, 4x4, Field Artillery

These could be fitted with different bodies:
*7A1 beetle-back body with two doors and solid roof
*7A2 beetle back body with two doors and open ([[canvas]] covered) centre roof section
*7B1 beetle-back body with four doors and open (canvas covered) centre roof section
*7B2 beetle-back body with four doors and open (canvas covered) centre roof section. Tyre carrier on rear sloped roof.
*7B3 Open body canvas roof with four doors Tyre carrier on rear upper cargo body.

FATs made locally in [[Australia]] had different bodies.

FATs supplied to [[India]] were shipped as bare chassis. Bodies were locally made upon delivery. Some vehicles had armoured bodies locally made, while the majority were of wooden construction.

== See also ==
*[[Canadian Military Pattern truck]]s
*[[Morris C8]], a similar British vehicle by Morris. This had very similar bodywork to the early CMP FAT, but can be identified by a five-sided windscreen glass, with the upper corner cut away, compared to the four-sided CMP screen.
*[[List of military equipment of the Canadian Army during the Second World War]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chevrolet CGT Field Artillery Tractor}}
*[http://www.armyvehicles.dk/chevy8440.htm CMP FAT at armyvehicles.dk]

{{WWIIBritishSoftVeh}}

[[Category:Military trucks of Canada]]
[[Category:Artillery tractors]]
[[Category:Off-road vehicles]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944]]
[[Category:Soft-skinned vehicles]]
[[Category:World War II military equipment of Canada]]