GPA 3972

[Jan Roelse]

Hist.: Ex. Canadian Army GPA. W-398-QM-12937 D.o.d. 15 Dec. 1942. Can. reg.: unknown.
This early GPA is used after the war as a snow plough.(USA nr. between 705956 and 705939)
Front and rear partly cutted off. (see Bart Vanderveens Wheels & Tracks 11, page 43).
Postwar hist.: Can. Army, Elliott Bros. Oshawa Ontario, Canada, bought after isue W&T 11, by mil.veh. collector in Holland.
After several years bought by me for parts.
The frame is again in original shape. Most body spare parts are now (nose-less hull with doors) in hands of GPA-owner Nils Broch in Norway.
A good "Russian Army" GPA body, bought in Belgium is now waiting for compl. rest. to make the frame and other parts of my 2nd GPA floating again.
According the serial list of Mithril, the "Russian" hull belongs to frame GPA # 6307.
Jan

[Jan Roelse]

The Canadians had 3 GPA's overseas (Report NO. 141 of CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS, SITUATION OF THE CANADIAN MILITAIRY FORCES OVERSEAS stated:

"The Amphibian Jeep (5-cwt Ford) was first considered by the Canadian Army in May 1943, but this like other amphibian vehicles was to be supplied by 21 Army Group (C.M.H.Q. file 1/Veh Aph Amph/1: Extracts from Agenda for third meeting Cdn M.T. User Commitee, 4 May 43; S.D.3, C.M.H.Q. to Trg 3, C.M.H.Q., 5 Oct 43). The first four were received in October 1944 (Historical file: Cdn Units 21 Army Group, "A" and "B" Vehicle Position States)."

Canadian records indicate they received their first GPA in May, 1943 at Hogs Back, Mooneys Bay, Ottawa. A further 20 GPA's were delivered in early 1944, whilst Canada had requested 25 GPA's in June, 1943. Delay had been bought about by very limited supply from the US. All 21 GPA's were attached to Pacific Command in British Columbia by May, 1944. It is most likely the 3 GPA's in use overseas were additional to the 21 GPA's and probably sourced from GB
(Maybe 2 of them in the att. prints).J.R.

According "Jeep Jeep Jeep" the GPA's went during WW 2 to:
Br. Emp. 852, Canada 22, China 40, France 24, Russia 3.520, S.America (Brazil?) 22, 6 Others and FEA Countries. This means - in a total of 12.788 - 8.332 for the USA.
Other sourches:
Gr.Br. 284 (acc. contract nrs), Canada 24/5 (? see above!), Australia 161, S. Africa 8 ,West Indies/New Zealand/others in Br.Impire ??? and the Netherlands 6

Contract S(upply)M(echanical) 2820
P 5219691 to P 5219873 incl. (183)
P 5219881 to P 5219981 incl. (101)
P 5219877 to P 5219880 incl. (4) Willys- 2wh (amphibious) trailers.
One photo exists wit an earlier number: M 5186568 (one or more?).


[img]http:s272.photbucket.com/albums/jj173/G-504/?action=view&current=CanGPAs.jpg&t=1206356021777[/img]

[Jan Roelse]

(Page 43, Wheels & Tracks No.11)
We discovered a real treasure cove in Ontario, Canada, when with Bill Gregg we visited the huge Elliot Brothers yard, partly comprising an overgrown swamp, at Newtonville, some 15 miles east of Osawa (where much of their stock originated from!).
One of the biggest surprises was a Ford GPA, converted to a snowplough - correction - plow.
The bow piece has been removed, as one of the photos shows, but the rear was still intact, albeit rather un-amphibious. Going by the licence plate (M 93-036 ? J.R.), it was last operational in 1977. The dash instruments has been replaced, in a very crude way, by a civvy type cluster, and an additional parking brake lever was installed to lift the blade. Alongside was a 1926 Buick, one of scores of such derelict in the Elliot yard.