Morris CS9-based Command Vehicle

[Guest]

The David Fletcher article, from which the photograph comes says:
'We know nothing of the interior arrangements, but from surviving photographs it seems that the top of the centre section ws open to the sky, and only covered by a canvas sheet.'
Photographs, plural.

If there are apparently more photographs, have you tried contacting the Tank Museum’s archives? Because if this is from David Fletcher, then I suppose that’s where he likely would have seen them.

And I count about four places where there might be a frame or bar under the tarp.

The odd thing is that the canvas seems to be tied down quite far down on the rear end. It looks like there is a solid side up to the top of the vehicle, but the canvas covers it at the rear of the right-hand side of the hull. But if it’s an issued tarp, then it probably wouldn’t be tied to the vehicle that far down. It looks more and more like an improvised thing to me.

And, if Fletcher is right, and he usually is, why would there be only be a partial solid roof?

There are all kinds of reasons why it might have that. Maybe the radios are under the solid part of the roof, to keep them out of the rain? It’s got two aerials, so probably two radio sets as well, and this being a 1930s vehicle, those would have been quite bulky and prone to being damaged.

The CS11, the one next to the Vickers medium has a windscreen or 'sun-roof hatch in a solid roof.

That one is just as odd: a roof hatch with a window … were they trying to make it more sporty? I also like the padded doors, must have been designed by someone used to luxury offices.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Thanks again Jakko
Time, I agree, to contact Bovington again. I was in touch with David Fletcher a few years back, in a short e-mail correspondence about some 'internet worthy' ideas in a Matilda book - he and the museum were very helpful then - wonder if their archives are open?

Y'know, that tarp cover now reminds me of the piece in the Airfix M3 half-track - that followed the line of the edge of the sides...
Also, the idea of the radios being undercover, perhaps with a gap between them Kind of fits - no more daft than many contemporary designs - no-one was considering the visibility of tall vehicles either

The padded doors on the CS11 'recce/office' may be leather, may be sound-proofing, or may be asbestos(!). I'd have gone for oak myself...
And as to odd little flip-up windscreens, none of Steve's pictures of the CS9 a/c show it, but there was a screen fitted to the front of the turret above the guns. Much as I like the CS9, I'm not sure the top speed cross-country warranted the screen.

[Guest]

wonder if their archives are open?

I suspect not. It wasn’t Bovington, but some weeks ago I was looking into getting a copy of the war diaries of 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry from the UK National Archives, only to end up on a web page that said that due to COVID-19, there was nobody there to handle requests for documents. (In the end, I got a copy via someone who had gotten one years ago, which helped me tremendously.)

Y'know, that tarp cover now reminds me of the piece in the Airfix M3 half-track - that followed the line of the edge of the sides...

Except on this CS11 it doesn’t look there are many supports underneath it. I wish we could tell from the photo how it was tied down, but the more I look at it, the more I get the impression it’s an improvised thing that’s just tied down at its corners.

And as to odd little flip-up windscreens, none of Steve's pictures of the CS9 a/c show it, but there was a screen fitted to the front of the turret above the guns. Much as I like the CS9, I'm not sure the top speed cross-country warranted the screen.

I suspect that when moving at top speed on a road, you’d like that screen if there are insects flying about

[Steve-the-Duck]

Just had a reply from Bovington with an enquiry form - Their archives re-open some time in August
So, that's a start
Hopefully, I may at least get a better resolution picture of the one I do have.
Hmm... If the tarp is tied inside, by whatever means, does that imply the bottom of the tarp IS aligned with the top of tye hull?

[Gary MacKenzie]

Chris, i have found looking thru MAFVA archives that an article with

Morris CS-9 15 cwt 4x2 ACV

Churc

was in 22.5 edition. which includes a plan by John Church.
I need to look thru my back editions and see if i have that one.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Gary you may have solved all my problems. I hope.
Let's hope it also answers some of the rapidly-proliferating questions.