The "Chevy 30 CWT" as known universally is instantaneously identified to the LRDG truck, the heavy element of a pair that formed the core of the motorized Long Range Desert Patrol, with the Willys Jeep. But its origins are not that well known. This standardized light truck was indeed only produced in Canada under licence, as part of the larger CMP family ("Canadian pattern").
During World War 2, Canadian factories built large numbers of standardised trucks, to be used by Commonwealth armies. That is they are less well known in the general public compared to US trucks. These "Canadian Made" trucks were divided into two main types:
The CMP vehicles (Canadian Military Pattern) tailored for military use
The MCP vehicles (Modified Conventional Pattern), civilian vehicles adopted for military use.
It's among the latter that was found the Chevrolet 1533x2 1.5-ton 4x2 truck, most famously used by the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) of the British Army.
The famous "Long Range Desert Group" is such a legendary unit of WW2. It is largely seen as a forefunner of the SAS (British Special Air Service) one of the first "speco-ops" or special operation unit. Alongside the Commandos, these men formed a "special breed" and were largely seen as an elite force, precious assets to be sent in dangerous and vital operations. In the case of the LRDG, it was called at first the "Long Range Patrol" (LRP), founded in Egypt in June 1940 by Major Ralph Alger Bagnold under the direction of General Archibald Wavell.
[ITEMPRICE]