THE Willis Jeep thread (lots gun content)

Claven2

Claven2

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OK, a few questions:

1) Which firearm would be most correct to be mounted to a WW2 era Willis as used in Canadian service? I'm thinking it's the Bren or possibly a 1919A4, but not sure. Anyone know? What mount was used and how was it fastened to the jeep's bed?

2) If a fellow wanted to acquire such a Jeep upon which to mount the appropriate dewat, where would be a good place to start looking?

3) Would a MG equipped Jeep also have the metal saddle for the No.4 rifle or the spring-steel Sten mount? Both?

DISCLAIMER: This is not a Jeep WTB ad. I am NOT trying to buy a jeep. I might want one in a year or two and want to know how these things are typically acquired by the lucky guys who own them.
 
the mount is built into the frame it is a round piece that the base of the mg 'stand" bolts on it was ONLY on the ww2 frames my 1946 willts does NOT have the mg mount

a few jeeps ive had had the remains of scabbards on the doorframes i was told they were for tommy guns?


many also had a metal rack on the windsheld frame for a m1 garand or carbine

jeeps had just about ever weapon mounted on them from mg's to rockets
 
I have not seen any reference to Jeeps in Cdn WW2 service mounting any type of MG. There may have been local installations, but the Jeep in Cdn service seems to have been used more for what it was; a light form of transport for men and equipment.
I think trying to turn the Jeep into a fighting vehicle was a 70s Liberal government era thing. (M1919/C1 on a swing arm mount, and 15 coats of paint for armour).
For a better answer to this question, you might want to go to the mapleleafup.org website, and pose the question there.
 
I've not personally seen photos of Canadian Jeeps with MG's, but I have seen photos of Brit service Willis Jeeps with what looks to be 1919A4's on them in North Africa. I assume they were lend-lease?

I don't think the Thompson was ever Canadian issue officially in WW2 except with the Red Devils (who used US equipment) and units attached to American supply chains.

Does the No.4 fit the windsheild mount for the M1 garand?
 
Sorry I do not have any info on jeep MG mounts, but Thompson were issued to Canadian troops. A friend's uncle had one in Italy as standard issue and had to turn it in for a Sten he was not a happy camper! Thompson and M3's were issued to Canadian tankers as part of their equipement on Shermans also. I could list many other examples, but you get the idea.
 
JP said:
Sorry I do not have any info on jeep MG mounts, but Thompson were issued to Canadian troops. A friend's uncle had one in Italy as standard issue and had to turn it in for a Sten he was not a happy camper! Thompson and M3's were issued to Canadian tankers as part of their equipement on Shermans also. I could list many other examples, but you get the idea.
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Everything I've read is that this was only the case for units being supplied by American logistics support. Such units would also have been issued M1 garands, not No.4 rifles.

Either way, a representative jeep in Cnaadian service probably would not have USUALLY have had an M1A1 Thompson scabbard mounted on it, would it? I'd have thought the spring-steel Sten clamp like the one used on the motorcycle would be more likely... no?
 
Thompsons were pretty much standard issue in British and Empire forces up to 42/43, than Stens start to be seen in larger numbers by D-Day they were the norm. So if you are doing North Africa/Asian/Italian Theater Thompson is the Norm, but by D-Day/Northern Europe Sten is the Norm.
 
JP said:
Thompsons were pretty much standard issue in British and Empire forces up to 42/43, than Stens start to be seen in larger numbers by D-Day they were the norm. So if you are doing North Africa/Asian/Italian Theater Thompson is the Norm, but by D-Day/Northern Europe Sten is the Norm.
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Thompsons I've seen in Brit Commonwealth Forces were mostly of 1928 models, not the M1A1 commonly found in US forces.

JP, just to clarify, I was referring to Claven2's post, not yours.
 
Yes that is correct, but no mention was made of M1A1 only that Thompson were not issued to Regular Canadians.
 
The Desert Rats under Alexander and Monty used 50cals on their Jeeps during interdiction missions behind Jerry lines. I think if you wanted to do-up a genuine WWII Canadian Jeep...do it in yer backyard and mount whatever the frig you want. From what I've read and seen and heard from Vets...Canucks did everything imaginable to procure equipment and improve/modify it to the task at hand. In other words anything goes.
 
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