Morris C4 (1942)
600 Kgs 4x4 lorry, c2,000 produced 1942-44
Development
In the 1935-37 Morris developed a family of rear drive lorries, called the "Morris Commercial CS8" and the "PU" with respective cargo capacity of 750 and 400 kg. They were tailored for the needs of the British Royal army and by the start of World War II were the most common light lorries in service. Many were lost at Dunkirk and elsewhere in May-June 1940 as part of the expeditionary corps. In 1942, the CS8 and PU were seen as obsolescent however and replaced by the Morris Commercial C4. On the whole, the latter replicated the design of the CS8 with a same chassis and rear back axle drivas well as a modified body from the CS8. Its main distinction was its single piece windscreen (still framed in two parts) instead of the smaller small foldable aviation-style windscreen of the CS8 besides the fully-featured doors, instead of previously just canvas. This C4 was produced till the end of 1944.
Design
In 1942, Morris worked for a 4 cylinders variant called the C4 4X2 of its beloved CS8. It had a 4-cyl 25 HP side valve engine manufactured until 1944, a brand new engineering league compared to the early 1930s power unit of the CS8. The C5 also was given a revised cab, still open but with metal skin doors, the full windscreen decribed above, still folding forward in case, but integrated wipers, and a spare wheel relocated from the blow the chassis rear to behind the cab. More importantly, the wheelbase grew to 9 feet (2.7 m). This was done to rectify handling issues of the CS8, when fitted with larger bodies. So the body was the same (same flatbed area and load) but it looked smaller. It was only due to a chassis now based on the Quad FAT gun tractor but in 4x2 rather than 4x4.
The C4 was introduced as a successor to the CS8 in 1942, produced until 1944 and apart for the details decribed above, was essentially the same truck as the CS8, but for its new 4-cylinder engine, full windscreen, relocated spare wheel between cab and flatbed. metal doors like the late Mark of thee CS8. The C4 Mk II indeed only arrived in November 1943, with the only difference that its real axle was moved rearwards to further increase the wheel base. This was done to be able to mount the various "standard" War Office bodies and to obtain better weight distribution. Other dimensions were unchanged.
Besides the C4 GS version with a versatile rear cab body and No. 9 wireless radio set there was also a cable laying versions. The C4 never really went the frontline as commonly as the CS8, but instead was used by other btanches of the British Military, the RAF and RN, but still depended on the same procurement and logistic train as the CS8 as they shared the same parts essentially. The CS8 and C4s were eventually replaced in turn by the 4-cylinder C8 Quad, starting production in November 1944.
Chassis and general Outlook
The C4 shared many traits with the CS8. It was still a small and compact vehicle at 4.39 m (173 inches) long overall for a width of 2.03 m (80 inches) and an height of 1.98 m (78 inches) and weight of 2.821 kg (6.270 lb.) net. The general outook of the vehicle was the same, with an identical bonnet and bumper and interchangeable parts but some changes in the chassis to support the new 4-cylinder EH engine and the wheelbase increased to 9 feet (2.7 m). This was still a spartan design, with minimalistic creatures of comfort, just two gauges for speed and rpm, a few indicators, a backup manual starter outside its electrical ignition, wipers and a single rear mirror on the driver's side, two road light with blackout options and tailgate lights.
The cab was still open top, with a frame resting on the forward folwing windshield that can be removed entirely and a rear fat bed with steel frames but wooden panels, folding back plate, three arches to mount a tarpaulin. In winter when the cab tarpauling was mounted, canvas plastic windows could be added to fully enclose the cab. Behind it was located the spare wheel, with some space on the right to install a jerrycan. Like the CS8 Mark III there was a large storage box below the side doors. Nor armour nor armament, and unlike the CS8 which windshield could be foldded down to lay a Bren MG or Boys AT rifle manned by the co-driver, there was not such option on the C4. Its rear flatbed could accomodate six infantrymen with their gear. Towing capacity was enough for light ordnances such as the ubiquitous 2-pdr AT gun.
Mobility
The C4 engine was a Morris 4-cylinder type EH, with a capacity of 3.519 cm3 (214 cubic inches) displacement, liquid cooled. It developed a rating of 70 hp at 3.000 rpm and was coupled with a transmission of 4-speed gearbox. It had no transfer case and details of its electrical system are not known, albeit it shared many parts with the CS8, notably probably had the same battery. It had modern brakes that used Hydraulic power and had essentially the same tyres as before, the serrated, large 9.00 - 16 models resting on leaf springs rear and front. This was also a 4x4 drive.
Morris C4 specs |
| Lenght | 4,390 mm |
| Width | 2,030 mm |
| Height | 1,980 mm |
| Curb weight | 2,821 |
| Crew | 1+7 (co-driver +6 infantry) |
| Propulsion | 4-cyl. Morris EH 3.5L 70 hp |
| Suspension | Leaf Springs |
| Speed (road) | 80 kph road, light, 50 kph off-road, 40 kph loaded |
| Range | Unknown, c600 km |
| Armament | None |
| Production | Unknown, c2000 1942-44 |
The Morris C4 in action
As said above, the C4 took on the same roles as the CS8, as a supply lorry, infantry carrier and light artillery towing vehicle, in particular 2-pdr antitank gun teams. It was appreciated for its intact 4x4 caracteristics with excellent speed and beter handling compared to the CS8 while sharing the same maintenance train which simplified logistics. Most parts of the CS8, PU8 and CS4 were indeed identical. The C4 first saw action in dthe desert of North Africa, seeing all the lates battles of the campaign, the first and second battle of El Alamein and push to Tunisia.
They saw action in Sicily and Italy, not only used by the Armt but with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy across the world as well. Production stopped in 1944 as lend-lease trucks flooded the needs of the British armed branches, but the vhehicle soldiered on, donated postwar to various allied countries for some extra years in the 1950s. However the base design went back to 1935 and it had reach its general usefulness. The last ended in the civilian market in the early 1960s. There are still a few C4 in provate collections and museum today, albeit the model is less known than the CS8.