The Morris Commercial C8 Field Artillery Tractor (FAT), commonly known as the Morris Quad, was an artillery tractor used by the Field Artillery Regiments in Britain and the Commonwealth. The development of the Morris C8 FAT started in 1937, due to a need to replace the Vickers Light Dragon and Morris CDSW; the artillery tractors used at that time. Production of the Morris C8 FAT started in 1939; by 1945, when the production of the Morris C8 FAT ended, some 10,000 vehicles had been produced.
The Plastic Soldier Company produces a 1/72 scale British 25pdr & Morris Quad Tractor set, which allows you to build two Morris Quads, two artillery limbers and two 25-pound guns. This set provides several options for customizing the models and includes two distinct sets of vehicle drivers and artillery crew in North African (desert) and European Theatre uniforms. As well, options are available to build the following four types of 25-pound guns.
17/25-Pounder ‘Pheasant’ Anti-Tank Gun
18/25-Pounder with Mark I/II Carriage
25-Pounder with Mark I/II Carriage
25-Pounder Muzzled with Mark IV Carriage
I painted the Morris Quad Tractors with the colours/markings of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (4th Canadian Armoured Division). I built one of the 25-pounders as a Muzzled Gun with the Mark IV Carriage and the other as a ‘Pheasant’ Anti-Tank Gun.
The Ordnance Quick Fire (QF) 25-pounder entered service in 1940, becoming the main field gun and howitzer for Britain and the Commonwealth (Canada) during the Second World War. By the end of the war, over 12,000 Ordnance QF 25-pounders had been manufactured. This gun stayed in service decades after the war, retiring from the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1967.
The Ordnance Quick Fire 17/25-pounder ‘Pheasant’ Anti-Tank Gun was created as a stop gap measure designed out of the need to bring more powerful anti-tank guns to the battlefield. When the 17-pounder gun was first mass produced, the carriage for the gun was still in the development. In order to bring this much needed gun to the battlefield, the carriage for the 25-pounder field gun was modified to support the 17-pounder anti-tank gun barrel; thus, the Ordnance QF 17/25-pounder ‘Pheasant’ Anti-Tank Gun was born.
Citizen Soldiers: A 1/72 scale World War 2 Model Site is devoted to the hobby of painting and collecting World War 2 models/miniatures. It is my hope, through creating this website, to honour the men and women who served in the Second World War, whose sacrifices and courage have given us the freedom and quality of life we have today.
I think the instructions are wrong - The straight sided carriage is the 18 pounder Mk IV carriage, also used on the 18/25 pounder. The turntable for that was carried atop the limber. The 'bent' carriage was the standard Mk 1 carriage for the 25 pounder (also used for the Pheasant), developed by Vickers for a 4.1 inch howitzer it allowed the turntable to be carried attached to the underside of the carriage. The short axle was developed in the Far East, using a jeep axle and wheels to allow the gun to fit inside aircraft, that was adopted into the design and became the Mk II carriage and it may also have been used elsewhere. Still a useful kit though!
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