Hi all, Quick question I hope. I was wondering, for less purpose-built portees, how was the gun attached to the bed of the truck? In this picture of a 6-pounder portee it looks like there are some things lashed on to the back of the truck, but.... is that actually how the gun is being held on the truck, or are those just bedrolls? Were the guns welded on in Cairo workshops?
I think there's a dip in the channels for the wheels plus sockets for the trail spades. The bedrolls are in the channels/ramps used to get the gun off - it wasn't welded on, it was supposed to be dismounted. Portees were a solution to the fragility of anti-tank guns when towed across rough country, especially the 2-pr.
I had a feeling that the trail was chained at the back, possibly as well as the postulated cut-out gun ramps, but can't find a pic to confirm that. MLU thread with these images, which might bear closer inspection 2nd one looks like just chocks, maybe with welded/pinned trail?: 6 pounder portee - MLU FORUM