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Posted on 04/04/2005 9:29:46 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 Entering the war without a tank industry, 16 Vickers Mk VI, 12 Carden-Loyd carriers, little hope of future help from England, and 219 WW1 era junked U.S. tanks, Canada started her own tank production. The British Tank Mission, in collaboration with the Canadian General Staff, designed a modified U.S. M3 which would become the Ram. The Ram used standard M3 mechanical components, with a Canadian designed hull and cast turret. The first 50 would mount the 40mm 2 pounder cannon and were designated Mark 1. The remainder were called Mark 2 and had the 57mm 6 pounder cannon. Several AA conversions were proposed for RAM tanks. Many of these conversions were found wanting. The famous AA adaption called Skink, often thought to be a RAM conversion was actually a Grizzly. The Canadian Ram Cruiser Tank was a unique Canadian evolution of the American M3 Medium (Grant/Lee). It had been acknowledged as early as August 1940 that the British would be unable to meet our requirements for cruiser tanks, and Montreal Locomotive Works (a subsidiary of American Locomotive Co., which was already building tanks) was designated as the Canadian Tank Arsenal. It was judged that the excessive height and inferior armament configuration of the M3 series could be improved upon locally, and a new tank was designed around the excellent M3 engine and drivetrain.  Ram I Unfortunately, during the process of design, the British specification for cruiser tanks mounting a 2 pdr gun was adhered to, and the 60-inch turret ring of the Grant was retained, thus restricting the Ram from ever being upgunned beyond 6 pdr. [then] Colonel Worthington himself had argued for the minimum of a 75mm main gun, but was overrulled by the Interdepartmental Tank Committee under the influence of the British Tank Mission. While this was happening, however, British experience on the battlefield was already dictating the necessity for a heavier main gun, and the early 2 pdr Ram did at least get a turret with a readily detachable frontpiece, which could be removed with gun in place and replaced by a 6pdr assembly.  Ram II The prototype Ram rolled off the assembly line in June 1941, and general production of the Ram I began that November. Within three months the line had been changed to Ram II production, which continued until July 1943, at which point the decision had been taken to re-equip British and Canadian units with the abundant and better-armed U.S. Sherman. A total of 1948 Rams of all marques were produced, the last 84 of which were the O.P. variant carrying a dummy gun and two No. 19 Wireless sets for use by the FOOs (Forward Observation Officers) of the Sexton-mounted artillery regiments then being formed.  A Ram OP tank somewhere in Normandy, summer 1944. Note the profusion of camouflage nets and other gear strung all over the vehicle. 84 of these were manufactured at the very end of Ram production. It was a Ram II which had a dummy gun in place on the exterior, and two No. 19 Wireless sets inside. These tanks accompanied the Sexton S.P. gun regiments as mobile observation posts for their FOOs, who up until this time had a fairly high attrition rate when travelling on foot or by carrier with the infantry. In its cruiser configuration, and limited by its small turret ring and 6 pdr gun, the Ram never saw combat, but was used instead for the training of armour crews in Great Britain. By late-summer 1944, with the war raging in Northern Europe, even that function had all but ceased, but the Ram found new life, and went on to do yeoman service, in a number of variants including the Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Badger flame tank, Wallaby ammunition tank, armoured gun tower (for the 17 pdr towed AT gun) and ARV. Sadly, most of the Rams which survived the European war ended their time as hard targets on a variety of tank ranges, and few examples remain.  Remember the Canadian Ram? Well this is a much lighter version. This was ordered by the Canadian Army H.Q. in the U.K. in March 1943. It was a dummy Ram tank on a Canadian Ford 15 cwt truck chassis. It could also be erected in a static role without the vehicle. The project never went beyond the development stage.  Canadian Grizzly Canadian licence built American M4A1 "Sherman" tanks were named "Grizzly". The main difference between the "Sherman" and "Grizzly" tanks were the use of CDP tracks and an idler with 13 teeth instead of 17 teeth. From September to December of 1943, Montreal Locomotive Works produced 188 "Grizzly" tanks. Part of them equipped Canadian Forces in Europe, while the rest was used for training purposes. Several AA conversions were proposed for the Grizzly tank. One such test vehicle was the Skink and one unit was converted. Judging the unit to be a real battle winner, it was shipped over to Europe in 1945 for live testing. The Skink proved that it was valuable in knocking down German aircraft, HOWEVER, by 1945 there was little for it to actually shoot at. The Skink then found another purpose... it was turned on German infantry with devastating results. Though successful, little purpose could be found for production and the project was cancelled.  The only change made in the basic M3A1 design was to fit a British-pattern 2 in (51 mm) smoke discharger on the turret and a British radio set No 19 inside the turret. However, it soon became apparent that American production capacity was ample and that there was no need to make the M3A1 in Canada.  In 1954 Portugal received at least fifty Grizzly tanks. They were declared obsolete in 1973. Many were bought by collectors in the 1980s and today the Grizzly (of which orginally only 188 were built by Montreal Locomotive Works) is among the most numerous running Shermans. Production of the Grizzly was therefore ended in December 1943. A few of the tanks were shipped to England for use by Canadian units, while the remainder were retained in Canada for training. The M4 Sherman and variants were in US Service from 1942 until 1956. A total of 49 234 Shermans were built in the US during the Second World War, a quantity equaled by only one other wartime tank, the Soviet T-34.  Around December of 1943 and January of 1944, it was thought that there was a need for a specialized antiaircraft tank for use during the forthcoming invasion of Europe, and the Canadian Department of Defence undertook to produce a design using the Grizzly as the basis. A new cast turret was designed to mount four Hispano-Suiza 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, with electro-hydraulic control operated by a simple gun-layer's joystick. The Hispano guns were then changed for Polstens, the modified version of the Oerlikon cannon. The pilot model was ready for test in early 1944 and production plans were drawn up for building new Skink tanks and also for the production of conversion units which could be installed into existing Grizzly and Sherman tanks. But after the invasion of Europe, it was soon appreciated that the air threat of the Luftwaffe was much less than had been expected and there was no requirement for AA tanks; existing AA tanks were withdrawn, and the Skink project cancelled after the production of only three Skinks and eight conversion kits.  It was recorded that the Skink was put to another purpose, it was turned on German infantry with devastating results. Only one vehicle was deployed to see combat.
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The morning mists of mid-winter roll about a column of loaded Kangaroos somewhere in Holland, January 1945. Note that the troops in the lead vehicle are wearing berets, which suggests this might be an administrative move rather than combat assault. The gentleman on his feet looks like a cold and somewhat bored junior infantry officer waiting for orders. Kangaroo # 14 is a late-production model featuring a hull-mounted Browning .30 calibre machine gun rather than the cupola of the earlier Ram IIs. Most Kangaroos were initially equipped with at least one Browning .50 on an improvised mount on the turret ring, but these mounts were found awkward and unreliable due to the incredible vibration of firing, and were subsequently replaced with one or two additional Browning .30s scrounged from wrecked vehicles or wherever they could be found.
The Kangaroo concept of moving infantry units forward with the leading elements of armoured formations quickly became a critical, integral aspect of armoured corps operations in Northwest Europe, and later, in Italy. It is a concept which remains the cornerstone of all infantry operations today.
The Canadian Armoured Corps, which provided most of the personnel for the Kangaroos as well as the basis for their administration and employment, was itself a relatively new service, having only been constituted just a few short years before. Largely through the efforts of one remarkable man, Frank Worthington, Canada was able to field more than two complete armoured divisions during WW2. They played a critical part in the campaigns in Italy and Northwest Europe, fighting with equipment which was sometimes greatly inferior to that of the enemy. The men of these units were proud, bold, and creative, as they had to be - and they and their attitudes were the seed corn of the startlingly simple, radical new concept of carrying the infantry under armour .
The story of the Kangaroos is of a unit which used what it could, wherever it could be found. The vehicle chosen for their mission was initially the U.S. M7 Priest Self-propelled Gun, which embodied a 105mm howitzer in an open body set on an early Lee/Grant/Sherman chassis. As has been seen, in a momentous effort in the first week in August 1944, 72 of these vehicles were overhauled and modified as personnel carriers; subsequently they went on to prove a concept which remains the cornerstone of infantry operations to this day.
Once the inherent value of such a unit was realized, and official steps taken to expand it into a full regiment, the Priests, which were by this time some 53 in number through battle damage and general mechanical attrition, were replaced by specially modified Canadian Ram tanks, which were available in quantity in depots in England (having been superceded as battle tanks by the U.S. Sherman, itself having been declared the standard of Commonwealth armoured formations).
Along with the new Regiment came a significant headquarters infrastructure which also required different vehicles for reconnaissance, logistics and general administrative activities, which further changed the face of the unit as a whole.
There was no question about converting Shermans to APCs, as the battlefield attrition rate amongst those had put severe strain on the replacement pipelines as it was, but the Rams were another story. Here was a tank which would have been only marginally successful in its original role as a cruiser tank, but which, divested of its turret and inadequate main armament, was light, agile and with a comparatively low profile.
The first Ram Kangaroos were delivered to the Squadron at Pierreville, near Rouen, France, on 1 October 1944. At the same time, discussions had been taking place at the higher echelons about expanding the personnel carrier squadron. At this point, the squadron was authorized four troops of 16 carriers each, along with 3 to 5 assigned to headquarters.
24 October 1944 marks the official birth of the Regiment as an independent entity. On that day, an official communication was received which indicated that
...By authority of the GOC 1st Canadian Army, 19 October 1944, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron ceased to exist as a separate entity and became a squadron of the newly-created 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. The Regiment to be commanded by Lieut. Col. Gordon M. Churchill, formerly 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (Elgin Regiment) and 10 Canadian Armoured Regiment (Fort Garry Horse) with Major F.K. Bingham Sherbrooke Fusiliers and 1st Hussars as Second-in-Command. Regimental Headquarters to be at 83 van Ryswick St., Antwerp.
Lt. Col. Churchill was truly the right man for the job. A Sergeant machine gunner in WW1, Churchill knew the face of war. With the new regimental status, he was now able to indent for the thousand-and-one things which the previous squadron had depended on others for. At the same time, Col. Churchill set about creating the trappings of a unique identity for this already unique unit.
At this time, the Regiment also came under command of 31 Brigade of the famous British 79th Armoured Division. Previously, the association of the original squadron with the British had been long and successful, and the whole concept of specialized armour fit perfectly within the infrastructure of the "Funnies" of this valourous assault division.
Accordingly, the Canadians of 1CACR were authorized the wearing of the 79th 'Bullshead' flash, and the same was painted on their vehicles, along with the unit designation "157" in white on a green-and-blue square. On 1 November 1944, RHQ moved formally to Tilburg, Holland, the 'birthplace' of the Regiment. Luckily, deteriorating weather conditions - which were to lead to the worst winter in Europe in 50 years - permitted the new CO to concentrate on building the new organization.
Fortunately, all progressed smoothly. The new faces were integrated quickly, and through labourious indents and some good, old-fashioned scrounging (for which the Canadians in Europe were famous), the Regiment was brought quickly to a state of battle readiness. At this point the combat strength of the Regiment was 106 carriers, and it was contemplated increasing the two existing squadrons to four, but this move was held in abeyance indefinitely, due to the logistical difficulties.
This was significant, as elements within the Canadian command infrastructure had long campaigned to make 1CACR a part of the Service Corps, due to its transport function; the men of the Regiment were vociferously opposed to this categorization, as in combat they were exposed daily to the same hazards as were the infantry and armoured corps.
The Regiment was back in action in January 1945, and stayed in the thick of things until the end of the war. 'A' and 'B' Squadrons functioned pretty much independently from the crossing of the Rhine until the official Cease Fire order on 5 May 1945, causing no end of headaches to the administrative staff attempting to keep up with the lads. However, both squadrons rendered yeoman service to many British and Canadian infantry formations through this final victory campaign
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The Canadian Tank Corps had been formed early in 1918 and equipped with the latest British Mk V heavy and French Renault light tanks. This unit was disbanded at the end of the World War 1. Not another tracked unit was available to the small Canadian army until twelve Carden-Loyd Mk VIB were purchased in 1930 for a handful of mobile machine gun platoons. Early Ram II at Worthington Park, CFB Borden. In 1936, due to the deteriorating international situation, the Canadian Defense Department decided to form an armored force with the intent to train a small group of men in tank warfare in the event of war. The Tank Training School was set up at London, Ontario, with the earlier purchased Carden-Loyd Mk VIB carriers used as training vehicles. Also added were two Vickers Mk VI light tanks with 14 more ordered in 1939. The 1940 fall of France, and the bombing offensive against Britain, led to a decision that Canada be made a source of manufacture of light armored vehicles and tanks. An authorization was given for the formation of two Canadian Armored Divisions in the summer of 1940. This necessitated a requirement for over 1,000 cruiser type tanks to equip these divisions. It was obvious that these could not be supplied through British production and that tank production in the United States was limited to British and American orders. The English and Canadians then decided to construct a Tank Arsenal in Canada under the administration of Montreal Locomotive Works with the assistance of its parent organization, American Locomotive. It was further decided that the Canadian built cruiser tank design would be based on that of the US M3 medium tank to save time and utilize mechanical and chassis components already in production. By the autumn of 1940, it became clear that many of the design features of the M3 would be far from satisfactory for the British or Canadian soldiers, in particular the high silhouette, sponson-mounted main armament, inadequate armor protection, and lack of radio in the turret. By January 1941 it was decided that Canada must develop and produce it's own tank utilizing the mechanical components of the M3 and make it standard with British main armament. This vehicle came to be known as the Ram tank. The Ram was named in honor of the founder of the Canadian Armored Corps, General "Worthy" Worthington. The Ram was part of his family crest.  Late model Ram II at Worthington Park, CFB Borden. A running prototype of the Ram was completed in June 1941. Canada's Ram with a 6pdr gun production engineering drawings were assumed to be supplied by the United Kingdom. These did not materialize. The mantlet, cradle and elevating gear had to all be designed in Canada. While the engineering was being finalized, the first fifty vehicles were fitted with the standard 2pdr gun and designated Ram Mk I. Production mounting the 6pdr gun then became the Ram Mk II. Though the Ram looked like an American M4 Sherman, it quickly became evident that it lacked the firepower needed to overcome other enemy tanks. For this reason, Rams were used as training vehicles, conversions to Kangaroos, command vehicles, and test chassis.  In 1942, the United States put the M4 into production replace the M3. The M4 incorporated all the features of the Ram and met British requirements. Thought was given to manufacture of the M4 in Canada but increased orders for the Valentine tank and the arsenal facilities in the United States rendered this idea moot. However, it was agreed that Ram production would be halted for the M4 Sherman at the earliest possible time. The specifications were laid down in September 1942 for the Canadian production of the M4AI. This tank became known as the 'Grizzly'. In August 1943 changeover in production was achieved after an amazing production of 1,941 Rams. While it had been planned to build large quantities of the Grizzly, orders were reduced when it was realized that the production of Sherman tanks from the USA would be sufficient for Allied requirements. Of the 188 Grizzly tanks built, some were allocated to British Forces but the bulk of them were retained for training.  It was as the Kangaroo that Ram tank and it's designers would make the contribution to the Canadian soldier and history. Hitting the battlefield in 1944, the Kangaroo would become the first truly successful Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Other contributions of the Ram were as armored recovery vehicles, towing vehicles, ammunition carriers, recovery units, and experiments. A popularly quoted model by Canadian sources, called the Skink, was armed with four 20 mm cannon for anti-aircraft defense. This vehicle was never adopted for use though one was sent "over there" for evaluation. By the time of it’s arrival, the German airforce was anything but a "force" and there was not much for the Skink to shoot at. It did get the opportunity to shoot up some ground targets with it’s rapid firing cannons. The contribution of the Ram and all the other vehicles provided by Canada during WW2 proved just how resourceful the Canadian people are when the going got tough. |
Skink Anti-Aircraft Tank
I can see where it could be deadly to infantry.
Teaser
1974 Then tallest building, World Trade Center opens in NYC (110 stories)
/Teaser
Night all.
Ping to you humblegunner. Sorry, I posted the list before I put you on it. You're on now. :-)
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.
Today's Bible reading reminds us that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9.) It is not possible for any of us to fathom the extent of the deceptions of our heart. How then can we ever trust ourselves or anyone else completely? Jeremiah warned the last Judean kings against placing their trust in earthly kings (vv.5-6). But they continually sought help from Egypt. How foolish they were! They should have repented of their wickedness and returned to Almighty God for His help. Where can we put our trust for help in difficult and uncertain times? God's Word tells us that those who place their trust in God are like trees planted by the waters. Even in drought they will not cease to bear fruit (vv.7-8). Let's trust God to produce fruit in our lives. -Albert Lee
In what our eyes can see, But God asks us to trust in Him For our security. -Sper Don't let self-confidence replace your trust in God.
How Much Does God Control? |
Good morning ALL. Another beautiful sunny day seems to be in the making this morning. Rocket over slept, which means I overslept this morning.
Good Morning, Foxhole
FReegards...MUD
BTW...Arkansas is losing its last armor...we going field artillery....sigh...I might switch to Cavalry in East Arkansas...they might be getting Bradleys.. right now they just humvees.
Morning Snippy.
The Germans used their 20mm and 37mm AA guns against infantry with deadly effect too.
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Let's be honest. Are we always able to trust ourselves in everything? Even the apostle Paul said emphatically about himself, "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). He wouldn't trust himself to do the right thing unless he kept his body under strict discipline.