Staghound 'Charger' Conversions
 

Pop quiz,

What was the name of the Canadian general who used a modified Staghound as his personal vehicle in WWII? What were the modifications made to the vehicle and what is the archives photo reference for a photo of this Staghound?

Thnx,
Clive

Re: Staghound
 

Hi Clive;

If I'm not mistaken, it was Simmonds and one mod was that the turret was removed and another was a windscreen at the front of the turret ring (ie: facing forward). I'll follow this up and see what I find, I've a picture around here somewhere......

Cheers :)

Staghound
 

General Simmons used a staghound, I don't know what the modifications were. There is a picture of Simmons and his Aide Marshall Sterns, a 48th Highlander around somewhere but I don't know the PAC number.

Answers
 

Mark gets the prize for first correct answer but Art gets the prize for most correct answers.:)

Re: Answers
 

:p Simonds and his ADC Marshal Stearns, a 48th Highlander (notice the Glengarry) Normandy, the Pursuit, 1944, it also looks like it has a canvas/tarp roof, like on a jeep.........only credit is DND put I know I have one with the NAC/PA #......Art seems to have repeated himself....must be a 2 RCR thing......:D

Attachment 2801

Looks like a subject for a resin kit to me
 

Although I'd be much happier if it were a resin conversion to an existing plastic Staghound kit in 1/35. C'mon Italeri, or Tamiya, or somebody . . .

Bob

Apparently, this type of modification was carried out on more than one Staghound. The picture below shows one in service with the Dutch army after WW2. While it looks similar to Simonds' mount, it differs in quite lot of details...

Attachment 2806


...but this hulk found on an Army range in the 1980's is very likely to be the same as reg.no. 36605 shown above!

Attachment 2807

Staghounds
 

The historical report states that Simmonds had two of these converted to "chargers". You gotta love the use of the old equestrian term.

Re: Staghounds
 

From History - 2 Canadian Special Wireless Section Type "B"
So could it be the one in service with the Dutch Army after WW2 is possibly one of Guy Simonds' Staghounds?

H.

4 th armored division used several modified Staghounds for use as "runabouts". See pic.

Attachment 8495


And another one. This looks to be the same car Gen Simonds used.

Attachment 8496


Marco

The conversion was carried out in late July 1944. Excerpt from the WD of 40 LAD (attached to 12 Manitoba Dragoons) 25 July 1944
"Capt. Kerfoot [OiC 40 LAD) acc Lt.Col Roberts to 2 Cdn Corps Tps Workshop to see the "cutdown" armoured car being constructed for GOC Lt Gen Simmonds"

turretless Staghound
 

I found these photos on the internet of a turretless Staghound hulk on the Vlasakkers Range near Amersfoort. Reportedly this was still present by the early 1980s. Photos via/by Edwin van der Meer.

Attachment 137927 Attachment 137928

Staghound 'Charger' Conversions
 

So far, from what I can tell from the surviving documentation provided on this website, two vehicles were converted to 'Chargers'. Whether or not both conversions were identical is up for speculation as the imagery posted on this website shows two distinct vehicles as one seems to have additional armour around the open topped hull and is apparently the same vehicle that shows up in Dutch use after the war. It appears that this vehicle is also in the Deelen Dump image, looking at the Arm of Service and Unit Serial, as Dan pointed out it is marked to 2nd Canadian Corps Headquarters. It also has the distinctive white highlights associated with these distinctive vehicles.

Now Simonds appears to have been photographed with the other 'Charger' which was equipped with what appear to be chromed handgrips. In a perfect world it would be nice to have a paper trail for these vehicles or yet even one vehicle restored back to its former glory. Attached are some additional images, note the markings and white highlights.

Attachment 137923 Attachment 137924 Attachment 137925

Noticed.....
 

....the front white marking on the leading edge of the front fender is actually a solid section of rail road track....... certainly protected the front fender sheet metal.......

Another Staghound Charger in the Netherlands.
Converted from a T17E1, looking very similar in construction like the one Simonds used.