[servicepub (RIP)]

According to the CMHQ Reports (#141 - Situation of the Canadian Military Forces Overseas. Progress in Equipment Jan-Dec 44.)

42. The question of a tower for the gun received considerable attention. Within 21 Army Group the policy was adopted of fitting all tanks with 17-pr towing books for emergency use (ibid: B.G.S., C.M.H.Q. to D.Q.M.Q., C.M.H.Q., 21 Dec 43). In March 1944 it was intended to use entirely wheeled vehicles as standard towers, probably the American 2½-ton 6 x 6 lorry (ibid. Chief of Staff, C.M.H.Q. to Under-Secretary of State, War Office, 4 Mar 44). These were found not to be available, and various vehicles were used. 6 Cdn A Tk Regt of 2 Cdn Corps used modified Ram tanks specially for this purpose. In Italy the anti-tank regiments of 5 Cdn Armd Div and 1 Cdn Corps used modified Crusader tanks. Other units used the Field Artillery Tractor (C.M.H.Q. file 1/SP 17-Pdr/1: S.D. (E), C.M.H.Q. to S.D. (M.T.), C.M.H.Q., 8 Jun 44; Cdn Ops in N.W.E. series 6, p.4). Half-Tracks were also used.

43. Besides the towed 17-pr anti-tank gun, two types of self-propelled 17-pr anti-tank gun were introduced during the year. In April 3-in M 10 self-propelled equipments were being modified to mount 17-pr guns (C.M.H.Q. file 1/SP 17-Pdr/1: Chief of Staff, C.M.H.Q. to H.Q. First Cdn Army, 21 Apr 44). In June twenty-four of these were issued to 5 Cdn A Tk Regt of 4 Cdn Armd Div in place of the 3-in M 10 equipment which had been held as an interim measure (C.M.H.Q. file 13/Equip States/1/7: Equipment State, Cdn Army in U.K. as at 30 Jun 44). At the end of June three more were issued to Canadian Reinforcement Units for training (C.M.H.Q. file 1/SP 17-Pdr/1: Director Royal Artillery, War Office to C.M.H.Q., 29 Jun 44; D.C.G.S., C.M.H.Q. to D.Q.M.G., C.M.H.Q., 13 Jul 44). In August the policy was adopted of equipping infantry divisional anti-tank regiments on the following basis (ibid: Extract from Eqpt Policy Memorandum, First Cdn Army, 3 Aug 44, S.D., First Cdn Army to C.M.H.Q. 6 Aug 44):
1 tp in each bty with 6-pr towed - total 16 guns.
1 tp in each bty with 17-pr towed - total 16 guns.
1 tp in each bty with 17-pr Valentine SP - total 16 guns.
None of the Valentine self-propelled equipments had been received by the Canadian forces at the end of November.

44. The 17-pr anti-tank gun proved very effective in operations. But there was a definite preference for self-propelled guns. The towed gun was hard to move and a tracked tower was often necessary. The Ram Tower was reported to be the best available, but was noisy and bulky (Cdn Ops in Med Area, series 25, p. 3; series 28, p. 2; Cdn Ops in N.W.E., series 12, pp 5-6). 6 Cdn A Tk Regt were to change to Crusader towers.

I will soon publish "Tools of the Trade" which will be a compilation of the four war-time CMHQ reports on equipment. This book will run 128 pages and will include 156 photos.