[servicepub (RIP)]

Some Ram tank data.
From a Cdn Army memorandum dated 17 Jan 45. 40 x Ram I and 1527 x Ram II had been received in the UK. These were distributed as 803 transferred to the British (with 40 more on request), 366 to Canadian units in 21 Army Group, 3 salvaged and 36 earmarked for conversion to “Wasp” (Badger). Of the 359 left 49 were ARVs (mostly RamI), Cdn Army considered 250 sufficient for training purposes at CRU (Cdn Reinforcement Unit) and were prepared to transfer another 60 or so to the Brits.
Another document shows that by this time all spares had been passed over to the British with the exception of spares held in Canada. The reason was that Canada would draw from Brits all spares for Rams and Shermans (there were many common items which the Brits did not separate by tank model).
This second document claims that the status of the 366 Cdn Rams were; 58 17-pdr towers, 182 Armoured Personnel Carriers (Kangaroos), 90 Ammunition Carriers and the 36 flame-throwers
(this doesn’t jive with the above as the 36 Badgers are double-counted).
An undated census of Ram Tanks lists Rams between CT39791 (the earliest number listed) and CT40931 to be either Cruisers or 17-pdr Towers. From CT-159402 these are listed as 75mm
(restricted to gunnery training at CRU), Cruisers (shown as ‘stock’ or as being on charge to Universal Welding, Welding & Eng. Coy., Millars Machinery, J. Olding, etc..) or Towers (all with 21 Army Group. The first Wallaby (ammunition carrier) is shown as CT-159507. It and subsequent Wallabies are all with 21AG. The first Kangaroo is shown as CT-159904 and most are shown with 21 AG while a small number are shown as ‘stock’. The last number in the census is CT-160135.
The use of these late Rams is in keeping with a policy established in December 1943 where it was established that “Training Tanks” (approx 869) were to be limited to mechanical modifications only and no other upgrade. The range was CT-39781 to CT-40937. “Training Firing Tanks” were to be equipped with the 75mm gun with a range of CT-159402 to CT-159501. “Operational Tanks” were complete with all modifications requested by the Cdn AFV User’s Committee and apprived by the GOCinC. These were CT-159502 to CT-160193. These tanks had the new front end including the .30 cal MG ball mount - no cupola. This is in keeping with the Kangaroo issues.