[Mark W. Tonner]

1. - in all the Canadian Army Overseas converted 52 Rams to ARVs (50 Ram ARV I based on 35x Ram Mk I and 15x Ram Mk II = 50 Ram ARV I plus 1x Ram ARV I pilot and 1x Ram ARV II pilot = 2 pilots)(50 + 2 = 52 Rams to ARVs)). Originally (March 1943) the Canadian Army Overseas required 126 Ram ARVs, but subsequently this requirement was reduced to 78 (April 1943) and after the decision was made in the summer of 1943 that Canadian armoured brigades would be equipped with M4A2 (Sherman III) and M4A4 (Sherman V) tanks, the requirement was dropped to 40 (plus a reserve of 10) and production of the Ram ARV I was ceased with completion of the 50th vehicle. The only Ram ARV II produced by the Canadian Army Overseas was the Ram ARV II pilot which was based on Cruiser Tank, Ram Mk II - CT39859. (Source: my research for the forthcoming Service Publication Weapons of War series title The ARV in Canadian Service)

2. - Cruiser Tank, Ram Mk II - CT159854 was indeed Struck Off Strength to the British in Jan 1944 and by 31 May 1945 under the WD number of 159854 had been converted as the pilot ARV II by the British. In photos this shows as RECT (Recovery Tank) 159854. Also, as/at 31 May 1945, due shortages in British stocks of the Sherman, an order was placed to have 100 Ram Mk II tanks (out of their stock) converted into ARV II (based on the pilot model 159854)(Source: page 20 - Policy and Progress Reports of the Directorate of Royal Armoured Corps, War Office, dated 30 June 1945). This order was subsequently cancelled in October 1945.