If one looks closely at the GPMG on the Cypress ferret, you can see it is a US .30 cal by the small exit hole for the belt (links) on the right side plate. The 7.62 modification opened that hole up significantly.
I saw a Canadian manual the other day dated around 1953 for the M1919A6.....that would seem to predate the Canadian replacement of the Vickers with the M1919A4 GPMG, which I believe was around 1957 or 1958. The M1919 in it's various forms (M1919A4, C1, C5A1) remained in service with Canada for 40 years.
One thing that could be said of the Canadian army.....it keeps the equipment around for a long long time. Perhaps the one exception is missile systems.
Many of the Canadian M113 FOV are now over 50 years old, although will have been upgraded through 2 major redesigns. I just drove one (a M113A2) out of the shop this afternoon and will be loading it on a flatbed tomorrow to go downtown for a weeklong display. The M109A4+ will follow on Monday.
|