Kangaroo towing bracket

[kevinT]

This is a cut from a photo of CT106122 "BUTCH".
The photo was sent to me by Bill Miller, but must be credited to Bill Herbison.




Anyone any thoughts as to the towing bracket? Not a "standard" towing pintle, so not an ex gun tower.

Check out Bills site for other Ram info.

Cheers
Kevin

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by kevinT
Anyone any thoughts as to the towing bracket? Not a "standard" towing pintle, so not an ex gun tower.

Kevin,

First of all, note this Ram was once fitted with deep wading equipment. What remains is a type of ridge around the rear hull hatches and air inlet/exhaust area to which the sheet metal ducts were fitted.

Official orders were all Ram Kangaroos were to be fitted with an expedient towing hook, so they could double up as gun towers. This towing hook was fitted to a vertical iron bar, which was fitted to the hull just above and under the rear hull hatch. The lower attaching point is shown in Mr. Herbison's picture. This is a sign of it being a genuine Kangaroo.

I will try to find a picture of this setup. It was fitted to the Sherman Firefly as well.

HTH,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
This is a sign of it being a genuine Kangaroo.

This is endorsed by it's known history:

Nov 1943, delivered from Cdn Mech Depot to Cdn Ord Depot (Borden)
Aug 1944, selected for conversion to Personnel Carrier
Sept 1944, shown as converted to Personnel Carrier
Oct 1944, shown as a Personnel Carrier, held in stock
Oct 1944, shown as Kangaroo, delivered by 25 Armd Del Regt (Elgin R) to 1 CAPC Sqn
Jan 1945, suffered engine failure during Op Blackcock while with 1 CACR, repaired by 2nd line wkshp
Unknown date/location. Photo courtesy Jim Herbison

Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
I will try to find a picture of this setup.

Here you are:




Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
I will try to find a picture of this setup.

Here's another picture, showing the bar with the towing hook undone at the top and swung down to allow the rear hull door to open.

Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by kevinT
Not a "standard" towing pintle, so not an ex gun tower.

For completeness, a picture of the "standard" towing hook, as fitted to gun towers. The hook is fitted to a horizontal spring.

Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm