UN / Canada / Cyprus beginings

[Robin Craig]

Dear All,

I know I go on a bit about things but proof always wins out in the end. Thank you for your replies thus far.

I am a royal pain on this subject I know.

This is the only image I have been able to find. Have a look at it and tell me what you think, there are some interesting details if you look closely.

Regards

Robin

[Robin Craig]

And here is a closer look

R

[Robin Craig]

I have also just found this, 8th Hussars in Germany.

Frankly I think we have a smoking gun here.

Second image of a Ferret in Canadian service with a turret but in a different theatre.

So, my deduction is that there is proof here that Canada used at least one turreted Ferret fair and square.

Next will be to find details of it, if we ever can,

R

[rob love]

Turret is a drop on to the mk1 ferret. So it is quite possible someone somewhere managed to scrounge one up from the British forces. It may have been less than official. It may have also been possible that the powers that be authorized the purchase of one or more turrets, but these are the first I have seen on the subject.

[Robin Craig]

Rob,

your post landed in at the same time I was making my post.

Yes I agree that the Ferret is somewhat of a Meccano set and it is only 17 bolts and the turret plate is mounted.

BUT.

IMHO the 8th Hussars picture substantiates the claim that I make that ONE lonely vehicle was either procurred or "made" into a turreted vehicle.

There is a Ferret turret in Ontario that I know of and will attempt to gun for the owner to shell out the info on where he acquired it from and to ascertain the trail of provenance. The chances are too thin otherwise!

All I can say is, never say never!

R

[rob love]

It may well be that we ended up with a turret on a ferret, but that doesn't mean the ferret is on loan from the British. The photos are too grainy to tell the difference.

Heck, I stuck a hard top on a M548 years ago.....obtained through a bit of hook and crook. May well have been the only one in Canada. When the other batteries tried to get the roofs for theirs, the LCMM said noway, and that was the end of that. But the hardtop on the B bty one remained until disposal. And if there was ever a place you needed a hardtop on a M548, it was here in Shilo. My next modification to it was going to be a hot water type crew compartment heater to replace the finicky and too hot APC heater that came with the vehicle and could not be relied on.

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

I have also just found this, 8th Hussars in Germany.

Robin,

Where and when for this photograph? It looks like it came from a copy of the Canadian Army Journal.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Robin Craig]

The photo comes via a circuitous route, was published in the Beaver if I recall correctly.

2Lt Peck is sill alive and is going to be asked by a friend if he recalls anything.

Film at 11 or whenever.

Rob, I love it when people prove the exception to the rule.

I wont say anything about a fully Orange coloured Leopard tank as people will say it never happened.

R

[Ed Storey]

The military is rife with exceptions to the rule which is interesting as it is an occupation based on rules. Exceptions are interesting and should be documented, but the key is not to dwell on them. By dwelling on them, too many people believe that the exceptions are the nom rather than what they are which is anomalies in a very large organization.

[chris vickery]

Further to your last Ed, I would expect that "exceptions" were somewhat ignored rather than documented, in light of happening in such an organization rife with rules...kinda like the ostrich head in the sand?