Canadian Ferrets 1975 CFB Meaford

[rob love]

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.

[Robin Craig]

Ed,

I come here to learn and to put things in order, I don't mind an education or a friendly jab in the ribs about Land Rovers either

It is through discussion here that I am to learn like this.

Thanks for the education, and by the way, did you know the Wilks brother used a Jeep chassis for their prototype Land Rover?

[Robin Craig]

Would not the modification instruction C-30-541-000/CF-030 Stowage, Browning Machine-Gun tripod issue 1-11 Sep 1964 be the ultimate smoking gun document for the change over for the Bren to the .30 Cal?

This is the one that details the stowage of the tripod on the left engine deck cover.

So, that then triggers the question, does anyone have a picture of a Canadian Ferret with the left engine deck without the fittings?

[Robin Craig]

This one belonging to Neil Smith in Florida appears to be such a vehicle

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=21069

[Ed Storey]

Perhaps 'smoking gun' is a bit too optimistic, but at least it gives you a general time period.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Ed and Robin,

Was Canada still using the M1919A4 in the mid-60s or had they been upgraded/modified to L3A3/L3A4 standard? In other words, did Canada modify the .30 cals in service to L3A3/L3A4 standard (and maybe called them something Canadian with a 'C' prefix?) or did they persist with the M1919A4 'as was' until the changeover to the 7.62 mm GPMG? Be interested in your comments on this aspect.

Regards

Mike

[rob love]

We did not adopt the L prefix. They were modified beginning around 1967 and then became the C-1 GPMG. They remained with that designation until the about 1979 when defects were corrected with a major upgrade and they were redisignated C5A1.

I have the some of the modification instructions at home for both of these changes, so could verify those dates if need be, but they will be pretty close.