WD Census Numbers allotted to Canadian Forces in England (1942)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

But Otters, Fox, Lynx and carriers were issued their census numbers at the factory. How then did a list like the one here with ranges work with those numbers assigned in Canada?

As far as I can ascertain, all A-vehicles had a census number applied to them at the factory as the contracts for these vehicles each had a batch of census numbers allotted to them. The 1942 document attached above does list armoured vehicles.

I think what was happening is that the RCASC first applied their numbers to their vehicles (see the footnote in Clive's table above). This was bound to create overlap, hence the numbering blocks assigned in 1942.

Much more detail on "Allocation by Central Census Tanks and Vehicles of "B" Vehicle W.D. Numbers" (i.e. the Chilwell list) in this thread and others on this forum.

[Patrice DEBUCQUOY]

Hello Hanno,

You write : "The 46- range for Recce Cars is missing from this listing, which may make sense as he only listed B-series vehicles."
In the book "Europe WW2" (Canadian Military Historical Society) , the Recce Cars (Otter and Humber LRC) are listed in the "B" section as well as the Trucks Armoured (M3A1 and C15TA) .
Only the Scout Cars and Armoured Cars are in the "A" section.

Patrice.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Patrice DEBUCQUOY

You write : "The 46- range for Recce Cars is missing from this listing, which may make sense as he only listed B-series vehicles."
In the book "Europe WW2" (Canadian Military Historical Society) , the Recce Cars (Otter and Humber LRC) are listed in the "B" section as well as the Trucks Armoured (M3A1 and C15TA) .
Only the Scout Cars and Armoured Cars are in the "A" section.

Hello Patrice, your are right. The manual “Canadian Military Headquarters. Vehicle Data Book (Restricted). 1944“ list the Recce cars under the B-vehicles section

Screenshot_2020-09-10 Vehicle Data Book Pt1 pdf.jpg

That manual also has a note on the placement of WD Numbers, but no number ranges:

Screenshot_2020-09-10 Vehicle Data Book Pt2 pdf.jpg

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Patrice DEBUCQUOY

In the book "Europe WW2" (Canadian Military Historical Society) , the Recce Cars (Otter and Humber LRC) are listed in the "B" section as well as the Trucks Armoured (M3A1 and C15TA) .
Only the Scout Cars and Armoured Cars are in the "A" section.

My suspicionis that Otters went from being an A vehicle in 1942 to a B one by 1944.

[Jordan Baker]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

My suspicionis that Otters went from being an A vehicle in 1942 to a B one by 1944.

Which is odd because the late Otters went from a WD# of CM4647... to CF..... or F..... Early on they were called a “Car, Light Recce” which the “M” in the WD# supports whereas the “F” was also used by the Fox and Lynx.