Canadian Tank Questions

[Roddy de Normann]

Hi to all -

I am currently - slowly but surely - going through a whole series of Canadian Armoured Regiment war diaries and now have a number of questions...

A. What was the context with which a Canadian vehicle had the WD Serial prefix 'CT' as opposed to the usual 'T' ? Manufacture - ie Rams/Grizzlies - I can understand but what of UK or US vehs ?

B. A number of vehs are refered to as 'AAC' - Ram AACs, Stuart AACs - what are these, anti-air ?

C. Are Ram Wasps the same as Ram Badgers ?

D. Ram 25pdr - was this a re-worked Ram tank or a different design altogether ? Would a Ram 25pdr WD serial be the same as an original Ram tank ?

Any answers greatly received !

Roddy

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Roddy1011
A. What was the context with which a Canadian vehicle had the WD Serial prefix 'CT' as opposed to the usual 'T' ? Manufacture - ie Rams/Grizzlies - I can understand but what of UK or US vehs ?

Hi Roddy!

In theory, all vehicles used by the Canadian Army Overseas had a "C" added in front of the War Department census number. A Sherman tank built in the USA had its Ordnance number applied to its hull, e.g. USA 3057081. After it was shipped to the UK a British WD number was applied, e.g. T-146309. If this Sherman was then transferred to the Canadian Army, its census number would become CT-146309. Vehicles transferred in the field not always had the "C" added to their census number.

HTH,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Roddy1011
B. A number of vehs are refered to as 'AAC' - Ram AACs, Stuart AACs - what are these, anti-air ?

I suspect these are arrmoured personnel carriers.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Roddy1011
C. Are Ram Wasps the same as Ram Badgers ?

Most likely. Officially known as Ram badgers, they were converted by fitting Wasp flame throwing equipment to turretless Rams.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Roddy1011
D. Ram 25pdr - was this a re-worked Ram tank or a different design altogether ? Would a Ram 25pdr WD serial be the same as an original Ram tank ?

The Sexton 25-pdr SPG was initially also referred to as Ram 25-pdr as it's chassis was based on that of the Ram.

H.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
In theory, all vehicles used by the Canadian Army Overseas had a "C" added in front of the War Department census number.

An exception to this was in the case of British vehicles which were rented to the Canadian Army Overseas.
The Brits supplied Canada with blocks of numbers and these numbers were applied at one of the Canadian Mechanization Depots or at an Ordnance depot.

[Bill Miller]

AAC refers to Armoured Ammunition Carrier. Ammunition Carriers were also called "Wallabies", however, I don't think it was a popular term during the war, I only have a few "late" war period references to AAC's being called "wallabies".

Ram "Badger", is the final official nomenclature for the flame-thrower equipped Rams. As previously mentioned the flame throwing device itself was referred to as the "Wasp". The "Badger was also briefly referred to as a "Cougar"

Bill.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Miller
AAC refers to Armoured Ammunition Carrier.

Ah yes, thanks!

H.

[Roddy de Normann]

Gentlemen -

Thank you - nicely cleared up.

I am currently going through B Sqn, 25 Can Armd Del Regt diaries - what a marvellous discovery ! I will post some of the more interesting discoveries once I have finished collating them.

Meanwhile, some interesting details fm the British 256 Army Del Sqn...

Jul 44 - Sqn totally equipped 5 INNIS DG with vehs. The latter arrived in Normandy with nothing !

Aug 44 - Fitted out 15/19 H with 61 Cromwells & Challengers.

Jul/Aug 44 - Withdrew all Crusader AAs fm 2nd Army.

Dec-Feb 44/45 - Held a complete veh set for 29 Armd Bde as the latter refitted. Eventually reissued for the Ardennes battles.

Jan/Apr - Serviced all tks for 33 Armd Bde and standardised all Sherman I/II and Stuart VIs.

In addition, the Sqn noted for...

Jul 44 - Experiments & demos of 'Bocage Prongs'.

Aug 44 - Sqn provided crews & vehs for the first Visual Control Posts for RAF Co-operation.

Oct 44 - Demo'ed the first M10s with protective lids. Also experimented with anti-magnetic plastics & anti-pers mine dischargers fitted to veh hulls.

Nov 44 - Provided parties to counter civil disturbances on three occaisions !

Nov 44 - Undertook 17pdr pen tests against 2 x Panthers held on Sqn books.

Dec 44 - Equipped & trained Belgian Gendarmarie with Armd Cars in Brussels.

Feb 45 - Demos of the a/b Locust Tk.

Feb 45 - Ran tk driving courses for pers fm 252, 373 & 450 Tank Transporter Coys, RASC.

Mar 45 - Comouflage plastic demos (?)

Thanks to all again

Roddy

[kevinT]

Hi Roddy,

I would certainly be interested in any names and WD serials you come across to add to my database.

Cheers
Kevin

[Roddy de Normann]

Kevin -

See what Tony Viste has done !

Roddy