The ‘Ram’ Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carrier, Part 3

by Mark W. Tonner

 Continuing on from the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2, of 27 October 2014

Although not a ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, another conversion of Ram, Mark II tanks, was to that of an armoured ammunition carrier, to replenish the tanks of armoured and armoured reconnaissance regiments, with ammunition, fuel, and personnel, during ‘active’ operations. This conversion consisted of the removal of the complete turret, with the turret ring and ball-race¹ remaining in place, and the removal of the internal ammunition bins and racks. The No. 19 Wireless Set (a radio)² was reinstalled in the left-hull pannier³, on the left of the bow machine gunner’s position, and the vehicle batteries were moved from the hull floor, up into the rear of the left-hull pannier. A circular 1-inch (14-millimetre) thick armoured plate, with a 28-inch (71-centimetre) square door (with two 14×14-inches (36×36-centimetres) hinged hatches), in the centre, was placed over the turret ring and ball-race (enabling the armoured plate to be rotated), with a 7-inch (18-centimetre) high splash plate⁴, being installed around the 28-inch (71-centimetre) square double hinged hatches. The drive shaft was also to be covered over, as in the conversion of Ram tanks, to that of ‘Ram’ armoured gun towers, as mentioned in the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2, of 27 October 2014. This would account for the references in some contemporary accounts of the drive shaft being covered over, as part of the initial conversion of Ram, Mark II tanks, to that of ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, when in fact, only those ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, based on the conversion of ‘Ram’ armoured gun towers, would have the drive shaft covered over.

Although, as mentioned in the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2, of 27 October 2014, the front towing hook was to have been removed from ‘Ram’ armoured gun towers, as part of their conversion to that of a ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carrier. As can be seen, this was not always the case, as evidenced by the towing hook assembly being still in place on the front of the lead ‘Ram’ Kangaroo in this photo. Source: Author’s collection

A ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. Note the forward facing secondary .30-calibre Browning machine gun mounted in the turret ring, and the vehicle tarpaulin, which as been pulled back from over a ‘tarp/bivouac’ support, which can be seen with one leg mounted in the front of the turret ring, while the other leg is mounted in the rear of the turret ring, with the centre pole of the
‘tarp/bivouac’ support, in between. Source: 1 CACR Association & Archive

One innovation, which wasn’t part of any conversion of Ram tanks or Ram armoured gun towers, to that of armoured personnel carriers, was that of ‘tarp/bivouac’ supports, which were improvised by the crew members of ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, themselves, for use with the large vehicle tarpaulin. These supports (or poles) either were crescent shaped, or had a downward leg at either end of a straight pole, and were mounted into any of the bolt holes left in the circular opening of the hull top, by the removal of the turret ring during the initial conversion of Ram tanks to either Ram armoured gun towers, or that of ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers. Once in place, the large vehicle tarpaulin could be put up over these, leaving an opening at the front for the crew to enter or exit the carrier, while keeping the elements out (i.e., rain or snow). These ‘tarp/bivouac’ supports, were normally used when the crew knew that they were going to be in a static position for a time, and could easily be cleared away and stowed before they had to move off again.

An example of crescent shaped ‘tarp/bivouac’ supports being used on a ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. Source: 1 CACR Association & Archive

Another example of the ‘tarp/bivouac’ supports in use, seen here on RED-CHIEF, a ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. Source: 1 CACR Association & Archive

On 14 October 1944, in a letter, in which First Canadian Army Headquarters, informed Canadian Military Headquarters (London), that 162 ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers would be required, to form the Canadian armoured personnel carrier regiment, consisting of two squadrons of 53 carriers each, and a reserve of 50 armoured personnel carriers, an entitlement for six ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers, was allotted to the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps. These six ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers, were to be used as ‘command’ carriers, within the regiment. Two each, were to be held by Regimental Headquarters, “A” Squadron Headquarters, and “B” Squadron Headquarters. As of 21 November 1944, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps, held four (CT159532, CT159702, CT159871⁵, and CT159896) of their entitlement of six ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers. At this time, First Canadian Army Headquarters decided that there was no priority for the issue of the remaining two, and that their issue be deferred until such time as either, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, was under command of First Canadian Army⁶, or that the two were particularly requested. However, that being said, a fifth ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carrier, CT159891 (named MARION), was issued to the regiment sometime after 21 November 1944, and remained in service with 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, as a ‘command’ carrier. These ‘command’ carriers, would have been among those designated carriers that were fitted with a second No. 19 Wireless Set, or with No. 18, No. 22, or No. 38 Wireless Sets, as the need arose, as referred to in the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2, of 27 October 2014.

One of the ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers issued to 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, as a ‘command’ carrier, bearing the name MARION (CT159891), seen here, in June 1945, as the ‘Kangaroo’ of Major W.A. Copley, Officer Commanding, “B” Squadron, which he named after his wife Marion. Just above Major Copley’s head, on the top of the hull, can be seen, the 7-inch (18-centimetre) high, splash plate, which was installed around the 28-inch (71-centimetre) square double hinged hatches, in the centre of the circular armoured plate that was placed over the turret ring, as described in the text. Source: Bill Miller

As mentioned in the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 1, of 16 October 2014, part of the initial conversion of the Ram, Mark II tank, to that of a ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carrier, was the repositioning of the No. 19 Wireless Set in the forward left-hull pannier, and as noted above, was also the case with the initial conversion of Ram, Mark II tanks, to that of ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers. One interesting revelation which came to light, as 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment started receiving ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, was that, in some cases, the No. 19 Wireless Set was mounted to far forward in the left-hull pannier, thus overhanging the edge of the pannier and protruding into the carrier, which restricted the traverse of the bow ball-mounted .30-calibre Browning machine gun, to the right by 5-degrees. This overhanging of the edge of the pannier and protruding into the carrier, of the No. 19 Wireless Set, was also noted in those ‘Ram’ armoured ammunition carriers, that had been initial conversions of earlier Ram, Mark II tanks, which had an auxiliary turret, on the left front of the tank. Although the problems mentioned above, had been rectified in ‘Ram’ armoured gun towers, converted to ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, by mounting the No. 19 Wireless Set over the transmission, between the co-driver’s, and driver’s position, as mentioned in the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2, of 27 October 2014. While awaiting a response to this latest problem (from Canadian Military Headquarters (London)) of the wireless set being mounted to far forward in the left-hull pannier, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment Signal Troop, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, as an expedient measure, remounted the No. 19 Wireless Set in the forward right-hull pannier, of those carriers, in which the mounting of the wireless set in the forward left-hull pannier, was causing problems with the protrusion of the set into the carrier, or that was interfering with the operation of the bow mounted .30-calibre Browning machine gun. In January 1945, having been notified of what measures 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment Signal Troop, had taken to rectify the problem with the No. 19 Wireless Set mounting, the Deputy Director of Mechanical Engineering, First Canadian Army⁷, in a letter dated 17 January, recommended to First Canadian Army Headquarters, that they make representation to Canadian Military Headquarters (London), that this work be done in the United Kingdom, prior to replacement ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, being shipped over to North-West Europe.

Although, as stated earlier, the No. 19 Wireless Set was to have been mounted in the forward left-hull pannier of ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, the reality was, that it could, and was, mounted in one of the three positions, as mentioned above, either in the forward left-hull pannier, or in the centre-front over the transmission, between the co-driver’s, and driver’s position, or in the forward right-hull pannier. Those ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers that were eventually equipped with a second No. 19 Wireless Set, would have had it mounted in one of these three positions, as well.

A diagram of the interior of a ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier showing the three possible mounting positions for the No. 19 Wireless Set, as explained in the text.
A – in the forward left-hull pannier,
B – in the centre-front over the transmission, or
C – in the forward right-hull pannier. Source: Author’s collection.

Also, as of 14 October 1944, with Canadian requirements having been met, for the foreseeable future, for the conversion of Ram, Mark II tanks, to either armoured personnel carriers, armoured gun towers, or armoured ammunition carriers, Canadian Military Headquarters (London), agreed to provide the British with 330 Ram tanks⁸, subject to financial agreement, to meet their armoured personnel carrier needs, since on 11 October, Headquarters 21st Army Group, had authorized the formation of a second armoured personnel carrier regiment, to support the Second British Army. Having obtained approval from National Defence Headquarters (Ottawa), these 330 Ram tanks, were released to the British in mid-December 1944, with the understanding that any additional ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers required by First Canadian Army, would come from this source. This was accepted by the British War Office⁹, on 21 December 1944, under the understanding, that a financial adjustment would be made for any issued to First Canadian Army.

Infantrymen of the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, of 131st British Infantry Brigade, loading onto ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers of “B” Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, near Dieteren, Holland, on 15 January 1945, during Operation BLACKCOCK. Note that the crew of the ‘Kangaroo’ in the foreground has left their pioneer tools strapped in place on the rear deck, common practice within the Regiment was to remove these, so that their infantry passengers wouldn’t make off with them for their own use. Source: Bovington Tank Museum (BTM 2293-A5)

A ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of “A” Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, lifting infantrymen of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, in a thrust along the Cleve to Calcar road (Germany), on 16 February 1945, during Operation VERITABLE. Note the forward facing secondary .30-calibre Browning machine gun mounted in the turret ring, with its barrel pointing skyward. Source: MilArt photo archives

Having spent November and December 1944, in Tilburg, Holland, readying themselves and their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers for battle, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps, resumed active operations on 8 January 1945, when two Troops from “B” Squadron lifted two companies of the British 1st Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment¹⁰, in an attack near Venray, Holland. From this attack to the end of hostilities in North-West Europe, on 5 May 1945, the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, were continually in action, carrying infantrymen of both the First Canadian Army, and of the Second British Army, into battle. Although the pace of these operations limited thorough maintenance, in a workshop setting, the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers of 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, were kept in serviceable condition throughout, by the valiant efforts the men of No. 123 Light Aid Detachment (Type E), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, which during the more fluid operations in which the regiment was involved in, would split into two sections. “A” Section, would accompany “A” Squadron, with “B” Section, accompanying “B” Squadron, to aid the crews of the regiments ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, in both maintenance and repair tasks, as the need arose. On 9 March 1945, in preparation for the forthcoming crossing of the River Rhine (Operation PLUNDER), “B” Squadron, was ordered into workshops, followed by “A” Squadron (on 11 March), for a major overhaul and refitting of their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers. By 20 March, both squadrons had returned from workshops, during which as part of the refitting process, their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, had been equipped with the new track extended end connectors. These end connectors greatly widened the width of the track, which in turn, further reduced the track pressure resulting in better performance on soft ground.

BUCKSHEE and another ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of “B” Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, with infantrymen of “A” Company, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, in Werlte, Germany, on 11 April 1945. Note the track extended end connectors on the outside edge of the right track, of both ‘Kangaroos’, and also the position of the secondary .30-calibre Browning machine gun mounted in the turret ring. Source: MilArt photo archives

ENID, a Kangaroo of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, showing a closer view of examples of the crescent shaped ‘tarp/bivouac’ supports, the secondary .30-calibre Browning machine gun (with the feed tray) mounted in the front of the turret ring, with its barrel pointing to the right, the track extended end connectors on the outside edge of the track, and the later style of bogie assembly, with the return roller mounted on a trailing arm behind the bogie assembly. Source: 1 CACR Association & Archive

By April 1945, the Ram tanks upon which the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, was based, were now two to three years old. Prior to conversion to armoured personnel carriers, these Ram tanks had been used extensively in the United Kingdom for training purposes by units of the Canadian Armoured Corps, before being converted to ‘Ram’ armoured personnel carriers, and having been, more or less in continuous use since arriving in North-West Europe, were now showing their age. Both the men of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, and those of No. 123 Light Aid Detachment (Type E), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, worked heroically to keep them maintained and ready for battle. As testament to the work of both the crew members, and of No. 123 Light Aid Detachment, in keeping their carriers in serviceable condition, and in response to some maintenance issues that were raised while his regiments armoured personnel carriers, were in workshops during March, Lieutenant-Colonel Churchill, Commanding Officer, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, in a letter of 4 April 1945, to the Brigadier, Royal Armoured Corps¹¹, First Canadian Army Headquarters, stated, that at no time had a Kangaroo failed to reach the objective, once an attack had commenced, unless it had been knocked out by enemy anti-tank fire, or suffered damage from enemy land mines, or had become stuck in mud, or had been stopped at the express request of the infantry commander of the infantrymen they carried. He also noted in his letter that since active operations had commenced for the regiment in January, neither of his Squadrons had failed to provide sufficient ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, to meet the requirements of the infantry, they were to carry. He also commented, that since January, only five of the regiments ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, had broken down due to maintenance problems prior to an attack, but that these breakdowns, had not impeded the attack or caused the infantry, not to have arrived at their objectives.

No. 1 Troop, “A” Squadron, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, carrying infantrymen of “B” Company, The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, advancing on Groningen, Holland, on the morning of 13 April 1945. Source: 1 CACR Association & Archive

The end of hostilities in North-West Europe, on 5 May 1945, found all of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, in Germany, with Regimental Headquarters, at Cloppenburg, “A” Squadron at Oldenburg, and “B” Squadron near Markhausen. On 15 May, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, was ordered to concentrate at Enschede, Holland, where they were to ready their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, for turnover to Ordnance. The .30-calibre Browning machine guns, and wireless sets, along with all associated equipment, were to be removed, as well as all tank tools, and pioneer tools. The carriers were also to be cleaned and painted. On 11 June 1945, 52 ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, of “A” squadron, along with three belonging to “B” Squadron, were returned to Ordnance, followed on 15 June, by the remaining 50 ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, of “B” Squadron. Thus with having received notification of disbandment, on 12 June, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment Signal Troop, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, and No. 123 Light Aid Detachment (Type E), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, were disbanded, with effect from 11:59 P.M., on 20 June 1945, under authority from Headquarters First Canadian Army Troops Area, dated 17 June 1945.

As of 28 July 1945, the Canadian Army Overseas¹², held a total of 160 ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, and an additional 20, that had been converted over from ‘Ram’ armoured gun towers, to that of ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers. Shortly afterwards, those that were held in vehicle parks within Holland, were handed over (at no cost) to the Royal Netherlands Army, as they began the process of rebuilding themselves, in the wake of the Second World War. Those that were held in the United Kingdom, eventually passed into service with the British Army.

The ‘Ram’ Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carrier in British service

With Headquarters 21st Army Group, on 11 October 1944, having authorized the formation of a second armoured personnel carrier regiment, to support the Second British Army, the British 49th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment (consisting of Regimental Headquarters, “A” Squadron, and “C” Squadron), was subsequently redesignated the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps (consisting of Regimental Headquarters, “A” Squadron, and “C” Squadron), with an authorized strength of 20 officers and 456 other ranks, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. King, Royal Tank Regiment, and were concentrated at Vilvoorde, Belgium, on 1 November 1944, for organizational purposes. From 2 to 7 November, as the crews of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, received their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, they set about the task of preparing them for action. On 22 December 1944, the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, joined their sister regiment, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, in the British 31st Tank Brigade¹³, of the British 79th Armoured Division¹⁴, with which they served until the end of hostilities in North-West Europe, in May 1945.

The British 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment was organized, under British War Establishment XIV/1643/1 ‘An Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, 21 Army Group,’ with effect from 16 October 1944, consisting of, a Regimental headquarters and two squadrons, with each squadron consisting of a Squadron headquarters with five armoured personnel carriers, an Administration Troop and four Troops, each consisting of a Troop headquarters with three armoured personnel carriers and three sections, each with three armoured personnel carriers. This armoured personnel carrier allotment to the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, gave it the capability of lifting two battalions of infantry as follows, using one Section – an Infantry platoon headquarters and three sections, using one Troop – an Infantry company headquarters and three platoons, using one Squadron – an Infantry battalion headquarters and four companies, and with using the whole Regiment – two battalions.

‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers of “A” Squadron, 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Source: Bovington Tank Museum (BTM 1115-B3)

Infantrymen of the British 3rd Infantry Division loading onto Kangaroos of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, prior to an attack on Kervenheim, Germany, 2 March 1945. Source: Imperial War Museum (B 14972)

The ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers for the British 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment came from Ram Mark II tank stocks in the United Kingdom, previously transferred to the War Office (see Note 8), and earmarked for conversion, by the British, to Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers. The majority of the Ram Mark II tanks transferred to the British, and then converted to ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers, were mid-production Ram Mark II tanks bearing census numbers¹⁵ between CT40101 and CT40437, and those between CT40438 and CT40937, with auxiliary turrets but without sponson doors¹⁶, although the British also converted some of the earlier production Ram tanks they had received from the CT39000 series, which had sponson doors. Most of these had the earlier ‘Vertical Volute Spring’ type suspensions with the return roller mounted in the centre on top of each bogie assembly (see the ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 1, of 16 October 2014). As mentioned earlier, an additional 330 Ram tanks, were released to the British in mid-December 1944, to meet their armoured personnel carrier needs.

Infantrymen of the British 3rd Infantry Division loading onto Kangaroos of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, prior to an attack on Kervenheim, Germany, 2 March 1945. Courtesy Barry Beldom

A ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier of “A” Squadron, 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, carrying infantrymen of the 4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, 130th British Infantry Brigade, on the outskirts of Ochtrup, Germany, 3 April 1945, prior to the liberation of Enschede, Holland. Source: Imperial War Museum (BU 2956)

From 8 November 1944, through to 5 May 1945, the British 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, like their sister regiment, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, were actively involved in operations. In March 1945, because of the increasing demands made on the regiment, in the support of infantry operations, and at the recommendation of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. King, “F” Squadron, 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, was authorized, consisting of a Squadron headquarters with five armoured personnel carriers, an Administration Troop and four Troops, each consisting of a Troop headquarters with three armoured personnel carriers and three sections, each with three armoured personnel carriers. At the end of hostilities in North-West Europe, the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (Regimental Headquarters, “A,” “C,” and “F” Squadrons), was concentrated in the area of Hamburg, Germany, where on 10 June 1945, they began turning in their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. The 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, was eventually disbanded effective 13 December 1945. The British Army retained their ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers in service, as armoured personnel carriers, or as driver training vehicles, to name but a couple of roles, until approximately 1955, when they were phased out of service.

‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers in postwar service with the British Army. Source: Bovington Tank Museum (BTM 2293-A1)

A ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier in postwar service with the British Army. Source: Bovington Tank Museum (BTM 2272-E1)

Conclusion

From their first use on the night of 7/8 August, 1944¹⁷, through to the cease fire on 5 May, 1945, ‘Kangaroo’ armoured personnel carriers had been in the van of both major and minor assaults carried out by the infantrymen of 21st Army Group. The problem of lowering infantry casualties and moving the infantry at ‘tank’ speed from start line to the final objective, had been solved. The tactical handling of infantry in the ‘advance’, working with tanks, had been revolutionized by the advent of the ‘Kangaroo’ armoured personnel carrier.

Part of the Commanding Officer’s (Lieutenant-Colonel Churchill) address to 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment, on 11 May, 1945, best sums up the story of the ‘Kangaroo’ in Canadian service:

“ ……we have also been instrumental in saving the lives of countless soldiers who, without the Kangaroos, would have had to advance on foot unprotected from enemy fire. It is most comforting to reflect that many Canadian and British soldiers are alive today because of this Kangaroo Regiment.”

The original concept of the ‘Priest’ and ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers is still in use today by the Canadian Army, in the form of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III, although the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III is an eight-wheeled vehicle, its function is that of an armoured personnel carrier for the infantry, still adhering to the phase of 1944 “The essentials are that the infantry shall be carried in bullet and splinter-proof vehicles to their actual objectives.”

Any errors and/or omissions, in Parts 1, 2, and 3, of ‘The ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier,’ is entirely the fault of the author.

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Bibliography:

Law, C M, Making Tracks, Tank Production in Canada, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2001

Library and Archives Canada, Records Group 24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14301, Reel T-15430 and T-15431, Volume 16317, Volume 14995, and various other Files/Volumes – Records Group 24, National Defence

Lucy, R V, Canada’s Pride, The Ram Tank and its Variants, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2014

Knight, D, Tools of the Trade, Equipping the Canadian Army, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2005

Ramsden, K R, The Canadian Kangaroos in World War II, Ramsden-Cavan Publishing, Cavan, Ontario, 1998

Roberts, P, The Ram Development and Variants, Volume 1, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2002

Roberts, P, The Ram Development and Variants, Volume 2, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2005

The National Archives Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom – WO 24 – War Office: Papers concerning Establishments – Sub Series WO 24/954 – War establishments – 1945 January-March – An Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, 21 Army Group, War Establishment XIV/1643/1 (4 pages).

Tonner, M W, The Kangaroo in Canadian Service, Service Publications, Ottawa, Ontario, 2005

Notes:

1. The metal rings, within the turret ring, which have a circular track inside of them, in which the ball bearings enable the rotation of the turret.
2. The No. 19 Wireless Set consisted of an “A” set for general use and a “B” set for short range work and an intercommunication unit for the crew. The No. 19 set had a maximum voice range of 10-miles (16-kilometres) and a maximum morse range of 15½-miles (25-kilometres).
3. On a Ram tank, the hull pannier, was the armoured portion of the hull which extended outwards above the tracks to the outer edge of the track.
4. An armoured plated lip.
5. In error, in early October 1944, CT159871, was issued to the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, Canadian Armoured Corps, from “F” Squadron, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), Canadian Armoured Corps, but stayed in service with the regiment throughout the remainder of the war, with “B” Squadron Headquarters.
6. At this time, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, was under command of the Second British Army.
7. The officer responsible for the maintenance and repair of First Canadian Army’s equipment.
8. These were in addition to the 446 Ram Mark II tanks that had been transferred to the British earlier, in exchange for Sherman tanks from British stocks, as agreed upon at a meeting between Canadian Military Headquarters (London), and the British War Office, which was held on 22 October 1943.
9. The British War Office was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army, until 1964, when its functions were transferred to the British Ministry of Defence.
10. A component of the British 8th Infantry Brigade, of the 3rd Infantry Division.
11. The Brigadier, Royal Armoured Corps, First Canadian Army Headquarters, was the advisor to the General Officer Commanding -in-Chief, First Canadian Army, and officer responsible for all matters dealing with armoured formations and units, within First Canadian Army.
12. The Canadian Army Overseas was the name given to that portion of the Canadian Army that served in the United Kingdom and Europe, during the period of the Second World War.
13. Which on 2 February 1945, was redesignated the 31st Armoured Brigade.
14. The British 79th Armoured Division operated specialized armoured vehicles modified for specialist roles.
15. In order to provide a positive means of identifying individual vehicles, every Canadian Army vehicle was given a separate serial number, commonly referred to as census number. In the case of the Ram tank, this number was preceded by the prefix letters “CT,” the letter “C” denoting the vehicle as Canadian, and the letter “T” denoting that the vehicle was a tank. These census numbers were normally stenciled onto the vehicle in white letters 3½-inches (9-centimetres) high.
16. A door located in the centre of the left and right hull side.
17. See the ‘Priest’ Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carrier, in Canadian Service, 7 August to 30 September 1944, of 28 August 2014.

The ‘Ram’ Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier, Part 2

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