Armour in Canada: Otter Light Reconnaissance Car

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205704)

Otter armoured cars of the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards (PLDG) patrol through the streets of an Italian town on the left flank of the Canadian Divisional Area, 26 October 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198905)

Princess Louise Dragoon Guards' Otter Light Reconnaissance Cars advancing down a winding Italian road to river valley, 26 October 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3396466)

Private W.G. Skidstrup and Private A.A. Annala working on a General Motors Canada Otter scout car of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division near Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 19 April 1945.

(Author Photo)

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car Mk. I, Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

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The Otter Light Reconnaissance Car (LRC) (known officially by the British as Car, Light Reconnaissance, Canadian GM (R.A.C.) was a light produced at Oshawa, Ontario during the Second World War for British and Commonwealth forces. The design followed the layout of the British Humber Mk. III LRC. The Otter was based on the Chevrolet C15 chassis and used many standard GM components. It took a crew of three - driver and commander seated in the vehicle front, while the gunner occupied the turret position at the rear. A Wireless Set No. 19 was mounted in the rear with A and B set aerials extending from the rear of the fighting compartment on mounting arms.

The primary armament consisted of a hull-mounted Boys anti-tank rifle and a in a small open-topped turret. A is mounted alongside the mounting for the Boys anti-tank rifle. Although it used a more powerful engine than the Humber, it was larger and heavier (by a ton); overall performance was less than that of the Humber, but still acceptable. Between 1942 and 1945, 1761 units were produced in Oshawa, Ontario, though fewer than 1,000 were delivered overseas

The Otter served with Canadian units in the Italian Campaign and in Northwest Europe.

(IWM Photo, NA 7854)

An Otter Light Reconnaissance Car crossing a Bailey bridge over the Volturno river at Grazzanise, Italy, 14-16 October 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524680)

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car camouflaged in a built-up area with the Regina Rifles of the 7th Infantry Brigade, parked alongside badly bombed buildings. Emmerich, Germany, 30 March 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607603)

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car in Italy. The censor has scratched out the unit markings.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198185)

Otter Light Reconnaissance Car driving over rough terrain in Tunisia, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3608067)

17th Royal Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, Otter Reconnaissance Car, Preston Park, December 1942.

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