RCAF Mobile Support Equipment (MSE)

Mobile Support Equipment, Royal Canadian Air Force

Mobile Support Equipment Operators (MSE OP) operate military vehicles ranging in size from standard automobiles to snow removal equipment and all-terrain vehicles. An MSE OP carries out duties related to driving, operating and performing operator's maintenance on a variety of administrative and Standard Military Pattern (SMP) vehicles. Employment involves both static and operational tours in the air and land environment.

The author's father, Warrant Officer (Retired) Aage C. Skaarup was an MSE Op in the RCAF and CF from 1954 to 1974. He trained at St. Jean, Quebec and served at Camp Borden, Ontario, RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, No. 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany from 1959-1963, CFB North Bay, Ontario, from 1963-1966, CFS Gypsumville, Manitoba, from 1966-1968, CFS Gander, Newfoundland, from 1968-1971, and CFB Chatham, New Brunswick. from 1971-1974, where he retired as a Warrant Officer in 1974. Dad passed away in 2011 and is buried near his farm in Carleton County, New Brunswick.

(RCAF Photo)

LAC Aage C. Skaarup, RCAF MSE Op, 2nd from the right.

RCAF Mobile Support Equipment

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581104)

RCAF truck No. 255, loaded with aircraft wings, 28 June 1937.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643572)

RCAF Ford runabout truck No. 52, Camp Borden, 23 Aug 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581330)

RCAF 1934 Ford 2-ton dump truck, 3 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643566)

RCAF Ford half-track crash tender No. 340, Camp Borden, Ontario, 28 Sep 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643565)

RCAF Ford half-track crash tender No. 340, Camp Borden, Ontario, 28 Sep 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580952)

Innis Cunningham half-track dump truck, 25 Feb 1936.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581336)

RCAF 1937 Ford Coach No. 308, 3 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586742)

RCAF Mechanical transport Vehicle No. 30-136 RE, 12 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581798)

RCAF 1941 Chevrolet staff car with flag, 18 June 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584186)

RCAF Ford 4-door, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584409)

RCAF 1950 Plymouth sedan, 14 Aug 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584205)

RCAF Plymouth two-door car No. 4453-26, 20 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583342)

RCAF motor Transport Fleet, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 4 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195690)

Canadian Military Pattern Field Artillery Tractor, Ford, Mar 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581327)

RCAF 1937 GMC Panel Delivery half-ton, No. 338, 3 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581326)

RCAF 1938 Ford Station Wagon No. 347, 5 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643569)

RCAF GMC triple combination fire truck No. 41, Camp Borden, Ontario, 23 Aug 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643571)

RCAF International triple combination fire tender No. 1, Camp Borden, 23 Aug 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586780)

RCAF Fire Truck, 6 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584408)

RCAF International Fire Pumper, 14 Aug 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581465)

RCAF 1937 Chevrolet Fire Truck No. 318, crash tender, Trenton, Ontario, 6 Oct 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581126)

RCAF Chevrolet Crash tender, 26 Aug 1937.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586149)

Avro Lancaster, coded AP-D, being towed by a Cletrac M2 High Speed Tractor, No. 8 Detachment, 16 November 1948. Avro Lancaster Mk. 10P coded AP-D flew with No. 413 'Tusker' (P) Squadron. The photo was likely taken at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Note the North Star in front. The squadron's association with the Lancaster was very short-lived. They operated the type from January, 1948 to April, 1948.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581324)

RCAF 1935 Cletrac Tractor No. 295, 3 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581318)

RCAF 1938 Cletrac Diesel Tractor No. 358, 3 July 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581321)

RCAF 1938 Cletrac Model FDL80 Diesel Tractor No. 358, with rotary snow blower attached, 3 July 1939.

(DND Photos via Jean-yves Giroux)

German- Swiss-Canadian tracked Snowblower, ca 1945. After the end of the Second World War, Canadian Army Major Becker, was sent to Germany to study the German and Swiss experience in fighting snow in the mountains. In Austrian Tyrol, he discovered and transported to Canada the most powerful rotary snow blower in the world at that time. The development of this machine was the responsibility of the Snow Research Center, created by Todt. He achieved great success in solving the problems of snow removal and road construction in snow (this was especially interesting for Canadians who decided to build a network of roads through snowy areas). It is built on a chassis of the German medium tank Pz.IV. The engine of the Pz.IV tank has a power of only 300 hp. This power is still enough for movement, but of course there is no frontal attack of a two-meter-high snow wall from dense packed snow. Therefore, for throwing snow, a 700-horsepower engine from the Pz. VI Tiger heavy tank was put on the back of the swinging frame with rotors.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584209)

RCAF Tractor Crawler Size 3 Ancle Dozer No. 21-723 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584183)

RCAF tractor crawler, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584197)

RCAF Tractor Crawler, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582020)

RCAF Tractor Crawler, snow removalequipment, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontairo, c1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584219)

RCAF Cyclone snow remover vehicle, 17 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584204)

RCAF 5-ton Sicard snowblower No. 79-987, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584387)

RCAF 5-ton Sicard snowblower, 23 June 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3237527)

RCAF Walter 4-wheel drive truck with rotary snow loader, 14 Apr 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583142)

RCAF Walter 4-wheel drive Snow Fighter with Roto Wing, 4 Feb 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583749)

RCAF Walter 4-wheel drive Snow Fighter with Seacar snow plough, 26 Apr 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584315)

RCAF 3-ton one way snow plough, 1 Dec 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584316)

RCAF 3-ton one way snow plough, 1 Dec 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584194)

RCAF 3-ton one way snow plough, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584386)

RCAF snow plough, 23 June 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3585101)

RCAF snow removal equipment, 15 April 1955.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584215)

RCAF snow roller, 25 Jan 1949.

(RCAF Photo)

RCAF crane being used to work on an RCAF Fairey Battle being used as a training aid as it has its wings clipped and the stubs sealed. Techs at work at various duties, No 6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario. Multi-wheeled (Lorain) cranes like this were used to speed up RCA.F maintenance work. The Fairey Battle training aircraft is being moved out of the hangar, 3 Sep 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584388)

RCAF Lorain Crane, 23 June 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586786)

RCAF Lorain Crane, 12 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3941005)

LST (Landing Ship, Tank) that carried RCAF unit HQ personnel with their equipment and vehicles to France in 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584198)

RCAF Lorain Crane, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586654)

RCAF mechanical lift used to move a Dakota engine, Norman Wells, NWT, July 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584180)

RCAF Crane No. 35-339 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

RCAF Rapier crane. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581602)

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Lockheed CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft, with ground crew unloading a No, 444 Squadron Canadair CL-13 Sabre (Serial No. 23470), onto the back of a goose-neck flat bed 1964 Mack Superliner truck, at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario in the 1950s

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. CF-104 12761) being transported on the back of a goose-neck flat bed 1964 Mack Superliner truck.

(RCAF Photo)

Crane used to make an engine change on Canadair CP-107 Argus (Serial No. 10712).

(CF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo (Serial No. 101048), No. 425 Sqn being lifted by a Letourneau crane after it turned off the runway too fast and its nose wheel collapsed. Hangar 6 in the background The crane was nicknamed "Dino" after the Flintstones cartoon show. Cranes purchased for the RCAF ca 1976-77.

(CF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo (Serial No. 101048), No. 425 Sqn being lifted by a Letourneau crane after it turned off the runway too fast and its nose wheel collapsed. Hangar 6 in the background.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584389)

RCAF airfield tractor, 23 June 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584189)

RCAF Mule aircraft towing tractor, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583283)

RCAF Farmall A aircraft towing tractor, 24 May 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583297)

RCAF Farmall A aircraft towing tractor with Avro Anson, 2 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584495)

RCAF David Brown aircraft tractor, 9 May 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4315396)

RCAF Mule towing a Douglas Digby, ca 1940s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4315400)

RCAF Mule towing a Douglas Digby, ca 1940s.

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

RCAF Mule towing Avro Lancaster Mk. XN (Serial No. KB986), an Instructional Trainer A561, out of the hanger at 2 Maritime Operational Training Unit (OTU), RCAF Station Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584909)

RCAF Mule, 11 Mar 1954.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584182)

RCAF Ambulance No. 30-675 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4448522)

RCAF Ambulance crew unloading patient from a Noorduyn Norseman, 17 March 1954.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584602)

RCAF Ambulance, 17 Sep 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584195)

RCAF 3-ton passenger Bus, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583390)

RCAF Bus, 23 June 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584877)

RCAF Bus, 18 Dec 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586783)

RCAF Mechanical Transport Vehicle No. 31-639 RE, 12 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584196)

RCAF half-ton panel truck No. 31-630 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586779)

RCAF radio control truck No. 4925, 12 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583056)

RCAF radio control truck, North American AT-16 Harvard Mk. IIB. RCAF (Serial No. FS965), collision, 16 Oct 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583054)

RCAF radio control truck, North American AT-16 Harvard Mk. IIB. RCAF (Serial No. FS965) collision, 16 Oct 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584211)

RCAF Station Wagon, No. V 65-303, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584880)

RCAF recruiting vehicle, 18 Dec 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584879)

RCAF recruiting vehicle, 18 Dec 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582398)

RCAF 2-a-half ton Chevrolet refuelling truck, 3 Feb 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3577545)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing Fairchild 71s, ca 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581174)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing Fairchild 71s.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3577543)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing Fairchild 71s, ca 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581986)

RCAF CWT petrol tender, 22 Nov 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3614997)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing a Hawker Hurricane Mk I, 6 Oct 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3577559)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing a Westland Lysander Mk. I (Serial No. 419), No. 110 Sqn, Rockcliffe, 23 Jan 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3560836)

RCAF refueling tender servicing a Westland Lysander Mk. IIT (Serial No. 1557) target tug, Patricia Bay, BC, 14 Feb 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581603)

RCAF refuelling tender No. 398, serving a Bristol Bolingbroke, 23 Jan 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3589508)

RCAF refuelling truck N93099, 3 May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584298)

RCAF refueling tender servicing a North American Harvard, 6 Sep 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584299)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing a Beechcraft Expeditor, 6 Sep 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584297)

RCAF refuelling tender No. 655, servicing a Canadair CL-2 North Star, 6 Sep 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584501)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing a Canadair CL-2 North Star, 23 May 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584878)

Canadair CL-2 North Star Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 17513), Rockcliffe Ice Wagon, Experimental Proving Establishment, 18 Dec 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584295)

RCAF refuelling tender with Consolidated PBY Canso, 6 Sep 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584296)

RCAF refuelling tender servicing an Avro Lancaster, 6 Sep 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584203)

RCAF refuelling tender, 800 gal, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586784)

RCAF refuelling tender, 6 Apr 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584207)

RCAF refuelling tender, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583143)

RCAF refuelling truck, 1300 gallon, 4 Feb 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584819)

RCAF refuelling truck, de Havilland Comet, 22 June 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581029)

RCAF GMC fire truck, 22 March 1937.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581032)

RCAF GMC fire truck, 22 March 1937.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581664)

RCAF Fire Truck No. 534, 28 May 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582399)

RCAF GMC fire truck, 3 Feb 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583309)

RCAF Crash truck No., 16 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582401)

RCAF Ford Marmon Harrington crash tender, 5 Feb 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584181)

RCAF Fire truck, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584661)

RCAF, fire truck, 3 Jan 1952.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584660)

RCAF, fire truck, demonstration, 3 Jan 1952.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584784)

RCAF fire truck, 22 May 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584932)

RCAF Fire Truck, 30 Apr 1954.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

RCAF Fire Truck being loaded onto a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, possibly at RCAF Station Trenton, ca 1959.

(DND Photo via Francois Dutil)

RCAF Fire Truck being loaded onto a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, possibly at RCAF Station Trenton, ca 1959.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 411630)

RCAF Fire Truck, Cpl McGee, 28 July 1970.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4118631)

RCAF Sicard fire truck, 29 June 1970.

(NDIL DND Photos)

Nodwell Tracked Airfield fire truck, 1990.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586116)

RCAF truck No. 5404 with Grumman Goose, July 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583659)

RCAF L Lorry, 10 Jan 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584695)

RCAF truck No. 61K64-A43 with Diesel engine pack loaded, Uplands, 13 Aug 1952. The truck is a winch-equipped model, and is carrying a 5J series cat first generation diesel engine with 3 phase generator. (Andrew Crossen)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584200)

RCAF Ford 3-ton 60-cwt dump truck No. 36-405, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584210)

RCAF 1-3/4-ton truck, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584201)

RCAF 2-ton stake truck No. 32-439 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584199)

RCAF 3-ton crash tender truck, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582400)

RCAF Ford Warford Multiwheeler-crash tender No. 84, 5 Feb 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3589507)

RCAF MT truck, SC bomb hoist, 4 May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584202)

MT truck, SC bomb hoist, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584212)

RCAF SC 3-ton truck No. 33-190, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584208)

RCAF pick-up truck No. 440 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199203)

RCAF aerodrome control truck, Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 14 March 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584193)

RCAF aerodrome control truck, No. 35-685 RE, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584073)

RCAF Flying Control Vehicle, 16 June 1947.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584192)

RCAF panel truck, refrigerator, No. 412 Sqn, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584187)

RCAF panel truck No. 31-850 RE,with public address system, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584184)

RCAF weapon carrier truck, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3356798)

Canadian Army truck, 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582259)

RCAF crash tender on 4 X $ chassis, 22 Oct 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582294)

RCAF crash tender on 4 X $ chassis, 22 Oct 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583530)

RCAF Nutrional Laboratories truck, 5 Oct 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584190)

RCAF 1/4 ton Car 5-Cwt (Wartime designation), Jeep, No. 95-558, 25 Jan 1949.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584220)

Shoran truck, Sudbury, Ontario, 12 Feb 1949.

SHORAN is an acronym for SHOrt RAnge Navigation, a type of electronic navigation and bombing system using a precision radar beacon. ... SHORAN used ground-based transponders to respond to interrogation signals sent from the bomber aircraft.

SHORAN used ground-based transponders to respond to interrogation signals sent from the bomber aircraft. By measuring the round-trip time to and from one of the transponders, the distance to that ground station could be accurately determined. The aircraft flew an arcing path that kept it at a predetermined distance from one of the stations. The distance to a second station was also being measured, and when it reached a predetermined distance from that station as well, the bombs were dropped. The basic idea was similar to the Oboe system developed by the Royal Air Force, but in Oboe the transponder was on the aircraft. This limited Oboe to guiding a single aircraft per ground station, while SHORAN could guide dozens, limited only by how rapidity the ground station's transponders could respond. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584392)

RCAF 3/4-ton truck, Avro Lancaster, Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories, 14 June 1950.

(NDIL DND Photos)

RCAF Crash rescue ambulance.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584753)

1952 Dodge ¾ ton, 4 X 4, Ambulance, M43, Canadian, Ambulance, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 6 March 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584754)

1952 Dodge ¾ ton, 4 X 4, Ambulance, M43, Canadian, Ambulance, interior view, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 6 March 1953.

(Comox AFM Photo)

1952 Dodge ¾ ton, 4 X 4, Ambulance, M43, Canadian, undergoing a practice Nuclear-Biological-Chemical decontamination, 1976.

M37 ¾ Ton Standard Military Pattern trucks. (Article courtesy of the Comox Air Force Museum)

During the Second World War, Canada developed and produced a range of soft-skin vehicles generally following British requirements although with their own distinct cabs. By the early 1950s it was considered more practical to use American-pattern vehicles to replace the older fleet, both for general economy and for the very practical reason that many US manufacturers of these vehicles had large subsidiaries in Canada. This led to the adoption of the M Series based on the then-new M38 ¼ ton, M37 ¾ ton and M135 2½ ton trucks. In Canada, the M-Series trucks were referred to as Standard Military Pattern (SMP). Vehicles for Canadian use were built in Canada and differed from their American equivalents in a number of ways. These included a larger and more powerful engine (251 cu in block) which was already in widespread commercial use, a hard top on the cab with an insulated roof, and cold weather engine priming kits.

The M37 CDN was based on the American Army M37 ¾ ton truck designed and built in the US by Dodge. Canadian SMP trucks entered production with Chrysler Corporation of Canada in 1951. They were initially referred to as M37C until May 1951, when the suffix “CDN” was formally added (i.e. M37 CDN) to all Canadian-manufactured SMP vehicles. The first M37 CDN was completed by Chrysler of Canada in October 1951. By December 1955, 3,071 M37 CDN had been delivered to the Canadian Army and RCAF, with different variants in service at home as well as in Germany and on UN deployments. Three additional models based on the M37 chassis and drive train were:

M43 CDN ambulance (409 built) – its role was solely to evacuate casualties from the battle area or airfield

M152 CDN panel trucks (1,038 built) – this model was unique to Canada and contained different radio, command and communications packages

M56 CDN (6 built) -this was a long wheelbase (LWB) M37 less the cargo box.

It was intended for special purpose vehicle projects, such as water tankers or welding trucks. Special Equipment Vehicle (SEV) kits for specialty roles were developed including several types of radio installations, SS11B and ENTAC anti-tank missile launchers, cable laying kits and repair and wrecker sets. All M37 CDN vehicles, and the various models, were phased out and replaced from the mid-1970s.

The M43 CDN Ambulance had a panel body with no windows. It was fitted with double rear doors which opened to the litter racks, and had a rear step for ease of the litter bearers. A siren, a revolving red light, and a search lamp were fitted to the roof. The spare tire was normally mounted to the driver’s door and the pioneer tool rack (shovel, picks, and axes) was mounted on the floor of the tool compartment beneath the body panel, just forward of the rear wheels. An exhaust pipe extension reduced the risk of engine exhaust entering the litter compartment and eliminated unsightly smoke residue on the panel body and on the white background of the red cross. It was equipped with a 251 cu in, 6-cylinder engine.

A History of the MSE Trade

Extracts from the RCAF MSE Logbook, 1924-1967, Reunion 1985