RCAF Mobile Support Equipment (MSE): Ambulances
RCAF Mobile Support Equipment (MSE): Ambulances
(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.
(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.
