Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) 1939-1945

Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC)

1939-1945

The photos on these pages have been gleaned from the Library and Archives Canada collection and a few by the author.  Many of the photos were filed with detailed information missing from the caption section.  This set of photos has been collated and compiled by the author with information added where photos can be compared with existing tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.  There are errors in some of the data, and any additions, corrections or amendments to data concerning the posted photos here would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4164905)
Canadian armour and infantry observing the aerial bombing of German positions from a forming up point (FUP) on the Caen-Falaise Road, in preparation for continued heavy fighting through Normandy France, 8 Aug 1944.

Canadian Tanks and Armour in the Second World War

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4232408)

Fox Heavy Reconnaissance Car with MGen F.F. Worthington in front of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607969)

2-pounder Anti-Tank gun mounted on a Universal Carrier, Camp Borden, Ontario, ca 1940.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195889)

Valentine tank, Angus Workshops, Montreal, 23 May 1941.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 31925884).

Valentine (Cruiser) tank armed with a 2-pounder gun under construction in Montreal, 23 May 1941.

The Valentine Infantry Tank Mk. III built by the CPR Angus Shops in Montreal, Quebec, was designed for the support of infantry in attack.  It entered production in England in 1940 and in Canada in 1941.  The first examples of this tank with a three-man turret went to the Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicles Training Centre at Camp Borden where they were used for gunnery and tank commander training.  1,390 Canadian produced Valentines were sent to Russia, while 30 remained in Canada for trials and training.  Valentines were powered by a General Motors 6-cylinder, 2-cycle Diesel Engine and equipped with three-wheel Bogie assemblies.  Its main armament was an Ordnance QF 2-pounder Mk. IX gun and a .30-calibre Browning M1919A4 machine-gun co-axially mounted on the mantlet.  War department numbers for the 30 Valentines in Canada ran from CT-138916 to CT-148945.

(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)

1997.28.12.

Canadian Armoured Fighting Vehicle Training Center badge.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586332)

Valentine Bridgelayer tank, near Melfa, Italy, 23 May 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233173)

Canadian tanks, moving into position in support of an attack south of Caen, France, June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PA116535)

Sherman V Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Mk. I, Authie, Normandy, France July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233174)

Sherman V Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Mk. I, moving into position in support of an attack south of Caen, France, June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3285309)

M3 Lee Tanks on a railway car, Buffalo, New York, ca 1942.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607523)

M3 Lee medium tank in Canadian service on maneuvers in England, ca 1942.

(UK, Historical Photographs and Prints)

Canadian troops with American tanks, UK, 21 Feb 1942.  Note the combination of US and Canadian crash helmets, and the various states of the crew's coveralls.  The caption for the photo reads, "A Canadian Armoured Division are finishing their training in this country equipped with American M-3 Medium Tanks manufactured in Detroit.  The performance of these tanks is thoroughly tested by Army Officers before they leave the factory."

At the time, American industry was unable to build a turret large enough to house the 75-mm gun, so the side mount was a compromise.  By late 1942 that problem had been solved with the M4 Sherman.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3590671)

M2A4 Stuart light tank with protective cover, England, 27 Mar 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3262645)

Troopers of a Canadian armoured brigade getting out of a new General Motors Canada fifteen-hundred weight armoured truck near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 5 December 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194297)

Priest Kangaroo (aka "Defrocked Priest") converted into an Artillery Command Vehicle, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, moving into Delden, Netherlands, 4 April 1945.

The 4th Canadian Armoured Division landed in Normandy in July of 1944 as a reinforcement for the Allied effort in the Normandy Campaign.  The composition of an armoured division differed from that of an infantry division, in that an armoured division was composed of Sherman and Churchill tanks with supporting infantry.  The order of battle for such a division was as follows: 1 armoured brigade, which included 3 armoured regiments, 1 infantry brigade, also composed of 3 regiments. Artillery formations included 2 field regiments, as well as 1 anti-tank regiment and 1 light anti-aircraft regiment.  Divisional troops included engineers, signalers, a reconnaissance regiment, supply/transport and medical personnel.  The total strength on paper for an armoured division was 14,964 Officers and Other Ranks.  (Laurier Military History Archive)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224036)

4th Canadian Armoured Division Sherman tanks lined up awaiting the order to proceed with the infantry to clear German paratroopers from the town ahead of them, 11 April 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194838)

Gen Eisenhower visiting units of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. Gen Harry Crerar, centre.  29 Nov 1944.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205159)

Kangaroo used by The Fort Garry Horse as an armoured ambulance, Holten, Netherlands, 8 April 1945.  Troopers Joe Fine, Bob Wright (laying prone on the Kangaro), and Corporal Frank Aikens, photo taken by Lieutenant Dan Guravich.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3613390)

1st Cdn. Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment "Kangaroos" 1945 N.W. Europe. Squadron formed in Aug. 1944, Regiment formed in Aug. 1944, Served from Normandy to Oldenburg.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo,MIKAN No. 3613391)

1st Cdn. Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (Kangaroos) 1945 N.W. Europe. Sqn formed Aug. 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197576)

Sexton 25-pounder SP Gun, NW Europe, Nov 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3512556)

M7B2 Priest 105-mm SP Gun, Gothic Line, Italy, Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205227)

M7B2 Priest 105-mm SP Gun, 34 Battery, 14th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, France, 20 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191596)

M7B2 Priest of the RCA being inspected by King George VI, 25 Apr 1944.

(DND Photo courtesy of Clive Law)

Canadian Skink 20 mm Quad Anti-Aircraft Tank.

(DND Photo courtesy of Clive Law)

Canadian Skink 20 mm Quad Anti-Aircraft Tank.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607599)

Crusader Tank.

The Tank, Cruiser, Mk. VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser during the early part of the Second World War.  Over 5,000 tanks were manufactured and they made important contributions to the British victories during the North African Campaign.  The Crusader tank would not see active service beyond Africa, but the chassis of the tank was modified to create anti-aircraft, fire support, observation, communication, bulldozer and recovery vehicle variants, a number of which were used by the Canadian Army.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191619)

Daimler Armoured Car, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 28 May 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233183)

Daimler Mk. 1 Scout Car, Sallenelles, France.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233182)

Daimler Mk. 1 Scout Car, Sallenelles, France.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205115)

GMC C15TA armoured trucks with RHLI troops, Krabbendijke, Netherlands, 27 Oct 1944.

The General Motors of Canada (GMC) C15TA Armoured Truck was based on the GMC Otter Light Armoured Reconnaissance Car which married the Chevrolet C15A Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) four-wheel-drive chassis, the GM 270-cubic-inch engine, and an armoured body built by the Hamilton bBidge Company.  From the front the vehicle resembled the Otter, while the rear was similar to the White Scout Car.  Its armour was only shoulder high, with weather protection provided by a canvas cover.  It came with run-flat tires and could hold an eight-man crew and their equipment.  The cab seating had two men facing outwards on each side, two faced the rear and two sat in the driver's compartment.  With some modification it could serve as an eight-man APC or as an armoured ambulance or load carrier.  From late 1943 to June 1945, GMC Oshawa built a total 3,961 C15TAs for British and Canadian contracts.  A number of these vehicles remained in military service in Canada after the war until July 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607686)

GMC C15TA Armoured Truck, 13 Feb 1945.

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

Heavy Transport Truck, Canadian Army, 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4232685)

Newly manufactured Sherman tank, ca. 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205609)

Infantrymen of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada passing Sherman tanks en route to cross the Orne River near Caen, France, 18 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3614385)

Sherman Flail tank coming ashore from an Landing Craft Tank (LCT), Walcheren Island, the Netherlands, 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3574213)

Sherman Command tank ( nick-named Vancouver) commanded by MGen B.M. Hoffmeister, GOC 5th Canadian Armoured Division, at the Melfa River crossing near Castrocielo, Italy, 26 May 1944.  Command tanks were fitted with an extra radio beside the co-driver.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224755)

Sherman tank of the Ontario Regiment entering San Pancrazio, Italy, 16 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3576486)

Major-General B.M. Hoffmeister, General Officer Commanding 5th Canadian Armoured Division, in the turret of the Sherman tank "Vancouver" near Castrocielo, Italy, 23 May 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3600192)

Sherman V tank on exercise in the UK, 5-10 June 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 416670)

Sherman Firefly Vc Tank being loaded onto an LST, ca 1944.  This tank has a counterweight on the turret bustle shown as the gun is traversed over the back deck.  The Firefly IC had a cast forward hull.  Also, there is no bow gunner/radio operator position, as that position was used for extra ammo for the main gun.  There is also an added armour plate in from of the drivers position and where the bow gunner used to be.  This particular tank was a "mutt", as it was part VC and part Sherman. They took a Firefly turret off of one that had the hull knocked out and slammed it on a Sherman hull.  Later the unit was issued a proper VC.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205124)

Major David V. Currie, V.C., South Alberta Regiment, 12 November 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224527)

Sherman tank of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division harrassing German troops north of Meppen, Germany, 8 April 1945.  Note the shell casing in the air.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4166606)

Sherman, after a hull down shoot, Orsogna, Italy, 27 Jan 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3883694)

M4 Sherman tank fitted with a dozer attachment performs roadwork.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233175)

Cromwell Tank moving into position for an attack south of Caen, France, June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233176)

Cromwell Tank moving into position for an attack south of Caen, France, June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233777)

DUKW with Canadian troops, Normandy, June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524486)

Dingo Armoured Car, 8th Royal Scots & 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion after crossing the Rhine, Bergerfarth, Germany, 25 Mar 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196712)

Daimler Mk. 1 Scout Car test, Oshawa, Ontario, June 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3240447)

Daimler Mk. 1 Scout Car, "Flash", crew chatting with partisans, Bagnacavallo, Italy, 3 Jan 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224247)

Soldiers with 1st Hussars tank which slid off the road leading to Zetten, the Netherlands, as the tanks were going into action, 20 Jan 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224241)

1st Hussars tanks of the Canadian Army during the attack in the Zetten and Hemmen area.  Capt. Joe Dolan and Lt. Bruce Caw on their tank waiting to go ahead, 20 Jan 1945.

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

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car.

(DND Photo)

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car.

(Author Photo)

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car, Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.

(Clive Prothero-Brooks Photo)

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car, (Serial No. CM4647096), RCA Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba.

(Clive Prothero-Brooks Photo)

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car, (Serial No. CM4647096), RCA Museum, CFB Shilo, Manitoba.

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

Otter Mk. 1 Light Reconnaissance Car, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 19 Apr 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206554)

Humber Mk. I Scout car, Falaise, France, 17 Aug 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206446)

Humber light reconnaissance car, Caen, France, 11 July 1944.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194752)

Daimler Mk. 1 Scout Car, abandoned on the beach after the Dieppe Raid.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233281)

MGen Charles Foulkes, 1st Canadian Army in an armoured car named "Bardia".

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607595)

Humber Mk. III Armoured Car.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4233288)

Canadian Humber Mk. III Armoured cars move across the Seine River, 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604329)

Standard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604330)

Standard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604331

Standard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette.  

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607961)

Morris Mk. I Armoured Car.  

The Morris Mark I was used in infantry division reconnaissance regiments in the United Kingdom, and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division used them in Sicily and Italy. The Morris LRC was built by Morris Motor Company, and had an unusual configuration in that the three-man crew sat side by side, with the driver in the middle, a Bren Gun turret on the right side, and another crewman on the left with access to both a Boys Anti-Tank Rifle and a radio. The Mark I was a 2-wheel drive machine. Armour: 8-14mm.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199886)

Alligator with Universal Carrier, Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Rhine River, west of Rees, Germany, 24 Mar 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3262696)

Infantrymen of the Toronto Scottish Regiment in their Universal Carrier, Nieuport, Belgium, 9 Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199411)

Universal Carrier with high box siding, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, England, 19 May 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3227153)

Personnel of I Troop, 94 Battery, 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), riding an M-10 armoured vehicle aboard a Rhino ferry, Bernières-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3223903)

Infantrymen of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and a Sherman V tank of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division awaiting orders to go through a roadblock, Wertle, Germany, 11 April 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224035)

A Sherman Vc Firefly of 4th Canadian Armoured Division clearing German paratroops from a town in the Netherlands, 11 April 1945.

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

A Sherman Vc Firefly of 5th Canadian Armoured Division assists troops of 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 49th (West Riding) Division to clear the Germans from Ede, Netherlands, 17 April 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3401790)

Private A.W. Thornton and Captain D. French examining a Sherman tank reconditioned by the Wehrmacht, Amersfoort, Netherlands, 10 May 1945.   The tanks were most likely captured earlier when the Allies crossed into the Netherlands, as the photo was taken shortly after the war ended.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, No. 3208394)

11th Armoured Regiment, (The Ontario Regiment), CAC, CASF for the overseas Regiment.  Lt. H.S. Nixon (on top), Sgt. T.W. McCutcheon (at side), and Tpr. E. Kobarnynka (in tank) driving in a Sherman tank that had been captured by the Germans who had left it because of lack of gasoline, Amersfoort, Netherlands, 10 May 1945.

Holy Roller one of only two Canadian Shermans to survive from D Day to VE Day survived three direct hits because of the added track links.  The German anti-tank round put the main gun out of action and gouged the side but there was no penetration.  (Steve Hearn)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3520400)

Universal Carrier with Vickers  .303-inch machine-gun, Saskatoon Light Infantry, Italy, 8 Mar 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3520408)

Universal Carrier with Vickers .303-inch machine-gun, Saskatoon Light Infantry, Laurenzana, Italy, 19 Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3222766)

Universal Carrier, 4th Field Regt, RCA, Vaucelles, France, 20 July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3530147)

Sergeant E. Owen (foreground) conducting an Orders (O) Ggroup for personnel of No.1 Protective Troop, Headquarters Squadron, 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, alongside a Sherman tank, Vaucelles, France, 7 August 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198828)

Universal Carrier, Canadian soldiers 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade & German Prisoners of War, Authie, France, 9 Jul 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607580)

Loyd Carrier of the Overseas Canadian Training School (note four road wheels and modified box chassis) armed with a .303-inch Vickers machine-gun.

(Government of the United Kingdom Photo)

Universal Carrier on a training exercise in the UK, 18 October 1940.  The crew are demonstrating the use of the 2-inch mortar in the rear and Bren gun on an anti-aircraft mounting.

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