Kangaroo Armored Personnel Carrier (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

I was looking at History of the Second World War, a 96 part weekly magazine that was published back in the 70s.

Anyway, to make a long story short, one of the issues had a photo of a Kangaroo, which, according to the issue, was a Canadian built Ram tank producing by removing the turret. It apparently had many variants. The variant pictured carried ten infantryman.

I did a Forum search and saw that it had been mentioned from time to time so I decided to bring it up again as I think it would make for an excellent release and something a little different.

The following is taken from Wikipedia:

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In 1944, Harry Crerar's First Canadian Army was concerned by manpower shortages and Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, commander of the II Canadian Corps, devised Kangaroos as a way of reducing infantry losses.

The first Kangaroos were converted from 102 M7 Priest self-propelled guns of the artillery regiments of the three infantry divisions involved in the initial assault on 6 June 1944. These were no longer needed, as the artillery regiments were re-equipped with towed 25 pdr guns in late July. At a field workshop (codenamed Kangaroo, hence the name) they were stripped of the artillery equipment and the front aperture welded over, then sent into service carrying twelve troops. They were first used in Operation Totalize south of Caen and subsequently in Canadian attacks on the various Channel ports, operated by the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron.

The Priests were subsequently returned to US custody and other vehicles used. The majority of vehicles converted were Canadian Ram tanks or other Priests (which were sometimes referred to as "unfrocked" or "defrocked" Priests). The name Kangaroo was applied to any similar conversion. In Normandy they were operated by the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment (1CACR) and the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment under the British 79th Armoured Division (whose specialized vehicles were called "Hobart's Funnies"). Kangaroos were then used throughout the campaign in northwest Europe.

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Attached are two photos . The second photo is from a Kangaroo at Bovington.

I think this would make an excellent release.

 

[glossman]

The introduction of improvised APCs (like the Kangaroo) in WWII was considered better than tank desant.

The Kangaroo paved the way forward for purpose built APCs and later IFVs in the post-WWII era, eg: US M113 and Soviet BTRs.

Raymond.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The Brits didn't want to supply 75 mm ammo for the Priests gun as it was American ammo and sometimes difficult to get quickly. It also complicated logistics. And they wanted to stay with one gun, the 25 pdr which was a superior gun.

The Canadians were going to go on a night mission and needed transport (Operation Totalize) for a rapid surprise maneuver to be in position before dawn, so they stripped the guns from the Priests and used them.

I would love a Kangaroo based on the defrocked Priest (not so much on a RAM tank chassis which was just a Canadian copy of a Sherman) Over 1000 RAM tanks were built in Canada, but none got into combat as tanks - American Shermans were used instead. Some of the RAM tanks were converted to Kangaroos and command vehicles and did see combat.

But the iconic Kangaroo for a Canadian is the defrocked Priest.

Terry

 

[noli-poli]

Kangaroos were also used as ARVs. Here's a modified C21 Sherman with British 13/18 Hussars markings assisting a damaged US Sherman. Without the turret it will blend well with the KC Sherman.

N-P

 

[bromhead]

well done

 

[jazzeum]

Great looking model NP and would be a great addition to the range. C'mon on Andy!

 

[lancer]

Kangaroos were also used as ARVs. Here's a modified C21 Sherman with British 13/18 Hussars markings assisting a damaged US Sherman. Without the turret it will blend well with the KC Sherman.

N-P

Nice job. That's a great scene you have created. They look very good together. -- Al

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Great looking model NP and would be a great addition to the range. C'mon on Andy!

A kangaroo based on a defrocked Priest with add-on passenger sets would be great.

Terry

 

[glossman]

Kangaroos were also used as ARVs. Here's a modified C21 Sherman with British 13/18 Hussars markings assisting a damaged US Sherman. Without the turret it will blend well with the KC Sherman.

N-P

Very nice display of an armoured recovery team doing a good job.

Thanks, Raymond.

 

[jbonzo1]

Great job.