Ram tank
 Ram Mk.2 displayed at CFB Borden
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| Ram II General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5.79 m |
| Width | 2.67 m |
| Height | 2.9 m |
| Weight | 29.5 t |
| Suspension | vertical volute spring |
| Speed | 25 mph, 40 km/h road 20 mph, 32 km/h off-road |
| Range | 232 km |
| Primary armament | Mk.III QF 6 pdr gun |
| Secondary armament | .303 machine gun (7.7 mm) |
| Armour | 87 mm |
| Power plant | Wright Continental R-975 9-cyl radial petrol engine 400/340 hp (298/254 kW) |
| Crew | 5 |
The Ram was a Cruiser tank designed and built by Canada in the Second World War, based on the U.S. M3 Medium tank.
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Development
Tank production in the UK at the start of the war was insufficient to supply Canada as well, so it was decided to manufacture locally. The Montreal Locomotive Works, which was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company, was designated the Canadian Tank Arsenal. The current U.S. tank, the M3, was chosen as the basis for the design, but changes would be made to correct some of its shortcomings. Although the ability to mount a large 75 mm gun was suggested, the current British cruiser tank specification of a two pounder gun was adhered to. However the turret was designed to take a larger gun when one became available as battlefield experience was already showing that the 2 pdr was insufficient.
A prototype Ram was completed in June 1941. General production of the Ram I began in November of the same year. By February 1942, production had switched to the Ram II model with a 6 pounder gun and continued until July 1943, when a decision was made to adopt the Sherman tank for all British and Canadian units. By that point production was 1948 vehicles, including 84 artillery observation post vehicles.
Combat history
As built, the Ram was never used in combat as a tank, but for crew training in Great Britain up to mid 1944. The observation post vehicles and conversions of the Ram did see active service in Europe. The tanks were rebuilt in army workshops near the front line.
In 1945 the Royal Netherlands Army got permission from the Canadian government to take possession for free of all Ram tanks in army dumps on Dutch territory. Those not already converted into Kangaroos were used to equip the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalion (1e en 2e Bataljon Vechtwagens), the very first Dutch tank units ever. These had a nominal organic strength of 53 each. The Ram tanks (together with the Sherman tanks of the three other tank battalions, in part simply taken without permission) were replaced by Centurion Tanks leased by the U.S. Government in 1952. One Dutch Ram tank survives at the Amersfoort Cavalry Museum.
Ram tanks can also be seen at Worthington Park, Canadian Forces Base Borden and Bovington Tank Museum (Ram and Kangaroo).
Variants
- Ram I
- Ordnance QF 2 pounder gun.
- Ram II
- Early production: Mk III six-pounder gun.
- Late production: Mk V six-pounder. Auxiliary turret and sponson door removed. Browning .303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun fitted in ball mount.
- Badger
- A flamethrower equipped tank. The first Badgers were Ram Kangeroos with the Wasp II flamethrowing equipment (as used on the Universal Carrier) installed in place of the bow MG. Later models were turret rams with the equipment in place of the main gun.
- Ram Kangaroo
- An armoured personnel carrier for 11 men plus 2 crew. See Kangaroo.
- Ram OP/Command
- An armoured vehicle to function as a mobile observation posts for the Forward Observation Officers (FOO) of Sexton self-propelled gun units, based on RAM II. The gun was replaced by a dummy, and two Wireless sets were fitted. Crew of 6. 84 were built.
- Ram GPO
- Like OP but with special equipment for gun position officers of SP artillery regiments. Had Tannoy loudspeakers mounted.
- Sexton
- Self-propelled artillery vehicle armed with QF 25 pounder gun in open-topped superstructure.
- Wallaby
- Armoured ammunition supply vehicle, carried 25 pdr ammo for Sexton.
- Ram ARV Mk I
- Armoured recovery vehicle based on Ram I. Winch added.
- Ram ARV Mk II
- ARV based on Ram II. Jib and earth spade added, turret replaced by dummy.
- Ram Gun Tower
- Armoured gun tower for use with Ordnance QF 17 pounder towed Anti-tank gun.
References
- Chris Ellis and Peter Chamberlain. AFV No. 13 - RAM AND SEXTON, Profile Publications, England
External links
See also
