Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Canada, Province by Province, Volume 1 New Brunswick

By Harold A. Skaarup

This book is an informative and detailed synopsis of the carefully preserved and restored armoured fighting vehicles on display in New Brunswick. Soldiers from this Atlantic province have used them as tools of war at home and overseas. The descriptions of Canadian armour on display here illustrate that illustrate their efficiency and effectivene

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lime Press LLC
• Release date: Dec 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781954304208

Harold A. Skaarup

Major Hal Skaarup has served with the Canadian Forces for more than 40 years, starting with the 56th Field Squadron, RCE and completing his service as the G2 (Intelligence Officer) at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick in August 2011. He was a member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, served three tours with the Skyhawks Parachute Demonstration Team, and worked in the Airborne Trials and Evaluation section. He served as an Intelligence Officer overseas in Germany and Colorado, and has been on operational deployments to Cyprus, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. He has been an instructor at the Tactics School at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown and at the Intelligence Training Schools in Borden and Kingston. He earned a Master's degree in War Studies through the Royal Military College, and has authored a number of books on military history.

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Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Canada,

Province by Province,

Volume 1: New Brunswick

Harold A. Skaarup

Tango

Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles in Canada, Province by Province,

Volume 1: New Brunswick

by Harold A. Skaarup

This book is written to provide information and motivation to readers. Its purpose isn’t to render any type of psychological, legal, or professional advice of any kind. The content is the sole opinion and expression of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher.

Copyright © 2020 by Harold A. Skaarup

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form by any means, including, but not limited to, recording, photocopying, or taking screenshots of parts of the book, without prior written permission from the author or the publisher. Brief quotations for noncommercial purposes, such as book reviews, permitted by Fair Use of the U.S. Copyright Law, are allowed without written permissions, as long as such quotations do not cause damage to the book’s commercial value. For permissions, write to the publisher, whose address is stated below.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Many significant elements of the use of artillery in Canadian military history have not yet been told. The information that is found within this collection of technical data, historical reports and military photos may not be complete or fully accurate. The story will continue to unfold as additional research turns up the missing data.

ISBN: 978-1-954304-21-5 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-954304-20-8 (E-book)

Printed in the United States of America.

Published by Lime Press LLC

425 West Washington Street Suite 4

Suffolk, VA 23434 US

https://www.lime-press.com/

Table of Contents

Dedications

List of Illustrations

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction – Tanks and AFVs in New Brunswick

Epigraph

Chapter I Tank Support to the Canadian Corps in the First World War (1914-1918)

Chapter II Canadian Armoured Units with 5 CDSB Gagetown

Chapter III Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles with the Royal Canadian Armour Corps School, 5 Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown

Chapter IV Present day Armour in service with the RCD at the RCACS, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

Chapter V AFV on display at the Infantry School

Chapter VI Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME), 5 CDSB Gagetown, Canadian Military Engineer Museum

Chapter VII AFVs with the New Brunswick Military History Museum

Chapter VIII Tanks and AFVs on display in New Brunswick Towns and Villages

Chapter IX The 8th Hussars in the Second World War – One who didn’t come home

Chapter X Canadian Tank Crews in the Second World War

List of Abbreviations

Afterword

Bibliography

About the Author

Index

Dedications

This book is dedicated to the highly professional men and women of the Canadian Forces, past and present. Many of them have fought in, served in or serviced the preserved military vehicles described in this handbook.

Because of their service, you and I can sleep soundly at night.

During my service as a soldier and officer in the Canadian Forces, I was taught to use the combat arms radio call sign Ironsides whenever the message traffic being relayed referred to armoured units. This designation has been replaced with the call sign Tango. For the interested reader, Acorn was my call sign as the Regimental and later Brigade Intelligence Officer.

List of Illustrations

Major Radley-Walters receives the Military Cross from General Bernard Law Montgomery in Ghent, Belgium, October 1944.

Major David V. Currie (left, with pistol in hand) of The South Alberta Regiment accepting the surrender of German troops at St. Lambert-sur-Dive, France, 19 August 1944.

3 Int Coy Honorary LCol H.A. Skaarup, 8th Canadian Hussars Honorary Col Lockyer, Maj (Retired) Tom MacLaughlin

Corporal Harold Jorgen Skaarup, with his tank crew in Italy, c1944.

His Majesty's Land Ship (HMLS) Canada, No. 521, Canadian commanded British Mk. I tank.

Renault tank, Arras, France, Sep 1918.

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.

Ram II tanks, Camp Borden, c1942.

Newly manufactured Sherman tank, ca. 1943.

The Royal Canadian Dragoons logo. Centurion tanks, last rollpast, Germany, 21 June 1977.

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) logo.

Final inspection of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division at Eelde Airfield, Netherlands, 23 May 1945.

12e Régiment blindé du Canada logo.

LAV III on duty, heading out of the Engineer Compound at 5 CDSB Gagetown, New Brunswick, 5 May 2014.

Sherman V tank armed with a 75-mm Gun, 5th Canadian Armour Regiment, 8th Princess Louise (New Brunswick) Hussars, Putten, Netherlands, 18 Apr 1945. Churchill tank tracks attached to this tank as add-on armour.

Location diagram for the tanks, AFVs, military vehicles, artillery, and engineer equipment on display at 5 CDSB Gagetown and in the Village of Oromocto.

M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Easy 8 tank, CFR 78-980, (Serial No. 1080E), 76-mm Gun, "Rousseau", RCACS.

76-mm tank gun, M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Easy 8, inside the RCACS.

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk. 5/2, CFR 53-81201, L7 105-mm Gun, "Worthy", West of Building J-7, RCACS.

Leopard C1 Main Battle Tank, 105-mm Gun, "Nixon", West of Building J-7, RCACS.

M113 C & R Lynx, CFR unknown, CR2-147, "Radley-Walters", West of Building J-7, RCACS.

Ferret Scout Car Mk. 1, 56 Recce Squadron, UNEF, Egypt, 1957.

Ferret Scout Car Mk 1, CFR 54-82525, K17 RCACS storage compound.

Leopard A4, C Troop, RCD, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

Leopard A4M, C Troop, RCD, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

Leopard A6, C Troop, RCD, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

LAV 6, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

Wisent 2 Armoured Engineer Vehicle, RCD Lines, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV), Courtrai, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

AVGP Grizzly, 33A, south side of the Infantry School.

M113A1 APC, 12, south side of the Infantry School.

Centurion AVLB, CFR 67-10173, Canadian Military Engineers Museum.

Centurion AVLB, CFR 67-10173, Canadian Military Engineers Museum.

Beaver Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB), Canadian Military Engineers Museum

Centurion Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV), CFR 54-81334.

Centurion Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV), CFR 54-81334.

Taurus Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV).

Badger Armoured Engineer Vehicle (AEV).

M578 Light Recovery Vehicle, on display outside the RCEME lines.

T-LAV MTV-R (Mobile Tactical Vehicle Recovery) vehicle.

Bison Dozer, RCR, 5 CDSB Gagetown.

M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Easy 8 medium tank, CFR 65038, built by Fisher, Reg. No. 30123017, "Fox", painted as CFR 78-980, NBMHM.

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, CFR 85-77247, NBMHM.

M113A2 Armoured Personnel Carrier, CFR 66-35387, painted as 52, NBMHM.

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk. 5, CFR 52-31201, 20-pounder main gun.

Leopard 2A6M with L/55 barrel, C Sqn, RCD, 5 CDSB Gagetown, Oct 2016.

Ferret armoured scout car mounted on a bridge section.

Universal Carrier, NBMHM.

White M3 Halftrack (Serial No. CZ 4036146), NBMHM.

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk 5, 20-pounder main gun, painted as CFR 53-81032, NBMHM vehicle Park.

US M113A2 Armoured Personnel Carrier APC, US Army Serial No. MSJ 18316MA, version, UN markings. NBMHM vehicle park.

US M113A2 Armoured Personnel Carrier APC, US Army Serial No. MSJ 20156, A-85, 31, painted as 65-35001, 42A. NBMHM vehicle park.

M548A1 Carrier, Cargo, Full Tracked with winch, CFR 35479, 49E. NBMHM vehicle park.

M577 Command Post, CFR 66-35530, painted as 93A. NBMHM vehicle park.

M577 Command Post, Artillery variant, 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), 5 CDSB Base Gagetown.

M113 C & R Lynx, CFR 67-35885, CR2-76, painted as 41E. NBMHM vehicle park.

M113 C & R Lynx, CFR 67-35916, E11A, on a Bailey Bridge section, NBMHM.

Ferret Scout Car Mk. 1, CFR 54-82608. NBMHM vehicle park.

AVGP Cougar, CFR 78-37368, painted as 21C.

AVGP Grizzly, CFR 78-37252, painted as 13B. NBMHM vehicle park.

AVGP Husky, CFR 78-37557, painted as 88C, NBMHM vehicle park.

AVGP Husky, CFR 78-37557, painted as 88R. NBMHM vehicle park.

RG-31 Nyala, NBMHM storage compound.

Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank. NBMHM vehicle park.

Russian ASU-57 SP Airborne Assault Gun, Gun Serial No. 52-∏-270, N?556. NBMHM vehicle park.

Russian AT-S/T Artillery Tractor. NBMHM vehicle park.

Russian BTR-152 Armoured Personnel Carrier. NBMHM vehicle park.

Russian BRDM-2 Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle. NBMHM vehicle park.

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

Universal Carrier, The North Shore Regiment, CT96069, 62, No. 1 of 2.

Universal Carrier, The North Shore Regiment, CT96069, (both Universal Carriers have been painted with the same Reg. No.), Caraquet Flyer, No. 2 of 2.

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, CFR 85-77237, No. 1, right side of the Memorial Park, Centreville.

155-mm M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer, CFR 68-34821, No. 2, left side of the Memorial Park, Centreville.

M113 APC, War Memorial, Grand Anse.

M113 C & R Lynx, CFR 67-35967, town cenotaph, Harvey.

Sherman V tank armed with a 75-mm Gun, 5th Canadian Armour Regiment, 8th Princess Louise (New Brunswick) Hussars, Italy, 2 Mar 1944.

M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Easy 8 tank, "Coriano", Centennial Park, St George Blvd, Moncton.

Leopard C1 (1A3), Combat Team Commander's Course, CFB Gagetown, April 1995.

Leopard C2 (1A5) Main Battle Tank, "Hussar". Superior Propane Centre, 55 Russ Howard Drive, Moncton.

Ferret Scout Car on exercise in Germany, 8th Canadian Hussars.

Ferret Scout Car on exercise in Germany, 8th Canadian Hussars.

HRH Princess Margaret inspecting Princess Louise, 8 CH, Camp Gagetown, New Brunswick, 1958.

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk. 5, 20-pounder main gun, "Ironsides", Centennial Park, Oromocto.

M113 C & R Lynx, CFR TBC, 41, Oromocto Tourist Centre.

LAV III Monument, Oromocto War Memorial.

8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) logo.

Centurion Mk. 5/2 Main Battle Tank with L7 105-mm main gun, 8th Canadian Hussars, Casley Park, Bradford Road, behind the Municipal Building, Riverview.

Ferret Scout Car, Memorial Park, Sackville.

M113 APC, Ambulance, beside the war memorial, Saint-Quentin.

Unidentified infantryman, possibly of the Cape Breton Highlanders, examining the treads of a Sherman V tank, possibly of B Squadron, 8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars, during the assault on the Gothic Line, Italy, ca. 31 August 1944.

M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Easy 8 tank, Balaclava, BGen Milton Gregg VC Armoury, Moncton.

Centurion tank on exercise, Camp Gagetown, summer 1963.

Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk. 11, L7 105-mm main gun, "Rimini", BGen Milton Gregg VC Armoury, Sussex.

AVGP Cougar, No. 1 of 2, in front of the HQ, BGen Milton Gregg VC Armoury, Leonard Drive, Sussex.

AVGP Cougar, No. 2 of 2, in the storage compound of the BGen Milton Gregg VC Armoury, Sussex.

M113 C & R Lynx, (Serial No. CR2A-119), CFR 67-53928, 8th Hussars Military Museum in Sussex.

Ferret, RCD, Camp Gagetown, summer concentration, 1963.

Ferret Scout Car, No. 1 of 2, owned by Mike Baxter, Sussex.

Ferret Scout Car, No. 2 of 2, 8th Hussars Museum, Sussex.

M10 Achilles 17-pounder Tank Destroyer crossing the River Savio on a Churchill ARK which was driven into the river, 24 October 1944.

M10 Achilles IIC 17-pounder Tank Destroyer, similar to the type used by the 105th Battery.

M3 Lee Medium tank, 3rd Cavalry Museum, Fort Hood, Texas.

Four 8th Canadian Hussars crewman training with a Canadian-built Ram Mk. II tank in England in 1942.

M4A2 Sherman tank with five 8th Canadian Hussars, Italy 1944.

Faye and Harold Aage Skaarup at the grave of Cpl Harold Jorgen Skaarup, Montecchio, Italy.

Sherman Ic Hybrid Firefly tank armed with a 17-pounder Gun, 5th Canadian Armour Regiment, 8th Princess Louise (New Brunswick) Hussars, Putten, Netherlands, 18 Apr 1945.

Painting, 8th Canadian Hussars, preparing for an exercise in front of the BGen Milton Gregg VC Armoury, Leonard Drive.

Author Photo.

Cover Photo, Centurion Main Battle Tank Mk. 5/2, CFR 53-81201, L7 105-mm Gun, "Worthy", West of Building J-7, RCACS.

Foreword

Tanks and AFVs (Armoured Fighting Vehicles) have been in the forefront of military conflict from the First World War up to and including the insurgency in Afghanistan where Canada was one of a few nations to use tanks. Canadian tanks and AFVs played a highly effective role. Their firepower, impact and shock effect served and protected Canadian troops.

But Canada was late in adopting Tanks and AFVs as part of its battle inventory. Early on, motorcycles were seen as an inexpensive reconnaissance vehicle and much cheaper than