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While looking through Service Pubs. book on" Making Tracks" Tank production in Canada. There is a good section on the SKINK . It shows production photos fromWaterloo Manufacturing Company. It shows all three prototypes , and only # 3 Hull was a Grizzly hull and the other two look to be M4A1 hulls. All were marked with a number in a circle on the rear of the hull . The Grizzly hulled one was shipped overseas for "testing" , while the other two stayed behind . #'s 1and 2 had different turrets ,#1 had cast , while #2 had a welded turret. The #2 turret was based off of the wooden mock up turret.

The records indicate that all three completed Skinks were built on Grizzly hulls. Pilot No.1 with the welded turret and HS guns (it was later refitted with a cast Polsten turret and sent to Borden) was according to one DND file on hull 62-918.

Pilot No. 2, with a cast turret, was installed on Grizzly hull 62-727 (CT 163931) and sent to the UK for evaluation. It served in field trials in NW Europe in early 1945, after which it was returned to the UK - title was transferred to the UK account on 2 August 1945. It's fate is unknown.

Pilot No.3 on Grizzly hull 62-728 (CT 163932) was sent to No.1 Proving Ground in Ottawa, it was photgraphed at the CNE in 1946. The eight completed but unmounted turrets were sent to Longue Pointe Ordnance Depot (LPOD), the last mention I have found of their existence was in 1947.

Canada did import an M4A1 from the USA for use as a production pilot for the Grizzly, as of 22/1/1945 it was at LPOD

Canada

Any news about the fate of these turrets? I'm very interested to know if any restoration work has begun.

Pierre-Olivier

Hi Gang

Both Skink turrets are still in the back lot at work. One has all the bullet holes from the range all filled in . Both are waiting to go to the Canadain War Museum in a trade between the Regt. and Museum. They get the turrets and some much needed Tank parts , and the Regt. will get some stuff in return for the vehicle collection .
Cheers
Anthony

"Gone toe to toe with the Taliban , and won."

Hello Anthony,

I added these 2 turrets in a new PDF file which I published yesterday on my Surviving Panzers website :

Surviving Canadian RAM tanks and Kangaroo Armoured Personal Carriers, Australian Sentinel tanks

You could have a look to the list and tell me if there is something to add to this list (is there a Ram tank at the Lord Strathcona's Horse ??)

Pierre-Olivier

- recceboy

Both Skink turrets are still in the back lot at work. One has all the bullet holes from the range all filled in . Both are waiting to go to the Canadain War Museum in a trade between the Regt. and Museum. They get the turrets and some much needed Tank parts , and the Regt. in return , cross the fingers a Sherman M4A2 , or enough parts to put together a Ram . Which, if happens they plan to make it a runner.

Hi Anthony:

When you say M4A2, do you mean a 76mm HVSS tank, or an earlier 75mm VVSS example? I 'm not aware of any 75mm Sherman IIIs in the museum collection, and I think they've only got the one (ex-CNE) HVSS example in the museum (plus 65001, the training hull) - besides, you've got one or more of those already, right? I'd love to see a Ram restored to running condition.

Cheers,

Scott

The units vehicle historical troop , are attempting to do the trade with the folks back east, but due to some kind of problem, both turrets are still here with all of the spare tank parts for them.
Anthony

- Scott_Taylor

- recceboy

Both Skink turrets are still in the back lot at work. One has all the bullet holes from the range all filled in . Both are waiting to go to the Canadain War Museum in a trade between the Regt. and Museum. They get the turrets and some much needed Tank parts , and the Regt. in return ,

Hi Anthony:

Cheers,

Scott