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In
February 1944 the reorganization of the divisional support battalions
resulted in a decrease in the total number of heavy mortars held. The new
machine gun battalion in the infantry division had one mortar company of
sixteen 4.2-in mortars; the independent machine gun company with an
infantry brigade of an armoured division had one
mortar platoon of four 4.2-in
mortars.
Previously there had been 24 mortars in an infantry division and 8 in an
infantry brigade of an armoured division.
In
Italy the Canadian forces tended to use a rather higher establishment.
There was an ample supply of these weapons for the Canadian forces.
At
the beginning of the year, the problem of transport for the 4.2-in mortar
had not been entirely settled. The intention was to use the new T16 -
Carrier as a tower for the mortar which would be carried on a 10-cwt
trailer. These carriers were not yet available. In February trials were
started at the Canadian Training School for stowing the mortar. Towards the
end of that month authority was granted to modify the Carrier T16 for
stowing the mortar directly on the carrier. This method proved successful
and in April the policy was adopted of mounting the mortar on the carriers,
of which a sufficient number suitably modified were now available. This method
was in use in North-West Europe with the Canadian forces only. In Italy the
mortar was carried on a trailer towed by the Loyd
Carrier.
The 6-pdr
was towed by the new T16 Carrier in reconnaissance regiments, motor
battalions, and infantry battalions in North-West Europe. The Portee used in Italy was not found satisfactory; by
October this was being replaced by Half-Track vehicles. In anti-tank
regiments the gun was towed by the Field Artillery Tractor.
The Universal
carrier remained the standard vehicle in the Canadian Army. At the
beginning of 1944 the number of British-made vehicles with Canadian units
had decreased still further, only 72 being held as compared with 3888 Ford
carriers at the end of February. The 3-in mortar carriers numbering 942 were
all Canadian-made, as were 149 carriers fitted for Ronson
Flame Throwers. Although in September the Ford factory began the model
change to the new Windsor carrier, by the end of the year a total of 8901
Carriers Universal had been produced against Canadian orders and of these
6985 had been produced against Canadian orders and of these 6985 had been
shipped overseas. In addition to this 18650 were produced and disposed of
through the Ministry of Supply and Mutual Aid. As a very large number of
the carriers received from Canada were Carriers Universal Mk I
and
establishment called for use of the Carrier Universal Mk II (Welsh Guards
Stowage) a programme was undertaken by Q.(A.E.) in which 1891 carriers were converted to the Mk
II pattern in the United Kingdom before issue to units.
Supplies
of Universal and 3-in mortar carriers were adequate throughout the year,
and expected deliveries covered estimated wastage up to the end of 1945.
Special uses of the Universal carrier were to mount the Wasp Flame Thrower,
to mount the Vickers Machine Gun, and as an Armoured
O.P. The carriers adapted for the Medium Machine Gun were a new requirement
in 1944 and were obtained from British sources.
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Personnel in a Universal Carrier of an anti-tank
regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (R.C.A.) en
route to Groningen, Netherlands, 13 April 1945
(L-R): Lieutenant D. Heaps and Gunner Ralph Bayne,
who hold tulips; Bombardier M.K. Oliver.
Credit: Lieut. Dan Guravich
(Copy negative) PA-130931
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Besides
the standard Universal carrier the Canadian Army used the American Carrier Universal
T16, also a Ford vehicle. This is a later type of the Universal carrier
with increased stowage space and load carrying capacity. It was adopted
originally by the Canadian Army in October 1943 as a tower for the 6-pr gun
in reconnaissance regiments, infantry battalions, and motor battalions, and
also as a tower for the 4.2-in mortars. At the beginning of 1944 it was
still undecided whether the T16 or the Loyd
Carrier would be used to tow the 6-pr. Supplies of both were slow in being
delivered. By the middle of February 229 T16 Carriers had been received out
of a total requirement of 484. By April supplies were practically complete.
3 Cdn Inf Div were issued with Universal Carriers as 6-pr towers
for the assault landing and continued to be equipped mainly with these. The
T16 carrier was adapted to carry the 4.2-in mortar instead of towing it on
a trailer as originally intended. 100 suitably modified carriers were
available for issue by the end of April 1944. This use of the T16 Carrier
was peculiar to the Canadian Army in North-West Europe and had some
disadvantages. The bomb carrying capacity was limited and there was a lack
of stowage space. 4 Cdn Armd
Div recommended the use of M14 Half-Tracks as
4.2-in mortar carriers to remedy this and also give greater manoeuvrability. Due to the short supply of M14
Half-Tracks, it was decided that the T16 carrier would continue in use, but
with fresh modification to overcome the faults outlined.
During
the year trials were made with new types of carrier. The Canadian
Windsor Carrier was submitted for trial in February 1944. This is
similar in appearance to the T16 Carrier but is actually a lengthened
version of the Canadian Carrier Universal Mk II, and has greater stowage
capacity than either the T16 or Universal. By April it had been decided to
adopt it as well as the T16 as a tower for the 6-pr gun, and the British
Ministry of Supply had placed an order for 5000 in Canada which would
replace the Loyd Carrier in this role; the
Windsor would not replace the Universal Carrier. The Canadian Army decided
to follow the British in this policy. Production of Windsor carriers was
due to start in September. The British intention was eventually to replace
all existing types with the C.T.20 which was being developed.
EQUIPMENT
STATE, CANADIAN UNITS IN FIRST CDN ARMY JUNE 1944
The
following shows the state of equipment of the Canadian Forces at the start
of operations in Normandy in June 1944. Figures for weapons are taken from
C.M.H.Q. file 13/Equip State/1/7: Equipment State, Cdn
Army in U.K. as at 31 May 44. Vehicle totals are extracted from
"Monthly Vehicle Position Report No. 3, as at 31 May 44, complied by
21 Army Group," in Historical Section file.
|
Type
|
Establishment
|
Held
|
Deficiencies
|
|
Carriers
Universal
|
725
|
1017
|
Surplus
|
|
Universal
(T16)
|
300
|
155
|
145
(e)
|
|
M.M.G.
|
84
|
216
|
Surplus
|
|
Mortar
|
237
|
281
|
Surplus
|
(e)
Other types of carrier held in lieu.
EQUIPMENT
STATE, CANADIAN ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE DECEMBER 1944
Figures
for weapons are taken from C.M.H.Q. file 13/Equip State/2/5: Equipment
State of the Canadian Units in First Cdn Army 21
Army Group as at 31 Dec 44. Vehicle totals are extracted from "Cdn Units 21 Army Group "A" and "B"
Vehicle Position State as at 31 Dec 44", in Historical Section file.
|
Type
|
Establishment
|
Held
|
Deficiencies
|
|
Carriers
Universal
|
716
|
812
|
Surplus
|
|
Universal
T 16
|
348
|
266
|
82
|
|
Mortar
3-in and 4.2-in
|
237
|
276
|
Surplus
|
|
M.M.G.
|
100
|
139
|
Surplus
|
|
A.O.P.
|
80
|
Nil
|
80
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Source: Canadian Military Headquarters (CMHQ) Report No. 141: Situation
of the Canadian Military Forces Overseas. Progress in Equipment Jan-Dec 44
(http://www.dnd.ca/hr/dhh/Downloads/cmhq/CMHQ141.PDF)
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