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Expanded section on Canadian Ram tanks (the vast majority of 'Kangaroos' were based on these tanks) added infromation specific to these vehicles, and included reference to the first dedicated armoured infantry carrier, a (probably) well-known inspiration
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A '''Kangaroo''' was a [[World War II]] [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] or [[United Kingdom|British]] [[armoured personnel carrier]] (APC), created by conversion of a [[tank]] chassis. Created as an expedient measure by the [[History of the Canadian Army#Second World War|Canadian Army]], the Kangaroos were so successful that they were soon being used by British forces as well. Their ability to manoeuvre in the field with the tanks was a major advantage over earlier designs, and led to the dedicated APC designs that were introduced by almost all armies immediately after the war.
A '''Kangaroo''' was a [[World War II]] [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] or [[United Kingdom|British]] [[armoured personnel carrier]] (APC), created by conversion of a [[tank]] chassis. Created as an expedient measure by the [[History of the Canadian Army#Second World War|Canadian Army]] Kangaroos were so successful that they were soon being used by British forces.

Their ability to manoeuvre in the field with the tanks was a major advantage over earlier designs, and led to the dedicated APC designs that were introduced by almost all armies immediately after the war, with the notable exception of the French army which had started the war already equipped with [[Lorraine 37L|general-purpose carriers]]<nowiki/>the main variant of which was the ''''[https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.materielsterrestres39-45.fr%2Ffr%2Fimages%2Fvehicapture%2Fallemagne%2Ffrance%2Fbeutelorraine%2Florraine.jpg&sp=268e29226c8d47361a58fd27cc20e0ed Voiture blindée de chasseurs portés 38L]''''

(Following the fall of France the majority of these vehicles were pressed into service by the Axis powers, predominantly in German service and mounting some form of artillery, and thus a 'reverse Kangaroo'.)


== History ==
== History ==
In July 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.
In July 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 original Kangaroos were converted from 72 [[M7 Priest]] [[self-propelled gun]]s of three field artillery regiments of the [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division]] who were involved in the initial assault on 6 June 1944.

(Self propelled artillery were known as 'Priests' in British service, because of the pulpit-like appearance of the artillery-spotter's position. When converted to the carrier role were referred to as "unfrocked" or [[Defrocking|"defrocked"]] Priests, but the term 'Kangaroo' was applied to any conversion of any previously gun-armed vehicle to that of a troop or general-purpose carrier.)

When the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was re-equipped with towed [[25 pounder gun|25 pounder]] guns in late July, their tracked vehicles were stripped of their 105mm guns, the front aperture welded over, then sent into service carrying twelve troops.

First used on 8 August 1944 during [[Operation Totalize]] south of [[Caen]] to supplement already available half-tracks,<ref>Ellis and Chamberlain ''AFV Profilre No 13 Ram and Sexton'' p16</ref> the re-converted Kangaroos were returned to US custody and other vehicles used in the same way, the vast majority being [[Ram tank|Canadian Ram gun tank]]s<ref>{{Cite book
| title = Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World War I and II
| last = Livesey
| first = Jack
| publisher = Anness Publishing Ltd
| year = 2007
| isbn = 1-84476-370-6
| location = Hermes Hse, 88-89 Blackfriar's Road, London SE1 8HA
| pages = 60
}}</ref>, of which some 500 used as training vehicles were sitting idle after Canadian armoured formations re-equipped with Shermans.

The Rams were shipped to France where the turret, ammunition bins and other redundant items were removed at the Canadian base workshop, and two bench seats fitted into the open space formerly occupied by the turret basket. (Ram MkII versions, which were fitted with auxiliary machine-gun turrets, retained these features for self-defence and close support. Later Sherman-based versions also retaining the hull machine gun. All of these vehicles were standard British right-hand drive models, so these models can be distinguished by machine guns on the left.)

While 'debussing' by climbing out of the hull and and jumping down, potentially under fire, the primary difficulty was getting in, so climbing rungs were quickly quickly added as a field modification that also simplified loading the carrying compartment with ammunition, food and other supplies to troops under fire.


The Ram Kangaroo entered service piecemeal with the Canadians in September 1944 but in December these minor units were combined to form the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment, joining [[79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|79th British Armoured Division]] (whose specialized vehicles were called "[[Hobart's Funnies]]")
The first Kangaroos were converted from 72 [[M7 Priest]] [[self-propelled gun]]s of three field artillery regiments of the [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division]] who were involved in the initial assault on 6 June 1944. These were no longer needed, as these regiments were re-equipped with towed [[25 pounder gun|25 pounder]] guns in late July. At a field workshop (codenamed Kangaroo, hence the name) they were stripped of their 105mm guns, the front aperture welded over, then sent into service carrying twelve troops. They were first used on 8 August 1944 during [[Operation Totalize]] south of [[Caen]] to supplement the half-tracks available.<ref>Ellis and Chamberlain ''AFV Profilre No 13 Ram and Sexton'' p16</ref>


The first operation for the Ran Kangaroo was the assault on LeHarve, the last the 7th Infantry Division's march into Hamburg on 3rd May, 1945.
The Priests were subsequently returned to US custody and other vehicles used. The majority of vehicles converted were Canadian [[Ram tank]]s or other Priests (which were sometimes referred to as "unfrocked" or [[Defrocking|"defrocked"]] Priests). The name Kangaroo was applied to any similar conversion. In the fall of 1944 they were used in Canadian attacks on the various [[English Channel|Channel]] ports, operated by the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron and the [[49th Royal Tank Regiment|49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment]] under the [[79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|79th British Armoured Division]] (whose specialized vehicles were called "[[Hobart's Funnies]]"). Kangaroos were then used throughout the remainder of the campaign in northwest Europe.


In Italy Sherman III tanks and some Priests were converted for use by [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]]. Removing the turret of the Sherman and stripping the inside gave room to carry 10 troops.<ref>Chamberlain & Ellis ''British and American Tanks of World War II'' 1969 Arco Publishing p 131-132</ref>
In Italy Sherman III tanks and some Priests were converted for use by [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]]. Removing the turret of the Sherman and out internal fittings gave room to carry up to 10 troops.<ref>Chamberlain & Ellis ''British and American Tanks of World War II'' 1969 Arco Publishing p 131-132</ref>


From 1943, Stuart tanks (both M3 and M5) had their turrets removed and seating fitted to carry infantry troops attached to British armoured brigades.<ref>Chamberlain & Ellis (1969) p 91</ref>
From 1943, Stuart tanks (both M3 and M5) had their turrets removed and seating fitted to carry infantry troops attached to British armoured brigades.<ref>Chamberlain & Ellis (1969) p 91</ref>

Revision as of 11:27, 1 March 2016

Kangaroo
A Priest Kangaroo of 209th Self-Propelled Battery, Royal Artillery, transports infantry of 78th Division near Conselice, Italy, 13 April 1945.
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originCanada
Service history
In service1943–1945
Production history
DesignerGuy Simonds
Designed1944
VariantsRam Kangaroo
Priest Kangaroo
Churchill Kangaroo
Kangaroo Badger flame tank
Specifications
Crew2 + 8 to 10 passengers
Main
armament
1 × .50 cal MG (Early models)
1 × .30 cal MG (Later models)
(Pintle mount)
Secondary
armament
1 × .30 cal MG
(Bow or cupola MG depending on model)
Flamethrower
(Kangaroo Badger: Replaced cupola MG)

A Kangaroo was a World War II Commonwealth or British armoured personnel carrier (APC), created by conversion of a tank chassis. Created as an expedient measure by the Canadian Army Kangaroos were so successful that they were soon being used by British forces.

Their ability to manoeuvre in the field with the tanks was a major advantage over earlier designs, and led to the dedicated APC designs that were introduced by almost all armies immediately after the war, with the notable exception of the French army which had started the war already equipped with general-purpose carriersthe main variant of which was the 'Voiture blindée de chasseurs portés 38L'

(Following the fall of France the majority of these vehicles were pressed into service by the Axis powers, predominantly in German service and mounting some form of artillery, and thus a 'reverse Kangaroo'.)

History

In July 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 original Kangaroos were converted from 72 M7 Priest self-propelled guns of three field artillery regiments of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division who were involved in the initial assault on 6 June 1944.

(Self propelled artillery were known as 'Priests' in British service, because of the pulpit-like appearance of the artillery-spotter's position. When converted to the carrier role were referred to as "unfrocked" or "defrocked" Priests, but the term 'Kangaroo' was applied to any conversion of any previously gun-armed vehicle to that of a troop or general-purpose carrier.)

When the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was re-equipped with towed 25 pounder guns in late July, their tracked vehicles were stripped of their 105mm guns, the front aperture welded over, then sent into service carrying twelve troops.

First used on 8 August 1944 during Operation Totalize south of Caen to supplement already available half-tracks,[1] the re-converted Kangaroos were returned to US custody and other vehicles used in the same way, the vast majority being Canadian Ram gun tanks[2], of which some 500 used as training vehicles were sitting idle after Canadian armoured formations re-equipped with Shermans.

The Rams were shipped to France where the turret, ammunition bins and other redundant items were removed at the Canadian base workshop, and two bench seats fitted into the open space formerly occupied by the turret basket. (Ram MkII versions, which were fitted with auxiliary machine-gun turrets, retained these features for self-defence and close support. Later Sherman-based versions also retaining the hull machine gun. All of these vehicles were standard British right-hand drive models, so these models can be distinguished by machine guns on the left.)

While 'debussing' by climbing out of the hull and and jumping down, potentially under fire, the primary difficulty was getting in, so climbing rungs were quickly quickly added as a field modification that also simplified loading the carrying compartment with ammunition, food and other supplies to troops under fire.

The Ram Kangaroo entered service piecemeal with the Canadians in September 1944 but in December these minor units were combined to form the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment, joining 79th British Armoured Division (whose specialized vehicles were called "Hobart's Funnies")

The first operation for the Ran Kangaroo was the assault on LeHarve, the last the 7th Infantry Division's march into Hamburg on 3rd May, 1945.

In Italy Sherman III tanks and some Priests were converted for use by Eighth Army. Removing the turret of the Sherman and out internal fittings gave room to carry up to 10 troops.[3]

From 1943, Stuart tanks (both M3 and M5) had their turrets removed and seating fitted to carry infantry troops attached to British armoured brigades.[4]

  • Infantry of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in a Ram Kangaroo of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, on the outskirts of Ochtrup, Germany, 3 April 1945
    Infantry of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in a Ram Kangaroo of the 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, on the outskirts of Ochtrup, Germany, 3 April 1945
  • Ram Kangaroo at The Tank Museum, Bovington
    Ram Kangaroo at The Tank Museum, Bovington
  • A postwar Churchill Kangaroo viewed from the rear corner
    A postwar Churchill Kangaroo viewed from the rear corner

See also

References

  1. ^ Ellis and Chamberlain AFV Profilre No 13 Ram and Sexton p16
  2. ^ Livesey, Jack (2007). Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World War I and II. Hermes Hse, 88-89 Blackfriar's Road, London SE1 8HA: Anness Publishing Ltd. p. 60. ISBN 1-84476-370-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. ^ Chamberlain & Ellis British and American Tanks of World War II 1969 Arco Publishing p 131-132
  4. ^ Chamberlain & Ellis (1969) p 91
  • The Battle for the Rhine 1944, 2005, Robin Neillands (chapter 7, "The Battle for the Scheldt")
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