Hello, I recently learnt that the men on a famous picture representing a column of C15TA were from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Is it possible that C15TA served in a standard Infantry Battalion (not Motorised Battalion) like the RHLI or in separate Transport Companies ? Also did the C15TA was used in the Assault Troops of canadian Armoured Car or Reconnaissance Regiments ? Thanks for any reply Regards.
The terminology used for 'armoured trucks' underwent a lot of variation and caused some obvious confusion , and I'll admit it's only fairly recently that I got a better understanding of the situation in terms of who was entitled to which vehicle type. In brief, Canadian Inf Bns were entitled to armoured trucks on the same scale as their British counterparts, with two per Inf Bn being allowed for under an amended table of transport from around May 1944, which was not however immediately incorporated into unit holdings. Re the above query, the question of which specifically Canadian Army units and HQs were to be issued White M3A1 wheeled scout cars, halftracks (M5, M9, M14) and CT15A armoured trucks is covered in T-17894 on Canadiana Heritage, CMHQ files series. There are a lot of pages to go through, starting in 1943 and progressing to mid-1945. Canadian Military Headquarters, London : T-17894 - Image 727 - Héritage (canadiana.ca) Probably the single most helpful item is linked below, being a Nov 1944 schedule of War Establishments that include an entitlement to armoured trucks, and how these were to be eventually met in actual issues, with a mix of halftracks and CT15s. Note the Motor Bns are still down as halftrack equipped, with Recce Regts to move to a split of 12 halftracks and 21 armoured trucks (the actual split not being stated, though 12 of the halftracks were wireless equipped). Canadian Military Headquarters, London : T-17894 - Image 889 - Héritage (canadiana.ca) Also of note, in April 1945 an Equipment Policy Letter was issued stating that Canadian halftracks in Motor Battalions would be armed with a standard mix of .30-cal and .50-cal machine guns, which is in there (somewhere...). Any chance of a link to the picture mentioned, if it's online? Gary
Thank you very much for answering. The War Establishments are clear and interesting but is there a chance of C15TA being acquired by various means to transport the infantry in better protected vehicles than the usual soft skin trucks ? Also, picture's link : https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.2cd885b...JhX7o2b6TUpk1CNC32nHBOg=&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0
As I understand it, the CT15 had only recently been arriving in theatre at the time the photograph is dated, Oct 1944. I would likewise be minded to think that the allocation of trucks to the RHLI was more likely official than 'off the books' or the like. As a Battalion of an Infantry Brigade they would not have had a WE authorisation for the vehicles in terms of transporting a Rifle Platoon. The cap badges of two of the men appear to have been censored. Also there is a decent shot of the serial number on the first truck, CZ4288020. I'm not sure if either of those points could give a clue as to the using unit, which might answer how they ended up as transport for the RHLI? Infantrymen of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in General Motors C15TA armoured trucks, Krabbendijke, Netherlands, 27 October 1944 (bac-lac.gc.ca) Also, a lot of the Canadian War Diaries are online I think, possibly there is a guide to finding them somewhere on here (I had a quick look but couldn't see it, so it will no doubt be somewhere perfectly obvious!). Gary
Yes in fact it might not be vehicles of the RHLI. You're right Gary, searching in the War Diaries is surely the best option.
They were not going to lift many troops with 39 trucks; assuming the driver is attached personnel it might be in the 250-270 bracket in one lift? The term Troop Carrying Vehicle I always relate to RASC/RCASC units, where it meant 3-tonners. The TCV proper could carry 30 men and the more basic 3-tonner with folding seats 20 men. A single MT Platoon equipped with the latter type could lift around 600 men, which was roughly the marching personnel of a normal Inf Bn. As far as I know, the RCASC had two General Transport Companies, 66 and 69, which were the unit type tasked with the routine transport of Inf Bns. The C15TA was not a natural fit for a GT Coy, which was for bulk movement of troops, and with the standard 30 task vehicles would barely move 200 men. I had a quick look back through the CMHQ file linked above and from Oct/Nov 1944 it seems pre-occupied with whether the C15TA could operate as a wireless vehicle (in the same manner as the White M3A1s and halftracks it was due to replace were doing) and doesn't mention them being used for general troop carrying duties. And I noticed above I've been calling the C15TA the CT15...so much for my proofreading... Gary
Thank you dryan67. In fact, 39 C15TA is enough to lift 2x Rifle Companies and maybe men from the Pioneer Platoon. Finally it seems to me that, in this case, the C15TA is no more than a Universal Carrier with less cross-country performance but better carrying ability. Good to patrol or transport troops near the front line but not a good idea to follow the tanks in an assault. Also I found this : C15TA Armoured Truck | ParaData (Another proof of the versatility of this truck).
