Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association History Website
Presented by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association (Cavalry)
Sponsored by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada
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Presented by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association (Cavalry)
Sponsored by General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada
Prior to the Second World War, Canada had limited experience with armoured vehicles. Although Canadian Soldiers did train with British MkV tanks in England; they never saw service. Canada purchased a few Carden-Loyd carriers between the wars but did not invest in armoured vehicles.
The Second World War found Canada quickly ramping up training for the new Armoured Corps. Early training was done on Carden-Loyd Carriers and some Vickers Mark VIb Light Tanks. A large number of American M1917 (Renault copy) tanks were quickly acquired. The Canadian designed and built Ram Tank was manufactured in Montreal. It did not see service in Europe (except modified variants such as Armoured Personnel Carrier, Observation Post, Flamethrower, and Munitions Carrier) but was used for training purposes in Canada and the United Kingdom.
For most Canadian Armoured Soldiers, most real “Tank” training had to wait until their units made it to England. In England, they were introduced to many of the early tanks of the war. They trained on Valentines, Rams, Churchills and Matildas until the M4 Shermans were available.
Elements of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (LdSH) and Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) served as a part of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Brigade was active from 1951 to 1955 and was deployed to Korea in 1951. The Brigade was composed of 3 Battalions of Infantry and three successive Squadrons of LdSH, later replaced by D Squadron RCD in 1954.
Although the last M4 Sherman tanks were used in the Canadian Reserves until the Early 1970s, Canadian Main Battle Tanks went from the Sherman to the Centurion (1952 – late 1970s) and then Leopard 1s (1979 – 2010) until replaced by Leopard 2’s in 2007). Light Armour has been supplied by Ferret Scout Cars, M113s, AVGPs (Cougar, Grizzly, and Husky), Bison, LAV III-VI, TLAV, and TAPV.
Acquisition of the Leopard was one of the highlights of the RCAC.
• June 1978 first Leopard 1A3s (C1) arrives in Lahr Germany.
• July 1978 9 Leopard C1s issued to Royal Canadian Armoured School. They were divided between Gunnery
and Driving and Maintenance squadrons. The turrets were taken off, placed on turret stands, the hulls
were fitted with an Instructors cabin for driving training.
• Official Leopard C1 roll out, 16 October 1978, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School.
• July 1979 last Leopard C1 arrives, complete order in Canadian hand with 3 squadrons in Germany, 1 at
the Armoured School.
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