List of military equipment of the Canadian Army during the Second World War

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At the beginning of the Second World war, Canada did not have an extensive manufacturing industry besides car manufacturing. Furthermore, it was only partially independent from the United Kingdom (Britain). Therefore, most of Canadian weapons and equipment during war was imported from either Britain or USA.

1 Knives and bayonets
2 Small arms
3 Machine guns
- 3.1 Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns
- 3.2 Vehicle and aircraft machine guns
4 Artillery
5 Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)
6 Anti-aircraft weapons
7 Vehicles
8 Aircraft
9 Radars
10 Cartridges and shells
11 Uniforms, Load Bearing and Protective Equipment
12 See also
13 References
14 External links

Knives and bayonets

Model	From	Blade length	Comments
Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife	1941	18 cm	-
Ross bayonet	1905	?	tend to fall off from rifle after firing
Lee–Enfield bayonet	1907	?	replacement for Ross bayonet, used until 1943
No. 4 rifle bayonet	1943	?	-

Small arms

Pistols (manual and semi-automatic)

Type	Base model	Maker	Rounds	Cartridge	From:	Produced	Weight	Comment
Colt Model 1911	Colt Model 1911	various	7	.45 ACP (11.43×23mm)	1914	2700000	1.1 kg	semi-automatic
Smith & Wesson Triple Lock 2nd model	Smith & Wesson Triple Lock	Smith & Wesson	6	.44 Special (10.9×29mm)	1917	?	1.08 kg	revolver, low-cost version
Browning Hi-Power (Pistol No 2 Mk 1)	Browning Hi-Power	John Inglis and Company	13	9×19mm Parabellum	1944	1000000	1.08 kg	semi-automatic, Belgian blueprints
S&W Victory Model (S&W Military&Police)	Smith & Wesson Model 10	Smith & Wesson	6	.38-200 (9.2×19.7mm)	1942	570000	0.91 kg	revolver
Webley .455 Mk VI	Webley Revolver	Webley & Scott	6	.455 Webley (11.5×19.6mm)	1915	?	1.1 kg	revolver, obsolete, secondary sidearm
Enfield No. 2 Mk 1	Enfield Revolver	Royal Small Arms Factory, Albion Motors, others	6	.38-200 (9.2×19.7mm)	1932	?	0.765 kg	revolver, secondary sidearm
Colt Police Positive	Colt New Police Revolver	Colt's Manufacturing Company	6	.38 S&W (9.2×19.7mm)	1907	?	0.74 kg	revolver, secondary sidearm

Automatic pistols and submachine guns

Type	Base model	Maker	Rounds	Cartridge	From:	Produced	Weight	Comment
Thompson submachine gun M1	Thompson submachine gun	Savage Arms and others	30	.45 ACP (11.43×23mm)	1942	1500000	4.9 kg
Sten Mk II - Mk III	Sten	Long Branch Arsenal	32	9×19mm Parabellum	1941	3700000	3.2 kg	low-cost
M50 Reising	M50 Reising	H & R Firearms	20	.30 Carbine (7.62×32.76mm)	1941	100000	3.1 kg	bad reliability in field

Rifles

(see canadiansoldiers.com site for detailed data)

Type	Base model	Maker	Rounds	Cartridge	From:	Produced	Weight	Comment
SMLE Mk. III (Number 1 Mk. III)	Lee–Enfield	various	10	.303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm)	1916	?	4 kg	had grenade discharger
SMLE Number 4 Mk. I*	Lee–Enfield	various	10	.303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm)	1943	?	4 kg	main Canadian rifle of WWII
Pattern 14 Enfield	Lee–Enfield	Winchester, Remington	5	.303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm)	1914	1235298	4.25 kg	training only
M1917 Enfield	Lee–Enfield	Springfield Armory, others	6	.30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm)	1917	2193429	4.17 kg	limited use in Canadian homeland

Grenades and grenade launchers

This list is grossly incomplete, listing a small fraction of approximately 30 grenade varieties used by Canadians during WWII.

Grenade	Launcher	Introduced	Type	Weight, g	comments
Mills bomb a.k.a. 36M	rod discharger for SMLE	1915	fragmentation	765	most common hand grenade during WWII, dangerous&unreliable if launched from rifle
No 68 AT Grenade	cup discharger for SMLE	1940	HEAT	894	52mm RHA penetration
No. 69 grenade	No	1942	high-explosive	383	bakelite case
No. 73 grenade	No	1940	high-explosive	2000	51mm RHA penetration, used mostly for demolition
No. 74 Sticky bomb	No	1940	HESH	~900	low-cost
No. 75 AT Hawkins Mine	No	1942	high-explosive	1020	most common Canadian AT weapon & demolition charge during WWII
No. 82 Gammon	No	1943	universal	1140	soft body

Recoilless rifles

Bazooka M1

Flamethrowers

Flamethrower, Portable, No 2 "Ack-Pack"

Machine guns

Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns

Type	Production	Fire rate, RPM	Effective range	Cartridge	From:	Produced	Weight	Comment
Bren Mk1	Inglis Long Branch, Toronto	510	600	.303 British (7.7×56mmR)	1939	599000	10.35 kg	replacement for Lewis gun
Lewis gun M1917		550	800	.303 British (7.7×56mmR)	1917	?	13 kg	occasional AA gun, limited production during WWII
Vickers machine gun		475	2000	.303 British (7.7×56mmR)	1912	?	23 kg	basis for aircraft guns
M2 Browning machine gun M2HB		550	1800	.50 BMG (12.7×99mm)	1921	3000000	23 kg	used until present (2014)
M1919A4		500	1400	.303 British (7.7×56mmR)	1919	5000000	14 kg	basis for aircraft guns
M1941 Johnson machine gun		600	550	.30-06 Springfield (7.8×63.3mmR)	1941	9500	5.9 kg	commandos weapon

Vehicle and aircraft machine guns

Artillery

Infantry mortars

Model	Caliber	Max. range	From	Produced	Weight, kg	fire rate, RPM	Comment
2 inch Mortar	50.8mm	460	1937	?	4.8	8	elevated by hand
M19 mortar	60mm	1790	1942	?	9.3	8	received after M19 was rejected by US military
3 inch Mortar Mk. II	81.2mm	1463	1931	?	50.8	15	crew of 3
M2 4.2 inch mortar	106.7mm	4023	1943	?	151	5	prepared for chemical bombs delivery, never used

Heavy mortars & rocket launchers

Land Mattress C-21 UCM -

Field artillery

Model	Caliber	Max. range	From	Produced	Weight, kg	fire rate, RPM	Comment
QF 18-pounder	83.8mm	5966	1904	10469	1282	4	obsolete at start of WWII
QF 25-pounder	87.6mm	12253	1940	13000	1633	7	main Canadian WWII field gun/howitzer
BL 4.5 inch Medium Field Gun	114mm	18000	1938	?	6190	2.5	built in UK by Canadian companies
BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun	140mm	16550	1941	?	5900	2	received from UK
BL 60-pounder	127mm	15500	1905	1756	4400	2	in Canadian service until start of WWII

Anti-tank guns

Model	Caliber	Penetration 1	Penetration 2	Muzzle speed	Max. range	From	Produced	Weight, kg	fire rate, RPM	Comment
QF 2-pdr	40 mm	37 mm @ 457 m	27 mm @ 914 m	792	1000	1936	12000	814	22
QF 6-pdr	57 mm	88 mm @ 100 m	-	884	1600	1941	?	1140	?	produced in both UK and Canada
QF 17-pdr	76.2 mm	130 mm @ 500 m	119 mm @ 1000 m	880	1800	1942	?	3050	?	-

Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)

Bangalore torpedo (not a grenade or anti-tank)

Anti-aircraft weapons

Model	Caliber	Eff. alt.	From	Produced	Weight, kg	fire rate, RPM	Comment
QF 3.7-inch AA gun Mk1	94mm	7300	1941	?	9317	15
Bofors 40 mm gun L/60	40mm	4100	1932	2250	1981	120	still in service (2014)
Polsten-Oerlikon gun	20mm	1000	1944	57	4000	450	low-cost

Vehicles

Canada have produced a wide variety of combat vehicles during WWII domestically, but all primary fighting vehicles there imported because of manufacturing quality concerns.

Tankettes

Carden Loyd Mk IV tankette - not used in combat

Tanks

Model	From	Armor max. (mm)	Primary armament	Secondary armament	Weight ( t)	Power (kW)	Range (km)	# Produced^{[note 1]}	Crew	Comments
Stuart tank	1941	51	37mm Gun M3 L/24	3×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG	14.7	190	119	25000	4	imported
Churchill tank Mk 1	1941	102	QF 2-pdr	2 × 7.92 mm Besa machine gun	38.5	261	90	7368	4	given to Canada for Dieppe Raid
Churchill Oke	1942	102	QF-2-pdr Ronson flamethrower	2 × 7.92 mm Besa machine gun	38.5	261	90	3	4	all destroyed in Dieppe Raid
Centaur IV	1944	76	Ordnance QF 95 mm howitzer	2×7.92mm Besa machine gun	28	450	270	114	5	support tank
Sherman I, III, V	1942	76	75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6	1 × 12.7mm Browning M2HB and 2 × 7.8mm Browning M1919A4	30.3	298	193	?	5	Lend-Lease
Sherman Firefly IC & VC	1943	89	QF 17-pdr	12.7mm Browning M2HB and 7.8mm Browning M1919A4	33	298	193	2,150	4	American chassis with British gun
Sherman V DD	1942	76	75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6	1×12.7mm Browning M2HB and 2×7.8mm Browning M1919A4	30.3	298	193	?	5	M4 with flotation screen and propeller
Ram Badger flame tank	1941	87	QF 6-pdr	Wasp II flamethrower and 2×7.62mm machine guns	29	298	232	?	5	later versions had flamethrower replacing main gun
Sherman Badger flame tank	1942	76	75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6	Wasp IIC flamethrower and 2×7.8mm Browning M1919A4	30.3	298	193	?	5	replacement for Ram Badger flame tank
Grizzly I	1943	75	75 mm M3 L/40 gun	2×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG	29.91	298	193	188	5	Canadian-built modified M4 Sherman, chassis used for Sexton self-propelled gun
M10 Wolverine	1942	57	76.2 mm Gun M7	1×12.7mm Browning M2HB	29.6	276	300	6706	5	tank destroyer
Achilles	1944	57.2	QF 17-pdr (76mm)	1×12.7mm Browning M2HB	29.6	276	300	1,100	5	tank destroyer M10 with British gun
Archer	1943	60	QF 17-pdr (76mm)	1× .303 Bren LMG	15	145	230	655	4	tank destroyer
Light Tank Mk VIA	1936	14	Vickers .50 machine gun (12.7mm)	1× .303 Vickers machine gun	4.93	67	210	1,682	3	not used in combat
Ram tank I and II	1941	87	QF 6-pdr	3×7.62mm machine guns	29	298	232	2000	5	In field conversions saw combat in Europe, based on M3 hull
Valentine Mk.VI	1941	65	QF 2-pdr (40mm)	1×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG	16.5	104	130	1420	3	Canadian-built, provided to USSR
Matilda II infantry tank	1937	78	QF 2-pdr (40mm)	1×7.92 mm Besa machine gun	25	72	257	2987	4	not used in combat
M3 Lee/Grant	1941	51	75mm M2/M3 gun	(2-4)×7.8mm Browning M1919A4	27	300	193	6258	?	not used in combat

Self-propelled guns

Tank-based

Name	Chassis	Gun	Developed	Manufactured	Role
Sexton	M3 Lee	QF 25-pdr (87.6 mm) Mk II	1942	2150	self-propelled gun
M7 Priest	M3 Lee	M101 howitzer (105mm)	1942	4443	self-propelled gun
Crusader III, AA Mk.I	Crusader	Bofors 40 mm gun	1944	?	self-propelled AA gun
Mk.II/III	Crusader	2×Oerlikon 20mm gun	1944	?	self-propelled AA gun
Skink anti-aircraft tank	M4 Sherman	4×Polsten (20mm)	1944	3	self-propelled AA gun

Other

M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage - M3 Half-track equipped with the M1A1 75 mm gun

Armored cars

Model/Type	Manufacturer	Details
Daimler Dingo	United Kingdom
Daimler Mk. I Armoured Car	United Kingdom
Humber Mk. I Scout Car	United Kingdom
Humber Mk. IV Armoured Car	United Kingdom
M3 Scout Car	United States
Morris Light Reconnaissance Car	United Kingdom
Staghound Armoured Car	United States
Fox Armoured Car	Canada	Humber Armoured Car design modified for Canadian production
Otter Light Reconnaissance Car	Canada	Similar to Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
Lynx Scout Car	Canada	Similar to Dingo

Engineering and command

Model/Type	Years in Use	Manufacturer	Details
Ram ARV Mk I and II		Canada
Valentine Bridgelayer		United Kingdom
Sherman V ARV		United States

Sherman Ib recovery vehicle

Tractors & prime movers

Model/Type	Manufacturer	Details
Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)	Canada
Loyd Carrier	United Kingdom
Wasp	United Kingdom	A Universal Carrier with flame-thrower equipment
T-16 Carrier	United States	Lend-Lease based upon Universal Carrier, used to tow artillery
Windsor Carrier	Canada	variation of Universal Carrier
M3A1 Half-track	Various, United States
Truck, 15-cwt, Half-track	International Harvester, United States
M5 Half-track	International Harvester, United States	similar to M3 produced for Lend-Lease
M9A1 Half-track	International Harvester, United States	Variant of M5
M14 Half-track	International Harvester, United States	M3 Half-track with anti-aircraft turret
M5 "Recce"	United States	A turretless M5 light tank used for reconnaissance

Miscellaneous vehicles

Chevrolet C8 CMP

File:Canadian military pattern truck rear quarter.JPG

Chevrolet C8 CMP rear quarter view

Model/Type	Manufacturer	Details
Willys Jeep	United States
Morris C8	United Kingdom
AEC Matador	United Kingdom
Diamond T 4-Ton lorry	United Kingdom
F-8	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
F-15	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
F-15	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
F-30	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
F-60S, F-60L, F-60H, F-60T	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
F-GT	Ford, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
C-8, C-8A	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
C-15, C-15A	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
C15TA Armoured Truck	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
C-30, C-60S, C-60L, C-60X	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
C-GT	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck
Field Artillery Tractor	Chevrolet, Canada	Canadian Military Pattern truck

Aircraft

Fighters

Name	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# Number used
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin	UK	fighter	1926–1940	12
Hawker Hurricane	UK/Canada	fighter	1939–1948	502
Grumman Goblin	US/Canada	fighter	1940–1942	15
North American NA-44	US	fighter/utility	1940–1944	1
Supermarine Spitfire	UK	fighter	1940–1950	8
Curtiss Kittyhawk	US	fighter	1941–1946	134
Curtiss Warhawk	US	fighter	1942–1943	9
Hawker Sea Hurricane	UK	fighter	1942–1943	1
Curtiss Tomahawk	US	fighter	1943–1946	4
de Havilland Mosquito	UK/Canada	bomber/fighter-bomber	1943–1951	444
Gloster Meteor	UK	fighter	1945–1955	4

Attack aircraft

Name	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# used
Blackburn Shark Mk.II & III	UK	torpedo bomber	1936–1944	26
Bristol Beaufort	UK	torpedo bomber/strike/minelayer	1941–1944	15
Brewster Bermuda	US	dive bomber	1943–1946	3
Fairey Swordfish Mk.II & III	UK	torpedo bomber	1943–1947	105
Fairey Albacore	UK	torpedo bomber	1943–1949	6

Bombers

Name	1968 CF designator	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# used
Lockheed Hudson	n/a	US	bomber	1939–1948	247
Hawker Hart	n/a	UK	bomber	1937–1943	3
Douglas Digby	n/a	US	bomber	1939–1946	20
Fairey Battle	n/a	UK	bomber/trainer/target tug	1939–1946	740
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke	n/a	Canada	bomber/trainer	1939–1947	626
Handley Page Harrow	n/a	UK	bomber/transport	1940–1941	2
Northrop Nomad	n/a	US	light bomber	1940–1945	32
Avro Anson	n/a	UK/Canada	medium bomber/trainer	1940–1947	4413
Handley Page Hampden	n/a	UK	bomber	1941–1944	96
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV	n/a	UK	medium bomber/gunnery trainer	1941–1945	1
Douglas Boston	n/a	US	bomber	1941–1945	3
Avro Lancaster	n/a	UK/Canada	heavy bomber	1944–1965	229
Martin Baltimore	n/a	US	bomber	1942–1942	1
North American Mitchell	n/a	US	bomber	1942–1963	164
Boeing Fortress Mk.II	n/a	US	long-range patrol bomber	1943–1946	6
Handley Page Halifax	n/a	UK	heavy bomber	1944–1947

Reconnaissance aircraft

Name	1968 CF designator	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# used
Canadian Vickers Vedette	n/a	Canada	patrol flying boat	1925–1941	44
Canadian Vickers Vancouver	n/a	Canada	patrol flying boat	1929–1940	6
Armstrong Whitworth Atlas	n/a	UK	spotting/liaison	1927–1942	16
Westland Wapiti	n/a	UK	spotting/liaison	1930–1944	25
Hawker Audax	n/a	UK	spotting/liaison	1933–1943	6
Supermarine Stranraer	n/a	Canada	patrol seaplane	1938–1946	40
Westland Lysander	n/a	UK/Canada	spotting/liaison/target tug	1939–1946	329
Consolidated Catalina/Canso	n/a	US/Canada	maritime patrol seaplane	1941–1962	254
Lockheed Ventura	n/a	US	maritime patrol/target tug	1942–1947	28
Supermarine Walrus	n/a	UK	fleet spotter/utility amphibian	1943–1947	8
Consolidated Liberator	n/a	US	maritime patrol	1943–1948	14

Trainers

Name	1968 CF designator	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# used
De Havilland Moth	n/a	UK	trainer	1928–1948	89
Curtiss-Reid Rambler	n/a	Canada	trainer/utility	1929–1954	9
Hawker Tomtit	n/a	UK	trainer	1930–1943	2
Avro Tutor (Avro 621)	n/a	UK	trainer	1931–1945	7
Fleet Fawn	n/a	Canada	elementary trainer	1931–1947	51
Avro Prefect (Avro 626)	n/a	UK	trainer	1937–1945	12
de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Moth	n/a	Canada	trainer	1938–1948	1410
Airspeed Oxford	n/a	UK	trainer (navigation, bombing & radio)	1939–1947	819
Fleet Finch	n/a	Canada	elementary trainer	1939–1947	431
North American Harvard	n/a	US/Canada	advanced trainer	1939–1968	2156
North American NA-26	n/a	US	trainer	1940–1942	1
de Havilland Menasco Moth	n/a	Canada	trainer	1941–1947	136
Cessna Crane	n/a	US	trainer	1941–1949	826
Fleet Fort	n/a	Canada	intermediate/radio trainer	1941–1945	101
Hawker Hind	n/a	UK	instructional airframe	1942–1943	4
Stearman Kaydet (Model 75)	n/a	US	elementary trainer	1942–1943	301
General Aircraft Hotspur Mk.II	n/a	UK	training glider	1942–1945	22
Fairchild Cornell	n/a	US	elementary trainer	1942–1948	1555

Transports

Name	1968 CF designator	Place of manufacture	Primary role(s)	Service period	# used
Consolidated Courier	n/a	US	utility	1928–1941	3
Fairchild 71, 71B & 71C	n/a	US/Canada	transport	1929–1942	23
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker	n/a	US	transport	1929–1944	13
Fairchild 51 & 51A	n/a	US/Canada	transport	1930–1946	9
de Havilland Puss Moth	n/a	UK	transport	1931–1944	19
Fairchild Super 71	n/a	Canada	transport	1936–1940	2
Northrop Delta	n/a	Canada	transport/patrol	1936–1945	20
Grumman Goose	n/a	US	utility amphibian	1938–1956	31
Barkley-Grow T8P-1	n/a	US	transport	1939–1941	1
Lockheed Electra	n/a	US	transport	1939–1946	15
Boeing 247D	n/a	US	transport	1940–1942	8
de Havilland Dragonfly	n/a	UK	transport	1940–1945	6
Fairchild Argus	n/a	US	utility	1940–1945	2
Lockheed Electra Junior	n/a	US	transport	1940–1945	10
Lockheed Model 212	n/a	US	transport	1940–1946	1
North American Yale	n/a	US	intermediate/radio trainer	1940–1946	119
Stinson Voyager (Model 105)	n/a	US	utility	1940–1946	25
Noorduyn Norseman	n/a	Canada	utility transport	1940–1957	100
de Havilland Fox Moth	n/a	Canada	transport	1941–1945	1
Beechcraft Expeditor	CT-128	US	utility/trainer	1941–1972	394
Waco AQC-6	n/a	US	utility	1942–1942	1
Fleet Freighter	n/a	Canada	transport	1942–1944	2
Curtiss Seamew	n/a	US	utility floatplane	1943–1944	82
Lockheed Lodestar	n/a	US	transport	1943–1948	18
Douglas Dakota	CC-129	US	transport	1943–1990	169
Waco Hadrian Mk.II	n/a	US	transport glider	1944–1949	32

Radars

Night Watchman (NW), 200-MHz, 1-kW prototype of SW radars (from 1940)
SW1C - surface-warning radar for merchant ships and frigates (from 1941)
SW2C - frequency changed to 215 MHz (1942)
SW3C - miniaturization to fit on torpedo boats, plan-position indicator (1943)
CD radar - coastal defense only (from 1942)
CDX radar - improvements and export to USSR (from 1943)
GL IIIC - mobile air search radar (from 1941)
Type 268 – 10 GHz submarine snorkel search radar (from 1944)
MEW/AS - 2.8 GHz, 300 kW submarine detection radar (from 1943)
MEW/HF - air search radar (from 1943)
2 other unknown radar types used operationally
18 radar types developed but never used

Cartridges and shells

Model/Type	Period or Years in Use	Manufacturer/Origins
.303 British		United Kingdom
.455 Webley		United Kingdom

Uniforms, Load Bearing and Protective Equipment

Uniforms

Model/Type	Period or years in use	Manufacturer/origins
Canadian Pattern and British Pattern
Khaki Drill
Battle Dress 1939-1967		United Kingdom
Denison smock Used by the Airborne		United Kingdom

Load bearing equipment

Model/Type	Period or Years in Use	Manufacturer/Origins
1937 Pattern Web Equipment		United Kingdom
1942 Battle Jerkin		United Kingdom

Head dress

Model/Type	Period or Years in Use	Manufacturer/Origins
Glengarry		United Kingdom
Tam o'shanter		United Kingdom
Field Service Cap		United Kingdom
Beret		United Kingdom
Brodie helmet		United Kingdom
Mk III Turtle helmet		United Kingdom

References