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Canadian Cruiser Tank, Grizzly I
The Grizzly I was the basic M4A1 design built by Montreal Locomotive upon completion of the Ram II contracts. Ram II production, including Observation Post and Command versions was completed in July 1943 and Grizzly I production started in September of that year. Production was short-lived however, being terminated in December 1943 after completion of 188 vehicles, when it became apparent that American production was sufficient to equip Allied needs.
The Grizzly I is most easily identified by a raised "G" cast on the hull front. This does not stand for "Grizzly" but denotes General Castings, the U.S. firm that manufactured the hulls. The Grizzly I differed from the M4A1 primarily in that it was fitted with CDP tracks, installation of British pattern No.19 wireless equipment, a stowage box added to the rear of the turret, and sandshields fitted as standard equipment. Another modification of the basic design was the installation of the British 2-inch smoke mortar in the turret roof. The inclusion of the smoke mortar was later adopted by the U.S. for all subsequent M4 production.
Peter Brown of the United Kingdom has done some research into Grizzly WD numbers and provided the following information:
| CT160194 - CT160279 | 86 Vehicles with plain hulls later fitted with applique armour. |
| CT163911 - CT163930 CT163949 - CT163955 CT164073 |
28 vehicles all with cast extra armour. All from a batch which was originally to be 102 vehicles but was reduced. |
The Grizzly I equipped Canadian Militia armoured regiments postwar and were eventually sold to various European nations such as Portugal. Numbers of the Grizzly I survive to this day in private hands. Examples of the Grizzly I are on dislpay at CFB Borden. Visitors to Base Borden should also be aware that a Grizzly I chassis mounting a 17pdr gun turret is also on display, representing a Firefly tank. This is not strictly an accurate representation and was either "cobbled" together for display purposes, or possibly used for testing purposes.
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© Chris Johnson, 1997
