Description
The Ram Kangaroo was an improvised armored personnel carrier (APC) developed by the Canadian Army during World War II. It was created out of necessity to provide infantry with the same level of mobility and protection as tanks on the battlefield, a problem that became particularly evident during the Battle of Normandy.
The “Kangaroo” concept involved converting existing, often obsolete, armored vehicles into troop carriers by removing the main gun and turret. The Ram Kangaroo was based on the Canadian-built Ram tank, a vehicle that had been largely replaced by the M4 Sherman for frontline combat and was primarily used for training.
The conversion was straightforward: the tank’s turret was removed, and the interior was cleared to make space for up to 11 fully equipped soldiers in addition to a two-man crew. This provided the infantry with robust protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments, something half-tracks couldn’t offer. The Ram Kangaroo retained a .30 cal machine gun in the hull, and sometimes another was added to the turret ring for additional firepower.
First used in combat in late 1944, the Ram Kangaroos were highly successful. They allowed infantry to keep pace with tanks during advances, which was crucial for combined-arms operations. Their performance led to the formation of the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment and the British 49th Armoured Carrier Regiment, which used them extensively in the campaigns in Northwest Europe until the end of the war. The Ram Kangaroo is considered a precursor to modern, purpose-built APCs.
Set consists of 15 fine metal 1:600th/3mm scale miniatures.
Producer: ‘Oddział Ósmy’ sc Marcin Kaźmierczak i Tomasz Kołuda, ul. Piotrkowska 107, 90-425 Łódź, Poland
