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

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 the war was imported from either Britain or the US.

Knives and bayonets

Model From Blade length Comments
Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife 1941 18 cm Various models.
Ross bayonet 1905 ? Stepped guard on early model, flat on later model. Sharpened later models were taken overseas in World War I.
P1907 bayonet 1907 ? Used on No. 1 rifle (previously called SMLE)
No. 4 MK. II bayonet 1941 ? Used on No. 4 MK. I, No. 4 MK. I* and Sten MK. V

Small arms

Pistols (manual and semi-automatic)

Type Base model Maker Rounds Cartridge From: Produced Weight Comment
Colt Model 1911 & Model 1911A1 Colt Model 1911 various 7 .45 ACP (11.43×23mm) 1914 2700000 1.1 kg semi-automatic. Canada purchased some in World War I and more in World War II.
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
Pistol No. 1 MK. I & No 2 Mk 1 Browning Hi-Power John Inglis and Company 13 9×19mm Parabellum 1944 ? 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 1928, 1928A1, M1 & M1A1 Thompson submachine gun Savage Arms 30 .45 ACP (11.43×23mm) 1942 1500000 4.9 kg
Sten Mk II - Mk V Sten Long Branch Arsenal & British Factories 32 9×19mm Parabellum 1941 3700000 3.2 kg low-cost
M50 Reising M50 Reising H & R Firearms 20 .45 ACP (11.43×23mm) 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
No. 1 Mk. III & No. 1 MK. III* Lee–Enfield various 10 .303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm) ? 4 kg
Number 4 Mk.I, No.4 MK. I* Lee-Enfield various 10 .303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm) 1943 ? 4 kg main Canadian rifle of World War II
Pattern 14 Enfield Winchester, Remington 5 .303 British Mk VII(7.9×56.4mm) 1914 1235298 4.25 kg training only
M1917 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 World War II.

Grenade Launcher Introduced Type Weight, g comments
No. 36 M MK. I cup discharger for No. 1 rifle 1915 fragmentation 765 most common hand grenade during World War II
No 68 AT Grenade 1940 HEAT 894 52 mm 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 World War II
No. 82 Gammon No 1943 universal 1140 soft body

Flamethrowers

Flamethrower, Portable, No 2 "Ack-Pack"

Machine guns

Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns

Type Production Fire rate, RPM Effective rangeCartridge From: Produced Weight Comment
Bren Gun (various marks) Inglis, Toronto 510 600 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) 1939 599000 10.35 kg replacement for Lewis gun
Lewis gun (standard model; U.S. version; Automatic Ship's Lewis Gun) 550 800 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) or .30/06 1917 ? 13 kg occasional AA gun, limited production during World War II
Vickers machine gun (various marks and models) 475 2000 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) 1912 ? 23 kg Vickers Gas Operated was standard flexible MG on aircraft early in World War II.
M2HB Browning machine gun 550 1800 .50 BMG (12.7×99mm) 1921 3000000 23 kg used until present (2014)
M1919A4 500 1400 .30/06 1919 5000000 14 kg In 1970s converted to 7.62 NATO

Artillery

Infantry mortars

Model Caliber Max. range From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment
2 inch Mortar (standard and airborne lightweight models) 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 World War II
QF 25-pounder 87.6mm 12253 1940 13000 1633 7 main Canadian World War II 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 World War II

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 m27 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 m119 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 World War II 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 IV1944 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 DD1942 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 tank destroyer 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 Oerlikon 20mm gun 1944 ? self-propelled AA gun
Skink anti-aircraft tank M4 Sherman 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 Years in Use 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

Tractors & prime movers

Model/Type Years in Use 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
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
Chevrolet C8 CMP rear quarter view
Model/Type Years in Use Manufacturer Details
Willys MB, Ford GP, Ford GPW & Ford GPA  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 (Field Artillery Tractor) 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 (Field Artillery Tractor) Chevrolet,  Canada Canadian Military Pattern truck

Aircraft

It should be noted here that although the Canadian government purchased and built thousands of military aircraft for use by the RCAF Home War Establishment (RCAF Eastern Air Command and RCAF Western Air Command) and the Canadian-based units of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, under the provisions of the plan Canada was to provide the training aircraft and facilities and a very large number of Canadian airmen would be committed to go overseas to fight in Article XV squadrons formed in the Great Britain and known as 400 series squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Forty-four of these squadrons were formed and most under this agreement were equipped by the British largely from their stocks and that is why many of the types of aircraft flown in combat in great numbers (such as the North American Mustang, Boulton Paul Defiant, Bristol Beaufighter, hundreds of Supermarine Spitfires of various marks, British built Avro Lancasters, Vickers Wellington, Hawker Typhoon, Short Sunderland, etc.) by most of the RCAF squadrons engaged in the fighting are missing from the following list altogether (or the quantities actually used by the RCAF overseas are not included in the numbers given below).

Fighters

NamePlace of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
Number used
Armstrong Whitworth SiskinUKfighter1926194012
Hawker HurricaneUK/Canadafighter19391948502
Grumman GoblinUS/Canadafighter1940194215
North American NA-44USfighter/utility194019441
Supermarine SpitfireUKfighter194019508
Curtiss KittyhawkUSfighter19411946134
Curtiss WarhawkUSfighter194219439
Hawker Sea HurricaneUKfighter194219431
Curtiss TomahawkUS fighter194319464
de Havilland MosquitoUK/Canadabomber/fighter-bomber19431951444
Gloster MeteorUKfighter194519554

Attack aircraft

NamePlace of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
used
Blackburn Shark Mk.II & IIIUKtorpedo bomber1936194426
Bristol BeaufortUKtorpedo bomber/strike/minelayer1941194415
Brewster BermudaUSdive bomber194319463
Fairey Swordfish Mk.II & IIIUKtorpedo bomber19431947105
Fairey AlbacoreUKtorpedo bomber194319496

Bombers

Name1968 CF
designator
Place of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
used
Lockheed Hudsonn/aUSbomber19391948247
Hawker Hartn/aUKbomber193719433
Douglas Digbyn/aUSbomber1939194620
Fairey Battlen/aUKbomber/trainer/target tug19391946740
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroken/aCanadabomber/trainer19391947626
Handley Page Harrown/aUKbomber/transport194019412
Northrop Nomadn/aUSlight bomber1940194532
Avro Ansonn/aUK/Canadamedium bomber/trainer194019474413
Handley Page Hampdenn/aUKbomber1941194496
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVn/aUKmedium bomber/gunnery trainer194119451
Douglas Bostonn/aUSbomber194119453
Avro Lancastern/aUK/Canadaheavy bomber19441965229
Martin Baltimoren/aUSbomber194219421
North American Mitchelln/aUSbomber19421963164
Boeing Fortress Mk.IIn/aUSlong-range patrol bomber194319466
Handley Page Halifaxn/aUKheavy bomber19441947

Reconnaissance aircraft

Name1968 CF
designator
Place of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
used
Canadian Vickers Vedetten/aCanadapatrol flying boat1925194144
Canadian Vickers Vancouvern/aCanadapatrol flying boat192919406
Armstrong Whitworth Atlasn/aUKspotting/liaison1927194216
Westland Wapitin/aUKspotting/liaison1930194425
Hawker Audaxn/aUKspotting/liaison193319436
Supermarine Stranraern/aCanadapatrol seaplane1938194640
Westland Lysandern/aUK/Canadaspotting/liaison/target tug19391946329
Consolidated Catalina/Canson/aUS/Canadamaritime patrol seaplane19411962254
Lockheed Venturan/aUSmaritime patrol/target tug1942194728
Supermarine Walrusn/aUKfleet spotter/utility amphibian194319478
Consolidated Liberatorn/aUSmaritime patrol1943194814

Trainers

Name1968 CF
designator
Place of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
used
De Havilland Mothn/aUKtrainer1928194889
Curtiss-Reid Ramblern/aCanadatrainer/utility192919549
Hawker Tomtitn/aUKtrainer193019432
Avro Tutor (Avro 621)n/aUKtrainer193119457
Fleet Fawnn/aCanadaelementary trainer1931194751
Avro Prefect (Avro 626)n/aUKtrainer1937194512
de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Mothn/aCanadatrainer193819481410
Airspeed Oxfordn/aUKtrainer (navigation, bombing & radio)19391947819
Fleet Finchn/aCanadaelementary trainer19391947431
North American Harvardn/aUS/Canadaadvanced trainer193919682156
North American NA-26n/aUStrainer194019421
de Havilland Menasco Mothn/aCanadatrainer19411947136
Cessna Cranen/aUStrainer19411949826
Fleet Fortn/aCanadaintermediate/radio trainer19411945101
Hawker Hindn/aUKinstructional airframe194219434
Stearman Kaydet (Model 75)n/aUSelementary trainer19421943301
General Aircraft Hotspur Mk.IIn/aUKtraining glider1942194522
Fairchild Cornelln/aUSelementary trainer194219481555

Transports

Name1968 CF
designator
Place of
manufacture
Primary
role(s)
Service
period
#
used
Consolidated Couriern/aUSutility192819413
Fairchild 71, 71B & 71Cn/aUS/Canadatransport1929194223
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemakern/aUStransport1929194413
Fairchild 51 & 51An/aUS/Canadatransport193019469
de Havilland Puss Mothn/aUKtransport1931194419
Fairchild Super 71n/aCanadatransport193619402
Northrop Deltan/aCanadatransport/patrol1936194520
Grumman Goosen/aUSutility amphibian1938195631
Barkley-Grow T8P-1n/aUStransport193919411
Lockheed Electran/aUStransport1939194615
Boeing 247Dn/aUStransport194019428
de Havilland Dragonflyn/aUKtransport194019456
Fairchild Argusn/aUSutility194019452
Lockheed Electra Juniorn/aUStransport1940194510
Lockheed Model 212n/aUStransport194019461
North American Yalen/aUSintermediate/radio trainer19401946119
Stinson Voyager (Model 105)n/aUSutility1940194625
Noorduyn Norsemann/aCanadautility transport19401957100
de Havilland Fox Mothn/aCanadatransport194119451
Beechcraft ExpeditorCT-128USutility/trainer19411972394
Waco AQC-6n/aUSutility194219421
Fleet Freightern/aCanadatransport194219442
Curtiss Seamewn/aUSutility floatplane1943194482
Lockheed Lodestarn/aUStransport1943194818
Douglas DakotaCC-129UStransport19431990169
Waco Hadrian Mk.IIn/aUStransport glider1944194932

Radars

Cartridges and shells

Model/TypePeriod or Years in UseManufacturer/Origins
.303 British  United Kingdom
.455 Webley  United Kingdom

Uniforms, Load Bearing and Protective Equipment

Uniforms

Model/TypePeriod or years in useManufacturer/origins
Canadian Pattern and British Pattern
Khaki Drill
Battle Dress 1939-early 1970s  United Kingdom
Denison smock Used by the Airborne  United Kingdom

Load bearing equipment

Model/TypePeriod or Years in UseManufacturer/Origins
1937 Pattern Web Equipment  United Kingdom
1942 Battle Jerkin  United Kingdom

Head dress

Model/TypePeriod or Years in UseManufacturer/Origins
Glengarry  United Kingdom
Tam o'shanter  United Kingdom
Field Service Cap  United Kingdom
Beret  United Kingdom
Helmet, MK II  United Kingdom
Mk III Turtle helmet  United Kingdom

See also

References

  1. Total manufacturered, not number used by Canadian forces
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