Even before the loss of the majority of the United Kingdom's tank force in France in 1940 after Dunkirk, it was recognised that tank production in the UK at the start of the war was insufficient and capacity in the US was taken for British needs. This engine, being an improvement over the original, was later applied to British production. Aside from the necessary adjustments to the design to incorporate local engineering standards and available components, the Canadian Valentines used a GMC engine. This British design was to be built in Canada. To form the 1st Army Tank Brigade, Valentine tanks were ordered. Main article: Valentine Tank The first tank to be manufactured in Canada, a Valentine VI, being inspected by C D Howe the Canadian Minister of Munitions and Supply in May 1941Īfter the fall of France, it was decided the nascent Canadian armoured divisions would be equipped by tanks produced in Canada. Events of the Second World War later thrust Canada into large scale tank production with thousands of Valentine, Ram, and Grizzly tanks and their armoured variants being produced.Ĭanada would also go on to build modern armoured fighting vehicles that served during the Cold War and the War in Afghanistan.Ĭanadian Tanks Valentine Tank They were sufficient to begin some tank training and familiarisation, but were of very limited combat use. Therefore, 219 US M1917 tanks, a First World War design, were obtained at scrap prices. At the time, there were no tanks available to be acquired from Britain. Initially, the Canadian Armoured forces brokered a deal to obtain scrap iron on behalf of the Canadian Government because isolationist laws prohibited the U.S. From these modest beginnings, the modern Canadian Armoured Corps began on 13 August 1940. The first tanks since the First World War did not arrive until a few Vickers Mark VI light tanks appeared the year before Canada went to war with Germany again. when the Canadian Tank Corps was finally authorized two days after the armistice. However, the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion was still training in Mark V tanks in the U.K.

Initially, these units were considered to be part of the Machine Gun Corps and the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion 2nd Canadian Tank Battalion and the 3e Bataillon de chars d'assaut were all too late to join the fighting in the First World War. Originally formed as the Canadian Cavalry Corps in 1910, Canada's first tank units were not raised until late in 1918. Main article: Royal Canadian Armoured Corps

Different types of military tanks