Kangaroo towing bracket
 

This is a cut from a photo of CT106122 "BUTCH".
The photo was sent to me by Bill Miller, but must be credited to Bill Herbison.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...chCT160122.jpg


Anyone any thoughts as to the towing bracket? Not a "standard" towing pintle, so not an ex gun tower.

Check out Bills site for other Ram info.

Cheers
Kevin

Re: Kangaroo towing bracket
 

Kevin,

First of all, note this Ram was once fitted with deep wading equipment. What remains is a type of ridge around the rear hull hatches and air inlet/exhaust area to which the sheet metal ducts were fitted.

Official orders were all Ram Kangaroos were to be fitted with an expedient towing hook, so they could double up as gun towers. This towing hook was fitted to a vertical iron bar, which was fitted to the hull just above and under the rear hull hatch. The lower attaching point is shown in Mr. Herbison's picture. This is a sign of it being a genuine Kangaroo.

I will try to find a picture of this setup. It was fitted to the Sherman Firefly as well.

HTH,
Hanno

Re: Re: Kangaroo towing bracket
 

This is endorsed by it's known history:
Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

Re: Re: Kangaroo towing bracket
 

Here you are:
http://www.ramtank.ca/ct160007.jpg

http://www.ramtank.ca/images/ct159773.jpg

Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

Re: Re: Kangaroo towing bracket
 

Here's another picture, showing the bar with the towing hook undone at the top and swung down to allow the rear hull door to open.
http://www.ramtank.ca/ct159532.jpg
Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm

Re: Kangaroo towing bracket
 

For completeness, a picture of the "standard" towing hook, as fitted to gun towers. The hook is fitted to a horizontal spring.
http://www.ramtank.ca/ct159403.jpg
Source: http://www.ramtank.ca/ram_mk2_5.htm