Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Phillips
The Wapiti was reportedly cancelled as it was too big to be air transported- which seems odd since the later Bobcat was to be airportable in a 105mm gun version.
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Perhaps the answer is one word: Hercules. US production started in 1956 and introduced to the RCAF in 1960.
I mentioned early in this thread that I talked with the EME Col Commandant about the Bobcat. He was part of the project towards the end, and pulled the plug on the project. Apparently they were rife with problems. Personally, I'm glad we ended up with the M113 family of vehicles, some of which are still serving today after 50 years of service. I think a limited production of the Bobcat, had it been brought to fruition, would have just left us with an orphan as the US vehicle would have dominated the market in the free world.
We can take some satisfaction in the LAV series of vehicles, although the lineage goes back to Europe. I think that series have now become the standard in the free world.