[Mark W. Tonner]

For those interested:

War Establishment/Table of Organization for No. 1 Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, C.A.C. as authorized under GSD 602 (SD Cdn. Sec GHQ 1 Ech 21 Army Gp) - with effect from 24 August 1944:

i) Personnel:

Headquarters

1x Captain (Officer Commanding)
1x Warrant Officer Class II (Squadron Sergeant-Major)
1x Staff-Sergeant (Squadron Quartermaster-Sergeant)
1x Sergeant (Mechanist Sergeant)
7x Trooper
2x Electrician (Sigs) (RC Sigs)
2x Private (RCASC)

Total all ranks Headquarters: 15

Troop (x4) (each)

1x Lieutenant
1x Sergeant
27x Trooper

Total all ranks each Troop: 29 (x4)

Total all ranks Squadron: 131

ii) Distribution of other ranks by trades and duties:

Headquarters

NON-TRADESMEN

1x Batman-driver
3x Driver IC
1x Squadron Sergeant-Major (Regimental duty)
1x Squadron Quartermaster-Sergeant (Regimental duty)
1x Sanitary Dutyman
1x Water Dutyman

TRADESMEN

1x Clerk
2x Cook (RCASC)
2x Electrician (Sigs) (RC Sigs)
1x Mechanist Sergeant

Troop (x4) (each)

NON-TRADESMEN

1x Batman-driver
25x Drivers IC (tank) (May be Drivers IC (tank) or Drivers Mechanical, in either case up to and including rank of Corporal)
1x Sergeant

TRADESMEN

1x Fitter AFV

iii) Transport:

Headquarters

1x Car, 5-cwt
3x Lorry, 3-ton, GS
1x Water Trailer, 20-cwt

Troop (x4) (each)

1x Scout Car
25x Ram Personnel Carriers (KANGAROOS)

iv) Weapons:

Headquarters

1x Pistol, .38 inch
10x Rifle, .303 inch
4x Machine Carbine

Troop (x4) (each)

26x Pistol, .38 inch
2x Rifle, .303 inch
1x Machine Carbine

Notes:

To answer a question that appears in the text on the TRUX website: -

"The original Canadian Ram Kangaroo unit had a troop of sixteen Kangaroos, but later was organised as for a British unit. It would be interesting to know why?"

1.) - Upon authorization, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, C.A.C. was equipped with 50x Priest Kangaroos, which the Officer Commanding distributed between his four Troops:

No. 1 Troop - 14x Priest Kangaroos
No. 2 Troop - 12x Priest Kangaroos
No. 3 Troop - 12x Priest Kangaroos
No. 4 Troop - 12x Priest Kangaroos

Troop (x4) (each)

Troop HQ - 3x Priest Kangaroos (Note: No. 1 Troop - Troop HQ 5x Priest Kangaroos)
Section - 3x Priest Kangaroos
Section - 3x Priest Kangaroos
Section - 3x Priest Kangaroos

1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, C.A.C. (along with the LAD 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, R.C.E.M.E.) was formed as an increment to Regimental Headquarters, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), C.A.C. for administration purposes.

1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, C.A.C. were to have been equipped with 100x Ram Kangaroos, but because of delays and operational requirements they were instead issued with 50x Priest Kangaroos which were readily available at the time. 1st CAPC Sqn operated these equipments from 1 September 1944 until approximately 30 September 1944, supporting operations along the Channel coast, Operation ASTONIA, the capture of Le Havre, followed by Operation WELLHIT, the capture of Boulogne, followed by Operation UNDERGO, the capture of Calais, until finally receiving word on 30 September that they were to turn in their Priest Kangaroos and be re-issued with Ram Kangaroos. On 30 September 1944, the squadron received orders from Headquarters First Canadian Army that their Priest Kangaroos were to be turned into 1005 LAD, REME, after which, they were to be issued Ram Kangaroos from “F” Squadron, 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), C.A.C. During 1 and 2 October 1944, the Sqn drew 64x Ram Kangaroos from “F” Squadron, with which the Officer Commanding distributed between his four Troops:

No. 1 Troop - 16x Ram Kangaroos
No. 2 Troop - 16x Ram Kangaroos
No. 3 Troop - 16x Ram Kangaroos
No. 4 Troop - 16x Ram Kangaroos

Troop (x4) (each):

Troop HQ - 4x Ram Kangaroos
Section - 4x Ram Kangaroos
Section - 4x Ram Kangaroos
Section - 4x Ram Kangaroos

2.) Following the authorization of 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, C.A.C., a series of meetings and correspondence had been going on between the headquarters of First Canadian Army and that of 21st Army Group concerning the formation on a permanent basis, of an Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment within First Canadian Army.

Based on the demonstrated ability of the Kangaroo to allow the infantry to “accompany armour through areas still subject to fire from enemy weapons, thus assisting in preventing the enemy separating our armour and infantry” and its ability to maintain the “speed of the vehicle to reduce the time taken to reach the objective from the start line” two Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiments were authorized. One Regiment was to operate in each Army within 21st Army Group (Second British and First Canadian Armies).

Both armoured personnel carrier regiments were to consist of a Regimental Headquarters and two Squadrons, each of four Troops of three Sections. Each regiment was to operate 106x Ram Kangaroos, with 53x Ram Kangaroos per Squadron, with 12x Ram Kangaroos per Troop and 3x Ram Kangaroos per Section.

Squadron (x2) (each)

Squadron Headquarters - 5x Ram Kangaroos
No. 1 Troop - 12x Ram Kangaroos (Tp HQ - 3x Ram Kangaroos and 3x Section each with 3x Ram Kangaroos)
No. 2 Troop - 12x Ram Kangaroos (Tp HQ - 3x Ram Kangaroos and 3x Section each with 3x Ram Kangaroos)
No. 3 Troop - 12x Ram Kangaroos (Tp HQ - 3x Ram Kangaroos and 3x Section each with 3x Ram Kangaroos)
No. 4 Troop - 12x Ram Kangaroos (Tp HQ - 3x Ram Kangaroos and 3x Section each with 3x Ram Kangaroos)

Each armoured personnel carrier regiment was to have an attached Light Aid Detachment and a Signal Troop. The strength of each regiment was to be 25 officers and 522 other ranks (including LAD and Sigs Tp), less reinforcements.

Canadian Personnel Strength:

1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, C.A.C. - 23 officers and 465 other ranks
(Note: No. 1 Increment, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps (13 officers and 28 other ranks), authorized 2 February 1945, increased the authorized personnel strength of the regiment to - 36 officers and 493 other ranks)

1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment Signal Troop, R.C. Sigs - 1 officer and 5 other ranks

No. 123 Light Aid Detachment (Type "E"), R.C.E.M.E. - 1 officer and 52 other ranks.

3.) During the course of the meetings and correspondence that had occurred between the headquarters of First Canadian Army and that of 21st Army Group concerning the formation of an Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment in each army of the Army Group, the possibility of adding two more squadrons to each regiment was discussed, but in the case of 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, C.A.C., this was eventually dropped, and it remained a two squadron regiment until disbandment.

Also in answer to lift capability that is raised on the TRUX website: -

"Each Squadron could carry an Infantry Battalion.
Each Troop could carry an Infantry Company.
Each Section could carry an Infantry Platoon.
Each Ram Kangaroo could carry an Infantry Section.

Although the above is included in the War Establishment document some flexibility would be needed. The twelve Kangaroo APC in a troop could carry an infantry company but a section of three Kangaroo APC would not be able to carry a whole platoon.

It is not clear how many personnel would be carried by a troop. A full infantry platoon was 37 men, 7 at platoon headquarters and ten men in each of the three sections. A Kangaroo could normally carry ten men. Company headquarters had 14 men but only six were likely to be taking part in the assault. However there would be stretcher bearers and signallers from battalion headquarters, plus section and troop commanders from the APC regiment."

According to ‘APPENDIX A’ to 21 AGp/1601/25/G(SD) dated 11 Oct 44 - ORGANIZATION TABLE - ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER REGIMENT - under ‘NOTES’ the lift capabilities are broken down as follows:

Section (3x Armoured Personnel Carriers per Section)

- to lift one infantry rifle platoon complete requires 3x Armoured Personnel Carriers

Troop (12x Armoured Personnel Carriers per Troop)

- to lift three rifle platoons complete requires 9x Armoured Personnel Carriers
- to lift one infantry rifle company HQ requires 2x Armoured Personnel Carriers

leaving the Troop with 1x ‘Reserve’ Armoured Personnel Carrier

Squadron (53x Armoured Personnel Carriers per Squadron)

- to lift four infantry rifle companies complete requires 48x Armoured Personnel Carriers
- to lift one infantry battalion headquarters 3x Armoured Personnel Carriers

leaving the Squadron with 2x ‘Reserve’ Armoured Personnel Carriers