C15TA: first deployment in combat

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"During the Battle of the Scheldt several innovative weapons, tools and tactics were specifically developed and implemented.

One of the more general innovations, was the first deployment of the Canadian made C15 Armoured Truck as a Armoured Personnel Carrier. Basically designed to replace the US made White Scout Car, an alternative role as APC was also foreseen. The first trucks had arrived from Canada only a few weeks before. Fresh from the factory, totally 30 were available for the offensive to get onto Zuid-Beveland the end of October.

In the night October 23, 1944, C Coy Essex Scottish mounted several C15 trucks and formed an ad-hoc Jock Force, that included a troop of tanks of the Fort Garry Horse and Armoured Reconnaissance cars from the 14th Hussars. The action of the force failed miserably. One German anti-tank gun outside of Rilland, hit two tanks and two Daimler cars from appr. 3.000 meters on the elevated dyke road. The 'poor bloody infantry' of the Essex debussed and did it in the end on the slow, but effective old fashioned way. The C15TA armoured truck was not to blame and saw effective use later in the campaign."


Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in South-Beveland. The back of these trucks was roofless. Only a tarp protected the passengers:
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Traveling on top of the dykes towards the next canal. ...hurry up and wait... 6 Pdr A/T gun towed by a carrier follows suit..
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The Kreekramdam, were the C15TA Armoured truck was first deployed on October 24, 1944:
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Source: https://bftours.nl/ | https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gv1pnAQSmCJznL1w/ |

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is the original caption and source of that well known photo:

"Infantrymen of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in General Motors C15TA armoured trucks, Krabbendijke, Netherlands, 27 October 1944."
Credit: Lieut. Ken Bell / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-137145 (http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...05115&lang=eng)

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry During the Battle of the Scheldt.jpg 61eef2affdd42112373f8ed1_a137145-v8.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"Lance-Corporal J.C. O'Connor of the 2nd Provost Company directing traffic on the Beveland Causeway"

Date(s): 27 Ot. 1944
Place: Krabbendijke, Netherlands
Credit: Ken Bell/Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-138419

a138419-v8.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I will continue this thread with photos of the C15TA in use during WW2.

See some in the thread: Canadian Motor Battalion using C15TA

PA-142073_Feb13-1945.jpg
Armoured truck of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division crossing the Guillotiers Bridge over the Rhone River during Operation Goldflake.
13 February 1945
PHOTO: BARRY G. GILROY, DND, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA-142073

[Hanno Spoelstra]

C15TA during the Battle of Groningen, 14-18 April 1945.

C15TA_Battle of Groningen 14-18 April 1945.jpg
Source: https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/17750...-andere-tijden

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Two stills of a C15TA Ambulance near Apeldoorn. These are screenshots from this footage: The liberation of the Dutch area of Apeldoorn in 1945 in color

466128291_2296133740723821_8754039385180862353_n.jpg 466141450_2296191927384669_2599686464132484485_n.jpg

[Barry Churcher]

Hanno, here is a C15TA with urban camouflage.
Barry

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[Ed Storey]

I find it interesting to see just how oblivious the civilian population is to the whole military operation that is being conducted in their vacinity. They are very happy to be liberated, but seem to have forgotten that there is still a war on. The German POWs seem pretty lucky as most don't appear to be guarded and they are not being harried by the local population. It is hard to believe that we are coming onto 80 years that that footage was filmed.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Look at the practical addition - to me this looks like a typical Canadian vehicle during the closing stages of WW2

C15TA during the liberation of the town of Hoogeveen, 11 April 1945:

0-1096939-B882528507Z.1_20200409141706_000G9G1LN5G0.1-0.jpg
Source: https://hoogeveenschecourant.nl/hoog...-26368617.html

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here are a number of photos of C15TA Armoured Trucks taken at the town of Utrecht, The Netherlands. They are all taking part in the Memorial D-Day Parade of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division in Utrecht, The Netherlands, 6 June 1945.

Most of the vehicles in this parade have been cleaned up and/or repainted during the month since the fighting ceased. There are some interesting details to be seen.


The truck on the right seems to have a raised canvas roof.
X174334 - 605160_resized.jpg
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...534701000AF959


Two photos of what seem to be the same trucks.
Note the wire frame rack over the driver's position on the C15TA on the left.
The items on the left front fender look like chore horses under a canvas cover. So are these Signals trucks?
And notice the headlights are not the standard items.
X30319 - 600841.jpg 575.jpg
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...1E37423D0EAC12 | https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...72E9A36D8EC969


Another one with a roof rack.
Both trucks have one headlight fitted with a black-out shield.
No census numbers visible, possibly they were repainted.
X100157 - 831630_resized.jpg
Source: https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeld/...3AFDAA7073D591

[Jordan Baker]

Your first picture, the C15TA on the left has an uncovered Chorehorse on the left fender.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Your first picture, the C15TA on the left has an uncovered Chorehorse on the left fender.

Thanks Jordan!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more photos showing that markings were not always done as per instructions.


Location: Wormerveer, the Netherlands
No date given.
Note the marking on the side of the hood and the registration number on the front of the nose:
fa4d3399-9cab-465e-8487-4527d9443db8.jpg


Location: Leidscheweg street, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Date: May 1945.
Note the lack of markings and registration number. This C15TA seems to be towing a British 10-cwt trailer:
45p18.jpg
Source: http://www.faase.nl/utrecht.faase.nl/1940/wo2.htm?2


Location: Molendijk street, Oud-Beijerland, The Netherlands.
Date: 8 or 9 May 1945.
Again, note the lack of registration number and the placement of the formation signs.
bevrijding-oudbeijerland-canadezen-molendijk-648x365.jpg
Source: https://www.omroephw.nl/2025/04/maan...waard-actueel/