Penguin Mkll

[David Dunlop]

Just trying to wrap my head around Penguin production.

Various sources indicate Canada only ever retained 11 original Armoured Snowmobiles. Of these, the majority seem to have been converted to Penguins by Operation Muskox. Films show at least one surviving original vehicle in that original exercise.

Of the known surviving Penguins in Canada, I cannot recall one that does not show original lower front armour. Logic would state there should only be 11 such survivors. If there are more than that, where did the hulls come from that were used for conversion to Penguins?

If Penguins were built from scratch, did they simply adapt original plans, incorporating new built, modified lower hulls?

Would any of the known surviving Penguins show signs of armour plate having been cut down/modified? If so, in theory, these should be part of the original 11 inventory, should they not?

One other thought. If Penguins were built on new designed lower hulls, would they have bothered utilizing armour plate?

David

[Jason Ginn]

This pic was posted on the FB CF-100 group today but it I had to bring it over here because of all the cool vehicles in the shot. Notice in the back is a Penguin and a Bombardier in white!

[rob love]

Quite the cross section of stuff. I see L19 Cessna no702, a M101 4/3 ton trailer, and some commercial panel trucks that appear to be of slightly earlier vintage than those two.

The history on 702 shows one entry that may date the photo:

To Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at RCAF Station Namao, Alberta from 24 July 1957, for cold weather trials.

That would fit in with the timeline on the M101 trailers. The cargo truck in the background looks like a M135.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The CWM has a Penguin Mk III in their collection. It seems it is missing its tracks:

19970113-018.jpg
https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1317602/

[Ed Storey]

It could either be a Penguin Mk 2 or a Mk 3 as externally both vehicles look the same.