Penguin Mkll

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Another Muskox era vehicle based on the same running gear is this one. It was for sale in Quebec 30 odd years ago and went west. What is it and what became of it?

[Ed Storey]

That is a Penguin Mk I.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Damn good find with the Penguin! If you don't find suitable postwar roadwheels and tracks, you can be excused for swapping in Bombardier parts. They are still Canadian and evidently more numerous.

As for raccoons, they are devious little critters. One neighbour called them urban terrorists. I live in prime raccoon habitat, and for a while was unwittingly feeding them with my garbage cans. When I realized how they were getting into the locking lids, I made a sturdy 3'x6' wood and steel lean-to shed. No more knocked over garbage, but the kitts learned where to go. For years I kept seeing moms and little ones prowling my yard. Then I got a big enough dog to crap landmines and bark ferociously at intruders.

Skunks on the other hand have bad eyesight. They too are scavengers, but not as clever. I had one fall into a basement window well. He was too confused to climb and out. So a very large lady from the Human Society came with a big net on a stick. The skunk scampered away to the back hedge, to bring his love and cuteness to another homeowner.

[Ed Storey]

Back in the 90s I had an article published in Wheels and Tracks Magazine based on the vehicle trials reports that had been written during Exercise Eskimo which was held in northern Saskatchewan in the spring of 1945.

Here is what I reported at that time on the Canadian Armoured Snowmobile Mk I.

SNOWMOBILE, ARMOURED CANADIAN MK I

The oversnow performance of this vehicle was good except for the high power loss when traversing loosely packed snow. This slowed the vehicle down to such an extent that much of its effectiveness as a speedy reconnaissance vehicle was lost. It is considered that much of this could be overcome by providing track shoes that would ride on top of the snow rather than cutting through it. A track shoe similar to that on the Cargo Carrier M29 might be suitable, as this vehicle performed better than the snowmobile on loosely packed snow. The general track design of the Snowmobile should be retained however, as it gave very little trouble.

On one occasion the snowmobile was forded across a river approximately 1 metre deep at a temperature of -26C. No preliminary precautions were taken and no subsequent mechanical trouble was encountered.

A number of minor difficulties were experienced with the Snowmobile but these were to be expected in a new production vehicle. Most of these had been corrected in production and modification instructions had been issued to take care of vehicles already produced.


This vehicle was used as a substitute for light reconnaissance cars, armoured cars and a portion of carriers, universal. It was unsuitable for the purposes

intended for the following reasons:

a. In lieu of a light reconnaissance car because of:

(1) Limited Capacity. It carried a crew of only two, while three were required, and there was no space for personal equipment that was carried in winter.

(2) Limited Observation and Protection. All round vision was possible only by exposure of the crew commander's head and shoulders to both the elements and enemy observation and fire. It was considered that a turret or similar substitute was required.

(3) Restricted Performance in Deep Snow. The speed and mobility of the Snowmobile were somewhat restricted in deep snow. Since speed and mobility are the essential characteristics of the light recce car, it is considered that the snowmobile is unsuitable. If the track pressure could be reduced, it is thought that adequate performance would result. This might be accomplished by the use of lighter armour.

b. In lieu of armoured cars because of:

(1) Limited Armament. As armoured cars mount a light anti-tank gun, a medium machine gun and a light machine gun as well as a smoke discharger, it is assumed that a similar replacement vehicle should be similarly equipped. The Snowmobile was capable of mounting one LMG only.

(2) Limited Capacity. It should be capable of carrying a crew of three plus additional kit.

(3) Limited Observation. Commanders and gunners must have unrestricted vision. This would not be possible in the snowmobile without undue exposure to observation and small arms fire, as well as to the elements. It is thought that a heated turret with a copula of shatterproof material is required.

c. In lieu of Carrier Universal because of:

(1) Limited Capacity. It should be capable of carrying a crew of three plus additional equipment.

The Artillery stated that the Snowmobile, was found inadequate to accommodate personnel and equipment of the forward observation officer and party.

The Snowmobile could tow the 40mm Bofors, except around short turns, but the present vehicle did not have sufficient cargo carrying capacity.

Later in the Exercise, although not designed for the task, a Snowmobile was used for towing a gun into position away from roads. Since the towing hook on the Snowmobile was set too low, the trail of the gun dug into the ground on inclines.

The Signals recommended that the oversnow vehicles be heated. They also reported that the vehicle lacked in load and personnel carrying capacity and it had a very high fuel consumption.

The Medical Corps reported that there was no room inside the Armoured Snowmobile to accommodate stretcher cases. One stretcher might be lashed to the top, but the fine snow thrown by the tracks would cover the patient and chill him. It was therefore impractical for routine evacuation but may be employed to evacuate an occasional casualty in a trailer or attach a train of toboggans with casualties.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

That is a Penguin Mk I.

I thought that might be the case. There are photos of them and they do look like a more expediant version.

Re the mk3 version, I was talking to Brian Asbury and he mentioned that his Mk3 manual shows pretty much the same bodywork as the mk2. I will discuss with Brian tomorrow about possibly getting a copy of his mk3 manual.

Some questions I have to wonder about are:
Were the mark ones produced from scratch or from armoured snowmobiles.
What quantity of mk1, 2 and 3?
What quantity of the armoured snowmobile were consumed making penguins? All of them?
Were the mk3 penguins made from snowmobiles or made from scratch?

I almost picked up a beautiful no19 set today for my penguin, but I let another fellow at the show buy it for his mk2 carrier.

[Ed Storey]

I was under the impression that Canadian Armoured Snowmobile Mk Is were converted into Penguin Mk Is. If this was the case, not all of the Armoured Snowmobiles were converted at the same time as here is an image from Exercise Musk Ox showing both vehicles in use.



I have both the Penguin Mk II and Mk III recorded as having been manufactured by Canadian Arsenals Limited. I do not have production figures but again my records indicate that both vehicles had an ambulance version.

Here is an image of a Penguin Mk II.

[David Herbert]

Nice picture of a Penguin Mk II.

Interesting that the tires are treaded - I thought that they were smooth and were made specially for this application. but it would seem that 4.50 x 16 was a size used on ordinary vehicles so might still be available if you are not too fussy about the tread. Was this size not used on the front of small 1950s farm tractors? Ply rating might be an issue but there are a lot of wheels holding up a not very heavy vehicle and if they were foam filled I can't see a problem.

It really is worth reading through Hanno's link to the debate about these machines that happened twelve years ago. I am getting into these Penguins now: more impressive, rare and robust than a Weasel, no real weaknesses, big enough to take your friends for a ride, fun to drive, transportable to shows, could even be handy if it snows. There must be more hidden away.

David

[David Herbert]

Looking more closely at the photos it seems that the ambulance Penguin II had its outer front windows hinged so that they open sideways toward the centre of the vehicle but on the non ambulance version all three front windows just open upwards. A handy recognition point. I wonder why they didn't put stretcher hatches in the back, either side of the radiator grille, it looks like there was enough room but maybe the fuel tanks are in the rear corners or something like that.

David

[Robin Craig]

I hate racoons, in one spring we had one excavator two Land Rovers and a pontoon boat nailed. About $7,000 worth of damage in all. I hate them.

As Chris pointed out we at work often have sea cans coming, next is due to arrive 8th August.

I know of another one coming this year, that is the last that I know about currently.

I love the history Rob, love the fact that people like Ed have all the photos to tie it all together.

Was track tension soley based on air pressure over all the tyres?

R