Penguin Mkll

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

The primary WW2 use of Cadillac V8s was Stuart tanks (series 42) and Chaffee and LVT3 (series 44). I believe that the core engine is identical but the 44s have a drive shaft with universal joints threaded through under the inlet manifold. This is to drive the fans on a chaffee. The LVT3 inherrited this arrangement and I would expect that the Armoured Snowmobile / Penguin did too. The Hydramatic gearbox used in Stuart had a reverse gear but the ones used in Chaffee and I believe LVT3 did not have a reverse gear, this was done in the 2f + 2r transfer box. This engine was also used in infantry landing craft but presumably marineised to some degree. One of the nice things with these engines is that the exhaust manifold was black vitreous enameled and bolted on with stainless bolts - Cadillac had their standards to uphold !

Some great info on the hydrmatic gearbox over on this Detroit Transmission (Hydra-Matic) Division of General Motors Corporation in World War Two / WWII webpage

[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.