Cruiser Ram:
Design/Production
In 1940 the Montreal Locomotive Works designed a tank based on the turret from an American M3 Lee with a cast steel hull. By June 19416 the first prototype was completed at the Montreal Locomotive Works and sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for evaluation. Some believe this is where the US designers got the idea for the Sherman.
Description
Had a cast hull with the driver on the right in the front. There was a MG turret on the left side. This had a .3" MG and could traverse 120° left and 50° right. The turret was also cast with the mantlet being bolted on. A few of the vehicles were produced with shoulder controlled 2 pdr guns as the 6 pdr wasn't available.
Usage
By the end of 1941 they were being shipped to Canadian units in England. Used by the 4th and 5th Canadian Armored Divisions until they were replaced by Shermans. Most of the tanks were used for training in Canada and Britain as the US was able to start producing enough tanks for Canadian use. Many were converted to special tanks.
Cruiser Ram Mk I6:
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
It was intended to be produced with a 6 pdr gun, however these weren't finalized so the first 50 were with 2 pdr guns.
Cruiser Ram Mk II6:
Full production version which began in January 1942 and ended in July 1943. Eliminated the hull side doors, improved the suspension, modified the clutch, and installed new air cleaners. The MG turret was replaced by a more traditional ball mounting. The gun also had a gyrostabilizer.
Ram Kangaroo6:
Turret was removed and benches were installed. 11 men plus 2 crew carried. Hand and foot grips were added to outside hull.
Usage:
Many were used by the British 79th Armored Division and Canadian Divisions.
Ram Gun Tower:
Kangaroo with towing hook for 17 pdr anti tank gun. Crew and ammo carried in vehicle.
Ram Ammunition Carrier "Wallaby":
Like Kangaroo but carried 25 pdr ammo for Sexton.
Ram OP/Command6:
Ram II used for command or observation. Used dummy gun which could only be traversed 90° by hand, and had extra radio equipment. The rotating hatch was calibrated so that the hatch periscope could be used as a direction finder. Browning MGs were installed in the bow and the turret hatch. 84 built in 1943. Crew of 6.
Ram GPO:
Like OP but with special equipment for gun position officers of SP artillery regiments. Had Tannoy loudspeakers mounted.
Ram ARV Mk I:
Ram I converted to ARV by adding winch.
Ram ARV Mk II:
Ram II fitted with fixed dummy turret and dummy gun. Jib and earth spade added.
Ram AVRE:
2 vehicles converted by Royal engineers in 1943. Churchill was used instead.
Ram QF 3.7" AA:
Mount for 3.7" AA gun.6 Project abandoned.
Ram Skink AA:
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
Ram Flame throwers "Badger":
Converted by Canadian Army to use Wasp II flame throwing equipment installed in place of the bow MG.
Usage
Used in Holland in 1945.
Ram with 75 mm gun:
Installed American 75 mm M3 gun. Project abandoned.
Ram Searchlight:
Units in Europe added 40" searchlights and used for night operations.
| Ram | Ram Mk I | Ram Mk II | Ram Command / OP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader. 51 |
Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 52,3 |
Commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, loader.2 52,3,6 |
63 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 64,000 lb, 65,000 lb 29,030 kg 27.7 tons5 |
64,000 lb3, 65,000 lb2 | 65,000 lb2,3,4,6 29,484 kg1,4,6 29 tons1 |
64,000 lb3 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 8", 19' 5.76 m5 |
19'2,3 | 19'1,2,3,4,6 5.79 m4,6, 5.791 m1 |
19'3 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 8' 9" 2.65 m5 |
8' 9"2,3 | 8' 9"1,2,3,4,6 2.667 m1,4,6 |
9'3 |
| Width | 9' 5" 2.76 m5 |
9' 1"2, 9' 5"3 | 9' 1"1,2,3, 9' 6"4,6 2.768 m1, 2.895 m4,6 |
9' 1"3 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 1' 5" | |||
| Ground contact length | ||||
| Ground pressure | 13.3 psi | |||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 2 pdr. OQF2 2 pdr.3,4,5,6 |
6 pdr. (57 mm)1 OQF 6 pdr. OQF2 6 pdr.3,4,5,6 |
2: MGs3 | |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 3:7.62 mm MG1 .30 M1919A Browning, coaxial, hull, AA |
2: .30 cal Browning MG2 2: .30 cal Browning MG, coaxial5, secondary turret5 Browning MG, AA5 .50 cal Browning MG, AA.2 3: MGs3 |
2: .30 cal Browning MG2 .50 cal Browning MG, AA.2 3: MGs3 2: MGs, coaxial, hull6 |
|
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 1712 | 922 | ||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | .30: 4,4402 4,275 |
.30: 4,4402 4,000 |
||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | Front: 765 Side: 635 |
252, 872 1" - 3.5"3 |
252, 871,2, 25-896 1" - 3.5"3 |
1" - 3.5"3 |
| Hull Front, Upper | ||||
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | ||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | ||||
| Hull Rear | ||||
| Hull Top | ||||
| Hull Bottom | ||||
| Turret Front | ||||
| Turret Sides | ||||
| Turret Rear | ||||
| Turret Top | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Wright Continental R-975-EC21 | Continental R-9752 Continental R-975-EC23 |
Continental R-9752,4,6 Continental R975-C13 OR Continental R-975-EC23 |
Continental R975-C13 |
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Ccooling | ||||
| Cylinders | Radial6 | |||
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 4005 | 4006 | ||
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | ||||
| Steering | ||||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline6 | |||
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360° | 360°2 MG: 120° left, 50° right |
360°2 | |
| Max speed | 25 mph 42 kph5 |
25 mph2,3 | 25 mph1,2,3,4,6 40.2 kph4,6, 40.23 kph1 |
25 mph3 |
| Cross country speed | 20 mph | 20 mph2 | 20 mph2 | |
| Road radius | 144 miles | 144 miles2 | 144 miles1,2,4,6 232 km1,4,6 |
|
| Cross country radius | ||||
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | +20° to -7.5°, -10° | -7.5° to +20°2 | -7.5° to +20°2 | |
| Fording depth | 3' | 3'2 | 3'2 | |
| Trench crossing | 7' 5" | 7' 5"2 | 7' 5"2,4,5 2.26 m4,5 |
|
| Vertical obstacle | 1' 6", 2' | 1' 6"2 | 1' 6"2, 2'4,5 0.61 m4,5 |
|
| Climbing ability | 60%6 | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute | Vertical volute.2 | Vertical volute.2 | |
| Wheels each side | 6 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 3 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | ||||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 1' 4.5" | 15.5"2 | 15.5"2 | |
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | ||||
| Pitch | ||||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 6' 11" | 6' 11"2 | 6' 11"2 | |
| Production | 1941: 1,094 | 505 | 1942-1943: 1,899 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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